History and hidden meanings of Britain's place names
Seemingly ordinary place names on the map of Great Britain often hide fascinating stories of the landscape and local history. And it’s not just in Great Britain that this heritage is felt. Many towns and cities in America and the Commonwealth were named after British places and have their complicated roots here.
Unravelling how place names originated and what they really mean can be fascinating. The next time you are exploring the British countryside on foot, by bike or by car, take a moment to consider the places around you. There may be more to them than meets the eye.
Places were originally named in Old English, Norse, Scots, Welsh, Gaelic or Cornish, according to landscape features (topography), nature of settlement (habitat – city, town, village, fortifications) or the people or tribe living in the area, often combining two or three descriptive terms in one name. These names were then influenced and modified at various historical periods through language shift driven by socio-economic and political changes. These sometimes introduced new language influences, such as French from the Norman Conquest.
A word of caution… some modern names can deceptively cloak the true origins and meanings because these place names may have been modified quite dramatically over the centuries. Always try to look for the oldest usage of any place name for a more accurate interpretation of its original meaning. The origins of English place names are particularly complex, with very few general rules that can be applied.
Source: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsi ... lacenames/
Research sites....
Etymology Of British Place-names
English Place-Name Society
Scottish Place-Name Society
List of generic forms in British place names
UK place name origins
Place name origins
- DiOz
- UKDN Valued Member and Diamond Supporter
- Posts: 4573
- meble kuchenne warszawa
- Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 4:39 pm
- Main Detector: Ace 250
- Location: South Australia. Birthplace: Lancashire. Age: 75.
Jump to
- NEWS
- ↳ LATEST NEWS
- NOTICE BOARD AND DISCUSSIONS
- ↳ "Green Waste" Issues
- ↳ UKDN Downloads
- ↳ UKDN MAGAZINES
- ↳ 2018 Magazines
- ↳ 2017 Magazines
- ↳ 2016 Magazines
- ↳ 2015 Magazines
- ↳ 2014 Magazines
- ↳ 2013 Magazines
- ↳ 2012 Magazines
- ↳ 2011 Magazines
- ↳ 2010 Magazines
- ↳ 2009 UKDN Magazines
- ↳ 2008 Magazines
- ↳ 2007 Magazines
- ↳ BEGINNERS' SECTION
- ↳ ARCHIVE MATERIAL
- BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
- ↳ Book's & Publication's For Sale and Wanted
- ↳ Book's or Publication's You Recommend
- ↳ On-Going Research Projects
- ↳ Photography
- ↳ Finds Photography Hints
- ↳ Aerial Photography
- Rallies, Exhibitions and Finds' Days
- ↳ Rally, Exhibition, Conference and Finds' Day Notices
- ↳ Club Digs
- ↳ Need a Detecting Buddy
- RETAIL OUTLET
- ↳ DETECTOR SHOPS
- ↳ DETECTOR MANUFACTURERS
- ↳ DETECTING RELATED ITEMS - for sale - wanted - swap
- ↳ GENERAL ITEMS - for sale - wanted - swap
- ↳ Free to Good Home
- ↳ DISCOUNTS
- ↳ Artefacts (Metal)
- ↳ General Artefacts
- ↳ Artefact Hoards
- ↳ Gold
- ↳ Silver
- ↳ Bronze Age
- ↳ Iron Age
- ↳ Roman
- ↳ Saxon, Viking
- ↳ Medieval
- ↳ Post-Medieval
- ↳ Modern
- ↳ Seal Matrix's
- ↳ Buttons
- ↳ Weights
- ↳ Firearms & Munitions
- ↳ Artefacts (Non-Metal)
- ↳ Stone Tools
- ↳ Flint
- ↳ Pottery
- ↳ Conservation
- ↳ General Information
- ↳ Advice
- ↳ Supplies
- ↳ Mapping
- ↳ GPS
- ↳ Modern Maps
- ↳ Old Maps
- ↳ Google Earth as a Recording & Research Tool
- ↳ Detecting
- ↳ General Interest
- ↳ Research
- ↳ Detectors & Tips
- ↳ Publications
- ↳ Detecting websites
- ↳ Detecting Organisations
- ↳ Government Bodies
- ↳ The Law
- ↳ European
- ↳ American
- ↳ Rest of the World
- ↳ Manufacturers Websites
- ↳ Detecting Aids
- ↳ Supplies
- ↳ History
- ↳ General History
- ↳ Kings & Queens
- ↳ Celts & Romans
- ↳ Saxons & Vikings
- ↳ Medieval
- ↳ Post-Medieval - Modern
- ↳ Archaeology
- ↳ Museums & Collections
- ↳ General Coins
- ↳ Coins
- ↳ Coin Hoards
- ↳ Celtic
- ↳ Roman
- ↳ Saxon, Viking
- ↳ Norman, Angevin, Plantagenat
- ↳ Lancastrian, House of York
- ↳ Tudor, Stuart
- ↳ Hanover
- ↳ Windsor
- ↳ Scottish, Irish
- ↳ Foreign
- ↳ Tokens
- ↳ Medals