Sources discussing place-names

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2013-06-19. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2022-06-17.

The list includes sources discussing Robin Hood place-names in general or in specific (historical) English counties. Sources dealing only with specific localities are found under the localities in question. All items on the list focus on England; there has been very little discussion or analysis of non-English Robin Hood place-names.

Essential

• Child, Francis James, ed.; [Kittredge, G. L.], ed.; [Ireland, Catharine Innes], bibl. The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Boston and New York; Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, ©1882-98), vol. III, pp. 46-47.
• Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 18-24: Excellent discussion of the topographical background of the Gest and the early ballads.

Significant

• Bradbury, Jim. Robin Hood (Chalford, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2010), pp. 176-79.
• Evans, Michael R. 'Robin Hood in the landscape: place-name evidence and mythology', in: Phillips, Helen, ed. Robin Hood: Medieval and Post-Medieval (Dublin, 2005), pp. 181-87
• Rotherham, Ian D. Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries: a Companion to the Land of Robin Hood (Chalford, 2013).

Useful

• W., F., review. '[review of:] A Lytell Geste of Robin Hode, with Other Ancient and Modern Ballads and Songs, Relating to that Celebrated Yeoman. By J. M. Gutch, F.S.A. 2 vols. 8vo. Longman and Co.', The Journal of the British Archæological Association, vol. III (1848), pp. 77-81. Largely concerned with Robin Hood-related localities, this review reproduces 12 of the cuts from Gutch's work, seven of which depict such localities (not necessarily very faithfully). The quality of the reproductions is better than is often the case with copies of Gutch's work itself
• Davis, Stephen M. Robin Hood's England (Time Traveler Guide) (Washington, D.C., 1991)
• Phillips, Dave. 'On the trail of Robin Hood', Nene Valley Living (August 2011), pp. 23-25
  • Phillips, Dave. 'On the trail of Robin Hood', Stamford Living (August 2011), pp. 24-25
  • Phillips, Dave. 'On the trail of Robin Hood', Rutland Living (September 2011), pp. 46-47.

Brief mention

• Burne, Charlotte S. 'The Science of Folk-Lore', The Folk-Lore Journal, vol. III (1885), pp. 97-103; see pp. 101-102. "Such names as Robin Hood's Chair, Boggart Ho' Clough, Moot Hill, &c. are not so much valuable in themselves as for the evidence they afford of the popular belief or popular custom which occasioned them" (p. 101).
• Crawford, O. G. S. 'Place-Names and Archaeology', chapter VIII in: Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M. Introduction to the Survey of English Place-Names (English Place-Name Society, vol. I, pt. 1). (Cambridge, 1924), pp. 143-64; see p. 161
  • Crawford, O. G. S. 'Place-Names and Archaeology', chapter VIII in: Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M. Introduction to the Survey of English Place-Names (English Place-Name Society, vol. I, pt. 1). (Cambridge, 1925), pp. 143-64; see p. 161
  • Crawford, O. G. S. 'Place-Names and Archaeology', chapter VIII in: Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M. Introduction to the Survey of English Place-Names (English Place-Name Society, vol. I, pt. 1). Reprinted. (Cambridge, 1929), pp. 143-64; see p. 161
  • Crawford, O. G. S. 'Place-Names and Archaeology', chapter VIII in: Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M. Introduction to the Survey of English Place-Names (English Place-Name Society, vol. I, pt. 1). Reprinted. (Cambridge, 1933), pp. 143-64; see p. 161
  • Crawford, O. G. S. 'Place-Names and Archaeology', chapter VIII in: Mawer, A.; Stenton, F.M.; Gover, J.E.B. The Place-Names of Sussex (English Place-Name Society, vols. VI-VII) (Cambridge, 1969), pp. 143-64; see p. 161
• Smith, A.H. The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire (English Place-Name Society, vols. XXX-XXXVII) (Cambridge, 1961-63), pt. VII, p. 73.
• Turner, J. Horsfall. The History of Brighouse, Rastrick, and Hipperholme; with Manorial Notes on Coley, Lightcliffe, Northowram, Shelf, Fixby, Clifton and Kirklees (Bingley, Yorkshire, 1893), p. 201.
• Wright, Thomas. [The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon: a History of the Early Inhabitants of Britain, down to the Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity; Illustrated by the Ancient Remains Brought to Light by Recent Research] (London, 1861), p. 62; notes that ancient monuments in England are often connected with fairies, demons or Robin Hood in popular nomenclature and tradition; notes a similar role for Gargantua in France. This passage not found in the first edition of Wright's work.

 Robin Hood-related place-names in general