Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• abbas de Rupe, abbatia de Rupe, monasterium de Rupe 1147 BM 1185 Dugdv l.12 YCh 1197 FF c.1200 Furn 1200 Cur 1201 FF 1445 Testii

• Roch(e) 1253 Pat 1415 Fabr 1427 YDx 1616 FF

• la Roche 1293 QW 1311 Ch

• Royche 1354 FF

• the Roch 1500 YDi

• ye Abbey of Roche 1446 Testii

• Roch(e) Abbey 1817 M

Etymology

Roche Abbey, abbas de Rupe , abbatia de Rupe , monasterium de Rupe 1147 BM, 1185 Dugd v, l. 12 YChfreq , 1197 FF, c. 1200 Furn, 1200 Cur, 1201 FFet passim to 1445 Test ii, Roch (e )1253 Pat, 1415 Fabr, 1427 YD xet freq to 1616 FF, la Roche 1293 QW, 1311 Ch, Royche 1354 FF, the Roch 1500 YD i, ye Abbey of Roche 1446 Test ii, Roch (e ) Abbey 1817 M. The name describes a rocky bank (now called Table Rock) near the abbey, which was founded c. 1147 (Dugd v.502); it is from OFr , ME  roche1 'a rock', usually translated into Lat (abbas de ) Rupe in the earlier sources. Cf. Roach Hill (Kippax) pt. iv. The name may in fact have originated as a French translation of Stone (infra ) at the foundation of the abbey.