Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Runetune 1086 DB c.1150 Holme

• Runeton 1185 P 1208 FF

• Runton(e) 1224 Cur 1242–3 Fees 1257 Ass 1275 RH 1302,1316,1346 FA 1281 Cl 1307 Ipm 1332 Cl 1275,1333,1366 FF 1535 VE 1589 SP

• Rointon 1224 Cur

• Rompton 1233 Cl

• Rungtone 1286 Ass

• Runtton 1366 FF

• Rounton 1401–2 FA

• Ronton 1535 VE

• Ronneton 1541 NE

• Estrunton, Westrunton 1311 Pat

Etymology

The first element of this name in tūn has been explained as OE  hruna 'fallen tree, log' or OE  rūn 'council'. Since both of these seem semantically less appropriate, it has recently been explained as a pers.n., OE  *Rūna or ODan  Runi , OSwed  Rune (Mills). According to Insley (Hoops s.v. Grimston-hybrids ), the situation in this case makes an altogether Old English origin with OE  *Rūna (cf. OG Runo ) more plausible.

The two villages of East and West Runton both seem to have been considerably reduced in size over a long period of time through coastal erosion. East Runton has been classed as a fishing village (White 762).The medieval history of the neighbouring manors of Felbrigg and Beeston Priory is interlinked with that of Runton (Blomefield VIII159 f.). The manors of Felbrigg and Beeston Priory were united at the Dissolution in 37 Hy8 (1545–6) under Sir Edmund Wyndam (cf. Windham Park infra ).