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.

Leith Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wotton

Historical Forms

  • Lalida, la Lida 1166,1167 P
  • la Lythe 1263 Ass
  • la Lithe 1266 Ass
  • Leth 1610 Speed
  • Lyth Hill or Lyth Farm 1626 DKRxxxix
  • Leethe 1628 SACx
  • Leith 1781 ParReg

Etymology

Leith Hill is Lalida , la Lida 1166, 1167 P, la Lythe 1263Ass , la Lithe 1266Ass (all p), Leth 1610 Speed, Lyth Hill or Lyth Farm 1626 DKR xxxix, Leethe 1628 SAC x, Leith 1781 ParReg.v. hliþ . The reference is to the very steep slope on the south side of the hill. Cf. Lythe Hill supra 190.