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.

Mistley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Mistley

Historical Forms

  • Mittesleam 1086 DB
  • Misteleg(h) 1225 FF 1303 FA 1387 IpmR
  • Misteley(e) 1328 FF
  • Misteley(e) iuxta Maningtree 1546 MinAcct
  • Mistlye 1354 FF
  • Mistelleygh 1361 ib
  • Mistenleye 13th StJohn
  • Musteleye 1285 Ass
  • Mest(e)leye 1364 FF 1475–80 ECP
  • Mest(e)le(i)gh 1392 IpmR 1474 ADii
  • Mysteleight 1543 FF
  • Mys(e)ley 1552–62 ib
  • Misseley 1577 EASxvii
  • Mis(s)ley 1594 N 1768 M

Etymology

Probably 'mistletoe-wood,' from OE  mistel and leah. Cf. Mystlehawe in Merstham (Sr) 1522 SAC vi, and Mystyl felde (Sr) 1532 ib. v. For -leight cf. Leigh supra 188–9.