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.

Romaldkirk

Major Settlement in the Parish of Romaldkirk

Historical Forms

  • Rumoldesc(h)erce 1086 DB
  • Rumbald(e)kirke 1184 RichReg 1285 KI 1343 FF
  • Rombalekirk 1479 Sanct
  • Romerkirk, Romerkyrke 1576 FF 1606 NR

Etymology

'Church dedicated to St Rumold' v. kirkja . For the early veneration of Rumwald cf. the reference to his resting-place at Buckingham in the 11th cent. document commonly known as Saints . Whytford's Martiloge (ed. Procter and Dewick, London, 1893) under Nov. 3rd, p. 173, states: “In englond also the feest of Saynt Rumwold the kynges sone of northumberlond that forthw't whan he was borne cryed w't lowd voyce sayeng thre tymes togyder these wordes, 'I am a chrystyan,' and than required the Sacrament of baptym and after to haue masse and was communed and than he made a noble sermon w't meruay- lous good eloquence and lyued thre dayes and so departid and lyeth in buckyngham ful of myracles.”