Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hælgefeld, Helgefeld, Helgefelt, Helgeflet 1086 DB

• Helgefeld 1202 FF 1203 DodsN a.1219 YChvii

• Helgfeld 1290 Whit 1316 Vill 1349 Puds

• Helghefeld 12,1307 Font 1234 FF

• Helghefeud 1241 FF

• Helghfeld(e) 1198 Fount 1296 BltComp27d 1303 KF 1304 Percy

• Helchefeld 1170–84 YChvii

• Helewefeld 1240 FF

• Helehefeld l.12 Puds

• Helegefeld' 1200 Cur 1208 P

• Heleghefeld 1246 FF

• Heleghfeld 1365 Puds 1428 FA

• Helefeud 1285 KI

• Helefeld 1399 Puds 1440 Ch

• Hellefeld 1331 Ass5

• Helyfeld 1373 YDiv 1565 WillY

• Helyghfeld 1379 PT

• Helufeld 1399 Pat

• Hallefeld 1482 PrHosp

• Halyf(f)eld(e) 1500 Ipm 1553 FF 1599 ADv

• Hellifield 1586 WillY 1605 PRGis

• Hellyfeild(e) 1587 FF 1616 PrHosp

Etymology

Possibly 'the holy tract of open land', v. hǣlig 1 (wk. hǣlga ), an ONb variant of hālig (cf. Holywell Brook iii, 50supra ), feld , but the religious allusion is obscure and the forms of the first el. are similar to those of Hellaby i, 135supra which is from the ON  pers.n. Helgi ; the occasional later spellings with Haly - are no doubt influenced by the form of Halifax iii, 104supra . Hence 'Helgi's open land'.