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.

Ribbesford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ribbesford

Historical Forms

  • Ribbedford 1023 KCD738 17th
  • Ribetford 11th Heming
  • Ribeford 1086 DB 1181 P 1275 SR
  • Ribbefort 1175 P
  • Ridelesford 1179 P
  • Redelesford 1180 P
  • Ribbleford 1188 P
  • Rippesford 1231 Pat
  • Ribbesford 1232 Cl
  • Ripeford, Rypeford 1236 Fees527 1253 FF
  • Ribesford 1316 Cl
  • Rippeford 1322 Cl
  • Rybbesford, Rybbysford 1431 FA 1550 Pat
  • Ripsford 1707 Marr

Etymology

Mr Bruce Dickins suggests that the first element in this name is OE  ribbe , 'ribwort,' 'hound's tongue.' He further suggests that the full original form was ribbe-bedd -ford , i.e. ford where there was a 'bed' or clump of ribwort (cf. Hollybed infra 214).This plant is not common and its occurrence at all abundantly in a particular locality might easily give rise to a place-name containing it. It is recorded from Wyre Forest by which Ribbesford lies. The s is pseudo-genitival and late.

Places in the same Parish