Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Gotowre super Mare 1286 Pat

• Gotoure e15 MiltRoll

• Gotehorn point 1575 Saxton

• Gothorne c.1586 Tres

• Goattown-Paine 1774 Hutch1

• Goathorn(e) 1774 1811 OS

• Goat Ord Point 1852 Legg

Etymology

Goathorn Pier, Goathorn Plant., Goathorn Point (SZ 015863), Gotowre super Mare 1286 Pat, Gotoure n.d. (e15) MiltRoll , Gotehorn point 1575 Saxton, Gothorne c. 1586 Tres, Goattown -Paine (sic) 1774 Hutch1, Goathorn (e )1774 ib, 1811 OS, Goat Ord Point 1852 Legg, probably 'bank or shore where goats were kept', v. gāt , ōra 1 (replaced by horn and ord ), with point , but gotu , gote 'water-course, channel, stream' is also possible for the first el. For the el. ōra 1 , cf. Fitzworth and Ower in Corfe C. par. supra , both like Goathorn on small promontories on the shore of Poole Harbour. The modern name may be due to the fact that the promontory is 'in form somewhat resembling the horn of a goat' (Hutch3 1675), but it has probably also been influenced by Ramshorn Lake in Corfe C. par. supra , cf. also Redhorn infra .For a fuller reference to the first form, cf. Newton infra .