 Ancient written records include the Latin Randrusium (Saxo Grammaticus, c. 1200), Icelandic Randrosi (Snorri Sturluson's "Heimskringla", 1230), and Rondrus, Randrøs (Valdemar's Census Book, 1231).Other early forms provide Randersborg and Randershusen.The name appears to stem from Rand (hillside) and Aros (river mouth) and probably means "town on the hillside by the river mouth".