Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Codestoche 1086 DB

• Codestoc 1100–20 PeterbA c.1200 Ch 1189 1332

• Codestoke t.John BM c.1220 WellsR 1227 Ch 1229 Cl 1232 WellsR

• Coþestoche c.1175 Middleton

• Cothestok' 1225 ClR

• Cotherstok(e) 12th Survey 1428 FA

• Cotherestok(e) 1285 Ass 1286 FF

• Cotkirstoke

• Cothyrstok 1276–89 Ipm

• Godestok' 1200 Cur 1280 Cl

• Gadestok' 1200 Cur

• Cottestoc' 1241 P

• Coderestoke 1253 Ass 1302–7 Ipm

• Coderstoke 1275 RH 1302 Fine

• Coderystoke 1285 Ass

• Codyrstoke 1380 Cl

• Cot(t)erstok(e) 1316,1346 FA

• Cotterstocke al. Cotherstock 1615 Recov

• Cotherstock 1791 Bridges

Etymology

This is a difficult name. The suggestion may be hazarded that it is from OE  corþer -stoc (c ), with dissimilatory loss of the first r , owing to Anglo-Norman influence (cf. Zachrisson, AN Influence 136, and Fotheringhay infra 202). The word corþer is only found in poetry in OE, where it denotes 'troop, band, multitude, assembly.' Cotterstock would then denote the stoc or place where such a band gathered. If this interpretation is correct, we have a further example of the use of an archaic word in the Nene valley.