Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stapeford 1086 DB 1159 France

• Stapelford' 1087×1100,1094×1123 TutP c.1130 LeicSurv 1381 Pat 1392 TutP 1507 Banco 1514 CoPleas

• Stapelford' super Yreck' c.1200 BrCart 14

• Stapel(l)forde 1158×66 TutP 1227 RHug

• Stapelfordia e.13 Laz 1404

• Stapelfort m.13 1404 ib

• Estapleford c.1200 France

• Estapelforde 1223 RHug

• Stapilford' c.1141 Dugd 1209×35 RHug 1242 Fees 1375 Peake 1404 Laz 1441(1449),1449 WoCart 1507 Pat

• Stapilford' iuxta Brendebrocc' Hy3 Crox

• Stapilforde 1327 SR 1375 Deed 1433 WoCart 1449

• Stapylford 1428 FA 1498 Ipm 1526 AAS

• Stapulford' 1307(1449),1309(1449),1336(1449) WoCart 1486 Pat 1498 Banco

• Stapleford 1159 France 1132×66 BrCart 14 Banco 1284 Ch 1308 Inqaqd 1319 Visit 1518,1528

• Stapleford super Wrethec c.1200 BrCart 14

• Stapleforda c.1200 14 ib

• Staplefordie 1218×25 14 ib

• Stapleforde 1535 VE 1539 Deed 1549,1553 Pat

• Stabul(l)forth 1473 CCR 1564 Terrier

• Stapelforth 1548 Fine

• Stapylforth 1549 Pat

• Staplefo(u)rth 1561 1592 Rut

Etymology

'The ford marked by a post', v. stapol , ford . The ford was presumably sited where the bridge beside Bedehouses stands. The affixes ~ super Yreck ', ~ super Wrethec (both c.1200 (14)) indicate that in the 14th cent. and earlier, the settlement was considered to lie beside R. Wreake. Nowadays, this reach of R. Wreake to the east of Melton Mowbray is known as R. Eye and the Eye may have been the pre- Scandinavian name for the whole stream. The affix ~ iuxta Brendebrocc ' t. Hy 3 probably preserves the early name of the brook which forms the county boundary between Stapleford and Whissendine in Rutland. It is 'the brook of burnt colour, the brownish stream', v. brende 2 , brōc , with reference to its muddy waters. Those early forms for Stapleford with prosthetic E - are due to AFr influence.