Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Spedelegh 1333 Ct

• Spidelegh, Spydlegh 1437 Ct

• Spedely, Spedlywud 1543 Ct

• Spedely, Spydlycrosse 1547 Ct

• Spitleigh 1622 LewesDeeds

Etymology

Spitlye (6″) [spit′lai] is Spedelegh 1333Ct , Spidelegh , Spydlegh 1437Ct , Spedely , Spedlywud 1543Ct , Spedely , Spydlycrosse 1547Ct , Spitleigh 1622Lewes Deeds . This would seem to be a compound of OE  spēd , 'success, prosperity' and leah , used perhaps of land which brought considerable profit, sped often appears as spide , spyde in early Modern English. The vowel was ultimately shortened and raised to i .