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.

Royalthorn Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Northenden & Stockport

Historical Forms

  • (?Ra)gel(l) 1248, 1249 Ipm, IpmR
  • Ryale 1260 Plea
  • Ruyel' 1285 Court
  • Ruyl 1295 Sheaf
  • Ruyl in Ecchels 1370 Earw
  • Ruyle 1377 Eyre
  • Ruyle in Echeles 1417 ChRR
  • Ruyhul(l) 1318 Earw 1354 Eyre
  • Ruyll 1417 ChRR, Plea
  • Ryehull 1287 Court 1289 Orm2 17
  • Ryll 1369 17 ib
  • Ryle 1520 ChRR
  • Roille 1290 Court
  • Royl(l)e 1380,1382 Eyre
  • Rile Thorn in Ecchils 1536 Earw
  • Royalthorn 1831 Bry

Etymology

'(Thorn at) the rye-hill', from ryge and hyll , with þorn . The earliest spelling is dubious, v. Ipm 131. The 1260 Plea form appears to contain hale , dat.sg. of halh , 'a corner'. Cf. Royle Green 237supra , which is probably connected with this place.