Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ruard Road 1775 EnclA

• Ruarddaile gate 1648 LindDep

• Reward dale, Reward dale gate 1668 Terrier

• Reward dale 1669,1700 LindDep

• Ruard dale, Ruard dale 1679 Terrier

• Ruhard dale gate 1671 ib

• Ruardale gate 1700 ib

• Ruard-dale gate 1690 ib

• Ruard Dale (gate) 1693 Foster 1697 Terrier

• Ruard Dalegate 1730 Foster

• Rewerd stigh end 1631 Dudd

• Reward Stiegh 1669 LindDep

• Reward Steigh 1700 ib

• Ruard Steigh 1724 Terrier 1728 BPD 1730 Foster 1745 Terrier

• Ruard 1775 EnclA

Etymology

RUARD RD, Ruard Road 1775EnclA , cf. Ryward , Rywardhe (v. ēa 'a river, a stream'), Rywardedall 'lHy3 (l14) Gox , Reward 1309 (e14) Bridl (checked from MS), Ruerdaile gate 1601Terrier , Rewerdale gate 1638ib , Ruardgate . Ruarddaile gate 1648LindDep 67 , Reward dale , Reward dale gate 1668Terrier , Reward dale 1669, 1700LindDep 67 , Ruard dale , Ruard dale 1679Terrier , Ruhard dale gate 1671ib , Ruardale gate 1700ib , Ruard-dale gate 1690ib , Ruard Dale (gate )1693Foster , 1697Terrier , Ruard Dalegate 1730Foster , Rewerd stigh end 1631Dudd , Reward Stiegh 1669LindDep 67 , Reward Steigh 1700ib , Ruard Steigh 1724Terrier , 1728BPD , 1730Foster , 1745Terrier , Ruard 1775EnclA . The basic name is represented by the modern Ruard , to which has been added deill 'a portion, share of land', gata 'a road' and stīg , stígr 'a path, narrow road'. Dr John Insley agrees that the second el. of Ruard is ME  ward (OE  warod ) 'low-lying land, marsh', on which v. Löfvenberg 220, and this is perfectly appropriate topographically. The earliest spelling suggests the first el. is ryge 'rye', but the subsequent development is obscure. Perhaps, however, the name does mean 'the low-lying land, the marsh where rye grows'.