Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Powrtone, Povrtone, Povertone (× 2), Bovrtone 1086 DB

• Powrtona, Povertona, Bourtona Exon

• Poertona 1167–8 P

• Poerton 1244 Ass

• Porton(e) 1203 Cur 1244 Ass 1280 FF

• North Porton(e) 1288 Ass

• Porton(e) juxta Porstok 1319 FF 1332 SR

• North Porton(e) 1431 FA

• North Porton(e) 1510 DCM

• Portun(e) 1219 Fees 1221 Ilch 1244 Ass 1256 FF 1269 Ch

• North Portun(e) 1288 Ass

• Pourton(') 1205 Cur 1212 Fees 1333,1375,1392,1426 HarlCh 1346 FA

• North Pourton(') 1386 Cl 1504 Ipm

• Purton(') 1235–6 Fees 1244,1280 Ass

• North Purton(') 1653 ParlSurv

• Poreton' 1244 Ass (p), Abbr (p)

• Poorton' 1244 Ass

• Poorton N 1795 Boswell

• Pordon (sic) 1269 Misc

• Poverton 1469 Cl

Etymology

'Farmstead in Power , or on the Power ', from tūn 'farmstead, manor, estate' with the old district name and/or river-name Power found also in neighbouring Powerstock supra , q. v. for discussion and references.Poorton W 381 would seem to be identical in origin. North in relation to South Poorton in Powerstock par. The DB form Bovrtone (ExonBourtona ) almost certainly belongs here rather than under Burcombe infra as assumed by Eyton 137–8 (followed by VCHDo 3 80, DBGazetteer 118), cf. Fägersten 281, ThornDB 13, 7.