Radwinter
Major Settlement in the Parish of Radwinter
Historical Forms
- Redeuuintrā, Redeuuintram 1086 DB
- Redwinte 1212 RBE
- Redwent' Redwent' Magna 1285 QW
- Redwynt' 1285 Ass
- Redwintur
- Radewinter 1166 RBE
- Radewinter Parva 1215 Fees 1219,1259 FF 1251 Ch
- Radewynter 1283 FF 1303 FA 1344 FF
- Rode(s)wynt' 1285 Ass
- Rodwinter 1539 LP
- Roadwinter 1605 WaldenA
Etymology
This is a difficult name and it is not made easier by the existence in Devon of a place called Midwinter (PN D 435).The most probable suggestion is perhaps that the Lat. vinitorium , 'vineyard,' was found as a loan-word in Old English, where it would take the form winter , and that we have early reference here to one of the many vineyards which we know to have existed in medieval Essex. This word was thus used in OGer place-names (cf. Förstemann ON ii, 1364–5). Even if this is correct, however, it is difficult to interpret either Rad - or Mid - in relation to such an element.