Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stanlai, Stanlay, Stanlei(a), Stanley 1086 DB 1173 RegAlbii,56 1436 Testii

• Stanley Ricardi 1175–85 YCh505

• Kirke Stanley 1301 YI 1311 Ch 1316 Vill 1362 FF

• Southe Stanley 1558 FF

• Nederstanele 1283 YI

• Steinlea, Stainlea, Staynlea, Staynlei, Staynle(ya), Staynlay 12 Font 1165–75 YCh507 1175–86 RegAlbii,23d 1352 FF

• Staynlay Ricardi 1175–85 YCh504

• South Staynlay 1198 Fount 1359 FF 1388 MinAcct

• Kirk(e) Staynlay, Kyrk(e) Staynlay 13 Font 1345 Ripi 1482 RipAct

• Kyrke Staynelay 1557 FF

• South Stonley c.1488 Star

• Kirstenelay 1598 PRFrn

• Kyrkstaneley als. Southstaneley als. Overstaneley 1609 FF

Etymology

'Stony forest-glade or clearing', v. stān , later replaced by ON  steinn, lēah . The affix Ricardi refers to Richard de Stanley (12 YCh 502–6 and notes); 'South' because it lies south in relation to North Stainley (159infra ), and 'Kirk' (v. kirkja ) from its church. The identification of on nyrran Stanlege (c. 1030 YCh 7) in the Archbishop's Ripon estates with South Stainley is doubtful; the latter was a royal estate in the time of Edward the Confessor and in 1086 it was a berewick of Knaresborough (v. North Stainley 159infra ).