Place-names

Place-names are part of our everyday lives, and at one level they simply label places: we don’t need to know the history and meaning of the name Leeds or Glasgow to live there, or to book a train and go there. But the names of places in Britain and Ireland are a fascinating part of our heritage, most of them were fully meaningful when first coined, and like the people who created them they are exceptionally diverse. Click the button below to discover the stories behind some of the place-names of Britain and Ireland (and beyond).

Latest place-name stories

Golden Hopes

Silver coins and jewellery and other treasures appear in English place-names – but all that glisters is not gold!

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Family names

Few of us have chosen our own names; we have either inherited them or have been given them by others. It is natural to want to know why we are named the way we are and where our names come from. In Britain and Ireland, most personal names are ancient and have no obvious English sense, or their apparent sense is not true of their bearers. Click the button below to discover the stories behind some of the family names of Britain and Ireland (and beyond).

Latest family name stories