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.

Rolleston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Rolleston

Historical Forms

  • Wintreburne 1086 DB
  • Rolveston(e) 1242 Fees c.1250 Lacock 1428 FA
  • Wynterburne Rolveston 1325 FF
  • Rowston 1560 FF
  • Rolleston al. Rolveston 1566 ib
  • Ralston 1636 Recov

Etymology

As the place is pretty certainly represented by one of the unidentified Wintreburne manors, it is likely that the present name is of post-Conquest origin, deriving from some 12th- century holder Rolf , v. tun . Rolf is a Norman personal name of Scandinavian origin (ON  Hrólfr ).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site