Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Godscroft 1831 Bry

• Godcroft, Godcroft house 1671 Sheaf 1687 Chol

• Gods Croft House 1690 Sheaf

• Gilscroft alias Godscroft 1729 Chol

• Godscroft alias Galescroft Hall 1750 Sheaf

Etymology

Godscroft (109–503767), Godscroft 1831 Bry, Godcroft , Godcroft house 1671 Sheaf, 1687Chol , Gods Croft House 1690 Sheaf, Gilscroft alias Godscroft 1729Chol , Godscroft alias Galescroft Hall 1750 Sheaf, cf. a watermill called Galdecroftemilne 1386Chol , 'boar's croft', v. galte , croft . The first el. became god through vocalisation of t and l and rounding of a > o , thus galte > gald > gold [goud] > god . God was seen as the nomen sacrum with gen. inflexion and religious delicacy gave rise to a meaningless alternative form.