Runley (Woods)
Early-attested site in the Parish of Luton
Historical Forms
- Rindele, Ryndele 1202 Ass 1276,1287 Ass 14th GestStAlb
- Reyndel 1287 Ass
- Rundele 1287 Ass
Etymology
No solution can be offered of this name. From the point of view of form the first element might be OE rynel , 'runnel,' but there seems to be no stream by the wood. (In that case we should have to take the d as epenthetic.) We have in OE a hrindan broc BCS 466 and hrinde bearwas (Beowulf 1363), now generally taken to be for hrindede bearwas , i.e. 'frost-covered groves.' Neither of these words would however explain ME Rundele or the modern Runley . These and the other forms point to initial Hry - or Ry - in OE. Professor Ekwall suggests an OE rȳmde , 'cleared,' hence rȳmdan leage , 'cleared leah.'