Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Rounnesdenewell (sic for Rommesdenewell) 1307 WCR

• Rommesdene 1315 ib

• Ramesdene 1323,1327 1492 MinAcct

• Rammesden(e) 1325 WCR 1331 Ass5 1392 MinAcct

• Romsdeyn 1379 PT

• Ramsden 1709 WMB

Etymology

Ramsden, Rounnesdenewell (sic for Rommesdenewell )1307 WCR, Rommesdene 1315 ib, Ramesdene 1323, 1327 ib (p)1462, 1492MinAcct 99, 02, Rammesden (e )1325 WCR, 1331Ass 5, 1392MinAcct 88, Romsdeyn 1379 PT (p), Ramsden 1709 WMB. 'Valley of the ram', v. ramm , denu ; it is also possible that Ramsden, like some other p.ns. in Rams - (Ramsbottom La 64, Ramsden Ess 168, etc.) goes back to OE  hramsa 'wild garlic', or an OE  pers.n. Ramm (cf. Ramsholme 22supra ).On the form Rommes -, Roms - cf. Phonol. § 4.