Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Porthomme 1266 Glouc 1302 GlCorp

• Port(e)ham 1542 LP, MinAcct

• Port(e)ham als. Prestham 1518 GlR

• prat' voc' Importeham 1539 AOMB

Etymology

Port Ham, Porthomme 1266 Glouc, 1302 GlCorp 425, Port (e )ham 1542 LP, MinAcct , Port (e )ham als. Prestham 1518 GlR, prat ' voc ' Importeham 1539AOMB . This is one of the 'hams' or water-meadows by the Severn, v. hamm and cf. Mean Ham (ii, 139supra ). The first el. could be port 2 'town' (here Gloucester) but, since Town Ham is north of Over Causeway and Port Ham was church land, it is probably port 3 (ME , OFr  porte) 'gateway', referring to the western gateway of Gloucester (cf. ii, 133supra ); or it may be the porta or gateway referred to in Persh (infra ). The place was alternatively called Prestham (cf. Priest Ham ii, 141 supra ). Cf. Æeoport 862 BCS 535, 'river gate', referring to the same gate of Gloucester.