Sprytown
Early-attested site in the Parish of Stowford
Historical Forms
- Sprei 1086 DB
- Spray 1179 P
- Spree 1242 Fees789
- Sprey(e) 1276 Ipm 1284 FA
- Sprey(e) juxta Lifton 1311 Ass
- Spreytown 1610 SR
- Sprytown 1729 Recov
Etymology
The same element is found in Spurway, Spreyton, Sprydoncote infra 388, 446, 577, and in Sprecott, Spreacombe and Ratsbury supra 31, 54, 65. Outside the county we may note Sparcombe in Exford (So), Spracombesheved 1298 Exmoor, le Spray juxta Oterburn (Ha) 1306Ass , le Spraye , le Spray grene 1350 AD i (Berks) and the pers. name (de) Spray 1327SR (W). All these names contain the word spray for which NED gives the meanings, 'collection of slender or small twigs,' 'fine brushwood,' 'hazel, birch or other twigs used for thatching,' etc. The sense in place-names must have been that of land overgrown with brushwood. It may be noted that the word is here carried back some 200 years earlier than its first mention in the NED (1297).