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.

Rocher, Rocher End, Rocher Flat, Rocher Head

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ecclesfield

Historical Forms

  • Rocher 1566 WillY 1849 TA
  • Brocher neere Bradfeild (sic) 1665 Visit
  • Rotherend (sic for Rocherend) 1558 WillY
  • Rocherend 1603 SheffMan
  • Rocher Field 1849 TA
  • Rotcherhead 1694 Norf
  • Rocher Head 1771 M

Etymology

Rocher, Rocher End, Rocher Flat, Rocher Head, Rocher 1566 WillY, 1849TA , Brocher neere Bradfeild (sic)1665 Visit; Rotherend (sic for Rocherend )1558 WillY, Rocherend 1603 SheffMan; Rocher Field 1849TA ; Rotcherhead 1694Norf , Rocher Head 1771 M. Cf. also Rocher 340, Rotcher ii, 309infra . The common el. is OFr  rocher 'a rock', which remains in YW dial. rocher 'a steep rocky bank'; this well suits the steep craggy hillsides above Rocher and above Rocher Head, Rocher End and Rocher Flat. Cf. Fr  Le Rocher (Vincent 220).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name