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.

Spell Howe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Folkton

Historical Forms

  • Spelhou early13th,13th Bardney

Etymology

Spell Howe (a tumulus) is Spelhou early 13th, 13thBardney .'Speech mound,' from OE  spell 'speech' and haugr. Cf. Spelhoe (PN Nth 131) and a lost place in Burstwick (supra 33) called Spelhoudayl 1339Extent . Spell Howe which is conveniently situated on the edge of the Wolds may, as Anderson (12 n.) suggests, have been the meeting-place of Torbar Hundred (v. Dickering supra 85). Cf. also Speeton supra 104 for a similar type of name.

Places in the same Parish