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.

Crayley Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Southwick

Historical Forms

  • Graylee 1367 For
  • Crayley 1551 Pat

Etymology

Crayley Wood (6″) is Graylee 1367For , Crayley 1551 Pat. We have very little to go on here. The first part of the name may show common confusion of initial c and g , cf. Glendon and Glapthorne supra 113, 203. If so, the name means 'grey wood or clearing,' v. leah . It is on a tiny stream, so that a river-name Cray (cf. RN 103) is possible.