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.

Hooley Lane

Early-attested site in the Parish of Reigate

Historical Forms

  • Holeg 1203 FF
  • Holeghe 1332 SR
  • Houlegh 1357 Ipm
  • Houghley 1469 FF
  • Holeight or Holeigh 1550 Pat
  • Howleigh 1803 MandB

Etymology

Hooley Lane (6″) is Holeg 1203 FF, c. 1275 Holeghe 1332 SR (p), Houlegh 1357 Ipm, Houghley 1469 FF, Holeight or Holeigh 1550 Pat, Howleigh 1803 M and B. This is probably a compound of hoh and leah , hence 'woodland or clearing by the spur of land.' For the final t in the 1550 form cf. Leigh supra 297.