Lead
Major Settlement in the Parish of Lead
Historical Forms
- Lied, Led(e) 1086 DB
- Leda 1155–80 YCh1502,1607–8
- Lede 1193 P 13 ADiv 1208 FF 1227 Pat 1237 FF 1244 Ass2d 1498 Ipm
- Leade 1196–1210 YCh1615
- Ledde 1208 FF
- Leed(e) 1303 Aid 1379 Linds 1432 Testii
- Led 1448 Pat
- Leyd 1542 FF
Etymology
There is no village at Lead and it is difficult to determine what feature the name refers to. Below Lead Mill Cock Beck divides into two courses, the westerly one passing through a pool at Low Lead (6″ O.S. 205SW). There is also a stream running through the middle of the township by the old moat at Newstead to join Cock Beck below Low Lead. The name Lead may well be from OE lǣd 'water- channel' and have referred to one or the other of these water-courses, probably that near Newstead (infra ), which is described as being 'near the Lede '. Ekwall's suggestion that Lead is a contracted form hlēodu from OE hlēo -wudu 'wood with a shelter' is phonologically improbable, nor is a connexion with Leeds (124infra ) as proposed by Moorman at all likely since the suffix -s in Leeds is an integral part of the name and Lead never exhibits it. v. Addenda.