Rawcliff Bank
Early-attested site in the Parish of Skelton
Historical Forms
- Readecliff 1043–60 SD 12
- Roudeclif, Roudclive 1086 DB
- Routheclyve, Routheclive 1190,1242 Guis
- Roudif, Roudifflat 1407 YI
- Rodiff 1582 FF
Etymology
This name is of great interest as showing what must have repeatedly happened in Yorkshire place-names, viz. the replacement of an OE name by a Scand cognate. The SD form Readediff is from OE read 'red,' whilst later forms show the substitution of ON rauðr. v. clif .