Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ladstones 1624 Greave 1709 WMB

Etymology

Lad Stone, 1843 O.S., Ladstones 1624 Greave, 1709 WMB, 'youth rock', v. ladda , stān , the name of a prominent rock on the escarpment of Norland Moor; the exact significance of this name, like Two Lads 168, Ladstones 171, 183, Lad of Law 205, Maiden Stones 64, Bride Stones 174, or Lad 270infra , is not clear. They may in a few cases denote places where youths or maidens assembled, but, as with Cow and Calf Rocks (Ilkley) pt. iv or Lanshaw Lad and Lass (Burley) pt. iv infra , they are probably figurative, possibly with some element of folk-lore; they are certainly not to be derived from Celtic words, as is sometimes done, to associate them with druidical worship or the like; the names are of English origin and usually not older than the later middle ages.