Rochford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Rochford
Historical Forms
- Rochefort 1086 DB
- Rocheford 1200 LibR 1306 Londin
- Rochford 1227 Ch 1346 FA
- Rochesford 1180 P 1197 FF t.Ric1 HarlCh 1317 Inqaqd 1321–4 Londin 1337
- Rac(c)h(e)ford 1200 P t.Hy3 Ipm 1246 Ipm 1483 Pat 1485 LP 1486 MinAcct 1535 VE
- Raechford 1491 Ipm
- Ratchforde 1548 EASxiii
- Rech(e)ford 1243–8 ADi 1272 Ass 1414,1484 Pat
- Retchford 1704 EssPRii
- Rocheford, of some Reechford or Richeford 1594 N
Etymology
This is a difficult name which possibly has a parallel in Rochford (PN Wo 69). In that name we have OE ræcces -ford , 'ford of the hunting-dog,' giving rise normally to ME Raches -, Reches -, but with occasional Roch (es )- forms in the 13th and 14th centuries. In this name the Rach -, Rech - forms are the later. It is clear that there has been confusion with such French names as Rochefort . French influence would be very likely in so famous a Norman stronghold as Rochford. For the first element cf. Rachesleye in Hatfield Broad Oak (1363 AD vi).
The form Rokesford for the hundred-name (supra 176), found in the Westminster DB is disturbing, and suggests the possibility of yet further confusion with OE hrōc , 'rook' or Hrōc (pers. name). The k is repeated in a 12th-century form Rokeford , derived from a pers. name (DKR xxxv, 2).