Rochford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Rochford
Historical Forms
- Recesford 1086 DB
- Ræccesford 11th Heming
- Rechesford c.1230 WoC c.1240
- Rochesford 1249 Fees
- Racheford 1255 Ass 1455 Pat 1461 IpmR
- Rachesford 1274,1356,1360 Ipm 1366 Pat
- Rachefford 1296 Pat 1303 FA 1455 Pat
- Ratcheford 1316 FA
- Rocheford 1322 Pat 1535 VE
- Reccheford 1388 IpmR
- Recheford al. Rocheford 1538 LP
Etymology
The form from Heming leaves little doubt that this name is from OE ræcces -ford , 'ford of the rache or hunting dog.'v. rache in NED. The development to Roch - is curious but has an exact parallel in the history of Rochdale (PN La 54) with earlier forms in Rach -. Presumably the common French roche may have had its influence in both cases in replacing a ME rache which was not readily understood.
Places in the same Parish
None