Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Portone 1086 DB

• Portun' 1199 P

• Porton(e), Portona 1232 FF 1236,1242 Fees

• Poertone 1086 DB

• Poerton(a) 12th ADiv 1225 ClR

• Pourton(e) 1160,1181 P 1160 RBE 1198 Fees 1207 Cur 1272 FF 1316 FA

• Pourton(e) juxta Gomeledon 1312 Ass

• Powertone 1211 RBE

• Poureton 1397 IpmR

• Poreton 1545 LP

Etymology

This name would seem to be identical in origin with Poorton (PN Do 242) with the same first element occurring also in Powerstock (ib. 240), one mile from Poorton. In all these names alike we have, from DB onwards, forms Powr -, Pover -, Pour -, Povre -, Por -, Poer -. Ekwall (Studies 21 and DEPN) notes that one or other of the Dorset places is called Power in a 12th-century MS of a grant by Egbert and rightly suggests that we have the same first element in Porton also. He suggests that this may be an old river-name, referring in this case to the Bourne.