By 1200 the place was called Godithestre, the 'Good' part of today's place name derived from the Anglo-Saxon woman's name of Godgyth or Godgifu, who probably held possession of the place. The sister village of High Easter to the north, has the same origin, except that the 'High' part refers to the Old English heah (meaning geographically high), that place being Heyestre in 1254.

From before the last quarter of the 19th century to at least the start of the First World War, Good Easter was in the Dunmow