The name Cobridge appears to have originated during the early 18th century and probably refers to its elevated position on a ridge. "Cob", in local dialect, meant "big", or a person of high standing.

At one time the whole of this area was known as Rushton (Risctone) and joined with Hulton (Heltone) in the Domesday Survey, being then in the possession of Robert de Stafford. There appear to be very early ecclesiastical roots in this area because in 1223, Rushton, along with other estates in the vicinity that were the property of Henry of Audley, were given to the Abbott and monks of Hulton shortly after the foundation of their monastery. They continued to cultivate Rushton Grange until the dissolution of the Abbey in 1538. In 1539, Rushton Grange was granted by Henry VIII to James Leveson who sold it almost immediately to Richard Biddulph for £130 7s. Much of the land on the eastern side of Waterloo Road, then called Grange Lane, was gradually disposed of for various developments, but the Biddulph family retained most of the land on the western side until about a century ago."