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.

Clerkenleap

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kempsey

Historical Forms

  • Clerkenlip 1542,1545 LP
  • Clerkenleape 1544 LP
  • Clerconleppe 1548 Pat
  • Clerkenlippe 1634 QSR

Etymology

Clearly 'clerks' leap.' The place lies on a slight slope, but it is impossible to reconstruct the story of these venturesome clerics. Cf. similarly presta hlype , 'priests' leap,' in KCD 813.