Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wadelei 1086 DB

• Wadeley 1279–81 QW

• Wadelay 1297 LS

• Wadeslei(a) 1086 DB 1200 P

• Wadesley, Wadeslay 1297 LS 1398 YDxvi,89 1451 FA 1516 YDvi

• Waddeslay, Waddesley(e) 13 YDxii,235 1276 RH 1310 Ch 1350 Linds 1356 BM 1608 FF

• Waddislay, Waddisley 13 YDx 1228 Hall 1312 YDxvi,100 1590 FF

Etymology

'Wad(d)e's forest-clearing', v. lēah . An OE  pers.n. Wæddi , a strong form of OE  Wad (d )a as in Wadworth 59supra , is not recorded, but appears in several p.ns. including Wadsworth iii, 199infra .