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.

Staploe Hundred

Hundred in the County of Cambridgeshire

Historical Forms

  • Staplehou 1086 DB, ICC, InqEl
  • Stapleho(w)(e) 1260 Ass 1553 Pat
  • Staplefo. … 1086 ICC
  • Stapel(e)ford(e) 1175–1200 P 1302,1346 FA
  • Stapelhowe 1086 InqEl 1268 Ass
  • Stapelho 1168 P 1381 Ass
  • Stapelhou 1175–7 P 1285 Ass
  • Stapilho(e) 1275–9 RH 1336 SR 14th Cai 1401 FA
  • Stapilhow 1279 RH
  • Stapulho 1428 FA 1523 SR
  • Staploo 1560 Depositions
  • Stapelawa 1193 P
  • Stapellauwe 1196 ElyC
  • Stapelhoo (1298 Ass)
  • viam de Stapelhoue 1198 FF
  • Stapilhamweye 1451 Queens'
  • Stapillo wey 1521 ib.
  • Staplowey 16th ib

Etymology

'Spur of land marked by a pillar' and probably, as suggested by Anderson (EHN i, 98–9), used as a meeting-place, v. stapol , hōh .Stapelford and Stapelawa are due to the influence of hundred names like Whittlesford and Thriplow which sometimes immediately precede it (e.g. 1175, 1193 P).

The hundred is named from a place Stapelhoo (1298Ass ) in Burwell.“A balk in Burwell field is called Staploe balk ” 1808 L 97. The road leading thither is frequently mentioned as viam de Stapelhoue 1198 FF, Stapilhamweye 1451Queens ', Stapillo wey 1521 ib., Staplowey 16th ib. Cf. Staploe (PN BedsHu 58).