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.

Westport

Early-attested site in the Parish of Malmesbury

Historical Forms

  • Westeporte t.Hy1,13th RegMalm 1232 Ch 1289 Ass
  • Westport 1232 Ch

Etymology

Westport (6″) is Westeporte t. Hy 1, 13th RegMalm, 1232 Ch, 1289Ass , Westport 1232 Ch. This was originally a separate settlement lying to the west of Malmesbury. Probably the OE  form of the name was westan porte , 'west of the town,' i.e. Malmesbury, v. port and cf. Bynport supra 48.