• If you’re in the north of England and you’re in a town ending in -by, you’re in former Danish-ruled territory.
As in Grimsby, Wragby or Haxby. ‘By’ (pronounced bee) is still the Danish word for ‘town’. Other originally Danish suffixes: -sted (Stansted), -thorpe (Scunthorpe), -toft (Lowestoft).
As in Grimsby, Wragby or Haxby. ‘By’ (pronounced bee) is still the Danish word for ‘town’. Other originally Danish suffixes: -sted (Stansted), -thorpe (Scunthorpe), -toft (Lowestoft).
• If the toponym starts with beau- or bel-, it was probably named by Normans.
Normans often renamed places they didn’t like the sound of, such as Fulepet (‘Filthy Hole’) in Essex, which became Beaumont (‘Fairhill’), or Merdegrave in Leicestershire, which was turned into Belgrave.
Normans often renamed places they didn’t like the sound of, such as Fulepet (‘Filthy Hole’) in Essex, which became Beaumont (‘Fairhill’), or Merdegrave in Leicestershire, which was turned into Belgrave.
• And if it contains the prefix Avon- or the suffix -combe, it is one of many place names of Celtic origin that dot the islands on this map.
e.g. Ilfracombe; the suffix still gives a good indication on how to pronounce its Welsh equivalent cwm, which also means ‘valley’.
e.g. Ilfracombe; the suffix still gives a good indication on how to pronounce its Welsh equivalent cwm, which also means ‘valley’.
Analysis of place names can be highly informative of the languages historically spoken and ancient peoples once settled in any given country. The most obvious method for such an analysis is, of course, etymological.
LIST OF TOWNS IN ENGLAND
| Town | Ceremonial county | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Abingdon | Oxfordshire | town council1 |
| Accrington | Lancashire | borough (1878–1974) |
| Acle | Norfolk | market charter |
| Acton | Greater London | borough (1921–1965) |
| Adlington | Lancashire | town council1 |
| Alcester | Warwickshire | town council |
| Aldeburgh | Suffolk | town council1 |
| Aldershot | Hampshire | borough (1922–1974) |
| Alford | Lincolnshire | town council1 |
| Alfreton | Derbyshire | town council |
| Alnwick | Northumberland | town council1 |
| Alsager | Cheshire | town council1 |
| Alston | Cumbria | market charter |
| Alton | Hampshire | town council1 |
| Altrincham | Greater Manchester | borough (1937–1974) |
| Amble | Northumberland | town council1 |
| Ambleside | Cumbria | market charter |
| Amersham | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Amesbury | Wiltshire | town council |
| Ampthill | Bedfordshire | town council1 |
| Andover | Hampshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Appleby-in-Westmorland | Cumbria | town council1 |
| Arlesey | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Arundel | West Sussex | town council1 |
| Ashbourne | Derbyshire | town council1 |
| Ashburton | Devon | town council1 |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | Leicestershire | town council1 |
| Ashby Woulds | Leicestershire | town council1 |
| Ashford | Kent | market charter |
| Ashington | Northumberland | town council |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | Greater Manchester | borough (1847–1974) |
| Askern | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Aspatria | Cumbria | town council |
| Atherstone | Warwickshire | town council |
| Attleborough | Norfolk | town council |
| Axbridge | Somerset | town council |
| Axminster | Devon | town council |
| Aylesbury | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Aylsham | Norfolk | town council |
| Bacup | Lancashire | borough (1883–1974) |
| Bakewell | Derbyshire | town council1 |
| Banbury | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Barking | Greater London | borough (1931–1965) |
| Barnard Castle | Durham | town council1 |
| Barnes | Greater London | borough (1932–1965) |
| Barnet | Greater London | market charter |
| Barnoldswick | Lancashire | town council |
| Barnsley | South Yorkshire | borough (1869–1974) |
| Barnstaple | Devon | town council1 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | Cumbria | borough (1867–1974) |
| Barton-upon-Humber | Lincolnshire | town council1 |
| Basingstoke | Hampshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Batley | West Yorkshire | borough (1868–1974) |
| Battle | East Sussex | town council |
| Bawtry | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Beaconsfield | Buckinghamshire | town council1 |
| Beaminster | Dorset | town council |
| Bebington | Merseyside | borough (1937–1974) |
| Beccles | Suffolk | town council1 |
| Beckenham | Greater London | borough (1935–1965) |
| Bedale | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Bedford | Bedfordshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Bedworth | Warwickshire | market charter |
| Belper | Derbyshire | town council1 |
| Bentham | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Berkeley | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Berkhamsted | Hertfordshire | town council1 |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | Northumberland | town council |
| Beverley | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Bewdley | Worcestershire | town council1 |
| Bexhill-on-Sea | East Sussex | charter trustees |
| Bexley | Greater London | borough (1937–1965) |
| Bicester | Oxfordshire | town council1 |
| Biddulph | Staffordshire | town council1 |
| Bideford | Devon | town council1 |
| Biggleswade | Bedfordshire | town council1 |
| Billericay | Essex | town council |
| Billingham | Durham | town council |
| Bilston | West Midlands | borough (1938–1967) |
| Bingham | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Bingley | West Yorkshire | market charter |
| Birchwood | Cheshire | town council |
| Birkenhead | Merseyside | borough (1877–1974) |
| Bishop Auckland | Durham | town council |
| Bishop's Castle | Shropshire | borough (1885–1974) |
| Bishop's Stortford | Hertfordshire | town council1 |
| Bishop's Waltham | Hampshire | market charter |
| Blackburn | Lancashire | borough (1851–1974) |
| Blackpool | Lancashire | borough (1867–1974) |
| Blackrod | Greater Manchester | town council |
| Blackwater and Hawley | Hampshire | town council |
| Blandford Forum | Dorset | town council |
| Bletchley and Fenny Stratford | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Blyth | Northumberland | town council |
| Bodmin | Cornwall | town council |
| Bognor Regis | West Sussex | town council |
| Bollington | Cheshire | town council |
| Bolsover | Derbyshire | town council |
| Bolton | Greater Manchester | borough (1838–1974) |
| Bootle | Merseyside | borough (1868–1974) |
| Boroughbridge | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Boston | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Bottesford | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Bourne | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Bournemouth | Dorset | borough (1890–1974) |
| Bovey Tracey | Devon | town council |
| Brackley | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Bradford-on-Avon | Wiltshire | town council |
| Brading | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Bradley Stoke | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Bradninch | Devon | town council |
| Braintree | Essex | market charter |
| Brampton | Cumbria | town council |
| Brandon | Suffolk | town council |
| Braunstone Town | Leicestershire | town council |
| Brentford | Greater London | market charter |
| Brentwood | Essex | market charter |
| Bridgnorth | Shropshire | town council |
| Bridgwater | Somerset | town council |
| Bridlington | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Bridport | Dorset | town council |
| Brierfield | Lancashire | town council |
| Brierley | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Brigg | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Brighouse | West Yorkshire | borough (1893–1974) |
| Brightlingsea | Essex | town council |
| Brixham | Devon | town council |
| Broadstairs and St Peter's | Kent | town council |
| Bromborough | Merseyside | market charter |
| Bromley | Greater London | borough (1903–1965) |
| Bromsgrove | Worcestershire | market charter |
| Bromyard and Winslow | Herefordshire | town council |
| Broseley | Shropshire | town council |
| Broughton | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Broughton-in-Furness | Cumbria | market charter |
| Bruton | Somerset | town council |
| Buckfastleigh | Devon | town council |
| Buckingham | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Bude-Stratton | Cornwall | town council |
| Budleigh Salterton | Devon | town council |
| Bulwell | Nottinghamshire | market charter |
| Bungay | Suffolk | town council |
| Buntingford | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Burford | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Burgess Hill | West Sussex | town council |
| Burgh-le-Marsh | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | Essex | town council |
| Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge | Somerset | town council |
| Burnley | Lancashire | borough (1861–1974) |
| Burntwood | Staffordshire | town council |
| Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Burton upon Trent | Staffordshire | charter trustees (abolished 2003) |
| Bury | Greater Manchester | borough (1876–1974) |
| Bury St Edmunds | Suffolk | town council |
| Bushey | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Buxton | Derbyshire | borough (1917–1974) |
| Caistor | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Callington | Cornwall | town council |
| Calne | Wiltshire | town council |
| Camborne | Cornwall | town council |
| Camelford | Cornwall | town council |
| Cannock | Staffordshire | market charter |
| Canvey Island | Essex | town council |
| Carnforth | Lancashire | town council |
| Carlton Colville | Suffolk | town council |
| Carterton | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Castle Cary | Somerset | town council |
| Castleford | West Yorkshire | borough (1955–1974) |
| Chagford | Devon | stannary charter |
| Chapel-en-le-Frith | Derbyshire | market charter |
| Chard | Somerset | town council |
| Charlbury | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Chatham | Kent | borough (1890–1974) |
| Chatteris | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Cheadle | Staffordshire | town council |
| Chelmsford | Essex | charter trustees (abolished 1975) |
| Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | borough (1876–1974) |
| Chertsey | Surrey | market charter |
| Chesham | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Cheshunt | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Chesterfield | Derbyshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Chester-le-Street | Durham | market charter |
| Chickerell | Dorset | town council |
| Chingford | Greater London | borough (1938–1965) |
| Chippenham | Wiltshire | town council |
| Chipping Campden | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Chipping Norton | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Chipping Sodbury | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Chorley | Lancashire | borough (1881–1974) |
| Chorleywood | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Christchurch | Dorset | borough (1886–1974) |
| Chudleigh | Devon | town council |
| Chulmleigh | Devon | market charter |
| Church Stretton | Shropshire | town council |
| Cinderford | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Cirencester | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Clare | Suffolk | market charter |
| Clay Cross | Derbyshire | town council |
| Cleator Moor | Cumbria | town council |
| Cleethorpes | Lincolnshire | charter trustees |
| Cleobury Mortimer | Shropshire | market charter |
| Clevedon | Somerset | town council |
| Clitheroe | Lancashire | town council |
| Clun | Shropshire | market charter |
| Cockermouth | Cumbria | town council |
| Coggeshall | Essex | market charter |
| Colburn | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Colchester | Essex | borough (1835–1974) |
| Coleford | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Coleshill | Warwickshire | town council |
| Colne | Lancashire | town council |
| Colyton | Devon | market charter |
| Congleton | Cheshire | town council |
| Conisbrough | South Yorkshire | market charter |
| Corbridge | Northumberland | market charter |
| Corby | Northamptonshire | market charter |
| Corringham | Essex | market charter |
| Corsham | Wiltshire | town council |
| Cotgrave | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Cowes | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Cramlington | Northumberland | town council |
| Cranbrook | Kent | market charter |
| Craven Arms | Shropshire | town council |
| Crawley | West Sussex | market charter |
| Crediton | Devon | town council |
| Crewe | Cheshire | charter trustees |
| Crewkerne | Somerset | town council |
| Cricklade | Wiltshire | town council |
| Cromer | Norfolk | town council |
| Crosby | Merseyside | borough (1937–1974) |
| Crowborough | East Sussex | town council |
| Croydon | Greater London | borough (1883–1965) |
| Crowland | Lincolnshire | market charter |
| Crowle | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Cullompton | Devon | town council |
| Dagenham | Greater London | borough (1938–1965) |
| Dalton Town with Newton | Cumbria | town council |
| Darley Dale | Derbyshire | town council |
| Darlington | Durham | borough (1867–1974) |
| Dartford | Kent | charter trustees (abolished 1977) |
| Dartmouth | Devon | town council |
| Darwen | Lancashire | town council |
| Daventry | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Dawlish | Devon | town council |
| Deal | Kent | town council |
| Dereham | Norfolk | town council |
| Desborough | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Devizes | Wiltshire | town council |
| Dewsbury | West Yorkshire | borough (1862–1974) |
| Didcot | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Dinnington St John's | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Diss | Norfolk | town council |
| Doncaster | South Yorkshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Dorchester | Dorset | town council |
| Dorking | Surrey | market charter |
| Dover | Kent | town council |
| Dovercourt | Essex | market charter |
| Downham Market | Norfolk | town council |
| Driffield | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Droitwich Spa | Worcestershire | town council |
| Dronfield | Derbyshire | town council |
| Dudley | West Midlands | borough (1865–1974) |
| Dukinfield | Greater Manchester | borough (1899–1974) |
| Dulverton | Somerset | town council |
| Dunstable | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Dunwich | Suffolk | market charter |
| Dursley | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Ealing | Greater London | borough (1901–1965) |
| Earl Shilton | Leicestershire | town council |
| Earley | Berkshire | town council |
| Easingwold | North Yorkshire | town council |
| East Cowes | Isle of Wight | town council |
| East Grinstead | West Sussex | town council |
| East Ham | Greater London | borough (1904–1965) |
| Eastbourne | East Sussex | borough (1883–1974) |
| Eastleigh | Hampshire | borough (1936–1974) |
| East Retford | Nottinghamshire | charter trustees |
| Eastwood | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Eccles | Greater Manchester | borough (1892–1974) |
| Eccleshall | Staffordshire | market charter |
| Edenbridge | Kent | town council |
| Edgware | Greater London | market charter |
| Edmonton | Greater London | borough (1937–1965) |
| Egremont | Cumbria | town council |
| Elland | West Yorkshire | market charter |
| Ellesmere | Shropshire | town council |
| Ellesmere Port | Cheshire | charter trustees |
| Elstree and Borehamwood | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Emsworth | Hampshire | market charter |
| Enfield | Greater London | borough (1955–1965) |
| Epping | Essex | town council |
| Epworth | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Erith | Greater London | borough (1937–1965) |
| Eton | Berkshire | town council |
| Evesham | Worcestershire | town council |
| Exmouth | Devon | town council |
| Eye | Suffolk | town council |
| Fairford | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Fakenham | Norfolk | town council |
| Falmouth | Cornwall | town council |
| Fareham | Hampshire | market charter |
| Faringdon | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Farnham | Surrey | town council |
| Faversham | Kent | town council |
| Fazeley | Staffordshire | town council |
| Featherstone | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Felixstowe | Suffolk | town council |
| Ferndown | Dorset | town council |
| Ferryhill | Durham | town council |
| Filey | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Filton | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Finchley | Greater London | borough (1933–1965) |
| Fleet | Hampshire | town council |
| Fleetwood | Lancashire | borough (1933–1974) |
| Flitwick | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Folkestone | Kent | town council |
| Fordbridge | West Midlands | town council |
| Fordingbridge | Hampshire | town council |
| Fordwich | Kent | town council |
| Fowey | Cornwall | town council |
| Framlingham | Suffolk | town council |
| Frinton and Walton | Essex | town council |
| Frodsham | Cheshire | town council |
| Frome | Somerset | town council |
| Gainsborough | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Garstang | Lancashire | town council |
| Gateshead | Tyne and Wear | borough (1835–1974) |
| Gillingham | Dorset | town council |
| Gillingham | Kent | borough (1903–1974) |
| Glastonbury | Somerset | town council |
| Glossop | Derbyshire | borough (1866–1974) |
| Godalming | Surrey | town council |
| Godmanchester | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Goole | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Gorleston | Norfolk | market charter |
| Gosport | Hampshire | borough (1922–1974) |
| Grange-over-Sands | Cumbria | town council |
| Grantham | Lincolnshire | charter trustees |
| Gravesend | Kent | borough (1835–1974) |
| Grays | Essex | market charter |
| Great Dunmow | Essex | town council |
| Great Torrington | Devon | town council |
| Great Yarmouth | Norfolk | borough (1835–1974) |
| Greater Willington | Durham | town council |
| Grimsby | Lincolnshire | charter trustees |
| Guildford | Surrey | borough (1835–1974) |
| Guisborough | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Hadleigh | Suffolk | town council |
| Hailsham | East Sussex | town council |
| Halesowen | West Midlands | borough (1936–1974) |
| Halesworth | Suffolk | town council |
| Halifax | West Yorkshire | borough (1848–1974) |
| Halstead | Essex | town council |
| Haltwhistle | Northumberland | town council |
| Redenhall with Harleston | Norfolk | town council |
| Harlow | Essex | market charter |
| Harpenden | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Harrogate | North Yorkshire | borough (1884–1974) |
| Harrow | Greater London | borough (1954–1965) |
| Hartland | Devon | market charter |
| Hartlepool | Durham | borough (1850–1974) |
| Harwich | Essex | town council |
| Harworth and Bircotes | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Haslemere | Surrey | town council |
| Haslingden | Lancashire | borough (1891–1974) |
| Hastings | East Sussex | borough (1835–1974) |
| Hatfield | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Hatherleigh | Devon | town council |
| Havant | Hampshire | market charter |
| Haverhill | Suffolk | town council |
| Haxby | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Hayle | Cornwall | town council |
| Haywards Heath | West Sussex | town council |
| Heanor and Loscoe | Derbyshire | town council |
| Heathfield | East Sussex | market charter |
| Hebden Royd | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Hedge End | Hampshire | town council |
| Hednesford | Staffordshire | town council |
| Hedon | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Helmsley | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Helston | Cornwall | town council |
| Hemel Hempstead | Hertfordshire | charter trustees (abolished 1984) |
| Hemsworth | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Hendon | Greater London | borough (1932–1965) |
| Henley-in-Arden | Warwickshire | market charter |
| Henley-on-Thames | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Hertford | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Hessle | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Hetton | Tyne and Wear | town council |
| Hexham | Northumberland | town council |
| Heywood | Greater Manchester | borough (1881–1974) |
| Higham Ferrers | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Highworth | Wiltshire | town council |
| High Wycombe | Buckinghamshire | charter trustees |
| Hinckley | Leicestershire | market charter |
| Hingham | Norfolk | town council |
| Hitchin | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Hoddesdon | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Holbeach | Lincolnshire | market charter |
| Holsworthy | Devon | town council |
| Holt | Norfolk | town council |
| Honiton | Devon | town council |
| Horley | Surrey | town council |
| Horncastle | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Hornsea | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Hornsey | Greater London | borough (1903–1965) |
| Horsforth | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Horwich | Greater Manchester | town council |
| Houghton Regis | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Howden | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Huddersfield | West Yorkshire | borough (1868–1974) |
| Hungerford | Berkshire | town council |
| Hunstanton | Norfolk | town council |
| Huntingdon | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Hyde | Greater Manchester | borough (1881–1974) |
| Hythe | Kent | town council |
| Ilford | Greater London | borough (1926–1965) |
| Ilfracombe | Devon | town council |
| Ilkeston | Derbyshire | charter trustees (abolished 1975) |
| Ilkley | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Ilminster | Somerset | town council |
| Immingham | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Ingleby Barwick | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Ipswich | Suffolk | borough (1835–1974) |
| Irthlingborough | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Ivybridge | Devon | town council |
| Jarrow | Tyne and Wear | borough (1875–1974) |
| Keighley | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Kempston | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Kendal | Cumbria | town council |
| Kenilworth | Warwickshire | town council |
| Kesgrave | Suffolk | town council |
| Keswick | Cumbria | town council |
| Kettering | Northamptonshire | borough (1938–1974) |
| Keynsham | Somerset | town council |
| Kidderminster | Worcestershire | charter trustees |
| Kidsgrove | Staffordshire | town council |
| Kimberley | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Kingsbridge | Devon | town council |
| King's Lynn | Norfolk | borough (1835–1974) |
| Kingston-upon-Thames | Greater London | borough (1835–1965) |
| Kington | Herefordshire | town council |
| Kirkby-in-Ashfield | Nottinghamshire | market charter |
| Kirkby Lonsdale | Cumbria | town council |
| Kirkby Stephen | Cumbria | town council |
| Kirkbymoorside | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Kirkham | Lancashire | town council |
| Kirton-in-Lindsey | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Knaresborough | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Knutsford | Cheshire | town council |
| Langport | Somerset | town council |
| Launceston | Cornwall | town council |
| Leatherhead | Surrey | market charter |
| Lechlade | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Ledbury | Herefordshire | town council |
| Leek | Staffordshire | town council |
| Leigh | Greater Manchester | borough (1899–1974) |
| Leighton-Linslade | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Leigh-on-Sea | Essex | town council |
| Leiston | Suffolk | town council |
| Leominster | Herefordshire | town council |
| Letchworth | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Lewes | East Sussex | town council |
| Leyburn | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Leyton | Greater London | borough (1926–1965) |
| Liskeard | Cornwall | town council |
| Littlehampton | West Sussex | town council |
| Loddon | Norfolk | market charter |
| Loftus | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Long Sutton | Lincolnshire | market charter |
| Longridge | Lancashire | town council |
| Longtown | Herefordshire | market charter |
| Looe | Cornwall | town council |
| Lostwithiel | Cornwall | town council |
| Loughborough | Leicestershire | borough (1888–1974) |
| Loughton | Essex | town council |
| Louth | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Lowestoft | Suffolk | charter trustees |
| Ludgershall | Wiltshire | town council |
| Ludlow | Shropshire | town council |
| Luton | Bedfordshire | borough (1876–1974) |
| Lutterworth | Leicestershire | town council |
| Lydd | Kent | town council |
| Lydney | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Lyme Regis | Dorset | town council |
| Lynton and Lynmouth | Devon | town council |
| Lytham St Annes | Lancashire | borough (1922–1974) |
| Mablethorpe and Sutton | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Macclesfield | Cheshire | charter trustees |
| Madeley | Shropshire | market charter |
| Maghull | Merseyside | town council |
| Maidenhead | Berkshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Maidstone | Kent | borough (1835–1974) |
| Maldon | Essex | town council |
| Malmesbury | Wiltshire | town council |
| Maltby | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Malton | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Malvern | Worcestershire | town council |
| Manningtree | Essex | town council |
| Mansfield | Nottinghamshire | charter trustees |
| Marazion | Cornwall | town council |
| March | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Margate | Kent | charter trustees |
| Market Bosworth | Leicestershire | market charter |
| Market Deeping | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Market Drayton | Shropshire | town council |
| Market Harborough | Leicestershire | market charter |
| Market Rasen | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Market Weighton | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Marlborough | Wiltshire | town council |
| Marlow | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Maryport | Cumbria | town council |
| Masham | North Yorkshire | market charter |
| Matlock | Derbyshire | town council |
| Medlar with Wesham | Lancashire | town council |
| Melksham | Wiltshire | town council |
| Meltham | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Melton Mowbray | Leicestershire | town council |
| Mere | Wiltshire | town council |
| Middleham | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Middlesbrough | North Yorkshire | borough (1853–1967) |
| Middleton | Greater Manchester | borough (1886–1974) |
| Middlewich | Cheshire | town council |
| Midhurst | West Sussex | town council |
| Midsomer Norton | Somerset | market charter |
| Mildenhall | Suffolk | market charter |
| Millom | Cumbria | town council |
| Minchinhampton | Gloucestershire | market charter |
| Minehead | Somerset | town council |
| Minster | Kent | market charter |
| Mirfield | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Mitcham | Greater London | borough (1934–1965) |
| Mitcheldean | Gloucestershire | market charter |
| Morecambe | Lancashire | town council |
| Moretonhampstead | Devon | market charter |
| Moreton-in-Marsh | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Morley | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Morpeth | Northumberland | borough (1835–1974) |
| Mossley | Greater Manchester | town council |
| Much Wenlock | Shropshire | town council |
| Nailsea | Somerset | town council |
| Nailsworth | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Nantwich | Cheshire | town council |
| Needham Market | Suffolk | town council |
| Nelson | Lancashire | town council |
| Neston | Cheshire | town council |
| New Alresford | Hampshire | town council |
| New Mills | Derbyshire | town council |
| New Milton | Hampshire | town council |
| New Romney | Kent | town council |
| Newark-on-Trent | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | Northumberland | town council |
| Newbury | Berkshire | town council |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | Staffordshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Newent | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Newhaven | East Sussex | town council |
| Newlyn | Cornwall | market charter |
| Newmarket | Suffolk | town council |
| Newport | Isle of Wight | borough (1835–1974) |
| Newport | Shropshire | town council |
| Newport Pagnell | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Newquay | Cornwall | town council |
| Newton Abbot | Devon | town council |
| Newton-le-Willows | Merseyside | market charter |
| Normanton | West Yorkshire | town council |
| North Hykeham | Lincolnshire | town council |
| North Petherton | Somerset | town council |
| North Tawton | Devon | town council |
| North Walsham | Norfolk | town council |
| Northallerton | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Northam | Devon | town council |
| Northampton | Northamptonshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Northfleet | Kent | market charter |
| Northleach with Eastington | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Northwich | Cheshire | town council |
| Norton-on-Derwent | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Norton Radstock | Somerset | town council |
| Nuneaton | Warwickshire | borough (1907–1974) |
| Oakengates | Shropshire | town council |
| Oakham | Rutland | town council |
| Okehampton | Devon | town council |
| Oldbury | West Midlands | borough (1935–1966) |
| Oldham | Greater Manchester | borough (1849–1974) |
| Ollerton and Boughton | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Olney | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Ongar | Essex | town council |
| Orford | Suffolk | market charter |
| Ormskirk | Lancashire | market charter |
| Ossett | West Yorkshire | borough (1890–1974) |
| Oswestry | Shropshire | town council |
| Otley | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Ottery St Mary | Devon | town council |
| Oundle | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Paddock Wood | Kent | town council |
| Padiham | Lancashire | town council |
| Padstow | Cornwall | town council |
| Paignton | Devon | market charter |
| Painswick | Gloucestershire | market charter |
| Partington | Greater Manchester | town council |
| Patchway | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Pateley Bridge | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Peacehaven | East Sussex | town council |
| Penistone | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Penkridge | Staffordshire | market charter |
| Penrith | Cumbria | market charter |
| Penryn | Cornwall | town council |
| Penwortham | Lancashire | town council |
| Penzance | Cornwall | town council |
| Pershore | Worcestershire | town council |
| Peterlee | Durham | town council |
| Petersfield | Hampshire | town council |
| Petworth | West Sussex | town council |
| Pickering | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Pocklington | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Polegate | East Sussex | town council |
| Pontefract | West Yorkshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Ponteland | Northumberland | town council |
| Poole | Dorset | borough (1835–1974) |
| Porthleven | Cornwall | town council |
| Portishead and North Weston | Somerset | town council |
| Portland | Dorset | town council |
| Potton | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Poynton-with-Worth | Cheshire | town council |
| Preesall | Lancashire | town council |
| Prescot | Merseyside | town council |
| Princes Risborough | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Prudhoe | Northumberland | town council |
| Pudsey | West Yorkshire | borough (1900–1974) |
| Queenborough-in-Sheppey | Kent | charter trustees (abolished 1977) |
| Ramsey | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Ramsgate | Kent | town council |
| Raunds | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Rawtenstall | Lancashire | borough (1891–1974) |
| Rayleigh | Essex | town council |
| Reading | Berkshire | borough (1935–1974) |
| Redcar | North Yorkshire | borough (1921–1967) |
| Redruth | Cornwall | town council |
| Reepham | Norfolk | town council |
| Reigate | Surrey | borough (1863–1974) |
| Richmond | Greater London | borough (1890–1965) |
| Richmond | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Ringwood | Hampshire | town council |
| Ripley | Derbyshire | town council |
| Ripon | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Rochdale | Greater Manchester | borough (1856–1974) |
| Rochester | Kent | borough (1835–1974) |
| Rochford | Essex | market charter |
| Romford | Greater London | borough (1937–1965) |
| Romsey | Hampshire | town council |
| Ross-on-Wye | Herefordshire | town council |
| Rothbury | Northumberland | market charter |
| Rotherham | South Yorkshire | borough (1871–1974) |
| Rothwell | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Rothwell | West Yorkshire | market charter |
| Rowley Regis | West Midlands | borough (1933–1966) |
| Royal Leamington Spa | Warwickshire | town council |
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | Kent | borough (1888–1974) |
| Royal Wootton Bassett | Wiltshire | town council |
| Royston | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Rugby | Warwickshire | borough (1932–1974) |
| Rugeley | Staffordshire | town council |
| Rushden | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Ryde | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Rye | East Sussex | town council |
| Saffron Walden | Essex | town council |
| St Austell | Cornwall | town council |
| St Blaise | Cornwall | town council |
| St Columb Major | Cornwall | town council |
| St Helens | Merseyside | borough (1868–1974) |
| St Ives | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| St Ives | Cornwall | town council |
| St Just-in-Penwith | Cornwall | town council |
| St Mawes | Cornwall | market charter |
| St Neots | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Salcombe | Devon | town council |
| Sale | Greater Manchester | borough (1935–1974) |
| Saltash | Cornwall | town council |
| Sandbach | Cheshire | town council |
| Sandhurst | Berkshire | town council |
| Sandiacre | Derbyshire | market charter |
| Sandown | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Sandwich | Kent | town council |
| Sandy | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Sawbridgeworth | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Saxmundham | Suffolk | town council |
| Scarborough | North Yorkshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Scunthorpe | Lincolnshire | charter trustees |
| Seaford | East Sussex | town council |
| Seaham | Durham | town council |
| Seaton | Devon | town council |
| Sedbergh | Cumbria | market charter |
| Selby | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Selsey | West Sussex | town council |
| Settle | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Sevenoaks | Kent | town council |
| Shaftesbury | Dorset | town council |
| Shanklin | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Shefford | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Shepshed | Leicestershire | town council |
| Shepton Mallet | Somerset | town council |
| Sherborne | Dorset | town council |
| Sheringham | Norfolk | town council |
| Shifnal | Shropshire | town council |
| Shildon | Durham | town council |
| Shipston-on-Stour | Warwickshire | town council |
| Shirebrook | Derbyshire | town council |
| Shoreham-by-Sea | West Sussex | market charter |
| Shrewsbury | Shropshire | borough (1935–1974) |
| Sidmouth | Devon | town council |
| Silloth | Cumbria | town council |
| Silsden | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Skegness | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Skelmersdale | Lancashire | town council |
| Skelton-in-Cleveland | North Yorkshire | market charter |
| Skipton | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Sleaford | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Slough | Berkshire | borough (1838–1974) |
| Smethwick | West Midlands | borough (1899–1966) |
| Snaith and Cowick | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Snodland | Kent | town council |
| Soham | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Solihull | West Midlands | borough (1954–1974) |
| Somerton | Somerset | town council |
| South Cave | East Riding of Yorkshire | market charter |
| South Elmsall | West Yorkshire | town council |
| South Kirkby and Moorthorpe | West Yorkshire | town council |
| South Molton | Devon | town council |
| South Petherton | Somerset | market charter |
| South Shields | Tyne and Wear | borough (1850–1974) |
| South Woodham Ferrers | Essex | town council |
| Southam | Warwickshire | town council |
| Southall | Greater London | borough (1936–1965) |
| Southborough | Kent | town council |
| Southend-on-Sea | Essex | borough (1892–1974) |
| Southgate | Greater London | borough (1933–1965) |
| Southminster | Essex | market charter |
| Southport | Merseyside | borough (1866–1974) |
| Southsea | Hampshire | town council |
| Southwell | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Southwick | Hampshire | market charter |
| Southwold | Suffolk | town council |
| Spalding | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Spennymoor | Durham | town council |
| Spilsby | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Stafford | Staffordshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Staines | Surrey | market charter |
| Stainforth | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Stalbridge | Dorset | town council |
| Stalham | Norfolk | market charter |
| Stalybridge | Greater Manchester | borough (1857–1974) |
| Stamford | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Stanley | Durham | town council |
| Stanhope | Durham | market charter |
| Stapleford | Nottinghamshire | town council |
| Staveley | Derbyshire | town council |
| Stevenage | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Steyning | West Sussex | market charter |
| St Mary Cray | Greater London | market charter |
| Stockport | Greater Manchester | borough (1835–1974) |
| Stocksbridge | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Stockton-on-Tees | Durham/North Yorkshire | borough (1835–1967) |
| Stone | Staffordshire | town council |
| Stonehouse | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Stony Stratford | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Stotfold | Bedfordshire | town council |
| Stourbridge | West Midlands | borough (1914–1974) |
| Stourport-on-Severn | Worcestershire | town council |
| Stowmarket | Suffolk | town council |
| Stow-on-the-Wold | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | Warwickshire | town council |
| Stretford | Greater Manchester | borough (1933–1974) |
| Strood | Kent | market charter |
| Stroud | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Sturminster Newton | Dorset | town council |
| Sudbury | Suffolk | town council |
| Surbiton | Greater London | borough (1936–1965) |
| Sutton Coldfield | West Midlands | market charter |
| Swaffham | Norfolk | town council |
| Swanage | Dorset | town council |
| Swanley | Kent | town council |
| Swanscombe and Greenhithe | Kent | town council |
| Swindon | Wiltshire | borough (1900–1974) |
| Syston | Leicestershire | town council |
| Tadcaster | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Tadley | Hampshire | town council |
| Tamworth | Staffordshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Taunton | Somerset | borough (1885–1974) |
| Tavistock | Devon | town council |
| Teignmouth | Devon | town council |
| Telscombe | East Sussex | town council |
| Tenbury Wells | Worcestershire | town council |
| Tenterden | Kent | town council |
| Tetbury | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Tewkesbury | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Thame | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Thatcham | Berkshire | town council |
| Thaxted | Essex | market charter |
| Thetford | Norfolk | town council |
| Thirsk | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Thornaby-on-Tees | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Thornbury | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Thorne | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Thorpe St Andrew | Norfolk | town council |
| Thrapston | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Tickhill | South Yorkshire | town council |
| Tidworth | Wiltshire | town council |
| Tipton | West Midlands | borough (1938–1966) |
| Tisbury | Wiltshire | town council |
| Tiverton | Devon | town council |
| Todmorden | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Tonbridge | Kent | market charter |
| Topsham | Devon | market charter |
| Torpoint | Devon | town council |
| Torquay | Devon | borough (1892–1974) |
| Totnes | Devon | town council |
| Tottenham | Greater London | borough (1934–1965) |
| Totton and Eling | Hampshire | town council |
| Tow Law | Durham | town council |
| Towcester | Northamptonshire | town council |
| Tring | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Trowbridge | Wiltshire | town council |
| Twickenham | Greater London | borough (1926–1965) |
| Tynemouth | Tyne and Wear | borough (1849–1974) |
| Uckfield | East Sussex | town council |
| Ulverston | Cumbria | town council |
| Uppingham | Rutland | town council |
| Upton-upon-Severn | Worcestershire | town council |
| Uttoxeter | Staffordshire | town council |
| Uxbridge | Greater London | borough (1955–1965) |
| Ventnor | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Verwood | Dorset | town council |
| Wadebridge | Cornwall | town council |
| Wadhurst | East Sussex | market charter |
| Wainfleet All Saints | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Wallasey | Merseyside | borough (1910–1974) |
| Wallsend | Tyne and Wear | borough (1901–1974) |
| Wallingford | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Walsall | West Midlands | borough (1835–1974) |
| Waltham Abbey | Essex | town council |
| Waltham Cross | Hertfordshire | market charter |
| Walthamstow | Greater London | borough (1926–1965) |
| Walton-on-Thames | Surrey | market charter |
| Wantage | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Ware | Hertfordshire | town council |
| Wareham | Dorset | town council |
| Warminster | Wiltshire | town council |
| Warrington | Cheshire | borough (1847–1974) |
| Warwick | Warwickshire | town council |
| Watchet | Somerset | town council |
| Watford | Hertfordshire | borough (1922–1974) |
| Wath-upon-Dearne | South Yorkshire | market charter |
| Watlington | Oxfordshire | market charter |
| Watton | Norfolk | town council |
| Wellingborough | Northamptonshire | market charter |
| Wellington | Shropshire | town council |
| Wellington | Somerset | town council |
| Wells-next-the-Sea | Norfolk | town council |
| Wem | Shropshire | town council |
| Wembley | Greater London | borough (1937–1965) |
| Wendover | Buckinghamshire | market charter |
| West Bedlington | Northumberland | town council |
| West Bromwich | West Midlands | borough (1882–1974) |
| West Ham | Greater London | borough (1886–1965) |
| West Malling | Kent | market charter |
| West Mersea | Essex | town council |
| West Tilbury | Essex | market charter |
| Westbury | Wiltshire | town council |
| Westerham | Kent | market charter |
| Westhoughton | Greater Manchester | town council |
| Weston-super-Mare | Somerset | town council |
| Wetherby | West Yorkshire | town council |
| Weybridge | Surrey | market charter |
| Weymouth | Dorset | town council |
| Whaley Bridge | Derbyshire | town council |
| Whitby | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Whitchurch | Hampshire | town council |
| Whitchurch | Shropshire | town council |
| Whitehaven | Cumbria | borough (1894–1974) |
| Whitehill | Hampshire | town council |
| Whitnash | Warwickshire | town council |
| Whittlesey | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Whitworth | Lancashire | town council |
| Wickham | Hampshire | market charter |
| Wickwar | Gloucestershire | market charter |
| Widnes | Cheshire | borough (1892–1974) |
| Wigan | Greater Manchester | borough (1835–1974) |
| Wigton | Cumbria | town council |
| Willenhall | West Midlands | market charter |
| Willesden | Greater London | borough (1933–1965) |
| Wilton | Wiltshire | town council |
| Wimbledon | Greater London | borough (1905–1965) |
| Wimborne Minster | Dorset | town council |
| Wincanton | Somerset | town council |
| Winchcombe | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Winchelsea | East Sussex | market charter |
| Windermere | Cumbria | town council |
| Windsor | Berkshire | borough (1835–1974) |
| Winsford | Cheshire | town council |
| Winslow | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Winterton | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Wirksworth | Derbyshire | town council |
| Wisbech | Cambridgeshire | town council |
| Witham | Essex | town council |
| Withernsea | East Riding of Yorkshire | town council |
| Witney | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Wiveliscombe | Somerset | town council |
| Wivenhoe | Essex | town council |
| Woburn | Bedfordshire | market charter |
| Woburn Sands | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Woking | Surrey | market charter |
| Wokingham | Berkshire | town council |
| Wolsingham | Durham | market charter |
| Wolverton and Greenleys | Buckinghamshire | town council |
| Wood Green | Greater London | borough (1933–1965) |
| Woodbridge | Suffolk | town council |
| Woodley | Berkshire | town council |
| Woodstock | Oxfordshire | town council |
| Wooler | Northumberland | market charter |
| Workington | Cumbria | town council |
| Worksop | Nottinghamshire | charter trustees |
| Worthing | West Sussex | borough (1890–1974) |
| Wotton-under-Edge | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Wragby | Lincolnshire | town council |
| Wymondham | Norfolk | town council |
| Yarm | North Yorkshire | town council |
| Yarmouth | Isle of Wight | town council |
| Yate | Gloucestershire | town council |
| Yateley | Hampshire | town council |
| Yeovil | Somerset | town council |
SOURCE: Mukund Unavane @ Alphabet Maps of Great Britain and Ireland on the website BigThink.com listed under Strange Maps
Unavane based this information on the data publicly available from the GEOnet Name Server (GNS) at the National Geopspatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
_____
[1] As in Grimsby, Wragby or Haxby. ‘By’ (pronounced bee) is still the Danish word for ‘town’. Other originally Danish suffixes: -sted (Stansted), -thorpe (Scunthorpe), -toft (Lowestoft).
[2] Normans often renamed places they didn’t like the sound of, such as Fulepet (‘Filthy Hole’) in Essex, which became Beaumont (‘Fairhill’), or Merdegrave in Leicestershire, which was turned into Belgrave.
[3] e.g. Ilfracombe; the suffix still gives a good indication on how to pronounce its Welsh equivalent cwm, which also means ‘valley’.
[4] For earlier discussions on whether Ireland is or isn’t a ‘British’ island, see the posts and comments at #196, #514 and #535. My current opinion: like language in general, geographical nomenclature is subject to consensus, hence to change. So while ‘British Isles’ has the advantage of brevity (and some support in etymology), ‘British and Irish Isles’ is a perfectly acceptable alternative - if and when accepted by enough language users.
[5] See the poem Kubla Khan (1797) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
[6] Not on this map (at least not visibly), but mentioned by GEOnet.
[7] Perhaps most famously Llareggub, the (fictional) setting for Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. If you want to know where he got the name, reverse it.
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