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.

Spanhoe Fm and Spanhoe Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Laxton

Historical Forms

  • Spanhoe Wood 1826 G
  • forest, de Rokingham 1316 Inqaqd

Etymology

Spanhoe Fm and Spanhoe Wood is Spanhoe Wood 1826 G. Possibly it is identical with Sanhowe bosc. infra forest , de Rokingham 1316 Inq aqd. If so, the latter form must be corrupt. Span may be due to confusion of OE  spōn , 'chip of wood' and the corresponding ON  spánn . Such a name in this woodland area is very probable, v. hoh .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement