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.

Riffa Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Knaresborough

Historical Forms

  • Riffalberg(h), Ryffalberg(h) 1388,1409,1429,1439 MinAcct
  • Ryffalbargh 1469 ib
  • Ryffalberch 1508 ib
  • Riffaldeberch 1518 ib

Etymology

Riffa Wood, Riffalberg (h ), Ryffalberg (h )1388, 1409, 1429, 1439MinAcct , Ryffalbargh 1469 ib, Ryffalberch 1508 ib, Riffaldeberch 1518 ib. The first el. is uncertain but it could be an OE plant-name rife which is found only in the compound hege-rife 'goose-grass' (cf. NED s.v. hairif ); v. (ge)fall 'place where trees have been felled', beorg 'hill'.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name