The Saxons settled on Portsea Island in the 6th century including one called Coppa who is believed to have owned a stretch of shoreline, in the Saxon language an ora. with the combination creating Coppan ora, with the ''n' added in place of an apostrophe. By the time the Domesday Book was published in 1086, it had changed to Copenore before being later known as Copnor. Nearby Baffins was farmland which included Baffins Pond, Baffins Farm, and Tangier Farm with those place names retained and reused for the names of the area and the roads. In the late 19th, and early 20th century the rapid expansion of Portsmouth saw the areas engulfed by the growing city. Pictured: Copnor Bridge in Copnor Road in July 1936.The Saxons settled on Portsea Island in the 6th century including one called Coppa who is believed to have owned a stretch of shoreline, in the Saxon language an ora. with the combination creating Coppan ora, with the ''n' added in place of an apostrophe. By the time the Domesday Book was published in 1086, it had changed to Copenore before being later known as Copnor. Nearby Baffins was farmland which included Baffins Pond, Baffins Farm, and Tangier Farm with those place names retained and reused for the names of the area and the roads. In the late 19th, and early 20th century the rapid expansion of Portsmouth saw the areas engulfed by the growing city. Pictured: Copnor Bridge in Copnor Road in July 1936.
The Saxons settled on Portsea Island in the 6th century including one called Coppa who is believed to have owned a stretch of shoreline, in the Saxon language an ora. with the combination creating Coppan ora, with the ''n' added in place of an apostrophe. By the time the Domesday Book was published in 1086, it had changed to Copenore before being later known as Copnor. Nearby Baffins was farmland which included Baffins Pond, Baffins Farm, and Tangier Farm with those place names retained and reused for the names of the area and the roads. In the late 19th, and early 20th century the rapid expansion of Portsmouth saw the areas engulfed by the growing city. Pictured: Copnor Bridge in Copnor Road in July 1936.

Unravelling the origins of place names in Portsmouth and when they become part of the city

By Kelly Brown

Editor

Published 5th Jul 2023, 13:03 GMT
Updated 8th Jan 2025, 17:24 GMT

Portsmouth as we know it today has changed dramatically over the centuries – with our modern city created by the integration of the villages, farms and hamlets which once filled the area.

The city's Old English Anglo-Saxon name, ‘Portesmuða’, is derived from port (a haven) and muða (the mouth of a large river or estuary) and in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a warrior named Port and his two sons killed a noble Briton in Portsmouth in 501.

The names of a number of areas within the city owe their origin to the Saxons – we take a tour of the city as it is now to see how the names have changed over the years and when many of the areas which were once-villages and then became part of Portsmouth.

One of a number of villages founded by the Saxons, Fratton was originally known as Frodda ing tun, means the tun (farm or village) belonging to a person called Frodda. Over time the name changed to Froddington, then to Frodtone, to Frotton and finally to Fratton. Goldsmith's Farm was part of the original small rural village, the only visible evidence of this being the presence of a public house bearing its name. Froddington was one of the three small settlements on Portsea Island mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1847 a railway was built by the village and a railway station opened in Fratton, with more of the surrounding land was absorbed into Portsmouth in the 1870s and 1880s as a result. The area is home to Portsmouth Football Club's stadium Fratton Park. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

5. Fratton

One of a number of villages founded by the Saxons, Fratton was originally known as Frodda ing tun, means the tun (farm or village) belonging to a person called Frodda. Over time the name changed to Froddington, then to Frodtone, to Frotton and finally to Fratton. Goldsmith's Farm was part of the original small rural village, the only visible evidence of this being the presence of a public house bearing its name. Froddington was one of the three small settlements on Portsea Island mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1847 a railway was built by the village and a railway station opened in Fratton, with more of the surrounding land was absorbed into Portsmouth in the 1870s and 1880s as a result. The area is home to Portsmouth Football Club's stadium Fratton Park. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Pantling

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Southsea began life as a fashionable 19th-century Victorian seaside resort which was named Croxton Town, after a Mr Croxton who owned the land and starting building houses bought by many of the skilled workers of the expanding dockyard. Over time the southern part of Portsea Island became known as Southsea, adopting the name from Southsea Castle, the Croxton Town name becoming used less and less. Southsea was incorporated into the boundaries of Portsmouth in 1904. Picture: Sarah Standing (191022-4984)

6. Southsea

Southsea began life as a fashionable 19th-century Victorian seaside resort which was named Croxton Town, after a Mr Croxton who owned the land and starting building houses bought by many of the skilled workers of the expanding dockyard. Over time the southern part of Portsea Island became known as Southsea, adopting the name from Southsea Castle, the Croxton Town name becoming used less and less. Southsea was incorporated into the boundaries of Portsmouth in 1904. Picture: Sarah Standing (191022-4984) Photo: Sarah Standing

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Cosham started as a Saxon village in the 6th century called Cossa's ham, which meant Cossa's village or estate. However until the 19th century it was only a small village. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 England was divided into areas called manors and Cosham was part of the manor of Wymering. At that time Wymering was a larger village. Wymering was once called Wygmaer ingas, which means the people of Wygmaer in Saxon, but the name slowly changed to Wymering. In 1920 the boundaries of Portsmouth were extended to include the areas, and in 1932 to include Drayton and Farlington to the northeast.

7. Cosham and Wymering

Cosham started as a Saxon village in the 6th century called Cossa's ham, which meant Cossa's village or estate. However until the 19th century it was only a small village. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 England was divided into areas called manors and Cosham was part of the manor of Wymering. At that time Wymering was a larger village. Wymering was once called Wygmaer ingas, which means the people of Wygmaer in Saxon, but the name slowly changed to Wymering. In 1920 the boundaries of Portsmouth were extended to include the areas, and in 1932 to include Drayton and Farlington to the northeast. Photo: Google Streetview

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Landport derives its name from Landport Gate which was built in 1760 as a new main entry point to Portsmouth from the Dockyard. Unlike the majority of Portsmouth's defences, the gate is still in its original position and can be seen today. The settlement took the designation of Landport (Town) from 1831. Pictured: Landport Gate in St George's Road in November 1975.

8. Landport

Landport derives its name from Landport Gate which was built in 1760 as a new main entry point to Portsmouth from the Dockyard. Unlike the majority of Portsmouth's defences, the gate is still in its original position and can be seen today. The settlement took the designation of Landport (Town) from 1831. Pictured: Landport Gate in St George's Road in November 1975. Photo: -

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