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.

Rydinghurst

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cranleigh

Historical Forms

  • Rithyngers 1255 Ass
  • Rithinghers, Rithengherth 1263 Ass
  • Ridingehers 1270 Ass
  • Ridyngherssh t.Ed1 Ass
  • Rydynghers 1288 Ass
  • Rydingers 1306 FF
  • Rydinghersh 1332 SR
  • Ridyngersh 1341 FF
  • Rydyngherssh 1364 Cl
  • Ridinghurst 1749 B
  • Redinghersth 1272 FF
  • Redinghers t.Ed1 BM
  • Redyngersch 1307 Ass
  • Redyngherse 1494 BM
  • Reddingherst 1655 Recov
  • Rythyngehurst 1279 Ass

Etymology

In the absence of any u -forms such as Ruding -, and in face of the somewhat frequent forms with medial th , we cannot take this to be from OE  hryding , 'clearing.'More probably it is for OE  riðinga -ersc , 'stubble-land of the dwellers by the rithe or stream,' v. rið , ersc .