Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Contone 1086 DB

• Cumton' 1212,1235–6 Fees

• Cumpton(') 1252 Ch 1253 FF 1268 Ass 1275 RH 1288 Ass

• Compton(') 1280 Ass 1296 Cl 1327,1332 SR 1670 Sheridan

• Cumpton(') Pundelarche 1265 Misc 1296 Ipm

• Cumpton(') Pund(d)elarge 1288 Ass 1291 Tax 1428 FA

• Compton(') Pundelarge 1280 Ass

• Compton(') Ponde Large, Compton(') Pondelarge 1288 ib

• Compton(') Poundelarge 1297 Pat

• Cumton' Valet (sic) 1268 Ass

• Compton(') Valanc' 1280 Brid

• Compton(') Valence 1322 Ext 1324 Ipm 1325 Cl 1331 Pat

• Compton(') Valauncez 1340 NI

• Compton(') Valens 1394 Pat 1606 AddCh

• Compton(') Vala(u)nce 1412 FA 1484 Cl

• Compton(') Valans 1431 FA

• Compton(') Vallence 1678 Sheridan

• Cumpton Valence 1322 Ext 1335 Pat 1335 Cl 1337,1339 ib

• Little Compton alias Cumpton Valence 1606 AddCh

• Compton Vallence, or E. 1795 Boswell

• East Compton 1811 OS

• in thecomb' 1332 SR

• in la Comb' 1340 NI

Etymology

'Valley settlement, farm or estate in a valley', v. cumb , tūn . The distinguishing affixes are manorial. William de Pont del Arch held Cumton ' of Adam de Port (perhaps a descendant of Hugo de Porth , tenant-in-chief in 1086 DB) in 1212 Fees (94), and Robert de Pondelarch held it in 1235–6 Fees (573). In 1252 Ch (p. 402) the manor was granted by William de Puntdelarch (brother and heir of Robert de Puntdelarch ) to William de Valencia , earl of Pembroke, hence the later (and current) affix. Occasionally during the 18th and 19th centuries the place is referred to as East Compton in relation to the neighbouring par. of West Compton infra , cf. also the alternative affix Little in 1606.

The cumb referred to in the par.n. is no doubt that giving rise to the local surnames John in (la ) Combe , Richard in (la ) Combe 1327, Henry in thecomb ', William in thecomb '1332 SR, Henry in la Comb ', Walter in la Comb '1340 NI (all taxpayers in this par.).