Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Spence Farm 1839 TA(Bettiscombe)

• tent' cu' p'tm vocat' le Spence 1566 Rent

• Spence 1811 OS 1863 Hutch3

• atte Spence 1327,1332 SR

Etymology

Spence Fm (SY 357964), Spence Farm 1839TA (Bettiscombe), tent ' cu ' p 'tm vocat ' le Spence 1566Rent , Spence 1811 OS, 1863 Hutch3, first recorded in the surname of John atte Spence 1327, 1332 SR (a taxpayer in Bettiscombe), from ME  spence (OFr  despense ) 'a room or place in which victuals and liquor are kept, a buttery or pantry' (c.1386 NED); this farm was once a detached part of Bettiscombe par. supra (as in 1839TA ).