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.

Rutland

Volume edited by : Barrie Cox 1994

Historical Forms

  • Roteland(e) 1053–66 ASWrits94(S1138) 1086 DB 1080–7 Reg 1155,1159 P 1436,1437 Peake 1552,1554 Conant
  • Rotelanda 1130,1156 P 1177 et passim
  • Rotelaund' 1241,1244 Cl 1293 et passim
  • Rotelond(e) 1221 MiD 1243 Cl 1368 Pat 1439 Cl
  • Roteland sokene c1377 PiersPlowmanB
  • Rotheland 1294,1337 Cl
  • Ruthland 1466 Pat
  • Rut(t)eland(e) 1396,1397 Cl 1471 Peake 1511 FH 1586 et passim
  • elond 1555 Conant
  • Rutland(e) 1416 Wyg 1442 Rut 1449 WoCart 1492 MktHPR 1535 VE
  • Rutlond' 1460 Cl 1497 Braye 1540,1556 Conant
  • Ruthelandshire c1545 Leland

Etymology

'Rōta's land', v. land , sōcn . The OE  pers.n. Rōta appears to be a by-name meaning 'the pleasant or cheerful one', from the adj. rōt 'glad, cheerful, bright'. For reference to the original soke of Rutland, v. VCH 1121–36. For minor forms which also record the Anglo-Saxon Rōta, v. Rutmore in Teigh.