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.

Castley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Leathley

Historical Forms

  • Castelai, Castelay, Castelea, Casteley 1086 DB 12 1166 P 1190–1203 YCh516 1198 Fount 13 Heal16 13 Ch 1310 FF 1203 MinAcct 1542
  • Castellay, Castelle(y) 13 Font 1229 Pat 1234 FF 1285 KI 1316 Vill
  • Castlay, Castley 13 Heal170d 1249 Ch 1609 FF
  • Casley 1641 Rates 1731 PRAdel

Etymology

'Clearing near the fort', v. castel , lēah . The 6″ O.S. (188 NW) marks the site of a fort where querns were found near the railway viaduct. The original first el. may have been OE  ceaster with OFr  castel substituted as in Castleford ii, 69supra .