English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Brocket Park

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bishops Hatfield

Historical Forms

  • Watershepe 1235 FF
  • Watersipe 1255 Ass
  • Watershipe 1287 FF 1315 Ass
  • atte Watershepe 1314 SR
  • Waterships 1482 IpmR
  • Waterchypps al. Brokett Hall 1560 FF
  • Brackett 1587 Cai
  • Broket-Hall 1598 N
  • Watershipp al. Brocketthall 1612 Recov
  • Broket 1438 FF

Etymology

The earlier name is the OE  wæter -scipe , 'conduit, water channel, water course.' Cf. Water Sheep infra 304. It was later replaced by a manorial name from the family of Thomas Broket (1438FF ).