Rotherham and Domesday Book
The Domesday Book of 1086 was a survey and valuation of landed property in England, held by King William and his chief tenants, along with all the resources that went with the land in late 11th century England. The survey was a massive enterprise, and the record of that survey, Domesday Book, was a remarkable achievement.
In Rodreham, Acun had 1 manor of 5 carucates to the geld, where there could be 3 ploughs. Nigel has 1 plough there in desmesne; and 8 villans and 3 bordars having 2½ ploughs, and 1 mill rendering 10s. There is a priest and a church, 4 acres of meadow, and 7 acres of woodland pasture. The whole is 10 furlongs and 5½ furlongs broad. In the time of King Edward worth £4; now 30s
Rodre was the River Rother; ham , the usual name given to a farmstead, especially if the name was combined with that of a river.
Source: 
Domesday: Names of Land Owners
Strafforth Wapentake
Modern name follows Domesday name
De Busli
Lastone: Laughton-en-le-Morthen
Trapun: Throapham
Dunintone: Dinnington
Litel Anstan: South Anston
Anestan: North Anston
Torp: Thorp Salvin
Wales: Wales
Hotone: Slade Hooton
Neuhalle: Newhall Grange
Wadewrde: Wadworth
Stantone: Stainton
Dadeslei: Tickhill
Elgebi: Hellaby
Wincreslei: Wickersley
Maltebi: Maltby
Brinesford: Brinsworth
Tineslawe: Tinsley
Gresseburg: Greasbrough
Grimeshou: Grimesthorpe?
Mechesburg: Mexborough
Neuhalle: Newhall
Hotun: Hooton Roberts
Denegebi: Denaby
Adewic: Adwick-on-Dearne
Barneburg: Barnbrough
Bilha': Bilham
Eclesfeld: Ecclesfield
Wade: Wath-upon-Dearne
Suintone: Swinton
Wintreworde: Wentworth
Hoiland: Hoyland in Wath
Wanbuelle: Wombwell. (Also owned by the King and Ayncourt
Medeltone: Melton on the Hill
Toftes: Altofts?
Winduntorp: Wildthorp. (Lost area)
Catebi: Cadeby
Sproteburg: Sprotborough
Cuzeworde: Cusworth
Ballebi: Balby
Haltone: Little Houghton
Bilingelie: Billingley
Goldetorp: Goldthorpe
Dermescop: Thurnscoe
Branwet: Kirk Branwith
Barnebi: Barnby upon Don
Chilbereworde: Kimberworth
Honepol: Hampole
Fricelei: Frickley
Stodfald: Stotfold
Brochesworde: Brodsworth
Picheburne: Pickburn
Aldeworde: Holdworth
Ughil: Ughill
Wihale: Worrall
Wadelei: Wadsley
Alberic Coci
Icheltone: Hickleton
Aincurt (D'Eincourt)
The name D'Aincourt or Deincourt had its origin in Aincourt in Normandy. The first English baron was Walter, connected by marriage with the Conqueror. Walter Deincourt was richly rewarded by his leader, obtaining the grant of 1 manor in Northamptonshire, 4 in the West Riding, 11 in Derbyshire, 17 in Lincolnshire, and 34 in Nottinghamshire, including that of Thurgarton.
Rodemesc: Rawmarsh
The King
Derweld: Darfield
Merelton: West Melton
Hoiland: Hoyland Swaine
Torp: Thorpe Hesley
Winteworde: Wentworth
Brantone: Brampton Bierlow
Wat: Wath-upon-Dearne
Mideltone: West Melton
Eldeb'ge: Hellaby
Medeltone: Melton on the Hill
Bingelie: Billingley
Guldtorp: Goldthorpe
Scevelt: ? Waldershelfe, or Sheffield
Perci
William and Serlo de Perci, came into England with William the Conqueror
Bodetone: Bolton upon Dearne
Eilintone: Edlington
Bradewelle: Braithwell
Donecastre: Doncaster
Triberge: Thrybergh
Daltone: Dalton
Mortain
Robert Morton, was half-brother of William the Conqueror
Marra: Marr
Estorp: Hexthorpe
Donecastre: Doncaster
Ballesbi: Balby
Scitelesworde: Littleworth
Wermesford: Warmsworth
Luureshale: Loversall
Oustrefeld: Austerfield
Alceslei: Auckley
Alchelie: Auckley
Sandale: Sandal
Hotone: Hooton Levet
Rodreha': Rotherham
Hotun: Hooton Pagnell
Tatewic: Todwick
Haltune: Great Houghton
Ternusch: Thurnscoe
Claitone: Clayton
Dictenebi: Deightonby
Stofald: Stotfold
Widestha': Whiston
Handesword: Handsworth
Tretone: Treeton
Hactone: Aughton
Walis: Wales
Estone: Aston
Ollei: Ulley
Brantone: Brampton-en-le-Morthen
Watelag: Wheatley
Adewic: Adwick-le-Street
Scinestorp: Skinthorpe
Langetouet: Langthwaite
Benelei: Bentley
Sandalie: Long Sandal?
Ernwin
Einulvestorp: Armthorpe
Tison
Sinitun: ?
Countess Waltheof
Hallun: Hallam
Ateclive: Attercliffe
Scafeld: Sheffield
Laci
Ermeshall: South Elmsall
Frichelie: Frickley
Torp: Moorthorpe
Chirchebi: South Kirkby
Warren
Coningesburg: Conisbrough
The following is an extract from English Villages, by P. H. Ditchfield
CHAPTER X - NORMAN VILLAGES AND THE DOMESDAY BOOK
The coming of the Normans-Domesday Book-Its objects-Its contents- Barkham in Domesday-Saxon families-Saxons who retained their estates-Despoiled landowners-Village officers and artisans- Villeins-Bordarii-Cottarii-Servi-Socmen-Presbyter-Names of Normans-The teaching of Domesday
There was a great stir in our English villages when the news was brought to them that William of Normandy had landed in England, and intended to fight for the English Crown. News travelled very slowly in those days. First the villeins and the cottiers who were not fighting with their lord heard that a great battle had been fought at Stamford Bridge, in Yorkshire, in which their gallant King Harold had defeated his own brother Tostig, aided by the King of Norway, Hardrada, and a large army. Then the news reached them that William of Normandy had arrived, and that Harold was marching night and day to meet him. Then they heard of the fatal battle of Hastings; and when it was told them that their brave King Harold was slain, and that William, the Norman, was the conqueror of England and the acknowledged king of the country, all England groaned to hear the fatal news. And then, after a few years, they found that their old lord had been deprived of his estates, and a new, haughty, proud Norman, who talked like a Frenchman, and laughed at their dear old Saxon language, came and ruled over them. He brought Norman servants with him, who took the best of the land, and made the Saxons do all the hard work on the farm, treating them like slaves.
And now we must examine a most valuable document which throws a wonderfully clear light on the condition of England just before and after the Conquest. I refer to the Domesday Book, or survey of the country which William caused to be made. The Anglo-Saxon chronicler tells us that after a great Council at Gloucester the king “sent his men over all England, into every shire, and caused to be ascertained how many hundred hides were in the shire, or what land the king himself had, and cattle within the land, or what dues he ought to have in twelve months from the shire. Also he caused to be written how much land his archbishops had, and his suffragan bishops, and abbots, and earls; and though I may narrate somewhat prolixly, what or how much each man had who was a holder of land in England, in land, or in cattle, and how much money it might be worth. So very narrowly he caused it to be traced out, that there was not one single hide, nor one yard of land, nor even, it is shame to tell, though it seemed to him no shame to do, an ox, nor a cow, nor a swine was left that was not set down in his writ. And all the writings were brought to him afterwards"
The commissioners appointed by the king, among whom were Remigius, Bishop of Lincoln, and Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham, were to inquire the following details concerning each parish:
Its name. Who held it in the time of King Edward the Confessor. The present possessor. Number of hides in the manor, number of ploughs, of homagers, villeins, cottars, free tenants, tenants in socage; how much wood, meadow, and pasture; number of mills and fishponds; the value in the time of the last king; and its present value.
Such a survey was of immense value. Its object, according to the king, was that every man might know and be satisfied with his rightful possessions, and not with impunity usurp the property of others. But it was also of great service to the king, so that he might know who were his vassals, the amount of taxation which he could draw from them, and the actual strength of his new kingdom.
The commissioners performed their work with much care and exactness. The survey is wonderfully complete, and was compiled in a very short time. It is of great value to the historians of subsequent ages. The writing of the book is very clear and beautiful, the abbreviations alone presenting some difficulty to an unaccustomed reader. No illuminations adorn the text. At the head of each page the name of the county is written in red ink. The book is preserved in an ancient chest in the Public Record Office, where it was removed from the Chapter House at Westminster.
As an example we may take the Domesday description of the parish of Barkham, which runs as follows:
"IN CERLEDONE HD
"Rex ten in dnio Bercheha. AElmer Tenuit de rege. E. Te 7 m iii hid. Tra e iii car. In dnio e una, 7 vi uilli 7 iiii bord cu iii car. Ibi v. ac pti. Silua de XL pore. Valuit iiii lib. T.R.E. 7 m: iii. lib."
TRANSLATION
“In the hundred of Charlton.
"The king holds Barkham in demesne. AElmer held it of King Edward. Then, as now, it was rated for three hides. The land is three ploughlands. In demesne there is one ploughland. There are six villeins, four borderers with three ploughs. There are five acres of pasture. Wood for the pasturage of forty hogs. It was worth 4l. in the time of King Edward, afterwards, and now, 3l."
King Edward here mentioned was Edward the Confessor. A hide, when it is used as a measure of land, may be taken at about one hundred and twenty acres. A ploughland was as much land as one plough with oxen could plough in a year. The villeins were men who tilled their lord’s land, and in return for certain services had holdings under him. The borderers were cottagers who also worked for their lord and held smaller holdings, from one to ten acres. In other entries we find the number of serfs recorded, and also mention of the hall of the lord of the manor, where the manorial courts were held, the church, the priest’s house, the names of landowners and tenants, the mill, and of the various officers and artisans who made up the village community.
Domesday tells us of the old Saxon families, many of whom lost their estates when the Conqueror came, and were supplanted by the favourites of the new king. Some of them contrived to weather the storm and retain their lands. Almer, or Almar, the lord of Barkham, who succeeded his brother Stigand as Bishop of Elmham in 1047, when the latter became archbishop, was among the number of the dispossessed, and probably found shelter with many of his compatriots in the cloister. Several of William’s Norman adventurers married the heiresses of the old Saxon gentry, and thus became possessed of great estates. Thus Robert D’Oili married the daughter of Wigod, lord of Wallingford, and soon gained possession of his father-in-law’s property.
However, the names of the fortunate Saxons who retained their estates are few in comparison with those who were dispossessed. We find Edgar Atheling, real heir to the throne, retaining a small estate; but he was a feeble prince, and therefore not to be feared by William. His sister Cristina had also land in Oxfordshire. Bishop Osbern, of Exeter, a kinsman of the late king, also held his estates; and amongst the list we find Seward the huntsman, of Oxfordshire; Theodric the goldsmith; Wlwi the huntsman, of Surrey; Uluric the huntsman, of Hampshire, who were not deprived of their lands, their occupations being useful to the king.
The list of despoiled landowners is a long one, and need not here be recorded. One Brictric was very unfortunate. When ambassador to Baldwin of Flanders he refused to marry the count’s daughter Maud. The slighted lady became the Conqueror’s consort, and in revenge for her despised love caused Brictric to be imprisoned and his estates confiscated, some of which were given to the queen. The luckless relations and connections of the late royal house were consistently despoiled, amongst them Editha, the beautiful queen of King Edward, and daughter of Earl Godwin, of whom it was written: "Sicut spina rosam genuit Godwynus Editham"; and Gida, the mother of Harold; Godric, his son; and Gwith, his brother. Harold himself - the earl, as he is called, and not the king, who fought and died at Senlac, if he did not, as the romance states, end his life as a holy hermit at Chester - had vast estates all over England, which went to enrich William’s hungry followers. Hereward the Wake, the English hero, also held in pre-Norman days many fat manors. Few of the Saxon landowners were spared, and it is unnecessary here to record the names of the Uchtreds, Turgots, Turchils, Siwards, Leurics, who held lands 'in the time of King Edward,' but whose place after Domesday knows them no more.
Diagram of a Manor
Domesday tells us also the names of the officers and artisans who played important parts in the old village communities. The villani, or villeins, corresponding to the Saxon ceorls, were the most important class of tenants in villeinage, and each held about thirty acres in scattered acre or half-acre strips, each a furlong in length and a perch or two in breadth, separated by turf balks. The villein thus supported himself and his family, and in return was bound to render certain services to the lord of the manor, to work on the home farm, and provide two or more oxen for the manorial plough-team. He was not a free tenant, could acquire no property, and his lord’s consent was needed for the marriage of his daughters. But the law protected him from unjust usage; his holdings were usually regranted to his son. He could obtain freedom in several ways, and by degrees acquired the rights and privileges of a free tenant.
Next to the villeins were the bordarii, who lived in bords or cottages, i.e. boarded or wooden huts, and ranked as a lower grade of villeins. They held about five acres, but provided no oxen for the manorial plough-team. Below them were the cottarii, or cottiers, who were bound to do domestic work and supply the lord’s table. They corresponded to the modern labourer, but lacked his freedom. The lowest class of all were the servi, or serfs, who corresponded to the Saxon theows. In Norman times their condition was greatly improved; they mingled with the cottiers and household servants, and gradually were merged with them.
The sochemanni, or socmen, our yeomen, who abounded chiefly in the Danish district of England, were inferior landowners who had special privileges, and could not be turned out of their holdings, though they rendered certain services to the lord of the manor, and in this respect differed little from the villeins. Domesday Book also mentions a class of men called burs or geburs, who were the same as coliberti; also the commendati, who received privileges in return for services rendered to the lord of the manor.
Each village community was self-contained, and had its own officers. Although Domesday Book was not compiled in order to ascertain the condition of the Church and its ministers, and frequently the mention of a parish church is omitted where we know one existed, the presbyter, or priest, is often recorded. Archbishop Egbert’s Excerptiones ordained that 'to every church shall be allotted one complete holding (mansa), and that this shall be free from all but ecclesiastical services.' According to the Saxon laws every tenth strip of land was set aside for the Church, and Domesday shows that in many villages there was a priest with his portion of land set apart for his support.
Then there was a prepositus, bailiff or reeve, who collected the lord’s rents, assisted by a bedellus, beadle or under-bailiff. Bovarii, or oxherds, looked after the plough-teams. The carpentarius, or carpenter; the cementarius, or bricklayer; the custos apium, or beekeeper; the faber, or smith; the molinarius, or miller - were all important officers in the Norman village; and we have mention also of the piscatores (fishermen), pistores (bakers), porcarii (swineherds), viccarii (cowmen), who were all employed in the work of the village community.
Domesday Book enables us to form a fairly complete picture of our villages in Norman and late Saxon times. It tells us of the various classes who peopled the village and farmed its fields. It gives us a complete list of the old Saxon gentry and of the Norman nobles and adventurers who seized the fair acres of the despoiled Englishmen. Many of them gave their names to their new possessions. The Mandevilles settled at Stoke, and called it Stoke-Mandeville; the Vernons at Minshall, and called it Minshall-Vernon. Hurst-Pierpont, Neville-Holt, Kingston-Lysle, Hampstead-Norris, and many other names of places compounded of Saxon and Norman words, record the names of William’s followers, who received the reward of their services at the expense of the former Saxon owners. Domesday Book tells us how land was measured in those days, the various tenures and services rendered by the tenants, the condition of the towns, the numerous foreign monasteries which thrived on our English lands, and throws much light on the manners and customs of the people of this country at the time of its compilation. Domesday Book is a perfect storehouse of knowledge for the historian, and requires a lifetime to be spent for its full investigation.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of English Villages, by P. H. Ditchfield
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