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.

Potters Bar

Early-attested site in the Parish of South Mimms

Historical Forms

  • Potterys Barre 1509 Brittain
  • Potters Barre 1548 Pat
  • le Pottere 1294 Ass
  • Pottere t.Ed3 Rental

Etymology

Potters Bar is Potterys Barre 1509 Brittain, Potters Barre 1548 Pat, and is to be associated with the family of Geoffrey le Pottere (1294Ass ) and William Pottere (t. Ed 3Rental ). The bar was one of the forest gates of Enfield Chase. Cf. Swanleybar Fm (PN Herts 66).