Ottery St. Catchpole

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 22816

I think the name "St. Catchpole" is a little joke on JKR's part.  A
"catchpole" or "catchpoll" is an old term for an official of the court that
arrested people---sort of a primitive policeman.  As to its origins---I
don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that in Them There Days, men
in this position used poles with "man-catchers" on the end, to help them
bring in the bad guys.  Kind of like how some other law-enforcement types
were called "tipstaffs" after the iron-tipped quarterstaves they carried.

A "St. Catchpole" is an interesting idea---would he be the patron saint of
police?