Clay, County Down
Origin
Ir. An Chléith ‘the hurdle’
Background
The townland of Clay is in two portions to the north of the village of Killyleagh, while at the south end of the main portion is the complex watery area called the Clea Lakes, containing a crannog. There is also a fort in the north at the point where the townlands of Ballygoskin, Lissinaw and Clay meet (LGD map). The Raven maps of Clandeboye refer to both Clay and Lough Clay (1625), and despite the difference in spelling, the Clea lakes appear to be named from the same word as the townland. Given that crannogs were often constructed on a wooden framework, the reference is probably the word cliath ‘framework, hurdle’, here used in its locative form, as in the townland of Clay, in Annaclone (PNI vi 70). In 1661 the name Clay was partnered with Lisduffe (BSD) which appears in the Hamilton MSS as a local townland name. The name Lios Dubh ‘the black fort’ could refer to the fort in the north.
References
KM, 2009Additional Information
cf. Clea Lakes 13026. Has detached portion (63a1r3)
Historical name form
| Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ballicley'' al. Clegh | 1605 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $1 Jac. I |
| Ballycley otherwise Cleigh | 1624 | CPR Jas I 587b |
| Clay | 1625c | Raven Map Clandeboye 64,70,72 |
| Lough Clay | 1625c | Raven Map Clandeboye 63, 69, 70 |
| Balleclaye al. Ballecleigh | 1645 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $104 Car. I |
| Clay, Lisduffe & | 1661 | BSD 63 |
| Ballelerge al. Ballecleighe | 1662 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $23 Car. II |
| Clay | 1663 | Sub. Roll Down 289 |
- Barony
- Dufferin
- Parish
- Killyleagh
- Parish in 1851
- Killyleagh
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 17772
- Place name type
- T