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.

Redditch

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tardebigge

Historical Forms

  • de Rubeo Fossato c.1200 Madox
  • la Rededich, le Rededych 1247 FF 1300 Pat 1348 Pat
  • Reddich, Reddyche 1394 Pat 1441 StratGild 1535 VE
  • The Rediche, le Redyche 1446 ADii 1464 Pat
  • The Redde Dych 1536 Wills
  • Readdich prope Terbig 1558 Wills

Etymology

'Red ditch' (v. read , dic ), from the colour of the soil. Cf. Reddish (La).