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.

Stears

Early-attested site in the Parish of Newnham

Historical Forms

  • Stavre 1086 DB
  • Staur(a), Staure 1220 Fees 1221 Ass 1228–43 StPGl c.1230,1234 GlR 1248 Ass 1309 Ipm
  • Stawure c.1270 For
  • Staw(e)re 1287 Ass
  • Staures 1421 Pat 1461–85 ECP
  • Staurys 1492 GlR
  • Staires 1736 GR249
  • Stears 1830 M

Etymology

From OE  stæfer 'post, stake', possibly one used as a landmark.The later development is paralleled by that of Clearwall (237infra ), cf. Phonol. § 8.