Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hethiley(e), Hethyley(e) e.13,1279–91 Nost45,45d Hy3 Arm

• Helileye (sic) c.1260 Nost45

• Hethele 1389 YDiv

• Hedley 1578 MinAcct

• Headley 1600 PRBfd

• Headley in Bradforddale 1685 Yorkexxiii,5

Etymology

Headley, Hethiley (e ), Hethyley (e )e. 13, 1279–91Nost 45, 45d, Hy 3 Arm (p), Helileye (sic)c. 1260Nost 45, Hethele 1389 YD iv, Hedley 1578MinAcct 62, Headley 1600 PRBfd, Headley in Bradforddale 1685Yorke xxiii, 5. 'Heathy clearing', from ME  hethy (OE  hǣðig ) 'heathy, growing with heather', lēah ; hethy is not recorded before 1450 (NED s.v.).