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.

Keisley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dufton

Historical Forms

  • Kefisclyve (sic for Kesisclyve) 1292 QW
  • Kesecleue 1292 Ass14
  • Kesclif(f), Kesklyf, Kesklif 1317,1324 Ipm c.1353 Macheli,85 1361 Fine 1376 Ipm
  • Keskief 1362 Cl 1363 Ipm
  • Kesclyve 1553–5 ECP
  • Kesskliff 1362 Ipm
  • Kesseklyff 1489 Ipm
  • Keyslyff 1577 FF
  • Keys(e)ley 1538 FF
  • -als. Keyseliffe 1579 ib
  • Kais-, Keisley 1777,1823 M
  • Kesley 1543 FF
  • Keesley 1635 Dep 1685 PR(Brm)

Etymology

Probably, as Ekwall suggests, 'cliff above the valley', v. kjóss 'valley, recess', clif ; the latter is frequently reduced to -ley in later p.n. forms. The valley is the deep ravine of Keisley Beck, and the cliff the steep slope above it.