Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• la Le 1244 Ass 1553 PlR

• La Lee 1280 Winch 1288 Ass 1321 Winch

• La Leye 1291 Tax

• La Lea 1310 Inqaqd 1311 Pat

• Lee 1317 MiltC

• Laley 1560 Hutch3

• Law Lee 1664 HTax 1688 PlR

• Lalee 1774 Hutch1

Etymology

La Lee Fm (ST 833011) [ləˈliː], la Le 1244Ass (p), 1553PlR , La Lee 1280Winch , 1288Ass , 1321Winch et passim , La Leye 1291 Tax, La Lea 1310 Inq aqd, 1311 Pat, Lee 1317MiltC , Laley 1560 Hutch3, Law Lee 1664 HTax, 1688PlR , Lalee 1774 Hutch1, 'the clearing in a wood' or, since the name is probably of post-Conquest origin, 'the meadow', v. la , lēah , cf. Lee Wood infra which lies adjacent to the farm. The survival of the Fr def.art. la as an independent word, and the absence of alternation with Engl  the , are noteworthy, and suggest strong Fr influence (the manor was held by Milton abbey).