Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Lauelei 1086 DB

• Lauele 1177 P

• Laueleg(h)', Laueleye 1302 Ipm

• Lauley 1392,6 AD 1517 SRO

• Laweleg' 1271-2 Ass

• Lawelegh 1381 Cl

• Laweley 1391 Cl

• Lawley 1494 Ipm

• Laley 1577 Saxton 1695 Morden 1735 PR(L)

Etymology

'Lāfa's clearing', v. lēah . The last set of spellings may indicate that there was an alternative development to a pronunciation [leili]. This is found in some comparable names, such as Stayley, PNCh 1, 317-8, from OE  *stæfa -lēah .