Working out who
lived where
Here are some parts
of place-names found in Great Britain and what they mean. Some of them are are in the
British Language called 'Brythonic'. Some are in the Saxon Language called
'Old English'. Do you recognise any of the examples? Can you find places
near you which include these words? Do you think the British or the Saxons
lived in your area?
| Modern |
Brythonic |
Example |
Early
English |
Example |
| Big |
Mawr |
Moelwyn
Mawr |
Great |
Great
Yarmouth |
| Bridge |
Pont |
Pontypridd |
Bridge |
Cambridge |
| Church |
Eglos |
Eccleshall |
Church |
Christchurch |
| Church
Enclosure |
Llan |
Llandeilo |
|
|
| Clearing |
Llanerch |
Llanerchymedd |
Ley |
Bramley |
| Farm |
|
|
Ton |
Pocklington |
| Field |
Maes |
Maesteg |
Field |
Huddersfield |
| Ford |
Rhyd |
Rhydyfelin |
Ford |
Hereford |
| Forest |
Coed |
Betws-y-Coed |
Hag |
Haigh |
| Fort |
Din |
Dinbych |
Bury |
Ramsbury |
| Grave |
Bedd |
Beddgelert |
Low |
Taplow |
| Harbour |
Porth |
Porthmadog |
Port |
Portsmouth |
| Headland |
Pen |
Pentraeth |
Point |
Hartland
Point |
| Hill |
Bre |
Breedon |
Don |
Breedon |
| Island |
Ynys |
Ynys
Byr |
Eye |
Witney |
| King's |
Teyrn |
Tintern |
King |
Kingston |
| Lake |
Llyn |
Llyn
Ogwen |
Mere |
Windermere |
| Moor |
Rhos |
Rhosgoch |
Moor |
Dartmoor |
| Mountain |
Mynydd |
Mynydd
Bach |
Mond |
Richmond |
| Old |
Hen |
Hengoed |
Ald |
Aldworth |
| People |
|
|
Ing |
Hastings |
| River |
Afon |
Blaenafon |
Bourne |
Eastbourne |
| River
Mouth |
Aber |
Aberafan |
Mouth |
Bournemouth |
| Road |
Sarn |
Sarn
Bach |
Strat |
Stratfield |
| Saxon |
Saes |
Pont-y-Saeson |
Ingle |
Inglewood |
| Spring |
Font |
Chalfont |
Well |
Clerkenwell |
| Stone |
Maen |
Maentwrog |
Stan |
Stanford |
| Valley |
Nant |
Nant
Gwynant |
Combe |
Ilfracombe |
| Village |
Tre |
Tresco |
Ham |
Northampton |
| Walled
Town |
Caer |
Caerwent |
Chester |
Winchester |
| Welsh |
Cymri |
Cumberland |
Wal |
Wallingford |
| White |
Gwyn |
Gwynfryn |
Whit |
Whitchurch |
| Wood |
Celli |
Gelligaer |
Hurst |
Lindhurst |
|
