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.

Spadeadam

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kingwater

Historical Forms

  • Spathe Adam 1295 Ipm
  • Spadadam 1399 IpmR 1589 ExchKR 1601 Survey
  • Spaladam 1485 Ipm
  • Spadeadam 1576 S
  • Spaydadam 1598 Border
  • Spaide Adome 1640 Naworth
  • Spadeedholm, Spaidhead-holm 1758 PR(Laner)
  • Spear Edom
  • ye Waste 1709 PR(Laner)

Etymology

Sir Ifor Williams suggests that the word lying behind these forms is Welsh  ysbyddaden , 'hawthorn,' which is frequent in Welsh place-names.