Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bywesteport 1264 Ipm

• Westeport(e) 1274 FF 1316 FA 1327 Ass

• Westeport(e) iuxta Warham 1336,1370 DCMDeed

• Westport(e) 1276 Cl

• Westport(e) iuxta Warham 1288 1381 DCMDeed

• Wesport 1367 ChrP 1372

• 'land in the Westport' 1393 Fine

• the housse of the sayd Westporte 1548 DCMDeed

Etymology

Westport Ho (SY 921871), Bywesteport 1264 Ipm, Westeport (e )1274 FF, 1316 FA, 1327Ass , Westeport (e ) iuxta Warham 1336, 1370DCMDeed , Westport (e )1276 Cl, Westport (e ) iuxta Warham 1288Ass , FF, 1381DCMDeed et passim , Wesport 1367 (1372) ChrP , 'land in the Westport '1393 Fine, the housse of the sayd Westporte 1548DCMDeed , cf. Westport (e )moore , a waye callid the drove that enteryth thorough the sayd Westportegrounde 1548ib , probably '(place) to the west of the town', v. bī , westan , port 2 , with hūs , mōr , drove , grund ; formally, Hutch1 130 could be right in supposing that 'it takes its name from its situation near the West gate or port of Wareham', v. port 3 , cf. portam occidentalem de Warham n.d. (1372) ChrP , mes '… iuxta portam occidentalem ville de Wareham p1483Sheen , but the el. port 3 is rare in p.ns. and would certainly be less appropriate for the analogous Northport supra which lies ¼ mile N of the town wall, cf. also Portmanmore supra .