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.

The Rome Land

Early-attested site in the Parish of Waltham Holy Cross

Historical Forms

  • Roumelond 1331 ADv t.Ed4 Rental
  • Romeland 1533 WalthamD

Etymology

The Rome Land (local) is Roumelond (1331 AD v, t. Ed 4Rental ) and Romeland (1533 WalthamD). This was “a spacious place in this Town, at the entrance of the Abby , built about with houses, called Romeland , as Peter-pence were termed Romescot at this day. It is generally believed that the rents thereof peculiarly belonged to the Church of Rome ” (Fuller 8). But the existence of another Romeland at Billingsgate (the rounde londe , the rome londe 1422, 1423 Chambers & Daunt, London English 124, 133), which was a piece of open ground near the docks where ships could unload their cargoes, suggests that Fuller's explanation is a piece of antiquarian fancy. Rather, 'empty, unoccupied land,' v. rum . Cf. Romeland Hill, a street in St Albans, Romeland 1556AOMB .