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.

Sparkwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Staverton

Historical Forms

  • spearcan wille 1050–72 Earle
  • Sperchewilla 1086 DB
  • Sperkeswell' 1204 Cur
  • Sparkewill' 1242 Fees786
  • Sparkawille juxta Hemston 1364 Ass

Etymology

This may be compared with Sparkwell supra 255 and Sparkford (So), Spercheforde DB, Sparkeford 1242 FF. The first element in these names is identical in form with OE  spearca , 'spark,' but no connexion of sense seems possible and one can only suggest that the word spearca was early used as a pers. name of the nickname type. That the word might have some specific topographical sense, however, is suggested by the surname atte Sperke found in Dorset in 1333 (SR ). Cf. also Sparkaton supra 231, and Sparkhayne infra 531.