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.

Roughbirchworth

Early-attested site in the Parish of Penistone

Historical Forms

  • Bercewrde, Berceuuorde 1086 DB
  • Birchewurth, Byrchewurth, Bircheworth(e) 1246 FF
  • Roygh Bircheworth 1299 ADvi
  • Ruth Bircheworth 1365 YDi
  • Routh Bircheworth 1402 FA
  • Rughe Bircheworth 1547 FF
  • Rughtburcheworth 1549 Hall
  • Roughburcheworth 1577 WillY
  • Rowgh(e) Birchworth(e) 1575 Hall 1586 FF
  • Ruff Birchworth(e) 1741 Hall
  • Rough Birchworth(e) 1822 Langd

Etymology

'Birch enclosure', v. birce , worð . The affix Rough - (to distinguish it from Ingbirchworth 330supra ) appears to be from OE  rūh 'rough', but the spellings R (o )uth -, Rught - rather suggest that (as with Ingbirchworth) the affix is a noun, OE  rūhet 'piece of rough ground', or an OE  *rūhð 'clearing', though generally replaced by the adj.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name