Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wardecop(p) 12 Hy2 NB 1197,1198 P 1225 Pat 1247 1256 Ass3d Hy6 Rent

• Warthecop(p), Warthecoppe 1199–1225 CWxvii,229 13 1202 FF 1244 Cl 1252 Bart 1256 Ass4d 1392 Cl

• Wathercop' 1203 Cur

• Warethecope 1256 Ass12

• Warthcop(p) 1301,1345 Pat 1363 Ipm 1380 TestKarl

• Warcop, Warcopp(e) 1370 Hom 1413 Fine 1428 Cl 1440 NCyWills 1777 M

• -cup(p) 1655 CWxxiv,69 1671 PR(R) 1703 NicVisit

Etymology

'Hill with a cairn', v. varða , copp , doubtless referring to one of the hills in the immediate vicinity of the village. ON  varða was used of 'a cairn or pile of stones, especially one marking a track' (cf. Franzen, LaxdON 62–3 and illustrations); it occurs in hill-names like Wartheberh (ii, 120 infra ), Icel  Vörðu -fell etc., Norw  Vorefjell (NG x, 147), or Manx Barrule (Marstrander 137); cf. also NGIndl 84.