Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Church Leys 1543 Orm2iii295

• Chircheleges 13 AddCh

• Chircheleg' 13 Orm2 1308 Vern

• Chircheleghe 1293 AddCh

• Chircheleghs' 1379 Eyre

• Chircheleye 1447 Orm2iii366

• Schurcheslegh 1304 Chamb

• Church-Leys 1520 ChRR

• Churchleys, Church Leys 1521 Orm2iii295,367

• Churcheleis 1542 ChRR

Etymology

Church Leys (lost), Church Leys 1543 Orm2 iii295, Chircheleges 13AddCh (p), Chircheleg '13 Orm2 (p), 1308Vern (p), Chircheleghe 1293AddCh (p), Chircheleghs '1379Eyre (p), Chircheleye 1447 Orm2 iii366, Schurcheslegh 1304 Chamb (p), Church -Leys 1520 ChRR, Churchleys , Church Leys 1521 Orm2 iii295, 367, Churcheleis 1542 ChRR, presumably in Hankelow since it was an estate belonging to the Hassall and Wettenhall families of Hankelow, perhaps 'church clearing(s), woodland glades at, or belonging to, a church', v. cirice , lēah . There is, however, no ancient church on record at Hankelow, nor connected with it, and the first el. could be an OWelsh el., cruc 1 (PrWelsh  *crǖg ) 'a barrow, a hill, a mount', cf. OE  hlāw in Hankelow supra .