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.

Sparhanger

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lynton

Historical Forms

  • Sperhangre 1238 Ass 1244 Ass 1333 SR 1346 FA
  • Speranger 1242 Fees792
  • Sperangre 1303 FA

Etymology

The first element may be OE  spere , 'spear, lance,' the name possibly referring to a wood (v. hangra ) which furnished material for such. Cf. Shebbear infra 107.