Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ructunstal 1238 YDii

• Rutonestal 1276 RH

• Routunstal(e) 1265 YI 14 YDxiii,48

• Routonstal(e) 1265 YI 1275 WCR

• Routonstall 1274 1336 YDxiii,48 1342 Tayllvii

• Rotonstall 1403 Stansf

• Rottanstall Hey 1582 HAS

• Rowtunstall, Rowtonstall 1560 FF 1567 DodsN 1583 WillY 1591 FF

• Rowtenstall 1589 HAS

• Rattonstall 1583 WillY 1817 M

• Rattinstall Bank 1771 M

• Rawtonstall 1606 PRHept 1822 Langd

Etymology

'Rough farmstead', v. rūh , tūn-stall (cf. Saltonstall 125supra ).The spellings with -u - and -ou - are normal, whilst later variants Ra - and Raw - are dial. (cf. Phonol. §§ 8, 32). The name is paralleled by Rawtenstall La 92; cf. also Ritter 144.