The Vache
Early-attested site in the Parish of Chalfont St Giles
Etymology
This is a manorial name deriving from the family of Warnerus de Vacca who had land in Chalfont in 1166 (RBE 314). Vacca is the latinised form of the family name la Vache , of frequent occurrence in Bk. The family probably derived its name from some place in France, the name Vacca or Vache being perhaps given to some rock or hill which suggested a cow in its outline.In the French Dictionnaire Topographique there is a la Vache (rock-name) in Morbihan, La Vache (Lat. Vaca ) in La Drôme la Vache (Nièvre). We may note also Les Vaches Noires as the name of some big rocks near Villers in Calvados (Zachrisson).