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.

Spitchwick

Early-attested site in the Parish of Widdecombe in the Moor

Historical Forms

  • Espicewita 1086 DB(Exon)
  • Spicewite
  • Espiceuuic 1100–3 Ch 1332 Pat t.Hy2 1387
  • Espichewich 1155–8 Ch 1332
  • Spikeswic 1167 P
  • Spikewyk 1244 Ass
  • Spicwyk
  • Spichewiche 1170–96 Totnes
  • Spychewik' 1242 Fees768
  • Spychewyke 1283 Exon
  • Spicheswich 1305 Ipm
  • Spycheswyk 1306 Pat

Etymology

This name is probably a compound of OE  spic , 'bacon,' and wic, hence 'bacon-farm.' Cf. Chiswick (Mx), Butterwick (Herts), Cowick supra 438.