Ringcreevy, County Down
Origin
Ir. Rinn Chraoibhe ‘headland or promontory of the branch or tree’
Background
Ringcreevy is recorded as Rincrevy in the Census of c.1659 and as Ringcreevey al. Ballyringcreevy in 1679. The townland lies on the coast, a short distance east of Comber. The promontory referred to is no doubt Island Hill where numerous megalithic artifacts have been found. The element rinn denotes ‘a point of land, a promontory, or small peninsula’ and is fairy common in place-names (Joyce i 405). In Co. Down it is often anglicised as Ring and it can refer to either a coastal point or promontory as in Ringmacilroy (Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua ‘McIlroy’s point’) in the parish of Warrenpoint (PNI i 165) or to an inland promontory as in Ringbane (An Rinn Bhán ‘the white promontory’) in the parish of Donaghmore, north of Newry (PNI i 106).
References
P. McKay, 2009Additional Information
Historical name form
| Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|
Roinn Craobhach ""bushy division"" | 1834c | J O'D (OSNB) E 19 |
| (?)Ballerincreame | 1623 | Ham. Copy Inq. [1623] xlv |
| Rincrevy | 1659c | Census 1659 87 |
| Ballerincreevy | 1661 | BSD 121 |
| Rencreby | 1663 | Sub. Roll Down 284 |
| Rincreevey als Ballyringcreevy | 1679 | Montgomery MSS 268 n.37 |
| Rincreevy | 1745 | Map of Down (OSNB) E 19 |
| Ringcreevy | 1745 | OSNB: gen. sources E 19 |
| Ringcreevey | 1810 | Wm. Map (OSNB) E 19 |
| Ringcreevy | 1830c | Bnd. Sur. (OSNB) E 19 |
- Barony
- Castlereagh Lower
- Parish
- Comber
- Parish in 1851
- Comber
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 11997
- Place name type
- T