Harpswell
Major Settlement in the Parish of Harpswell
Historical Forms
- Herpeswelle 1312 1315 Inqaqd 1373 Pat 1374 Cl 1388 AD 1398 Misc
- Herpeswell(') 1180–90 RAx 1234 FF 1242–43 Fees 1291 Tax 1254 ValNor 1295 RSu 1300 Ipm 1431 FA
- Herpiswelle 1379,1388 Cl
- Herpiswell 1389 ib
- Herpewelle 1252 FF
- Harpeswella c1115 LS 1185–87 Dane
- Harpeswell(') 1203 Ass 1203 Abbr 1203 Cur 1204 OblR 1212 Fees 1226 FF 1610 Speed
- Harpiswelle 1285 Ipm
- Harpiswelle 1388 Cl
- Harpyswell 1455 Pat
- Harpswell 1428 ASSRxxix
- Harpewell' 1186 ChancR 1202 Ass 1204 P 1219 Ass
- Harpewell 1240 FF
Etymology
This is a difficult name. Ekwall (DEPN s.n. Harpenden) suggests that the first el. is OE hearpere 'a harper', the second -r - being lost through dissimilation. The name would then mean 'the harper's spring', v. wella .Smith (EPNE s.v. hearpe and here-pæð), however, argues that some p.ns. with ME forms in Harp (s )- may well be contracted forms of OE here-pæð 'a military road, a highway', hence literally 'the spring of the military road or highway'. This formation would then be paralleled, for example, by Harpsford (PN Sr 121), both with original OE gen.sg. -es .The latter is perhaps the more likely explanation philologically.