Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Erdeslaia super Dirnam 1156–66 YChvii

• Erdeslei(a), Erdeslai(a), Erdesleg(h), Erdeslay, Erdesley(e) 1186 Brett 1196 P l.12 BM 1202 FF 13 YDxii,260 Hy3 BM 1245 Brett 1269 YI 1442 BM

• Erdisley 1352,1385 Brett

• Herdislaia, Herdisleia John,c.1212 BM

• Herdeslei(e), Herdeslay Ed1 BM 1316 Vill

• Herdeleia John BM

• Ardeslay, Ardesley 1381 Ch 1400 YDvi 1402 FA 1624 FF

• Ardislay 1380 Brett 1529 WillY

• Long Ardsley 1828 Hntii,278

Etymology

The first el. may be the OE  pers.n. Eard , which is not recorded, but which appears in several p.ns. such as Earsdon Nb 69, with the weak form Earda in such p.ns. as Ardeley Hrt 151, Ardingly Sx 251, Arthington pt. iv infra . It is a short form of OE  pers.ns. like Ēanrēd .Normally in Y, however, such a pers.n. would produce more early unbroken Ard - forms, as in Arthington pt. iv infra (cf. also Armley iii, 210, Arncliffe pt. vi infra from earn , Barnby Dun 17supra ). In view of the long persistence of spellings with Erdes -, much is therefore to be said for Ekwall's suggestion that this p.n. is from the OE  pers.n. Eorēd .v. lēah 'glade, forest-clearing'. In ME  spellings with Herd - (as in Arthington, etc.) initial H - is inorganic. East Ardsley ii, 174infra with a similar run of forms is doubtless from the same pers.n.