Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stapulbrige 860–6 Cott 14

• Stapulbreicge 998 SherC(S895) 12

• Staplebrige 1086 DB

• Staplebruge 1125 SherC 12

• Staplebrig(g)(e) 1297 1382 Cl

• Staplebridg(e) 1535–43 Leland

• Stapelbrig(g)(e) 1145 SherC 12 Sarum 1191 P 1212 FF 1214 Ass 1244 FF 1267 Pat 1402

• Stapelbrug(g)(e) 1244,1249 FF 1268 Ass 1302 Ch 1328 FF 1338,1344 Pat

• Stapelbregg' 1280 Ass

• Stapelbrygg(e) 1291 Tax 1303 Ipm

• Stappelbrigg' 1214 Cur

• Stapellbrigg' 1288 Ass

• Stapilbrigge 1267 FF 1428 FA

• Stapilbrig' 1268 Ass

• Stalbrig(g)(e) 1327 SR 1332 SR 1385 Pat 1552 Prideaux

• Stalbriggh 1346 FA

• Stalbrug(g)(e) 1350 Add 18 Pat 1362 ADIII 1463

• Stalbrigg als. Stapelbrigg' 1415 IpmR

• Stalbrygg 1428 FA

• Stalbridge 1535–43 Leland

• Stalbrydge 1551 AddCh

• Stalbridge als. Staplbridge als. Staple bridge e17 Cecil

• Stallbridge 1709 WRO

• Stapulbrigg 1316 FA

• Stapulbrugge 1383 Cl

• Stapolbrygg 1340 NI

• Stabulbryge (sic) c.1557 Prideaux

• Stabrigge 1439 HarlCh

• Stapleford(e) 1535–43 Leland

• Stawbridge 1644 Hutch3(3671)

• Stapelgraue, Stapilgraue 1268 Ass

• Hind 1824 Pigot

• Red Lion 1824 Pigot

• Swan 1824 Pigot

Etymology

'Bridge built on posts or piles', v. stapol , brycg ; K.J. Penn (Historic Towns in Dorset , 1980, p.100) thinks the name 'may refer to a bridge over the Stour or Bibbern Brook (and thus presumably some way from the present settlement)'. Leland's form Stapleford (e ) (he also has Staplebridge , Stalbridge ) is probably simply an error, influenced by the common p.n. Stapleford found in this and several other counties; Stapleford is listed by 1795 Boswell as a place in Stalbridge. Stapelgraue , Stapilgraue 1268Ass (a tithing in Brownsall hundred) is probably also an error for Stalbridge, with the substitution of grāf(a) 'grove' for the second el.