Contains a brief history of names of geographical locations using Roman and Latin names in England and Wales, the Keltic element and how it influenced the naming of places in England and Wales, the English, Scandinavian and Norman elements, phonetic notes in the alphabet and its mutations in English place names, list of the chief place names in England and Wales with explanations.

The origin of the names of many English towns, hamlets and villages date as far back as Saxon times, when kings like Alfred the Great established fortified borough towns to defend against the Danes. A number of settlements were established and named by French Normans following the Conquest. Many are even older and are derived from Roman placenames. Some hark back to the Vikings who invaded our shores and established settlements in the eighth and ninth centuries. Most began as simple descriptions of the location; some identified its founder, marked territorial limits, or gave tribal people a sense of their place in the grand scheme of things. Whatever their derivation, placenames are inextricably bound up in our history and they tell us a great deal about the place where we live.

From Abbas Combe to Zennor, this dictionary gives the meaning and origin of place names in the British Isles, tracing their development from earliest times to the present day.

Wondering how British place-names came into existence? Discover the meanings behind the names of England's towns and villages from the author of the bestselling ‘What’s in your Surname?’ After spending decades researching and writing about the history of names, William Lewis turns his attention to English place-names, offering a comprehensive guide to the fascinating origins of such names as Birdoswald, Jodrell Bank, California (Norfolk), Westward Ho! and Giggleswick - and many, many more. In this engaging and entertaining volume, you will discover: • the origins of place-names from earliest times to the present day • the five classifications of place-names • an extensive list of place-names in England taken from the Bible • how personal names, tribal names and even names of gods have featured in English place-names • and how the Romans and other invading forces shaped the place-names of England If you want to follow an absorbing and entertaining trail through the history of English place-names then you will certainly enjoy William Lewis’s detailed look behind the scenes at how England’s villages, towns and cities acquired their names. Read What’s in a Place-name? today to discover the origins of hundreds of place-names in England.