Pershore
Major Settlement in the Parish of Pershore Holy Cross
Historical Forms
- Perscoran 972 BCS1282 c.1050 KCD824 1066 13th
- Persceoran c.1055 KCD804 18th
- Persore 1086 DB c.1086 EveA&B 1190
- Perschora 14th BM
- Percior 1456 Pat
- Parshior, Parshore 1464 Pat 1484 ADi 1610 Speed 1675 Ogilby
- Pershore and Portsmouth 1542 LP
Etymology
As suggested by Ritter (133) this must be from a lost OE word which lies behind ME persche , 'osier, twig.' It is definitely a West Country word and still survives in Gloucestershire persh used in the same sense. OE persoc , 'peach,' would have developed to Persk - and not to Persh -. The second element is ora . Hence 'osier-bank.' Portmote was the part of the town which belonged to Westminster Abbey, cf. Portmot in a pers. name in 1185 P.Through the forms Porchmouth , Portysmouth it was finally corrupted to Portsmouth (VCH iv. 153). Portmote is 'town- meeting' (v. port ).