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.

Forty Green

Early-attested site in the Parish of Epping

Historical Forms

  • Forteye 13th WalthamC
  • Forteyhache, Forteygrene 1270–1383 Ct

Etymology

Forty Green (local) is Forteye 13thWalthamC , Forteyhache , Forteygrene 1270–1383Ct . It stands on a spur of high land between two streams and the name and situation alike show it to be identical with the name Forty discussed in PN Wo 202–4. It is a common compound of OE  forð , 'in front,' and eg, hence 'projecting peninsula,' v. Forty Field infra 603 and hæcc , and cf. le Fortye (Rayne) 1326 Cl.