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.

Reigate Hundred

Hundred in the County of Surrey

Historical Forms

  • Cherchefelle, Chirchefeld 1086 DB
  • Crichefeld 1154 RBE
  • Crechesfeld 1154 RBE
  • Regate 1193 P
  • Reygate 1225 Ass
  • Raygate 1230 P

Etymology

Ekwall (Studies 45) takes the first element to be Brit. cruc , 'hill, barrow,' and the name to be identical with Cruchfield (Berks), earlier Cruche (s )feld , Chirchesfeld , Curchesfeld , Crukesfeld . Hence 'open space marked by a barrow.' The site of the hundred meeting-place is generally supposed to be identical with that of the later Reigate (infra 304). There is, however, a Crutchfield Fm in Horley infra 293.