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.

Inlay's Fm, Inlay's Field

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wisbech St Mary

Historical Forms

  • (le) Inlyk(e), Inlik 1251 ElyCouch 1586 Eg
  • Inl(e)yfeild 1536 SewersC 1611 SewersD
  • Inleys 1585 Eg
  • Inlay's Field c.1840 TA

Etymology

Inlay's Fm, Inlay's Field (6″), is (le ) Inlyk (e ), Inlik 1251Ely Couch et freq to 1586Eg , Inl (e )yfeild 1536SewersC , 1611SewersD , Inleys 1585Eg , Inlay 's Field c. 1840TA . This is OE  in (n )līc , adj., 'inward, interior.' NED (s. v. inly ) remarks that the word is unknown during most of the ME period and appears to have been formed anew from the corresponding adverb. The forms above help to fill the gap between c. 900 and 1422. 'Inner field,' an apt description when Rummer's Field was still a mere and New Field had not yet been named. v. Addenda lxi.