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.

Rivenhall

Major Settlement in the Parish of Rivenhall

Historical Forms

  • Reuenhala 1068 EHRxi 1309
  • Reuenhal(e) 1275 FF 1301 Ipm
  • Revenhale 1255 Pat 1532 ADi
  • Reuwenhall 1275 RH
  • Revnale 1428 FA
  • Ruwenhala, Ruwenhale 1068 EHRxi 1309 Ipm 1324
  • Ruuuenhalā 1086 DB
  • Ruenhalā, Ruenhale 1086 DB
  • Ruenhale 1281–1314 FF
  • Reu(n)hal' 1254 ib
  • Ruynhale 1262 ib
  • Riuuehalā 1086 DB
  • Riwehale 1255 Pat
  • Rywehale 1252 ib
  • Rywehall 1251 Ipm
  • Riewehale a.1272 Colch
  • Riuhal 1236 BM
  • Riwenhale 1185 Templars
  • Rywenhale 1283 Ch 1306 Ipm 1312,1313 FF
  • Rivenhale 1195 13th Fees 1352 Pap 1360 Ipm
  • Rewehale 1212 RBE 1258 Ipm a.1272 Colch 1295 FF 1303 FA
  • Rewehall 1247 FF
  • Rewenhal(e) 1217–85 1238 SR 1255 Ass 1305–24 FF 1306 Londin 1346 FA
  • Rynhale 1255 Orig
  • Ruhale 1255 Pat
  • Rowenhall 1256 FF
  • Rowenhal(e) 1271 1306 Ipm
  • Rewenham 1465 IpmR
  • Ravelane 1488 Pat
  • Ravenhall t.Eliz ChancP
  • Reuenall or Reuenale. Of some Ruynghale 1594 N

Etymology

This is a difficult name, but it is probable that it goes back to OE  (æt þǣm ) hrēofan hēale , 'at the rough nook.' Cf. gelic hreofum stane (BT s. n. hrēof ). OE  eo sometimes yields u and i in Essex (v. ES lix, 344; lxi, 16). The u -forms are more numerous than we should have expected, but it is clear that these are in part due to ready confusion with ME  ruwen , rowen from OE  rūh , 'rough.'