Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Broksmegl 1296 SR

• Broxmehele 1315 SAC40,189

• (de) Brocsmelo 1308 Add

• Broxmele 1332 SR

• Brokesmell 1547 SAC41,206

• Brocksmede 1556 SAC41,206

• Brooksmead 1689 SAC2,114

• Smeghel(T) 1279,1288 Ass

• Smegle 1296 SR

Etymology

Here and in Brooksmarle infra 461 and in smeagelhyrst in the Ambersham charter (BCS 1114) we have an OE  element smēagel which, as Professor Ekwall suggests, is clearly related to OE  smūgan , 'to creep,' smygel , 'burrow,' the whole name meaning 'badger-hole,' v. brocc . In both cases the unfamiliar second element has developed irregularly. There was also a villata of Smeghel (T ) (1279, 1288Ass ), Smegle (1296 SR), in the east of the county, which clearly derives from either smeagel or smygel .