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.

The Stacks

Early-attested site in the Parish of Willingham

Historical Forms

  • (le) Stackes 1251 ElyCouch 1277 Ely 1316 MinAcct

Etymology

The Stacks (6″) is (le ) Stackes 1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , 1316MinAcct .Cf. le Stak 1414Wren (Downham). ME  stak , the root meaning of which is 'a pile,' hence 'a heap' and so 'an obstruction,' cf. Stacke or heap , agger c. 1440 NEDs. v. The Stacks is a low-lying area and no doubt owes its name to obstructions in some watercourse here.