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.

Rackenford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Rackenford

Historical Forms

  • Racheneforda, Litel Racheneforda 1086 DB
  • Racarneford(e) 1147–61 Buckland
  • Rakarneford(e) 1387 Exon
  • Rakerneford 1238 FF t.Hy3 BM 1285 FA 1291 Tax
  • Racrenneford 1350 Pat
  • Racheneford 1204 Cur
  • Rakeneford 1242 Fees784 1267 Exon 1303 FA
  • Rakenneford 1292 Ipm
  • Rakenesford 1313 Exon
  • Parva Rakeneford' 1242 Fees761
  • Rageneford 1297 Pat
  • Rakereford' 1246 Cl
  • Rattenford, Rackingford 1628 Barum1,60,62

Etymology

Blomé (120) suggests that this difficult name is from OE  racu - ærna -ford , 'ford of (or by) the houses by the racu or path.'