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.

Hillsley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hawkesbury

Historical Forms

  • on Hil(l)eah 972 BCS1282 10th
  • Hildeslei 1086 DB
  • Hildesleg', Hyldesleg', Hyldesl(e)', Hyldesle(i)gh, Hyldesley(e) 1220 Fees 1221,1248 Ass 1274 RH 1492 Ipm
  • Yldesleye 1274 RH
  • Hillesley 1439 Pat 1467 IpmR 1599 FF
  • Hilsly 1722 PR

Etymology

'Hild's glade or clearing', v. lēah . On the OE  pers.n. Hild (i ) cf. Hillesden (Bk 62).