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Map of Celtic-influenced regions of Europe, in dark green 1 and 2 : regions where Celtic languages are attested from the Middle Ages until today

Celtic toponymy is the study of place names wholly or partially of Celtic origin. These names are found throughout continental Europe, Britain, Ireland, Anatolia and, latterly, through various other parts of the globe not originally occupied by Celts.

Celtic languages[edit]

The Proto-Indo-European language developed into various daughter languages, including the Proto-Celtic language.

In Proto-Celtic ("PC"), the Proto-Indo-European ("PIE") sound *p disappeared, perhaps through an intermediate *ɸ. 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.^[1]

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 and the Brittonic branch of Insular Celtic. Common Brittonic 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 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[ios] "fourth", Welsh pedwar "four", Old Breton petguar > Breton pevar "four"^[1]

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

Celtic *-āko-, suffix : Gaulish -(i)acon (Latin -(i)acum / (i)acus) < endings -[a]y, -[e]y, -é, -(i)ac in Gaul.^[2] Brittonic *-ocon / -*ogon 'place of, property of'; Old Breton -oc > -euc > -ek / -eg (-ec), Welsh -(i)og, etc.
Celtic *bonus, *bona 'base, foundation' > Old Irish bun 'base, stem, stock', Welsh bon 'base, stem, stock'
Celtic *briga 'hill, high place'^[3] > Welsh bri 'honourable, respected' (not directly related to Welsh bryn 'hill'), Irish brí 'hill; strength, vigour, significance'.
Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'; used as a feminine divine name, rendered Brigantia in Latin, Old Irish Brigit 'exalted one', name of a goddess.
Celtic *brīwa, *brīua 'bridge'^[3]
Celtic *dubros 'water' > Old Irish dobur 'water', Welsh Welsh dw[f]r, Cornish dur, Breton dour 'water'
Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'^[3] > Welsh dinas 'city' and din 'fortress', Irish dún 'fortress'
Celtic *duro- 'door, gate, forum'^[3] > Welsh dor, Breton dor 'door'
Celtic *ialo- 'clearing (wood), assart' > Welsh (tir) ial^[3]
Celtic *k^wenno- 'head' > Gallo-Brythonic *penn-, Welsh pen 'head, end, chief, supreme', Breton penn, but Old Irish cenn > Irish ceann 'head'
Celtic *magos 'field, plain'^[3] > Welsh maes 'field', Old Irish mag^[3] > Irish magh 'plain'
Celtic *nemeto- 'wood', 'sacred enclosure', 'sanctuary'^[3] > Old Irish nemed 'sanctuary'
Celtic *rito- 'ford' > Welsh rhyd 'ford'^[3]
Celtic *windo- 'white, fair, blessed' > Welsh gwyn/wyn / gwen/wen 'white, blessed', Old Irish find, Irish fionn 'fair'

European connection[edit]

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, Crayford (UK)
Ebur(i)acum > Ivry, Évry (France), former name of York (UK)
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[edit]

Austria[edit]

Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Latin Brigantium : from Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
Wien, English Vienna, Latin Vindobona : from Celtic *windo- 'white' (Welsh gwyn) + *bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump', Irish bun 'bottom, base')

Belgium[edit]

Ardennes, Latin Arduenna Silva : from divine name Arduinna : from Celtic *ardu- 'high' (Irish ard) + Latin silva 'forest'
Ghent : from divine name Gontia

France[edit]

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

Amiens : from Ambiani, a Celtic tribe, replaces Samarobriva 'bridge on the river Somme'
Angers : from Andecavi, 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
Arles : from Arelate
Arras : from Atrebates, a Celtic tribe, replaces Nemetacum, nemeto- 'sacred place' + suffix -acon
Augustonemetum, now Clermont-Ferrand
Autun : from Augustodunum, 'town dedicated to Augustus'
Bayeux : from Badiocassi / Bodiocassi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Augustodurum. 'forum dedicated to Augustus'
Bourges : from Biturigi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Avaricum
Briançon < Brigantium, from Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
- several places called Briançon
Brive < Briva 'bridge'
- several places called Brives
Caen < Catumagos : from Old Celtic *catu- 'battle' 'fight' 'combat', Old Irish cath 'battle, battalion, troop', Breton -kad /-gad, Welsh cad 'combat, troop'; 'mago- 'field, plain', Old Irish magh. The general meaning seems to be 'battlefield'^[4]
- several places called Cahan, Cahon
Cahors
Carentan : from Carentomagus
- several places called Charenton, etc.
Chambord
- several places called Chambord, Chambors, Chambourg
Chartres : from Carnuti, name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Autricum
Condom : from Condatomagus
- other place : Condom-d'Aubrac
Divodurum (Latin), now Metz, Lorraine, from Celtic *diwo- 'god, holy, divine' (Scottish Gaelic dia 'god') + **duro- 'fort'
Douvres (also the French name of Dover) 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
Lisieux < (Civitas) Lexoviensis; former Noviomagus^[5] 'new market', Old Celtic *noviios 'new', *magos 'field, plain'.
Lyon, Rhône, Latin Lugdunum : from Celtic *lug- 'Lugus' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *dūnon 'fortress'
- several places called Lugdunum : Laon, Lion-en-Beauce, Loudun, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, etc.
Mediolanum : from Celtic
- several places called Meillant, Meulan, etc.
Nant
- several places called Nant, Nans
Nantes
Nanteuil
- several places called Nanteuil, Nantheuil, Nampteuil, Nanteau..
Nanterre (Nemptu doro 5th century) : from nemeto- 'sacred place' + duro- 'gate', 'forum'
Noyon, Latin Noviomagus Veromanduorum, from Celtic *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + *magos 'field, plain'
- several places called Noviomagus : Nouvion, Noyen, Nyons, Nijon, Nojeon, Lisieux, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, etc.
Oissel
- several places called Oisseau, Ussel, etc.
Orange : from Arausio, a water god
Paris : 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 : from Redones, a Celtic tribe, replaces Condate
- several places called Condé, Condat, Candé, etc.
Riom : from Rigomagus
Rouen < Rotomagus,^[6] 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 mag (gen. maige) 'field' 'plain', Old Breton ma 'place'. The whole thing could mean 'hippodrome', 'racecourse' or 'wheel market'.^[7]
- several places called Rouans, Ruan, Rom, etc.
Vandœuvre < *vindo-briga 'white fortress'
- several places called Vandœuvres, Vendeuvre, Vendœuvres
Verdun, Virodunum or Verodunum, from Celtic *uiro-, *uero- 'high' and *dūnon '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 fern, Breton, Welsh gwern, dial. French verne / vergne.
- 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[edit]

Alzenau

From Celtic *alisa, s.f., 'alder'. (Compare the modern German Erlenbach) and Old High German (OHG) aha, s.n., 'flowing water'.

de Amarahe (?), a lost river name near Fulda c. 800 CE
Amerbach, a stream near Groß-Umstadt, Babenhausen, Ober-Ramstadt
Ammer
Ammerbach
Ammergraben, a stream near Harpertshausen
Amorbach, a stream near Mümling and the village named after it.
Amorsbrunn
Wald-Amorbach < Perhaps from Celtic *ambara, 'channel, river'. Compare Indo-European *amer-, 'channel, river' > Greek ἀμάρη (amárē), 'channel'. Or, from Celtic *amara, 'spelt, a type of grain'.
Annelsbach a suburb of Höchst
Ansbach in Mittelfranken originally Onoltesbah 837 CE : from Celtic *onno-, 'ash tree' plus an OHG bach, 'small river'.
Boiodurum, now Innstadt, Passau, Niederbayern : first element is Celtic *Boio-, tribal name (Boii), possibly 'cattle-owner' (cf. Irish bó 'cow') or 'warrior'. Second element is Celtic *duro- 'fort'.
Bonn : from Celtic *bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump')
Boppard : from Gaulish Boudobriga, "hill of victory". Containing the elements *boudo- 'victory' (Welsh budd 'gain, benefit') + *briga, 'hill'.
Düren, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Latin Durum : from Celtic *duro- 'fort'
Hercynia Silva (Latin), a vast forest including the modern Black Forest : from Celtic *(φ)erkunos 'oak' or divine name Perkwunos + Latin silva 'forest'
Kempten im Allgäu, Bavaria, Latin Cambodūnum : Celtic cambodūnom, *cambo- 'curved, bent, bowed, crooked', dūnon 'fortress'
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Moguntiacum : from Celtic *mogunt-, 'mighty, great, powerful', used as a divine name (see Mogons) + Celtic suffix -(i)acon
Meggingen : from Celtic *mago- 'plain, field'
Neumagen-Dhron, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Noviomagus Trevirorum
Noviomagus Nemetum (Latin), now Speyer, Rheinland-Pfalz : from Celtic *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + *magos 'field, plain'
Remagen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Rigomagus or Ricomagus : second element is from Celtic *magos 'field, plain'. The first may be a variant of Celtic *rigi- 'king, chief of *touta'
Tübingen : maybe hybrid form comprising a Celtic element and a Germanic suffix -ingen.^[8] The element tub- in Tübingen could possibly arise from a Celtic dubo-, s.m., 'dark, black; sad; wild'. As found in the Anglo-Irish placenames of Dublin, Devlin, Dowling, Doolin and Ballindoolin. Perhaps the reference is to the darkness of the river waters that flow near the town cf. river Doubs (France) and Dove (GB); if so, then the name can be compared to Tubney, Tubbanford, Tub Hole in England. Compare the late Vulgar Latin tubeta 'morass', from Gaulish. The root is found in Old Irish dub > Irish dubh, Old Welsh dub > Welsh du, Old Cornish duw > Middle Cornish du, Breton du, Gaulish dubo-, dubis, all meaning 'black; dark'
Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Borbetomagus : second element from Celtic *magos, 'plain, field', first perhaps related to Old Irish borb 'fierce, violent, rough, arrogant; foolish'

Hungary[edit]

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

Italy[edit]

Brianza, Lombardy, Latin Brigantia : from Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
Genova, Liguria, English Genoa, Latin Genua : Perhaps from Celtic *genu- 'mouth [of a river]'. (However, this Ligurian place-name, as well as that of Genava (modern Geneva), probably derive the Proto-Indo-European root *ĝenu- 'knee'.^[9])
Milano, Lombardy, English Milan, Latin Mediolanum : from Celtic medio- 'middle, central' > Old Irish mide 'middle, centre', Old Breton med, met > Breton mez 'middle', etc.^[10] and *ɸlan- > *lan-, a Celtic cognate of Latin plānus 'plain', with typical Celtic loss of /p/ or *ɸlānos > Old Irish lán, Welsh llawn, Breton leun 'full'^[10]
Belluno, Veneto, Latin Bellunum : from Celtic **Bhel- 'bright' and *dūnon 'fortress'.
Bergamo, Lombardy, Latin Bergomum : from Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
Brescia, Lombardy, Latin Brixia : from Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'.
Bologna, Emilia Romagna, Latin Bononia : from Celtic **bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump')

Netherlands[edit]

Lugdunum Batavorum (Latin), now Katwijk, Zuid-Holland : from Celtic *lug- 'Lugus' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *dūnon 'fortress'
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Latin Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum : from Celtic *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + *magos 'field, plain'

Poland[edit]

Lugidunum (Latin), now (maybe) Legnica, Silesia : second element from Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'

Portugal[edit]

Braga, Braga Municipality, Portugal : from Celtic *bracari- after the Bracari Celts.
Bragança, Alto Trás-os-Montes, Portugal : from Celtic *brigant- 'divine name, Brigantia'.
Beira : from Celtic *beira- 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 *cambra- 'chamber, room'.^[11]
Conímbriga, Coimbra, Portugal : from Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'.
Évora, Alentejo, Portugal : from Celtic *ebora- 'plural genitive of the word eburos (trees)'.
Lacobriga, Algarve, Portugal : from Celtic *Lacobriga- 'Lake of Briga'.^{[citation needed]}

Romania[edit]

Băișoara and other sites in Transylvania
Boian in Sibiu, Boianu Mare in Bihor County, villages coming from Boii
Călan city in Hunedoara.
Deva, capital of Hunedoara, originally a city of the Dacians
Galați
Noviodunum now Isaccea means "new fortress" *nowijo- + *dūn-.
Timiș River in Banat.

Serbia[edit]

Singidunum (Latin), now Beograd, English Belgrade : second element from Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'

Slovenia[edit]

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

Spain[edit]

Asturias and Cantabria[edit]

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

Castile[edit]

Segovia, Castile and León, Spain, Greek Segoubía : from *segu-, conjectured to be Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (theories).

Galicia[edit]

Tambre, a river in Galicia (Spain), Latin Tamaris : possibly from Celtic *tames- 'dark' (cf. Celtic *temeslos > Welsh tywyll 'darkness'). Other theories.
O Grove, Medieval Latin Ogrobre 912:^[12] from Celtic *ok-ro- 'acute; promontory'^[13] and Celtic *brigs 'hill'.
Bergantiños, Medieval Latin Bregantinos 830 : from Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated', or divine name Brigantia, or from Celtic *brigantīnos 'chief, king'.^[14]
Dumbría, Medieval Latin Donobria 830 : from Celtic *dūnon 'fortress' + Celtic **brīwa 'bridge'.
Val do Dubra and Dubra River, Galicia : from Celtic *dubr- 'water', *dubrās 'waters' (Welsh dwfr).
Monforte de Lemos (region), Latin Lemavos, after the local tribe of the Lemavi : from Celtic *lemo- 'elm' + suffix -avo.
Nendos (region), Medieval Latin Nemitos 830 : from Celtic *nemeton 'sanctuary'.
Noia, Galicia, Spain, Greek Nouion:^[15] from Celtic *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd).

Switzerland[edit]

Switzerland, especially the Swiss Plateau, has many Celtic (Gaulish) toponyms. This old layer of names was overlaid with Latin names in the Gallo-Roman period,^[16] and, from the medieval period, with Alemannic German^[17] and Romance^[18] 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.^[19]

Examples of toponyms with established Gaulish etymology:

Solothurn, from Salodurum. The *-durum element means "doors, gates; palisade; town". The etymology of the *salo- element is unclear.
Thun, Bern: *dunum "fort"
Windisch, Aargau, Latin Vindonissa: first element from *windo- "white"
Winterthur, Zürich, Latin Vitudurum or Vitodurum, from *vitu "willow" and *durum
Yverdon-les-Bains, from Eburodunum, from *eburo- "yew" and *dunum "fort".^[20]
Zürich, Latin Turicum, from a Gaulish personal name Tūros
Limmat, from Lindomagos "lake-plain", originally the name of the plain formed by the Linth and Lake Zurich.

Insular Celtic[edit]

Brittonic[edit]

England (excluding Cornwall)[edit]

Evidence for a Celtic root to place names in England 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 hint at this: West Walton, Walsoken, and the Walpoles indicate their continued presence. Nearby Wisbech, King's Lynn and Chatteris have Celtic topographical elements.

Arden (forest of), Warwickshire - from Celtic *ardu- 'high' (Irish ard)
From Brythonic *abona 'river' (Welsh afon):
- Avon (river), Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Somerset
- Avon (river), Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset
- Avon (river), Northamptonshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Gloucestershire
- Avon or Aune (river), Devon
From Celtic *iska 'water' (Irish uisce):
- Axe (river), Devon/Dorset
- Axe (river), Somerset
- Axminster, Devon
- Axmouth, Devon
First element from Celtic *briga 'hill':
- Brean, Somerset
- Bredon, Worcestershire
- Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire
- Brewood, Staffordshire
- Brill, Buckinghamshire
From Celtic *brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia):
- Brent (river), Greater London
- Brentford, Greater London
Bryn, Greater Manchester - from Welsh bryn, 'hill'.
Camulodunum (Latin), now Colchester, Essex - from *kamulos 'Camulus' (divine name) + Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'
From Brythonic *crüg 'hill'^[21] (Irish cruach)
- Creech St Michael, Somerset
- Crewkerne, Somerset
- Crich, Derbyshire
- Cricket St Thomas, Somerset
- Crickheath, Shropshire
- Cricklade, Wiltshire
Crewe, Cheshire - from Old Welsh *criu 'river crossing'
Devon, Latin Dumnonia - from tribal name Dumnonii or Dumnones, from Celtic *dumno- 'deep', 'world'
From Celtic *dubr- 'water', *dubrās 'waters' (Welsh dwfr; Breton dour):
- Dover, 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 ddin, 'fort').
First element from Celtic *duro- 'fort'; in Dūrobrīvae, Celtic *brīwa 'bridge':
- Durobrivae (Latin), now Rochester, Kent and Water Newton, Cambridgeshire
- Durovernum Cantiacorum (Latin), now Canterbury, Kent
From Celtic *iska 'water' (Irish uisce); second element in Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) is a tribal name (see Devon):
- Exe (river), Devon/Somerset
- Nether Exe, Devon
- Up Exe, Devon
- Exebridge, Devon
- Exford, Somerset
- Exeter, Devon, Latin Isca Dumnoniorum
- Exminster, Devon
- Exmouth, Devon
- Exton, Somerset
- Exwick, Devon
- Eskeleth, North Yorkshire
Leatherhead, Surrey - from Brythonic *lēd- [from Celtic *leito-] + *rïd- [from Celtic *(φ)ritu-] = "Grey Ford"^[21]
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Latin Lindum Colonia - from Celtic *lindo- 'pool' + Latin colonia 'colony'
Manchester, Latin Mamucium or Mancunium - from Celtic *mamm- 'breast' (referring to the shape of a hill)
Noviomagus (Latin), now Chichester, West Sussex and Crayford, Kent - from Celtic *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + *magos 'field, plain'
Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire - equivalent with Welsh pen-y-gant ("summit of the border") or pen-y-gynt ("summit of the heathen").^[22]
Pengethley, Herefordshire - from Brythonic *penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen) + possibly *kelli 'to stand' (Welsh gelli)
From Brythonic *penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen) + *koid- 'wood' (Welsh coed), or *cēd- 'wood':^[21]
- Pencoyd, Herefordshire
- Penge, Greater London
- Penketh, Cheshire
First element from Brittonic *penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen 'head, end, chief, supreme') = Irish ceann 'head', from Proto-Celtic *k^wenno-:
- Pencraig, Herefordshire
- Pendlebury, Greater Manchester
- Pendleton, Lancashire
- Pendock, Worcestershire
- Pensnett, West Midlands
- Penn, Buckinghamshire
- Penn, West Midlands
- Lower Penn, Staffordshire
- Penshaw, Sunderland
Old Sarum, Wiltshire, Latin Sorviodūnum - second element from Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'
Segedunum (Latin), now Wallsend, Tyne and Wear - from Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (theories). Second element is Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'.
Sinodun Hills, south Oxfordshire - from Celtic *seno- 'old' + *dūnon 'fortress'
Possibly from Celtic *tames- 'dark' (cf. Celtic *temeslos > Welsh tywyll 'darkness'):
- Tamar (river), Devon/Cornwall
- Tame (river), Greater Manchester
- Tame (river), North Yorkshire
- Tame (river), West Midlands
- Team (river), Tyne and Wear
- Teme (river), Welsh Tefeidiad, Wales/Shropshire/Worcestershire
- Thames (river), Latin Tamesis
Trinovantum (Latin), now London - 'Of the Trinovantes', a tribal name, perhaps 'very energetic people' from Celtic *tri- (intensive) + *now- 'energetic', related to *nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd)
Verulamium (Latin), now St Albans, Hertfordshire - from Brittonic *weru- 'broad' + *lam- 'hand' [from Celtic *(φ)lāmā] (Welsh llaw, Irish láimh)
First element from Celtic *windo- 'white' (Welsh gwyn); in Vindolanda, Celtic *landā 'land, place' (Welsh llan). In Vindomora, second element could be 'sea' (Welsh môr, Irish muir):
- Vindobala (Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland
- Vindolanda (Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland
- Vindomora (Latin), Roman fort in County Durham.
York, Greek Ebōrakon, Latin Eboracum or Eburacum - from Celtic *eburo- 'yew'

Scotland[edit]

The post-6th century AD Brittonic languages of Northern England and Scotland were Cumbric and Pictish. Cumbric place-names are found in Scotland south of the River Forth,^[22] while Pictish names are found to the north.^[23]

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire - from **aber ("river mouth").^[24]
Applecross, Ross-shire - formerly Abercrosan, from aber ("river mouth").^[24]
Arran - possibly equivalent to Middle Welsh aran ("high place").^[25]
Aviemore, Inverness-shire - An Aghaidh Mhòr in Gaelic, possibly involving Brittonic *ag- ("a cleft").^[26]
Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire - Lomond is equivalent to Welsh llumon ("beacon").^[22]
Blantyre, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh blaen ("extremes, source, front") + tir ("land").^[22]
Blebo, Fife - formerly Bladebolg, from Brittonic *blawd ("meal") + *bolg ("sack").^[27]
Burnturk, Fife - formerly Brenturk, equivalent to Welsh bryntwrch ("boar hill").^[24]
Dallas, Moray - equivalent to Welsh dôl ("haugh, meadow") + gwas ("abode").^[24]
Darnaway, Moray - possibly from ancient Brittonic Taranumagos ("thunder-plain").^[24]
Daviot, Inverness-shire - perhaps from Brittonic *dem- meaning "sure, strong".^[26]
Dull, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh dôl ("haugh, meadow").^[24]
Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire - equivalent to Welsh eglwysfechan ("small church").^[22]
Edinburgh, Midlothian - from Din Ediyn, from a Brittonic form meaning "fort of Ediyn" (c.f. Welsh din).
Esslemont, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh iselfynydd ("low hill").^[24]
Glasgo, Aberdeenshire - see Glasgow, Lanarkshire below.^[24]
Glasgow, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh glascau ("blue hollow").^[24]
Hebrides - Ebudes in Ptolemy (c. 140 AD), possibly from ancient Brittonic ep- ("a horse"; c.f. Welsh ebol).^[28]
Keith, Banffshire - equivalent to Welsh coed ("wood, forest").^[24]
Lanark, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh llanerch ("a glade").^[22]
Landrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.^[29]
Lanrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.^[29]
Lauder, Berwickshire - equivalent either to Middle Breton louazr or Welsh llawedrawr.^[22]
Lendrick, Kinross-shire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.^[29]
Lendrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.^[29]
Lomond Hills, Fife - see Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire.^[27]
Mayish, Arran - possibly from Brittonic maɣes ("field"; Welsh maes).^[30]
Meggernie, Perthshire - from an element cognate with Welsh migwernydd ("boggy meadow").^[24]
Methven, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh meddfaen ("meadstone").^[24]
Midmar, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig(n) ("bog, swamp") + Mar (a district name).^[24]
Migvie, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig(n) ("bog, swamp").^[24]
Mounth, Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mynydd ("mountain, moor, hill").^[23]
Ochil Hills, Fife - probably from Common Brittonic *okelon ("a ridge").^[23]
Orchy, Argyll (river) - in Gaelic Urchaidh, from ancient Brittonic are-cētia ("on the wood").^[24]
Panbride, Angus - from pant ("a hollow").^[24]
Panlathy, Angus - from pant ("a hollow").^[29]
Panmure, Angus - equivalent to Welsh pantmawr ("big hollow").^[24]
Pendewen, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").^[29]
Penicuik, Midlothian - equivalent to Welsh pen-y-cog ("summit of the cuckoo").^[22]
Pennan, Aberdeenshire - probably equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").
Pennygant Hill, Roxburghshire - see Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire, England.^[22]
Perth, Perthshire - probably equivalent to Welsh perth ("bush").
Pinderachy, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").^[29]
Pinnel, Fife - possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").^[27]
Pulrossie, Sutherland - possibly equivalent to Welsh pwllrhos ("promontory pool").^[31]
Rattray, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh rhawdtref ("ramparts town").^[24]
Urquhart, Ross-shire - formerly Airdchartdan, equivalent to Middle Welsh ar-cardden ("on the enclosure").^[24]
Yell, Shetland - probably from Common Brittonic iâla ("unfruitful land, pasture").^[32]

Wales[edit]

The vast majority of placenames in Wales (part of the United Kingdom) are either Welsh or anglicized Welsh.

Cornwall[edit]

The vast majority of placenames in Cornwall are either Cornish or anglicized Cornish. For examples, see List of places in Cornwall.

Brittany[edit]

The vast majority of placenames in the west of Brittany (part of France) are either Breton or derived from Breton. For examples, see Category:Populated places in Brittany.

Goidelic[edit]

England[edit]

Place names in England derived partly or wholly from Goidelic languages include:

Ben, Yorkshire (Sedbergh), probably from the Gaelic benn ("a peak").^[33]
Cambois, Northumberland, possibly from Old Irish cambas ("bay, creek")^[34]
†Crosskelloc, Lancashire (Ulverston), from Irish cros ("a cross") + Chelloc (personal name).^[35]
Dunmallard, Cumberland, possibly from Middle Irish dùn-mallacht ("fort of curses")^[22]
Durdar, Cumberland (St Cuthbert Without), from Gaelic doiredarach ("oak copse").^[33]
Greysouthen, Cumberland, from Irish craicc-Suthan ("Suthán's rock/cliff").^[33]
Kilmond, Yorkshire (Bowes), possibly from Gaelic ceann-monadh ("head of the hill").^[33]
Knockupworth, Cumberland (Grinsdale), from Irish cnocc ("hillock") (+ the Germanic personal-name Hubert).^[33]
Latrigg, Cumberland, possibly from Old Irish lettir ("a slope").^[33]
Latterbarrow, Lancashire (Hawkshead), possibly from Irish lettir ("a slope").^[35]
Liscard, Cheshire, possibly from Irish Gaelic lios na carraige meaning "fort of the rock".^[36]
Noctorum, Cheshire, from Irish cnocc-tírim ("dry hill").^[33]
Pool Darkin, Westmorland (Beetham), possibly from Gaelic poll ("pool") + the personal name *Dercan.^[33]
Ravenglass, Cumberland, from Irish rann-Glas ("Glas's part/share").^[33]
Torkin, Cumberland (Thursby), from Irish tor-cheann ("peak-head").^[33]

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^[37]
Dovenby, from personal name Dufan of Irish origin (OIr 'Dubhán')
Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire (Hyndburn), from the Gaelic personal name Donnchad (> Duncan) (+ Old English halh, "haugh").^[35]
Fixby, Yorkshire, from the Gaelic Irish personal name Fiach
Gatenby, Yorkshire, from the Irish personal name Gaithen (+ Old Norse byr, "farm").^[33]
Glassonby, from the Irish personal name Glassan
†Iocemhil, Lincolnshire (Killingholme), possibly contains the Irish personal name Eogan.^[33]
Malmesbury, Wiltshire, from the Irish founder of the abbey Máel Dub
Mellishaw, Lancashire (Lancaster), possibly the Irish personal name Mdeldn (+ Old Norse haugr).^[35]
Melmerby, Yorkshire, from the Old Irish personal name Máel Muire
Yockenthwaite, Yorkshire, contains the Irish personal name Eogan (+ Old Norse þveit, "clearing").^[33]

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[edit]

The vast majority of placenames in Ireland are anglicized Irish language names.

Scotland[edit]

The majority of placenames in the Highlands of Scotland (part of the United Kingdom) are either Scottish Gaelic or anglicized Scottish Gaelic. Gaelic-derived placenames are very common in the rest of mainland Scotland also. Pictish-derived placenames can be found in the northeast, while Brythonic-derived placenames can be found in the south.

Isle of Man[edit]

Many placenames on the Isle of Man (a Crown dependency) are Manx or anglicised Manx, although there are also many Norse-derived place names.

Notes[edit]

^ ^a ^b Pierre-Yves Lambert, La Langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 16 - 17
^ Pierre-Yves Lambert, La langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 39.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Lambert, p. 37
^ Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, 2nd edn. (Paris: Errance, 2003), p. 111.
^ See Noviomagus and Lexovii.
^ Other examples include Ruan (Rothomago 1233 / Rotomagus 5th century), Rom.
^ Delamarre 2003, pp. 261-2.
^ Bahlow, Hans. 1955. Namenforschung als Wissenschaft. Deutschlands Ortsnamen als Denkmäler keltischer Vorzeit. Frankfurt am Main.
^ see Pokorny, IEW
^ ^a ^b Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, Paris (éditions errance) 2001, p. 221.
^ "RIA - Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources".
^ Prósper, Blanca María (2002). Lenguas y Religiones Prerromanas del Occidente de la Península Ibérica. Universidad de Salamanca. p. 375. ISBN 978-84-7800-818-6.
^ Matasovic, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. p. 28. ISBN 978-90-04-17336-1.
^ Matasovic, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-90-04-17336-1.
^ Ptolemy II 6.21.
^ such as Basel, Latin Basilea, from the personal name Basilius, ultimately of Greek origin,
^ such as Bern, founded 1191
^ such as Neuchâtel, founded 1011
^ Frick has been derived from (a) a Celtic word for "confluence", cognate with fork, (b) an Alemannic personal name Fricco and (c) Latin ferra ricia "iron mine, ironworks".
^ Bernhard Maier, Kleines Lexikon der Namen und Wörter keltischen Ursprungs, 2010, p. 51. Julius Pokorny, IEW (1959:325), s.v. "ē̆reb(h)-, ō̆rob(h)- 'dark reddish-brown colour'": "alb.-ligur.-kelt.-germ. eburo- 'rowan, mountain ash, yew, evergreen tree with poisonous needles'."
^ ^a ^b ^c Mills, AD. Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford University Press, 1991.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j James, Alan. "The Brittonic Language in the Old North" (PDF). Scottish Place Name Society. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rhys, Guto. "Approaching the Pictish language: historiography, early evidence and the question of Pritenic" (PDF). University of Glasgow.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Watson, W.J.; Taylor, Simon (2011). The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland (reprint ed.). Birlinn LTD. p. 387. ISBN 9781906566357.
^ Mackenzie, William Cook (1931). Scottish Place-names. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. p. 124.
^ ^a ^b MacBain, Alexander (1922). Place names Highlands & Islands of Scotland. p. 156. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Simon, Taylor; Markus, Gilbert (2006). The Place-names of Fife (Illustrated ed.). Shaun Tyas. ISBN 9781900289771.
^ Woolf, Alex (2012) Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin. Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Hall, Mark A; Driscoll, Stephen T; Geddess, Jane (11 November 2010). Pictish Progress: New Studies on Northern Britain in the Early Middle Ages. Brill. ISBN 9789004188013. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain. "Gaelic Place Names (K-O)" (PDF). The Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
^ Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness (Volume XX ed.). The Society. 1899. p. 330. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
^ Forsyth, Katherine. "Protecting a Pict?: Further thoughts on the inscribed silver chape from St Ninian's Isle, Shetland. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (2020)" (PDF). University of Glasgow. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "Survey of English Place-Names". English Place-Name Society.
^ Bethany Fox, 'The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland', The Heroic Age, 10 (2007), http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox.html (appendix at http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox-appendix.html); "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2009-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ekwall, Eilert (1922). The Place Names of Lancashire. The University Press. ISBN 9789353897918. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ A. D. Mills, A Dictionary of British Place Names (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.
^ Stenton, Frank Merry (1970). Preparatory to Anglo-Saxon England: The Collected Papers of Frank Merry Stenton. Clarendon. p. 312. ISBN 0198223145. Retrieved 5 January 2019.

[Lambert-1] Pierre-Yves Lambert, La Langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 16 - 17

[2] Pierre-Yves Lambert, La langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 39.

[Lambert2-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Lambert, p. 37

[4] Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, 2nd edn. (Paris: Errance, 2003), p. 111.

[5] See Noviomagus and Lexovii.

[6] Other examples include Ruan (Rothomago 1233 / Rotomagus 5th century), Rom.

[7] Delamarre 2003, pp. 261-2.

[8] Bahlow, Hans. 1955. Namenforschung als Wissenschaft. Deutschlands Ortsnamen als Denkmäler keltischer Vorzeit. Frankfurt am Main.

[9] see Pokorny, IEW

[Delamarre-10] Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, Paris (éditions errance) 2001, p. 221.

[11] "RIA - Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources".

[12] Prósper, Blanca María (2002). Lenguas y Religiones Prerromanas del Occidente de la Península Ibérica. Universidad de Salamanca. p. 375. ISBN 978-84-7800-818-6.

[13] Matasovic, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. p. 28. ISBN 978-90-04-17336-1.

[14] Matasovic, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-90-04-17336-1.

[15] Ptolemy II 6.21.

[16] such as Basel, Latin Basilea, from the personal name Basilius, ultimately of Greek origin,

[17] such as Bern, founded 1191

[18] such as Neuchâtel, founded 1011

[19] Frick has been derived from (a) a Celtic word for "confluence", cognate with fork, (b) an Alemannic personal name Fricco and (c) Latin ferra ricia "iron mine, ironworks".

[20] Bernhard Maier, Kleines Lexikon der Namen und Wörter keltischen Ursprungs, 2010, p. 51. Julius Pokorny, IEW (1959:325), s.v. "ē̆reb(h)-, ō̆rob(h)- 'dark reddish-brown colour'": "alb.-ligur.-kelt.-germ. eburo- 'rowan, mountain ash, yew, evergreen tree with poisonous needles'."

[Mills,_AD._1991-21] Mills, AD. Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford University Press, 1991.

[BLITON-22] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j James, Alan. "The Brittonic Language in the Old North" (PDF). Scottish Place Name Society. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

[UGlas-23] Rhys, Guto. "Approaching the Pictish language: historiography, early evidence and the question of Pritenic" (PDF). University of Glasgow.

[cpns-24] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Watson, W.J.; Taylor, Simon (2011). The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland (reprint ed.). Birlinn LTD. p. 387. ISBN 9781906566357.

[Mackenzie-25] Mackenzie, William Cook (1931). Scottish Place-names. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. p. 124.

[MacBain-26] MacBain, Alexander (1922). Place names Highlands & Islands of Scotland. p. 156. Retrieved 20 April 2020.

[PNF-27] Simon, Taylor; Markus, Gilbert (2006). The Place-names of Fife (Illustrated ed.). Shaun Tyas. ISBN 9781900289771.

[woolf-28] Woolf, Alex (2012) Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin. Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

[pp-29] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Hall, Mark A; Driscoll, Stephen T; Geddess, Jane (11 November 2010). Pictish Progress: New Studies on Northern Britain in the Early Middle Ages. Brill. ISBN 9789004188013. Retrieved 30 June 2019.

[MacAnTailleir-30] Mac an Tàilleir, Iain. "Gaelic Place Names (K-O)" (PDF). The Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2021-03-31.

[TGSI-31] Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness (Volume XX ed.). The Society. 1899. p. 330. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

[uglasforsyth-32] Forsyth, Katherine. "Protecting a Pict?: Further thoughts on the inscribed silver chape from St Ninian's Isle, Shetland. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (2020)" (PDF). University of Glasgow. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

[epnssepn-33] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "Survey of English Place-Names". English Place-Name Society.

[34] Bethany Fox, 'The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland', The Heroic Age, 10 (2007), http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox.html (appendix at http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox-appendix.html); "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2009-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[ekwalllanc-35] Ekwall, Eilert (1922). The Place Names of Lancashire. The University Press. ISBN 9789353897918. Retrieved 5 February 2024.

[D._Mills,_2011-36] A. D. Mills, A Dictionary of British Place Names (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.

[stenton-37] Stenton, Frank Merry (1970). Preparatory to Anglo-Saxon England: The Collected Papers of Frank Merry Stenton. Clarendon. p. 312. ISBN 0198223145. Retrieved 5 January 2019.

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Latest revision as of 05:39, 13 June 2024

Celtic languages[edit]

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

European connection[edit]

Continental Celtic[edit]

Austria[edit]

Belgium[edit]

France[edit]

Germany[edit]

Hungary[edit]

Italy[edit]

Netherlands[edit]

Poland[edit]

Portugal[edit]

Romania[edit]

Serbia[edit]

Slovenia[edit]

Spain[edit]

Asturias and Cantabria[edit]

Castile[edit]

Galicia[edit]

Switzerland[edit]

Insular Celtic[edit]

Brittonic[edit]

England (excluding Cornwall)[edit]

Scotland[edit]

Wales[edit]

Cornwall[edit]

Brittany[edit]

Goidelic[edit]

England[edit]

Ireland[edit]

Scotland[edit]

Isle of Man[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]