Before the St. Elizabeth's flood (1421) a township named "Hoecke" was located on the spot of the present-day town. The name "Hoecke" (meaning "Corner") is probably derived from the sharp angle the dike around the former Grote or Zuid-Hollandsche Waard island took here. After the St. Elizabeth's flood, the land was owned by the Lords of Putten, who loaned it to a vassal lord. The first four vassal lords of "Hoecke" were all named "Pieter". It remains unclear if the name "Puttershoek" is taken from Pietershoeck, or if it is a reference to the Lords of Putten.