 In the 2011 Census, the parish had a population of 1,117.The name Plaxtol is believed to be derived from Old English words meaning "play area"; there used to be a large green in the middle of the village where children would play after attending church on a Sunday.The River Bourne flows through the parish, and formerly powered three watermills in Plaxtol – Winfield Mill (corn), Longmill (corn) and Roughway Paper Mill.