Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Blatterlees(e) 1538 AOMB 1538 MinAcct

• Blatter-Leys 1552 March

• Blaterleese 1605 LRMB 1635 DKRxxxix

• Blitter-Leise 1538 Rental 1603

• Bletter Lees 1575 HolmC 1662 CWxiv

• Blette Leyes 1605 LRMB

• the Graveshipp of Bletter Lees 1657 CWxxxix

• Bletherlees 1635 DKRxxxix

• The Leys 1552 March

• The Lies 1576 S

• The Lees 1672 Blome

• Bleterleas Bancke 1649 ParlSurv

Etymology

The first element may conceivably be OE  blæcþorn , 'blackthorn,' but the forms are too late for certainty. The second element is lǣs.The place is always known locally as The Lees.