Ramerick
Early-attested site in the Parish of Ickleford
Historical Forms
- Ramworwic 1202 Ass
- Ramorduic 1215–21 BM 1294 SR
- Ramwardwike 1212 FF
- Ramwardeswick 1278 Ass
- Ranmord(e)wyk 1220 Fees 1303 FA
- Ramordwyk 1287 Pat
- Ramordwik 1294 SR
- Ramwurthewyk 1247 Ass
- Ramworthewyk(e) 1346 FA
- Ramworthwyk 1428 ib
- Ramardwuk (sic) 1255 Ass
- Romorwyk 1276 Ass
- Romardwyk 1333 Ch
- Ramrick 1663 Sess
- Ramerwick 1667 BRSii
Etymology
This is a difficult name. The second element is clearly wic, but the first has undergone some early process of folk-etymology as is shown by the forms ward , wor (d ), worth , wurth , and it is difficult to say which is the earliest or the more correct. OE ram-weard , 'keeper of the rams,' is possible though bearward is the only such compound on record. The other possibility is that this is the wick or dairy farm belonging to some lost place called Ramworth , i.e. 'ram enclosure.'