Harpley
Early-attested site in the Parish of Lower Sapey
Historical Forms
- Hoppeleia 1222 FF
- Harpele(y) 1275 SR 1369 Pat 1405 IpmR 1611 QSR
- Happeleye 1293 Ipm
Etymology
The sequence of forms is not very clear but it is probable that we have the same first element which is found in Harptree (So), DBHerpetreu , Harpetreu , Harpley (Nf), DBHerpelai , Harpenden (Herts), 1285 (John Ch) Harpendena , Harpford (D), 1284 FA Herpford , perhaps also Harpswell (L), DBHerpeswelle , Lindsey Survey Harpeswella , and Harpsfield (Herts), 1303 FA Herpesfeld , and cf. herpesford in BCS 34 (late copy), now Harpsford (Sr). These would seem to go back in the case of the weak forms to an OE hearpa , 'harper,' as suggested by Skeat (PN Herts 21). This must early have been used as a pers. name.The frequent strong forms might be explained as from earlier and fuller Herperes -, from OE hearperes the genitive of an alternative form of the agent-noun. It should be added however that both these suggestions alike leave untouched the disconcerting frequency of early Herp - rather than Harp -, the form which we should really have expected. Tentatively we may suggest that the name means 'clearing of Hearpa .' v. leah .