Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ledelai 1086 DB

• Leeleia 1166 P

• Lethelei(a), Lethelay, Lethele(y) Ric1 Kirkst 1233–56 Heal96 1270–1301 Ebor 1298 WCR 1303 Aid 1305 Pat 1540 MonRent

• Lelelay 13 ADiii

• Lelley 1472 Pat

• Lelay, Lelai, Leley 13 1203–46 Font Hy3 BM 1229 Ebor 1230 Bodl76 1243 Fees 1297 Heal154

• Leithley, Leythley 1233–56 Heal96 1535 VE 1539 FF 1549 WillY

• Lithel(ey), Lythel(ey) 1291 Tax 1410 MinAcct

• Lethley, Lethlay 1298 Heal175 1327 ADiii 1540 Testvi

• Leghley 1447 Pat

• Leighley 1549 Testvi

• Leyley 1538 TestLds

• Leath(e)ley 1548,1552 TestLds 1569 Dep 1593 Comm 1605 FF

• Lathley 1549 TestLds

• Ledley 1549 WillY

Etymology

Probably, as Ekwall suggests, 'clearing on the slopes', from OE  hleoða , gen.pl. of hlið 'slope, hill-side' (with Angl. back-mutation), and lēah 'forest glade or clearing'. The two forms with Lithe - may perpetuate an alternative OE  form hliða -lēah without back-mutation and some of the Lethe - spellings may in fact represent the lengthening of Lithe - in the open syllable to Lēthe - (cf. Phonol. § 23). Other Y p.ns. like Kirk- and Upleatham (YN 153, 155) do not normally have the back-mutated form in the plural. An alternative explanation would be to connect the first el. with the rare OE  lǣð (Kt , Angl  lēð ) which seems to have denoted something like 'landed property, estate' (as well as 'district' as in the 'lathes' of Kent), occurring also in the OE  compound mōt -lǣðu pl. 'assemblies' and corresponding to ON  láð 'land, fief'. But in view of the uniqueness and southerly provenance of the word and of the Lithe - spellings this is less likely.