Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Pole 1086 DB

• Poulemere 1255-6 Ass 1308 Ipm

• Poulmere 1271-2 Ass 1274 RH 1276 Ipm

• Powlmer 1553 PR(H)

• Porlemare 1291-2 Ass

• Polmer 1490 Ipm 1601 SBL12706 1615 PR(H)

• Pomoore 1672 HTR

Etymology

The identification of DB Pole with Polmere is generally accepted, though VCH VIII (p. 264) refers to it with caution.

Assuming that Pole in 1086 is short for Polemere , the name appears to be a unique compound of pōl 'pool' and mere 'pond'.The first is most frequently used in place-names for a pool connected with a larger body of water, such as a harbour on the coast or a wide place in a river. It is possible that in earlier times a small stream ran through the pond at Polmere to the Rea Brook. If the flow was intermittent the meaning of the name might be 'pond which is sometimes a pool'.

Polmere is a township in Pontesbury parish.