A coastal town or harbor characterized by rocky shores, or specifically referring to various towns named Rockport in the United States.
A compound of 'rock' from Old English 'rocc' and 'port' from Latin 'portus' meaning 'harbor'. These place names emerged in coastal New England during colonial times, descriptively naming harbors characterized by rocky coastlines rather than sandy beaches.
Rockport represents the practical poetry of American place-naming - settlers chose names that immediately conveyed geographic and economic information to newcomers. The numerous Rockports across America (Massachusetts, Texas, Maine) show how successful geographic descriptors get recycled, each rocky harbor community claiming this perfect marriage of geology and commerce.
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