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.

Romping Downs

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ash

Historical Forms

  • Rumping Downes 1607 Norden
  • Romping Down 1765 R.

Etymology

Romping Downs is Rumping Downes 1607Norden , Romping Down 1765 R. The same name occurs elsewhere in the county, cf. Rompin Downs infra 222 and Field-names infra 385, 388. The first element is probably the word ramp , recorded from Surrey (EDD s. v .) in the sense 'to make a series of inclined drops,' and used of a wall built on sloping ground.