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.

Raddicombe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Brixham

Historical Forms

  • Raftercumba 1183 P
  • Raftecumb 1249 Ass
  • Reftercumb(e) 1242 Fees767,796 1244 Ass
  • Reftercombe juxta Clyfton Dertemouth 1356 Ass

Etymology

This seems to be a compound of OE  ræfter , 'rafter, beam,' and cumb, but the exact meaning is not clear. Possibly the name referred to a valley where trees and logs were cut up for building purposes.