Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stoche 1086 DB

• Stokes 1191,1238 Sarum 1212 P 1247 Cl

• Stok(e) 1238 Sarum 1268,1280,1288 Ass 1285,1316 FA

• Stok(e) Abbe 1268 Ass 1320

• Stok(e) Abbatis 1269 Drew 1273 Brid 1280 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass 1443 Strode

• Stoke Abbot(t)s 1275 FF 1297,1392 Pat 1664 HTax

• Stoke Abbot(t) 1348 Cl 1495 CarP

• Stoke Abbas 1358 ADI

• Stoke alias Abbotts 1795 Boswell

• Abbodestok 1302 Drew 1312 FF 1322 Brid 1334 FF

• Abbots Stocke 1333 Pat

• Abbot(e)stoke 1335 Inqaqd 1397 AddCh 1440 Strode

• Abbott(e)stoke 1440 Cl 1648 SC

• Abbotystoke 1431 FA 1441 ADI

• Abbatystoke 1448 CarP 1449 Pole

• Abbotistoke 1462,1463 ADI

• Abottstoake aVs Stoake Abbott 1677 Sym

• Wylisestok' 1294 FF

Etymology

'The outlying farmstead or secondary settlement', from OE  stoc. The affix is from the early possession of this manor by Sherborne Abbey (OE  abbod, ME  abbat, gen.sg. -es , alternating with Lat  abbas 'abbot', gen.sg. abbatis ). Two forms included in a late 10th-cent. Sherborne charter, Osanstoke and Wulfheardig stoke 998 (12) SherC (S 895), are probably to be identified with this place (Ekwall Studies2 20, 37, Fägersten 219 fn. 3). Osanstoke (also occurring as Osanstoc 844 (12) SherC (S 295) in a charter considered spurious) is 'Ōsa's stoc ', from the OE  pers.n. Ōsa (cf. Osney O 22), Wulfheardig stoke is 'stoc called after Wulfheard', from the OE  pers.n. Wulfheard with -ing 4 . This last may lie behind the isolated form Wylisestok '1294 FF which may therefore also belong here. In 1648 SC there is mention of 'the tower of Abbottstoke ' (apparently a fort).