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.

Hayley Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Little Gransden

Historical Forms

  • Heile 1164 BM
  • (boscus) Heyle 1251 ElyCouch 1316 BM
  • Hayly Wood 1602 Colexlii

Etymology

Hayley Wood is Heile 1164 BM, (boscus ) Heyle 1251ElyCouch et freq to 1316 BM, Hayly Wood 1602Cole xlii. Probably 'hay-clearing' as in Green Hailey (PN Bk 171), earlier hegleage (BCS 603) and Hailey (PN Herts 212), v. hēglēah . A compound of (ge)hæg is also possible, denoting 'a woodland enclosure.' See Hayley Green (PN Wo 295), Hailey (PN Sx 305).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement