The village name of Fingest comes from the Anglo Saxon name Thinghurst, meaning 'wooded hill where assemblies are made'. It is interesting to note that although the early name is the etymological root of both 'Tinghurst' and 'Fingest', the latter doesn't follow the former by any normal linguistic line.
The manor in Fingest anciently belonged to the abbey at St Albans, though in 1163 it was given to the bishop of Lincoln. After this time it was used as the country residence for the Lincoln diocese until 1547 when it was seized by the Crown. It was then given two years later to the Duke of Somerset who exchanged it with a property belonging to Wells Cathedral. The manor is now privately owned.
Within the parish of Fingest are the hamletss of Cadmore and Lane End.