Page 17 - September 2022 Magazine - Bumper Edition

Being British, we have naturally over millennia mispronounced and misspelt many original place names, but that just makes them more interesting.
The ending of a place name is a big clue. ‘Bury’, for example, meant fort. ‘Stow’ was a gathering or meeting place, as in a market or religious point. ‘Ham’ could mean either an estate or a village. ‘Ton’ was a word used for a hamlet or a village and is the source of Town. ‘Ley’ and ‘Ly’ indicated that the village was a clearing in a wood.
We think you’re getting the picture.
The first part of a town name is trickier. It could be a river, a hill, a tree or a local prominent nobleman (or woman).
Let’s move on...
Apart from Cornwall the Celts really didn’t leave us much in the way of place names. Afon - as in Avon - which meant river is the most Celtic often used in place names.
We know that ‘coombe’ began as ‘Cym’ and meant valley so hence we have the likes of Ilfracombe and Salcombe.
When the Romans finally left Britain in the 5th Century, the word ‘Castra’ and or ‘Castrum’, which meant settlement or fort, was used to describe previous Roman settlements. This developed into Caster, Cester, and Chester.
Stick ‘Don’ (as in the river) in front of caster and you can easily also see how the likes of Leicester, Manchester, Winchester, and many more came about.
Some examples of people’s names being used to create a place name.
Birmingham. It’s believed to have developed from the name of an Anglo-Saxon dude, ‘Beorma’ - stick a ‘ham’ on the end of that and we can see the connection.
Wolverhampton is most likely derived from a very prominent Saxon woman ‘Wulfruna’. Clearly, when we add on the known suffixes of ‘ham’ and ‘ton’ the con- nection is easy to see.
As we’re in the Midlands, then we should mention the Anglo-Saxon warrior and leader, Dudda. Take Dud and Ley and yes you have Dudley.
Where a river ends and flows into the sea is referred to
as being a river mouth. The Anglo-Saxon ‘Mutha’ has given us Portsmouth, Exmouth, Yarmouth, and many more besides.
Even livestock have played their part in the naming of our towns. Whilst Oxford is famous for its dreamy spires, and a world-famous seat of learning, its name is actually derived from being a place where cattle (ox) could be safely driven over water (a ford).
The Saxons settled and built towns to specifically face the threat of the Danes. Buhrs were created. So we now know why towns ending in bury or burgh or borough came to be.
Minster is a derivative of Mynster which was a collective of clergy - hence we have Westminster and Kidderminster.
The Normans left us with a few place names, but they generally referred to ownership, like Kings Lynn or Bishops Stortford.
It’s all fascinating stuff. Research the origins of the village, town, or city you live in, and you’ll be amazed at its origins.
Witchampton
We couldnt resist it...
The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Your Village or Town Name| 17