Staffield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Staffield
Historical Forms
- Stafhole c.1225 Weth 1246 FF 1278,1279 Ass
- Stafol(e) 1246 FF c.1252 Weth
- Staffole c.1252 Weth 1777 NB
- Staffold 1279 Ass
- Staffeld 1276 Ipm 1278 Ass
- Staffel(l) 1307 Cl 1580 Border
- Staffyll 1497 Ipm
- Staffle 1576 S
- Staphell 1605 Survey
- Stafful 1348 FF 1568 LRMB
- Staff hull 1589 ib
- Staffield oth. Staffell 1806 Queen's
Etymology
Sedgefield (106) suggested the derivation of this name from ON stafr, 'post' or 'pole' and ON hóll, 'isolated hill,' with the reservation that the second element might have been ON fiall, 'mountain.' The forms that are now available show that the reservation was unnecessary, and confirm Sedgefield's original suggestion. Only one other example, also in this county (v. Ward Hall infra 310), has so far been observed in English place-names of ON hóll, though it may enter into at least three field-names in the county. These are Wartholl (infra 354), Brundeshole and Astinhole (infra 430). The name is roughly equivalent in meaning to such English names as Stapenhill and Staple Hill (PN Wo 100, 344), Staplehill (PN D 477), in which OE stapol, 'post, pillar,' has a sense corresponding to ON stafr . The latter word frequently occurs in Norwegian hill-names.