Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Sprotele 1086 DB 1285 KI 1294 YI

• Sprotelai, Sprotelie 1086 DB

• Sprotelei(a), Sprotelai(a), Sproteley 1128–32 BM 1135–9 Bridl 1155–7 YCh 13th Bridl 1283 YI

• Sprotele in Holdernes 1478 YD

• Sprottel', Sprottele(a), Sprotteley, Sprottelay 12th Bridl 1196 P 1546 FF

• Sprotley(a), Sprotlay, Sprotle 1135–40 Bridl c.1265 KF 1292 YI 1537 FF

• Sprothele 1270 BM 1275 YI

Etymology

Sprotborough (WRY), Sproteburg DB, Sprotteburg 1246Ass , has probably the same first element as Sproatley. This is OE  sprota or sprott 'sprout, shoot, twig.' The name would mean something like 'clearing where shoots are springing up,' v. leah .For a similar compound v. Spreakley (PN Sr 179). In Sproatley, the early medial e points to the OE  weak noun sprota or to a gen. plur. sprotta .