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.

Polson, Polson Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lifton

Historical Forms

  • Pouleston Brigge 1338 Rental
  • Polstun bridge c.1550 Leland

Etymology

The ME form suggests that the original vowel was long. The name may therefore be a compound of 'pool' and 'stone,' possibly referring to some stone here by the river, marking the boundary between Devon and Cornwall.Alternatively the first element may be the personal name Paul , when the name would be of late formation and denote 'Paul's farm.' v. tun .