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.

Rivar

Early-attested site in the Parish of Shalbourne

Historical Forms

  • (on tha) yfre 931 BCS677
  • Ryver 1609 Recov

Etymology

Rivar [rɑivə] is (on tha ) yfre 931 BCS 677, Ryver 1609Recov , Ryever 1773 A and D. yfer , 'slope,' infra 450, the modern form going back to ME  at ther evre (ivre ) as in River (PN Sx 123) and River Hill in Binstead (Ha), la Uvere 1298For , del Evre 1375 ib. (p). Rivar lies just below a very steep hill-side.