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.

Summerhead

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marsh Chapel

Historical Forms

  • Summerhead 1595 FMap 1624 Holywell 1808 HD
  • Summerhead Close 1839 TA
  • Great Summerhead Close, Little Summerhead Close 1847 Padley 1848 EnclA
  • Sumerette 1277–92 Holywell
  • Le sumerette de marisco de Fulestowe 1310 ib
  • Sumerhet 1283 ib
  • Somereth 1317 Ipm 1330 Holywell
  • le Somereth 1342,1613 LMR
  • Someret 1282 Holywell 1372 Ipm 1399 LMR
  • Pastur' voc' Someret 1408,1430,1442 1452 Anc
  • Someret 1545 ib
  • Somerett 1522,1553 ib
  • le Sommeret 1414 LMR
  • (le) Somered 1347 1604 Anc 1612,1638 LMR
  • Marsshechappell' Somered 1622 ib
  • les Somereds 1615,1616,1620 ib
  • le Someredd 1632 ib
  • Le somerred 1636 ib
  • (Le) Sommerid 1589 Anc 1668 LMR
  • Somerhed 1557,1580 Anc
  • leʒ Somerhed 1561 ib
  • le Somerhed 1576 ib
  • le Somerhede 1575 ib
  • (le) Somerhead 1577,1579 1579 Terrier 1584 Anc 1663 Holywell
  • Somerheade 1567 Anc
  • Sommerhead 1579 LMR 1588 Anc c.1638 Holywell 1667 LMR
  • le Somereates 1631 ib
  • le Somridd 1637 ib
  • the Sumered 1664 Terrier
  • le Summered 1625 LMR
  • the Summered 1654 ib
  • le Sumeredd 1663 ib
  • Sumerhed 17 Holywell
  • ye Sumerid 1725 Foster
  • ye Summeridge 1703 Terrier
  • the Summerings 1822 Terrier
  • Summer Ings (sic) 1828 Bry

Etymology

SUMMERHEAD (lost), Summerhead 1595FMap , 1624Holywell , 1808HD , Summerhead Close 1839TA , Great Summerhead Close , Little Summerhead Close 1847Padley , 1848EnclA , Sumerette 1277–92Holywell , Le sumerette de marisco de Fulestowe 1310ib , Sumerhet 1283ib , Somereth 1317 Ipm, 1330Holywell , le Somereth 1342, 1613LMR , Someret 1282Holywell , 1372 Ipm, 1399LMR , Pastur ' voc ' Someret 1408, 1430, 1442ib , 1452Anc , Someret 1545ib , Somerett 1522, 1553ib , le Sommeret 1414LMR , (le ) Somered 1347ib , 1604Anc , 1612, 1638LMR , Marsshechappell ' Somered 1622ib , les Somereds 1615, 1616, 1620ib , le Someredd 1632ib , Le somerred 1636ib , (Le ) Sommerid 1589Anc , 1668LMR , Somerhed 1557, 1580Anc , leʒ Somerhed 1561ib , le Somerhed 1576ib , le Somerhede 1575ib , (le ) Somerhead 1577, 1579ib , 1579Terrier , 1584Anc , 1663Holywell , Somerheade 1567Anc , Sommerhead 1579LMR , 1588Anc , c.1638Holywell , 1667LMR , le Somereates 1631ib , le Somridd 1637ib , the Sumered 1664Terrier , le Summered 1625LMR , the Summered 1654ib , le Sumeredd 1663ib , Sumerhed 17Holywell , y e Sumerid 1725Foster , y e Summeridge 1703Terrier , the Summerings 1822Terrier , Summer Ings (sic)1828 Bry.'The summer pasture', v. sumor , ete , a name found also in Fulstow supra and as Summereat Lane over the parish boundary in North Coates, infra . It is perhaps likely that all three originally comprised a single extensive pasture. In both FMap and EnclA the names in Marsh Chapel denote the same area, covering a large field at approximately TF 353 986, as well as other fields north of Ellgate Lane and the parish boundary. The name is recorded so often in medieval sources that the land so-called must have been of considerable local importance.