Doggaport
Early-attested site in the Parish of Langtree
Etymology
The interpretation of port in Devon names (cf. infra 669) offers difficulties. Some of them, like Doggaport, can never have been 'towns,' the commonly recognised interpretation of OE port. Professor Ekwall and Dr Ritter agree in suggesting that the first element in this name may be OE þocera , genitive plural of an unrecorded þoccere , 'vagabond,' a derivative of OE þocerian , 'to run about.' The whole name, lit. 'tramps' town,' would then be one of derision, cf. Tad(d)iport, Beautiport and Lotherton infra 111, 122, 262, 581. Cf. also Introd. xxxv