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.

Whyteleafe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Caterham

Historical Forms

  • White Leaf Field 1839 TA

Etymology

Whyteleafe. This is the name of a modern 19th century district. It derives its name from a field which was called White Leaf Field (1839TA ), from the aspens growing in it. This was bought by a Mr Glover in 1855 as a site for a house in the then scarcely inhabited valley (VCH iv, 266).