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.

Sopwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of St Peters

Historical Forms

  • Sopwella 1114–46 Gesta 14th ANG c.1220 StAlbansJ c.1250
  • Sopwelle c.1250 MP 1304 Ipm 1342 BM
  • Sopewelle 1233 FF 1338 Dugd
  • Shopwell 1255 Ass
  • Soppewell(e) 13th StAlbansN 1290 FF 1307 Orig 1386 Rental
  • Sopwellebury c.1420 Annales
  • Sopwelberi 1421 Wills

Etymology

Sopwell is Sopwella 1114–46 (14th) Gesta, c. 1220 ANG, c. 1250StAlbansJ , Sopwelle c. 1250 MP, 1304 Ipm, 1342 BM, Sopewelle 1233FF , 1338 Dugd, Shopwell 1255Ass , Soppewell (e )13thStAlbansN , 1290FF , 1307 Orig, 1386Rental , Sopwellebury c. 1420 Annales, Sopwelberi 1421 Wills. The first element of this is the personal name Soppa found also in Sodbury (Gl), Soppan byrg c. 900 (11th) BCS 582, Sopley (Ha), Sopelie 1086 DB, with the same eccentric sh in Shoppesle 1297 Pat, and Sopworth (W), Sopeworde 1086 DB, Shopworth 1252 Ch.