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.

High Rails

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ripon

Historical Forms

  • Les Hautrildels l.12 Font
  • Hie Rayles 1615 FF

Etymology

High Rails, Les Hautrildels l. 12 Font, Hie Rayles 1615 FF. The later form is 'high railings', v. hēah 'tall', ME  raile (OFr  reille ) 'rail of a fence' (as also in High Rails 99supra ); the first spelling appears to be a Fr translation of 'high hurdles' (v. hyrdel ) probably denoting much the same thing.

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site