Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

In the bounds of what afterwards became the Manhood (BCS 64)Rumbruge is the next point westwards after Cumeneshora (v. The Owers supra 83), and itself comes just before Heremuðe (v. Hormouth supra ), placing it clearly somewhere between Medmerry and West Wittering. In 1180 (P) we have mention of one Radulphus de Rumbriga , in 1271 (Ass ) there is a Rumbregge in the Manhood and in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and 1332 we have a John de R (h )umbrugg (e ) in West Wittering.This Rumbridge is lost, almost certainly because it now lies under the sea, like all the coast-points in the charter-bounds, but clearly it survived into the 14th cent. and must have given rise to the common Sussex pers. name Rumbridger , first noted in a court-roll of 1443 in the form Rumbryger (cf. Bridger's Pond supra 35). Someone of this name doubtless gave his name to two fields called Rummagers (1849TA for Sidlesham), which lie a little to the north-west of Easton Fm, on the Earnley border. The clue to the interpretation of the name was first suggested by Mr C. A. Seyler. He called attention to the fact that in the version of the bounds in BCS 997 (Middle English, but rather more archaic than the version found in BCS 64), the corresponding point is þri beorgas , i.e. three 'barrows,' for there can be no question of hills here. In the bounds of Eamley (BCS 669), which touches the sea, we have mention of what is clearly the same point and it is called (æt ) thrim beorgum . It is clear that all these forms are related to one another. The correct dat. form in OE  would be æt þrēom beorgum which in EME  would become at thrum bergen , which, by a common misdivision of words and a confusion of berg and bregge which is curious but not without parallel (cf. Gold Bridge infra 316 and Weybridge (PN BedsHu 232)), led to a form at the rumbrugge and a place-name Rumbridge . The last reference to Rumbridge that has been noted is land called Rumbrug in Manewode in 13 98 (LibB )