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.

Cotherstone

Major Settlement in the Parish of Romaldkirk

Historical Forms

  • Codrestune, Codreston 1086 DB
  • Cothereston 1184 RichReg 1279–81 QW 1281 Abbr 1354 FF
  • Cud(e)reston 1201 ChR 1226 FF
  • Cotherston c.1250 YD

Etymology

'Cūðhere 's farm' v. tun . This place has been identified with the Cuthbertestun mentioned in the Historia de Sancto Cuthberto but the order of the names as given in that document suggests that Cuthbertestun was nearer the Wear than the Tees.Further, Cuthbertestun was part of the patrimony of St Cuthbert, whilst Cotherstone was part of the fee of Richmond. One must, therefore, abandon the old identification.