Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Moldcorkyn, Moldcorkin 1208 FF

• Molcorkilne, Molkorkilne c.1225 StB

• Molcerkyn 1369 Ipm

• Molkorkyn 1370 ib

• Molkirkyn 1390 Cocker

• Morcorkin 1230 Scotland

• Molcornekynne 1285 Ass

• Moltcornkyn 1292 ib

• Mokerkyn 1505 Cocker

• Mockerkin 1578 ib

Etymology

As suggested by Ekwall (ScandCelts 29), this is an inversion compound. The first element is identified by Ekwall with OWSc  *moldi , well recorded as a hill-name in Norway. Like the OE  molda , of which it is a cognate, the word seems to have meant literally 'top of the head' (see Ekwall, Studies 195), and it could have been appropriately applied to the neighbouring Mockerkin How. The second element is probably a diminutive in -án of the OIr  personal name Core which occurs in Corby supra 161.