Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Roudun, Rodum 1086 DB

• Roudun, Roudon l.12 Kirkst 1240 FF 1240–50 Bodl14 c.1250 Calv 1282 BM 1285 KI 1374 YDiv

• Rowdon 1358 BM

• Ru(e)don 1251,1259 Ass

• Raudon 13 Hem 1202 FF 1246 1285 KI 1367 BM

• Rauden 1540 MinAcct

• Rawdon 1246 Ass32d c.1374 YDiv 1450 YDvii 1535 VE

• Rawden 1539 MinAcct 1607 FF

• Rawedon 1505 FF

Etymology

'Red hill', v. rauðr (possibly replacing an earlier OE  rēad 'red' as in Rawcliffe YN 146), dūn ; cf. Rawden Hill 186infra . The spelling Ru (e )don is probably an inversion through association with p.ns. from rūh 'rough' (often spelled Rou - in ME), cf. Rawtonstall iii, 197, Phonol. § 32. The ending -den (which has been adopted on the latest 1″ O.S.) is erratic through association with names from denu 'valley'.