English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Lilley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Catmore

Historical Forms

  • (be æstan) lillinglea c.935 BCS682 c.1200
  • (be eastan) lilling lea 1042 KCD762 c.1240
  • (bosco de) Lille 1248–52 FF
  • Lilley 1761 Rocque

Etymology

Lilley, (be æstan ) lillinglea c. 935 (c. 1200) BCS 682, (be eastan ) lilling lea 1042 (c. 1240) KCD 762, (bosco de ) Lille 1248–52FF , Lilley 1761 Rocque, 'wood associated with Lilia', v. -ing-, (a)h. Lilley Copse is in Brightwalton. The bounds of Ginge in BCS 981 (A.D. 956) refer to lillan læwes crundle ('chalk-pit of Lilia's tumulus'); this appears to have been about 4 miles away, and may have been named from the same man.