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.

Rockcliffe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Rockcliffe

Historical Forms

  • Rodcliua 1185 P
  • Rotecliue 1187 ib
  • Rodecliue 1203 P
  • Rothecliva 1215 ChR
  • Roudecliua 1185 P
  • Routh(e)clive c.1187 HolmC 1348 FF
  • Roudeclive 1237 Cl
  • Rudecliue 1197 P
  • Radeclive 1203 Cur 1204 P
  • Redeclive 1203 FF
  • Rouckecliffe 1305 Ipm
  • Rouclef 1332 SR
  • Rouclif 1346 Cl 1350 Ipm
  • Raucliff 1367 FF
  • Rawclif 1482 Norfolk
  • Roclyf 1535 VE
  • Rokeclyffe 1540 AOMB
  • Rowcliffe 1576 S
  • Rokeley 1583 Border
  • Rookliefe 1584 ib
  • Upper, Nether Rowclife 1589 LRMB
  • Rowcliffe al. Rocliffe t.Jas1 Norfolk
  • Rocley 1552 Bullock

Etymology

'Red cliff,' v. rauðr , klif and cf. Rawcliff(e) (Y, four examples), (L, two examples), and Roecliffe (Y) in Lindkvist 159.