Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Agist fen, Gyste Penn 1507 Waterb

• the giest Fenne 1546 MinAcct

• Ge(e)yst Fenne 1558 Pat

• Giste Fenne 1566 Colexxxvi

• Geist fen 1604 Atkyns

• Joyce Fenn 17th AdvL

• Joist Fen(e) 1618 SewersA 1636 BedL

• Gest fen 1621 SewersD

Etymology

Joist Fen is Agist fen , Gyste Penn 1507 Waterb, the giest Fenne 1546MinAcct , Ge (e )yst Fenne 1558 Pat, Giste Fenne 1566Cole xxxvi, Geist fen 1604Atkyns , Joyce Fenn 17thAdvL , Joist Fen (e )1618SewersA , 1636 BedL, Gest fen 1621SewersD . 'The marsh on which cattle were agisted ,' from ME  agist , OFr  agister , Lat  *jacitare , 'to take in live stock to remain and feed at a certain rate,' originally 'to admit cattle for a defined time into a forest.' The Denny Court Rolls record that in 1347 the provosts of the marsh were fined 20s. for not mentioning the total of the cattle in the marsh and for not making agistment accordingly, whilst s. a. 1559 they contain an order that “no man was to keep any Geste Cattle in Midlelode, Bannold and Wyngfold unless great neede require” (Cole xxxvi, ff. 136d, 155d). An earlier example of joist occurs in 1606 (Depositions ) in a reference to “joist cattle in Rackefenne” (in Littleport). Cf. Wicken Joyst fenn 1708FenS . See further joist v. and sb. (EDD) and Justment (PN D 449).