Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (to) Coccebyle, Cocgebyll 998 Crawfordviii

• Cockesbyle 1252 FF

• Cokebilemore 13th Combe

Etymology

Cockbill (lost) is (to ) Coccebyle , Cocgebyll 998 Crawford viii, Cockesbyle 1252 FF, Cokebilemore 13thCombe . This name is repeated in the form Cockebile in Stretton on Dunsmore (1199 FF). It would seem to be found also in Gogbill in Avon Dassett (EnclA ) and in Cockbillock , the name of a field in Priors Hardwick (TA ). Cockbill can be located precisely as it is mentioned in the bounds of Southam, in those of Ladbroke and Radbourne, and as being in Radbourne by the road which leads from Priors Marston to Warwick. This fixes it at the south-eastern extremity of Southam where there is a sharp beak-like projection from Southam into Radbourne parish. Gogbill is probably for earlier Cockbill and is the name of three fields in the south-west corner of Avon Dassett where that parish makes a short but sharp projection between Burton Dassett and Ratley parishes. Cockbillock is the name of a field at the north-west corner of Priors Hardwick where it makes a long and sharp projection between Radbourne and Priors Marston parishes. The site of Cockebill in Stretton is unknown. The only feature which the sites seem to have in common is that they are by sharp-pointed boundary projections and one can only hazard the suggestion that our forefathers noted the shape of these projections as formed by the boundary hedges or ditches and nicknamed the ground cock-bill (OE  *cocc-bill ) or (with diminutive -ock ) cockbillock .Such a name has not so far been noted apart from these three Warwickshire examples.