Celtic toponymy is the study of place names wholly or partially of Celtic origin. These names are found throughout continental Europe,

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Anatolia Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

and, latterly, through various other parts of the globe not originally occupied by

Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...

Celtic languages

The

Proto-Indo-European language Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. No direct record of Proto-Indo-European exists; its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-Eu ...

developed into various daughter languages, including the

Proto-Celtic language Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, is the hypothetical ancestral proto-language of all known Celtic languages, and a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. It is not attested in writing but has been partly reconstructed through the comparative method. ...

. In Proto-Celtic ("PC"), the Proto-Indo-European ("PIE") sound *''p'' disappeared, perhaps through an intermediate *'. It is a common point between all the Celtic languages. Examples : Latin ''pater'' "father", but Gaulish ''*atir'' / ''ater'' (''atrebo'', dativ plural), (Old) Irish ''athair'' / ''athir''.

Pierre-Yves Lambert Pierre-Yves Lambert (born 30 May 1949) is a French linguist and scholar of Celtic studies. He is a researcher at the CNRS and a lecturer at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Celtic linguistics and philology. Lambert is the director of the j ...

, ''La Langue gauloise'', Editions Errance, 1994, p. 16 - 17 After that, languages derived from Proto-Celtic changed PC *''k^w'' into either *''p'' or *''k'' (see: P-Celtic and Q-Celtic languages). In P-Celtic languages, PC *''k^w'' changed into *''p''. In Q-Celtic dialects it developed into /''k''/. P-Celtic languages include the Continental

Gaulish language Gaulish is an extinct Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerl ...

and the Brittonic branch of Insular Celtic.

Common Brittonic Common Brittonic (; ; ), also known as British, Common Brythonic, or Proto-Brittonic, is a Celtic language historically spoken in Britain and Brittany from which evolved the later and modern Brittonic languages. It is a form of Insular Cel ...

is the ancestor of Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Ancient Q-Celtic languages include the Continental Celtiberian and the Goidelic branch of Insular Celtic. Goidelic is the ancestor of the Gaelic languages Irish,

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

and Manx. Examples : PIE ''*kʷetwóres'' "four" > * Proto-Italic ''kʷettwōr'' "four" > Latin ''quattuor'' * Proto-Celtic ''kʷetwares'' "four" > Irish ''ceathair'', Scottish Gaelic ''ceithir'' "four", but Gaulish ''petuar os' "fourth", Welsh ''pedwar'' "four", Old Breton ''petguar'' > Breton ''pevar'' "four"

Frequent elements in place-names and their cognates in modern Celtic languages

* Celtic ', suffix : Gaulish ''-(i)acon'' (Latin ''-(i)acum / (i)acus'') < endings ''- '', ''- '', ''-é'', ''-(i)ac'' in Gaul. Brittonic ''*-ocon / -*ogon'' 'place of, property of'; Old Breton ''-oc'' > ''-euc'' > ''-ek'' / ''-eg'' (''-ec''), Welsh ''-(i)og'', etc. * Celtic ' 'base, foundation' > Old Irish ' 'base, stem, stock', Welsh ' 'base, stem, stock' * Celtic ' 'hill, high place'Lambert, p. 37 > Welsh ' 'honourable, respected' (not directly related to Welsh ' 'hill'), Irish ' 'hill; strength, vigour, significance'. * Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated'; used as a feminine divine name, rendered Brigantia in Latin, Old Irish 'exalted one', name of a goddess. * Celtic ' 'bridge' * Celtic ' 'water' > Old Irish ' 'water', Welsh Welsh ', Cornish ''dur'', Breton ''dour'' 'water' * Celtic ' 'fortress' > Welsh ' 'city' and ' 'fortress', Irish ' 'fortress' * Celtic ' 'door, gate, forum' > Welsh ', Breton ''dor'' 'door' * Celtic ' 'clearing (wood), assart' > Welsh ''(tir) ial'' * Celtic ' 'head' > Gallo-Brythonic *''penn-'', Welsh ' 'head, end, chief, supreme', Breton ''penn'', but Old Irish ''cenn'' > Irish ' 'head' * Celtic ' 'field, plain' > Welsh ' 'field', Old Irish ''mag'' > Irish ' 'plain' * Celtic ' 'wood', ' sacred enclosure', 'sanctuary' > Old Irish ''nemed'' 'sanctuary' * Celtic ' 'ford' > Welsh ''rhyd'' 'ford' * Celtic ' 'white, fair, blessed' > Welsh ' / ' 'white, blessed', Old Irish ', Irish ' 'fair'

European connection

*Brigantes *Cambodunum > Champéon (France, ''Cambdonno'' / ''Cambindonno'' 6-7th century), Champbezon (France, ''Chambedon'' 11th century), Kempten (Germany, ''Camboduno'' 3rd century) *Mediolanum > Meulan (France), Milano (Italy).. *Noviomagus > Nouvion, Nogent, Novion, Nijon, etc. (France), Nijmegen (Netherland); former name of

Chichester Chichester ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in the Chichester District, Chichester district of West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher ...

, Crayford, England *Ebur(i)acum > Ivry, Évry (France), former name of

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

, England *Epiacum > Epfig (Alsace, France, ''Epiaco'' 12th century); X (unknown location in Great-Britain) *Lugdunum > Lyon, Lion, Loudun, Laon, Lauzun (France), Leiden / Leyde (Netherlands) *Rigomagus > Riom (France), Remagen (Germany) *Segodunum > Suin, Syon (France); X unclear location near Würzburg (Germany) *Vuerodunum > several Verdun (France), Verduno (Italy, Piedmont), Verdú (Spain, Catalonia), Birten (Germany, Xanten)

Continental Celtic

Austria

Bregenz Bregenz (; ) is the capital of Vorarlberg, the westernmost states of Austria, state of Austria. The city lies on the east and southeast shores of Lake Constance, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, between Switzerland in the wes ...

Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( ; ; , , or ) is the westernmost States of Austria, state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the second-highest popu ...

, Latin ''Brigantium'' : from Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) *Wien, English

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, Latin Vindobona : from Celtic ' 'white' (Welsh ') + ' 'base, foundation' (Welsh ' 'base, bottom, stump', Irish ' 'bottom, base')

Belgium

Ardennes The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France. Geological ...

, Latin ''Arduenna Silva'' : from divine name '' Arduinna'' : from Celtic ' 'high' (Irish ') + Latin ' 'forest' *

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

: from divine name '' Gontia''

France

Most of the main cities in France have a Celtic name (the original Gaulish one or the name of the Gaulish tribe). *

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

: from Ambiani, a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Samarobriva'' 'bridge on the river Somme' *

Angers Angers (, , ;) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Duchy of Anjou, Anjou until the French Revolution. The i ...

: from

Andecavi The Andecavi (also Andicavi, Andegavi, or Andigavi) were a Gallic tribe dwelling in Aremorica during the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Andecavi'' (var. ''andic''-, ''andeg''-, ''andig''-) by Pliny (1st c. AD), ''Andecavi'' and ...

, a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Juliomagus'' 'market place dedicated to Julius' * Argentan : from ''Argentomagus'' 'silver market', based on ''arganto-'' 'silver' cognate to Old Welsh ''argant'' > ''ariant'', Old Breton ''argant'' > Breton ''arc'hant'' 'silver' + ''magos'' 'market' **several places called '' Argenton'' * Argentorate, now

Strasbourg Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...

Arles Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...

: from ''Arelate'' *

Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...

: from Atrebates, a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Nemetacum'', ''nemeto-'' 'sacred place' + suffix ''-acon'' *Augustonemetum, now

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, , ; or simply ; ) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population of 147,284 (2020). Its metropolitan area () had 504,157 inhabitants at the 2018 ...

Autun Autun () is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the e ...

: from ''Augustodunum'', 'town dedicated to Augustus' *

Bayeux Bayeux (, ; ) is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France. Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It is also known as the fir ...

: from '' Badiocassi'' / ''Bodiocassi'', a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Augustodurum''. ' forum dedicated to

Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...

' *

Bourges Bourges ( ; ; ''Borges'' in Berrichon) is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre (Cher), Yèvre. It is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Cher (department), Cher, and also was the capital city of the former provin ...

: from Biturigi, a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Avaricum'' *

Briançon Briançon (, ) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hautes-Alpes Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. It is the highest city in France at an a ...

< ''Brigantium'', from Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) **several places called ''Briançon'' * Brive < ''Briva'' 'bridge' **several places called '' Brives'' *

Caen Caen (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Calvados (department), Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inha ...

< ''Catumagos'' : from Old Celtic ' 'battle' 'fight' 'combat', Old Irish ' 'battle, battalion, troop', Breton ' /', Welsh ' 'combat, troop'; ' 'field, plain', Old Irish '. The general meaning seems to be 'battlefield' **several places called '' Cahan'', '' Cahon'' * Cahors * Carentan : from ''Carentomagus'' **several places called '' Charenton'', etc. * Chambord **several places called '' Chambord'', '' Chambors'', ''Chambourg'' *

Chartres Chartres () is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in the Centre-Val de Loire Regions of France, region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 1 ...

: from Carnuti, name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Autricum *

Condom A condom is a sheath-shaped Barrier contraception, barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a Sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both external condo ...

: from ''Condatomagus'' **other place : '' Condom-d'Aubrac'' *Divodurum (Latin), now

Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...

Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...

, from Celtic ' 'god, holy, divine' (Scottish Gaelic ' 'god') + *' 'fort' *

Douvres Douvres () is a commune in the eastern French department of Ain. Population See also * Communes of the Ain department * Battle of Douvres Radar Station References Communes of Ain Ain communes articles needing translation from F ...

(also the French name of

Dover Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...

) from Celtic ''dubron'', ''dubra'' 'water' **several places called ''Douvres'' *Drevant : from ''Derventum'', Celtic ''dervo'' 'oak tree' + suffix ''-entu'' * Évreux : from Eburovici replaces ''Mediolanum'' (see below) * Issoudun * Jort : from ''Divoritum'' 'ford on the river Dives' (Dives from Celtic ''*dewo'' 'stream') * Lillebonne : from ''Juliobona'' 'foundation dedicated to Julius' *

Limoges Limoges ( , , ; , locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region. Situated o ...

* Lisieux < ''(Civitas) Lexoviensis''; former ''Noviomagus'' 'new market', Old Celtic ' 'new', ' 'field, plain'. *

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...

, Latin ''

Lugdunum Lugdunum (also spelled Lugudunum, ; modern Lyon, France) was an important Colonia (Roman), Roman city in Gaul, established on the current site of Lyon, France, Lyon. The Roman city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, but cont ...

'' : from Celtic ' '

Lugus Lugus (sometimes Lugos or Lug) is a Celtic god whose worship is attested in the epigraphic record. No depictions of the god are known. Lugus perhaps also appears in Ancient Rome, Roman sources and medieval Insular Celts, Insular mythology. Va ...

' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *''dūnon'' 'fortress' **several places called ''Lugdunum'' : ''

Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The Ancient Diocese of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held s ...

'', '' Lion-en-Beauce'', '' Loudun'', ''

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (, literally ''Saint-Bertrand of Comminges''; Gascon language, Gascon: ''Sent Bertran de Comenge'') is a Communes of France, commune (municipality) and former episcopal see in the Haute-Garonne Departments of France, ...

'', etc. *Mediolanum : from Celtic **several places called '' Meillant'', '' Meulan'', etc. * Nant **several places called ''Nant'', '' Nans'' *

Nantes Nantes (, ; ; or ; ) is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, from the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. The city is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, sixth largest in France, with a pop ...

* Nanteuil **several places called '' Nanteuil'', '' Nantheuil'', '' Nampteuil'', ''Nanteau''.. *

Nanterre Nanterre (; ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. In 2018, the commune had a population of 96,807. The eastern part of Nanterre, b ...

(''Nemptu doro'' 5th century) : from ''nemeto-'' 'sacred place' + ''duro-'' 'gate', 'forum' * Noyon, Latin ''Noviomagus Veromanduorum'', from Celtic ' 'new' (Welsh ') + ' 'field, plain' **several places called ''Noviomagus'' : '' Nouvion'', ''Noyen'', '' Nyons'', '' Nijon'', ''Nojeon'', '' Lisieux'', '' Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux'', etc. * Oissel **several places called ''

Oisseau Oisseau () is a Communes of France, commune in the Mayenne Departments of France, department in north-western France. See also *Communes of Mayenne References External links Oisseau website
Communes of Mayenne {{Mayenne-geo-stub ...

'', '' Ussel'', etc. * Orange : from Arausio, a water god *

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

: from Parisii (Gaul), name of a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Lukotekia'' / ''Lutetia'' * Périgueux / '' Périgord'' : from ''Petrocorii'' 'the four armies' * Pierremande < ''Petromantalum'' < ''petro-mantalo-'' 'four road' = 'crossing' *

Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...

: from Redones, a Celtic tribe, replaces ''Condate'' **several places called Condé, Condat, Candé, etc. * Riom : from ''Rigomagus'' *

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

< ''Rotomagus'', sometimes ''Ratómagos'' or ''Ratumacos'' (on the coins of the '' Veliocassi'' tribe). It can be ''roto-'', the word for 'wheel' or 'race', cf. Old Irish ''roth'' 'wheel' 'race' or Welsh ''rhod'' 'wheel' 'race'. ''Magos'' is surer here : 'field', 'plain' or later 'market' cf. Old Irish ' (gen. ') 'field' 'plain', Old Breton ' 'place'. The whole thing could mean 'hippodrome', 'racecourse' or 'wheel market'. **several places called '' Rouans'', '' Ruan'', ''

Rom Rom, or ROM may refer to: Biomechanics and medicine * Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient * Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac * ...

'', etc. * Vandœuvre < ''*vindo-briga'' 'white fortress' **several places called ''Vandœuvres'', '' Vendeuvre'', '' Vendœuvres'' *

Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...

, ''Virodunum'' or ''Verodunum'', from Celtic ' 'high' and ' 'hill, fortress' **several places called ''Verdun'' * Verneuil : from ''verno-'' + ''ialo-'' 'clearing, plain with alder-trees' **several places called '' Verneuil'' * Vernon < ''Vernomagus''. There are other Vernons in France, but they come directly from ''Vernō'' 'place of the alder-trees'. 'plain of the alder-trees'. ''uernā'' 'alder-tree', Old Irish ', Breton, Welsh ', dial. French ' / '. **several places called '' Vernon'' * Veuves : from ''vidua'' 'forest' Voves, Vion **several places called Voves, Vove * Vion : from ''Vidumagus'' 'forest market' **several places called Vion, Vions

Germany

Alzenau Alzenau (; until 31 December 2006 officially ''Alzenau i.UFr.'') is a town in the north of the Aschaffenburg (district), Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Until 1 July 1972 ...

From Celtic ', s.f., '

alder Alders are trees of the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species ex ...

'. (Compare the modern German Erlenbach) and

Old High German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

(OHG) ''aha'', s.n., 'flowing water'. *de Amarahe (?), a lost river name near

Fulda Fulda () (historically in English called Fuld) is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (''Kreis''). In 1990, the city hosted the 30th Hessentag state festival. Histor ...

c. 800 CE *Amerbach, a stream near Groß-Umstadt, Babenhausen,

Ober-Ramstadt Ober-Ramstadt (, , in contrast to ":de:Nieder-Ramstadt, Lower Ramstadt") is a town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hessen, Germany. It is situated 9 km southeast of Darmstadt. As of 2020, its population was 15,127. Geography Locatio ...

* Ammer * Ammerbach * Ammergraben, a stream near Harpertshausen * Amorbach, a stream near Mümling and the village named after it. * Amorsbrunn * Wald-Amorbach < Perhaps from Celtic ', 'channel, river'. Compare

Indo-European The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...

*', 'channel, river' > Greek ἀμάρη (amárē), 'channel'. Or, from Celtic ', '

spelt Spelt (''Triticum spelta''), also known as dinkel wheat is a species of wheat. It is a relict crop, eaten in Central Europe and northern Spain. It is high in protein and may be considered a health food. Spelt was cultivated from the Neolit ...

, a type of grain'. * Annelsbach a suburb of Höchst *

Ansbach Ansbach ( , ; ) is a city in the Germany, German state of Bavaria. It is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk, administrative region of Mittelfranken, Middle Franconia. Ansbach is southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the river Fränk ...

in Mittelfranken originally Onoltesbah 837 CE : from Celtic '-, ' ash tree' plus an OHG ''bach'', 'small river'. *Boiodurum, now Innstadt, Passau, Niederbayern : first element is Celtic ', tribal name (

Boii The Boii (Latin language, Latin plural, singular ''Boius''; ) were a Celts, Celtic tribe of the later Iron Age, attested at various times in Cisalpine Gaul (present-day Northern Italy), Pannonia (present-day Austria and Hungary), present-day Ba ...

), possibly 'cattle-owner' (''cf''. Irish ' 'cow') or 'warrior'. Second element is Celtic ' 'fort'. *

Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...

: from Celtic ' 'base, foundation' (Welsh ' 'base, bottom, stump') * Boppard : from Gaulish ', "hill of victory". Containing the elements ' 'victory' (Welsh ' 'gain, benefit') + ', 'hill'. *

Düren Düren (; Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: Düre) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between Aachen and Cologne, on the river Rur (river), Rur. History Roman era The area of Düren was part of Gallia Belgica, more specifically the ter ...

, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Latin ' : from Celtic ' 'fort' * Hercynia Silva (Latin), a vast forest including the modern

Black Forest The Black Forest ( ) is a large forested mountain range in the States of Germany, state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is th ...

: from Celtic ' 'oak' or divine name Perkwunos + Latin ' 'forest' * Kempten im Allgäu,

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

, Latin ''Cambodūnum'' : Celtic ''cambodūnom'', *''cambo-'' 'curved, bent, bowed, crooked', ''dūnon'' 'fortress' *

Mainz Mainz (; #Names and etymology, see below) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and with around 223,000 inhabitants, it is List of cities in Germany by population, Germany's 35th-largest city. It lies in ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Moguntiacum'' : from Celtic ', 'mighty, great, powerful', used as a divine name (see Mogons) + Celtic suffix ''-(i)acon'' * Meggingen : from Celtic ' 'plain, field' * Neumagen-Dhron, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Noviomagus Trevirorum'' *Noviomagus Nemetum (Latin), now

Speyer Speyer (, older spelling ; ; ), historically known in English as Spires, is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in the western part of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the r ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz : from Celtic ' 'new' (Welsh ') + ' 'field, plain' *

Remagen Remagen () is a town in Germany in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler (district), Ahrweiler. It is about a one-hour drive from Cologne, just south of Bonn, the former West Germany, West German seat of government. It i ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Rigomagus'' or ''Ricomagus'' : second element is from Celtic ' 'field, plain'. The first may be a variant of Celtic ' 'king, chief of *touta' *

Tübingen Tübingen (; ) is a traditional college town, university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer (Neckar), Ammer rivers. about one in ...

: maybe hybrid form comprising a Celtic element and a Germanic suffix -''ingen''. The element ''tub-'' in Tübingen could possibly arise from a Celtic ''dubo-'', s.m., 'dark, black; sad; wild'. As found in the

Anglo-Irish Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the State rel ...

placenames of

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

, Devlin, Dowling, Doolin and Ballindoolin. Perhaps the reference is to the darkness of the river waters that flow near the town cf. river

Doubs Doubs (, ; ; ) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.Tubney, Tubbanford, Tub Hole in England. Compare the late Vulgar Latin ' 'morass', from

Gaulish Gaulish is an extinct Celtic languages, Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, ...

. The root is found in

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic (, Ogham, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ; ; or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic languages, Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive written texts. It was used from 600 to 900. The ...

' > Irish ',

Old Welsh Old Welsh () is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic around 550, ha ...

''dub'' > Welsh ', Old Cornish ''duw'' > Middle Cornish ''du'', Breton ',

', ', all meaning 'black; dark' *

Worms The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive catalogue and list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scien ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Borbetomagus'' : second element from Celtic ', 'plain, field', first perhaps related to Old Irish 'fierce, violent, rough, arrogant; foolish'

Hungary

* Hercynium jugum (Latin) : from Celtic ' 'oak' or divine name Perkwunos + Latin ' 'summit'

Italy

* Brianza, Lombardy, Latin ''Brigantia'' : from Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) * Genova, Liguria, English

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

, Latin ' : Perhaps from Celtic ' 'mouth f a river. (However, this Ligurian place-name, as well as that of ''Genava'' (modern

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

), probably derive the

Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. No direct record of Proto-Indo-European exists; its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-Euro ...

root *' 'knee'.) *Milano, Lombardy, English

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, Latin ''

Mediolanum Mediolanum, the ancient city where Milan now stands, was originally an Insubres, Insubrian city, but afterwards became an important Ancient Rome, Roman city in Northern Italy. The city was settled by a Celts, Celtic tribe belonging to the Ins ...

'' : from Celtic ''medio-'' 'middle, central' > Old Irish ''mide'' 'middle, centre', Old Breton ''med'', ''met'' > Breton mez 'middle', etc.Xavier Delamarre, ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'', Paris (éditions errance) 2001, p. 221. and ' > ', a Celtic

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

of Latin ' 'plain', with typical Celtic loss of /p/ or ' > Old Irish ''lán'', Welsh ''llawn'', Breton ''leun'' 'full' *

Belluno Belluno (; ; ) is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about north of Venice, Belluno is the Capital (political), capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomites region. W ...

, Veneto, Latin ' : from Celtic * 'bright' and *dūnon 'fortress'. *

Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...

, Lombardy, Latin ' : from Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) *

Brescia Brescia (, ; ; or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Lake Garda, Garda and Lake Iseo, Iseo. With a population of 199,949, it is the se ...

, Lombardy, Latin ' : from Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'. *

Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...

, Emilia Romagna, Latin ' : from Celtic * 'base, foundation' (Welsh 'base, bottom, stump')

Netherlands

* Lugdunum Batavorum (Latin), now

Katwijk Katwijk () is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland, which is situated in the mid-western part of the Netherlands. The Oude Rijn (Utrecht and South Holland), Oude Rijn ("Old Rhine") river flows through the town and i ...

, Zuid-Holland : from Celtic ' '

' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *''dūnon'' 'fortress' *

Nijmegen Nijmegen ( , ; Nijmeegs: ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the ...

, Gelderland, Latin ''Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum'' : from Celtic ' 'new' (Welsh ') + ' 'field, plain'

Poland

* Lugidunum (Latin), now (maybe) Legnica,

Silesia Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...

: second element from Celtic ' 'fortress'

Portugal

Braga Braga (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...

, Braga Municipality, Portugal : from Celtic ' after the

Bracari The Bracari or Callaeci Bracari were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the northwest of modern Portugal, in the province of Minho Province, Minho, between the rivers Tâmega river, Tâmega and Cávado River, Cávado. After the con ...

Celts. * Bragança, Alto Trás-os-Montes, Portugal : from Celtic ' 'divine name, Brigantia'. * Beira : from Celtic ' Cailleach/ Cale's other name Cailleach-Bheura or Beira, the Celtic Goddess of mountains, water and Winter. Three Portuguese provinces: Beira-Baixa, Beira-Alta and Beira-Litoral * Vale de Cambra, Portugal : from Celtic ' 'chamber, room'. * Conímbriga, Coimbra, Portugal : from Celtic ' 'rocky height or outcrop'. * Évora, Alentejo, Portugal : from Celtic ' 'plural genitive of the word eburos (trees)'. * Lacobriga, Algarve, Portugal : from Celtic ' 'Lake of Briga'.

Romania

* Băișoara and other sites in

Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...

* Boian in

Sibiu Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles th ...

, Boianu Mare in

Bihor County Bihor County (, ) is a county (județ) in western Romania. With a total area of , Bihor is Romania's 6th largest county geographically and the main county in the historical region of Crișana. Its capital city is Oradea (Nagyvárad). Toponymy ...

, villages coming from

Călan Călan (; ; ) is a town in Hunedoara County, Romania. Twelve villages are administered by the town: Batiz (''Batiz''), Călanu Mic (''Kiskalán''), Grid, Nădăștia de Jos (''Alsónádasd''), Nădăștia de Sus (''Felsőnádasd''), Ohaba Streiul ...

city in

Hunedoara Hunedoara (; ; ) is a municipiu, city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southwestern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boș (''Bós''), Groș (''Grós''), Hășdat (''Hosdát ...

. *

Deva Deva may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Deva, List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition monsters, an ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monster * Deva, in the 2023 Indian film ''Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefir ...

, capital of Hunedoara, originally a city of the

Dacians The Dacians (; ; ) were the ancient Indo-European inhabitants of the cultural region of Dacia, located in the area near the Carpathian Mountains and west of the Black Sea. They are often considered a subgroup of the Thracians. This area include ...

Galați Galați ( , , ; also known by other #Etymology and names, alternative names) is the capital city of Galați County in the historical region of Western Moldavia, in eastern Romania. Galați is a port town on the river Danube. and the sixth-larges ...

* Noviodunum now Isaccea means "new fortress" + . * Timiș River in

Banat Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...

Serbia

* Singidunum (Latin), now ''Beograd'', English

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

: second element from Celtic ' 'fortress'

Slovenia

Celje Celje (, , ) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, third-largest city in Slovenia. It is a regional center of the traditional Slovenian region of Styria (Slovenia), Styria and the administrative seat of the City Municipality of Celje. Th ...

, Latinized ''Celeia'' in turn from ', meaning 'shelter' in Celtic * Neviodunum (Latin), now ''Drnovo'' : second element from Celtic ' 'fortress'

Spain

Asturias and Cantabria

, several rivers in northern Spain, and Pontedeva, Galicia, Spain : from Celtic ' 'goddess; holy, divine' *Mons Vindius (now the Cantabrian Mountains), NW Spain : from Celtic ' 'white'.

Castile

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is located in the Meseta central, Inner Pl ...

Castile and León Castile and León is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwestern Spain. Castile and León is the largest autonomous community in Spain by area, covering 94,222 km2. It is, however, sparsely populated, with a pop ...

, Spain, Greek '' Segoubía'' : from ', conjectured to be Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' ( theories).

Galicia

* Tambre, a river in

Galicia (Spain) Galicia ( ; or ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain and nationalities and regions of Spain, historic nationality under Spanish law. Located in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, it includes the provinces o ...

, Latin ''Tamaris'' : possibly from Celtic ' 'dark' (''cf''. Celtic ' > Welsh ' 'darkness'). Other theories. * O Grove, Medieval Latin ''Ogrobre'' 912: from Celtic ' 'acute; promontory' and Celtic *''brigs'' 'hill'. * Bergantiños, Medieval Latin ''Bregantinos'' 830 : from Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated', or divine name Brigantia, or from Celtic *brigantīnos 'chief, king'. * Dumbría, Medieval Latin ''Donobria'' 830 : from Celtic ' 'fortress' + Celtic * 'bridge'. * Val do Dubra and Dubra River, Galicia : from Celtic ' 'water', ' 'waters' (Welsh '). * Monforte de Lemos (region), Latin ''Lemavos'', after the local tribe of the ''Lemavi'' : from Celtic ' 'elm' + suffix ''-avo''. * Nendos (region), Medieval Latin ''Nemitos'' 830 : from Celtic ' 'sanctuary'. * Noia, Galicia, Spain, Greek ''Nouion'': from Celtic ' 'new' (Welsh ).

Switzerland

Switzerland, especially the Swiss Plateau, has many Celtic (

) toponyms. This old layer of names was overlaid with Latin names in the

Gallo-Roman Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization (cultural), Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire in Roman Gaul. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, Roman culture, language ...

period, and, from the medieval period, with

Alemannic German Alemannic, or rarely Alemannish (''Alemannisch'', ), is a group of High German dialects. The name derives from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation known as the Alemanni ("all men"). Distribution Alemannic dialects are spoken by approxi ...

and Romance names. For some names, there is uncertainty as to whether they are Gaulish or Latin in origin. In some rare cases, such as Frick, Switzerland, there have even been competing suggestions of Gaulish, Latin and Alemannic etymologies. Examples of toponyms with established Gaulish etymology: * Solothurn, from ''Salodurum''. The ' element means "doors, gates; palisade; town". The etymology of the ' element is unclear. *

Thun Thun () is a List of towns in Switzerland, town and a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the administrative district of Thun (administrative district), Thun in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Canton of Bern, Bern in Switzerland. ...

, Bern: ' "fort" * Windisch, Aargau, Latin '' Vindonissa'': first element from ' "white" *

Winterthur Winterthur (; ) is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. With over 120,000 residents, it is the country's List of cities in Switzerland, sixth-largest city by population, as well as its ninth-largest agglomeration with about 14 ...

, Zürich, Latin '' Vitudurum'' or ''Vitodurum'', from ' "willow" and ' * Yverdon-les-Bains, from ''Eburodunum'', from ' " yew" and ' "fort". *

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

, Latin '' Turicum'', from a Gaulish personal name ''Tūros'' * Limmat, from ''Lindomagos'' "lake-plain", originally the name of the plain formed by the

Linth The Linth (pronounced "lint") is a Switzerland, Swiss river that rises near the Linthal, Glarus, village of Linthal in the mountains of the cantons of Switzerland, canton of canton of Glarus, Glarus, and eventually flows into the Obersee (Züri ...

and

Lake Zurich Lake Zurich (, ; ) is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. Depending on the context, Lake Zurich or can be used to describe the lake as a whole, or just that part of the lake downstream of the Hurden peninsula and ...

Insular Celtic

Brittonic

England (excluding Cornwall)

The main survey of Celtic place-names in this region is by Richard Coates and Andrew Breeze. Evidence for a Celtic root to place names in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

is widely strengthened by early monastic charters, chronicles and returns: examples relate to Leatherhead and Lichfield. To describe a place as of the Celts, the Old English '' wealh'' becoming ''Wal/Wall/Welsh'' is often used. This was the main Germanic term for Romano-Celtic peoples, such as the Britons. Such names are a minority, but are widespread across England. For example, a smattering of villages around the heart and east of

The Fens The Fens or Fenlands in eastern England are a naturally marshy region supporting a rich ecology and numerous species. Most of the fens were drained centuries ago, resulting in a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a system o ...

hint at this: West Walton,

Walsoken Walsoken is a settlement and civil parish in Norfolk, England, which is conjoined as a suburb at the northeast of the town of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. The parish of Walsoken in the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 census, had a popu ...

, and the Walpoles indicate their continued presence. Nearby Wisbech,

King's Lynn King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is north-east of Peterborough, north-north-east of Cambridg ...

and Chatteris have Celtic topographical elements. *'' Amwythig'' (Welsh;

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is sited on the River Severn, northwest of Wolverhampton, west of Telford, southeast of Wrexham and north of Hereford. At the 2021 United ...

), Shropshire, from Brittonic ("little defense"). * Arden (forest of), Warwickshire - from Celtic ' 'high' (Irish ') *From Brythonic ' 'river' (Welsh '): ** Avon (river), Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Somerset ** Avon (river), Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset ** Avon (river), Northamptonshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Gloucestershire ** Avon or Aune (river), Devon *From Celtic ' 'water' (Irish ''uisce''): **

Axe An axe (; sometimes spelled ax in American English; American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences, see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for thousands of years to shape, split, a ...

(river), Devon/Dorset **

(river), Somerset ** Axminster, Devon ** Axmouth, Devon * Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, from Brittonic ' ("beaver") + ' ("lair"). *First element from Celtic ' 'hill': ** Brean, Somerset ** Bredon, Worcestershire ** Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire ** Brewood, Staffordshire ** Brill, Buckinghamshire *From Celtic ' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia): ** Brent (river), Greater London **

Brentford Brentford is a suburban town in West (London sub region), West London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It lies at the confluence of the River Brent and the River Thames, Thames, west of Charing Cross. Its economy has dive ...

, Greater London * Bryn, Greater Manchester - from Welsh ''bryn'', 'hill'. *

Burslem Burslem ( ) is one of the six towns that along with Hanley, Staffordshire, Hanley, Tunstall, Staffordshire, Tunstall, Fenton, Staffordshire, Fenton, Longton, Staffordshire, Longton and Stoke-upon-Trent form part of the city of Stoke-on-Trent in ...

, Stoke-on-Trent, the ''-lem'' element is a Celtic district name from ' ("elm"). *''

Camulodunum Camulodunum ( ; ), the Roman Empire, Ancient Roman name for what is now Colchester in Essex, was an important Castra, castrum and city in Roman Britain, and the first capital of the province. A temporary "wikt:strapline, strapline" in the 1960s ...

'' (Latin), now

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''. Colchester occupies the ...

, Essex - from ' ' Camulus' (divine name) + Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress' * Catterick, North Riding of Yorks., ' ("battle") + ' ("rampart") + ''onjon'' (suffix). From ' (root associated with ''cefn'' below) + ' (suffix) ** Chevet, West Riding of Yorkshire ** Cheviot, Northumberland * Chevin, Wharfedale, equivalent to Welsh ''cefn'' ("ridge"). * Crayke, North Riding of Yorkshire, equivalent to Welsh ''craig'' ("rock"). *From Brythonic *''crüg'' 'hill'Mills, AD. ''Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names''. Oxford University Press, 1991. (Irish ''cruach'') ** Creech St Michael, Somerset ** Crewkerne, Somerset **

Crich Crich is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire. Besides the village of Crich, the civil parish includes the nearby villages of Fritchley, Whatstandwell and Wheatcroft, Derbyshire, Wheatcroft. The population of the civi ...

, Derbyshire ** Cricket St Thomas, Somerset **Crickheath, Shropshire ** Cricklade, Wiltshire *

Crewe Crewe () is a railway town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East in Cheshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, the parish had a population of 55,318 and the built-up area had a population of 74,120. ...

, Cheshire - from Old Welsh *''criu'' 'river crossing' *''Cunececestre'' (Old English), now Chester-le-Street, County Durham, from Latin '' Concangis'', from ', a root of uncertain meaning. *

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

, Latin '' Dumnonia'' - from tribal name '' Dumnonii'' or ''Dumnones'', from Celtic ' 'deep', 'world' *From Celtic ' 'water', ' 'waters' (Welsh '; Breton '): **

, Kent, Latin ''Dubris'' ** Andover, Hampshire ** Wendover, Buckinghamshire ** Dever (river), Hampshire **Deverill (river), Wiltshire * Durham, County Durham, Latin ''Dunelm'' - first element is possibly ''dun'', ' hill fort' (Welsh , 'fort'). *First element from Celtic ' 'fort'; in ''Dūrobrīvae'', Celtic ' 'bridge': **'' Durobrivae'' (Latin), now Rochester, Kent and Water Newton, Cambridgeshire **''

Durovernum Cantiacorum Durovernum Cantiacorum was a town and British hillforts, hillfort () in Roman Britain at the site of present-day Canterbury in Kent. It occupied a strategic location on Watling Street at the best local crossing of the River Stour, Kent, Stour, wh ...

'' (Latin), now

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...

, Kent *From Celtic ' 'water' (Irish '); second element in ''Isca Dumnoniorum'' (Exeter) is a tribal name (see ''Devon''): **

Exe Exe or EXE may refer to: * .exe, a file extension * exe., abbreviation for Executive (disambiguation)#Role, title, or function, executive Places * River Exe, in England * Exe Estuary, in England * Exe Island, in Exeter, England Transportation a ...

(river), Devon/Somerset ** Nether Exe, Devon ** Up Exe, Devon ** Exebridge, Devon ** Exford, Somerset **

Exeter Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...

, Devon, Latin '' Isca Dumnoniorum'' ** Exminster, Devon **

Exmouth Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort situated on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe, southeast of Exeter. In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of settl ...

, Devon ** Exton, Somerset **

Exwick Exwick is an historic parish and Manorialism, manor in Devon, England, which today is a north-western suburb of the City of Exeter. Its name is derived from the River Exe, which forms its eastern boundary. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish and ...

, Devon ** Eskeleth, North Yorkshire *

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...

, Gloucestershire, from Latin ''Glevum'' (+ Old English '' ceaster''), from ' ("bright place"). *

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

, Lincolnshie, possibly from ''haiw-'' ("a swamp") (+ OE ''land''). * From the equivalent of Welsh ''ynys'' ("island"). ** Ince, Cheshire ** Ince Blundell, Sefton ** Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan * Inskip, Lancashire, equivalent to ''ynys-cyb'' ("bowl-shaped island"). * Kesteven, Lincolnshire, from '' cēt-'' ("a wood") (+ Old Norse ''stefna'' ("a meeting place") added later). *

Leatherhead Leatherhead is a town in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England, about south of Central London. The settlement grew up beside a ford on the River Mole, from which its name is thought to derive. During the late Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon ...

, Surrey - from Brythonic *''lēd-'' rom Celtic '+ ' rom Celtic '= "Grey Ford" * Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Latin ''Lindum Colonia'' - from Celtic ' 'pool' + Latin ' 'colony' * From Brittonic ' 'breast' ** Mamble, Worcestershire **

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

, Latin ''

Mamucium Mamucium, also known as Mancunium, is a former Roman fort in the Castlefield area of Manchester in North West England. The ''Castra, castrum'', which was founded c. AD 79 within the Roman province of Roman Britain, was garrisoned by a ...

'' or ''Mancunium'' (referring to the shape of a hill) ** Morville, Shropshire, ''Mamerfeld'' (c. 1138) (+ OE ''feld''). *''Noviomagus'' (Latin), now

, West Sussex and

Crayford Crayford is a town and Wards of the United Kingdom, electoral ward in South London, South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It lies east of Bexleyheath and north west of Dartford. Crayford was in the Historic countie ...

, Kent - from Celtic ' 'new' (Welsh ') + ' 'field, plain' * Onn, Staffordshire, from '' *onnā'' ("ash trees"). *From ' and its descendants (Welsh ''pant'', Cumbric ''pant''). **Pant, Austwick, West Riding of Yorkshire **Pant Foot, Ingleton, West Riding of Yorkshire **Pantend, Westmorland ** Pauntley, Gloucestershire **Pont (river), Ponteland, Northumberland * Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire - equivalent with Welsh ' ("summit of the border") or ' ("summit of the heathen"). *Pengethley, Herefordshire - from Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ') + possibly *''kelli'' 'to stand' (Welsh ''gelli'') *From Brythonic ' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ') + ' 'wood' (Welsh ''coed''), or ' 'wood': ** Pencoyd, Herefordshire **

Penge Penge () is a suburb of South East Greater London, London, England, now in the London Borough of Bromley, west of Bromley, north east of Croydon and south east of Charing Cross. Etymology The name ''Penge'' is first attested in charter of ...

, Greater London ** Penketh, Cheshire *First element from Brittonic *''penn-'' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ' 'head, end, chief, supreme') = Irish ' 'head', from Proto-Celtic ': **Pencraig, Herefordshire ** Pendlebury, Greater Manchester ** Pendleton, Lancashire ** Pendock, Worcestershire ** Pensnett, West Midlands ** Penn, Buckinghamshire ** Penn, West Midlands ** Lower Penn, Staffordshire ** Penshaw, Sunderland *Pen Bal Crag,

Tynemouth Tynemouth () is a coastal town in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the north side of the mouth of the River Tyne, England, River Tyne, hence its name. It is east-northeast of Newcastle up ...

, from ''pen'' ("head") + ''wāl'' ("wall") (+ English ''crag''). * Old Sarum, Wiltshire, Latin ''Sorviodūnum'' - second element from Celtic ' 'fortress' *'' Segedunum'' (Latin), now

Wallsend Wallsend () is a town in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of ...

, Tyne and Wear - from Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' ( theories). Second element is Celtic ' 'fortress'. * Sinodun Hills, south Oxfordshire - from Celtic ' 'old' + ' 'fortress' *Possibly from Celtic ' 'dark' (''cf''. Celtic ' > Welsh ' 'darkness'): ** Tamar (river), Devon/Cornwall ** Tame (river), Greater Manchester ** Tame (river), North Yorkshire ** Tame (river), West Midlands **

Team A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal. As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, " team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to in ...

(river), Tyne and Wear ** Teme (river), Welsh ''Tefeidiad'', Wales/Shropshire/Worcestershire **

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after th ...

(river), Latin Tamesis *'' Trinovantum'' (Latin), now London - 'Of the Trinovantes', a tribal name, perhaps 'very energetic people' from Celtic ' (intensive) + ' 'energetic', related to ' 'new' (Welsh ') *'' Verulamium'' (Latin), now

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

, Hertfordshire - from Brittonic *''weru-'' 'broad' + *''lam-'' 'hand' rom Celtic '(Welsh ', Irish ') *

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. It is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its ad ...

, from ' ("Roman

vicus In Ancient Rome, the Latin term (plural ) designated a village within a rural area () or the neighbourhood of a larger settlement. During the Republican era, the four of the city of Rome were subdivided into . In the 1st century BC, Augustus ...

") + ''ann'' (suffix). *First element from Celtic ' 'white' (Welsh '); in ''Vindolanda'', Celtic ' 'land, place' (Welsh '). In ''Vindomora'', second element could be 'sea' (Welsh ', Irish '): **'' Vindobala'' (Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland **'' Vindolanda'' (Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland **'' Vindomora'' (Latin), Roman fort in

County Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

. * Yeavering, Northumberland, formerly ''Gefrin'', equivalent to Welsh ''gafrfryn'' ("goat hill"). *

, Greek ''Ebōrakon'', Latin ' or ' - from Celtic ' 'yew'

Scotland

The post-6th century AD Brittonic languages of Northern England and Scotland were

Cumbric Cumbric is an extinct Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup spoken during the Early Middle Ages in the ''Hen Ogledd'' or "Old North", in Northern England and the southern Scottish Lowlands. It was closely related to Old Welsh and the ot ...

and Pictish. Cumbric place-names are found in Scotland south of the River Forth, while Pictish names are found to the north. *

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

, Aberdeenshire - from ''*'' ("river mouth"). * Applecross, Ross-shire - formerly ''Abercrosan'', from ''aber'' ("river mouth"). * Arran - possibly equivalent to Middle Welsh ''aran'' ("high place"). * Aviemore, Inverness-shire - ''An Aghaidh Mhòr'' in Gaelic, possibly involving Brittonic ''*ag-'' ("a cleft"). * Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire - ''Lomond'' is equivalent to Welsh ' ("beacon"). * Blantyre, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("extremes, source, front") + ' ("land"). * Blebo, Fife - formerly ''Bladebolg'', from Brittonic ''*blawd'' ("meal") + ''*bolg'' ("sack"). *Burnturk, Fife - formerly ''Brenturk'', equivalent to Welsh ' ("boar hill"). *

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, Moray - equivalent to Welsh ' ("haugh, meadow") + ' ("abode"). *Darnaway, Moray - possibly from ancient Brittonic ''Taranumagos'' ("thunder-plain"). * Daviot, Inverness-shire - perhaps from Brittonic ''*dem-'' meaning "sure, strong". * Dull, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("haugh, meadow"). * Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("small church"). *

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

, Midlothian - from ''Din Ediyn'', from a Brittonic form meaning "fort of Ediyn" (cf. Welsh '). * Esslemont, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("low hill"). *Glasgo, Aberdeenshire - see Glasgow, Lanarkshire below. *

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("blue hollow"). *

Hebrides The Hebrides ( ; , ; ) are the largest archipelago in the United Kingdom, off the west coast of the Scotland, Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Ou ...

- ''Ebudes'' in Ptolemy (c. 140 AD), possibly from ancient Brittonic ''ep-'' ("a horse"; cf. Welsh '). Woolf, Alex (2012
''Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin''
Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015. * Keith, Banffshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("wood, forest"). *

Lanark Lanark ( ; ; ) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, the town had a populatio ...

, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("a glade"). *Landrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire. *Lanrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire. * Lauder, Berwickshire - equivalent either to Middle Breton ' or Welsh '. *Lendrick, Kinross-shire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire. *Lendrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire. * Lomond Hills, Fife - see Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire. *Mayish, Arran - possibly from Brittonic ''maɣes'' ("field"; Welsh '). * Meggernie, Perthshire - from an element cognate with Welsh ' ("boggy meadow"). * Methven, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("meadstone"). * Midmar, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("bog, swamp") + '' Mar'' (a district name). * Migvie, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("bog, swamp"). * Mounth, Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("mountain, moor, hill"). *

Ochil Hills The Ochil Hills (; ) is a range of hills in Scotland north of the River Forth, Forth valley bordered by the cities of Stirling, Perth, Scotland, Perth and the towns of Alloa, Kinross, and Auchterarder . The only major roads crossing the hil ...

, Fife - probably from Common Brittonic ''*okelon'' ("a ridge"). * Orchy, Argyll (river) - in Gaelic ''Urchaidh'', from ancient Brittonic ''are-cētia'' ("on the wood"). * Panbride, Angus - from ''pant'' ("a hollow"). *Panlathy, Angus - from ''pant'' ("a hollow"). *Panmure, Angus - equivalent to Welsh ' ("big hollow"). *Pendewen, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh ' ("head, top, summit, source"). * Penicuik, Midlothian - equivalent to Welsh ' ("summit of the cuckoo"). * Pennan, Aberdeenshire - probably equivalent to Welsh ' ("head, top, summit, source"). *Pennygant Hill, Roxburghshire - see Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire, England. *

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Perthshire - probably equivalent to Welsh ' ("bush"). *Pinderachy, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh ' ("head, top, summit, source"). *Pinnel, Fife - possibly equivalent to Welsh ' ("head, top, summit, source"). * Pulrossie, Sutherland - possibly equivalent to Welsh ' ("promontory pool"). * Rattray, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh ' ("ramparts town"). *Urquhart, Ross-shire - formerly ''Airdchartdan'', equivalent to Middle Welsh ' ("on the enclosure"). * Yell, Shetland - probably from Common Brittonic ''iâla'' ("unfruitful land, pasture").

Wales

The vast majority of placenames in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

(part of the United Kingdom) are either Welsh or anglicized Welsh.

Cornwall

The vast majority of placenames in

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

are either Cornish or anglicized Cornish. For examples, see List of places in Cornwall.

Brittany

The vast majority of placenames in the west of

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

(part of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

) are either Breton or derived from Breton. For examples, see :Populated places in Brittany.

Goidelic

England

Place names in England derived partly or wholly from Goidelic languages include: *Aireyholme, Yorkshire ( Great Ayton), recorded as ''Erghum'' (1138), from Old Irish ''airgh'' ("summer pastures"). * Ben, Yorkshire (

Sedbergh Sedbergh ( or ) is a town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Cumbria. It falls within the historic boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Since April 2023, it has been administered by Westmorland and Furness local authority. Th ...

), probably from the Gaelic ''benn'' ("a peak"). * Cambois, Northumberland, possibly from Old Irish ' ("bay, creek") * Carkin, Yorkshire, possibly from Old Irish ''carric'' ("a rock"). * Castle Eden, County Durham, possibly from Old Irish ''étan'' ("forehead, hill-brow"). Mawer, Allen, The Place-Names of Northumberland and Durham (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1920), p. 71. * †Crosskelloc, Lancashire (

Ulverston Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in Lancashire, it lies a few miles south of the Lake District Lake District National Park, National Park and j ...

), from Irish ''cros'' ("a cross") + ''Chelloc'' (personal name). * Dunmallard, Cumberland, possibly from Middle Irish ''dùn-mallacht'' ("fort of curses") * Durdar, Cumberland ( St Cuthbert Without), from Gaelic ''doiredarach'' ("oak copse"). * Greysouthen, Cumberland, from Irish ''craicc-Suthan'' ("Suthán's rock/cliff"). * Kilmond, Yorkshire (

Bowes Bowes is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. Located in the Pennine hills, it is situated close to Barnard Castle. It is built around the medieval Bowes Castle. In 2021 the parish had a population of 442.Table PP002 - Se ...

), possibly from Gaelic ''ceann-monadh'' ("head of the hill"). * Knockupworth, Cumberland ( Grinsdale), from Irish ''cnocc'' ("hillock") (+ the Germanic personal-name ''Hubert''). * Latrigg, Cumberland, possibly from Old Irish ''lettir'' ("a slope"). * Latterbarrow, Lancashire ( Hawkshead), possibly from Irish ''lettir ("a slope"). *

Liscard Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Sh ...

, Cheshire, possibly from Irish Gaelic ' meaning "fort of the rock".A. D. Mills, ''A Dictionary of British Place Names'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v. * Noctorum, Cheshire, from Irish ''cnocc-tírim'' ("dry hill"). * Pool Darkin, Westmorland (

Beetham Beetham is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. It is situated on the border with Lancashire, north of Carnforth. It is part of the Arnside and Silverdale, Arnside and Silverdale ...

), possibly from Gaelic ''poll'' ("pool") + the personal name ''*Dercan''. * Ravenglass, Cumberland, from Irish ''rann-Glas'' ("Glas's part/share"). * Torkin, Cumberland ( Thursby), from Irish ''tor-cheann'' ("peak-head"). Furthermore, some non-Goidelic place-names in mainly Northern and Midland England reference Irish personal names, due to Norse-Gaelic settlement Britain during the 10th century. * Carperby, Yorkshire containing the Irish Gaelic given-name ''Cairpe'' * Dovenby, from personal name Dufan of Irish origin (OIr 'Dubhán') * Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire (

Hyndburn Hyndburn is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Accrington, the largest town, and the borough also covers the outlying ...

), from the Gaelic personal name ''Donnchad'' (> English Duncan) (+ Old English ''halh'', "haugh"). * Fixby, Yorkshire, from the Gaelic Irish personal name Fiach * Gatenby, Yorkshire, from the Irish personal name ''Gaithen'' (+ Old Norse ''byr'', "farm"). * Glassonby, from the Irish personal name Glassan * †Iocemhil, Lincolnshire ( Killingholme), possibly contains the Irish personal name ''Eogan''. *

Malmesbury Malmesbury () is a town and civil parish in north Wiltshire, England, which lies approximately west of Swindon, northeast of Bristol, and north of Chippenham. The older part of the town is on a hilltop which is almost surrounded by the upp ...

, Wiltshire, from the Irish founder of the abbey Máel Dub * Mellishaw, Lancashire ( Lancaster), possibly the Irish personal name ''Mdeldn'' (+ Old Norse ''haugr''). * Melmerby, Yorkshire, from the Old Irish personal name Máel Muire * Yockenthwaite, Yorkshire, contains the Irish personal name ''Eogan'' (+ Old Norse ''þveit'', "clearing"). Place names that directly reference the Irish include Irby, Irby upon Humber, Ireby and Ireleth. Place names with ''Scot-'' or similar, such as Scothern in Lincolnshire or Scotton in the North Riding of Yorkshire, may refer to Gaelic speakers from Scotland or Ireland, since Old English ''Scottas'' originally had connotations of Irish Gaels.

Ireland

The vast majority of placenames in

are anglicized

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

names.

Scotland

The majority of placenames in the Highlands of

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

(part of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

) are either

or anglicized Scottish Gaelic. Gaelic-derived placenames are very common in the rest of mainland

also. Pictish-derived placenames can be found in the northeast, while Brythonic-derived placenames can be found in the south.

Isle of Man

Many placenames on the

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

(a Crown dependency) are Manx or anglicised Manx, although there are also many Norse-derived place names.

Notes

{{reflist * Toponymy Place name etymologies