# Place-Names of the Province of Nova Scotia/R

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RATCHFORD HEAD (C.)—The records show that a number of American emigrants were settled in this part of Nova Scotia in and previous to 1775. This point was probably named after one of them. The name appears sometimes spelled "Rotchford."
RAYS HILL (C. B.)—Near North Sydney. Named after an English soldier who settled near there.
RAWDON (Hts.)—The first inhabitants of Rawdon were disbanded soldiers who had served under Lord Rawdon in the War of Independence, most of them having been enlisted in the Carolinas. The place was named in his honor, he was afterwards created Marquis of Hastings. The Township of Rawdon, one of the six township divisions of Hants County was granted in 1784 to Lt. Col. Small for the location of the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment.
RED HEAD (V.)—See Beinn Breagh.
RED ISLANDS (R.)—This place received its name from the Islands near by. The soil and rock is of a reddish color and the sun at certain times of the day gives them a beautiful red appearance. The Indian name of this place was "Gwesassek."
REDMOND COVE (H.)—A cove in St. Margaret's Bay named after a Redmond family.
RED POINT (G.)—In the Gut of Canso, was known by the Indians as "Wipkoogweiik."
REARLAND (R.)—A rather pleasant name formed by making one word of the two, which meant Rear or Back lands, being lands situated back of lands generally more advantageously located near the shore or leading roadway.
REFUGEE COVE (C.)—See "Morden" (K.).
So named owing to a number of French Canadian Refugees landing here from the opposite side of the Basin. Now known as "French Cross" or "Morden."
REID ROCK (H.)—In 1752 a Solomon Reid was living in the south suburb of Halifax, and as the rock is near the shore and Reid or Reed owned the adjoining land, it is probably the name came in this manner.
​RENFREW (Hts.)—A gold mining camp commenced in 1862. One of the late King Edward the Seventh's younger titles was Baron Renfrew. This, it is said, is where the name Renfrew was found.
RESERVE (C. B.)—When the General Mining Association owned all the coal in Cape Breton County, the coal at this place was known to exist, but the Company's operations were then confined to Pictou, Sydney Mines and Lingan, the coal seams outside of Glace Bay being held in "reserve" for future operations. Hence "Reserve Mines" now "Reserve." In 1827, about the time the above-named Association was formed, we find all of the coal mines referred to as "Royal Reserved Mines."
RIDGEVALE (S.)—Named by Judge Lewis Morris Wilkins, who made his home there. The place was known for many years as "Wilkins' Folly."
RICHMOND COUNTY—Named in honor of Charles Lennox, fourth Duke of Richmond, who was Governor General of British North America 1818-1819.
Was cut off from Cape Breton County in 1836, and formed into a separate county. The townships of Richmond County are four: Arichat, Lenox, Maitland and Hawkesbury. This county contains 623 square miles.
RISER'S POINT (L.)—This point was formerly known as Lovely's Point.
RING POINT (Y.)—This place received its name from an early settler, George Ring, who came from Massachusetts and settled here about the year 1762.
RIVER BOURGEOIS—The Indian name for this place was "Nabigwonchek" meaning a "brig" or "ship," the whole meaning "a brig or ship's place."
RIVERDALE (D.)—For a long time known as "Wagoner Settlement," as it was first settled in 1833 by a Mr. Benjamin Wagoner.
RIVER DENYS (I.)—Named after and it is said by Sir Nicholas Denys, Sieur de Fronsac, a native of Tours, France. He was a very enterprising Frenchman, who obtained a patent in 1654 from the King of France. In 1654 he was appointed Governor of Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and part of Newfoundland.
RIVER INHABITANTS (R.)—The Inhabited River or River of Inhabitants.
​RIVER JOHN (P.)—One time known as "Deception River" and "John's River." Said to be named after John Patuguin, an early settler. A cape nearby was known as Cap Jean. Probably the name came from this. Des Barres' chart dated 1770 names it "Harbor" or "River" John. The Indians called it "Kajeboogwek" meaning "winding through the wilderness," or "desert place." Dr. Patterson, Pictou's Historian, gives the spelling of the Micmac name as "Cajje Book Wek" and says the meaning is "flowing through a wilderness." Cajje from "Cajjah" to be alone.
RIVER PHILIP (C.)—The Indians named this place "Kesooskiboogwek" meaning "flowing through hemlock." It is said that the name Philip is after a popular old Doctor of that name who practised and had his home there.
RIVERPORT (L.)—One of Sir Nicholas Denys' headquarters and fishing stations. Previous to 1904 it was called "Ritcey's Cove," then changed by an Act of Parliament to its present name.
RIVER RYAN (C. B.)—Formerly known as "The Head of Lingan Bay" given its present name after a resident named Patrick Ryan.
RIVERSDALE (L.)—Settled about the year 1820 by Mossmans. Knocks and Eisenhauers, who came from Kingsburg to this place
ROBERTA (R.)—In 1906 by an Act of Parliament the old name of this place, Cross Roads St. George's Channel, was changed to its present name.
ROBERTA (G.)—This place was named in 1851, after the postmaster whose name was Robert.
ROBERT'S ISLAND (Y.)—This Island was long called. "Non Present" and "Non Prison." It received the name in this way:
At the deportation, a number of Acadians who had been collected ready to be taken to Boston were placed on this Island, which was thought to be a safe place. Between wading and swimming, they managed to escape. When Prebble came with his ships to carry them away, they were not to be found, so the Island was named in derision "Non-present Island."
ROBERTSON ISLAND (P.)—Named and first settled about the year 1783 by Colonel Robertson of Struan, Perthshire. He was of the 82nd Hamilton Regiment. This island is generally known as Big Merigomish Island.
​ROBINS (C. B.)—Named after a family Robins who settled there about the year 1790.
ROCKFIELD (P.)—This name was given this place by an Act of Parliament in the year 1885. It was hitherto known as the settlement of "Auclein Cairn."
ROCKHAVEN (H.)—By an Act of Parliament this name was substituted for the old name "McGrath Cove" in the year 1908.
ROCKINGHAM (H.)—Named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham, who was English Prime Minister in 1782.
ROCKVILLE (Y.)—A descriptive name. It was once known as "Rocky Nook."
ROCKYVILLE (I.)—See Tupperdale.
RODNEY (C.)—Named after Rodney, Ontario, in the year 1866 by a Mr. Howard Mills. First settled by three families named Boss, Rysley, and Schurman.
The name "Rodney" was originally, no doubt, in honor of Baron (George Brydges) Rodney, the noted English Admiral.
ROSEWAY (S.)—See Port Roseway.
ROGERS HILL (P.)—The old Indian name of this place was "Nimnokunaagunikt" meaning "blackbird grove. Received its present name after John Rogers who owned the land, and was one of the settlers to arrive from Philadelphia in the brig "Hope" in 1767. This place has recently been named "Scotsburn." (See).
ROGERTON (G.)—Called so owing to the number of families named Rogers living there.
ROGERS POINT (D.)—Called after a Major Rogers who was an early settler.
ROSEBURN (I.)—Formerly known as Bridge End, in the year 1887 changed to its present name by an Act of Parliament.
ROSETTE (Q.)—Settled and named in 1822.
ROSIGNOL LAKE (Q.)—See Lake Rosignol.
ROSS POINT (Col.)—Named after a Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Hugh Ross, who resided there in 1824.
​ROSSWAY (D.)—First settled in the year 1785 by Major Robert Timpany and Capt. Frederick Williams from Annapolis.
ROUNDHILL (A.)—This name appears in early Nova Scotian history as "Le Pre Ronde," also known at one time as "Lovetts." The Indian name was "Lablalot," named after an old resident.
ROUSE BROOK, ROUSE ISLAND (L.)—This place was named in honor of Captain John Rous, who was Master of the ship that landed the first settler in the county in the year 1750. The Brook is the spot where the landing was made. Captain Rous was a very successful English Captain, and took part in nearly all of the stirring events in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia between the years 1744-1759. In 1760 he became a resident of Halifax, and a member of the Council of Nova Scotia.
ROYAL CENTRE (P.)—This place in Pictou County was previous to 1906 known as Rear Meadows. In that year an Act changing the name was passed.
RUDDERHAM CREEK (C. B.)—In Sydney Harbor, named after William Rudderham, an early English settler whose descendants are still living near the creek.
RUDHA MHINISTEAR (I.)—Gaelic meaning "The Minister's Point." It is near Malagawatcht and was named so owing to a Presbyterian Minister the Rev. Donald McDonald having settled there in 1824.
RUDOLF POINT (L.)—Named after Charles and William Rudolf, who as early as 1820 built vessels of considerable size there.
RUSSELL LAKE (H.)—A Lake near Dartmouth named in honor of an early settler Nathaniel Russell, an American Loyalist.