Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Spanidelf 1251 ElyCouch

• Spandelf t.Hy3 WMP

• Spanisdelf 1277 Ely

• Spaindelf 14th Cai

• Spanydelfe 1606 Depositions

• Spains Delph c.1840 TA

Etymology

Spaindelf Fm is Spanidelf 1251ElyCouch , Spandelf t. Hy 3WMP , Spanisdelf 1277Ely , Spaindelf 14thCai , Spanydelfe 1606Depositions , Spains Delph c. 1840TA . This is probably a compound of OE  spann , 'a hand's breadth, a span' and (ge)delf, perhaps a derogatory name for a very narrow dike. Cf. further Spon End (PN Wa 167–8). The earliest forms might be read as Spain - or Spani -, but the form Spany - suggests that the second is the correct reading, with later corruption of a name no longer understood.