By the early 18th century the estate was held by the Portmans of Orchard Portman.
The village takes the second part of its name from the Portman family one of the earliest prominent members of which was Sir William Portman (died 1557), Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and lord of the manor.
He followed Day, the Bishop of Chichester, in persuading Sir James Hales to abjure Protestantism in 1554.
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Sir William Portman had acquired land in Marylebone, London, which through the later housing developments of Henry William Portman became the Portman Estate, which today is one of Central London's largest landlords and is still the basis of the wealth of the Portman family.