Gosfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Gosfield
Historical Forms
- Gosfeld 1198–1239 FF 1346 FA
- Gosfeud 1232–71 FF 1238 SR 1255–85 Ass 1260 Ipm
- Godfeud 1285 Ass
- Gosfel 1315 FF
- Cosfeld 1248 Ass 1360 Ipm
- Corsfeld 1266 ib
- Gosefeld 1276 FF 1360 Ipm
- Gossefeld 1349 Ipm 1412 FA
- Goffeld 1510 LP
- Gosfeld or Gesfeld ib.
Etymology
No certainty is possible with regard to this name, for we do not know what stress to lay on the one form with medial r or the three with initial c . Confusion of initial g and c is fairly common and perhaps the most likely suggestion is that the name is for earlier gorstfeld , 'gorse-grown open land,' with early simplification of the consonant group. Cf. dial. goss for gorse . Goose -field is also possible. Neither the forms nor the topography make British cors , 'fen, bog,' very likely. Cf. Corse Lawn (PN Wo 197) and Corsley (PN Sx 371).