In the Testa de Nevill it is given Roboin. “The family of De Rabayne came from Saintonge, Acquitaine, where it possessed the marquisate of Piscay. The castle of Rabaine still remains. The family was of eminence in 1018 (Des Bois).” - The Norman People. The first who was of much note in England was Elias de Rabayne, a good soldier in the Gascon war of 1251, and high in favour with Henry III. In 1255 the King committed to him “the corpus of the Castle of Corfe during pleasure, saving to the King the warren, forest, and all other things pertaining to the Castle, outside the walls thereof.” Considerable privileges were attached to this office, which the new Constable enforced and extended with such vigour that his aggrieved neighbours were driven to seek redress in the law courts. In 1277, William de Claville brought an action against him, for felling six of his (Claville’s) oaks at Holne, as well as opening a quarry there, and carrying stone to Corfe; and at the same date the Abbess of Shaftesbury complained that he had cut and carried away from the Abbey woods of Kingston five hundred ashes, and two thousand maples and thorns. Elias pleaded the right of every Constable to cut timber and dig stone throughout the warren for repairs of the Castle; but the jury decided that the greater part of the wood had been misappropriated by Elias as fuel for his own use. Other “instances of stretches of authority” are recorded against him; but the most conclusive proof of his rapacity was his conduct to his sister-in-law. He had, with the King’s permission, married Maud, one of the daughters and co-heirs of a Lincolnshire baron, John de Bayeux, who had also possessions in Dorset, Somerset, and Wilts. “Under colour of that grant,” Elias carried the other heiress beyond sea, thinking to appropriate her share to himself; but the King, who was thus defrauded of the custody of the moiety of the barony, sent orders to seize the estates. I cannot find that they were ever restored to him, though either he, or (according to The Norman People) another Elias, received writs of military summons in 1277 and 1282. Nor is it altogether easy to decide what became of them. “Certain it is,” says Hutchins, in his History of Dorset, “that Stephen de Boys possessed Waybaiouse, and perhaps the rest of the family estates, probably on Rabayne’s forfeiture; for, 7 Ed. II., he was found to have held the manors of Waybaiouse, Little Piddle, and half a knight’s fee in West Stafford. 9 Ed. II., he held these two manors at his death; and it appears by the King’s writ annexed to this inquisition that there was a judgement touching this barony in the court of King Edward L that one moiety of the barony should belong to the King and his heirs, and the other to Matilda de Rabayne and her heirs; and that she thereupon exhibiting a petition to King Edward II. in the parliament at Lincoln, was answered, ‘She might sue for the same, if she thought fitt:’ and that the King, being willing to do her right, had caused inquisition to be made in Dorset and other counties, to be well informed of her title thereto.” Yet he elsewhere tells us, that Peter de Rabayne held Little Pidele at his death in 1272; and “Petrus de Roboin” is incontestably entered in the Testa de Nevill as holding Waybayouse of the King. He was also possessed of Edmondesham, where he granted an annuity to John Beauboys (Bello Bosco) and his heirs. In 1316, Matilda de Rabayne was Lady of Edmondesham; but of her or her marriage we hear nothing more.

A Norman name: From the Domesday Book, Rabbada.