Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hillely John LyttCh

• Hilleleye Hy3 LyttCh

• Illeg 1255 Ass

• Illeleya 1271 Ct

Etymology

There is an OE  name Hilla on record (Redin 117) which may be a pet-form for some name in Hild - and, if the h is genuine, this place-name must be interpreted as 'Hilla 's clearing' (v. leah ). Otherwise we must take the first element to be an OE  name Illa . The existence of such a name is doubtful, the correct form being more probably Ylla . If that were found here we should expect some later forms with u . Cf. PN Bk 125.