Eastwood took its name from its situation on the eastern side of the woods and parkland of Rayleigh and Thundersley which were part of the Great Forest of Essex. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Estwa", and was held by Swain of Essex, whose father Robert had held it during the reign of Edward the Confessor.
Eastwood's history is rooted in its location within the Great Forest of Essex, as evidenced by its name and previous ownership records. The village was previously known as "Estwa" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and was under the control of Swain of Essex, whose father Robert had held it during the reign of Edward the Confessor.