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.

Rockley

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ogbourne St Andrew

Historical Forms

  • Rochelie 1086 DB
  • Rokeleya 1155 Templars
  • Rokel(e) 1222 ClR 1258 FF
  • Rokeley 1285 FF
  • la Rokele 1234 Cl
  • Roclea t.Hy1 Ch 1270
  • Rocle(e) 1155,1185 Templars 1255 RH 1273 Ipm
  • Rocle(e) juxta Marlebergh 1310 Ass
  • Roucle 1316 FA
  • Rockel' 1242 Fees
  • Rockele 1275 RH
  • Roukley 1301 Ipm
  • Roukle 1332 SR
  • Rookie 1335 Ipm
  • Templerookley 1591 FF
  • Ruckleyghe 1595 Sadler

Etymology

'Rooks' clearing or wood,' v. leah . “The rooks are still very much in evidence and work the district in regular daily com- panies” (H. C. B.). The Templars held land here from 1155.