Ramsey
Major Settlement in the Parish of Ramsey
Historical Forms
- Ramesige 1034 ASC 11thcent.
- Rammesege 1050 ASC c.1050
- Ramesege c.1060 KCD853 12thcent. ASC 1045 c.1050
- Hramesege 11th BM
- Ramesia Ri BM
- Rames(eie) 1200 FF
- Rammes(eye) 1227 Ass
Etymology
After this forms with one and two m 's respectively are about equally common.
This is, almost certainly, 'Raven's island,' the first element being an OE pers. name Hræfn which must have existed quite independently of the late OE Rafen from the ON Hrafn .
The existence of this name in OE is made certain by such place-names as Raveningham (Nf), as well as by the numerous place-names in pre-Conquest charters which contain some form or other of this word in place-names outside the Scandinavian area (cf. Ravensden supra 61). It is impossible to believe that the reference is to the bird in the majority of these place-names. Such are Ramsbury (W), Rammesburi (BCS 828), Ranscombe (Ha), Hremmescumb (ib. 938), Romsley (Sa), Hremesleage (KCD 1298), Ravenshill (Wo), Ræfneshyl (BCS 356), and numerous other unidentified examples. The h was early lost and fn assimilated to mm . For the conditions under which such a name might arise see under Ravensden.