Poxwell
Major Settlement in the Parish of Poxwell
Historical Forms
- Poceswylle 987 Finberg613(S1217) 13
- Pocheswelle 1086 DB
- Pocheswella Exon
- Pokeswel(l)(e) 1188 P 1202 1203 Cur 1244 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass 1291 Tax 1575 Saxton
- Pokeswll(e) 1212 Fees 1271 Ch
- Pokeshull (sic) 1280 Ass
- Pokeswoll 1311 Weld1
- Pokeswull 1340 NI
- Pokewell 1203 Cur
- Pockeswell 1273 Cl
- Pockeswoll 1332 SR
- Pokkeswell 1450 Weld1
- Pekeswell(e) 1288 Ass
- Pokeleswell 1288 Ass
- Pakeswell 1344 Cerne 14 FA 1428
- Pok' 1389,1398,1412 Weld1
- Pokes 1392 Ct
- Pock' 1408 Weld1
- Pokyswell(e) 1392,1393 Ct
- Pocuswelle 1393 AD
- Poxwell 1535 VE
- Poxwell Hungerford 1575 Hutch1 1811 OS
- Poxewell 1664 HTax
Etymology
The second el. is probably swelle or (ge)swell 'swelling' used topographically in the sense 'steeply rising ground', as suggested by Ekwall Studies2 152–3, cf. Swell Gl 1226; Poxwell lies in a gap in a long ridge (cf. Pokeswelle (s )yate infra ), but as pointed out by Arkell (1941) 39, the Warmwell-Osmington road which now follows this N-S gap formerly turned W up the steep ridge here direct to Osmington, and this steep ascent may well have been the 'swell' alluded to. The first el. could then be an OE pers.n. Poca (cf. Pockley YN 72), or an OE *poc(c)e 'a frog' related to MLG , MDu pogge and suggested by Ekwall DEPN for Polebrook Nth (Poche -DB, Pokebroc 12 et passim ), cf. also the surname Poche found in this par.: William Pothe (probably for Poche ) 1332 SR, William Poche 1340 NI.On the other hand Fägersten's suggestion that Poxwell is 'Poc's spring', from an OE strong pers.n. Poc (cf. OE pocc 'small-pox') and well(a) (WSax wyll(a)), remains a possibility; a spring is marked (6″) just S of the village. The same first el. possibly enters into the nearby Pixon Barn in Osmington par. infra . The affix -Hungerford in the form from 1575 suggests some connection with the Hungerford family which held lands elsewhere in Do (Hutch3 4175), but no reference to it here has been noted.