Stumbleholm Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Ifield
Historical Forms
- Stombylholl in 1448 Ct
- Stumblehole in 1565 SRS3,26
- Stombelhole 1327 SR
- Ellesstumble 1230 FF
Etymology
Stumbleholm Fm is Stombylholl in 1448 (Ct ), Stumblehole in 1565 (SRS 3, 26) and gave name to Peter de Stombelhole (1327 SR).Cf. Stumblehole in Leigh (Sr), Stombelhole (p) in 1332 (SR).The name is possibly a term of contempt for an insignificant hole of a farm which one might stumble across. It should be noted however that the word stumbel by itself could be used in ME in Sussex. We have an Ellesstumble (1230 FF), Stumbelforlonge in Durrington (1257 Sele) and Gervas atte Stumble in the neighbourhood of Hellingly in 1296 (SR), and Stumble feeld and wood in Balcombe (1727 Map ). This must be a lost OE cognate of Ger stummel , 'stump,' from the OHG adj. stumbal , 'blunted.'For its use in p.n.'s v. Förstemann, ON ii. 916 s. v. stump . OE stumbel doubtless denoted 'stump of a tree.' A 'stumble-hole' might denote a hollow where such a stump stood, but the twofold occurrence of the compound makes the explanation first given the more likely. One other example of stumbel has been noted, viz. Stumpshill Wood in Blackheath (K), which is Stumbelhylde in 1333SR (p), i.e. stump-slope, v. hylde .