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.

Lilley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Lilley

Historical Forms

  • Linleia 1086 DB
  • Linlege 1204 Fees 1445 Pat
  • Lingley 1209–35 Wells 1240 RBE
  • Lyngleye 1315 Ipm
  • Lilley 1275 RH
  • Lylly 1428 FA
  • Lylle 1499 FF
  • Lylly al. Lynley 1549 ib
  • Lilley streete 1641 DeedsEnrolled
  • Lyndley al. Lylley 1555 Recov

Etymology

'Clearing where flax was grown,' v. lin , leah , or 'lime tree clearing.' The absence of any early spellings Lind - is somewhat against derivation from OE  lind , 'lime tree,' though d is early lost from this compound, cf. Lindley (PN WRY 123). On the other hand, the high exposed situation makes flax-growing unlikely. Streete refers to the road through the long straggling village.