§ Rochirwaith, Rochirchoth, Rochirhoth, Rochann, Rohann, Rohirrim (WR:22)
§ Rochiroth (WR:168) – see Rohiroth, Rochiroth (RS:440)
§ Rohar? (WR:137)
In Appenidx E to The Lord of the Rings we learn that ch […] was weakened to h in the speech of Gondor, and that change has been recognized in a few names, such as Rohan, Rohirrim and that Rohan is a modern form of Rochann < Rochand (cf.also Let:297).
It seems that the development of this conception is mirrored in the note with experimental forms in the first line above. Rochirwaith is clearly from Rochir ’horse-lord’ (Let:144) and gwaith, literally ’manhood, also used = man-power, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment’ (gweith under WEG-, VT46:21), frequent in names of peoples as Forodweith ’Northmen’. Rochirchoth shows suffixed hoth ’host, crowd, frequent in people-names as Glamhoth (KHOTH-), lenited to -choth; while lenition is absent in Rochirhoth.- compare Glamhoth ’the barbaric host’ (GLAM-), i ngaurhoth *’the wolf-host’ (LotRII, ch.4; ÑGAW-).
Rohar appears with a question mark in connection with other notes. It may signify *’hose-king’ from roch ’horse’ (Let:144) and âr ’lord or king of a specified region’ (TĀ-,TAƷ-, cf. ƷAR-) or rather *’horse-lord’ equivalent to Rochir, compare Gwaewar ’the Windlord’ rather than *’Wind-king’ above (2.18).