English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Rainworth

Early-attested site in the Parish of Blidworth

Historical Forms

  • Reynwath 1268 Pat 1287 For
  • Reynewath 1602 ForBk
  • water of Raynwath 1278 NtIpm
  • water of Rayngwath 1280 Cl
  • Raynwath 1287 For
  • Raynewath c.1490 Survey
  • Reynewathford 1300 For
  • Raynwathforth 1300 Rufford
  • Raynewathforthe c.1300 For
  • Rayneswhatford 1301 Welbeck
  • Rainewath forthe t.Hy8 For
  • Raynewath ford 1602 ForBk
  • Raynswathe t.Ed3 For
  • Reinwarth Forthe c.1500 Map

Etymology

The first element in this name may be ON  hreinn , 'clean,' as suggested in DEPN, and the whole name may mean 'clean ford' (v. vað ), but as the ford is on the boundary between Broxtow and Bassetlaw wapentakes, the first element may be ON  rein , 'boundary strip.'