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.

Cockfosters

Early-attested site in the Parish of Enfield

Historical Forms

  • Cokfosters 1524 SR
  • Cock(f)fosters 1610,1622 DuLa
  • house called Cockefosters 1613 Sess

Etymology

Cockfosters is Cokfosters 1524SR , Cock (f )fosters 1610, 1622DuLa , house called Cockefosters 1613 Sess. This name has been discussed in PN Herts 71 where it was suggested that the name might have referred to the house of the chief foster or forester .Cf. tenement voc ' Cockeparkers 1548Ct (in Harrow), cockparker being clearly a similar formation. The place was on the edge of Enfield Chase. Partly in East Barnet, Herts.