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.

Radway

Early-attested site in the Parish of Preston

Historical Forms

  • (vill' de) Radewey(e) 1280,1288 Ass 1311 Ipm 1315 Cl 1329 Ipm 1386 Fine
  • Radway(e) 1549,1616 Hutch3
  • Rodway 1649 ib
  • Rodway Mead 1838 TA

Etymology

Radway (lost), (vill ' de ) Radewey (e )1280, 1288Ass , 1311 Ipm, 1315 Cl, 1329 Ipm, 1386 Fine, Radway (e )1549, 1616 Hutch3, Rodway 1649 ib, probably named from R. Wey, cf. Broadwey par. supra , with either rēad 'red', from the colour of soil or foliage, cf. Radeslow in W Knighton par. supra , or hrēod 'reed', denoting a place where reeds grew, cf. Radipole par. infra . However the name may alternatively be from rād-weg 'road suitable for riding'. It is probably to be associated with Rodway Mead 1838TA , which is in the extreme W of Preston par. near Horse Lynch Plant. infra ; this part of Preston borders on Broadwey par. and on a part of Melcombe R. that was formerly included in Radipole par.