English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Portsand Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Thorney

Etymology

Portsand Fm (6″). Cf. Porson drove 1638 Imb, Porsand (Banck )1654 Moore, 1690 Lea, Postland 1672FenL , Porsant al. Porstland 1697SewersC , Portson drove 1772 Imb. The name clearly derives from Postland (L), on the other side of the Old South Eau, for which we have early forms (island called ) le Purceynt 1415 Pat, (water called ) le Pursuaunt 1555 ib., Pursant 1652 CWills, Por (t )sand 1680Map , Postland 1775 PR. This derives from AFr  purceynt , adj. and sb., 'enclosure,' Lat  procinctus , 'girt about, enclosed.' v. purcinct (NED).