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.

Mopus (Ta)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bootle

Historical Forms

  • le Malpas c.1195 Cockersand
  • Malpase 13th ADiv
  • Malpas 1537 AOMB 1542 CWx

Etymology

The modern name goes back through colloquial French to a Latin adj. + noun Malus passus , and like the well-known Cheshire Malpas, as interpreted by Giraldus Cambrensis (Opera vi, 146), means 'difficult passage.' In the Tithe Award of Corney, the name Mopus refers to a long strip of land along the east side of Eskmeals Pool, between the Corney-Bootle boundary and the road running westwards from Seaton Hall.