ðə nˈeɪm mˈeɪ kəntˈeɪn ˈoʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ɡˈɑːɹɹə ɪn ɪts ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl mˈiːnɪŋ ʌv "spˈɪɹ" fˈɔːɹmd wɪð ɡɹˈæf ɐpˈæɹəntli mˈiːnɪŋ wˈʊd, ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli mˈiːnɪŋ "wˈʊd fɹʌm wˈɪtʃ spˈɪɹʃˈæfts wɜː kˈʌt".
The name may contain Old English gāra in its original meaning of "spear" formed with graf apparently meaning wood, originally meaning "wood from which spear-shafts were cut".