Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hauercroft(e), Havercroft(e) 1155–70 YCh l.12,13 Nost 1281,1287 YI 1316 Vill 1615 FF

• Hauerecroft 1191 P

Etymology

This name occurs elsewhere in YW as a f.n., and the first el. could be either OE  hæfer, ON  hafr 'he-goat' or OE  hæfera, ON  hafri 'oats'; the latter is perhaps more likely as croft 'enclosure' is often used with crop names (as in the common Ryecroft), whilst hæfer is not common in p.ns.