Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Otterspool Bridge 1831 Bry

• Rughondisbrugge c.1270 (17) Sheaf3 18, Orm2 iii 539

• a certaine Bridge nowe called Awterspoole bridg and of auncient tyme called Rohehendisbridge 1611 LRMB200

• ad quendam pontem modo vocatum Otterspoole Bridge et antiquitus vocatum Rohehoundesbrigg 1619 Orm2

• Otterscole 1621 Sheaf

• Otterscoe Bridge 1841 TAMap

Etymology

Otterspool Bridge (101–937895), Otterspool Bridge 1831 Bry, Rughondisbrugge c.1270 (17) Sheaf3 18, Orm2 iii539, a certaine Bridge nowe called Awterspoole bridg and of auncient tyme called Rohehendisbridge 1611LRMB 200 f.180, ad quendam pontem modo vocatum Otterspoole Bridge et antiquitus vocatum Rohehoundesbrigg 1619 Orm2, Otterscole (a horse bridge) 1621 Sheaf, Otterscoe Bridge 1841TAMap ; a bridge with three names, v. brycg . The earliest appears to be from rūh 'rough', and hund 'a dog, a hound', but might be from a ME  pers. by-name Rugh-hond , 'rough-handed', while the later names are from oter 'an otter' with pōl 1 'a pool' and skógr 'a wood'. This bridge was on the boundary of the Forest of Macclesfield, cf. 9supra .