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.

Redmarley D'Abitot

Major Settlement in the Parish of Redmarley D'Abitot

Historical Forms

  • Reodemæreleage 963 BCS1109 11th
  • Rydemæreleage 978 KCD619 11th
  • Ridmerlege, Ridmarleye, Rydmereleye 1086 DB 1323 BM 1327 SR
  • Rudmerlege, Rudmerley, Rudmarleye c.1086 EveA&B 1190 BM 1322
  • Dabitot 1345 BM

Etymology

This is clearly a compound of OE  hreod and mere and leah , the whole name denoting 'clearing by the reed-mere,' cf. Redmarley supra 86. The feudal addition is derived from the family of Urse d 'Abitot of whom, already in DB, two hides were held. The name Abitot probably derives from Abbetot in Normandy, a compound of NFr  tot (= toft) and the pers. name Api or the common word æble , 'apple.' For mære , cf. the same form for mere in Layamon.