English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Ellesmere Port

Early-attested site in the Parish of Eastham & Stoke

Historical Forms

  • Ellesmere Port in Netherpool 1831 Hem
  • Ellesmere Port or Whitby Locks 1842 OS

Etymology

Ellesmere Port (109–4077), 1819 Orm2, Ellesmere Port in Netherpool 1831 Hem, Ellesmere Port or Whitby Locks 1842 OS, described in 1819 Orm2 ii424 as 'a petty port, (named) from the termination of the Dee and Mersey branch of the Ellesmere Canal (i.e. the Shropshire Union), and its connection with the estuary of the latter river, taking place at this point'. It is now a municipal borough, chartered in 1935, and a c.p. including the townships of Gt Stanney, Stanlow, part of Hooton, Netherpool, Overpool, Great-and-Little Sutton, Childer Thornton, Whitby, part of Capenhurst, and Ledsham. v. Addenda.