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.

Spirewell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wembury

Historical Forms

  • Spirewell 1238 Ass
  • Spirewylle 1381 Exon
  • Spurewille 1333 SR

Etymology

The first element is probably the word spire (OE  spīr ), for which the NED gives a meaning 'reeds, sedges,' found in SW dialects.

Places in the same Parish