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.

Fairlight Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of East Grinstead

Historical Forms

  • Ferlega 1086 DB
  • Farnlehe 1288 Ass
  • Farnlegh 1296 SR
  • Farlegh 1327 SR
  • Westfarlegh 1389 Ass
  • Fareleighs, Farleight 1546 FM
  • Farelye 1579 DuLa
  • Fayreley 1643 FM
  • Fairly 1712 FM 1724 B

Etymology

'Bracken clearing,' v. fearn , leah . The curious corruption of the name is probably in imitation of Fairlight infra 507. The old pronunciation survives locally (SxNQ 2, 65).