Rainton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Topcliffe
Historical Forms
- Reineton, Rainincton 1086 DB
- Renyngton, Renington 1157,1184 RichReg 1319 Cl
- Renningeton 1202,1208 FF
- Reignington 1213 Abbr
- Reniton 1219 Percy
- Ranyngton 1285 KI c.1300 RichReg 1527 Fount
- Raynyngton, Raynington 1301 LS 1319 Cl 1548 Fount
- Raynton 1535 Ve
Etymology
With this name we should compare Rainton and Rennington (PN NbDu s.nn.). The first element is a pers. name Rægen , Rein which in Rainton (Du) is known to be a shortened form of OE Rægenwald .
Rægenwald is commonly taken to be an Anglicising of ON Rǫgnvaldr , but it should be pointed out that OE names Regengar , Regnhæg , Regenhere , Regenweald and Regenweard are found borne by persons of whom some at least cannot be Scandinavian by birth or name and we must assume that this element was in free use in native names. An English name is more likely than a Scand one in an ingtun place-name formation.