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.

Ripley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ripley

Historical Forms

  • Ripelei 1086 DB
  • Ripele 1224 Pat
  • Ripeleye 1291 Tax
  • Riplea, Ryplea, Rypley(e), Ryplay 1177 P 1284–6 FA 1323 Ass 1501 WollCh
  • Rippel', Ryppel', Rypplega(m), Ryppleg', Rypplea, Ryppleya, Ryppley(e), Rypple 1154–9,1162–82 Darley 1166 P 1175 Darley 1176 P 1177 ChancR 1185,1186 P 1410 Pat
  • Ripple(y) c.1341 NI 1382 Cl
  • Rippelle 1240 FF

Etymology

Perhaps 'clearing in the shape of a strip', v. ripel , lēah . It is, of course, possible that Ripley contains the OE tribal name Hrype , which occurs in Ripon and possibly Ripley WRY, as well as Repton infra 653.