Archaeologically Significant Place-names

Click the links below to build maps of the places in the British Isles which contain these place-name elements. The list also contains archaeologically significant place-names. The maps and aerial photography generated will help you see the local geography and archaeology (if you look closely enough!).

List of English Places and their Meanings

Click a link and view a map of all the places in the British Isles that have that place-name.

aber can mean mouth (of a river), confluence, a meeting of waters Cumbric Welsh Pictish Cornish

acc can mean acorn, or oak tree Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ach- can mean field Irish Scots Gaelic

afon can mean river Welsh Scots Gaelic Cornish Irish

akr can mean Acre Old Norse

allt can mean Hillside Celtic

ar can mean high, height Irish Scots Gaelic

ard can mean high, height Irish Scots Gaelic

ash can mean ash tree Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

auchter- can mean height, top of something Irish Scots Gaelic

avon can mean river Welsh Scots Gaelic Cornish Irish

axe can mean from acsa, meaning river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ay can mean island OE/ON

bach can mean stream Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

bal can mean farm, homestead or mouth, approach Scots Gaelic Irish

ball can mean farm, homestead or mouth, approach Scots Gaelic Irish

balla can mean farm, homestead or mouth, approach Scots Gaelic Irish

bally can mean farm, homestead or mouth, approach Scots Gaelic Irish

ban can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

bannau can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

bannock can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

bannog can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

beann can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

beck can mean stream Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

bedd can mean Grave Celtic

beinn can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

ben can mean mountain, summit, summits, mountainous Scots Gaelic Welsh

berg can mean hill (cf. 'iceberg') OE/ON

berry can mean hill (cf. 'iceberg') OE/ON

bex can mean box, the tree Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

bie can mean settlement, village Old Norse

blaen can mean fell, hill, upland Cumbric Welsh

blen can mean fell, hill, upland Cumbric Welsh

bont can mean Bridge Celtic

booth can mean Summer pasture Old Norse

born can mean large brook, large stream, small river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

borough can mean fortified enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

bost can mean farm Old Norse

bourne can mean large brook, large stream, small river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

brad can mean broad Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

braugh can mean possible Roman town Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

bre can mean hill Cumbric Welsh Cornish

bre- can mean Hill Celtic

brough can mean possible Roman town Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

bryn can mean Hill; Head Celtic

burg can mean Large village Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

burgh can mean fortified enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

burn can mean large brook, large stream, small river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

bury can mean fortified enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

by can mean settlement, village Old Norse

caer can mean camp, fortification Cumbric Welsh

capel can mean Chapel Celtic

car can mean camp, fortification Cumbric Welsh

carden can mean thicket Pictish

carnedd can mean Cairn Celtic

castell can mean Castle Celtic

caster can mean camp, fortification (of Roman origin) Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Latin

castle can mean fortification, sometimes ancient including Roman forts

cester can mean camp, fortification (of Roman origin) Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Latin

ceter can mean camp, fortification (of Roman origin) Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Latin

cheap can mean market Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

chester can mean camp, fortification (of Roman origin) Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Latin

cheth can mean wood Cumbric

chipping can mean market Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

cil can mean monastic cell, old church, nook, corner Scots Gaelic Irish Welsh

cnwc can mean hill, rocky hillock Irish Scots Gaelic Cumbric Bry Welsh

coed can mean wood, forest Welsh

combe can mean valley Bry

coombe can mean valley Bry

cot can mean cottage, small building or derived from Bry/W Coed or Coet meaning a wood Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

cott can mean cottage, small building or derived from Bry/W Coed or Coet meaning a wood Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

crag can mean A jutting rock. Bry Scots Gaelic Irish

craig can mean A jutting rock. Bry Scots Gaelic Irish

creag can mean A jutting rock. Bry Scots Gaelic Irish

croft can mean Small enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

cul can mean narrow C W

cwm can mean valley Welsh Cumbric

dal can mean meadow, low-lying area by river Scots Gaelic Irish

dale can mean valley OE, allotment OE OE/ON

dean can mean valley (dene) OE - denu

dee can mean River Celtic

delph can mean Ditch, dyke or stream Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

den can mean hill, down Bry via OE

den(n) can mean Pig pasture Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

dhu can mean black Scots Gaelic Irish

din can mean fort Welsh Cornish

dinas can mean fort Welsh Cornish

dol can mean meadow, low-lying area by river Bry Pictish Welsh

don can mean fort Scots Gaelic Irish

doune can mean fort Scots Gaelic Irish

dow can mean black Scots Gaelic Irish

druineach can mean uncertain Scots Gaelic

drum can mean ridge, back Scots Gaelic Irish Welsh Cumbric

dubh can mean black Scots Gaelic Irish

duff can mean black Scots Gaelic Irish

dum can mean fort Scots Gaelic Irish

dun can mean fort Scots Gaelic Irish

ea can mean island OE eg

eagles can mean Church Welsh K(

eccles can mean Church Welsh K(

eg can mean island OE eg

eglews can mean Church Welsh K(

eglos can mean Church Welsh K(

eglwys can mean Church Welsh K(

eig can mean island OE eg

eilean can mean Island Irish Scots Gaelic

esk can mean from acsa, meaning river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

exe can mean from acsa, meaning river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

eye can mean River Celtic

fall can mean Area cleared of trees Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

fell can mean Hill or mound Old Norse

fen can mean Fen Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ffordd can mean ford, crossing, road Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

ffos can mean ditch Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

field can mean open land, a forest clearing Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

fin can mean white Bry

fiord can mean Fiord Old Norse

firth can mean fjord, inlet Old Norse

fiskr can mean Fish Old Norse

force can mean waterfall Old Norse

ford can mean ford, crossing, road Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

forth can mean ford, crossing, road Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

fos can mean ditch Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Welsh

foss can mean waterfall Old Norse

fridd can mean wood or woodland or uncultivated land with small trees and bushes at the edge of cultivated land, especially on hillsides. OE W

frith can mean wood or woodland or uncultivated land with small trees and bushes at the edge of cultivated land, especially on hillsides. OE W

gar(t) can mean enclosed field Scots Gaelic

gardr can mean Yard; landing place Old Norse

garth can mean enclosure, small summit or ridge Old Norse Welsh

gate can mean road Old Norse

geit can mean Goat Old Norse

ghyll can mean ravine, narrow gully Old Norse

gill can mean ravine, narrow gully Old Norse

glan can mean River Bank Celtic

glen can mean narrow valley, dale Scots Gaelic Irish Welsh

glind can mean enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

glyn can mean narrow valley, dale Scots Gaelic Irish Welsh

gowt can mean Water outfall, sluice, drain

halh can mean Remote recess/nook/valley (modern -hall) Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ham can mean farm, homestead, [settlement]- Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hamps can mean Dry stream in Summer Celtic

hay can mean area of land enclosed by a hedge Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hayes can mean area of land enclosed by a hedge Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hays can mean area of land enclosed by a hedge Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hey can mean Animal feeding stalls Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hirst can mean (wooded) hill Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hithe can mean wharf, place for landing boats Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

holm can mean holly, island Old Norse Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

holmr can mean Island Old Norse

hope can mean valley, enclosed area Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

how can mean Hill or mound Old Norse

howe can mean mound, hill, knoll, ON haugr

hurst can mean (wooded) hill Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

hus can mean House Old Norse

hythe can mean wharf, place for landing boats Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

inch can mean Island, dry area in marsh. Irish Scots Gaelic

ing can mean people of (ingas) Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ings can mean Marsh; meadow Old Norse

inner can mean mouth of (a river), confluence, a meeting of waters Scots Gaelic

inver can mean mouth of (a river), confluence, a meeting of waters Scots Gaelic

kald can mean Cold Old Norse

keld can mean spring Old Norse

kelda can mean Spring, stream Old Norse

keth can mean wood Cumbric

kil can mean monastic cell, old church, nook, corner Scots Gaelic Irish Welsh

kin can mean head Scots Gaelic Irish

king can mean king, tribal leader OE/ON

kirk can mean church Old Norse

knock can mean hill, rocky hillock Irish Scots Gaelic Cumbric Bry Welsh

kyle can mean narrows Scots Gaelic

kyles can mean narrows Scots Gaelic

laithe can mean Barn Old Norse

lake can mean Lake Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

lan can mean church, churchyard, village with church, parish Cumbric Cornish Pictish Welsh

lang can mean long Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

law can mean from hlaw, a rounded hill Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

lea can mean from leah, a woodland clearing Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

leigh can mean from leah, a woodland clearing Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ley can mean from leah, a woodland clearing Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

lhan can mean church, churchyard, village with church, parish Cumbric Cornish Pictish Welsh

lin can mean lake, pond Welsh

ling can mean heather Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

llan can mean church, churchyard, village with church, parish Cumbric Cornish Pictish Welsh

llyn can mean lake (or simply water) Bry Cumbric Welsh

loch can mean lake, a sea inlet Scots Gaelic Irish

lough can mean lake, a sea inlet Scots Gaelic Irish

low can mean from hlaw, a rounded hill Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

lund can mean Grove Old Norse

lyn can mean lake, pond Welsh

lyng can mean heather Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

lynn can mean lake, pond Welsh

ma can mean lake, pool Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

magna can mean great Latin

mar can mean Pool Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

mawr can mean large, great Welsh

melr can mean Sandbank Old Norse

mer can mean lake, pool Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

mere can mean lake, pool Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

minster can mean large church, monastery Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

moor can mean Moor Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

more can mean large, great Irish Scots Gaelic

moss can mean Swamp, bog Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

mouth can mean Mouth (of a river), bay Middle English

mynydd can mean mountain Welsh

m�r can mean Sea Celtic

nan can mean valley Cornish

nans can mean valley Cornish

nant can mean ravine or the stream in it Cumbric Welsh

ness can mean promontory, headland (literally 'nose') Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Old Norse

ney can mean island

nor can mean north Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ock can mean acorn, or oak tree Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

orme can mean Serpent Old Norse

os can mean God Celtic

pant can mean a hollow Welsh

parva can mean little Latin

pen can mean head (headland or hill), top, far end of, end of Cumbric Cornish Welsh ?P

pit can mean portion, share, farm Pictish

plas can mean Palace Celtic

pol can mean pool or lake Cumbric Cornish W.

pollr can mean Pool Old Norse

pont can mean bridge Latin Cornish Welsh Cumbric

pool can mean harbour Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

port can mean port, harbour Middle English

porth can mean harbour Cornish Welsh

pwll can mean pool or lake Cumbric Cornish W.

riding can mean Cleared land Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

rig can mean ridge Old Norse Scots

rigg can mean ridge Old Norse Scots

rod can mean Cleared land Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

shaw can mean a wood, a thicket Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

shep can mean sheep Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ship can mean sheep Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

skar can mean Cleft Old Norse

sker can mean Rock Old Norse

slack can mean Stream in a valley Old Norse

stakkr can mean Rock in the sea Old Norse

stan can mean stone, stony Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

stead can mean place, enclosed pasture Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

sted can mean place, enclosed pasture Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ster can mean farm Old Norse

stoc can mean Summer pasture Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

stoke can mean dependent farmstead, secondary settlement OE stoc

stokkr can mean Sound Old Norse

stow can mean (holy) place (of assembly) Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

stowe can mean (holy) place (of assembly) Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

strath can mean wide valley, vale Scots Gaelic

streat can mean road (Roman) Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

street can mean road (Roman) Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

stret can mean road (Roman) Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

sud can mean south Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

sut can mean south Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

swin can mean pigs, swine Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

tarn can mean lake Old Norse

term can mean Meaning Origin

thorp can mean secondary settlement Old Norse

thorpe can mean secondary settlement Old Norse

thwaite can mean a forest clearing with a dwelling, or parcel of land ON thveit

tilly can mean hillock Scots Gaelic

toft can mean homestead Old Norse

ton can mean enclosure, estate, homestead OE tun

toot can mean lookout place

tra- can mean settlement Cumbric Cornish Welsh

traeth can mean beach Cornish Welsh

tre can mean Hamlet; Village; Town Celtic

tre- can mean settlement Cumbric Cornish Welsh

treath can mean beach Cornish Welsh

tullie can mean hillock Scots Gaelic

tulloch can mean hillock Scots Gaelic

tun can mean enclosure, estate, homestead OE tun

twatt can mean a forest clearing with a dwelling, or parcel of land ON thveit

upon can mean by/"upon" a river Middle English

usk can mean from acsa, meaning river Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

vin can mean white Bry

wal can mean walh (foreigner). 'The Walha' was the Anglo-Saxon name for the indigenous people of 'Britain' left behind by the Roman exodus from the British Isles Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wardine can mean enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wath can mean Ford Old Norse

weald can mean high woodland Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wes can mean west Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wic can mean Farm; Group of huts Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wich can mean place, settlement Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wick can mean bay ON vik

wike can mean Farm; Group of huts Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

win can mean white Bry

wold can mean high woodland Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wood can mean Wood Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

worth can mean enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

worthy can mean enclosure Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wray can mean Remote place Old Norse

wych can mean place, settlement Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

wyke can mean place, settlement Latin Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

ynys can mean Island Welsh

Types of Search Available

The search form takes wildcards for more powerful searches which are detailed below. Try them and see what you come up with.

Literal place-name search

Here you search for exact matches of a place-name.

Performing a search with the word "bury" would find all place-names of that name only containing the word "bury", but not Oldbury etc.

Root place-name search

Here you search for matches of a place-name plus place-names starting with that word.

For example, Performing an element search with "stow*", would find, in addition to all "stow" place-names, other place-names starting with the word "stow", such as Stowmarket, but NOT not Walthamstow.

Terminal place-name search

Here one searches for all place-names ending with the element.

Performing an element search with "stow*", would find, in addition to all "stow" place-names, other names containing the word "stow" at the end of the name such as Walthamstow, but NOT not Stowmarket.

Element place-name search

Here one searches for all place-names where the search term is in the middle of the place's name.

Performing an element search with "*bur*", would find, in addition to finding all place-names of the name "burg", other names containing the element such as Edinburgh.

Boolean place-name search

Using this method one can search for place-names which include or exclude certain elements or place-names.

Performing an element search with "*burgh*" in the Search Element 1 Box 1 and something like "little" in Search Element Box 2.

Sterminal place-name search

Here one would enter the character or characters which are at the begining of a place-name together with a character or characters which are at the end of the place-name.

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