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.

Roydon

Major Settlement in the Parish of Roydon

Historical Forms

  • Ruindune 1086 DB
  • Roindon, Royndon 1208 Cur 1292 Ch 1313 Orig
  • Reindun 1205 FF
  • Reyndon(e) 1227–82 FF 1238 SR 1248,1255 Ass 1257 Ch
  • Reyndon(e) juxta Ware 1354 MinAcct
  • Reidon, Reydon 1248 Ass 1250,1266 FF 1312 Cl 1383 IpmR
  • Ringdon 1254 Ass
  • Raindon 1280 Inqaqd
  • Rayndone 1311 MinAcct
  • Roydon(e) 1467,1507 Pat

Etymology

'Rye-covered hill,' OE  (æt þǣre ) rygenan dūne , soon reduced to rygendune . Identical with Raydon and Reydon (PN Sf 20).The adjective rygen also occurs in Renacres (PN La 120).Roydon (Nf), Rygedune 1038 BM is from the noun ryge . Cf. Waddington (PN Sr 46) for similar formations.