Steeple
Major Settlement in the Parish of Steeple
Historical Forms
- Stepla(m) 1086 DB
- Steple 1194 CurR
- Lestepl', le Stepl' 1232 Cl
- la Stepel' 1239 FF
- Esteple 1254 Ass
- Steplun 1154–89 Dugdv
- Stieples 1163–70 AC
- Stepoll' 1199 CurR
- Stepele 1207 FF
- Stepell 1230 Ch
- Stepyll 1403 Bodl 1428 FA
- Stepeltun(e) 1230 Bodl 1239,1254 FF
- Stepelton 1227–1317 1251 Ch 1254 Ass
- Stepleton 1233 FF
- Stipelton 1255 Ass
- Stupelton 1282 IpmR 1283 Pat
- Stepildone 1291 Tax
- Stapell 1428 FA
Etymology
Originally named simply Steeple (OE stīepel ), the place was later known as Steepleton . For the former we may perhaps compare Stepple in Neen Savage (Sa), DBSteple , for the latter Steepleton (Do), Stepelton 1210–12 RBE, Stapleton (He), Stepeltun t. Hy 3 Ipm, Stepulton 1399 BM and (Sa) Stepelton , Stepulton 1316–1428 FA. The only recorded sense of stī (e )pel in OE is 'tower,' whence the modern 'steeple,' but it is not very likely that in place-names stiepel by itself or when compounded with tun had this sense. More probably stiepel could also be used in OE of a steep thing or place generally, being a derivative of OE stēap , 'steep.' 'Steep place,' 'farm by the steep place' would suit the topography of these places, though the Essex one is only steep in contrast with the surrounding flats. The modern staple - forms are due to mistaken association with the common place- names in Staple -. For similar place-name formations cf. OGer Staufen , Stoufinberc , Stofola (Förstemann, ON ii, 882–3).