The name was recorded as far back as 1524 and is thought to be either the name of a family or that of a house which stood on Enfield Chase.

The ethnic composition was 73.7% white (51.7% British, 19.7% Other, 2.2% Irish), 13.5% Asian (6.5% Indian), and 8% black (2.9% African).

One of the short stories features a visit to "lost property" at Cockfosters Underground station.

[6] The poet John Betjeman, who taught at Heddon Court School in 1929–30, wrote "The Cricket Master" about his experiences there.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Enfield Southgate from 2005 to 2017, David Burrowes, was born in Cockfosters.

George Baillie Duncan ministered at Christ Church, Cockfosters, and the cricketer Andrew Wingfield Digby was a curate there.

Other transient residents have included the footballers Tommy Docherty and George Eastham and Dave Davies of the Kinks.