Interpretation of the name is uncertain, probably from spak, roleg [meaning gentle, calm]. We find Bendik Olavson mentioned at the farm from the 1560's. He testified in 1590 about when he was young 66 years earlier. He was, in other words, an old man. Tallak Einarson of Skåli must have been closely related to Bendik. He sued several times both Bendik and his children for landskyld [land tax] he thought he should have for Spokkeli. The last time was in 1614, when Tallak claimed 3 markebol for Spokkeli again. He won nothing from the claim, none of his sons are found living on Spokkeli land.

Bendik had many children and much land. With his wife, Gunhild Torjusdtr, he had inherited Midtgarden Nesi and Nesland. It was his son Knut Bendikson who took over the farm.

In 1615 there is mentioned an Olav at Spokkeli. He owned then 1 tnK in the farm and 1 mK in Rinde. Probably he had some more, for in 1624 widow Gunhild [widow of Olav Bendikson] owned land at Lislestog, Homme, Momrak, Håtveit and Rike in addition to land at Spokkeli and Rinde. From what we understand from other sources, this must have been Olav Gjermundson from Rike in Valle. He was married to the widow of Olaf Bendikson Spokkeli, who lived at Lislestog. Their son Olav took over Lislestog while his widow and her new husband moved to Spokkeli. In her older days Gunhild moved to Momrak as a widow the second time.

After Bendik died, his children each had their share of the farm, therefore there were many owners during the first part of the 1600's. In 1603, Uv Jonson Lunde of Lårdal sold his wife's [Margit Halvorsdotter, Barskor 3a of Skafså] inherited share to Vetle Storåsli for 3 dalar. His mother-in-law [Liv Bendiksdotter] had previously received nine dalar. Thus we find in 1615 Knut Spokkeli with 1½ tn ½ mK, Olav Taraldlien with ½ tnK, Sigurd Rinde with ½ tnK, Vetle Storåsli with ½ tnK, Olav Spokkeli with 1 tnK and Olav Kleivi with 1½ mK. In addition the Moland church had 4 mK and the priest's farm two 2 pdS. As time passed, the farm was again with two owners.

Spokkeli was probably divided in two after Bendik Olavson died, but it is only one farm in the tax lists still many years after that. When Uv Lunde sold land in 1603, it was in Nedregarden. By a later deed we know that Knut lived in Northern Spokkeli and Olaf in Southern.