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.

Riffa Beck, Riffa Fm, Riffa Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Leathley

Historical Forms

  • Reufhahestanes iuxta Crauenegate e.13 Font
  • Riffowe 1520 FF
  • Riffey 1768 LdsM
  • Riffa 1716,1777 Glebe
  • Riffa Beck, Riffa Wood 1848 TA89

Etymology

Riffa Beck, Riffa Fm, Riffa Wood, probably identical with Reufhahestanes iuxta Crauenegate e. 13 Font, Riffowe 1520 FF, Riffey 1768 LdsM, Riffa 1716, 1777Glebe , Riffa Beck , Riffa Wood 1848TA 89. Probably 'fox hill', v. refr , haugr , cf. Reevy iii, 9supra . Reufhahestanes was probably further north on Stainburn Moor near the head of West Beck (which becomes Riffa Beck downstream). On Crauenegate cf. 37supra .