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.

Ruscombe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ruscombe

Historical Forms

  • Rothescamp 1091,1220(both13th) RSO
  • Rotescamp 1167 P 1220 RSO 13th
  • Rothescampe 1223 13th ib
  • Rotescomb 1226 13th ib
  • Roscamp 1241 Ass
  • Roscompe EdI Hurley 1327 SR
  • Ruscompe 1284 Ass
  • Roscombe 1316 FA
  • Roscomp 1368 Pat
  • Ruscombe 1535 VE 1601 Moulton
  • Rushcombe 1596 Ashmole

Etymology

'Rōt's enclosed land'. A pers.n. Rōt (a ), from OE  rōt , 'cheerful', has been generally accepted as the first el. of a number of p.ns. including Rooting PN K 395 and Rottingdean Sx 311, v. DEPN s. n. Rutland.The el. camp, which 'fell into disuse generally at an early period' (Elements 1, 79), occurs also in f.ns. in Earley (94) and Hurley (64), both in the east of the county; v. Introd.