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.

Idle Lane

Early-attested site in the Parish of Exhall (juxta Coventry)

Historical Forms

  • del Idle 1306 Ass
  • Idel 1327 SR

Etymology

Idle Lane (6″) must have been near the home of Anketyll del Idle (1306Ass ) and Gilbert Idel (1327 SR). The stream here is the Sowe (supra 5), so we cannot have a river-name. More probably we have, as in the village of Idle on the Aire (cf. RN 208), OE  īdel used of land not under cultivation. There is a slough here to this day.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement