Saturday, January 21, 2012

Etymologocal Clues in Names of England's Towns

•  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).
•  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.
•  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’. 

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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