Rushen (sheading)

Rushen Rosien
Sheading
Sheading of Rushen
Coordinates: 54°07′01″N 4°40′44″W / 54.11694°N 4.67889°W / 54.11694; -4.67889
Crown dependency	Isle of Man
Parishes	Arbory, Malew, Rushen
Town	Castletown
Village districts	Port Erin, Port St Mary
Area [1]
• Total	95.70 km^2 (36.95 sq mi)
• Rank	3
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	14,852
• Density	155.2/km^2 (401.9/sq mi)

Rushen (/ˈrʊʃən/ RUUSH-ən; Manx: Rosien) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man.

It is located in the south of the island (part of the traditional South Side division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Arbory, Malew and (Kirk Christ) Rushen.

Administratively, the sheading of Rushen also includes the town of Castletown and the village districts of Port Erin and Port St Mary.

Other settlements in the sheading include Ballabeg, Colby and Ronague (all in the parish of Arbory), Ballasalla, Derbyhaven and St Mark's (all in the parish of Malew), and Cregneash in the parish of Rushen.

Toponymy

The meaning of the name Rushen is uncertain but likely Norse in origin, which is less common in this part of the island. Speculated meanings include "wood" or "peninsula", which would reference Langness Peninsula. Rushen sheading is first recorded by the monks of Rushen Abbey in The Chronicle of Mann and the Isles (1134) as "Russin".^[3]

MHKs and elections

Since 2016, when it was reduced from a three-member seat to a two-member seat, the House of Keys constituency of Rushen covers the historical parish of Rushen (as above) with some minor departures from the historical parish boundary.

See also

• Local government in the Isle of Man

References

1. "Rushen (Sheading, Isle of Man)". City Population. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
2. "Census and Population". Government Isle of Man. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
3. Kneen, J. J. (1925). "The Sheading of Rushen". The Place-Names of the Isle of Man With their Origin and History. Retrieved 30 August 2025.