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.

Snap

Early-attested site in the Parish of Aldbourne

Historical Forms

  • Snape 1268 Ass
  • Snappe 1332 SR 1423 FF
  • Snappe by Aldebourn 1361 Ipm

Etymology

Snap is Snape 1268Ass (p), Snappe 1332SR , 1423FF , Snappe by Aldebourn 1361 Ipm. This is from OE  snæp , 'boggy land,' discussed in PN Sx 28 s. n. Snapelands . Cf. also Snapper and Snape (PN D44, 359). Snap lies in a bottom on the chalk downs, and the ground is full of water so that the sense 'boggy ground' would suit it well.