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.

Sperberry Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ippollitts

Historical Forms

  • (in) campo de Speleburwe 1203 FF
  • Spelburwe 13th Wymondley
  • Spelbrowgh, Spelbrowgh way 15th AddCh
  • Spylbrokehyll 1550 Pat
  • Spilborough Hill t.Ed6 Chantry

Etymology

Sperberry Hill (6″) is (in ) campo de Speleburwe 1203FF , Spelburwe 13thWymondley , Spelbrowgh , Spelbrowgh way 15thAddCh , Spylbrokehyll 1550 Pat, Spilborough Hill t. Ed 6 Chantry. 'Hill of speech,' v. beorg and cf. Spelhoe Hundred (PN Nth 131). It was probably the meeting place of the half-hundred of Hitchin.We may compare Spelsbury Fm in Wardour (W), hard by Dunworth Fm, which gave name to the Hundred of Dunworth.