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.

Longcot

Major Settlement in the Parish of Longcot

Historical Forms

  • Cotes 1233 Cl 1294 SR 1316 FA 1327 SR
  • Kyngescotes 1274 Pat
  • Cote 1284 Ass 1307 Ipm
  • Longcote 1332 Ipm
  • Longecote 1362 FF
  • Longcotes 1388 ib
  • Langcote 1412 FA 1547 LRMB

Etymology

Probably the original name was simply 'cottages', from a ME pl. of cot, and 'King's' and 'long' were prefixed to this. The place mentioned in 1274 Pat is certainly in this area, and the identification seems probable. Adam, John and Ralph de Cotes are mentioned in the same context. Shrivenham, of which Longcot was a township, is royal demesne in DB.

Names in -cot are particularly common in this part of Berks and in the adjacent part of O, v. Introd.