Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Rookes 1556 WillY 1649 WillS

• Over- 1624 WYD

• Rokeshall 1568 WB263

• de Rokys Ed1 Arm

• del Rooks 1314 Watson

Etymology

Rookes Hall, Lower Rookes, Upper Rookes, Rookes 1556 WillY, 1649 WillS, (Over -) 1624 WYD, Rokeshall 1568WB 263. The estate was owned by a family called de Rokys Ed 1 Arm 17, del Rooks 1314 Watson 140, etc. and this name, which is of local origin, is probably best explained by ME  ruke , e.ModE  rooke , roke , dial. ruck , rook 'a heap of fuel, a rick of hay or corn' (which is thought to be of Scandinavian origin, cf. Norw  ruka ); but Norw  dial. ruk , rūka and Icel  hrúka have long vowels (cf. Jóhannesson 834) and are not therefore relevant parallels.