Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Kefisclyve (sic for Kesisclyve) 1292 QW

• Kesecleue 1292 Ass14

• Kesclif(f), Kesklyf, Kesklif 1317,1324 Ipm c.1353 Macheli,85 1361 Fine 1376 Ipm

• Keskief 1362 Cl 1363 Ipm

• Kesclyve 1553–5 ECP

• Kesskliff 1362 Ipm

• Kesseklyff 1489 Ipm

• Keyslyff 1577 FF

• Keys(e)ley 1538 FF

• -als. Keyseliffe 1579 ib

• Kais-, Keisley 1777,1823 M

• Kesley 1543 FF

• Keesley 1635 Dep 1685 PR(Brm)

Etymology

Probably, as Ekwall suggests, 'cliff above the valley', v. kjóss 'valley, recess', clif ; the latter is frequently reduced to -ley in later p.n. forms. The valley is the deep ravine of Keisley Beck, and the cliff the steep slope above it.