An original study revealing the history of place-names from Ireland to Anatolia, from Scotland to the Apennines, and from to Andalusia the Black Seas. Includes numerous original maps and uncovers new methodology for linguistic geography Uses a dataset of over 20,000 names recorded by Greek and Latin authors such as Polybius, Caesar and Tacitus and by early geographers such as Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy and the Ravenna Cosmographer A significant work for archaeologists, historians and philologists studying the early distribution of Celtic and other Indo-European languages

This combination of catalogue and analysis argues that many more major place names in England predate the Anglo-Saxon invasion than has previously been thought. Others enshrine early names with a complex structure, often reflecting the influence of geographical features. Introductory chapters examine names with a non-Celtic origin, including London, Brittonic river names, such as Poulter, Test and Weaver, and early Irish names in England. Regional chapters contain fully-referenced articles which trace the development of specific names through Saxon and medieval sources, notably Domesday . A number of the articles have been previously published in journals but have since been revised. Includes a gazetteer of names.