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.

Rawlsbury Camp, Rawlsbury Fm, Rawlsbury Wd

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hilton

Historical Forms

  • Raulesbur(y) 1399,1400 Ilch
  • Rowlesbury 1557 Surv
  • Ramesbury 1602 AddCh
  • Rawlsbury (Fm) 1811 OS
  • Railsbury Rings, Ralsbury Copse, Ralsbury Md, Ralsbury Grove Mount 1842 TA
  • Rowleston 1557 Surv

Etymology

Rawlsbury Camp (ST 767058), Rawlsbury Fm, Rawlsbury Wd, Raulesbur (y )1399, 1400Ilch , Rowlesbury 1557Surv , Ramesbury (probably for Raulesbury ) 1602AddCh , Rawlsbury (Fm )1811 OS, Railsbury Rings , Ralsbury Copse , Ralsbury Md , Ralsbury Grove Mount 1842TA , from burh (dat.sg. byrig ), here in the sense 'pre-English earthwork' since Rawlsbury Camp is an Iron Age hill-fort, v. also hring . The first el. seems to be the OG  pers.n. Radulf (Fr  Raoul ). The lost name Rowleston 1557Surv has the same first el. with tūn 'manor'.