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.

Spurn Head, Spurn Point

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kilnsea

Historical Forms

  • Ravenserespourne 1399 Pat
  • Ravenser Spurne 1406 Melsa
  • Rauenspurgh 1597 Shakespeare(RichardII)
  • Spun Head 1610 Speed
  • Spurn P… a.1678 Map
  • Spurn Head 1786 Tuke

Etymology

Spurn Head, Spurn Point are Ravenserespourne 1399 Pat, Ravenser Spurne 1406 Melsa, Rauenspurgh 1597 Shakespeare (Richard II ), Spun Head 1610 Speed, Spurn P …a. 1678Map , Spurn Head 1786 Tuke. Spurn Point, which replaced the older name Ravenser Odd, is from early ModE  spurn , which is probably a variant of spur , used of different kinds of projections.A topographical use of spurn is not known outside this place- name though its significance is suggested by some of the late uses of spur , 'projecting piece of land,' etc. (v. NED s.v. spur , spurn ). Spurn is first recorded from 1553.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement