Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Forester 1332 SR

• de Forster(e)shegh 1304 AD 1320 FF 1327 SR

Etymology

Forstershay (lost, probably near Harmshay Fm infra ), Forestarehege 1240 Sarum, Forstereshegh (')1304AD (p), 1320 FF, 1357 Ipm (p), Forstereshey (e )1391 ib, 1399 Cl, Forsteresheigh 1398 FF, Fortershoithe (sic)1319 (15) Poul (p), Forstershey (e )1325 AD VI(p), 1425 IpmR, Forstershegh '1327 SR (p), Fosterysheyghe 1327 (15) Poul (p), Fortereshaye 1332 SR (p), Forstreshey 1338HarlCh (p). Probably 'enclosure of the forester', from ME  hay (OE  (ge)hæg) and ME  forester (MedLat  forestarius , OFr  forestier ) 'an officer in charge of a forest', no doubt with reference to the management of the 'marsh wood' (v. par. name supra ), cf. the significant references to totam forestam meam de Mersewde lHy 3CottCh (xii/38), chacea de Mersewde ('chase of') 13 (15) Forde , chaciam de Merswode 1356 Pat, Weld 2. The occupational term gave rise of course to the surname, hence Laurence Forester 1332 SR (a taxpayer in Marshwood) who is no doubt identical with Laurence de Forster (e )shegh 1304AD , 1320 FF, 1327 SR (also taxed here). The first spelling from 1240 may contain the related term hege 'hedge, fence'.