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.

Norton Lees

Early-attested site in the Parish of Norton

Historical Forms

  • Ley(e)s, Leis 12th Pat 1316 Ass 1269 Beau Ed1
  • le Leis a.1290 Hallviii c.1300 Halliii 1328 SR
  • (del) Lyes 1334 Hallviii
  • (le) Lyes 1377 ShefMD 1385 Hallviii
  • Leghys, Leghes, Leyges Ed1,1312 Beau
  • (le) Leyges 1327 Hallviii 1384 DbAii 1395 WollCh 1448 Norton
  • Lese Hy6 Rental
  • Norton Leghus, Lees 1408 Pat 1480 Norton 1487 Hallviii
  • Norton Leez 1481 DbCh
  • Norton Lees 1485 Add 1545 Hallviii

Etymology

Norton Lees (6″), Ley (e )s , Leis 12th (1316) Pat, 1269Ass (p), Ed 1Beau , le Leis a. 1290 Hall viii (p), c. 1300 Hall iii (p), 1328 SR (p), (del ) Lyes 1334 Hall viii (p), (le ) Lyes 1377ShefMD , 1385 Hall viii, Leghys , Leghes , Leyges Ed 1, 1312Beau , (le ) Leyges 1327 Hall viii (p), 1384 DbA ii, 1395WollCh , 1448 Norton, Lese Hy 6Rental , Norton Leghus , Lees 1408 Pat, 1480 Norton, 1487 Hall viii, Norton Leez 1481 DbCh, Norton Lees 1485Add , 1545 Hall viii. As with all Lees names it is difficult to be certain whether it is the pl. of lēah 'clearing' or lǣs 'pasture, meadow'; probably it is the former.