Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Redebi 1086 DB

• Rederbia c.1130 LeicSurv

• Rederbi l.12,e.13 Dane

• Redrebi c.1200 ib

• Reidebi Hy2 Dugd

• Reytherby 1254 Val 1299 Banco

• Retheresby e.13 Berkeley

• Rethesb' 1220 MHW

• Retherby 1206 Cur 1221 Fine 1221 Ass 1236 Fees 1481 Ct 1486 Ipm 1518 Visit 1536 RTemple

• Rethirby 1242,1274 RGrav

• Rethurby 1226 Fine 1271 Cur 1301 WoCart 1449 1360 SR 1449 1377

• Ratherby 1487 Pat 1506,1507 Ipm 1601 Terrier

• Ratherbie 1582 LEpis

• Rathurby 1576 LibCl

• Rathurbie 1582 LEpis

• Rotheby 1303 MiD

• Rotherby 1253×58 RHug 1266 Cur 1316 FA 1579 LEpis 1610 Speed

Etymology

'Hreiðar's farmstead, village', v. bȳ , cf. Rearsby infra . The ON  pers.n. Hreiðarr (ODan  Rethar ) as the specific rather than the ON  pers.n. Hreiði is indicated by the continuing presence of medial r and the surviving genitival forms in -es -. Some forms from the mid 13th cent, onwards show attraction to rother , a reflex of OE  hrȳðer 'an ox, cattle'.