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.

Raleigh Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Pilton, East and West

Historical Forms

  • Radeleia 1086 DB
  • Radlega 1174,1176,1180,1181 P
  • Raelega 1107–28 ADvi Ed2 P 1161,1171,1172,1175 P 1174
  • Raalega 1167 P
  • Ralega 1160,1163–6 P
  • Ralegh 1210 France
  • Ralegh juxta Barnstaple 1370 Ass
  • Rawlegh 1535 VE

Etymology

Probably in this name as in Brayley and Roadway supra 34, 53, and Rowley infra 67, the d in the DB and the early Pipe Roll forms is an error. The first element may be OE  ræge, hence 'clearing of the wild she-goat.' The d may represent a French clerk's attempt to deal with ME ʒ .

Places in the same Parish