Wasperton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Wasperton
Historical Forms
- Waspertune 1043 KCD916 17th
- Wasperton c.1050 KCD939 17th
- Waspreton 1139 RegAlb
- Waspurton early13th CartMisc 1327 SR 1349 Wigorn
- Washparton 1514 ADv
- Wasmertone 1086 DB
- Wesperton 1415 Pat
Etymology
This is a difficult name. It may be a compound of OE (ge )wæsc , 'place liable to flood' and pertun , 'pear enclosure.'OE wāse , 'mud' is also possible. Much of the district is liable to flood. Cf. Perton (St), Pertun KCD 824 and Parham (PN Sx 154). Professor Ekwall, noting the history of Ashburton (PN D 462) in which original b persistently appears as p from the 12th century onwards, suggests that the second element may be burhtun or bertun . Hence, 'fortified enclosure (or barton ) by the flooded land.'