Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Catesclive 1086 DB 1200 Cur 1200–1 FF 1209 Abbr 1291 Tax

• Catescliue 1199 CurR 1244 Ass

• Catescliva, Catesclyva 1287 Forde 15

• Catescleffe 1653 WRO

• Cattesclive 1201(15),1227(15) Forde 1227 FF 1243 HarlCh 1275 RH 1285 FA

• grangia de Cattesclive, pontem de Cattesclive 1306 Forde 15 Pat 1345

• Cattesclyue 1244 Ass 1327,1332 SR

• Cattescliue 1244 Ass

• Cattesclyve 1299 Ipm

• Cattesclif(') 1338 DCM 1348 Pat

• pontem de Cattescliva 1380 Forde 15

• Cattesclyva 15 ib

• Cattescliff(e) 1551 AddCh 1632 WRO

• Kattesclive 1285 FA

• Gatescliue (sic) 1244 Ass

• Kattelescliue (sic) 1268 Ass

• Chattescliva, Chattesclyva 1287 Forde 15

• Cattisclyve 15 Forde

• Cattisclift 1732,1734 WRO

• Catclyf 1535 VE

• Cat(t)scliffe 1632,1658 WRO

• Catsley 1774 Hutch1 1811 OS

• Catsley Fm 1838 TA

Etymology

'Cliff frequented by wild-cats', from catt (gen.sg. cattes ) and clif , with reference to the steep slope here. For a similar late development of -cliff to -ley , cf. Rock Lea in Hamworthy par. 2 21.

The presence of the wild-cat in this par. is further attested by Catemwood Coppice infra which lies about 1 mile NE of Catsley, cf. also the lost Cathille , Kathille , Kathilleweia 1367 (15) Forde in this par. and the surname of Richard (de ) Cattesden (e )1327, 1332 SR (a taxpayer here) which may refer to a local place, v. hyll , weg , denu .