Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Lidleghe 1240 Sarum

• Lideley(e) 1280 Brid 1315 ib

• Lidelaye, Lidelee 1307 ib

• Lhideleye, Lhydeleye 1294 ib

• Lydelegh' 1325 ib

• Lydeley 1398 IpmR 1399 Cl

• Lydleye 1327 SR

• Lydlegh(e) 1425 IpmR 1475 FF

• Lilly 1795 Boswell

Etymology

Lily Fm (SY 356937), Lidleghe 1240 Sarum, Lideley (e )1280Brid (p), 1315ib , Lidelaye , Lidelee 1307ib , Lhideleye , Lhydeleye 1294ib (p), Lydelegh '1325ib (p), Lydeley 1398 IpmR, 1399 Cl, Lydleye 1327 SR (p), Lydlegh (e )1425 IpmR, 1475 FF (p), Lilly 1795 Boswell. From lēah 'woodland clearing', first el. probably hlid 'lid, door', perhaps also 'gate' (cf. hlid- geat 'swing-gate'). The same compound seems to recur in Lydley Hays Sa 1189, Littlewick Green Brk 72, and Lilley (f.n.) in Whitchurch C. par. infra : the exact meaning is uncertain, but perhaps simply 'woodland clearing with a gate'.