Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Rueden' 1208 Cur

• Rughedon(a) 1224 Bracton 1229 Cl 1257 ib

• Rugedon(a) 1245 WMxvi t.Ed1 Lacock

• Rowendon(a) 1275 Cl

• Rughdon(a) 1280 Abbr

• Rowedon(a) 1300 Ipm

• Roudon(a) 1307 ib

• Rowdensdowne 1561 FF

Etymology

Rowden is Rueden '1208 Cur (p), Rughedon (a )1224 Bracton (p), 1229 Cl (p), 1257 ib., Rugedon (a )1245 WM xvi, t. Ed 1Lacock , Rowendon (a )1275 Cl, Rughdon (a )1280 Abbr, Rowedon (a )1300 Ipm, Roudon (a )1307 ib. 'Rough hill,' v. ruh , dun . The name referred originally to Rowden Down, called Rowdensdowne in 1561 (FF ).