In the 11th century Rostherene was called Rodestorne, said to mean the Lake of the Holy Cross, from the Anglo-SaxonRodes, meaning cross and the northern word torne or tarne meaning lake. At the time of the Domesday Book the parish belonged to Gilbert de Venables, Baron of Kinderton, who displaced Ulviet the Saxon as owner of the lands, although there was then only one rateable field in the parish, one team and two acres of wood, the whole only being worth four shillings a year. By 1286 almost all of Rostherne had become part of the Tatton estate, having been sold to Massey of Tatton, except for a portion retained by the Leghs.[2]
On 1 April 2023 the parish was abolished to form "Millington and Rostherne".[3]
