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.

Middle Handley, Nether Handley and West Handley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Staveley

Historical Forms

  • Henleie 1086 DB
  • Hanleg', Hanle, Hanley(e) 1230 Cl
  • Hanley(e) iuxta Staueley 1269 Ass Hy3 HarlCh 1323 FF 17th
  • Hanneley(e) 1275 RH
  • Hanneley(e) juxta Staueley 1302 FF
  • Hannlay 1435 Portland
  • Hand(e)ley 1470 RadCh 1481,1562 AddCh
  • West Hand(e)ley 1468,1469 AddCh 1596 Ct
  • Mydlehanley 1586 FF
  • Netherhanley 1586 FF

Etymology

'At the high clearing', v. hēah 1 , lēah (OE  æt þǣm hēan lēage ); cf. Handley infra 308. v. middel , neoðera and west .