U?u^i^e^^U^ yi^ ^a^^rm^
c^rc^. c,x^^>^^t;t^
^/?-i
/// f ( • /j/yi/ rC m//::■;•/: JB.5^rriSH PLACE-NAMES
On a superficial survey, all the names of places recorded in
our Ordnance Maps of England would seem to be of English
origin. A minute examination of these will show, however,
that numerous elements involved in them are not to be traced
to an English source. A further investigation of these " foreign "
elements will enable us to class them roughly into Celtic, Latin,
and Scandinavian. There is, if we take in the rest of Britain,
probably also a number of them which belong to a pre-Celtic
language ; that is to say, designations handed down from a race
which was in possession of these islands when the first Celtic
invaders entered them. Some of our linguistic experts think
that these pre-Celtic peoples were represented by the Picts, who
appear to have occupied certain parts of Scotland and of Ireland
when our first great English historian — the Venerable Bede —
was writing his History, nearly twelve hundred years ago. In his
time, Bede says, and the Saxon Chronicle adopts the statement,
the following races, as represented by languages, were known
in Britain : English, British, Scot-ish (i.e. Irish), Pictish, and
Book-Latin (i.e. the language of the Romanized Britons).
The Celtic languages to which Bede here refers under the
designations British, Scot-ish, and Pictish, have been scientifically
classified of late according to their local survivals into Goidelic,
(which embraces Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic), and Brythonic
which includes Ancient British (and Gaulish), Cornish, Breton,
Cymric (i.e. Welsh), and probably Pictish.
The ancient Continental home of the Celtic-speaking people
was, according to latest authorities, the territory lying between
the Rhine, the Main, and the Danube, whence according to
D'Arbois de Jubainville they spread into North- West Germany,
the GoideHc branch about 800 b.c passing into the British
Islands. These were followed, the same writer alleges, about
630 B.C. by a Brythonic (?) people called Belgae, who, driven by
Germanic tribes out of the region between the Elbe and the
Rhine, occupied North-Eastern Gaul, from whence some passed
into Britain. According to Julius Caesar {De Bell. Gal. i) the
INTRODUCTION 9
Belgae differed from the Gauls (called Galli, he says, in Latin,
Celtae, in their own speech) in language and customs, and were
divided from them by the Marne and Seine. Caesar tells us,
moreover (ibid. v. 12), that the maritime parts of Britain were
occupied by those Belgae who, passing over for booty, had
settled there, and that they were there known by the names of
the states whence they had sprung. This is confirmed by the
names Venta Belgarum (Winchester) and Calleva (or Galleva)
Atrehatum (Silchester), the Atrebates* occupying at this period
the region round Arras in which their name is still preserved.
According to D'Arbois de Jubainville, Celtic invasions of Spain
(500 B.C.) and of Bohemia and Italy (400 b.c.) followed.
Greece and Galatia in Asia Minor were invaded by the Celts, in
the third century b.c
As to the Belgae being the first Brythonic invaders of
Britain, it is clearly against the statement of Caesar, and other-
wise not credible.
A tribe called Scots belonging to the Goidels are known to
have passed from Ireland into Alban (Scotland) in the fourth
century of our era, the latter country being then occupied by Bry-
thons and Picts.'^ In the fifth and sixth centuries a.d. a southern
Brythonic people, under pressure from invading Teutonic tribes,
passed over to Armorica in Gaul, in which Gallic speech had
then died out, and gave their name to the country — Brittany.
The influence of each of these Celtic peoples is still to be
traced in our place-names.
A few native territorial and Celtic tribe-names were familiar
to the Romans before our era. Kent, with its white cliffs,
was known to Julius Caesar in 54 b.c by the name Cantium
{Cant'to-n\ a Latinized form of the native appellation. The
* Rolemy (ii. 3. 13) places among the Belgae the towns Iskalis, Hydata
Therma (i.e. "Hot Waters" = Bath) and Venta ( = Winchester). See
later on the Summary of Ptolemy's Geography of Albion.
^ But see later on Sir John Rhys's view that Goidels were in Alban much
earlier.
10 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Tameses {Tamesa in Ptolemy) was also known to him, and the
tribes Belgae and Trinovantes dwelling not far from it, as
was also by report Mona (the island of Anglesea) which was
captured a little over one hundred years later (a.d. 6i) by
the Roman General Suetonius Paulinus, and of which the
name still survives in the last syllable of Carnar^'o«. Julius
Caesar received the submission of certain tribes occupying the
southern part of Britain; the Cenimagni^^ the Segontiaci'^ , the
Ancalites^^ the Cassi*, and the Bibroci, and the last seems still
to survive in our Berk-^\xt. The early form of the latter is
Berruc-scire, Baerruc-scire, Bearruc-scire (in a charter ascribed
to A.D. 931), and Barroc-scire (in a British Museum MS. of
A.D. 1 050-1 065). We shall see, from instances given later on,
that an internal "b" in a Latinized Celtic name was pro-
nounced as "v" and that it tended to disappear altogether.
Thus Bivroc would naturally become Birruc with a compen-
^ Gluck (Celtic names in Caesar's de B. G.) sees in this name Ceno —
distant, and in magni, the antecedent of Welsh man (Irish wa^) conclude the
list.
Pedersen (ibid. p. 31) describes thus shortly the modifications
to which this system was subjected in Celtic.
The distinction in the first place between long and short vowels
is maintained.
The short and long diphthongs are no longer distinguished.
The diphthongs are in part resolved into simple vowels out of
which later new diphthongs are formed.
From the syllable-making liquids arise groups of consonantal
i6 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
liquids and vowels. " p " has become a breathing {h) where it has
not vanished entirely. The velars and palatals have ceased to
be distinguished. The labio-velars have in part become labials
(^" in all Celtic languages, ^" and /^% in Gaulish and British,
while, on the other hand, g^h had lost its labialization in all
Celtic languages, and also k^ and k^h in Irish after the period
of the Ogam-inscriptions).
The tenues had fallen in with the aspirated tenues completely
at an early date. The mediae likewise had coincided with the
aspirated mediae, but traces of a special articulation of the aspi-
rated mediae were still to be detected, w (v), j, the explosives
and the consonantal liquids were represented in Celtic in a double
manner, that is, besides the normal pronunciation in the
beginning of a word, there was a relaxed languid utterance (with
wider opening of the mouth), which occurred, among other
instances, between vowels. This modification of utterance is
called Lenition or aspiration. Pedersen traces, in vol. i. of the
work referred to, the modifications of the foregoing sounds in
the various branches of Celtic speech.
Short a is preserved, for instance, in Irish Caihir { = a town),
and in its Welsh form Cader (=a hill-fortress), both of which
are compared with Latin Cater-va (=a troop).
Short e is also preserved, but can become by umlaut y.
Before a nasal and an explosive it becomes i, as instanced in
Irish Linn {^-^Lenda, liquid, and Lind^ a pool), Welsh Llyn, the
AiVSov of Ptolemy =. Lindocob'na (Bede, ii. i6) = Lincoln, and
in Lindi-macus {'=.*Lmdi magos^ now the Limmat, a stream
running out of Zurich lake). Middle Irish Glend, gen. Glinde
(= valley) and Welsh Glynn [together with Welsh Glann
{=bank) cognate with Danish Klint (steep-bank) and old Norse
Kleti-r (rock)] are further instances which enter into place-
names in Great Britain.
Short i is preserved in Gaulish but becomes sometimes^ or e
in later Celtic. Compare Vindo-gladia {Ant. liin,) now (.?) ''Bad-
bury-rings", Vindo-hona, now Vienna, with the Gaulish personal
name UuenA^ni and the Dorset stream Wenfrith. o is pre-
served, but becomes before certain consonants ^, written y
in all syllables before the last. Cf. Welsh mynydd (mountain)
and old Breton, -monid, Cornish meneth, the latter with umlaut.
Pedersen proceeds to show the fortunes of all the vowels, together
with those of the consonants, in the various branches of Celtic
speech. As references will be made to this and other
INTRODUCTION 17
authorities as each case arises it is not necessary to proceed
here further with Celtic sound-changes.
A few illustrations, however, of the changes to which the Indo-
European vowels and other sounds were subjected in the
Teutonic languages may well find a place here (see Brugmann's
Grundrtss, § 35 et seq., and Kluge, in Paul's Grundriss^ pp. 300
et seq.).
Indo-European 2 became Germanic /; before r and h =€
# „ „ « ; after a in the following
u „ „ tt [syllable =6
^ i) j> ^
ei „ „ t
eu „ „ eu
^ >» >» ^
„ ,, a; this and a too are peculiar
bi „ „ fl/ [to Germanic vocalization
bu „ „ au
ai „ „ at
au „ „ au
The Indo-European explosives k, /, p became respectively
;^ ( = h) /k,/. The first stage in the/>, k (kv) " Shift " according
to Brugmann was when they came before / and s. ts became ss^
and ik became sk at about the same time. Then followed the
general shift of the tenues, except when preceded immediately
by J, or when they came under *' Verner's Law '*. The original
mediae g, d, b, became k, /, /.
As a consequence of the shift of original k, /, p, it may be
assumed, for instance, that historical Teutonic words beginning
with any of these letters had originally other initials. Torp's
Worlschalz der germanischen Spracheinheit, Gottingen, 1 909, gives,
for instance, some forty-five early Teutonic stems beginning with
/>, with their equivalents in the various dialects. Most of these
are traced to Indo-European originals beginning with bh (3),
others are onomatopoetic, others have been borrowed from non-
Teutonic languages, and the residuum consists of a few unex-
plained words, such, to take English examples, as play^ plough^
i8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
and path. The last word seems to represent an Indo-European
original, instanced in Greek TraVos and Irish ^M = ford (=orig.
"^Pdia) and was possibly borrowed, as ^chT2iditT{Handehgeschichte,
13) suggests, from the Celtic, before initial/* had disappeared
from the latter language. Sufficient instances of Teutonic sound-
changes have been given here to show the principles. Further
examples will be cited as each case discussed requires.
I. THE ROMAN OCCUPATION
After the departure of Julius Caesar from Britain 54 b.c,
the history of this country remains a blank till a.d. 43. It is
true that the Roman Emperor Caligula — who had harboured an
exiled British chief — wrote to the Senate from Gaul in a.d. 40,
boasting that he had conquered the entire country, but he had
never really set foot in Britain. For the progress of the Roman
arms in Britain from a. d. 43 to 93 we are indebted in the main to
the almost contemporary historian Tacitus. He had exceptional
opportunities for acquiring information, as his father-in-law was
the famous Roman general Agricola, who reduced almost the
whole of Britain to the Roman obedience.
The army sent into Britain by the Emperor Claudius in
A.D. 43 was commanded by Aulus Plautius, who brought into
subjection the tribes in the neighbourhood of the Thames, and
finally captured Camulodunum, the royal residence of the late
Chief Cunobellinus. The Emperor Claudius, who spent alto-
gether only some sixteen days in Britain, was present at the
capture. In the campaign of this period, the future Emperors
Vespasian and Titus (father and son) took part, the latter some
twenty-five years later (a.d. 70) becoming associated with a
more important historical event in his capture of Jerusalem.
In the year a.d. 49 Ostorius Scapula took the command in
Britain, and on finding that the neighbouring tribes had broken
into the lands of those who were subject to Rome, prepared to
disarm the suspected, and to occupy with camps the whole
country to [? between] the Avon and Severn. He was opposed
B 2
20 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
by the Iceni, already referred to, but having inflicted defeat
upon them, set out against the Ceangi, and reached at length
the neighbourhood of the sea facing the island of Hibernia
(Tacitus, Annals, ii. 24).
Can we find any traces of these events in surviving place-
names? Camulodun-um (Tacitus, Annals, and Ani. Itin.) was
the earliest name of Colchester, i. e. Coln-chester, but was
supplanted by the term Colonia, a dignity conferred upon
it later on. It means the dun or stronghold under the pro-
tection of the god Camul-os (see Holder's Sprachschatz, s. v.,
and Rev. Celt.). The gods of the Britons were sometimes
associated with rivers, as we gather from the several streams
in Britain called Dee (Deva^), and from Belisama, the ancient
name of the Mersey; and the stream running past this
stronghold doubtless involved the name Camul.'* The same
designation still survives as the name of rivers in Somerset and
Cornwall, &c. As the m in Camul did not become aspirated
between vowels in British speech, the first syllable must have
been originally Camb (see Pedersen, V. Gravim. § 73) and have
involved the idea of " Crooked ", an idea preserved also doubt-
less in the designation of the god ; cf. the Irish Idol destroyed
by St. Patrick, Cromm-CrHaich, in which the same notion of
* Sir John Rhys {Celtic Folklore, p. 448) connects problematically
Lydney in Gloucestershire with the Celtic god Nodons (found on an
inscription in Lydney Park many years ago), equating it with a Cymric
Ludo. Lydney, however, appears in a Charter of 972 as Lidan-ege, that
is, the island of the river Lidan or Litan, a name not uncommon as a Celtic
designation of streams, &c., and meaning in this connexion "broad".
Cf. the Gaulish Litanobriga (" Broad-burg" according to Pedersen, Gramm.
§ 30) of the Antonine Itinerary. It would seem, therefore, to have nothing
to do with the Nudd of Tennyson's " Idylls" or with " Ludd of the silver
hand ". Torp {Wortschatz, p. 299) traces Nudd or Nuada (stem *Noudent),
the name of a Celtic sea-deity, to the root involved in Anglo-Saxon Neotan
= to use, to enjoy.
2 Mr. J. S. S. Glennie, in his Arthurian Localities (E. E. Text Soc, 1869),
says, "Cadbury (Somerset) is mentioned in old records under the name
Camelot, a name still perpetuated in the adjoining villages of Queen's Camel
ROMAN OCCUPATION 21
crooked is involved. Was it this Camulodun, or some other
place of the same shortened name, to which reference is made
in Tennyson's lines ? —
** On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And through the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot."
Tennyson (in Elaine) makes London the chief court of
Arthur : —
" . . . Arthur holding there his Court
Hard on the river, nigh the place which now
Is this world's hugest, let proclaim a joust
At Camelot."
Malory places the latter at Winchester, but his geography
is not to be trusted.* The name may linger still in that
"Camlet way" of which Newcome, in his Hist, of St. Albans^
writes, ''There is still (1795) visible, beside the Watling
Street way, another original Roman road through the forests
of Enfield Chace, called at this day Camlet way, which seems
to have been the road from Verulam to Camalodunum." There
is now no trace of the course of this " Camlet " way, which
and West Camel." He does not give these " old records", so that I am
unable to test his statement. There is another river in Somerset involving
•* Camel". It was called the Camelar, on which are situated Camely and
Camerton (anciently Camelarton, CoUinson's Hist, of Somerset ^ iii, p. 329).
This place is mentioned in a charter ascribed to the year 961 {Cart. Sax.
iii, p. 300). The river runs into the Avon above Bath. Campton, in Bedford-
shire, on a tributary of the Ouse, appears, in a British Museum MS. of 11 50,
as Camelton, suggesting that the stream flowing by it may then have been
known as the Camel. The Hamble river in Hants, Bede's Homelea, may be
an early borrowing of Camuly or a cognate word. The element " Camul "
is also involved in the ancient form of Chamblay (Camul-oscus, Camblosco),
of which name there are several instances, in France. The " Camulos-sesa "
of the Ravenna Geographer, which was in North Britain, has not been
identified.
* The Arthurian geography will be dealt with in its place.
22 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
crossed the Watling Street near St. Michael's Church in
Verulam, yet it is difficult to believe that it and its direction
were an invention of Newcome's, who evidently saw no con-
nexion between its name and the " Camulod " of Camulo-
dunum, of which it would be a possible survival.
The account in the Annals of Tacitus of the design of
Ostorius to occupy with camps the whole country to [or
between] the Avon and Severn has created difficulties. The
manuscript authorities for the Annals give two readings here for
the former river. In one it is called the Antona, and in the
other the Avon. The seeming impossibility of identifying either
of these names with any existing river in this region has led
to several conjectures. Dr. Henry Bradley proposed {Academy,
April 28, 1883) a most ingenious reading of the passage —
previously (?) advanced by Miiller, Ptol. Geogr,^ Paris, 1883,
i, p. 87 n, — making castris (by forts) into cis Tris, and pre-
fixing the latter syllable to Antona-m, thus rendering the river-
name Trisantona. Sir John Rhys is prepared to accept this
conjecture, and thinks that this may be the early form of the
Tre(h)anta, Trenta, now the Trent; but see p. 118.
The geographer Ptolemy, who about a. d. 120 furnished in
his Geography a list of localities in Britain, places the river
Trisantona in the neighbourhood of what is now Southampton,
and reasons for the correctness of this position will be given
later on. The form Trahannon occurs, it is true, in Nennius
(ninth century), but it seems to refer to the Trisantona of
Ptolemy.
Ostorius had in his advance the Iceni on his front and
right. He wanted a river of some importance to protect his
right flank in his advance. The Trent seems too far north,
but the Nene might have served his purpose. Previous inves-
tigators had accepted, without etymological considerations, this
river as the Avon of Tacitus. This river, for a certain part of
its course at least, has been known, from the middle of the
tenth century at latest, as the Nyn or Nen. But there is good
ROMAN OCCUPATION 23
reason to think that for some part of its course, possibly as far
as Peterborough, it was known from early times as the Avon ^
Leland, in his Itinerary^ written about 1542, calls it, over and
over again, the Avon. He says in one passage : " The ryver of
Avon so windeth about Oundale Town that it almost insula-
tethe it, savyng a litle by west-north-west." Oundale (Oundle)
is suggestive. In the Eccl. Hist, of Bede (died a. d. 735) we
have " in the province Undalum " '', but in a charter (now in
possession of the Society of Antiquaries) ascribed to the tenth
century, it is called in the accusative case Undalan. Dael {neut^
is a valley, and appears often in the charters as dell, which
Sweet considers to be a weak form of dsel, and thus to form its
accusative in -an. Dail was, like its Scandinavian equivalent
daUr in the north of England, generally coupled with river-
names, e. g. Dover-dael, Worcester (in a ninth-ceniury charter),
and the familiar Teesdale, Wharfdale, &c. Oundle would there-
fore be a worn form of Avon-dael, and thus at once confirm
Leland's name of the river, and the accuracy of the text of
Tacitus which reads Avonam, In Speed's Theatrwn Britanniae
(16 10), moreover, Avon-well is given as in Roth well Hundred,
and is doubtless the well or source of the stream that, running
by Kettering, falls into the Nene. Drayton in his Polyolbion
(1613) says of the Nen: "... Avon, which of long, the Britons
called her," " whom by Aufona's name the Roman did renown."
^ Dr. Henry Bradley thinks that "Avon" was a generic term applied to
British rivers, and that there was in all cases a specific name added to it.
The Avon-Nyn would, therefore, be a transitional form, leaving either
" Avon" or " Nyn", as one or other form fell out in the course of time.
" S. Cett resteth on Undola near the river Nen," says The Saints of Eng-
land, a work drawn up shortly before A. D. 1000 i^Die Heilig. Eng., Lieber-
mann, Hanover, 1889), showing the truth of Dr. Bradley's view.
'* It is right to add that the latter element in this word may be -disl
(masc), meaning "portion or division ". Numerous instances of this -dcel
occur in place-name compounds in the North and in such forms as Femdel
or Ferthingdel = a fourth part. The A. -Sax. dal ( = valley) is traced (Torp_)
to a stem meaning to bend.
24 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
As to the Severn, the Romans probably learned the name
Sahrina from the Goidels (or Gaels, i. e. the Irish branch of the
Celts, who are known to have occupied in the Roman period
the greater part of what came afterwards to be designated
Wales) and not from the Britons, who knew the river in
historic times by the name Hafren. It would be difficult to
say when the Britons began to use H for an initial S. The
parallel between the Greek initial aspirate and the Ladn S
tends to show that the change must have been very ancient.
Sir John Rhys {CeUi'c Britain) would read for Ceangi,
"Deceangli," who, he thinks, probably inhabited Flintshire and
Cheshire, as the abbreviations Decea, Dtceang, Dece^ngl, appear
on pigs of lead ^ found in the latter county, and in Staffordshire.
It has been conjectured, with some degree of probability, that
this name is perpetuated in the Deanery of Tegingel (now
Holywell, and in the Taxatio, " Englefild "). The Deaneries
often involve in their designations very ancient district names.
Bowel's Hist, of Cambria, published in 1584, says (p. 10), "the
feft Cantref (of North Wales) is Tegengl, and is now a part of
Flintshire, having these Comots, Counsylht (now corrupted to
Coleshill, Arch, Camb. Suppl., April, 1909, p. 71), Prestatyn and
Ruthlan." Ptolemy locates in this region the Promontory of
the Cseanganoi '\ a form which seems to confirm the ^' Ceangi ''
of Tacitus. Ostorius had, therefore, probably proceeded to,
and beyond, the Dee, to what is now Chester, as a funerary
inscription found in the walls there shows, according to Dr. Haver-
1 The excavations at Charterhouse-on-Mendip {Times, Aug. 24, 1909)
seem to show that the smelting of lead was an industry even before the amval
of the Romans in this country. The pigs of lead found there with emperors'
names on them are associated with silver coins, of which two are British and
two are Republican. The silver of the British coins was probably procured
from the lead ore. It is not without significance that the name Mendip
seems to preserve in its first element the Breton Men = ore, crude-metal.
The Irish form is MHn and the Welsh Mwyn, representing an earlier ^Men.
2 For variants of this form and for further discussion of the place-names
occurring in Ptolemy's Geography see p. 91.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 25
field {Catalogue Chester Museum, No. 54), that Roman troops
were possibly in this locality about a. d. 50.
The Roman General Ostorius, Tacitus tells us, was recalled
from his Western campaign by the outbreak of disorders among
the Brigantes. He had not mentioned these people before, but
his language implies a previous contact between them and the
Roman troops. Indeed, their name was seemingly well known
in Rome at an early date, for there is a passing reference to
them in lines of Seneca {Apocol. 12. 13-17), who died a.d. 65,
not to speak of the allusion in the later (a. d. 90) writer Juvenal
(Sat. xiv), who probably was prefect of a cohort in Britain.
Tacitus seems to indicate that the outbreak of disorders
among the Brigantes was a concern to Ostorius, because he
had previously established some kind of order among them.
He was not long, moreover, in bringing them into subjection
again. Could these, we might naturally ask, be the Brigantes
of the north, or were they some tribe of a similar designation
nearer the centre of Roman dominion at this lime ? The name, in
an original charter of a. d. 705 now in British Museum (*' Brigunt
ford", Cart, Sax. i, p. 169), of the Brent river, which flows into
the Thames below Brentford, might favour the latter hypothesis,
as furnishing a possible source of the tribe-name, but the con-
tinued employment by the Roman historians of ''Brigantes" to
designate the tribe or tribes occupying the region north of the
Humber, and stretching to the Forth, seems decisive as to the
locality.^
^ The application of a tribe-designation, as well as a river-name, to
a ford is not unusual; cf. Wallingford, Britford, and on the Continent,
Frankfort. Ptplemy (a. d. 150) places the Brigantes between the Selgovoi
(that is the tribes who gave their names to the Solway Firth) and the
Otadinoi, and makes them extend from sea to sea. He includes the
following places in their territory : Vinovium = Binchesler, Catarac-
tonium = Catterick, Isurium (elsewhere Isu-brigantum) = Aid-borough,
Eboracum = York, Olicana = Ilkley, and a certain Camulodunura (else-
where Cambodunum), which has not been identified, but which was probably
near Slack ; but see note on Ptolemy's Geography, pp. 91 at seq.
26 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Ostorius probably proceeded from Deva (Chester) via Man-
cunium (Manchester), into the region of the Brigantes, by a
route which was, or afterwards became, the Roman road
connecting these two places. From the fact that the early form
" Brigunt " has passed into the " Brent " of Brentford, one
might expect that a modern survival of the ancient tribe-name
''Brigantes" would exhibit a similar modification. We find in
an early charter {Cart, Sax. i, p. 177) a " Brente " hill, but even
if this could be proved to represent an earlier " Brigantia ", it
is in Somerset, and therefore, not at all in the locality occupied
by the Brigantes. Sir John Rhys thinks that the kingdom of
the Bernicii mentioned by Bede represents an Anglicized form
of Brigantes. Starting from a stem which has become in
modern Welsh " bri " ( = renown), he follows the possible
changes of the name until he reaches a form (Brenneich) which
might well be represented by Anglo-Saxon lips as Boermcas,
from which would naturally arise Bede's Bernicii. Dr. Whitley
Stokes would connect the "Brig" in Brigantes with Irish Brl,
accusative Brigh (Glossed tulach, i. e. hill), the modern Welsh
bre (a hill), which appears in such place-names as '^Pen-
bre", "Moel-fre", ''hill-top", and "bald hill" respectively.
"Bre" and ''Bri" may possibly come from a common root
meaning " high ", but it seems more natural to regard the
Brigantes as thus denominated because of their dwelling in
mountain fastnesses, than because they were renowned or
privileged, and this for the following considerations.
In attempting an explanation of the origin of tribe-names it
is well to keep in mind two things : (i) that the forms of such
names come to us generally through a neighbouring people,
and not from the tribes themselves. Thus, the name " Welsh "
( Wealas), which means simply " foreigners ", comes to us not
from the people so designated, but from the English, who
were their neighbours. The Welsh call themselves " Cymry ".
The Highlanders were so called bv neighbouring English-
speaking people, and never use in their own speech this de-
ROMAN OCCUPATION 27
signation of themselves. Gaul and Gauls were applied to the
country and people of the land now called France, by Celtic
tribes on the borders with whom *' Galli " would mean simply
(like the English word "Welsh") foreigners; and the name
German is also, according to Grimm, a Celtic designation, and
is not used in their vernacular speech by any Teutonic people
on the Continent in speaking of themselves.^
(ii) That tribe-names yield generally on analysis certain dis-
tinctions which would naturally be used by one people speaking
of another. Thus the Saxons were so called from the " seax *'
or sword they used in warfare. The Franks were thus de-
signated from the javelin they carried, which was called
" franca " by the Anglo-Saxons, and not from a boast of their
being a frank or "free" people. The Longobards (after whom
Lombardy is called) took in the same manner their name from
their long " bards " or spears, and not from their beards.
In a similar manner the nature of the locality, or mode of
dwelling, of a tribe furnished to their neighbours an obvious
name for them. Thus the Burgundiones, who invaded in the
early fifth century that part of Gaul which is now called
Burgundy, were so called because they dwelt in a hilly country.
Professor Fick associates, in this connexion, the " Burg " in their
name with the ancient Irish Brtg, which is represented in
modern Welsh by the Bre, already mentioned, and thus shows
the equivalence of Burgundiones and Brigantes. The Brigantes
mentioned by Tacitus derive their name naturally, therefore,
from the hills, or rather hill-forts, wherein they dwelt. This is
confirmed somewhat by Juvenal's reference to them (Sal. xiv),
" Break down ... the Castles of the Brigantes."
The ultimate connexion of Brig and Burg is further
* The " Insi-Gall " applied to the Northmen of the islands of the West of
Scotland means simply " Island foreigners ", and the same meaning is also
perpetuated in Dugall (generally written Dugald), "the black stranger," or
Dane, and in Fingal, ''the fair stranger," or Norseman. Gall chnu in
Gaelic, like its cognate form in English (wal-nut), means " foreign nut".
?8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
strengthened by the fact that Briga, an extended form of
Brig, ""Brigs, was in use by the Celts of Spain from a time
long before our era to designate what the Teutonic nations call
Burg; for instance, Julio-briga, that is, the '*Burg of Julius",
which {Not. Dig. 42) was previously called Brigantia.
To return to " Bernicia " — the alleged later form of the tribe
of the Brigantes — Bede speaks of the people as Bernicii, and
assigns them a place in the present region of Northumberland.
The boundaries of the Anglian kingdom thus designated are
given in the twelflh-century Life of Oswald, and embrace the
country between the Tyne and the Firth of Forth — Deira ^
another Anglican kingdom, occupying the region between the
Tyne and the Humber. Richard, Prior of Hexham, writing
about 1 154, makes the Tees the southern boundary of Ber-
nicia, and the Tweed its northern Hmit. There is apparently
no surviving place-name in all this region preserving the
designation Bernicia. If such a form does exist, it is too much
obscured to be easily recognized. I have gone carefully
through the charters of the Monastic houses in these districts, but
can find nothing at all representative of Bernicia. Such forms
as Branx-holm or Brance-path, which might suggest a survival,
are to be otherwise explained. The numerous Birrens Camps
or Burrins Camps, on the Scotch border, are to be interpreted
by a passage, p. 171, of Burton's Monasticon Eboracense in
which he translates Barganes lapidum by " Sheep-fold[s] of
Stone[s] '\ This word may be of Celtic origin, for Adamnan's
Life of Columba, p. 113, gives Bairind as a '' great rock", and
Burren is the common Irish designation of a stony district.
(But see note, p. 272, and Dialed Diet, sub Burren)
Having established order among the Brigantes, Ostorius, as
Tacitus tells us, began a campaign against the Silures, who
^ It was from Deira, as we remember, the young Anglian slaves were
taken who called forth Pope Gregory's pity in the Roman Forum. The name
Deira is seemingly preserved in the Deorstrete, Dere-street, of Sim. Dunelm,
70, and of the Melrose Charters. It was Watling Street north of the Wall.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 29
had offered a strenuous resistance to the Roman arms, and who
were neither amenable to kindness nor severity.
Tacitus describes the Silures as having swarthy complexions
(using the same colour adjective as Virgil applies to the Indians)
and curly hair. He is inclined to think, for this reason and
because they lie over against Spain, that they came from the
latter country and were an Iberic people.
This tribe occupied the region to the west of the lower
Severn and to the north of the Bristol Channel. Ptolemy
(a. D. 120) places them to the east of the Demetae, whose
territory extended from St. David's Head as far, at least, as
Carmarthen (Maridunum), which he makes one of the strong-
holds of the latter. Ptolemy gives Bullaeum as one of the
towns of the Silures, and this place has been identified by some
with the Burrium (cf. Din-birrion of the Book of Llan Dav) of
the Antonine Itinerary, which, according to the distances there
given, would be near Usk, but no distinctively Roman remains,
nor a Roman road, have been found here, as far as I know.
The Book of Llan Dav (printed from a MS. of the twelfth
century) gives among the boundaries of the See of Llandaff,
" Buell " on the Wye, now printed Builth, but in the sixteenth
century Byellt. This is a place of some strategical importance,
and may represent Ptolemy's BuUcBum, It is celebrated as the
spot where the Prince Llewellyn, the last native ruler of Wales,
met his death at the hands of the English in a.d. 1282.
It would appear, therefore, that the region occupied by the
Silures was roughly co-extensive with the ancient Diocese of
Llandaff, and included Monmouth and Glamorgan, besides
parts of Herefordshire and Brecknock.
The Silures placed themselves under the command of Cara-
tacus, who had won, among the Britons, a high reputation as
a general. He succeeded, by drawing the Roman legions after
him, in involving the latter in war with the Ordovices, who were
a British tribe occupying the country to the north and west of
the Silures. Notwithstanding this strategical move of Cara-
30 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
tacus, the combined forces under him were defeated, and his
wife and daughter captured by the Romans. Caratacus having
taken refuge with Cartismandua, the Queen of the Brigantes,
was handed over by her, bound in fetters, to the victors, and
was sent to Rome to grace the triumph of the conqueror.
Ostorius had not, however, done with the Silures, who fell
upon certain cohorts engaged in constructing camps in Silurian
territory, and succeeded in killing many, including the prefect
of the camp, and putting the rest to flight. Their attacks were
such, indeed, that Ostorius, worn out by the arduous and
anxious character of the campaign, at length succumbed, and
died about the year a. d. 53.
Ostorius was succeeded by Aulus Didius, of whom the chief
exploit recorded is his saving Cartismandua, the Queen of the
Brigantes, from the attacks of her husband, Venutius, a native,
Tacitus tells us, of the State of the Jugantes^. Veranius, who
succeeded Didius a. d. 57, died in the following year, after having
ravaged the territory of the Silures.
Suetonius Paulinus, who was sent by Nero to succeed
Veranius, led the Roman legions to the Menai Straits, and, cross-
ing to Mona (Anglesea) in flat-bottomed boats, reduced the island
to subjection. Mona was the chief seat of Druidism, and Tacitus
describes the Druids as pouring forth, from among the hosts
drawn up on the shore to oppose the Romans, dire imprecations
upon the latter. The Romans established a garrison on the
1 The MSS. read Jugantes or Evigantes, the latter reading appearing
in the Editio Princeps. Camden, on the ground that no such people
as the Jugantes were known and that the ''State of the Brigantes"
appeared elsewhere in Tacitus {Agricola)^ substituted Brigantes here, and
he has been followed by all subsequent editors. This is a dangerous
method and tends to stop further research. We have several instances
(Anscombe's Welsh Genealogies in Archivfur Cettische Philologie) oiju or
Giu being read by transcribers as Evi^ but no transition from Bri to Evi,
and we may therefore assume that Jugantes or Evigantes is the right
reading. If Venutius had been, like Cartismandua, one of the Brigantes,
there would have been no need to specify the fact.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 31
island, and strove, by destroying the Sacred Groves, to put an
end to the sanguinary rites performed within them.
This brings us down to the year 60 of our era. Have we
any memorials of these events, we may ask, in the existing
topographical nomenclature of the country ? Solinus, writing
about A. D. 80, tells us of an island Silura lying off the coast
held by the Dumnonii (that is, the Devonians, meaning the coast
of Devon and Cornwall). Sir John Rhys thinks that the name
of this island is of the same origin as that of the Silures,
whether Solinus meant by it the Sciily Isles, or the region on
the north of the Bristol Channel. The quantity of the " u " in
Silures is doubtful. In Holder's Sprachschaiz it is given as
short (Siliires), but in Scheller's Lexicon it is Silures. If the
vowel were short it would facilitate the contraction of the word,
and Sir John Rhys's conjecture that the name of the chief
man connected with the temple of Nodons discovered at
Lydney Park (in the region of the Silures) — Silulanus — involves
a term which may be equated with Silur^ seems very probable.
The name appears also in \}i\t Antonine Itinerary in conjunction
with "Venta", i.e. Venta Silurum^ now Caer Went in Mon-
mouthshire, and in an inscription found here lately. The word
** Venta", like the term " Silures'*, is somewhat obscure. The
note on the next page is an attempt to explain it.
The island Silura, mentioned by Solinus, is probably the
same as Susura, an island in the British seas, found in the list
of the Ravenna Geographer. No explanation of the meaning
of the term '* Silures" has yet been offered. It does not seem
even to be a Celtic word, and the probability of its survival in
any modern form is remote. Jornandes, who wrote about
A. D. 552, read in the passage he quotes from Tacitus,
" Sylorum " in place of Silurum, but this was a mistake.
Perhaps he confused the name with that of the Silura
referred to by Solinus, possibly now a little island off the
coast of Glamorgan, called in Speed's map (a. d. 16 10) Sylye,
now Sully. The "stormy strait" which, according to Solinus,
32 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
separated Silura from the coast of the Devonians, might mean the
Bristol Channel and not the sea between Scilly {Sorlinga in the
earliest maps given by Nordenskjold and still les Sorlingues of
French navigators) and Land's End. Sully Castle and the
parish of Sully on the adjoining mainland would seem to indi-
cate that the name covered a region sufficiently large to form
a designation for a tribe. The origin and meaning of this
name are, however, not clear, and I know of no earlier form
than that preserved in the Taxatio of Pope Nicholas (late
thirteenth century) " Sulleye ".
As to the Ordoviccs mentioned by Tacitus, Sir John Rhys
considers them to have been a Brythonic and not a GoideHc
tribe. He places them in what was later called Powys, a
region which interposed between North and South Wales, both
at this time inhabited by a Goidelic people. The name sur-
vives, he thinks, in Rhyd Orddvvy (or the "ford of the Ordovi"),
near Rhyl, and in Din-orwig (formerly Dinorddwig), in the
neighbourhood of Carnarvon, meaning the fortress of the
Ordovices. The district between the Dovey and Gwynedd
(= North Wales) is called in the lolo MSS. Cantref Orddwyf,
or " Hundred of the Ordovi ", and this, Sir John Rhys thinks,
is a further survival of the term.
NOTE B.
The meaning of " Venta *' in the British place-names, Venta
Silurum, Venta Belgarum, Venta Icenorum : —
1. It is evident from the forms of these names that they were
imposed, and intended to be understood, by a Latin-speaking
and not by a Celtic-speaking people.
2. Putting aside place-names in regions occupied by the
Romans, the word " Venta " does not occur in Celtic literature,
either in the form " Venta ", or in its equivalents *' Guent " or
" Went ". There is, moreover, no Goidelic equivalent with any
topographical meaning.
3. The word "Ventum" or "Venta", however, occurs in
place-designations in Romanized regions on the Continent. We
ROMAN OCCUPATION 33
have, for instance, ''Beneventum "^ in South Italy (now " Bene-
vento "). In Northern Italy, '' Mutatio Beneventum" {Anton.
Itin., 558, 14), between Brescia and Verona. In Spain we
have " Et oppidum nobilissimum Beneventum " (L. Marin.
Siculus, De Rebus Hi'spamae, Book III), now " Benaventa ",
south of Astorga. There are also in Spain and Portugal several
places of this name, e.g. '' Benavent," north of Lerida in Cata-
lonia ; " Benaventa,'' on a tributary of the Tagus, not far from
its mouth ; and "Benaventa", west of Oviedo in Galicia. The
Abbey of Benevent (Creuse) is a French survival of the name
and the word also occurs in Germany, e.g., *' Beneventenreut"
(Oesterley, Geog. Worker buck), where rent (OHG. riuti) is the
equivalent of our North Country royd = clearing. There are,
besides, dozens of places called "Venta" in Spain, such as
"Venta la Reina", '* Venta del Marquis", ''Venta Moral",
*' Venta la Vadera ", '' Las Ventas ", &c. •' Venta " in Spanish
means now an " inn '', or a place where food and drink are
sold. The original meaning was probably " market '', the
word being possibly derived from " Venum-eo '\ contracted to
"veneo" = "I go for sale": its past participle in the neuter
singular would be " venitum ", and the neuter plural " venita ".
4. Ducange confirms this import of the word in a passage
where, sub voce "Venta", it is said that it means ** a place
where goods are exposed for sale, or where tribute is received
from things sold '\ and a quotation is given from the obituary
notices of the Church of Langres (France), "John de St.
Sequano gave to the Church of Langres sixty shillings (soldi)
of Touraine in the ' Venta ' or ' Hall ' (' aula ' = here * market ',
cf. * les Halles ', the Paris * Covent Garden ') of Montissalio."
5. The word "Beneventum" meant probably "a good
market place ", for in the Ravenna Geographer (p. 280, 5)
" forum novum ", or " new market ", is said to adjoin Bene-
^ In 268 B. c, when the Roman colony was there founded, 'Makofevr was
changed to Beneventum. The name occurs on a bronze coin as an abl.
sing. Benuentod (in Samnite, which was subject to Oscan influence, accord-
ing to Conway, /talt'c Dialects ^ i. p. 171). Keller, Lat. Volkselym. p. 14,
records Benuuent: as in Oscan the Ven in Venio becomes Ben, Ventum
cannot well be from Venio. It was Malovent, moreover, before it was
colonized by the Romans. Pliny, iii. 12. 107 gives Terventum, Tereventum,
as a Samnite place-name now Trivento, and Livy cites a Carventana Arx
(xxii. 15. 16) as a place -designation of the Latini.
C
34 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
ventum, that is presumably the " old market *' ; and Pliny
i^Hist. Nat.\\\. ii), speaking about the southern Bene ventum,
says thus more auspiciously named now, but formerly called
" Male ventum".
In the Life of St. Cadoc {Camhro-British Saints, Rees, pp. 70
et seq.) already referred to, it is related that the saint was carried
on a cloud from Llancarvan (i. e. the Church of St. Carfan, the
later Welsh form of Corbagni — genitive) to " Beneventana Civi-
tas", where he was made bishop; but as no bishop of Bene-
ventum of that name is to be found in Ughello's Italia Sacra,
the place must be sought elsewhere. It seems clear that Bene-
ventum was not far from Llancarvan, for, in the same Life, it is
said that St. Elli, Cadoc's successor at the latter place, *' was
accustomed to go very often with his disciples to the City of
Beneventum," a practicable thing if the locality were in Britain,
but not so if it were in Italy. One is tempted to think of
the "Bannaventa" (given in MSS. A and F as Bennavento)
of the Antonine Itinerary which has been identified by some
with "Daventry", but there were possibly more places than
one of this name in Britain : cf. also the Glannibenta of the
Not. Dig., given as Clanoventa in the Ant, Itin. The " Venta"
of the Silures, however, may have been meant, or rather, that of
the Belgae.
From the foregoing it seems clear that the '' Venta " of the
tribes named was the locality where they sold and bought what
they needed or where they paid tribute. As far as Venta
Silurum is concerned, it is not without significance that its
near neighbour was called Chepstow (that is, " C^apstow " =
market), in earlier times "Emricor va" {Lib. Land.), where
there may possibly exist an echo of " Emporium " coupled with
ma {va = place), the later form of mag-os.
THE ROMAN OCCUPATION
II
Tacitus goes on to tell us of the great disasters which the
Romans experienced in Britain in the following five years. The
Iceni under their King Prasutagus and their Queen Boudicca
had become friends of the Romans, thinking to purchase by
ROMAN OCCUPATION 35
submission freedom from further attack. They found, however,
that they were treated by the Roman centurions as a conquered
people. The queen and her daughters were subjected to all
manner of indignities, and the people were exposed to robbery
and oppression on every hand. Owing to this state of things
and the fear of worse the Iceni took up arms. They were
joined by the Trinovantes and other tribes who had not yet had
their spirit broken by servitude, and who were actuated by
bitter hatred of the veterans recently planted as colonists at
Camulodunum (Colchester). The latter had been driving the
natives from their lands and treating them as captives or slaves.
Paulinus Suetonius, who had succeeded to the command
of the Roman troops in Britain, was away at this time on an
expedition to some other part of the country. Camulodunum,
which had not been fortified, was taken by the allied British
tribes, and the temple therein (erected under the Emperor
Claudius), to which the Romans retired as to their citadel, was
carried by storm. Suetonius hastened to the rescue of the
colony and was able to make his way to Londinium (London),
which, although it had not been raised to the dignity of a colony,
was then celebrated as the greatest mercantile centre in the
island. Suetonius, finding that with his comparatively small
body of troops he could not defend the place, left it to its fate —
notwithstanding the prayers and tears of the inhabitants —
judging it preferable to lose one city rather than endanger the
whole region occupied by the Romans. Accompanied by the
able-bodied men of the place he hastened to take up a position
in which he could defend himself. The Municipium of Veru-
lamium (close to St. Albans, where there are extensive Roman
ruins, and where, according to tradition, St. Alban was martyred
in A.D. 286), which had then a large number of inhabitants, was
also left at the mercy of the enemy. Both London and Verula-
mium were captured by the Britons, and, as Tacitus tells us,
some 70,000 Romans and their allies were slain. The hopes
of the Britons were naturally excited by their success, and they
c 2
36, BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
hastened to crush by superior numbers the Roman troops drawn
up in an advantageous position under Suetonius, but numbering
not more than 10,000 men. The generalship of the Roman
leader and the strategical position he had chosen enabled the
Romans to win a decisive victory, in which fell some 80,000
Britons. Boudicca, who with her daughters, had passed in her
chariot from tribe to tribe to fire them with her wrongs, could
not endure defeat, and put an end to her existence by poison.
The generalship of Suetonius was not, however, fully appreciated
at Rome, and he was ordered by the Emperor Nero to hand
over his command to Petronius Turpilianus (a.d. 62).
Of the tribe named Trinovantes we seem to have no survival
in our topographical nomenclature. Their capital was, as we
have seen, Camulodunum (Colchester), and the area occupied
by them embraced all Essex and Hertfordshire. The name
itself seems to involve the numeral Tri- (three), whatever
" novantes '* (cf. Ptolemy's Novantoi) may mean. A similar
use of this numeral appears in the names of ancient tribes of
Gaul, e.g. Tri-cori (Pliny: to be compared with Petor-corii^
that is, " four hosts," now Perigord), Tricassi, now Troyes, Tri-
boci, Tri-castini, &c. We have also the same numeral in
the Gaulish Trinanto (which is glossed Tres-Valles= Three
Valleys), and in the Nant tri neint (= Valley of the three
Valleys), which appears in the Book of Llandaff of the twelfth
century. " Nant tri neint" survives in " Turnant brook ".
** Londinium " still appears but slightly altered as " London "
and continues, as in the days of Nero, to be the greatest
mercantile centre in the island. There has been evidently a
continuity of civil life here since Roman times, and this fact
furnishes a comment on the theory that in Britain the Roman
centres, which preserve relics of their ancient names to our own
day, were not continuously occupied.
Is there a modern representative of the name Verulamium ?
1 Korio — A.-Sax. Here, see Stokes {Wortschatz d. kelt. Sprach.), and
later, p. 155.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 37
The answer to this question depends upon several considerations.
We cannot, for instance, predict from purely philological
grounds the form a place-name will assume in passing into use
among people speaking an alien language. The law of attrac-
tion, by which the unfamiliar place-name is drawn into the
orbit of the familiar, has produced some strange metamorphoses
in our nomenclature beyond explanation by linguistic laws.
It began to exercise its influence in Britain at the very
beginning of the Teutonic invasion. Eburacutn \ or rather
Eburac, for the um was Latin and evanescent, was not long in
passing into Eoforwic^ which would mean in English "Boar-
shelter or house ", and became finally ** York ".
Regulbium could not long be preserved by Teutonic lips in
this uncouth form, and soon found an intelligible equivalent in
civitas Recuulf, also Racuulfe (Bede), and Raculf-cestre [also
Raculfs Cestre], which finally became the modern form Reculver
or " the Reculvers ", as we find it in the seventeenth century,
from the two towers of its Church serving as landmarks to
fishing vessels.
RitupicE also was made to have some kind of meaning by
taking on Bede's form Repta caester, which finally degenerated,
through the Rales-burgh of Leland's Itinerary (vii. 137), into
the present Rich borough.
But these changes are nothing to the modifications which the
ancient name of Rochester suffered. The form by which this
place was recorded in the Roman Itinerary was Duro-brivis,
which means " the Stronghold at the Bridges "? In the Peutinger
Tafel it appears as Roribis, showing that by this time the
^ Dr. Henry Bradley would regard Eboraciim as representing a Celtic
accusative Eburacon.
* Duro as a prefix is most probably the same as durum — a suffix in such
names as Augusto-durum, &c., and meant stronghold. Sir John Rh^s
sees in it a word cognate with our " door" and with the " for " in the Latin
Fores and Forum. In Dnrobrivis as in Durocasses the accent was probably
on the , facilitating the reduction of the Duro to Dr- in Dreux, and to
Hro- in Hrofibrevi : see Pedersen, V. Gramm. § 163.
3$ BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Duro- had become Ro-. In some unaccountable way the name
came to be made in Kentish lips Hrofibrevi {In civiiaie Hrofi-
brevi, in a charter ascribed to a.d. 604 — Textus Roffensis,
fol. 119). Cf. also the Hrofes-breta^ Text, Roff^ fol. 127, which
like the preceding distinctly connects Hrofe's with a distorted
form of -briva. The next step was to reduce it to Hrofi, as '' in
civitate Hrofi '' (charter ascribed to a.d. 762 — Text, Roff. f. 122),
whence arose, owing to the prevailing fashion of Teutonic
peoples to call their " tuns ", '' steads ", &c., after their possessors,
the form in the possessive case, found in Bede {Hist. Feci.
iv. 5), " Hrofes-csestir," and his assignment of the first part of
this name to a certain person called Hrofe.
If Duro-bernia (Duro-vernum), the ancient name of Canter-
bury, had not been supplanted at an early date by Cantwara-
burg, meaning **^the stronghold of the men of Kent", it bade
fair to become as much disguised in its modern form as Duro-
brivis. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, under a.d. 604, it appears
as Dorwit, the " wit " representing the wer or wern ; " Hrofes-
ceaster is xxiiii mila fram Dorwit-ceastre.' This appellation
seems to have survived long enough to give a designation to
the road leading to Dorobernia, which appears (in a charter
ascribed to a.d. 605) as Drutingstraet, that is probably ^Dorwitinga
Street, Dorwit ^Drut.
I add one more instance, which serves not only to illustrate
the principle of attraction of the known for the unknown, but
also shows how the desire for intelligibility led to the creation
of purely imaginary designations for rivers and other natural
features. In the Antonine Itinerary a station is mentioned as
being to the west of \JC\EtO'cet-um (in Ravennas Le(c)to-cet-um,
later Luit-coet, afterwards Luyc-cit, Lic-cit, then finally Lich
in its modern name Lichfield), called Pennocruciuin ^ (or, as in
* This word involves a common British term, Cruc. Modern Welsh
Cr^g = tumulus. As the initial k in Teutonic languages had, before the
beginnings of history, become guttural M, then h, and finally disappeared,
we must look for the English equivalent of Cruc to a word beginning with
ROMAN OCCUPATION 39
several MSS., Pennocrutium), that is, "place of the head-, or
chief-, tumulus." This appears in early Saxon times as Pen-cric,
but has finally assumed the name of Penk-ridge (Staffordshire),
and not only has a '* ridge " been thus created which has no
counterpart either in nature or in the original word, but the
name of " Penk " has been imposed upon a brook, which had
no other tiile to this designation but the fancy of the imposer.
After these preliminary illustrations of the fate on the lips of
the Teutonic invaders of early Celto-Roman place-names, let us
turn to Verulamium. The Venerable Bede, who was a Latin
scholar, knew the ancient form Verulamium, which, he says
{^Hist. Feci. I. vii), is now called by the English people Verlama-
ccBsiir^ or Vaetlinga-ccestir {Vaeclinga-CcBstir, Plummer's Bede),
The Anglo-Saxon version of Bede's History^ which was made
according to Plummer {Bede, vol. ii. 109) more than a hundred
years later, gives these names respectively as " Werlameceaster
or Waeclingaceaster ". These names were regarded then, there-
fore, as equivalent. The former is the source whence the name
hr or finally r. We find this in Anglo-Saxon hriac (= " heap of corn "),
also in Corn-hrycce with the same meaning. The modem English form rick,
in hay-rick, is the same word. The Irish equivalent, entering into many
place-names, is Cruach. The British word appears in Welsh place-names,
e.g. Crick-howel, &c., and has been anglicized in western English counties
into Creech. We have, for instance, in a charter ascribed to A. D. 682, now
at Longleat {Cart. Sax. i, p. 97), a grant to Glastonbury of lands at an
island in the Tan ( = Tone) (which gave its name to 7a««ton) "near the
hill which is called in British speech Cnictan, but by us (English) Cryc-
beorh ". This is Creech Michael, Somerset, where there are several other
places of this designation. The district preserves other indications of the
previous Celtic inhabitants, one of them appearing in this same charter;
Weala-ford where Weala is the genitive plural of Wealh ( = Welshman or
oreigner). The charter, although not of the date ascribed to it, preserves
early forms. As to the Penn-o in Pennocrucium, it is the modern Welsh
Pen (= head, top) which enters into many place-names in the Principality.
It occurred also in Roman times on the Continent, e.g. Penne-locos (= top
of the lake) given in the Antonine Itinerary as nine miles from Vibisco
(now Vevay on the Lake of Geneva). The turn of Pennocrucium is a
Latin termination of a quasi-adjectival character.
40 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
of the river Waerlame (Die Heilig, Englands, p. 9), or " Verlam ",
which is given as" Ver" in Drayton {Polyolbton^ 245), is drawn.
In Chauncey's Hist. 0/ Her is we have several similar forms of
this river-name. The first element is equated by Dr. Whitley
Stokes with the Greek euru- = broad, and is not a river-name :
but of. Umbrian Veru ( = Gate), Latin Ap-^nb, and Greek tpv^m,
protection : and Anglo-Sax. werian, to ward off, wer, warn =
weir, dam : all from an Indo-European root = " to shut in " :
see Torp (Wortschatz, p. 394).
Why, we may well ask, should there be two designations,
both involving the Roman Casira, for one place? Have we
not here an instance (of which Pogatscher {Lautlehre) gives us
many) of a learned and a vulgar survival of a common original ?
Werlame-ceaster is the form preserved by the bookmen. The
vulgar, trusting to their only available source, the sound, made
it Wsetlinga ceaster.
Is it possible that, owing to the* principle of attraction, the
unintelligible Werlam was gradually brought by the unlearned
folk into the intelligible Wceiling or WcBcling ? It would seem so.
The combination of a British " r " and " 1 " must have presented
then, as it does now, an unusual difficulty to Teutonic lips.
The British " 1" in the beginning of a syllable had even at this
early period, according to Sir John Rh^s {^elsh Philology)^
a sound which was expressed later on in Welsh by *'lth"
(cf. Buell and Buillh given above), and afterwards by " 11 ".
*' Werlam," as pronounced by natives, would, therefore, sound
in English ears something like Werthlam. But this form was
combined with Ccesler^ and the lavi^ as an unaccented syllable,
would be ready to take on the familiar unaccented ending, -ing,
as in Ab/«^don, which, as is well known, was originally Abbandun.
WcBtling, or Wcetlinga, a customary genitive plural, had a possible
meaning for English people and was sufficiently near to this
assumed Werthlam or Werthling to be suggested by it.
A Continental instance of a similar attraction from the unin-
telligible to the intelligible is furnished in the Viiuduro of the Ant,
ROMAN OCCUPATION 41
Itin. (251) which was made into the present " VVinterthur ", both
elements of which are easily comprehensible =" Winter Door".
Something more is involved in this question than the English
form of Verulamium. Waetlingacaester was a Mitnicipium in
Roman times and evidently a great executive centre. The road
from Canterbury ran to it originally by what is now Westminster,
without passing through London. It was known as Waetling
Street, because, to judge by analogy, it ran to Wcctling-C tester,
the place giving the name to the road, and not the contrary, as
Mr. Plummer assumes {Bede, ii. 20). The road beyond it to
the north took on the same name in later developments. In a
Charter of a.d. 1337 {Bodleian Charters, Coxe ed.) Wailingstreet
at Wellington (Shrop.) is called Erlamstret, an undoubted remini-
scence of Werlame Strset, and a further proof that the road was
so called from its objective, Werlame-Ceaster. Akemann Street
was so called, as we know, because its objective was Ake-mann
CcEster (now Bath), and the modern designations ''London
Road ", " York Road'', " Bath Road ", named after their objec-
tives, perpetuate merely a very ancient practice. Some regard
the oldest form to have been " Waecling Street ", but in Sweet's
Oldest English Texts, the form is Waetling Street. The variant
" Waecling " in the MSS. is an additional proof of the uncertainty
as to the sound of the middle consonants.
This suggestion as to the origin of Wictling Street or Watling
Street is, in the absence of any other satisfactory solution,
worthy of serious consideration. It is based on the principle
followed in the name given to the Bath Road, that is the
Akeman Street ^ in which \S\^ Aquae (Baths) oi Aquae Suits,
* The Akeman Street can be traced through Cirencester from Bath to
Tring. It probably ran from thence to Verulamium. Acemannesceaster
occurs in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, under a. d. 973. Its Latin form is
given in a Charter ascribed to a.d. 972 {Cart. Sax., No. 1278) as
Aquamania. Mann in Welsh = /(?f«^ (Davies, Diet. Britt.), which sug-
gests a satisfactory origin for the name. It is possible, however, that
Ace-man may simply mean Bath-man or Bather, hence the Akeman-Street
would be Bather's Street, and Akemanes Ceaster, Bather's Chester. The
42 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
the ancient name of Bath, still survives. It is also in keeping
with the name of the road Drutingstraet in the Kent Charter,
if the conjecture about it be correct.
Suetonius was recalled by the Emperor Nero from the
supreme command in Britain in the year a.d. 62. St. Paul was
an obscure prisoner at Rome at this time, and no one then
anticipated that the cause with which he was identified would
one day hold sway over a wider realm than that of the Emperor
Nero, under whom the apostle was put to death some five years
later. Even then Britain was being prepared for the Gospel
seed which already was being sown everywhere by Christian
soldiers in Rome's ubiquitous legions. As commander of one
of these legions — "the twentieth" — Julius Agricola entered
Britain in a. d. 69, two years after the apostle's death. He
doubtless assisted in the campaigns undertaken against the
Brigantes at this time, and had probably a hand in the attempted
reduction of the Silures ; but nothing of note was effected until
he was appointed to the supreme command in Britain in the
summer of a.d. 78. From that date until his recall in a.d. 86
he was indefatigable in his efforts to make Britain as stable
a part of the Empire as Gaul had at length become. His son-
in-law, Tacitus, was, as has been previously pointed out, the
historian of his campaigns. Hitherto warfare had been restricted
to the favourable seasons of the year, but Agricola waited not
upon either time or opportunity and began in the winter months
an attack upon the Ordovices, who had again become trouble-
some. Reducing them to obedience, he marched forward to
recover the island of Mona (Anglesea), which had been relin-
quished when Paulinus had been recalled by Queen Boudicca's
rebellion. Having no boats, he availed himself of the services
of his light-armed auxiliaries, who were expert swimmers, and
re-established Roman authority in the island almost without
Old English compounds Hundredmann, Sochemann, &c. are parallel in-
stances of names from occupations.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 43
striking a blow. The ubiquitous activity of the Roman General
left the natives neither time nor opportunity to make concerted
attacks, and his wise selection of sites for his camps enabled
him to overawe the tribes on every side. Many of them sub-
mitted and allowed camps and garrisons to be established in
their midst. This was an opportunity, of which Agricola
quickly availed himself, for introducing amongst the British tribes
Roman manners and customs, which, as he knew, would make
for peace and settled government. He urged and encouraged
the natives to build temples and construct houses and market-
places. And already the sons of native chiefs began to devote
themselves to the liberal arts. By extolling the natural ability
of the people beyond that of the Gauls, Agricola induced those
who were shrinking from the use of the Latin speech not only
to apply themselves to its acquirement, but to strive after
eloquence in the use of it. Thereupon, Tacitus adds {Agricola),
came the adoption of the Roman costume, and, with the not
unfrequent Roman toga, a yielding to the blandishments of
a vicious life, with its baths, its public concourse, and the
elegancies of human converse — in a word, with that which is
called humanity by superficial observers, but which is in reality
an element in servitude.
This policy, justified by its results, was no doubt persisted in,
and Southern Britain, at least, must have become at an early
period as settled as the adjacent Roman possessions in Gaul.
The Legions are henceforward to be found mainly in the north
and the west, that is, on the borderland of wild and turbulent
tribes yet untouched by Roman civilization. In the south there
had arisen many populous towns, and the great roads which
began to traverse the island in every direction brought them
into close relation with each other, and, after the passage of the
Channel, with a similar network on the Continent, all converging
towards Rome, the Seat of Empire.
In the second year of his command (a.d. 80) Agricola pro-
ceeded northwards, and conquered several tribes (whose names
44 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
have not come down to us), among whom he placed the usual
forts to secure his conquests. The ninth legion, which was in
Lincoln before 75 (Haverfield, Line. N. and Queries, July, 1909),
was probably at York at this time : see note, p. 1 1 7. In five further
campaigns during the ensuing six years before his recall (a.d. 86),
he succeeded, by combining naval and military expeditions, in
reducing for a time practically the whole country. In his third
campaign, as Tacitus tells us, Agricola found himself face to
face with new peoples, whom he terrified by his raids as far as
the Tay (ad Taum =the Tava Estuary of Ptolemy), a name
then applied to an estuary or firth in what is now Perthshire —
a region settled, as we subsequently learn, by the Picts.
The fourth year was consumed in securing the territories
through which he had passed. The narrow space of land
between the Firths of Clyde and Forth (Clota et Bodotria,
the Boderia, with a variant Bogderia, of Ptolemy) he fortified
with forts, so that the enemy should be, as it were, removed into
another island. In Agricola's fifth campaign he reached the
western coast of Scotland facing Ireland, a country which he
had hopes of eventually conquering, and with this aim had
received under his protection one of the kinglets of the country
who had been exiled on account of some home trouble.
The last campaign of Agricola in Britain was directed against
the people inhabiting Caledonia (that is, the region north of the
Forth), who had almost cut to pieces the ninth legion, but upon
whom he now inflicted a severe defeat at the Graupian Mount,
slaying some ten thousand of them with the loss of only three
hundred and sixty of his own troops. As the summer was far
spent, Agricola retired into the territory of the Boresti, where
he received hostages from the enemy. Here he ordered his
fleet to circumnavigate the island, while he himself led his troops
by slow marches, in order to make a deeper impression on the
enemy, into winter quarters. The fleet at the same time,
favoured by the weather, reached with glory the port which
Tacitus calls Trucculensis (variant Trutulensis), whence it
ROMAN OCCUPATION 45
returned by coasting along the nearest side of Britain. The
Emperor Domitian, becoming now jealous of Agricola s successes,
and fearful of their consequences, recalled him from the island.
The topographical names involved in this part of the record
of the Conquest of Britain are few in number, and some seem
to have left no survivals. The Tay still perpetuates the name
of the estuary (ad Taum) which Agricola reached in his third
campaign. The name seems at this time to have been restricted
to the tidal waters, and to have been extended afterwards to the
river, which flows through Perthshire. This was a Pictish region
at this time, and the interpretation must be sought in that
language. Skene (Four Anc, Books of Wales) states that the
Cymri called this river the "Tawi". The best MS. of the
Agricola, the Vatican, reads "Tanaus", which is probably for
Tavaus. Ptolemy's form is Tava. The firth of " Clyde " repre-
sents the Clola, and the " Forth " may be the lineal descendant
of the Bodotria of Tacitus, although, as the transition stages
are lacking, the guess is hazardous. In Bodotria the initial " B "
was doubtless, as in similar latinized words, pronounced as *' V",
and would thus make the transition to "Forth" more natural.
The Brythonic form of the name, *' Werid," in which an initial
" V has become " W (=Gu), may be an intermediate form.
Caledonia is a somewhat mysterious word, and Sir John Rhys
thinks that '' the Celtic etymologies usually proposed for it will
not bear examination " (Cel/. Brit., p. 285). Although Ptolemy
and the Latin poets make the " e " in it long, Sir John Rhys
says there is no ground for this in any of the extant Celtic
forms of the name. The modern representative of the genitive
of Caledo, shown in the second syllable of Dun-keld (earlier Dun-
chailden: see p. 153), would seem to bear this out. Sir John
Rhys would make " Caledonia " a designation derived from the
national name " Caledo ", which was found a few years ago on
a bronze tablet at Colchester. The wood of Caledon of
Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the site of King Arthur's victory —
the wood of Celyddon (Nennius) — contain the same ** Caledo ".
46 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Stokes, assuming a long '' e " in the word, cannot connect
Caledonia and Caldef= wood. Professor Windisch, however, is
inclined to accept the connexion.
The prevalence in Britain of place-names containing more
modern forms of this Ca/de/, meaning forest or grove, is in
favour of this connexion.^ Whether we have a connected word in
Calaf, in the early form (Glasgow Charter, a.d. 1136), Calat-ria,
later Kalentyre, and now Callender, the district between the Avon
and Carron Rivers, it is difficult to say. In the annals of Ulster
under a.d. 735 we have Calat-ros as the name apparently of
this district. Skene identifies Calat-ria and Calat-ros, and finds
the common form represented in the Cymric Galt-reath, other-
wise Catraeth (Four Anc. Books of Wales). The *'Calat-"
would thus have become on Cymric lips " Gait 'V and hence it
would be easy to see the origin of the Gait-res (also given early
in the form " Calt-res ") forest in Yorkshire, a name identical
with Calat-ros, {res =moor). The " Galt-weid " (now Gait- way in
Galloway) of the Holyrood Charter, and the Galt-hanin in
Abernethy district (Reg. of Aberbrothoc, a.d. 12 14), and the
Gal[t]klint Wood of the Bodleian Charter (thirteenth century),
supposed to be in Northamptonshire, and Galt-klint Castle, which
has not been identified, all involve, seemingly, the same element.
Here begins a difficulty. The Welsh Gallt is given as the
equivalent of Alt (of which the plural form, Gelltydd or
Elltydd, are probably represented in Bagillt and Counsylht, now
Coleshill, Flint), a height, and is used to designate " Cliff" (cf.
^ See Pedersen (F. Gramm. § 69), who shows that in the Irish Caill^
Welsh Celli, Corn. Kelli^ the // represents an earlier Id. Stokes traces
{Wortschatz) these back to Kaldat^ of which the Norse and English Holt
is a cognate form.
2 "Alt" in Gaelic has come to mean a stream. If, as is somewhat
improbable, Catraeth (the place, according to Nash, where Penda was
slain by Oswy in 654) = Calatros, i. e. Galtres, then it was in Bede's Loidis
and not in Scotland. Some of the places cited above, involving Galt^ may
contain the Old Norse Galti ( = boar) which appears in Scandinavian place-
names and in English districts occupied by the Northmen. Galt-Klint
would thus be pure Danish (Danish A'/w^ = cliff, high bank).
ROMAN OCCUPATION 47
Gold-clifF on the Bristol Channel, which seems to give in its
first element this Gali). Pedersen (Gram?fi. §88) traces Ali to
the same stem as the Latin a/Awj = high). As far as origin or
meaning goes the Welsh Galli cannot thus be connected with
Caldet. Caled is, however, possibly the first element in Calleva
(i.e. Caled-va?), now Silchester, the ^S"// probably standing for the
Latin word silva^ the equivalent of Caled. Calat and Caled may,
therefore, be different forms with the same meaning.
Of the Graupian Mount {Mons Graupius of the Vatican MS.)
nothing is known, and the *• Grampian" Hills are an antiquary's
invention of the sixteenth century. The " Boresti '* seems to
Sir John Rhys to contain a Brythonic form of the low Latin
Foresia=YoYes\., but as the initial was doubtless pronounced
*' V", we may have here possibly the early form of the place called
Forays in a.d. 1332, and now Forres in Elgin. This is, at any
rate, somewhere in the neighbourhood of where Agricola was
campaigning. It would be, then, from this point that the fleet was
ordered to circumnavigate the island. Where the Trucculensis
Partus was is a matter of conjecture. Sir John Rhys thinks that
the Taizaloi of Ptolemy and the Truccul in this word had a
common origin, and that the site of this was somewhere near
Peterhead. But is there any need that the Trucculensis Portus
should be in Scotland at all ? It might be miles away " whence
\unde\ the whole fleet returned coasting along the nearest side of
Britain ">
When Agricola handed over the administration of Britain
(a.d. 86) to his successor the country was, as Tacitus describes
it, quiet and secure. It is a matter of conjecture who this
successor was, but Suetonius, who compiled the lives of the
twelve Caesars about a.d. 120, mentions, as Governor of Britain
at this time, a certain Sallustius Lucullus, who was subsequently
* " The Texel," an island off North Holland, of which we have early
similar forms, may have been furnished to Ptolemy by navigators in the
North Sea, and been placed by him in Eastern Scotland as ' * Taizaloi ", but
see the discussion of Ptolemy's Geography further on, pp. 91 et seq.
48 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
put to death by Domitian. The Emperor Domitian died in
A.D. 96 at the age of forty-five, and was succeeded by Nerva,
who ruled only two years. On his death he was followed by his
adopted son Trajan. Of aflfairs in Britain we know little or
nothing until the accession of Hadrian, the successor of Trajan,
in A.D. 117. Spartianus, who wrote, about the beginning of
the fourth century, the Lives of the later emperors, tells us in
his biography of Hadrian that the Britons at the outset of his
reign could not be maintained under Roman authority. Julius
Severus was at this time (a.d. 120) in command in Britain, but
the Emperor Hadrian thought it wise to appear there (a.d. 123)
in person. He set things in order there, and was the first, as
Spartianus says, to construct a wall, of some eighty miles in
length, which was to serve as a boundary between the bar-
barians and the Romans, that is, those who accepted Roman
rule. The length of this wall, corresponding as it does with
that which runs from Wallsend on the Tyne to Bovvness in
Cumberland, compels one to identify it with the latter. The
inscriptions found in the neighbourhood of this wall — which
consisted of a stone wall with large and small forts, together
with a ditch — date, as Dr. Haverfield says, " mainly if not
wholly from Hadrian's reign." South of this wall, and separated
from it by an interval varying from 30 to 1,300 yards, is a
vallum consisting of three ramparts and a ditch. Mommsen
thinks this was thrown up in connexion with Hadrian's wall,
but other authorities look upon it as an earlier structure.
Hadrian died in a.d. 139, and was buried by his successor
in that magnificent mausoleum which is now known as the
Castle of St. Angelo at Rome. Antoninus Pius was his succes-
sor. Julius Capitolinus, who wrote about the beginning of the
fourth century, tells us that during the reign of Antoninus the
Britons were reduced to order by Lollius Urbicus, who had
been sent to Britain as Governor in a.d. 139. He constructed
a second wall of sods between the Clyde and Forth, after he had
driven away the barbarians. This wall was not apparently
ROMAN OCCUPATION 49
intended to supersede Hadrian's wall, but to relieve pressure on
the latter. Dr. Haverfield infers that it was soon abandoned.
The inscriptions found along its course show that the legions
employed in constructing it (the twentieth, the second, and the
sixth) finished the work in the time of Antoninus Pius. Pausanias,
a Greek writer of about the middle of the second century, inci-
dentally mentions that the Emperor Antoninus deprived the
Brigantes of much of their lands because they had begun to
overrun the Genunian territory or patrimony (JMoird)^ of which
the inhabitants were subject to the Romans.
The construction of ihe second wall by Lollius Urbicus seems
to have been connected with his efforts to punish the Brigantes,
whom we find in previous records to have been included in the
region now called Northumberland, and to have extended to
the Forth. The territory taken from the Brigantes was, there-
fore, in that region ; and the Genunian land, which was open to
their attacks, may have been either north or south of the Tyne-
Bowness wall. Sir John Rhys would make the Brigantes here
mentioned the northern section extending to the Forth, and he
would look for the Genunian possessions somewhere in that
quarter.
In the absence of any inscriptions near the Clyde-Forth wall
later than Antonine, Dr. Haverfield's conjecture that it was
quickly abandoned seems very probable, and, as the Romans
appear to have been hard pressed in this region all the time, it
is not likely that the Genunian territory, occupied by a people
subject to Rome, should be found in this part of the country.
Where then was this Genunian (or as some editors would read,
Venunian or Venuvian) territory ? The late Dr. Reeves and
Sir John Rhys were disposed to see a connexion between it and
a certain Geona Cohort mentioned by Adamnan in his Life
of Columba, Columba, the Irish apostle of the Picts of
North Britain, died within not many days after the arrival of
St. Augustine in the island of Thanet (a.d. 597). His
biography was written by Adamnan about one hundred years
D
50 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
later, and the earliest MS. containing his biography is of the first
quarter of the eighth century, that is, it was extant before the
death of the Venerable Bede (a.d. 735). Adamnan tells us that
when Columba was in the Isle of Skye, an old man, a com-
mander (Primanus) of the " Geona Cohort", landed on the island
and was converted through an interpreter by Columba. His
name is given as Artbrannan, a thoroughly Celtic appellation,
and yet Columba required an interpreter to talk with him. It
is therefore argued that he was a Pict and spoke Pictish, which
presumably was a non-Celtic speech — but this would leave his
Celtic name unexplained.
Of the Geona cohort, Dr. Reeves wrote (Adamnan's Lt/e of
Columba, p. 62) that it was " probably a Pictish corps deriving
this name from the district to which it belonged '\ Sir John
Rh;^s is inclined to think that Geona " is a defective spelling of
Genona", and that it referred to the Genunian territory of
Pausanias. This he would locate in the Pictish mainland
opposite Skye, but it is hard to believe that Roman institutions
could survive so late, as the words " Primarius " and " Cohort "
imply, in this wild and rather inaccessible country, and it is
still more difficult to believe that this could be the Genunian
territory which was occupied by a tribe subject to Rome in a.d.
140, and exposed to attacks from the Brigantes at this time.
The editorial conjecture of " Venunia " for *' Genunia "
suggests the place called in the best MSS. of the Antonine
Itinerary Vinonia, and now known as Binchester. This is
sufficiently near the Brigantes, whether these were within or
without the Tyne-Solway wall, to account for their attack on
Vinunian or Genunian territory. The Greek word used by
Pausanias, Moira, was employed, it is true, by Xenophon to
denote a division of an army, and suggests thus the Latin
Cohort, but it is far more frequently used for patrimony, share,
or portion.
We learn from Julius Capitolinus, before mentioned, that the
Britons gave trouble again about a.d. 161, and that Calphur-
ROMAN OCCUPATION 51
nius Agricola was sent against them by the Emperor Marcus
Antoninus, better known as the Philosopher Marcus Aurelius
(a.d. 1 61-9).
In the year a.d. 181 also, as the same author tells us, the
Northern tribes broke through the wall, but were worsted by
Marcellus Ulpius, who had been sent against them by the
Emperor Commodus (a.d. 176-92). But it was to the Emperor
Septimius Severus (193-21 1) was due the actual pacification of
the northern part of the country. He made a wall across the
island, 32 (or 132) miles in length, says Eutropius* (writing in
A.D. 370), and the same statement is made by Spartianus, who
adds that it was fortified at each end where it met the sea.
Aurelius Victor (a writer of a.d. 360 (?)) repeats the statement,
which appears also in the Chronicon of St. Jerome (who died
A.D. 420), in Orosius (born in Spain about a.d. 390), in Cassio-
dorus (died a.d. 573), in the so-called Nennius (eighth century),
and in Bede (died a.d. 735). This is a statement which it is
difficult to reconcile with evidence from other sources. In the
epitome of Dio Cassius, which we owe to Xiphilinus, who com-
piled it about A.D. 1071, we find no reference to a wall con-
structed by Severus, though mention is made of some earlier
fortification. No inscriptions, moreover, connected with Severus
have been found on either of the walls. Until some further
discovery is made one may assume, with Mommsen, that Severus
merely reconstructed the Clyde-Forth wall during his northern
campaign.
He doubtless found it a difficult matter to subjugate the
northern tribes, and provided some sort of bulwark against
them, but it is difficult to connect him with either wall. The
tribes which gave him most trouble were, as we find in the
* In the extension of Eutropius ascribed to Paulus Diaconus (died 782)
and in other writers, Severus is said to have fully secured the regions
obtained in this war by a great ditch and a strong Vallum with towers at
long intervals, stretching 132 miles from sea to sea. The mention of the
ditch, Vallum and Towers, appears first in a MS. of the tenth century.
D2
52 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
epitome of Dio Cassius, the Caledonians and Maeatae, and he
proceeded against them in person, almost reaching the northern
limit of the island in his march. He was old and sickly, and
had to be carried in a litter all the way. At length, on re-
turning from that campaign, he succumbed to his malady, and
died at York in the year a.d. 211. His body was cremated
there, and the remains carried to Rome. He was succeeded by
his son Antoninus, known better as Caracalla (a.d. 198-217).
Archbishop Ussher was the first to see a connexion between
the Maeatae of Dio and the Miathi (De Bello Miaihorum) of
Adamnan's Life of Columha, The battle here referred to,
according to Dr. Reeves (Adamnan, p. 35), is that called in
the Annals of Tighernach Chirchind, which Dr. Reeves would
identify with Kirkintulloch on the Clyde-Forth wall.^ Sir John
Rh^s has no hesitation in placing the Maeatae immediately
north of the wall (where Dio locates them), and finds in
Dunmyat (alias Dalmyot and Demyat), a few miles north-east
of Stirling, a stronghold of these people, preserving their name,
as Dunkeld preserves that of the Caledonians, and Dumbarton
(Dun-bretane) that of the Britons. He also connects the two
rivers and the island called May with the Maeatae also, to
which might be added Dunmay in Fife.
From the death of the Emperor Septimius Severus in 211 to
the year a.d. 287, that is for seventy-six years, there is prac-
tically nothing known of affairs in Britain. Lampridius, a writer
of about the end of the third century, tells us, it is true, that the
Emperor Alexander Severus was killed (in a.d. 235) by his own
troops in a town called Sicila (or Sicilia), in Britain, but adds
that others assign the place to Gaul. Aurelius Victor, a later
author, definitely asserts that Sicila was in Britain, but all other
writers agree in describing the death of Alexander Severus as
having taken place in the neighbourhood of Mainz on the Rhine
(Bretzenheim, as some conjecture) whither he had been called
^ But compare Circinn and Magh-girginn referred to later on, p. 77.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 53
from the East to repel the Germanic tribes which were then
threatening the Empire.
Severus was succeeded by Maximinus, who was declared an
outlaw by the Senate in 238, and was followed in rapid suc-
cession within that year by four Emperors, whose names hardly
require to be mentioned. Gordianus III ruled from 238 to 244
and had as his successor Philippus (244-9), Decius (249-51),
Trebonianus Gallus (251-3), Valerianus (253-60), Gallienus
(253-68).
Postumus, who ruled, wdth Victorinus, in Gaul only, was
Emperor from 258 to 267. Claudius II and Tetricus ruled
from 268 to 270, and were followed by Aurelian (270-5),
Tacitus (275-6), and Probus (276-82). Diocletian and Maxi-
mianus were Emperors from 284 to 305, and it was during
their rule (a. d. 287) that Britain again came within the horizon
of history.
This period of seventy-six years, although almost a blank ' as
far as written history is concerned, is not without other indica-
tions of the persistence of Roman rule and activity in the
island.
Contemporary inscriptions on stone monuments discovered
at various places show that the jurisdiction of Rome was main-
tained in the region south of the Tyne-Bowness Wall. There
have been found, for instance, inscriptions of the time of
Elagabalus (a.d. 218) at Riechester, Northumberland, and of
the time of the Emperor Alexander Severus at Old Penrith,
as well as on the Roman wall. Of the time of the Emperor
Gordian III inscriptions have been discovered at Lanchester
(Durham), at Bittern near Southampton and at Old Carlisle.
* The historian Zosimus, writing in Greek about the beginning of the
fifth century, tells us that the Emperor Probus sent into Britain (a.d. 280?)
a number of Burgundians and Vandals to sustain Roman authority there.
This is significant as showing that Teutonic tribes were in Britain before
the time of Zosimus, and throw-slight, possibly, on Geoffrey of Monmouth's
"Africans".
54 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Inscriptions of the reign of Philip have been found at Old
Penrith, and others of the time of the Emperor Gallus and Volu-
sianus at Bowness (Cumberland) and at Bittern, Southampton.
Of the reigns of Valerianus and Gallienus there has been found
an inscription at Caerleon (Monmouthshire), and other inscrip-
tions have been discovered at Pyle, near Neath, Glamorgan, at
Bittern, at Castor (Northampton), and at Kenchester (Hereford),
representing respectively the reigns of Victorinus, Tetricus,
Florianus (276), and Numerianus (284).
There is possibly further indirect testimony to the Roman
occupation of Britain at this time in the Ancient Welsh Genea-
logies, if we could disentangle from them the historical elements
which they seem to contain. The Bards, who are referred to by
classical writers from 200 b.c. onwards, are uniformly represented
as the annalists and genealogists of the Celtic chiefs. Giraldus
Cambrensis, writing in the twelfth century, says (Descr. Ca?nbriae^
cap. iii) " I ought to record that the Welsh Bards or reciters
have in certain ancient and authentic books of theirs the
genealogies of the aforesaid Princes, but written in Cymric,
and the same they know by heart*'. The genealogies of
Cymric (Welsh) notables which have come down to us, contain
besides native names, many of Latin origin. See Note C.
NOTE C.
The early British Pedigrees which have come down to us have
been probably preserved by the Bards. These pedigrees are not
consistent with each other, and there are indications that they
were edited from time to time in the interest of certain families.
They contain names, however, which go back apparently to
Roman times and could not well have been introduced at
a later date. Some of these names seem to have come into
use at the period with which I am dealing and to have persisted
as appellations for a long time after. Hence a difficulty arises
of identifying the personages who bore them. These pedigrees
are found, with one exception, in MSS. from the eleventh
century onwards (see Mr. E. Phillimore's transcript of the
earliest — Harleian MS. 3859 — in the Cymmrodorion Mag. vol. ix,
ROMAN OCCUPATION 55
for 1888, pp. 141 et seq.). The exception, which is inscribed
on stone, dates from not later than the middle of the ninth
century, and may, therefore, be dealt with here first, as it seems
to refer to matters of the end of the fourth century. This
inscription in memory of an ancestor called Eliseg (Elized,
according to Mr. Phillimore) was carved at the instance of
a certain chief called Conchenn ^ on a stone cross which gave
the name to, and still stands at, Valle Crucis near Llangollen.
The monument, according to experts, belongs to a period some
four hundred years after the Roman troops had left Britain, but
there are indications on it which would lead one to assign some
of the sources of it to the end of the fourth century. Only
a portion of the inscription was made out in the seventeenth
century by Mr. E. Lhuyd, whose MS. was copied by Westwood
and Hubner. Professor Sayce i^Arch. Cambrensis, Jan. 1909) has
advanced a most ingenious restoration. At the end there is
a pedigree containing three Roman names, Pascen, Maximus,
and Sev[i]ra (?), and of these Maximus has been identified with
Maximinus who was a companion in arms with Theodosius in
Britain, and in a.d. 367, according to Bede [epiL\ was made
Emperor. Sev[i]ra is given as his daughter. Bede also tells
us that Maximus went into Gaul and slew there the Emperor
Gratian, who was then (389) at Lyons.' The end of the
* This is the same name as Conchend (Doghead) occurring in the Irish
annals. See the F^lire of Oengus (published in a revised edition by the
Henry Bradshaw Society) sub voce " Conchenn ". The name is undoubtedly
Irish in this form, but it took on afterwards a Cymric shape, Cyngen,
which disguises its origin but is otherwise instructive, as it suggests that the
Celtic prefix cuno-, Welsh Cyn, involves "hound". Conchenn is repre-
sented on the stone [Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, i. 626] as King of
Powys, and the Attnals of Cambria at a.d. 814 calls his father Catell,
who died in 808. Sir John Rh^s has shown {Epigrapkic Notes in Archxo-
logia Camb., Jan., 1907) that in the ancient Celtic personal names involving
cuno, such as Cuno-maglus, Magli-cunas, Cunotamos, Cunovalos, &c., the
element Cun-o means " hound ", and has nothing to do with a supposed
Czvn = high.
^ Maximianus (or Maximinus) was of British origin according to Socrates
the ecclesiastical historian, and in Sigebert's Chronicon he is made to be of
imperial descent, and a kinsman of Constantine the Great. All this falls in
with the traditions (taken from Geoffrey of Monmouth) preserved by
Matthew of Westminster {Chron. Afajora, under A. D. 376).
56 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
inscription refers evidently to this fact, although Gratian's name
does not appear. '' Pascen(t) " and '' Eliseg " are names that
occur several times in the Welsh pedigrees, and Nennius (Hisi.
Brit., 70) applies the Latin name Pascent to the son of Vortigern,
the British king at the time of the Teutonic invasion, and the
Irish version of Nennius makes the latter the son of Guital
(? Vitalii).
The transcript of the Genealogies edited by Mr. E. Phillimore
was originally compiled, according to the late Henry Bradshaw,
by an Anglo-Norman scribe, in the eleventh century, from older
documents of varying age. It furnishes a considerable number of
Roman, and possibly historic, names associated with those of the
families of British notables, among the latter being Eliseg (Elized).
The Roman names are somewhat disguised, but their classical
forms can be readily restored. In "Aircol son of Trephun",
for instance, the former represents, according to Sir John Rh^^s,
Agricola, and the latter is apparently the British equivalent of
Tribonianus, a name appearing in 235 as a designation of the
Emperor Gallus. Tribon- becomes quite normally Trifun- in
Welsh : cf Tafarn and Taherna. In the sequence of " ^tern,
the son of Patern pesrut (that is, of the red tunic — Pets from
Low-Latin Pexa — i.e. Chlamys purpurea) son of Tacit" we
have possibly a reminiscence of the Emperor Tacitus (275-6)
and of Ovinius Paternus, a consul of his time. Anthun, which
occurs more than once in connexion with Maxim Guleiec (that
is, Emperor), represents perhaps M. Antonius Gordianus,
Emperor a. d. 238. The Maxim referred to in the pedigrees, as
well as on the pillar, is given as he '^who slew Gratian King of
the Romans ", i. e. the Maximus who, elected Emperor in
Britain, was killed afterwards by Theodosius (a. d. 388), but
possibly Caius Julius Verus Maximinus is meant, who was
Emperor from a. d. 235 to 238. In another sequence, " Dimet
son of Maxim Guletic son of Protec," we have probably the
latter Maximus associated with the Emperor Domitius Aurelianus
(270). The short of Domitius would give normally a Welsh o,
but we have instances where, like long 0, it becomes ii = 1
(Pedersen, Gramm. i, p. 195). louanaul (cf. Juvenal, Haddan
and Stubbs, Councils, \, p. 166), Grat\ and Urban '^ also occur.
^ Gratus was Emperor in a.d. 222. Cf. also Annins Grains, Emperor in
A.D. 251.
' Urbanus was the colleague of Maximus in 236 A. D.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 57
Another name, Serguil, occurring in the pedigrees, is the
British form of Serv'ilius, which is the name of a consul under
the Emperor Trajan. " Pappo Post Priten " is the mysterious
designation of an important personage, " son of Ceneu,"
occurring in the genealogies, and is perhaps a reminiscence
of Pappus, a consul under Gordianus, who may have been
a Praepositus (Post?) in Britain at the time. Praepositus,
which was applied to an Admiral of the Fleet, as well as to
other officers, gives the modern Welsh Prawbst. The name of
the Emperor Postumus might be compared here, but he ruled
only in Gaul.
Several other Latin names of civil and military functionaries,
many of them not such as would occur to a later compiler,
appear in these genealogies, and thus reflect the days of the
Roman occupation. For instance, we have more than once
'^Protector " (and the shortened form Protec) meaning one of
the imperial life guards, and applied in this sense by Spartianus
in his Life 0/ Car ac alia to a certain Marcellus. "Stater^" is
another official designation, meaning one who attends on the
Provincial magistrate. There occurs also a mysterious designa-
tion " Pincr misser ", a term which seems to have baffled all
commentators ; but may it not be for Pincerna mensarius^
a buder? Lampridius uses, in his Life of Alexander Severus,
" Pincerna " in this sense, and the term Pincerna was applied
also to a subordinate officer of the Prankish Court : Brunner,
Rechtsgeschichte^ ii. 102 ; cf. Stevenson's Asser, p. 164 n. ; and
Duddan Pincerni {sic, for genitive) in a Worcester Charter
ascribed to 779, Carl. Sax. i, p. 325.
*' Peretur " (later, according to Sir John Rh^s, Pryderi) is
another name occurring in the genealogies as one of the sons
of Eleuther [Eleutherius ?] of ** the great retinue ", [i.e. cascord =
gosgordd], and, as far as I know, has not been explained. May
it not be an attempted transliteration of Praetor, all the more
readily retained because of its seeming resemblance to the
British pryderus = "solicitous", "caring about"? These are
only a few of the probable Roman names in these genealogies,
which are supposed to preserve some survivals of the oldest
materials of British history. List xvi is instructive in this
respect. It gives the chronological sequence of the Roman
Emperors down to 337, with some omissions, and makes each
' The form Stator Practorius or Praetorian Stator occurs.
S8
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
emperor the son of the preceding one. The forms given to
the classical names are instructive. I place the list in one
column and the actual succession in another.
List " Harteian MS." 3859.
Map ( = Son of) Constantis
Map Constantine the Great
Map Constantine
Map Galerii
Map Diocletiani
** In his time suffered the
blessed martyrs in Brit-
tannia, Alban, Julian,
Aron.with many others "
Map Caroci (glossed in later hand
" i imp^ro^ms ")
Map Probi
Map Titti
Map Auriliani
Map Antun dv. and Cleopatre.
Map Valeriani
Map Galli
Map Vitzxtis. mus
Map Philippus {sic)
Map Gordianwi-
Map Alaximwj ^
Map Alaxander
Map AurelianMJ-
Map Mapmau cannz^j ( — Mau-
cannus)
Map Antoniw^
Map Severus
Map Moebus (? for Marcus Anto-
ninus)
Map Cowmodius
Map Antonius
Map Adiuuandwj (=Adrianus?)
Map Troianw^
Map Nero : under whom suffered
the blessed Apostles of our
Lord Jesus Christ, Peter and
Paul.
Map Domitianus
Actual Succession.
Constantine, 306-337
Constantius and Gallerius, 294-306.
Diocletian, 286.
Carus, 382, and his sons Carinus and
Numerianus, 283.
Probus, 276.
Tacitus, 275; Florianus, 276.
Aurelianus, 270.
Aurelius, Quintillus, and Aurelianus,
268, 270.
Galienus, 253; Postumus, 258.
^milianus and Valerianus, 253.
Trebonianus, Gallus, and Volusianus,
251.
Decius, 249.
Philippus, 244.
Gordianus, 238.
Maximinus, 235.
Alexander Severus, 232.
Elagabalus, 218.
Macrinus, 217.
Antoninus (Caracalla), 198.
Pertinax, Julianus, and Severus, 193.
Commodus, 176.
Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Verus,
161.
Antoninus Pius, 138.
Hadrianus, 117.
Traianus, 99.
Nerva, 98.
Domitianus, 81.
1 Mr. Phillimore rightly read A/ as a. mistake for M.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 59
List " Harleian MS." 3859. Actual Succession.
Map Titus Titus, 79.
Map Vespassianwj Vespasianus, 69.
Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, 68.
Nero, 54.
Map Claudius Claudius, 41.
Caligula, 37.
i^/ Tiberias: under whom suffered Tiberius, 14.
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Octavianwj- Augusti Cessarus. Octavianus Augustus, 23 B. C.
In his time our Lord Jesus
Christ was born.
The foregoing list is instructive in showing how these
genealogies were made up, as well as in its transcription of
names, even when these are manifest blunders. The misplacing
of Antony and Cleopatra and of Nero is curious. The scribe
had apparently Nerva before him and, making it Nero, added the
Latin account of the martyrdom of SS. Peter and Paul. The
omission of all notice of Carausius and Allectus tends to suggest
that all the information about the emperors was acquired from
continental information derived through foreign ecclesiastics or
books. It has not certainly the air of home tradition.
The list will serve to explain also why imperial names were
foisted into the previous pedigrees. It is not, therefore, too rash
to connect, as I have done, the names of known Latin rulers
with the indigenous appellations appearing in the genealogies,
seeing that commentators assign several of these Latin forms
to British saints who lived at a much later date, and of whom
inscriptions still survive. For instance (see Haddan and Stubbs,
Councils^ vol. i, pp. 162 et seq.), an inscribed stone bearing the
name ** Pascent " exists at Tywyn in Merionetlishire and is not
earlier than the sixth century. The conjecture about Pappo
Post Priten may also seem rather ridiculous in face of the fact
that at Llanbabo (i. e. the church of Pabo) in Anglesea, there
exists a tombstone with this inscription, Hie iacet Pabo Post
Prud, &c., that is, ' Here lies Pabo Post Prud." Unfortunately,
however, this tombstone, while it evidently preserves, in the figure
upon it of a sceptred king, older traditions, belongs to the
thirteenth or fourteenth century only, and is probably an instance
of how pious ecclesiastics made use of early names to found
upon them claims for the antiquity of sacred sites. The Lives
of the British saints contain many such associations, but they
were all written centuries after the saints lived. It ought to be
6o BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
here noted that certain ancient place-names are found in the
Genealogies, e. g. in List v dimor meton (i. e. " from mor melon " =
? the Middle Sea, Mediterranean. In xxv Glastenic (Glaston-
bury) and Loyt Coyt (Lichfield). In xxxii manau Guodoton^ i. e.
Manau of the Votadinoi (see p. 67).
THE ROMAN OCCUPATION
III
With the year 287 Britain not only comes again into the
light of direct history but also appears then, and for some eight
or nine years afterwards, as independent of Roman authority.
This is the alleged year of the martyrdom of St. Alban at
Verulamium, and the baptism of the land by Christian blood
was a prelude to British independence. It was, however, but
an independence in name. The new ruler, Carausius, assumed
the Roman purple, and took up the position of an emperor.
The story of Carausius is invested with all the elements of
romance. Eutropius the historian, who died about a.d. 370,
tells us (ix. 21), that Carausius sprang from the vilest of the
people, and we learn from Victor (a.d. 360) that he was a
citizen of Menapia, that is, roughly, of the region extending
between the river Meuse and the sea. The Menapii, who gave
their name to this district, extended in the time of Julius
Caesar even to the Rhine, and gave him no little trouble in his
GaUic wars, but by a.d. 287 they had become Romanized.
The position of Menapia, with its numerous islands in the
estuaries of the Rhine and Meuse, was favourable to the
development of a seafaring population, and the Romans would
naturally avail themselves in manning their fleet of this
aptitude of the people. Carausius was a seaman, having exer-
cised, as Victor tells us, the calling of a pilot from his youth
upwards. For this reason, and because he had already obtained
celebrity for his prowess in war, he was placed in command of
the Roman fleet, which had been got together at Boulogne
ROMAN OCCUPATION 6i
(Bononia), to drive from the seas the Germans who were then
infesting them. Eutropius is more specific and gives us the
nationalities of those German raiders, and defines the coast also
upon which they were making iheir descents. They were Franks
and Saxons, and it was to act against them that Carausius had
his commission given him (Eutropius iv. 21), to maintain Roman
authority on the seas which washed the coasts of Belgium and
Brittany (Armorica).^
These Teutonic pirates infested not only the Belgic and
Armorican coasts but also those of south-eastern Britain, and
a special official, with the designation of " Count of the Saxon
Shore ",* ^lad to be appointed to keep them in check. The
Saxons were, therefore, pirates in the Channel long before
they made a permanent settlement in Britain, and this fact,
coupled with the notice by Ammianus Marcellinus of the com-
bined attack of Saxons and Scots upon the Britons, tends to
explain why the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales
have no other name for the Teutonic invaders of Britain than
Saxons (Sassenach, Saisnec).
Carausius, making good use of his old skill as a pilot, succeeded
in following up the Teutonic pirates, and in wresting from them
no inconsiderable booty. He was accused of having appro-
priated this booty to himself instead of sending it into the
provincial or imperial treasury, and as a suspicion then arose
that he was enriching himself by compounding with the enemy,
* The loss in the Celtic language at an early date of the original initial P
disguises the cognate forms of certain native words. Armorica or Aremorica
is an adjectival form from " Are" = (p)arei " upon" and " Mori " = the sea.
" Are" is thus cognate with the Greek Para = '-^ beside" and (P)areimorica
is thus the equivalent of the Greek Parathalassios or Para-alos. Po-mer-ania,
on the Baltic, is a similar form in Slavonic (but with the preposition Po,
of a similar meaning to Para) = sea coast.
^ This term appears first in the Notitia Digftitatum, drawn up about
A. D. 420, but the Comes Maritimae Tractus occurs in Ammianus
Marcellinus (writing about a. d. 390) who tells of Saxons, together with
Scots and Attacotts, attacking the Britons in A. D. 368.
62 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
an order was given by Maximianus for his destruction. On
this, Carausius boldly assumed the purple and took possession
of Britain. Here he maintained his rule for some seven years,
and forced the Roman emperors finally to come to terms with
him and to acknowledge his authority. Numbers of coins of
his reign have been found on which he designates himself as
emperor, but none in which he limits his authority to Britain.
One of the later coins has the inscription " Carausius and his
brothers", that is, as has been surmised, the emperors Dio-
cletian and Maximianus. A few — some of them found at
Rouen — have a Roman Galley on the reverse. Eutropius
goes on to tell us that Carausius was at length (293) slain by
his companion Allectus, who, after a reign of three years, was
overthrown by the praetorian prefect, Asclepiodotus, and Britain
was restored shortly afterwards, by the capture of London, to
the Roman dominion, after an independence of ten years.
Some further details of the career and fate of Carausius, and
of his successor Allectus, are to be found in a panegyric, pro-
nounced upon the Emperor Constandus Chlorus by Eumenius,
who was born, of Greek origin, at Autun (Augustodunum) in
Gaul, and who became a kind of private secretary to Con-
stantius. Constantius had been sent by Aurelian into Britain in
A.D. 271, where he is said to have married his first wife Helena,
whom legend makes to have been the daughter of a British
chief, Coel, and the mother of Constantine the Great.^ When
Constantius was associated with Diocletian and Maximianus
in the Empire in a. d. 291, Maximianus bound him still closer
to his interests by giving him his step-daughter, Theodora, in
^ Sozomen (writing about 400) and Theodoret (about 450) describe
Helena's finding of the Cross at Jerusalem, but they say nothing about
her parentage. It is not until the ninth century {Life of Si. Helena by
Altmann, who died 882) that we have any information on this point: some
early records of her birth make her a native of Treves, and others of a place
in the present Bosnia, &c., but Geoffrey of Monmouth and those who followed
him make her a Briton and the daughter of ''King Coel". See Diet, of
Christ. Biography^ sub Helena.
ROMAN OCCUPATION 63
marriage, Helena ' having been repudiated. Constanlius, having
been sent by Maximianus into Britain to overthrow Carausius,
moved \vith such rapidity that his arrival in Gaul anticipated
any announcement of his coming. Carausius had strongly
fortified Boulogne (called Gesoriacum '^ as well as Bononia),
to which Constantius laid siege, and, to prevent the fleet of
Carausius coming to its succour, blocked up the entrance to the
harbour with large rocks and beams. Eumenius tells us that
his prosecution of the campaign (a. d. 292) was delayed by the
necessity of building ships for his transit into Britain. Although
his panegyrist makes the best of it, ii is clear that Constantius
was unable for a time to make any headway. The Roman
fleet appropriated to protect the coasts of Gaul had followed
the fortunes of Carausius. Increased by new vessels built after
' She is called concubine by Orosius and Sozonien.
" The oldest MS. (eighth century) of the Itinerariiim Anton, gives in
two places a various reading of this word, which seems to be the right one,
viz. Gesorigensi and Gessorigiaco. Celtic place-names ending in -aiumy as
D'Arbois de Jubainville has shown, contain in the majority of instances the
personal name of the owner of the locality, but it is often attached to
common nouns, giving them the significance of *' belonging to" as in
Tavemiaaim^ now Taverny. Gaisorix is such a name and actually occurs,
according to the reading of Zeuss, in Orosius, v. 16, 20. Gaiso-n meant spear
in Celtic and was borrowed by the Latins in the form Gaesum, which is used
by Vergil and also in the Vulgate (Joshua viii. 18). The Greeks also had
the word, and cognate forms are found in Teutonic personal names^
e. g. Hariogaiso-Sy Laniogaiso (a Frank and a Roman tribune, A. D. 354).
The Teutons obtained their first knowledge of iron from the Celtic tribes,
and borrowed the name for spear from them also, that is, at a time
when intervocalic s was still retained in Celtic. How early this was is
shown by the employment of the stem gaiso in Teutonic proper names,
Schrader, Aryans, p. 235. The Early English equivalent is Gar, which
also appears in personal names, e.g. Wulfgar and Garwulf. The form
Coisis of the Todi bilingual stone is read by Sir John Rhys {Proc. of British
Academy, vol. ii.) as Goisi(o), which he is inclined to connect with the
Gaulish Gaiso-n, Gaiso-s ; Irish, 6^ = plain, place. Duroco-brivis
seems to contain an adjective formed from Duro (stronghold) and bHvis^
an oblique case of Briv = bridge. The site may have been on the low
ground below Dtmstable, as no bridge could well he on the height there.
Sir John Rhys draws attention to Dvorico, in a Gaulish Inscription, meaning
some kind of portico {Celtic Bj-itain^, p. 301). For Verolamio see p. 39,
Sulloniacis seems to be the oblique case of a place called after its pro-
prietor, Sullon-i. It is somewhat striking that Brockley Hill is called in
Cart. Sax. iii. 605, "The old Tnnsteall,^' i.e. "Town site". Names
ending in -acus^ although made thus simply adjectival, seem to be generally
used for patronymics corresponding to English names in 'ing, -itigas.
The meaning of " Londin-ium " cannot be satisfactorily explained with
our present knowledge. Novio-mago means '* new-place ". Vagniacis
(variant Vagnacis) is probably an oblique case of a patronymic from a
personal name, *Vagn-o, cf. Vaco in Vacomagi. Durobrivis, see p. 37.
Duro-levo is obscure. For Duroverno see p. 38. For Ritupis see p. 37.
' Dubris is in the locative plural, meaning " at the Waters", i.e. the two
io8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Route IV. From Londinio ad P or turn Lemanis (Lympne),
68 miles.
This is the same as the preceding Route as far as Dubris ;
whence to Portum Lemanis is 1 6 miles.^
Route V. From Londinio to Luguvalio — to the Wall, 443
miles.
The first station is Caesaromago (? near Widford, south-west
of Chelmsford), 28 miles; after which follow Colonia (called
Camoloduno in Route IX = Colchester), 24 miles; Villa Faustini
(? Woolpit), 35 miles; Icinos (Pickworth near Bury St.Edmunds),
18 miles : Camborico (unknown), 35 miles ; Duroliponte (? God-
manchester on the Ouse), 25 miles; Durobrivas (? Castor on
the Nene), 35 miles; Causennis (PAncaster), 30 miles; Lindo
(Lincoln), 26 miles; Segeloci (Ageloco in Route VIII = Little-
borough), 14 miles; Dano (Doncaster), 21 miles; Legeolio
(Lagecioin Route VIII=:Castleford), 16 miles ; Eburaco (York),
21 miles ; Isubrigantum (=:Isurium of Route II, = Aldborough),
17 miles; Cataractone (Catterick), 24 miles; Levatris (La-
vatris Route II, Lavatres Not. Dig. near Bowes), 18 miles (16
in Route II); Verteris (Brough), 14 miles; Brocavo (near
Brougham Castle), 20 miles; Luguvalio (Carlisle), 22 miles.^
small streams which found their exit here. Dubron is the earliest Celtic
form for Water. The French Douvres still preserves the plural.
^ Lemanis has been dealt with else#here.
"^ The identification of the places on this route after Colchester is a be-
wildering work. Assuming the Villa of Faustmus to have been at a place
where the Peddar's Way forked, this might be Woolpit, in Domesday
^F^^/a = Wolfpit. Although no trace of a Roman road is found between
Woolpit and Bury St. Edmunds or Lackford, it is probable, from the dis-
covery of Roman remains at Ickworth (? involving Icinos, cf. the Icenan
river of the Cod. Dip. iii. 316, which gave the name to Itchington), that a
route lay in this direction. The road is plain onwards toward New-
market and Great Chesterford. The latter place may be Camborico
which involves Camb = a bend. Prof. Skeat has shown that Cambridge
arises from Grantabrycge, and hence Camborico cannot be identified with it.
The next station, Duroliponte, is 'given as twenty-five miles from Cam-
borico. Sir John Rhys {Celtic Britain^, p. 300) thinks that -lipons may
be a Celtic termination and have nothing to do with Latin Pons^ but
if Godmanchester on the Ouse represents the site, the idea of a bridge
is natural. Duroli might thus represent the genitive of the early name of
the Ouse. Durobrivas seems to be Castor, where Mr. Codrington {Roman
ROMAN OCCUPATION 109
Route VI. From Londinio to I.indo, 156 miles.
The first stage given is Verolami (St. Albans), 21 miles;
then follow Durocobrivis (Dunstable), 1 2 miles ; Magiovinio
(Magiovinto in Route 11 = Fenny Stratford), 12 miles ; Lactodoro
(Towcester), 16 miles; Isannavantia (the oldest MS. reads
Isannantia. This is the Bannaventa of Route II, and the
Bannavento of Route VIII = ? near Daventry), 1 2 miles ; Tri-
pontio (? where Watling Street crosses the Avon), 1 2 miles ;
Venonio (High Cross), 8 miles; Ratas (Leicester), 12 miles;
Verometo (Vernemeto, evidently the correct form, in Route
VIII = Willoughby), 13 miles; Margiduno (Castle Hill), 12
miles ; Ad Pontem (? E. Stoke-on-Trent), 7 miles ; Crococalana
(near where the Devon joins the Trent, PBrough), 7 miles;
Lindo, 12 miles.^
Roads ^ J p. 140) says the Nene here "was crossed by a timber bridge
on stone piers, the remains of which were removed when the river was
made navigable". The briv-as is thus explained and the extensive Roman
remains (including a mile-stone with M. P. L (or LI), i. e. 50 or 51 miles,
possibly the distance from Lincoln) show the importance of the place.
Causennis is at the correct distance for An-Caster, where the an- may still
preserve a relic of the former name. Lindum has been explained. Segeloci
or Ageloci probably involves the antecedent of the Welsh Uwch (= lake),
which Dr. W. Stokes would trace to a stem (P)loug ( « to fly) : the
Penne-locos ( = " Lakehead ") on the Lake of Geneva involves the
same word (Thumeysen, Handbuch 47). Dano involves probably the old
name of the river Don. Legeolio is obscure. The remaining names on
this route have been already explained, except Lavatres (which may be
allied with the Ancient Irish Ldthur^ glossed Canalis (Pedersen, V. Gramm.
§ 42), and Breton Laouer, trough. Cf. the river Lowther) and Brocavo,
where we have probably the same termination as in Ande-gav-ia (Angers),
the Ande- here representing an intensive prefix or the early form of the
definite article (Thumeysen, Handbuch des alt. Irischen, p. 471).
' Magio-vinto seems to involve Mag-o — plain, place. Lacto-doro: the
variants give -duro, hence this is the stronghold possibly on a river *Lact-o,
now the Tove, which gave its name to Tovecester, Towcester. Isannantia
of the oldest MS. can hardly be a misreading of Banna- venta (= ? "chief
market"), but seems to be a synonym composed oi Isa (= Low, at foot of)
and nant-ia, possibly "valley". Tripont-io = "Three Bridges", cf. Tri
muntium of Ravennas and the numerous other compounds with Tre =
three. Venonio is obscure. Ratas seems to be related to the Modern Irish
Rath^ an earthwork, found also in Pembrokeshire. Ver-nemeton is the
correct reading doubtless, and means "Chief Temple" as it stands: see
no BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Route VII. From Regno (Chichester) to Londinio, 96 miles.
The first station is Clausentum (? Bittern), 20 miles; then
follow Venta Belgarum (Winchester), 10 miles; Calleva Atre-
batum (Silchester), 22 miles; Pontibus (Staines), 22 miles;
Londinio, 22 miles.'
Route VIII. From Eburaco to Londinium, 227 miles.
The first station is Legecio (Legeolio, Route V), 2 1 miles ;
Dano, 16 miles; Ageloco (Segeloci, Route V), 21 miles;
Lindo, 14 miles; Crococalana, 14 miles; Margiduno, 14
miles; Vernemeto, 12 miles (13 in Route VI); Ratis, 12
miles (13 in Route VI); Venonio, 12 miles; Bannavento, 18
miles (20 in Route VI, via Tripontium); Magiovinio, 28 miles;
Durocobrivis, 12 miles; Verolamo, 12 miles; Londinio, 21
miles."
Route IX. From Venta Icinorum (Caistor near Norwich) to
Londinio, 128 miles.
First station, Sitomago (? where Roman road from Caistor
reaches the river now called Gipping), 32 miles; followed by
Combretonio, 22 miles; Ad Ansam (.? Stratford), 15 miles;
Camoloduno (Colonia in Route V), 6 miles ; Canonio (.? Kelve-
don), 9 miles ; Caesaromago, 12 miles ; Durolito {? at Writola-
burna, original Charter of 692-3 in B. M., now Writtle), 16 miles ;
Londinio, 15 miles.^
p. 1 30 on Netnet. The Margi in Margi-duno is obscure. Croc-o-calana
seems to involve Cruc = tumulus.
^ Regno : cf. Regina, now Regensburg ; it possibly involves Rig =
King. The famous Chichester inscription gives the name of Cogidubn-i
{Phil. Trans., 31 Oct., 1723), and this was doubtless his residence
as king of the "royal" people of the district. Clausentum is obscure.
Venta Belgarum and Calleva have been explained elsewhere. Pontibus
means at the Bridges, the ruins of which probably gave origin to the
Saxon Staines = Stones.
2 The names in this route have been already dealt with.
3 Venta-Icenorum. Sir John Rhys thinks Eceni was probably the
correct name of the Iceni who occupied the Norfolk and Suffolk district.
He equates the name with the Welsh egin = bladed, which possibly comes
from the root ak ~ sharp. The Welsh word is cognate thus with A. -Saxon
Rginu = English Awns, as in the awns of barley. Sir John thinks these
people, like the Saxons, were called from the weapons they bore (see
p. 27), probably swords.
ROMAN OCCUPATION iii
Route X. From Clanoventa (Glannibanta Not. Dig) to Medio-
lano (? Whitchurch), 150 miles.
The first station is Galava (unknown), 18 miles; then follow
Alona (unknown), 1 2 miles ; Calacum (? Overtown on Lune),
19 miles; Bremetonaci (Ribchester), 27 miles; Coccio (Wigan),
20 miles ; Mancunio (Manchester), 1 7 miles ; Condate (North-
wich), 18 miles; Mediolano, 19 miles.^
Route XI. From Segontio (Caer Seiont, near Carnarvon) to
Devam (Chester), 74 miles.
Conovio (Conway), first station, 24 miles ; then Vans (? Bod-
fari, Flint), 18 miles; Deva, 32 miles.*
Sitomago seems to mean Corn-plain. The initial "s" has vanished
in the modern Irish Ith = corn, as in Ithtige - comhouses (Thumeysen,
Handbuch^ p. 83), cf. Mag-ith.
Combretonio appears to involve Com-ber = a bearing together, a con-
fluence, as in numerous place-names in Ireland and Wales, Commer,
Cumber, plur. in Cumrew, Cumberland. This might lead to the identifi-
cation.
Ad Ansam is Latin for "at the Bay'*. The French Anse preserves the
signification. Stratford would satisfy the conditions, as the tidal waters
came up thus far.
Canonio is an obscure word. Caesaro Mago =« •* Imperial place " and
must have been of importance as the seat, probably, of authority. Zaragoza
for " Caesar Augusta " indicates the disguised form in which this name,
if it survived, would now appear.
Durolito may be represented in a degenerate form in the VVritola burna.
An intrenchment and other remains have been found at Writtle, which is
about a mile from the Roman road to Colchester and seemingly on that
which converges on it from Braintree. The Itinerary may deal with both
these routes, and hence the difficulty about the mileage. The fate oiDuro
in Durobrivis prepares one for such a transformation.
* This route is full of difficulties. We do not know where Clano-venta
(or Glannibanta) was. If Clan- represent Glan, as the Not. Dig. indicates,
it would mean " market on the bank " of some river, ? the Lune, of
which the early name seems preserved in Alone (cf. the Aenona of RavennaSy
now Nona). Calacum has been placed at (?) Overtown on the Lune, and
Bremetonaci at Ribchester. Coccio is supposed to be Wigan, but these are
pure conjectures. From Mancunio the places are clear.
2 Caer Seiont and the river Seiont ("Seintes" in Cah Chart. Rolls, 11.
280), near Carnarvon, preserve a relic of Segontium (= ?the place of the
God of Victory). Conovio is obscure, as is also Varis. of which a reminis-
cence may be preserved in Bod-fari, Bod = dwelling.
112 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Route XII. From Muriduno (? an error for Ptolemy's Man-
dunon = C2,x- Mar then) to Veroconium (Wroxeter), i86
miles. (The aggregate makes up only i66 miles.)
The first eight stations are a repetition of those in Route XV,
and do not belong here. The first station of this route is
Leucaro (PLoghor), 15 miles from Maridunum; then follow
Nido (? Neath), 15 miles; Bomio (? Cowbridge), 15 miles; Isca
Leg. II. Augusta (Caerleon), 27 miles; Burrio (?Usk, but of.
Din birrion of Lib. Land.), 9 miles ; Gobannio (Abergavenny),
1 2 miles; Magnis(?Kenchester), 22 miles; Bra vonio (Brandon),
24 miles; Virocono, 27 miles.*
Route XIII. From Isca (Caerleon) to Calleva (Silchester),
109 miles.
Burrio, the first station, 9 miles ; then follow Blestio (Mon-
mouth), 1 1 miles ; Areconio (cf. Deanery of Erchen^itldi), 1 1
miles; Clevo (Gloucester), 15 miles; Durocornovio (Cirencester),
14 miles; Spinis (Speen), 15 miles; Calleva, 5 miles.*
Route XIV. Another route from Isca to Calleva.
The first station is Venta Silurum (Caerwent), 9 miles ; Abone
(Mr. Codrington makes this Sea Mills), 14 miles; Trajectus (Mr.
^ Maridunum is another form of Muridunum, Mart = the Sea : early
Irish Muir. Leucaro is obscure. Nido, = Neath, has its parallel in the
German JVied, which is the survival of the Nida of the Itinerary.
Bomio would become later Bovio and may have suggested the Cow (as
a translation) in Cowbridge. Isca, of the second legion called Augusta,
i.e. Isca Legionis or Caer (= Castra) Legionis. Burrio is obscure but
cf. the Din birrion of the Lib. Land.
Gobannio ( = ? Smithy) is doubtless from Gobann, genitive of Goibniu
= Smith, perhaps, an Irish Vulcan ; cf. Gaulish Gobannitio (Caesar, De
Bell. Gall.). Goibniu is an Irish proper name = Smith : Mac Gowan (i.e.
Goibnenn, genitive) = Smith's son.
Magnis would seem to be Latin, but it is possibly an ablative plural of
Magen — Old Irish for " place ", which is the equivalent of Welsh Maen
= stone, the common significance being " earth surface " ; cf. Magos (Peder-
sen, V. Gramm. % 59). Bravonio is obscure.
2 Blestio is obscure. Areconium preserved in Erchen seems to involve
a personal name. See previous note, p. 107. Clevum alias Glevum is
preserved in the Glou of Glou-cester. Durocornovium is seemingly the
stronghold of the Cornovii. Spinis is the locative plural of Spinae =
thorns.
ROMAN OCCUPATION - 113
Codrington makes this Bitton), 9 miles ; Aquis Solis (variant
Aquis Sulis = Bath), 6 miles; Verlucione (Wans), 15 miles;
Cunetione (near Marlborough on Kennet), 20 miles; Spinis,
15 miles; Calleva, 15 miles.^
Route XV. From Calleva to Isca Dumnuniorum (that is Isca
of the Devonians = Exeter), 136 miles.
The first station is Vindomi (? unknown), 15 miles ; then follow
Venta Belgarum (Winchester), 2 1 miles ; Brige (variant Brigae ;
position unknown, but between Winchester and Salisbury), 1 1
miles ; Sorbiodoni (in the misplaced stations placed before
Route XII it is Sorvioduni = Old Saresbury), 8 miles ; Vindo-
gladia (Badbury Rings), 1 2 miles ; Durnonovaria (Dorchester),
8 miles ; Muriduno (somewhere near the Otter river), 36 miles ;
Isca Dumnuniorum, 15 miles.'
Place-names in the NoHHa Dignitaium.
Chapter XXV gives the following places on the Saxon shore
{^Litus Saxoniais), that is on the coast exposed to the raids of
Saxon and other pirates : —
Othona (the Ythancaster of Bede, discussed p. 179), Dubrt's
(Dover : p. 107), Lematmis (Lympne, p. 215), Branoduno (Bran-
caster : so called probably from a personal name Bran. Cf. Bran,
son of Lir (Llyr), in the Mabinogion\ Garriano (Burgh: see
p. 176), Regulbi (Reculver, see p. 37), Rutupis (Richborough,
p. 37), Anderitos (Anderida and Andredes Wald: p. 143. Cf.
Andereton of Ravennas, p. 238, and Anderitum of the Pent
^ Venta Silurnm is the " Market of the Silures ". Abone is the locative
case of Abon = river : it would seem to mean the Severn, but 14 miles can
hardly be accounted for, except the route was along the shore as far as the
Trajectus (i. e. the Ferry), which would be at Aust Passage (Aust possibly
from the Legio Augusta), see p. 203 ; but then this is too far from Bath
(Aquae Sulis, i.e. "The Waters of the God 5'm/-"). Verlucio contains
the intensive Ver and possibly the locos mentioned above = lake, probably
the spreading out of a river. Is there such a thing at Wans? Cunetio
involves the river-name, now the Kennet.
2 Vindomi is obscure, but seems to involve Vindo = White. Brige is
evidently Briga = Burg or Stronghold. Sorbio-dunum, see p. 146, ? from
Irish Soirb = easy, perhaps earlier " level". Vindo-gladia = White ditches,
i. e. fosses cut in the chalk. Cf. Cladid = to dig, in Old Irish, and Welsh
Clawd = trench, grave. Dumovaria is dealt with elsewhere, see p. 138.
H
114 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Taf^^ For turn Adurni (position unknown: probably west of
Brighton. The river " Adour " has seemingly been coined from
Camden's identification).
Chapter XXXVIII furnishes the names of the stations of troops
under the command of the Dux Britanniarum — a dignity which
Booking thinks {Not. Dig. II, pt. 2, Occid. p. 851*) was first
instituted by Constantine.
Sexlae, the first on the list, is the station of the Sixth Legion
and probably means York, the station of this legion according
to Ptolemy. Bocking (ibid. 853*) shows that York was called
a Colonia on coins and inscriptions, a Municipium by Aurelius
Victor, a Civitas by Spartianus, and an Oppiduin by Bede.
Praesidtum, where was stationed the Prefect of the Dalmatian
cavalry, is unknown, but cf. Sir John Rhys's Celtic Britain^ ^
pp. 229, 302, where he shows that the Epiacon of Ptolemy
and the Vereda of the Ant. Itin. may mean places for horses
or cavalry.
Dano (near Doncaster, p. 10 8), Morbio (site unknown, but
cf. Moerheb, p. 216, and Murief^ i. e. Moray, which in the " Story
of Arthur " [Red Book of Hergest) is said to be another name for
Reged). Arbeia, the station of the Tigris boatmen, was prob-
ably South Shields, where an inscribed stone was found with
the designation of these boatmen, who were doubtless required
to carry supplies by the North Tyne to the garrisons on the
Wall. The attempted identifications of these last two places
with Moresby and Ireby on account of similarity of termina-
tions is baseless, because the -by is Scandinavian.
Dictim, the station of a Numerus of the Dictensian Nervii,
is unidentified.
Concangios (see p. 95). Lavatres (see s. v. in Ant. Itt'n.).
Verterzs (see p. 106). Braboniaco (this is the Brovonacis of
the Ant. Itin. It is supposed to be Kirkby Thore, Cum-
berland; cf. the Ravonia of Ravennas). Maglone (not men-
tioned elsewhere, site unknown. If the name involved Mag^
plain, place, there would be a thematic vowel following it).
Magis (locative plural = at the plains, but where these were
is not known, but cf. Maes^ p. loi). Longo-vicio (variant Longo-
vico =(?)"Long row of houses." Camden identified this, and
afterwards relinquished the identification, with Lanchester on
the Lune. The site is unknown. It may have been the
Lanchester north of Binchester). Derventione, where were
stationed troops called Petueriensis, ?from the Petuaria of
ROMAN OCCUPATION 115
Ptolemy. There were several rivers in Britain called Dervenito.
This may have been that mentioned by Bede, H. E. ii. 9,
" Close to the river Derventio where was then a royal vill."
Stations along the Wall according to the Noiitia Digniiatum.
Segeduno (the Serduno, probably, of Ravennas : it has been
identified with Wall's End).
Ponte Aelii (Newcastle), called after Aelius Hadrianus.
Conderco {Condecor, Ravennas = ? Benwell Hill).
Vindohala ( Vindovala, Ravennas = ? White-wall, identified
with Rutchester, but the site is unknown).
Hunno {Oniio in Ravennas — near Halton).
Cihirno (Celun7io^ Ravennas. This was at Chesters near
Cholierioidij which, with Chollerion, both on the North Tyne,
seems to preserve the early name of that river, " Cilurn " —
so-called, probably, as suggested by Sir John Rh^s, from the
Cavities in the rocky river-bed here. Welsh Cilwrn = Chaldron).
Procolitia {Brocoliti in Ravennas = Carrawburgh. Broco-litt\
from a comparison with such forms as Broco-mago (now
Brumat) in the Ani. liin., seems the correct form. Broco- may
be associated with Welsh Brog = country, and the ht-i may
involve the stem /// = broad).
Borcovicio (= House-steads). It is possible that we have in
Borco a case of metathesis of Broco. Vic-io is from the Latin Vicus,
Vindolana ( = Chesterholm : here we seem to have lan-a^
plain, or land, and Vindo = white).
^sica (Great Chesters).
Magnis (Magnis in Ravennas. This is placed at Carvoran).
Ambo-Glanna ( = Burdoswald, ?the Gaba Glanda of Ra-
vennas. The name contains ^w^ = about. Anglo-Saxon Vmb-,
preserved in " Evib-tx days ", and Glann = shore, bank).
Peiriams (unknown).
Aballaba (Avaiana of Ravennas, unknown site) seems
to involve the Celtic Aba/l, 6^<$a// = apple : Appleby is a
Scandinavian name.
Congavata (Chester-le-Street was called by Richard of Hex-
ham " Kunka-Cester " and may preserve this Congavata. It
lies about 8 miles south of the Wall).
Axeloduno (= Uxelludamo of Ravennas. It is placed by
some at Hexham and by others as far away from the Wall as
Ellenborough. The Hex in Hexham is a relict of Hagtistald —
if we accept the Earliest English form — but it is possible that
H2
ii6 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
the latter intelligible word may represent the unintelligible
Axelo-dun, or rather Uxello<^\in = '' high fort ").
Gabrosenie (Gabrocentes of Ravennas, supposed to be Gates-
head. Gabr- = Goat, and seni, Irish set, with the usual loss
of « in «/ = path, = Gothic Stnths).
Tunnocelo (supposed to be the Fano-Cocidi of Ravennas.
Cf. the inscription (Camden-Gough) to the God Cocidius found
in Cumberland. Mommsen makes Cocidius a by-name of
Mars (Prov. Rom. Empire, i. 193). Watling Street crosses the
Coquet, which may be a deified river).
Glannihanta (this is seemingly the Clanoventa of the Ant.
Itin., which see. It is placed by some at Cockermouth, but
the site is unknown).
Alione (this is the Alone of the Ant. Itin., which see).
Bremetennaco (probably the Bresnetenace Veteranorum of
Ravennas. It has been identified with Ribchester).
Olenaco (this can hardly be the Olikana of Ptolemy, one of
the cities of the Brigantes, which has been identified with
Ilkley, but this is far from the Wall).
Virosido (site unknown. For the significance of Viro see
Vero-lam-ium : and cf. Viro-dun-um {Ant. Itin) now Verdun
and Viro-viacum (ibid.) now Werwick. Sido probably repre-
sents Irish Suide, Welsh Sedd = seat).
The Ravenna Geographer furnishes longer lists of British
place-names in Roman times, but it is difficult to identify
many of them owing to a seeming lack of method in their
arrangement. Instances have been given above which tend
to show that he had one or more Itineraries before him, but
he is not consistent in following these. In his list of names
he seems to associate together sometimes those which are
more or less near to each other, but he often departs from
this practice. An article on the Roman place-names of
Derbyshire by W. B. Anderson, M.A., in Melandra Castle
(Manchester University Press, 1906)^ raises this question: the
sequence of rivers Dorvantium (Derwent), Anava, and Bdora
seem to belong to Derbyshire, so do the places Nanione (or
Navione), and Aquis = Buxton. There are several Derwents, it
is true, but a mile-stone, discovered in 1862 near the Silverlands
of Higher Buxton (now in Buxton Museum), furnishes, as we see
from the article, the name Anavione. A fragment, moreover,
of a sepulchral inscription found at Foligno in Italy records
ROMAN OCCUPATION 117
(1102 in Eph. Ep. vii) a Cemiior Brittonum Anavion\ensium\
Mr. Anderson, from the facts (i) that the river Noe joins the
Derwent about one and a half miles below Brough, and (2) that
there was a Roman fort at Brough, to which the Roman road
(now Batham Gate) leads, (3) that Brough is about the right
distance from Buxton, viz. ten or eleven miles according to the
miliary, infers that Brough represents Anavio, so called from the
Anava now the Noe. The third name Bdora, although it has
been placed far afield, may have its reflex in the Derbyshire
Dore, otherwise (see p. 239) hard to explain. There is a stream
at Dore, but it is now called '' the Sheaf".
NOTE E.
The Legions in Britain, see p. 81, ante.
Mommsen (Prov. Rom, Empire^ i. 174, London, 1909) says
that for the subjugation of Britain three of the Rhine Legions
and one from the Danube were destined thither, and adds : —
"The three legions of the Rhine were the 2nd Augusta, the
14th, and the 20th ; from Pannonia came the 9th Spanish.
The same four legions were still stationed there at the begin-
ning of the government of Vespasian; the latter called away
the 14th for the war against Civilis, and it did not return to
Britain, but, in its stead, probably the 2nd Adiutrix. This was
presumably transferred under Domitian to Pannonia; under
Hadrian the 9th was broken up and replaced by the 6th
Victrix. The two other legions, the 2nd Augusta and the 20th,
were stationed in England from the beginning to the end of
the Roman rule." B. W. Henderson {Life of Nero, pp. 202
et seq., and Eng, Hist, Review, Jan., 1903, states that in a.d. 49
the 9th legion was at Lincoln, the 14th and 20th at Wroxeter,
the 2nd at Gloucester. The 2nd was shortly afterwards pushed
forward to Caerleon and the 14th and 20th to Chester. After
Nero's death, in a.d. 68, the 14th was withdrawn from Britain
and the 9th removed to York.
NOTE F.
Tacitus, Ann. xii. 31, see p. 22, ante.
Mommsen, Prov. Rom. Empire, i, p. 178, reads, " Ostorius
makes ready to secure all by camps (extending) to the . . . ntona
ii8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
and Sabrina rivers," and places the camp for the 14th legion at
the confluence of the Tern with the Severn near Viroconium
(Wroxeter).
NOTE F. 2.
Some Latin words which had entered into place-names before
the Norman Conquest : —
Calx, as *' Cealc" in Cealchythe.
Castra, as Castor, Chester.
Castellum^ as '' on tha Csestello", Cart. Sax. iii. 338.
Castellehim, as Cistelet.
Chors {Cohors), as in '' Dovor-Cortae ", Cart. Sax. iii. 603.
Cerasus, in numerous Cheritons.
Fons, as in " Ceadeles funtan ", now Chalfont, Cart. Sax. iii.
40; "Teofunten", now Teffont, Wilts., ibid. 385; "Funtines
burnan," ibid. 588, cf. also " Fobbefunte ", now Fovant, Wilts.,
ibid. ii. 232; Funtg^all", now Fonthill, Wilts., ibid. ii. 234;
" Hamanfunta", now Havant, &c.
Fossa, as '* fossa", cf. Foss-way.
Palantiwn, as in " the Palant " at Chichester. See Index.
Palus, ? as in '' Plash ".
Pirus, as " Pere " and " Pirige " in Pirigtun, now Purton.
Populus, as in ''Populfinig", Cod. Dip. 652.
Portus, as in Portsmouth.
Porta, as in *' Port straet ", &c.
Prunus, as in " Plumstede'', now Plumstead, Cod. Dip. 562.
Puteus, as in '' hwytan pyt", Cart. Sax. ii. 81.
Silva, as in " Monks' silver ". See Index.
Sptnae, as in ** Spene ", now Speen, Cart. Sax. i. 506.
Spinetum, as in Spinny.
Strata {via), as in " Straet ", passim.
Sulcus, as (?) in " Sulhford ", Crawford Charters, i. 1 1 .
Vicus = row of houses, dwelling, or market in the " Wich "
of place-names.
Latin topographical survivals in Celtic districts are naturally
more numerous ; some of them, like Cornish pras, prat (for
pratum), are incidentally dealt with as they occur in this work.
It is but right to add that the Teutonic invaders may have
imported a few of the Latin terms here given. See Pogatscher
{Lautkhre).
Ecclesiastical elements in early English topography are ex-
cluded from this list, as they could not well be survivals from
Roman times.
II. THE TEUTONIC INVASION
It is commonly believed that the Teutonic tribes — Saxons,
Angles, &c. — invaded Britain about the year a. d. 449. It is
clear, however, that some of them had entered this country long
before. Apart from the Saxon and Prankish pirates who were
making continuous expeditions against the " Saxon shore " from
as early at least as a.d. 297, and who also took service in
Britain under Carausius, there were, according to Ammianus
Marcellinus (writing about a.d. 378), Saxons,^ in alliance
with Picts and Scots, fighting against the Romano-Britons in
365. Alliances, begun so early, seem to have established
a precedent, for Bede tells us of two subsequent occasions
when the Teutonic invaders had Picts as their allies, one which,
although it is ascribed by Bede to 449 (Bede, H, E. i. 15), is
relegated by Plummer (ii. 33) to possibly the fourth century,
the other in 430, the occasion of St. German's^ *' Hallelujah
victory ", which shall be dealt with later. The entente cordiate
between the Northumbrian English and the Southern Picts
was later on cemented by marriage. Eanfrid, who was a great-
grandson of Ida (King of Bernicia, a. d. 547), was, according to
Skene, the father of Talorg Mac An frith. King of the Picts,
who, following the Pictish custom, inherited the kingdom from
his mother's side. The personal names (involving Peoht) of
distinguished Northumbrians about this time, to which refer-
* " Picts, Saxons, Scots, and Atacotti harassed the Britons with con-
tinuous calamities." (Bk. xxxvi. 4.)
2 Bede's account of the "Hallelujah Victory*' is taken almost word for
word from the Life of St. Gervian^ ascribed to Constantius, a presbyter of
Lyons : see later note, p. 125.
I20 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
ence was previously made, testify to friendly relations. Peoht-
helm, for instance, who was Bishop of Whitern in the eighth
century, means the helmet, or protector of the Pict.
The easy conquest of Galloway (the region of the ''Niduarian
Picts " or Picts west of the river Nid, or Nith ^) by Oswy, and
the subsequent strong Anglicizing influence exercised over
this region, are thus explained. Here, at least, the Teutonic
invaders were not "exterminators". The first Teutonic settle-
ments on the East coast, south of the Forth and north of the
Humber, were made probably as early as the fourth century.
They consisted to some extent presumably of Frisians, whom
Procopius, writing about a. d. 560 {De Bello Goth, iv. 20),
associates with Angles as invaders of Britain; and Dumfries,
i.e. the Dun or stronghold of the Frisians on the Nith, is
considered still to preserve their name. The German Ocean is
called in the Historia Britonum of Nennius (c. 38) the Frisian
(Fresicum) Sea, and (c. 37) the Tythica Valley. In Jocelyn's
Life of St. Kentigern Liius Fresicum ("Frisian Shore") is
applied to the district of Culross (see Sir H. Maxwell's Scottish
Land-names^ p. 73, who also makes the Caer P hen's of Nennius
to be Dumfries). The Lowland Scotch has some points of
resemblance to the Frisian dialect, and certain old Frisian
place-names seem to find an echo in the Lowlands. Leith on
the Forth finds, for instance, its satisfactory signification in the
Frisian Leith ^ = passage or ferry, which corresponds to the
southern **Lode" (compare the Lodes on the Severn) repre-
senting the Anglo-Saxon "Z«^, Geldd ", and still surviving in the
present Yenlet (for Bede's Genlade) in the Thames-mouth, and
* Ptolemy places the river Novios about fifteen miles to the west of the
estuary of the Ituna, which has been identified with the Eden, the river
flowing past Carlisle into the Solway Firth. The Novitia of the Ravenna
Geographer is supposed to be the same river and to represent the early form
of the Nith. But Novios could not become Nith, and it is pure conjecture
that it is the Novitia of Ravennas. The origin of " Neath " given in a note
further on suggests another source.
' See Outzen, Friesisches Glossarium^ p. 186.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 121
also in Inlet. In the last syllable of Prender^^j/ (Berwickshire)*
there is possibly a representative of the Frisian Gaast = morass,
but as the remainder of the word is presumably Celtic, it is also
possible that Gast or Gest may be a corruption of some Celtic
form. Although Gasi is of early occurrence (Prene-gest, Cold-
ingham Charter, a. d. hoc), it seems, like -Wyndes, mentioned
in note below, of Teutonic origin, but it may be a corrupt form
of the termination -gask (= Casach, Gaelic for "outlet of a lake",
or ford), which appears, for instance, in composition with Teutonic
words, as in (Buttergask) " Butter-gask ", where " Butter " prob-
ably means Bittern, cf. the Lincolnshire " Butterbump " as a name
for that bird, and the English Buttermere. The difficulty of
finding topographical evidence of the existence of Frieslanders in
the Lowlands of Scotland is increased by the fact that this region,
originally the home of Picts and Britons, was successively overrun
by Goidels and Norsemen, the existing place-names furnishing
abundant testimony to the influence of both these peoples.
The earliest direct notice of the invasion of Britain by
Teutonic tribes is in T/ie Destruction 0/ Britain, a Latin work
written about a. d. 537 by a Briton called Gildas. The Britons,
fearing a return of their troublesome enemies the Picts and
Scots, invited the help, as Gildas bitterly says, of a " most
ferocious people of the execrable name of Saxons, hateful alike
to God and man ". " Then," he continues, " bursting forth
from the lair of the barbarous lioness, a flock of whelps, with
favouring gales and omens ... set forth, at the instance of the
^ Plenderleith in Roxburghshire was earlier (1587) Premderleith. Plen-
derguest and Prandergaist occur also as equivalents; cf Pranderwyndes.
The word Preinder is suggestive. The early Irish word for priest was
Cruimther, which appears even in an Ogam inscription, Rh^s, Lectures '',
349 et seq., and is from Preshiter^ through Frebiter. Cormac, writing in
the ninth century, gives in his Glossary an Old Welsh form Premier (see
Pedersen, V. Gram7n. § 124. 6). Premderleith would be thus "Priests'-
ferry", and Pranderwyndes, " Priests' -lanes." "Priest" enters into many
English place-names. For English words having exclusive parallels in
Frisian and Dutch see Kluge in Germanische Philologie, vol. i, p. 793 ;
Siebs, ibid,, pp. 724-9, treats of Frisian and Northumbrian.
122 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
unfortunate Tyrant (? Vor-tigem = Over-Lord) in three Cyulas,
as expressed in their language, in our ^ language, Longae Naves
(i. e. long ships), and fixed their terrible claws at first upon the
-eastern part of the island, ostensibly as if to fight for the
country, but in reality to assail it." Supported by further
arrivals from the Continent the Saxons gradually encroached
upon the Britons, and in a few years overran the country,
probably only at first in marauding bands, " the eastern fire,
heaped up moreover by sacrilegious hands, laying waste,"
as Gildas says, " the adjoining towns and country — an un-
ceasing kindling — until consuming at length almost the whole
face of the country from sea to sea, the flaming and fierce
tongue was licking up the western ocean." Some of the
natives, he says, were slain, or perished from hunger — while
others gave themselves up to slavery or passed beyond the sea.^
At length the miserable remainder taking heart, and with Am-
brosius Aurelianus, a man of Roman race, at their head, gave
the invaders battle and obtained a victory over them. This was,
as we gather, in 466. " From that time," Gildas says, " some-
times the natives (Owes) and sometimes the enemy were the
victors, until the year of the siege of the Badonic Mount [which
was near the Severn mouth], the year of the latest and not the
least slaughter of the Gallows-rogues; and the year which is
now beginning, its first month having already elapsed, is, as
* This is one of the proofs that the Britons had become in the main
Latin-speaking under the Roman occupation of 400 years; "Nennius"
also uses the Teutonic word Chiulas not only for the ships of the Saxons,
but also for those of the Roman fleet. The Old English form was ceol, still
used on the Tyne for a flat-bottomed boat (keel). Bede.(i. 25) employs
the Latin term Longae Naves. The Welsh Llong, Irish Long = ship,
was derived at an early date from the adjective. It gave rise in Irish
to Longeas, a voyage, and L.oingseac h^voysigtr, sailor, now "Lynch",
a personal name. Loingseach Lie ocus Arann in Chron. Picts and ScotSy
p. 99, is rightly translated by Skene, " mariner of Hay and Aran."
2 This doubtless refers to the British emigration in the early sixth
century to the Continental district called then Armorica ; see later on where
this subject is dealt with.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 123
I have discovered, the forty- fourth from that year, the year also
of my birth." ^ Mons Badonicus has been placed by con-
jectures in various localities. All we know is that it was pre-
sumably east of the Severn mouth and high land. If the name
survives I would suggest that it is preserved in Bown Hill.
Badon would naturally become Bown, and the neighbouring
Frocester and Woodchester indicate Roman ways accessible to
the invaders.
Prosper of Aquitaine (a. d. 403-63) tells us, under the year
413 (Mon. Germ, Hist,, Chron. Min,^ p. 467), that " Pelagius
Britto (that is, a Briton) ^ put forth at this time the doctrine
called after him (Pelagianism) against the grace of Christ, and
that, aided by Caelestius and Julian, led many into his error. It was
this Pelagius and his teaching which were the occasion of Britain's
coming again into the light of history.' For, as the same
* This is my translation of Plummer's reading of the original (see his
Bede). Some critics (Mommsen, for instance) regard as a later gloss the
words " which was near the Severn mouth ", but the passage represents in
any case ancient tradition. Bownhill is one of a range bristling with
formidable earthworks which seem to have owed their existence to the need
of commanding the passages across the Severn mouth. Woodchester, which
is close to Bownhill, is possibly the Kaer zntdei of the Ystorya Brenhined,
pp. 184, 204, 234 of Red Book of Hergest, vol. ii. Meugant was made
Bishop of Caer Viidei, see excerpt from The Story of Arthur in Introduction
to Early Welsh, p. 165, but although Dr. Strachan identified the other
Caers mentioned therein this is not explained. Mommsen {Chronica III,
Mon. Geiin. Hist., p. 8) gives the date of the Epistola of Gildas as a few
years before 547. The date of his birth and of the battle of Mons Badonicus
is, according to both Mommsen and Zimmer, a few years before 504. Bede's
date works out about 499. The Annales Cambriae place the battle at 516,
The A.-Sax. Chron. records a battle between Wulfhere, King of Mercia,
son of Penda, and yEscwine, King of the West Saxons, at Biedan Heafde
in 675. This may refer to a second battle at Mons Badonicus given in
Annales Cambriae under 665. Mr. Plummer makes Biedan Heafde to be
Bedwin, Wilts., Bedvinde in Domesday, and seemingly Celtic.
2 Orosius (writing about A. D. 415) and St. Augustine (about A.D. 417)
call him also a Briton.
^ Earlier references to British affairs are to be found in the notices of
St. Ninian (died A. D. 432), of Palladius (to whom Prosper of Aquitaine
124 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
writer tells us, under a. d. 429, " Agricola, a Pelagian, the son
moreover of a Pelagian Bishop called Severianus, corrupted the
refers under 431), and of St. Patrick, whose mission to Ireland is assigned
to A. D. 432. Bede {11. E. iii. 4), writing in a. d. 731, states that " a long
time ago, as it is maintained, the Southern Picts, having given up their
idolatry, had received the true faith by the preaching of the Word through
the most reverend Bishop Nynias, a most holy man of the British race, who
had been fully instructed in the faith and in the mysteries of the truth at
Rome ; whose episcopal See and Church were distinguished by the name of
St. Martin the Bishop, and in the place, which now the English hold, his
body and those of many saints rest, — which place belonging to the Bemician
province is now commonly called Candida Casa ( Whitehorn — in Galloway),
because he had there built in a manner foreign to the British, a church of
stone." Alcuin (born at York A. D. 735, died Abbot of Tours a. D. 804),
tutor of Charles the Great, also mentions Ninian in his epistles, and asks
the intercession of St. Nyniga, and that of the monks, at Candida Casa, to
whom he sends a silk veil for covering the relics of the saint (Usher,
De Frimord. Britt, Eccl.y p. 669, and Haddan and Stubbs, Concilia, ii. 8).
Alcuin mentions also, in his letter to the nobles of Kent (Haddan and
Stubbs, Concilia, iii. p. 510), Gyldum Brettonuni Sapientissimiim. The life
of St. Ninian, written by Ailred of Rievaulx (died 1166) is too late to be of
historical value, but the traditional association of Ninian with St. Martin,
who died about 400, helps to fix his date. The Anglo-Saxon Whitem
(Whithorn) is a translation of Candida Ca^a = white house. In the
Martyrology of Oengus it is " Futerna in the ' Rinns of Galloway ' "
(p. 212). *' Futerna" is an instance of the difficulty to Gaelic lips of
pronouncing the wh (or Hw) in Whitern. The substitution of initial " F "
for " W " was not uncommon also, after the eleventh century, in the dialect
of Kent {Grund. Germ. Fhil. i. 857). The "Rinns" are points of land
jutting out into the sea. The ancient Irish form is Rind (masc.) = point,
Rind (fem.) =Star (Pedersen, V. Granwi. p. 37). There is a further refer-
ence in the Martyrology of Oengus (compiled about A. D. 800) to a place in
this neighbourhood called Dun-rechet, now probably Dunragit in Galloway,
which may contain the name of the region of " Reged " referred to in Welsh
tradition as imposed upon the district of Gower after having been presum-
ably used elsewhere (in the North). Reged has been located ( Celtic Scotland,
i. 153) in the country near the mouth of the Clyde. The Welsh version of
Geoffrey says Reget is another name for Murief { = ^ox2iy). Whithorn was
also known according to Skene {Celtic Scotland, ii. 47), as Rosnat or Alba
(white) and Magnum Monasteritim. The evidence of this is strong, but
not convincing. Roseneath in the estuary of the Clyde has an outward
resemblance to Rosnat, and tradition assigns to it an ancient ecclesiastical
importance {New Statistical Account^ vol. viii), but it was, however, in
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 125
British churches by the introduction among them of his teach-
ing, and that, at the suggestion of Palladius, a deacon, Pope
Caelestine sent German, Bishop of Autissiodorum (Auxerre in
France), in his stead and guided the Britons, perplexed by
heresies, into the CathoUc fsiiih" {Af on, Ger??t. Hist, ix, p. 472).
In the Life of St. German {Suritis, July 30), which was written
by Constantius, a priest of Lyons, about a. d. 480, this event is
alluded to in different words. The Britons, according to Con-
stantius, sent delegates to St. German, asking him to come to
their aid, and after a Synod had been called, it was agreed that
St. German, accompanied by Lupus, Bishop of the Tricassini
(that is, Troyes in France) should go to Britain. They travelled
through the Parisii (Paris), where St. German persuaded St. Gene-
vieve,^ afterwards the Patron Saint of Paris, to dedicate herseh
to God, and, setting sail from some port on " the Gallic Gulf",
made for Britain. A violent tempest arising on the way, he
calmed the waves, after invoking the Holy Trinity, " by pouring
oil upon them," and reached safely the British coast. The
heretical teachers, who are depicted as conspicuous by their
wealth and splendidly robed, appeared, with great multitudes
of the people, including women and children, before St. German,
who proposed an open discussion, which was accepted. The
heretics were beaten, and St. German, proceeding on his way
back, stopped at Verulamium (as we have already said) to
return thanks to God at the tomb of the Martyr St. Alban.
The place of meeting was, it would thus appear, not very far
from St. Albans.
a district called in early charters Nevet, and was doubtless originally
Ros-nevet or the promontory of Nevet (representing possibly an older
A^', as the Welsh loses the
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 171
followed — the baptism of Blaecca, the prefect of the City of
Lincoln {Lindocolina), and of his whole household being the
first-fruits of the preaching of Paulinus, who afterwards (a.d. 633)
was made Bishop of Rochester — he having left in York Jacob,
a deacon, who gave his name, Bede adds, to the vi'cus where he
dwelt (conjectured to be Akeburg). Bede acknowledges his
indebtedness for his history of the beginnings of Christianity in
this region to a certain Deda, Abbot of Peartaneu,* who had
equivalent gu, and becoming ^;rrt«, as in the several islands of that name
and in the designations of 'Mand" in the West of Ireland; cf. Joyce,
Irish Place-Names^ ii. 360). Lindisfam (also called Medcaut, and in
Tigernagh's Annals under a. d. 632, Inis Metgo'it. In the Felire of Oengus
it is Inis Medcof) is therefore of the same significance as the Anglo-Saxon
Ea-landy that is water-land, island. Fame is the name of an island close
to Lindisfarne. The Guern in Guern-s-ey, and "the Wame", although
no longer above water, may possibly belong to the same stem. Simon of
Durham, i. 51, derives the Lindis of Lindisfam from the name of a river
flowing into the sea opposite it ; Leland calls the Witham (early form
Widmd) river flowing past Lincoln the "Lindis", and also the Hhee,
a generic word ( = also Kee, Key, Rei) for stream in late English, repre-
senting Anglo-Saxon Kith cognate with Irish Kiathor ( = torrent). Old
Welsh Reatir now Rhaiadr ( =• waterfall), Latin 7?/-vus, Pedersen, v. 9,
§ 45. The transition from rith to rey is shown in the Berkshire Child-rey
from the form Cilla-rith of the early Charters {^Cod. Dip, 746, 1133, &c.).
In Holinshed's Chrotiicle, Rhee is said to be a general word for stream.
The New English Dictionary pronounces the word of obscure origin, and
the Eng. Dialect Diet, has no light to throw upon it. (i) The frequent
occurrence of Rith in Anglo-Saxon place-boundaries implies that it must
have a modern representative. (2) If Ree be not that representative there
seems no other to hand. (3) The instance given above shows that it has
become rey^ and the conclusion that lith = ree seems fully justified. Rye,
which occurs in place-names, is quite a different word. On the Welsh
border it represents /'^zw = slope, as in Rhiw-las (= green slope) in
Hereford, which is represented a few miles away (near Dymock) by
Rye-lass. Lind-Colina {Ang\o'Sa.xon Zind-Cylene) contains "Colonia",
although the existence of an Anglo-Saxon Lind-Cylne in Kent, where Lind
= Limetree, makes the connexion obscure.
* The fact that Peartaneu (now Partney, not far from Spilsby) begins with a
/*, and has an ending {eii) of which the significance is not clear, suggests that it
is not an English word. Parthenay {tzxXxtxPartenactmi) too, occurs in France,
and is derived by Holder {Sprachschatz) from a personal name Parthenus,
172 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
had from the lips of an old man an account ot the latter^s
baptism and that of a great multitude by Paulinus in the River
Trent {Treanta) near the city called in the language of the
Angles Tiouulfingacaestir/ King Eadwin himself being present
on the occasion.
Eadwin seems to have owed his advancement to Christian
influence. For it was while he was a fugitive from ^thelfrith's
persecution at the Court of Redwald, King of the East Angles,
that he secured, as Bede tells us {H. E. ii. 1 2), by divine inter-
position, the help of the latter, who, in a battle on the east bank
of the river Idla** (a.d. 627), slew ^thelfrith and helped to place
Eadwin on the throne of Northumbria. Eadwin's influence with
Redwald led afterwards to that King's conversion and to a tem-
porary spread of Christianity in East Anglia. But it was to Sige-
berht, who had been baptized when an exile in Burgundy, that
the conversion of the people was mainly due. He succeeded in
a Latin form of the Greek word for Virgin. Most 01 our words connected
with the cloister are derived from the Greek, viz., "monastery," " coeno-
bium," *'monk," "nun," "anchorite," &c., and it is not quite impossible
that the Greek Parthendn, which is used for a nunnery (Life of Anthony
in the Lausiac of Palladius), should also have passed to the west. The
form in the Anglo-Saxon of Bede's History is, in this respect, suggestive.
Peortan-ea tham ham = of the ham or home of Peortanea. The eu
termination is here made into ea, which would indicate " river ". The
oldest Anglo-Saxon form, however, of the latter word, as far as I can find,
is ea, as in Bede's "Homel-ea" (now the Hamble river), and eu does not
become ea, but eo, as in Bede's Hreutford for Hreodford (Redford or
Redbridge, Hants). The eu represents, therefore, a different and probably
a foreign element. All this is pure speculation, and the name in a Sussex
charter Peartinga-wyrth (identified by Mr. Birch with Petworth) leads to
further surmises.
^ Tiouulfingacsestir has not left any relic ot its name, but it has been
identified with "Little borough" (the Roman Segeloaim or Agelocuni)
where the Roman road crosses the Trent. It has nothing to do with
Torksey, which in 873 was Turcesig.
2 Idla is the Idle river in Notts.; as the form in 1200 was Yddil
(B. Mus. Index of Charters) it looks as if the a termination is for ea,
river (Old Frisian a). In any case the origin and meaning of the word
are obscure.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 173
A.D. 631, and made Felix, who was born and ordained in the
same region, to be bishop of his kingdom, assigning to him
Dunwich (JDommoc or Domnoc) ^ as his See.
The battle of Haethfelth- (Oct. 12, 633) in which Caedualla,
the King of the Britons — Penda of the royal house of Mercia
assisting him — overcame and slew Eadwin, put a temporary
check to Christianity in Northumbria. Paulinus, who had been
a missionary in this region for some years, then took ship and
sailed, with Eadwin's widow, to Kent. A kinsman of Eadwin,
Osric, who had been converted by Paulinus, succeeded to the
southern part of Northumberland (Deira) and Eanfrid, son of
^thelfrith, who, having been an exile with the Scots and Picts,
had been brought up as a Christian among them, succeeded to
the northern portion called Bernicia. Both these kings, how-
ever, returned to idolatry, and Caedualla, who slew them, was
regarded by Bede as an instrument of divine vengeance {H. E,
iii. i). Oswald, the brother of Eanfrid, who had been in exile
with him among the Scots, succeeded to the Kingdom of
Northumbria and slew Caedualla at a place called, in the
language of the Angles, Denisesburna,' that is, the '* Stream of
' Dumnoc is Celtic and involves a term which means " deep " {Dumnos
or Dumno-s = the modern Welsh Dwfn). It probably signified a port
with a deep-water approach as distinguished from shallows with shifting
sands. The oc is an adjectival termination. The use of the cognate Dutch
(Frankish) word Diep in Nieuwe Diep^ and Dieppe^ is a parallel instance
of the employment of such a word to designate a port,
^ Haethfelth is supposed to be Hatfield Chase near Doncaster. Nennius
and the Annales Cambriae call this the battle of Meicen, The Welsh
and Irish Chronicles are two or three years behind, and place the battle
in A. D. 630. Caed-ualla is represented in Welsh history as having been
King of North Wales {Gwenedd), but if this were the case this territory
probably reached further north at that time. Chester lay waste (hence
West Chester) after ^thelfrith's victory, and Eadwin's writ hardly ran there.
The point of contact between Caedualla's and Eadwin's territories was
probably to the north-west of Chester.
' The site of this battle is now well known. In a thirteenth-century
charter we find the Archbishop granting ** xx acras terrae . . . in Rtileystal
174 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Denisus ". This battle began at a place a little north of the
Roman Wall called by Bede Hefenfelth, which he places not far
from Hexham (Hagustaldensis Eccksia), but ended in the victory
over Caedualla at Denises-burn (a.d. 634). Christianity was
restored in Northumbria by Aedan, sent, at Oswald's request,
by the Scots, to whom Oswald assigned the island of Lindisfarne
as his See. After reigning nine years Oswald was slain at
Maserfelth ^ by Penda (642), and was succeeded by Oswiu.
His relics, Bede tells, were taken to the monastery of Bardney
{Bardaneti),^
. . . inter Denisesburne ei Devilis'\ that is, twenty acres of land — in
Ruleystal between Denises-burne and Devilis. Denises-burn is now Rowley
Water, and Devilis, which is one of the many forms into which Dubglas
( = black or peaty stream) has come, is now, by a natural attraction.
Devil's Water (Speed's Map, 1610, was Dovols fi.), and gives its name
also to Dilston (see previous reference to Dubglas). The battle began
at Hefenfelth seven or eight miles north of Hexham beyond the wall,
where a chapel existed for centuries after, built, as alleged, on the site
of the cross which Oswald raised there. Leland identified the spot with
Halidene, now Hallington. Hexham is the modern form of Hagustaldes-
ham. Hagosteald meant a young soldier, or a bachelor. The modern
German Hagestolz = old bachelor, preserves the latter meaning of the word.
It gave name also to a place, Hcegstaldes-cumb in Somerset (Cari. Sax,
i. 97). It is possible, however, that we have here a case of attraction, and
that the original word was Romano-Celtic, perhaps some compound of
Uxello = high, as in the Axeloduno of the Not. Dig. ( Uxelludavio ol
Ravennas) with which Hexham had been identified, although there are
difficulties with the surmise. Nennius calls this battle Cat-scaul^ " Cat "
= battle, and *' scaul" may be for is {g)uaul =■ beneath the zuall.
^ Maserfelth is commonly assumed to be Oswestry, which in Welsh is
Croes-oswald, or Oswald's Cross. Nennius and Ami. Cambriae call it
Bellum Cochboy. And Simon of Durham places it at " Waneloc" (? Wenloc)
which he makes = Croes-Oswalt.
2 Bardaneu is distinct from Fartaneu, but owes, seemingly, its form
to the same original influence. What that influence was is not easy
to say. In Die Heiligen Englands^ p- ii> the name is " Bardanege^ where
rest near the river Withma, St. .^thered, the king, and St. Ostryth, sister
of King Oswald ". The termination eu is here made ege — island. The
Withma is now the Witham river, the earlier name suggesting an obscure
Celtic original.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 175
Oswiu fought and slew Penda at Winwidfeld^ in 654 (at the river
Uinuaed, according to Bede). Mercia had been Christianized,
according to the Saxon Chronicle, \n 652, and Penda was there-
fore nominally a Christian at the time of his death. Wessex
during these years had been extending to the westward, the
Chronicle recording a victory over the Britons (\Valas) at
Beandune [somewhere probably on the high lands north of
Bath, and not at Bampton (Oxf.) or Bindon (Dorset)] in a.d.
614, but Mercia was coming into conflict with Wessex, for in
628 the Kings of Wessex, Cynegils and Cuichelm, fought with
Penda at Cirencester {Ct'renceasire), the battle ending, however,
in a truce. Pope Honorius sent Bishop Birinus in 634 to
evangelize the West Saxons, and Cynegils was baptized in the
following year at Dorchester {Dorcic or Dorcic-ceastre^ in
Oxfordshire, and Cuichelm in 636 at the same place. Cenwalh,
according to the Chronicle, succeeded to Wessex in 643, but
was driven out by Penda two years after. He was not baptized
until 646. Birinus was succeeded in 650 by ^gelbeorht
(JElgelbiryth), a Prankish Bishop, who had been educated in
Ireland. In 652 Cenwalh is represented in the Chronicle as
fighting at Bradford-on-Avon {Bradan forda be Afne), and six
years later he overcame the Britons (Walas) at the Penns
(Ptf^«;//^7;/ = Penselwood), and drove them as far as the Parret
(to the Pedridan)? The extension of Christianity in East
* Uinuaed is supposed to be the river Broad Aire which flows by Leeds.
The form suggests some Celtic river-name, beginning with Vind-o ( = clear,
white, as opposed to Dub-o, "dark"), of which there were numerous
instances, some of them coming down to our own day, e.g., \Vinfrith
Win-ster.
^ Dorcic-ceastre appears in the Chronicle also as Dorces-cosiSitQ, illus-
trating the tendency of the Teutonic settlers to make the Celtic prefix
in a name they did not understand into the genitive case ot an imaginary
holder, cf. Rofes-ceastre and Raculfs-ceastre. Dorcic here may represent
the Durcinate of the Ravenna geographer, but the latter seems from the
sequence in which it appears to be in East Anglia.
Penn is here, as often elsewhere, made Peon. It represents an early
Pend- (which in late Cornish becomes Pedn) meaning *'head". It is
176 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Anglia at this time is shown by the entry in the Chronicle under
654, " Botulf began to build the minster at Icanho," which was
afterwards, it is assumed, called Botulfston, that is, Boston, in
Lincolnshire.^
In the records of the spread of Christianity in Britain, during
the seventh century, numerous localities of an interesting
character are mentioned. Bishop Felix, who came from Bur-
gundy, then but lately brought by Irish monks to a knowledge
of Christianity, laboured in East Anglia, where he was assisted
later on (a.d. 633) by a small band of Religious from Ireland.
Fursey, the leader of these, erected a monastery within a Roman
fortress, probably that of Garianno S^Not, Dig\ then known,
according to Bede, as Cnobheresburg,^ and now identified with
here in the English dative or locative plural ending in -um. The Pedrid-an
river is Celtic, but comes to us through Teutonic sources. It may mean
the " chief ford " -river, that is, Pen-rit, which would pass naturally into
*Perrit, the Parret— but this is purely speculative.
^ Ican-ho is made up seemingly of the genitive of some shortened personal
name, lea, and ho {kdh), a promontory, but the lean may preserve a remi-
niscence of the people called Icetti, whose chief centre was at Venta
Icinorwn, near Norwich. St. Botulf is said in Die Heili^en Englands
(p. 11) to have been buried at Medeskamstede near the river Nen: and
to rest (p. 15) at Thornige (Thomey Abbey) with several other saints. The
battle at Bradford-on-Avon seems to be that described by William of
Malmesbury (i. 23) as *'in a place called Wirtgemesburg ". William lived
sufficiently near to be acquainted with any local tradition, but nothing is
known of a citadel of Vortigern in this locality. Nennius makes the Citadel
{Arx) of Vortigern to be " beside the river Teibi in Demetia ", that is
apparently Cardigan, which is by the Tivy in South Wales. '' Caer Guor-
thigim," in his list of Civitates, is elsewhere possibly Tintern for Dinthigirn
or Dindeym, or fort of the chief. Vortigern = Over-lord.
2 The personal name Cnobhere involved in this name is seemingly made
up of Cnapa = boy, servant (now English '' knave ") and Here = Army,
host. Cf. Marah-Scalc (= Marshall = horse-boy) Gottes-scalc, Sene-scalc
(= Seneschal), &c. Cenapa occurs as a moneyer in the time of ^thelstan
(Grueber, A.-Sax, Coins), and Cenepes-moor appears in a charter {Cod.
DipL 120). The name Cnofwealh (Cnobwalch) is in the Durham Liber
Vitae. There are, as far as I can discover, no continental forms similar
to Cnobhere, and it is quite possible that we have here a pre-Anglian
name attracted into a form intelligible to Teutonic ears. The monastery
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 177
Burgh Castle close to the junction of the Yare and Waveney
rivers. In the life of Fursey (Capgrave, Nova Legenda Angliae)
— of which some form was used by Bede — he is said to have
worked twelve years in Britain, after which, in his desire for
a more secluded life, he left his monastery to his brother Foillan
and to two Presbyters, Cobban and Dicul, and proceeded to
Gaul. Here he founded a monastery called Latiniacum (now
Lagny) not far from Paris, and died about 650, his reHcs being
afterwards enshrined in a newly built church at Perrona
(Pdronne) in Picardy.
According to a MS. [E] of the Saxon Chronicle^ written in
the first half of the thirteenth century, the King of Northumber-
land and the King of Mercia erected in East Anglia a minster
in 661, to which ** the name of Medeshamstede was given, be-
cause [as the MS. says] there is a well there called Medes-wael ".^
This was known afterwards as Peterboro. The same MS.
alleges that a grant of lands and privileges was then made to
thg minster, but it is clear from the names of the places cited, &c.,
that no such grant could have been made at this time. Bishop
Tuda, who was present at the consecration of this minster, died
the same year, and according to this MS. was buried at Wagele,"
but according to Bede at Psegnalaech. Peada, King of Mercia,
was built within the "Chester" {on Sunire Ceastre, A.-Sax. version),
which possibly had then a name — perhaps the *^ Garian" of Gariannum,
now preserved in the river " Yare ".
' Medes-WKl suggests tlie personal name McBthj a contracted form for
some such appellation as Mocthhelm, which occurs in the Lib. Vitae.
^ It is clear that the early form in Bede, " Pcegnalaech," is the correct
one, and that the twelfth-century chronicler has made, owing to a common
mistake, the /'into a W, which it resembles in the A.-Sax. character. Pxgna
is in form a genitive plural of Paeg, and probably represents a British tribal
name. Laech = Leah in A.-Sax., which came to mean field, meadow,
but was originally " wood "; see Stevenson's Assers Life of Alfred, p. 272,
and Kurths {Fronii^re Linguisiique, i, p. 365), who cites the examples of
Belgian place-names ending in -loo (e.g., Waterloo), earlier -log. The
place has not been identified, but Paull in Yorkshire, in Domesday Book
Paghal, and in later documents Pagula (see Poulson's Holderness\ may
represent the name. It has nothing to do with Whalley.
M
178 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
and his following were baptized, according to Bede, by Bishop
Finan (one of the Irish Clergy from Lindisfarne) at the royal
vill called Ad Murtim (Walton) where, Bede tells us, Sigebert
also was baptized by Finan. The conversion of all Mercia
by the Lindisfarne missionaries followed. Diuma, one of these
missionaries, was made by Finan Bishop of the Southern Angles
and Mercians, but died shortly after (658) in a region called
In Feppingum^ being succeeded by another Irish Bishop called
Ceollach (now Kelly), who, shortly afterwards returning to lona
(Hy), was followed in the See by Trumher, an Englishman,
ordained by the Irish of Lindisfarne. He had been abbot, as
Bede tells us (i7. E. iii. 24), of a monastery called Ingetlingum
[the place where Osuiu was slain, now Gilling, Yorkshire].
After the death of Felix, Bishop of Dunwich, in 647, Honorius,
Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Thomas, of the province
of the Gyrvii,'^ to succeed him among the East Angles. Mission
work in this region, however, passed soon to the Lindisfarne
^ This has not been identified. " Fobbinges" occurs (but in Essex), and
the word here is a similar form in the locative plural. The resting-place
of Diuma is given in Die Heil. Eng., p. 11, as Ceorlingcburh near the river
Wenrisc, that is, Charlbury near the Windrush, Oxon. This river-name
is doubtless Celtic and involves probably -isc «= water.
2 Gyrvii means "fen-dwellers," "Gyrwe-fenn" is glossed "marsh",
and Yarrow is given by Bede as In gyrnum^ at the mouth of the Wear
river, that is the marshy land at Wearmouth. For the land boundaries
given in Cart, Sax, iii, p. 203, we have *' on Gyruwan fen that eft (thence
directly) on Bugla fen". Cf. also the " Gyrwa river" in the Chrcjiicle
of Melrose. Kluge {Gesch. der Eng. Sprache, p. 781, in Paul's Germanische
Philologies would make the Gyrwe, as well as the Hwicce, Teutonic
tribe-names, possibly of continental origin, although they have not been
identified in the ancestral home of the Teutonic invaders. Of the conti-
nental Rugii (cf. Holm-ryge in Widsith) Kluge finds a representative
in SUth-ryge (now Surrey), and in East-ryge (now Eastry in Kent). For
the former Bede has " in regione sudergeona ", in the Anglo-Saxon version
Suthrigna-lande, both in genitive plural. In an original charter of 780
{Cart. Sax. i. 353) occurs "in regione Eastrgena" (= Eastry), Croyland
{Cr Aland) is placed by Die Heil. Eng., p. w^on middan Girwanfanne,
i. e. in the middle of the Girwanfenn. The same authority records from
a MS. written before 1000, that Thunor, who had at the command of King
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 179
clergy, one of whom, Cedd, who had founded a monastery at
Lastingaeu ^ (Lastingham near Whitby), was ordained Bishop
by Finan, and became most successful in the conversion of the
people, especially in the City {civiias) of Ythanceastir,^ which,
Egbert slain the brothers of Eormenburg {Domncva), had buried them at
Eastrige under the king's " high setl" in his Healle (Hall).
^ The termination eii in Lastinga-eu, Hemt-eu, &c., is of obscure origin
and meaning. In Bede's time the ending in the latter word had come to be
identified in meaning with ig = island, but when the A.-Sax. version
of Bede's History was made, Herut-eu became Herot-ea, that is, Hart-
water, or, as it is now, Hartle/^^/. Ea (= water) and ig {= island) are
both traceable to a common Gothic stem ahwa (cognate with Latin Aqim),
which became Old German aha, and later a, as in Fuld-a, but an A.-Sax.
form eu for the normal ea is not found. It is possible that we have
in this termination a remnant of a Celtic ending, and that the first part
of the combination is of similar origin, but attracted into intelligible
Teutonic forms. Compare Lastinga-cu and Lastingham with Incuneningura
and Concha-ceastre ; Coldingham, and Bede's Coiudi urbs — in the Chran.,
Coludes-biirh. It was in this " Town of Coiudi" that i^ilthryda, daughter
of Anna, king of the East Angles, became a nun. The abbess at the time
was ^bba, whose name survives in St. Abb's Head, near Coldingham
iEdilthryda was subsequently made abbess in a region called Elge {Eliga-
birigj Die Heil. Eng. 7) — now Ely. This name was given to the place,
Bede says (J7. E. iv. 19), because of the abundance of eels in the marshes
surrounding it. Kluge {Etymol. Worterbuch, sub Gau) thinks that the ge
in the name represents the German Gati = district, and that the complete
word means Eel-district. The A.-Sax. Chron. [E] variant Ileiige is late,
or one might think of the British Helig = willows.
^ Ythan-ceastir has been identified, and rightly, with the Othona of the
Notitia Dignitatum. It is now marked by St. Peter's Chapel in Bradwell,
Essex, which is called St. Peter's ad muriim. This is referred to in Die
Heil. ^«^., whereon p. 13 it is said, there resteth S**Osgith (Osyth) inCicc
(Chich) near the sea at St. Peter's Minster. There is a wall there, but
whether of Roman origin is not certain, but the ancient Chapel, now
a barn, has Roman bricks built into it. The Blackwater, on which the
place is, forms the lower reaches of the Pant. I suggested some years
ago (see Plummer's Two Sax. Chron. ii. 149) that this is the ludan-byrig
of the Chron. under 952 [D], where King Eadred imprisoned Wulstan,
Archbishop of York. The mention immediately afterwards of Thetford
suggests that the place was in East Anglia, not at Ged-burgh (Jedburgh),
where the King's writ did not run. A similar form, Geotha-j occurs among
the A.-Sax. mints (Grueber, A.-Sax. Coins). The form in Fl. of Wore, is
futhan birig,
M2
i8o BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Bede adds, is on the shore of the river Pent [Fen/a], and at
Tilaburg (Tilbury). Siudhelm, who had just succeeded to the
throne of East Anglia (660), was baptized also by Cedd at a
place called, according to Bede (ff. E. iii. 29), " Rendlaesham,
that is the dwelling of Rendili.'* Cedd died in 664, and was
succeeded by his brother Ceadda, then abbot of Lastingham.
Finan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, died in 661, and was succeeded
in the See by Colman, another Irishman, who became the
champion of the Celtic mode of keeping Easter as against the
Roman. A synod was summoned to settle this question, Bede
tells us (iii. 25), " in the monastery which is called Strenaeshalch,
which means the bay of the watch tower \Sinus Fari\ ".^ Bede
makes the Pharos of Alexandria the second of the seven
wonders of the world, the Capitol being the first. So he was
familiar with the word. Hild, who had formerly ruled the
monastery at Heruteu (" the Isle of the Hart ", according to
Bede), was the abbess of this place, and took the part of the
Irish in the controversy. Bishop Cedd, who acted as interpreter,
maintaining, as Bede says, a most watchful attitude on both
sides. Wilfrid was the most powerful advocate of the Roman
position, and through him an agreement was arrived at, but
Colman would have no part in it, and went with his followers
(some thirty monks) to an island in Ireland called, says Bede,
Inisboufind, that is, " the island of the white cow." He after-
wards found a more suitable place called Mageo, where he
built a monastery which was known for centuries after as
" Mayo of the Saxons '*, now Mayo.
When Theodorus (like St. Paul, a native of Tarsus) became
Archbishop of Canterbury in 668 he set about reforming
* Hale (preserved in halec, haiigh in Scotland) = Healh, which Sweet
renders hiding-place, bay, but its modern form means " low lands by a
river ". Streon = treasure, gain, wealth, and it is not easy to see how it
could mean "watch tower" (P/iarus). Mr. Mayhew makes the meaning
** the rock of gain ". It is possible that Bede's/ari may represent a Teutonic
word, such as far, which is given by Outzen as Frisian for boundary, or
it may be the same/ari we find in Lindisfarona, see p. 1 70, note.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION i8i
irregularities, and finding that Ceadda had not been rightly
consecrated Bishop [he had been consecrated by a Bishop of
Wessex, assisted by two British Bishops (Bede, H. E. iii. 28)], he
consummated the act after the Roman manner. Ceadda
erected a monastery at a place called, by Bede, Ad Baruae, that
is, '* at the wood/' but his See was at Lyccidfelth * (Lichfield),
where he died and was buried (a.d. 672).
^ Among the Civiiates Britanniae of Nennius we have Cah Luit Coyt^
that is, "the stronghold of the Grey wood." Luit coyt represents, as
Dr. Bradley pointed out, the earlier Leto-cetum {lecto-cettim of Ravennas ;
cf. [L] Etocetum of the Attt. Itin.) of which Hede gives the shortened form
Lyccid in his Lyccidfelth. In an original charter of a.d. 803, now in the
British Museum, the form is Liccidfeld, for possibly *Litcidfeld. This has
become Lichfield, which has nothing to do with Lie (body or corpse),
with which it is usually associated. The Let may also mean "broad"
and the name would thus = English "Broadwood", but Llwyd coed occwxs
in Wales to-day. The origin of the Litchfield in Hants seems to be from
an early Ludeshulfe ("Church of Lydeschulv" in temp. 17 Edw. II.
Hist. MSS. Report XV. App. x. p. 173).
The oldest form of Coed is preserved in the Continental place-names,
KaiTo^pi^ (in Portugal), Ptolemy ii. 5. 2, given by the Ravenna Geographer
as Ceto-bricca. In the Brythonic districts of Scotland we find it
modified, probably by Goidelic lips, into Chet or Keith. The early
form, as already stated, of modern Bathgate is "Bat chet" (Holyrood
Charters), and the early antecedents oi -Keith take the same form, see note,
p. 86. Several modern English place-names, involving chety chute, such
as Chet-wood, Chute Forrest, appear early with Cet in the compound. For
example, we have in the Calendar of Charter Rolls^ "Forest of Chett"
(1248), "In Bosco de Cett," 1270, where Chute is the modem form;
" Chetwod," Bucks. (1290), and "The wood of Cett-red", Dorset (1243) ;
cf. Lasket grove (Monmouth), Lasket in Cumberland (where probably the
originally prefixed definite article has caused the dropping of the initial ^),
and Glascoed ; Kesteven in Lincoln appears {^B. Mus. Charters) in twelfth
century as Ket-stefena {Chetstevett : Domesday), in which the latter element
is seemingly an Anglian genitive plural of Stemn or Stefn = stem, and
the whole may represent " the wood of trees large enough to be used in
ship-building". Another origin is, however, possible. The A.-Sax. SteOt
means also " period ", and dialcctically in Steven " appointed time or place
of meeting". C^// appears also in an early Charter as /mww/wj-. We have
thus " the district of the people who assembled at the Cett; cf. names of
Hundreds. The form Ceoftefne'm Ethelwerd's Chronicon isevidently a mistake
of the Copyist. In a copy of a Westminster charter of 1067 {B. M. Charters)
i82 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Sussex and the Isle of Wight were not converted till the close
of the seventh century. Wilfrid, who, when he was a Presbyter,
was sent by Alchfrid, son of Oswiu, to Gaul, to be consecrated
Bishop, received Episcopal Orders at Compiegne {Compendio)
at the hands of Agelberct (Agelbeorht), then Bishop of Paris,
but formerly of Wessex. Wilfrid was Bishop of York from
669 to 678, when, as Bede says {H.E. iv. 13), "driven from
his Bishopric, and having wandered about for a long time through
many places, he went to Rome." On his return he set about
converting the South Saxons. The king of these people (^Edil-
walch) had been recently baptized in Mercia — Wulfhere, the
king, being his sponsor, from whom ^dilwalch received as a gift
the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meanuari * {Afeanwara,
Anglo-Saxon version), that is, of the region of which East and
West Meon and Meonstoke preserve the name. At this time,
A.D. 681, Sussex, as Bede says, was ignorant of the Divine
Name and of the faith, but a certain Irish monk named Dicul
(probably the companion of Fursey) had a very small monastery
in a place called Bosan-hamm,^ where, surrounded by woods
and the sea, he, with five or six others, lived a life of meekness
and poverty. Wilfrid's success was great, and King ^dilwalch
we have "Penceat Wood in Battersea Manor", which seems to be the
same as " se wude the hatte Poenge ", i. e. the wood called Penge be-
longing to Battersea according to an almost contemporary charter of 957.
{Cart. Sax. iii. 189). In a charter of 1308 we have "Penge in parochia
de Badricheseye ". It is probable, therefore, that Penge is the worn
equivalent of Penceat = chief wood, the ceat as in the Letcet of Lichfield being
softened to che = ge : cf. Pen-cet, Lanes., p.- 86. The Westminster Charter
of 693 does not include Penceat. This derivation which explains an early
obscure form is both startling and suggestive. In Die Heil. Eng., p. 1 1, we
have the entry "There rest St. Ceada and St. Cedde, and St. Ceatta in the
minster named Luetkld near the river called Tamer (Tame) ".
^ Mean represents the district, and may have taken its name from
a river ; wara — " of the people ". The Moenus, now the Main (Germany),
and numerous rivers called Afam in Ireland, show that a Celtic etymon is
possible.
^ Now Bosham. The diocese of Selsey, afterwards Chichester, took its
beginning from this small monastery.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 183
gave to him Selaes-eu/ in the A. -Sax. Chron., Seoks igge^ which,
Bede says, means Sears-island.
A new authority now appears on the scene. Caedualla, " a
most vigorous youth of the royal race of the Gewissi," after
having raided Kent, according to the A.-Sax. Chron. in 685,
invaded Sussex, slew .^dilvvalch, and ravaged the whole country.
He also took possession of the Isle of Wight, and put two
brothers of the King Arualdi to death, the youths having taken
flight to the mainland, where they had hidden themselves at
a place called Ad Lapidem, but were discovered. The abbot
of a monastery called Hreutford^ (that is, "the ford of the
Reed," says Bede), obtained permission to baptize them before
their execution, and they were thus the last martyrs of early
Britain.
Caedualla went to Rome three years afterwards (689) and was
baptized by Pope Sergius, and there he died, furnishing material
for Welsh legend. The names ''Caedualla" and "Gewissi''
(see previous note) suggest alliances, if nothing closer, between
the Welsh and the West Saxons. It is noteworthy that his
predecessor, Kentwine, is recorded as having driven the Welsh
{Brit-wealas) to the sea (A.-Sax. Chron. 682). The Wessex
kings for some time had been extending their sway over the
whole West country. In 661 {A.-Sax. Chron) Cenwalh won
a battle over Wulfhere, King of Mercia, at Posentes byrg (now
* Selsey is the modem name. Here Bede again understands ^m to be
the same as ig =» island. He makes a similar assumption (//. E. iv. 6) in
regard to Chertsey, which he says ** is called Cerotaes-ei, that is, Cerot's-
island". The A.-Sax. Chron. under 964 makes it ^^ of Ceortes tge".
Cerot may be a doublet of Herat = Hart, as in Hertit-eu ; or Cerot may be
a personal name. The root Ke> (=horn) involved in Hart (= homed
deer) is the same as that found in /brother ( = homed cattle) — the initial
h in both cases representing an Indo-European k which appears in the
Latin cervus and the Welsh carw ( = stag) cognate forms. Rother appears
in several English place-names, e.g. Rotherhithe (the earliest form contains
Rether), Rotherfield, Rutherford, &c.
' Ad Lapidem has been identified with Stoneham on the Itchcn:
Hreutford is Redbridge near Southampton.
i84 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
considered to be Pontesbury, south-west of Shrewsbury; but
compare Poscetem tune in Hereford Domesday, in which seems
to be involved a genitive plural of Cef), and drove him as far as
-^Escesdun, that is, as Mr. Plummer has shown {Two Sax.
Chronicles, ii, p. 23), the Berkshire downs. Ina, Caedualla*s
successor, according to a contemporary note to the Chronicle,
"built (? repaired) the minster at Glastonbury," which had
probably ceased to be British about this time : see Note G, p. 197 .
Wilfrid returned to York in 686, where he remained till 692,
when he went to Leicester. From Leicester he went to Hexham
in 705, where he died in 709. All England was now Christian,
and up to 686 even the Picts of Galloway received Bishops from
the English.
The last years of the seventh century are marked by some
interesting events, among them being the consecration of St.
Cuthbert as Bishop of Lindisfarne. As a youth he had entered
the Monastery of Mailros, of which the abbot, as Bede tells us,
was then Eata, afterwards Bishop of Hexham, but Cuthbert
spent many years afterwards as a recluse on the Fame Island,
about nine miles from Lindisfarne, now Holy Island/ Cuthbert's
teacher was the famous St. Boisil, " a priest of great virtue and
of a prophetic spirit,'* whose name is still preserved in St.
Boswell's-on-the-Tweed. Boisil, and another Bosil, Bishop of
the Hwiccas, seem to be Celtic and not Teutonic names. In-
deed, according to the Libellus (Hardy, Materials, i. 310-13),
Cuthbert himself was also Irish, although bearing an A.-Saxon
name.2 King Ecgfrid, who had caused Cuthbert to be conse-
crated bishop, was, however, no friend to the Irish, for in the year
A.D. 684, a year before Cuthbert's consecration, he had sent an
^ Mailros and Hexham have been already explained. Bede, by coupling
Hexham with Lindisfarne in designating the Bishopric of Eata (" after-
wards Bishop of Hagusialdensis or Lindisfarnettsis Church "), seems to
indicate that Hexham was then the bishop's see.
2 Ciith is A.-Saxon for known, cleat (still preserved in xnacouth), and
Beret (later Beorhf) = distinguished, now bright. Ireland was called
Scotia and the people Scots in Bede's lime and much later.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 185
army into Ireland {Hiberma in the text ; " on scotta ealonde '*
in the A.-Saxon version) under a leader called here Beret, but
afterwards " Berctred", who, according to the A -Sax. Chron.^
was slain by the Picts in 699 (698 Bede). The Northumbrian
host under Beret devastated the country of the Irish, whom Bede
designates " as a harmless race and always most friendly to the
nation of the Angles ". Neither churches nor monasteries were
spared in this invasion. The Irish defended themselves with
their weapons, but also trusted to their continuous prayers for
heavenly help. The divine vengeance was not long delayed,
for in the following year, as Bede tells us, Ecgfrid, having set
out on an expedition to devastate the Pictish province — against
the protests of his friends, Cuthbert included — and having been
led by a simulated flight of the enemy into the fastnesses of the
mountains, was there, together with the greater part of his army,
slain (May 20, a.d. 685). Bede adds, *' Because in the previous
year he had turned a deaf ear to the most reverend Father
Ecgberct, enjoining him not to attack Ireland {Scotia), which was
not injuring him, he had now to suffer the penalty of that sin,
by not hearkening to those who were anxious to recall him from
his own destruction." ^
The Picts, and some portion of the Britons in the North,
* The Annals of Ulster calls the place of the battle Duin Necthan, and
states that Ecgfrid was buried at lona, a somewhat surprising statement
from his known enmity to the Irish. The place of the fight was Dunnichen
in Forfarshire (called in a charter of William the Lion, Dunnechtyn), also
marked now by Dunnichen Moss, the equivalent of Nechtanesmere, the
name of the battle in Simeon of Durham, who lived in the early part of the
twelfth century. The MS. is of the same century. The A.-Sax. Chron,
[E] says that Ecgfrid was slain " be northan See", that is "to the north
of the Sea of Forth" (Plummer, A.-S. Chron., ii, p. 32). Nennius calls
the battle " the action of Linn Garan ". Nechtan was the name of several
Pictish leaders, and the appellation still survives in the families of Mac-
Nachten or McNaughten. Holder derives Nechtan from *Nect-a(g)nos =
Neit-anus, which he connects with old Irish Necht glossed glan, that is
" pure", "clean ", but Nit (also Neid) was, according to Cormac^s Glossary
(ninth century), the Celtic God of War. Cf. Mog'^i\. = Slave of N^t. See
Celtic Britain ', 265.
i86 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
recovered after this victory their territory (which had been
previously subject to Angles and Scots), and were still in posses-
sion of it in Bede's time. Trumwine, who was bishop in
this locality, had to retire from it with his following, ''who were
in the monastery of Abbercurnig,^ situate, indeed, in the region
of the Angles, but close to the strait which divides the lands of
the Angles and Picts (that is, the Forth)." He took refuge at
Whitby (Strenaeshalch) where he afterwards died (Bede, H. E,
iv. 26). Cuthbert died in the Island of Fame in the year 687,
but his body was removed afterwards to Lindisfarne, and thence,
after many wanderings during the Danish invasion, to Durham
where it still remains.
Bede tells us that a certain Presbyter named Herberct, who
led the life of a solitary "in an island of that great lake out of
which the Derwent {Derveniw) river flows " (now known as
St. Herbert's Isle in Derwentwater), was accustomed to visit
Cuthbert, and on one occasion, coming to Carlisle (Lugubalia)
to see him, obtained from him the promise that he and St. Cuth-
bert should die on the same day, which came to pass on
March 20 in the year mentioned.^ Bede ascribes several cures
^ This is now Abercorn. The first part ot the compound {Ader) is
made up of the Celtic preposition ad (Latin = ad) and bero-s, cognate
with Latin fero and its English equivalent, " I bear.'' It means a junction
of streams, and contains the same element we find in Irish Commar
{Ko77i-bero-s)^^€^^ Cy miner, Breton A'^fw/^r (giving its name to Quimper),
meaning " a coming together of valleys, streams, or ways ". The word
Inver, of similar meaning, is made up of the same element with the prefix
Eni = in ; "^Eni-bero-s becoming the Irish Inber and the Welsh Ynfer.
The Welsh Gofer ( = stream), Cornish Guvei (plural Goveroii)^ Breton
Gouer are made up of the preposition Vo (now Welsh Gud) = (under)
and the same bero-s. (See Dr. W. Stokes, Wortschatz d. Keltischen
SpracheinheW). The Corn in "Abercorn " represents the name of a river,
possibly the Carron, involved apparently in the Linn-garan or *' Carron-
Water '* referred to in preceding note.
2 An anonymous life of Herbert speaks ot him as coming to visit
Cuthbert ''from the Islands of the Western Sea" {Maris), which Mr.
Plummer makes to mean " West Mere ", that is, Westmoreland. See
previous note on this region on p. 137, and Geoffrey of Monmouth's
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 187
of various diseases to the relics of St. Cuthbert, the accounts of
some of which he himself had heard from witnesses. Among
these cures he mentions that of a young man suffering from a
tumour, who dwelt *' in the monastery of Dacore, so called after
the river on which it was built ".^
fanciful origin of the name. Derwent was the name of several rivers,
one of them giving designation to the Roman station Derventio, supposed
to be Stamford Bridge, near York. Dervent-io contains, seemingly, the
stem Derv-a or Darv-ac, represented in old Irish Daur (Gen. Daro) = oak,
Welsh Derw, and in the Anglian Treow = tree. The form Dor, in
Mapulr/(?; (also Mapuldre and Mappowdre) = Maple-tree, and in Appel-
dor (Appuldre) = Appletree, making English place-names like Appledore,
Appuldrecombe, Mapuldre-ham (pronounced now as Maple-durham), is an
old termination, but has no linguistic connexion seemingly with "tree".
Derv occurs also in Derven-tum, now Drev-ant in France, and also " In
foreste Dervo", now la forH dt Der in Haute-Marne, France. See
Pertz, Dipt., n. 31 (a.d. 673), p. 30. Dr. W. Stokes thinks Daruernon
to be, as Ptolemy gives it, the early form of what is called in the Ant,
Itin. Durovernuni (Canterbury), and ascribes the first part of it to Daru
-» oak, the Old Irish Daur. The form Durovemum, besides being better
established, is more easily explicable : Dur-o (in old Gaulish Duron) =
citadel, as in the place-names Augusto-durum, Brivodurum, &c., and
F^rw-ww = alder tree, or originally rather "Swamp", since the Welsh
adjective formed from its modem equivalent, Gwern-og = swampy, boggy :
tlie Breton Gnernog has the same signification. Compare Verno-dubram,
now Verdouble in France. Sir John Rh^s sees in Duron a cognate form
of Irish DoniSy Old Cornish Dot = door, gate ; cf. Darat already referred
to. River-names may take their form from any accidental circumstances,
such as the trees upon their banks, of which we have familiar instances
in Ash-brook, Asche-bum (twelfth century), now Ashbourne, but the
Celtic Esk (= water) may in some cases be the antecedent as already
stated, compare the Welsh Onn — ashes, and the Onn-ey (= Onn-ea
river), Shropshire. " Lugu-vallium " referred to in the text is the form
in the Ant. Itin., and means the "wall of the God Lugus" (Dr. Stokes).
The British forms were Caer Ligualid, Liwellid. Simeon of Durham calls
it Luel, and applies to a certain Eadred (a. d. 867) the designation Lulisc
because he had been educated in a monastery founded by Cuthbert at Luel.
The God Lugus and derivations from it are referred to p. 12.
^ This small stream is called Dacre, near Penrith. The early form was
possibly Dacara, which contains the suffix drd, a frequent ending of Celtic
river-names, such as Isara, Iscara, Oscara, Samara, Tamara.
i88 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Miracles ascribed to the virtues or the relics ot early English
saints abound in Bede and later writers. St. John of Beverley
(died 721) is a noteworthy miracle- worker of whom Bede heard
many wonderful things (Bk. v. 2) from one of his deacons called
Berct-hun, afterwards abbot of the monastery In-dera-uuda
(= Beverley), that is " in the wood of the Deri " (Deira province).
St. John's favourite resort in Lent, when he was Bishop of
Hexham, was a retired dwelling not far off, to which the
cemetery of St. Michael the Archangel belonged, and where he
performed some miracles. This was identified by Richard of
Hexham {Decern Scriptores^ col. 291) with Herneshaw, that is
probably Earnes-Scaga or Eagles-Copse, and now thought to
be St. John's Lee near Hexham. Berct-hun informs Bede ot
another miracle of St. John, performed (a.d. 686) at a nunnery
in a place called Vetadun of which Heriburg was the abbess.
Folcard, who wrote the life of St. John of Beverley before 1084,
makes the name Beiendune, with a variant Yaiadini. Smith, in
his Bede's H. JE., identifies the place, correctly, it would seem,
with Watton, between Driffield and Beverley. There seems to
be in this name a reminiscence of the people called Otadinoi
(or Votadinoi) of Ptolemy, who places the Brigantes between
them and the Selgovoi, a. name still preserved in the Solway
Firth.^ Bede tells us {H. E. v. 1 2) of another wonderful occur-
rence which took place in the region of the Northumbrians
called Incunem'gum, where a certain Drycthelm having been
raised from the dead, gave afterwards his experience of hell,
purgatory, and heaven, in language which has a certain resem-
blance to that of the great trilogy of Dante.'^
1 For the Votadinoi, see back, p. 100. The name is represented in early
Welsh literature as Gododin and Guotodin. The locality is defined by the
fact that Bremenion (now Riechester) was in it (see Ptolemy).
^ Mr. Moberly identifies " In Cuneng-um '', which is a locative plural, with
Cununga-Chester, called also Cuncha-Chester (in Simeon of Durham and
in R. of Hexham), and known now as Chester-le-Street. Congavata of the
Notitia Dignitatum maybe the locality, although it has been identified with
Moresby. Congangios of the Not. Dig. has been identified by Holder, follow-
ing Sir J. Rhys, with Ceangi, a people of North Wales mentioned by Tacitus.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 189
The great Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore, died in 692,
and was succeeded, as Bede says {H. E, v. 8), by Berctuald,
abbot of a monastery at Reculver {in Racuulfe) '* which lies on
the northern mouth of the river Genlada'*\ In what Mr.
Plummer calls ''the oldest extant native charter of which we
possess the original (dated a.d. 679)", a grant is made by
Hlothari, King of Kent, to this Berctuald, and '* in civitate
Recuulf '* is given as the place at which it was executed, that
is the Regulbhim of the Notiiia Digniiatum} The Genlade has
already been explained — Gen=.Gegn, opposite, and lada {Gelad)
= passage, way; the modern name is Yenlet, which is given to
two or three places in the Thames mouth ; it is the antecedent of
Inlet (see Oxford Did., sub " Inlet "). The numerous lodes on
the Severn, " Saxon-lode," &c., preserve the word in its sense
of *' passage, and it also appears with the sense of " way " in
place-names ending in -let. Cf. gelat = a junction of roads.
The Teutonic tribes of Britain had not only become all
Christian towards the end of the seventh century, but efforts were
made by some of them to convert their kinsfolk on the Continent.
The priest Ecgberct, previously mentioned, who had been
leading the life of a pilgrim in Ireland, proposed that the word
of God should be made known to the natives from whom the
Angles and Saxons had sprung — that is, to those "who were
corruptedly called by the neighbouring people of the Britons,
Garmani, namely, the Fresones, Rugini, Danai, Hunni, Old
Saxons, Boructuari " (Bede, H. E. v. 9).^ Ecgberct was twice
^ This word seems to contain the Celtic Gulb (Old Irish Gulba) = beak,
point, and a prefixed preposition cognate with the Latin Prae, represented
here by Re : compare Rak ( = ? Prae-ek) in Rac-ynys = " insula prae-jacens "
(Dr. W. Stokes), and the Irish Island of Rachrie. Ru = point [it occurs
in a list of places in Myvyrian Archaeology], so frequent in place-names
on west coast of Scotland, is possibly of kin.
^ The Frisians, as we have seen, formed a section of the invaders 01
Britain, and their name is probably preserved in Dun-fries (Dumfries)'
For the Rugini, who gave their name to the Island of Rugen, in the
Baltic, see previous note on Suth ryge and East-ryge = Surrey and Eastry
respectively.
iQO BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
warned, it is alleged, by an appearance in a vision of Boisil,
former Abbot of Melrose, to desist from his enterprise until he
had received instruction at the Monastery of Columba in Hii
(lona), the founder of which was now called, as Bede says,
" Columcelli, that is Columba of the Cella (=Cell) ", represented
by the Celtic prefix " Kil " in names of churches, as in Kil-
patrick, &c., and in the parts of the Continent where Irish
missionaries worked by -Zell^ as in Appenzell, &c. Notwith-
standing the repetition of the vision, Ecgberct persisted, and
was about to sail forth when a tempest destroyed his ships and
cargo, Ecgberct and his companions being, however, saved. One
of these companions, named Victberct, who had spent many
years in Ireland (Hibernia) as an anchorite, managed to set sail
for Fresia (Friesland), whence, after preaching fruitlessly for two
years to King Rathbod and his people, he returned to the
contemplative life. Vilbrord and twelve companions then took
up the work, and having been received favourably by Pippin,
King of the Franks, who had conquered Fresia and expelled
Rathbod, he was rewarded with success.^ Following his example
two English Presbyters named Heuuald (one called Black
Heuuald and the other White Heuuald), who had spent much
time in Ireland, set out on a similar mission, but were slain by
the Pagans and thrown into the Rhine (a.d. 675). Their
bodies were afterwards recovered and enshrined in the church
of Cologne. Vilbrord was consecrated by the Pope and made
Bishop of Fresia, and Pippin gave to him a place for his cathe-
dral in his celebrated castle, known in the language of the
inhabitants as Viltaburg, i. e. " the City of the Wilts ", but in
Gallic speech as Trajectum^
^ Bede says nothing about the mission of Boniface (Winifrith) to the
Frisians. He was martyred at Doccum in Friesland. Willibald, in his
Life, says Winifrith was educated at Adescancastre, that is at Exanceastre,
Exeter, which seems to have been under English dominion at the time, that
is before the end of the seventh century.
^ The A.-Sax. version of Bede says Wiltenburg and iEt-Treocum, that is
Utrecht.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 191
Bede*s ecclesiastical history extends to the year 731. He
died in 735 in his monastery at Wearmouth {Viurae-muda) in
Yarrow {Ingyruum), where he was buried ; his relics were after-
wards removed to Durham, but they and the rich reliquary
which contained them were carried off from the cathedral in
1 54 1. He chronicles comparatively few events during the last
thirty years of his life. We have among these the record of
a visit to Aldfrid, King of the Angles, paid by Adamnan,^ abbot
of the monastery of Hii (lona), who, after a sojourn of some
time in Northumbiia, became persuaded that the Roman method
of keeping Easter was the right one. Endeavouring in vain,
however, to convert to his opinion the monks of Hii and those
who looked to them for guidance, he took ship to Ireland, where
he was more successful, and died within a year after his return
to lona. Bede mentions also that Adamnan presented to King
Aldfrid an important work on the Holy Places, the matter ot
which he had obtained from a Gaulish bishop named Arcuulf,
who, after visiting the Holy Land, Damascus, Constantinople,
Alexandria, and many islands of the Sea (Mediterranean), at
length was wrecked on the western shores of Britain, whence he
made his way to Adamnan's monastery at Hii. This work,
from which Bede gives some extracts, has come down to us, and
is important for its description of the holy sites in Jerusalem in
the seventh century.
Bede chronicles also the death of Wilfrid in 709 at Oundle
(In Undalwni)^ and his burial in his own first monastery at
Ripon {Inhrypiim) after a stormy Hfe, of which Bede gives
a summary (H. E. v. 19).
* Upon Adamnan see p. 49.
" For "Oundle" see p. 23. It may be well to point out here that
In Un-dalum may contain in its final element the locative plural of dal^
meaning shares or divisions. " In Hrypum " is also in the locative plural.
Its origin is obscure. There is no Saxon word that seems near to it,
but it is possible that the Norse place-name Ripar (= Crags), dative
plur. Ripum, may have had an English equivalent with initial H. The
Latin Rtpa = " river bank " would be far-fetched. This place is now Ripon
192 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
We have also his account {H. E. v. 21) of the conversion of
Naiton (Nechtan), King of the Picts, to the Roman observance
of Easter and to the Roman mode of tonsuring (a. d. 7 i o).
Naiton, he tells us, wrote to the abbot of Bede's own monastery
at Jarrow to obtain architects to build future churches, after the
Roman custom, for his people, a request which was granted.
These peaceful relations with the Picts did not continue
long, for in the following year (711) Bede records {Epit.) that
** Berctfrid fought with the Picts '\ a statement repeated by the
A.-S, Chron, (under 710) with the addition that the battle took
place between Haefe and Caere, and that Ine, and Nun his
kinsman, fought against Cerent, Wala-king (king of the Welsh).
The Irish annals (Tighernagh and Ulster) record the defeat of
the Picts by the Saxons in 711 at the field of Manann.^
Although Adamnan had not been successful in Romanizing
his monastery, Ecgberct, who has been just referred to, had,
according to Bede, convinced the monks of Hii of their insular
errors and persuaded them to follow Roman customs (a.d. 716),
so that, eighty years after they had sent Bishop Aedan to
Northumberland, they accepted, under their abbot Dunchad,^
* Mr. Plummer {Two Sax. Chron. ii, p. 36) surmises, and I think
rightly, that " between Hsefe and Caere " means " between the rivers Avon
and Carron", which include the plain of Manann, corresponding with the
site of the battle in Catnpo Manand given by Tighemach. Gereiit, if it
is not a British name, is for Gerontius, a name derived from the Greek,
but in use among the Romans. He was seemingly king of the Welsh
(that is Latinized Britons) in Cornwall. The Liber Landav (pp. 108-114,
ed. Evans-Rhys) says St. Teilo, when he crossed rom Armorica to visit
King Gerennius on his death-bed, landed at Din-Gerein, i. e. the Castle of
Geraint, now Garrans, Cornwall. Haddan and Stubbs conjecture that this
is the Dinnurrin mentioned in the Canterbury Scribe's record of the Pro-
fession of Kenstey the Bishop of Dinnurrin, H. and S. Councils, i, p. 674 n.
H. and S. add cf. " Din-sol ", the Cornish name for St. Michaels Mount
(Camb., Brit. SS. 65).
2 Dun chad : this, in its early form (as on the Ogam Stone at Glan Usk
near Crickhowel) was Duno-Catus, meaning "the fortress warrior". It
became Anglicized to Duncan, but its derivative Mac Dhuncadh, now
pronounced MacConkey or Maconochie, preserves the original sound of
the ending.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 19J
the Catholic traditions. Ecgberct, after spending thirteen years
among them, died in Hii on April 24, 729.
Bede ends with a description of the English Church in 731.
Tatwini, who had been a monk in the monastery of Bredon
{BriudunY was now Archbishop of Canterbury, Inguald was
Bishop of Essex, Aldberct and Hadulac were Bishops of the
East Angles, Daniel and Fortheri Bishops of Wessex, Aldwini
Bishop of Mercia, and Walchstod Bishop of the people west of
the Severn (that is, of Hereford), Wilfrid Bishop of the Huiccii,
and Cyniberct Bishop of the Lindisfari * (that is, of the people
of Lindissi, or Lindsay in Lincoln). " Four bishops ruled in
Northumbria : Vilfred in the Church of York, Edilwald in
Lindisfarne, Acca in Hexham, and Pecthelm in Candida Casa
(Whitern, now Whithorn), which latter, owing to the increase
of the faithful, lately made into a bishoprick, has now as its
first bishop the same " (i. e. Pecthelm). The Picts, Bede adds,
were now allies of the Angles not only by treaty, but by the
tie of Catholic peace and truth, and as rejoicing in belonging
to the universal Church. The Irish {Sco//i) inhabiting Britain
were also content with their boundaries and meditated no evil
designs against the Anglian people. The Britons alone, by their
opposition to the Angles and to the Catholic Church, remained
unsatisfied. " This," says Bede, '* is the state of Britain in this
year, the 285th after the coming of the Angles into the country."
We have now to go to the Saxon Chronicle and later sources
for the course of events in subsequent times. A few events,
however, in the early part of the eighth century which are not
^ This is Bredon (Wore). A charter of A.D. 780 (Brit. Museum, Facs»
i. 11) gives " Breodun". There are several hills of this name in England.
The first part seems to represent the Welsh Bre (plural ^r^^«)= hill,
appearing in many compounds, such as Penbre (giving Pembrey, Pember-
ton, and possibly the Pepper in early place-names), Moelfre = bald hill.
The early form was Brig. Holder {Alt Celt, Sprachschatz) says that
"Brigden" in Belgium represents an early Brigo-duno-n, and is thus of
the same origin as Bredon.
' For Lindisfari as distinct from Lindisfarne see note, p. 1 70.
N
194 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
found in Bede are to be found in the Chronicle. We have, for
instance, the death of St. Guthlac recorded under 714, and
under the year 715 we have the entry that Ine (King of
Wessex) and Ceolbred (King of Mercia) fought at Woddes-
beorg 1 (variant Wodnesbeorg). The death of Ceolred, who
was buried at Licetfelda (Lichfield), and of ^thelrsed, who was
buried at Beardanig ^on Beardan iggc)^ are recorded under the
following year. Under 718 a religious community at Win-
burna (Wimborne)^ is referred to. The overturning of the
defences of Tantun (Taunton) is mentioned under 722. The
Chronicle records also under 733 the occupation of Sumertiin
by ^Ethelbold, King of Mercia. The Chronicle [F] under 742
says, '* There was a great synod gathered together at Cloves-
hou,* at which were present ^thelbold, King of Mercia,
^ Woddesbeorg. Mr. Plummer (op. cit. ii. 38) makes this to be Wan-'
borough, presumably on Kemble's identification {jCod, Dipl.j Index) of
Wodnesbeorg with "Wanborough, Hants" (? Surrey), but Wanborough,
Surrey, was, in 1147, Wenebergia, and Wanborough, Wilts., was, in 1245,
Wamberge, both forms excluding an original Woddes or Wodnes-beorg.
Wodnesborough (Wodnesberge in thirteenth century) in Kent agrees so far
as form is concerned, but it does not suit the locality, which was somewhere
on the confines of Wessex and Mercia. William of Malmesbury gives
Wodnesdic, now "the W'ansdyke", but see previous note, p. 148.
2 It will be observed that the Beardan-eu of Bede has here become
Beardan-ige, where Beai'dan is treated as the genitive of a personal name.
^ The Win in Winbuma (that is Wimbome) is the same word as the
Celtic Win in Winfrith (Dorset) that is Win (or Wen) fnit (= white
stream), and means white or clear. The burna is of course English.
Tantun takes its origin from the Celtic name of the river flowing through it,
the Tan^ possibly for an earlier Tatn^ of which the meaning is obscure, but
from the number of river-names in which it occurs it seems to have been almost
a generic word for a stream, e.g., Tam-eses, Thame, Temede (now the
Teme), &c. A river Thame in Durham has a Tanton upon its
bank.
* This is given in Bede as Clofes-hoh or hoch. The first element is
seemingly a personal name in the genitive, and Hoh means promontory.
Cliffe at Hoo is linguistically impossible. Cloves or Clofes could not
become cliff. The early form of Closeworth (Somerset) was in 1252
Cloves- wurthe {Cal. Chart, Rolls, i. 408), and in 1270 Cloves*uude (ibid.
vol. ii, p. 136). See p. 231.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 195
Cuthbert, Archbishop, and many other wise men." iEthelbald,
together with Cuthred, King of Wessex, fought against the
British (Walas) in 743, but Cuthred nine years later turned his
arms against ^thelbald, defeating him at Beorg-ford ^ (752),
and the year after we find him again engaged in a conflict with
the Walas. Cuthred died the following year and was succeeded
by Sigebryht, who was deprived of his throne by Cynewulf —
his Witan, owing to his wicked deeds, consenting — and driven
by him into Andred (that is, Andred's Wood), where he re-
mained until he was slain at Pryfetes ^ floda. Cynewulf, who,
we are told, had fought many battles with the British {Bre/-
walas), received his death, after a long reign (a. d. 784), at the
hands of Sigebryht's brother, Cyneheard, at a place called
Merantun. The account in the Chronicle of Cyneheard's
attack on Cynewulf is interesting (as Mr. Plummer has shown—
Ilvo Sax. Chron, ii. 45), for its illustration of the arrangements
of a Saxon residence. The chief building was the hall {Heali)
with the other apartments around it, the whole surrounded by
a rampart of earth i;weall) constituting a burg {burh). The
gate {geat) was an opening in the weally but the entrance to
any of the buildings within it was called a door {duru). Cyne-
heard captured first the " bur " or ladies' chamber, at the door
of which Cynewulf was slain, and in the fight which followed
the king's supporters were all slain, " with the exception of a
British hostage {Gisl, which enters into many Teutonic per-
sonal names, e. g. Gislbert, Gilbert, but, according to Pedersen,
was originally borrowed from the Celtic, see p. 200), who was
^ Kemble gives Berg-ford as the early charter form of Burford (Oxford).
" Pryfetes floda is now Privet, Hants, where are two places of this
name. The first element seems a personal name in the genitive case,
and the second is the plural of Flod, meaning, according to H. Sweet,
"water"; thus " Pryfetas Water" or Creek. Pryfet as a personal name
is non-English, and a British original is equally hopeless, except we may
see in it Pryvet, the Old Welsh plural of Fryf = worm (Strachan's Early
Welsh, p. 24), Cf. Kerrig y Piyved in Suppl. Camb. Arch. Journaly
April, 1909, p. 31, but see p. 210 where Prihta = a young steer, and cf.
Privates Moreshed {C. Sax, ii. 422).
N2
196 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
severely wounded." Cyneheard was shortly afterwards slain
by Cynewulfs thanes and was buried at Ascan-mynster (Ax-
minster), the king's body being entombed at Wintanceastre
(Winchester).
Beorhtric, who succeeded Cynewulf as King of Wessex in 784,
died, after reigning sixteen years, and was buried at Werham
(Wareham). In the same year (784), says the Chronicle^
^thelbald, King of Mercia, was slain at Seccan-dun and
buried at Hreopa-dun.^
Under 761 the Chronicle [E] records the slaying of Oswiu
by Moll, King of Northumbria, at .^dwines-clif,'^ and under
762 the death of Frithewald, Bishop of Witern (who had been
consecrated at Ceastrum, locative plural = York) and the con-
secration of Pyhtwin, his successor, at ^Ifetee.^
In 733 the Mercians and the men of Kent fought at Ottan-
ford (Otford, Kent), and in 777 Cynewulf and Offa fought
around Benesingtun (that is Benson, Oxford), of which OfFa
succeeded in getting possession.
Seletun (now Silton, York) is mentioned under 779 as where
Beorn Alderman was burnt, and Soccabyrig under 780 as the
place of consecration of Higbald to Lindisfarna ee. A synod
was held at Aclea in 782 and another at Cealc-hythe in 785.*
* Seccandun is now Seckington, Warwickshire, and Hreopa-dun is now
Repton.
"^ ^dwines-clif is in Simeon of Durham ''Eldunum near Melrose", now
Eildon (Eildon hills). Ail is Celtic for " rock ", from an early [P]alek.
It occurs in Ail-Clud = Clyde Rock, now Dumbarton, and in this Eildon
= "Ail-dun", rock fortress. Cognate forms in other languages zxo. fels
(from [P]allos) in German = rock ; French /alazse = cliff. J^'a/l in Norse
(" Fell" in North of England) = hill.
^ v^lfetee. This seems to contain the British El-vet, and ee another
form of ea — river or for ige - island, but the first part may be A.-Sax.
Elfetu (Norse ^^) = Swan, and the whole " Swan-river". An Elvet forms
part of Durham, but the name occurs in this, and in an earlier form,
Elmet, elsewhere. See p. 1 70.
* Soccabyrig is now possibly Sockbridge on the Eamont {ea = river and
ntont for mufid w^ mouth, see note, p. 269. Mr. Plummer suggests Sockburn
on the Tees. In Lindisfarna ee the last syllable seems to represent island.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 197
NOTE G.
Glastonbury.
There is no place in these islands which can boast of a
longer continuance of religious life than Glastonbury. Although
it does not figure among the Civitaies Briianni'ae appended to
the Historia Briitonum of Nennius, its antiquity is unquestionable.
In William of Malmesbury's (twelfth century) De Antiquitate
Glastoniensis Ecclesiae^ we have an attempt to trace the origin
of Christianity there to the time of Pope Eleutherus (Pope from
177-92). This writer knows of the legend in Bede {H, E.
i. 4; V. 24), who, following the entry in the Liber Pontifi-
calls (drawn up according to Duchesne in 530), relates how
the British King Lucius asked Pope Eleutherus for mis-
sionaries to convert his people, and that the Pope sent them.
William of Malmesbury gives the names of these missionaries
as Phaganus and Deruvianus, using as his authority the forged
Charter of St. Patrick hereafter referred to. The question of
King Lucius and the mission of Eleutherus has been dealt with
fully by Zimmer {Nennius Vitidicatus, pp. 140 et seq.), and by
Haddan and Stubbs, Councils^ vol. i, pp. 25, 26), and may be
relegated to the region of pure fable. The Apostles St. Philip
and Joseph of Arimathea are also brought in by WilHam of
Malmesbury, the latter being made the leader of an earlier
mission.
The forged Charter, ascribed to Ireland's Apostle, gives
besides the names of the assumed founders, Fagan and
Deruvian, a list of their early successors. This list is an
instance of a pious fraud unsupported by knowledge. Some
of the assumed personal names therein are designations of
The Norse ey\% to be excluded, as the form here was in use before the Northmen
came. There are numerous Acleys, but this was presumably in the south. It
may be Ockley in Surrey. Cealchythe can be traced through Chalchithe
(1465), Chellsaye (sixteenth century) to Chelsea. (See B. M. Charters and
Rolls and cf. the form in the Taxaiio of Pope Nicholas, wherein its
position establishes its identity beyond doubt.) Challock in Kent was,
in the ninth century, Cealf-loca or calf-enclosure, and Mr. Plummer's
mention of Mr. Karslake's view is, therefore, superfluous. The term loke
still survives in East Anglia. A further instance of this use of loca is given
in Hist. AfSS. Report XV, App. x. 148, " Recourse with cattle to the
Pynloke" (i.e. Pound-enclosure).
198 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
localities (e.g. WelU'as, Breden, and Swelwes, where we have
most probably a reminiscence of Wells, Bredon, and the Swelle
common in English place-names, from Swelg = swallow, indi-
cating the disappearance of a stream underground). Some of
the other names, as Adelwolred, are Anglo-Saxon compounds
and impossible in this region at the date. Htn-Locrifius (thus
in William of Malmesbury : Gale's MS., thirteenth century, now
in Trin. Coll. Camb., reads htn loernius) seems borrowed from
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Locrinus — formed from the Welsh
word for England Lloegr — with hin^ i.e. hen (= old) prefixed.
Glastonbury is called in this Charter Ynsgitrin (in Gale's MS.
Insgytrin) that is, hiis (= island) and gytrin for wytrin (i.e.
Vitrinus — " of glass "), which quasi translation the composer
of the name uses, assuming that the Glas in Glastonbury repre-
sented the English word Glass. The Welsh Triads calls also the
place '* Bangor Wydrin in the island of Afallen (Avallon) ".
St. Patrick's Charter is ascribed to 430 {Cart, Sax. i, p. i),
and it did not strike the scribe as anything extraordinary that an
English place-name should be found there at so early a date.
Professor Freeman, if I mistake not, also made Glastonbury
a pure English name. The names Fagan and Deruvian (variants
Dy/an, Devinianus) are late forms — the latter probably corrupt
— of possible Irish names. Arniilf and Ogmar, which also
appear in the document as Irish brethren, seem to be Scandi-
navian forms. There is a mention in the Annales Cambriae
of Glastonbury, and it is alluded to in the Scholiast to Fiech's
Hymn (see p. 130, Irish Liber Hymnoruvi, H. Bradshaw Soc. and
vol. i, p. 103), where a Sen Pairaic (i.e. Old Patrick) is associated
with the place. This is not the Irish Apostle, but, according to
the editor of the Annals of Ulster (Rolls Series), p. 1 7,the Founder
of Armagh, who was followed there by S. Benignus (Beonna) ;
also associated with Glastonbury by William of Malmesbury who
makes him Abbot there immediately after St. Patrick.
There are numbers of Charters of Grants to this place, many
of doubtful authenticity, in the Cart. Sax. and in William of
Malmesbury's work already cited. Some of these throw some
light on place-names in the locality.
Among the charters of Grants by English kings, bishops, &c.,
we have one ascribed, but with doubtful foundation, to a.d. 680
(Cart. Sax. i, p. 74), in which a piece of land called Lantocal and
a marsh called Ferramere (now Meare) are alleged to have been
given to the Abbot Hemgisl by the Bishop of Winchester.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 199
Ferramere is clearly an English form and suggests English
occupation of the district, which could not have been earlier
than about a. d. 658.
Another charter ascribed to 681 {Cari. Sax, i, p. 96: Ord.
Survey facsimile) records a grant by Baldred King of Mercia
of land on the top of the hill called Pengerd (Pennard, Somerset)
to the same Hemgisl (Hemgils) for the completion {supplemen-
tum) of the Church [at Glastonbury] of the Blessed Mary and
St. Patrick. The bounds of the land — which are given in
Anglo-Saxon — are all English, except the name of the river
Brue {Briuu), implying that the West Saxons had then settled
in the region about the Church and had given names to
localities there. To CuUanbyrg^ to Siangedel/e (stone quarry),
and io Stcenenanbrycge (stone-bridge) occur among them.
Another charter ascribed to 682 is a grant by Centwm King
of the Saxons {Cart. Sax. i, p. 97) to the same Hemgisl
(Hamegils) of twenty-three measures of land {Manstones) in
a " place close to the celebrated wood called Cantuc-uudu
(the Quantocks), bounded on the south by the Tan (the Tone
river) . . . with other boundaries as far as the ford called Weala-
/ord" {Wea/a, gen. pi. of PF^jM = Welshman). A HcBgstaldes-
Cumh (see p. 116) occurs among the boundaries, and also in
Cart. Sax. ii, p. 77.
We now come to a charter (Cart. Sax. i, p. 165) ascribed to
Ini, King of Wessex, who is stated in the Chronicle to have
rebuilt the monastery there (before 680). The charter which is
ascribed to 702 (for 705) grants a piece of land on both sides
of the Doulting stream to the Abbot of Glastonbury. Among
the boundaries is a Crich hulk (now Creech-hill, see note,
p. 23).
This is followed {Cart. Sax. i, p. 166, Ord. Survey facsimile)
by a grant of land near the Tan (Tone) at a place called Pouelt
(now Pawlet) and of land on the Doulting stream — here called
Dulut-ing. Pou seems to be the British form of the Latin
Pagus, universally so used in Brittany, and the -elt seems to be
the same as the -ulut in Duluting, representing possibly the
remains of some Celtic land designation.
A further grant of Ini appears in a charter {Cart. Sax, i,
p. 177) ascribed to 663 (Dr. Birch suggests for 693 or 708) in
which land in and about the mount called Brente (now Brent
Knoll) is given to the same Abbot Hemgisl (here Hengisl),
The bounds are the Sabrina (Severn estuary), the Axa (Axe),
206 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
the Termi'c, and the Stger. The name Ternuc occurs in another
Charter, and it is doubtless this Termic, The " Tarnock Common *'
(Tornoch in 1533) near Biddenham on Ordn. Survey Map pre-
serves the name. Another river called Torric (which seems to be
the same) appears in the boundaries. The Axa {Exa in a charter
of A.D. 944, Cart. Sax. ii, p. 553) is probably for Isca, which
appears in Charters also as Esce, as in the early forms of the
Berks and Derby -^j-^fords {/Esc/or d). Hengisl here may be
the correct form and the equivalent of the Cornish Hen-gwystl =
Old hostage. The names of the notables Tangisil and the dux
Bamgisil of the Kent Charter ascribed to a.d. 605 (Cart. Sax.
i, p. 10) have the same termination and there are numerous
similar names in the Liber Vitae. Gul ( = hostage) is also used
as a prefix in names, e.g. Gislhere Gislbeorht (= Gilbert), &c.
The similarity of Hengisl and Hengwystl suggests that the
abbot may have been British, and it is significant in this con-
nexion that a grant by the King of Devon is referred to in
William of Malmesbury (De Antiq. EccL Glast.) of the land
called Ineswyirtn to Worgret Abbot of " the old Church," and
that Abbot Bregored followed him after one interval. Worgret
is a manifest Celtic name with many parallels in Breton nomen-
clature, e. g. Uuoruuoret, see Cartulaire de Redon, passim. The
possible identification is not strengthened, however, by Pedersen's
opinion (F. Gramm. § 87) that the Old High German Gisal
and A.- Sax. Gisl are borrowed from the Celtic, for this borrowing
must have taken place in pre-historic times.
A grant by Fortere, Bishop [of Sherborne] to the Abbot [of
Glastonbury] is given in Dr. Birch's Cart. Sax. i, p. 189, in which
the river Aesce (the Axe referred to above) and a "port"
called Bledenithe (i.e. *Bleden-hithe ; hithe ■=. ^ox^ and also
the Church of the Blessed Martin Confessor are mentioned.
This charter is ascribed to 712. The A. -Sax. bJed^ meaning
'* branch ", may be used in Bledtm\\\Q for an inlet of the Axe.
Dr. Birch makes the Bledone granted to Winchester (?) 975
{flart. Sax. iii, p. 647) to be Bleadon on the Axe ; Bleden-ithe
is more likely to be the modern Bladney standing on rocky
ground and communicating with the Axe seemingly by one of the
" Rhines ". The association of St. Martin as well as St. Patrick
with Glastonbury district is a note of antiquity in itself.
Another charter of Ini (here Ina) granting lands to Glaston-
bury, ascribed to 725, appears in Cart. Sax. i. 207. It is very
corrupt and the place-names are much distorted, possibly by
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 2or
successive copyists. Budecalech (now Butley, which may be for
Budecan-legh, which, though English in form, may be Celtic)
appears among them in probably its correct form. Soweie is for
Sow-ige (cf the variant of the next charter), i. e. ? Su-ige or
Sug-ige = "Sow island", now "Zoy". William of Malmesbury
gives a legend to account for the name stating, on the authority
of ancient British history, that a certain Glasteing (the Welsh
eponymus of Glastonbury) following his sow with eight legs
through Escebtiorne (? Iveythorn in Street) and Wells by the
Sugewege (Sow's way) found her at an apple-tree near the old
church, and gave to the island hence the name of Avallonia.
Lantocai also occurs for the Lantocal previously mentioned
involving the Celtic Z^;/ = " enclosure " = finally "church".
The next charter (ibid. 210) is ascribed to the same date and
furnishes an early form of the river Parret (i.e. Pedredt-sirem),
and gives the river Kan (Cary) as a boundary. Pouell has become
here Poholte^ but it is Pouholt in a subsequent charter {Cart. Sax.
i, p. 213) which gives us also Cengisl (variant Hemgisl, but it is
Coengils in a later charter) as the Abbot in 729. The latter
charter is alleged to have been signed at Pen-crik, hardly the
Pencric (now Penkridge) in Staffordshire, for the writ of the King
of Wessex would not avail at this time so far north. It was pro-
bably one of the Somerset " Creeches ".
A certain Hilla makes a grant in 744 with the permission of
^thelbald (called by a shortened form Elbald in the same
charter, Cart. Sax. i, p. 242) of Balteresberghe (Balsboro in
Speed's Map of 1610, now Baltonesboro) and Scobbanwirth to
Glastonbury. Among the boundaries, which are very corrupt,
occur Ni'met and the river Olan or Olitane, which seems to
have given its name to the Leden ford occurring in the same
charter, Litana (= broad). The Nimet here is suggestive.
It still occurs in the names of several localities in Devon
(Cart. Sax. iii, p. 624, gives the early form), and we find
it in the Nemeto-bn'ga in Spain, and the Nemetacum Atrebatum
in Belgium (recorded in the Itinerary of Antonine) and in the
early name of Nanterre — Nemeto-dHron. Its meaning is given
by W. %\.o\Q%{Wortschatz d. kelt.Spracheinheit, p. 19 2) as "noble",
" holy ", who cites the Irish ; in bratha nemed (" the judgements of
the nobles ") : it occurs in the Old Welsh personal names Gornivety
Eidnivet, &c., and in the early Breton Catnimet^ ludnimet, &c.
Compare the old Cornish Carn-nivei = "heaven-bow", that is,
rainbow. There was probably a religious shrine at the spot
202 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
before the foundation of Christian Glastonbury. The place
may be the St. Michael's Tor, close to Glastonbury (and near
enough to Baltonesboro to be a boundary) which elsewhere
I have connected with the Nen-ihur (i. e. (?) NemeHor)
of St. Patrick's birthplace. There is a Nempnet north of the
Mendips, but this is out of the question. The charter mentions
further that the Glastonbury monks (who are called there Hen-
gisling, i.e. followers of Hengisl) had chosen a wooden Church
at Glastonbury as a resting-place for the sarcophagus of Hengisl.
William of Malmesbury describes all the churches here {De Antiq.
Glasi.). A letter of Pope Leo III (a.d. 798) confirming the
monastery of Glastonbury to Kenelm, King of Wessex, is given
in the Cart. Sax. i, p. 392.
There is a charter of King Edbert ascribed to 801 (Cart.
Sax. i, p. 418) granting a portion of land at Bodecaleie (the
Butley previously mentioned) to a certain Eadgils, and among
the boundaries the following names occur : — Bregedes-were (i.e.
(?) the weir of a man named Breged : could this be the Abbot
Bregored? A Brudenewere appears in Sock Dennis in 1280,
B. M. Chart, and Rolls), Lang-Echer (= Acre) and Ucktng Echer
(cf. Ucingford, B. M. Chart^, Swelle, Lane her pille (? = modern
Lancherly : for Lancher, see p. 298) and Stan-pille {pille is here,
from its association with "stone", most probably a boundary
pillar and not /z7/ = stream : cf. *'on thone Stenenan Stapol " =
stone pillar, Cart. Sax. i. 47), Olde-lake^ Hoctan- (h)yth, the
Old yo (not, I think, eoh = poetical for yew, but the Fee river,
a possible dialectical form of ea, eo, cf. old- Lake), sel/(h)ith
cf. Shuthelve Hill, Axebridge), Weles(h)ith and "from the
{h)ythe*\ &c. This charter was confided to the church of
Glastonbury.
A charter ascribed to 842 {Cart, Sax. ii, p. 13) mentions
some localities near the Brue river, among others the river Alum
(upon which is Dicheford : there is a Ditcheate, i. e. Ditch-gate,
two miles north of the Brue) which has its confluence {Gemido —
Gemythe) with the former river. The name occurs in another
grant of lands near Glastonbury {Cart. Sax. ii. 471) along with
a curious place-name (near Batcombe) "a/ Austien on than
put " i. e. puteus = well. Here is another possible claimant for
''Augustine's Oak" or rather ''Austin's Well", but the Wessex
boundary was not so far west in a. d. 604. A Worcester Charter
{Cart. Sax. i. 109) has cet Austin^ of which we may still have an
echo in " Austins rick " of the Ord. Map. The Penryn Awstin
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 203
in Kernwy of the Welsh Triads (ii. 183) seems to contain the
same word, and if it was meant to designate "Aust Cliff'*
{Penrhyn = Promontory) on the Severn mouth it shows that
Kernwy (Cornwall) extended further north than is assumed.
Alum may be a form of the common Celtic river-name,
Alauna, now generally ^/«^ (Aluuinn — as in Cart. Sax. i. 227 —
Warwickshire) as in Alnwick, Alne-Chester (now Alcester,
Warw.). Nimei appears in the same charter, attracted into the
intelligible form Nymede, as if "new meadow". The charter
is alleged to have been written at Andredes-eme^ which suggests
the Andred in Andreds-wood — a more correct ending is given
below — but William of Malmesbury explains it as St. Andrew's
(Chapel).
The charter dated 904 {(2ari. Sax. ii. 263) is alleged to have
replaced a lost charter showing the lands which Athelstan DuXy
son of Etheredi (for ^thelredi) had given to Glastonbury when he
became a monk there. It contains the boundaries of Wrington,
Somerset, but the names are very corrupt. The Wring is a river
which gives its name to Wrington and Wringford. Preosteseluoey
with which the boundaries begin, is not intelligible : it may be for
Priests leak, now Priestleigh, Somerset. The remaining names
are not instructive.
King Edmund granted to St. Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury,
certain lands at Christian-Mal-ford, Wilts. ( = Crisiemal =
" Christs Cross "). *' On tha olde oden missenne " occurs in
the boundaries, which is an obscure sentence ; Oden may be for
the Welsh Odyn — kiln, although it is given as Anglo-Saxon
for "threshing-floor" (see Oden Cole, p. 157). The last term
suggests a borrowing from the Latin messis (= a reaping) either
by the British or English. The Welsh and Cornish Mesen
(= acorns) can hardly apply.
In Cart. Sax. ii, p. 544, there is a grant of privilege to
Glastonbury by King Edmund in a.d. 944, and also a grant of
land at Wootton, Somerset, by King Edmund in 946, to the
thane Athelnod {Cart. Sax. ii. 578) which land is liable to
charges on behalf of Glastonbury. The boundaries are in
corrupt and late English. Ashbury (in which is Ashdown,
Berks.) is granted in another charter to Glastonbury by Edric —
see Cart. Sax. ii, p. 594.
The Dean and Chapter of Wells were formerly in possession
of a charter, now lost, of King Eadred, granting in a.d. 950 land
at Pucklechurch {Pucelancyrca) to Glastonbury. A copy exists
204 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
in the Record Office from which {CarL Sax. iii, p. 44) I
extract the more important boundaries : — Stanford^ Hennamere
{henna = fowl, i. e. perhaps here " wild-fowl mere ") — Gosamere
(Gos = '' goose " f gives an irregular plural Ges, but here we
find a regular genitive plural Gosa), Stanora (^rfl: = bank);
Hlypgei {hliep = leap, geal = gate, " ? a gate that can be leaped
one way only." The place-name Lipyate is not uncommon).
Further boundaries are : — Havima (gen. pi. of hamm =
meadow or enclosure) on Kynges Rode {= to King's Cross or
possibly "clearing "). Byd in the boundaries seems a river-name,
but it may be for hyht (masc. = a bend, bight : neut. = a dwell-
ing). It appears here in Bydincel {wincel = corner), in Bydewyllon
(Byd- well), and in "///^ hamm on Byd". "Of Loddera-wyllon "
{Loddere = beggar : Wiella = well). On Loddra-welhm occurs in
a grant to Pershore, Cart. Sax. iii, p. 589 ; cf. Beggar es-ihome in
charter granting land at Bledon, Somerset, Cart. Sax. iii, p. 648.
Hreod-mor ivyllon (" Reed-moor springs "), " Where the wyriwala
runs to Fearfi beorhg''' (i.e. Fern hill). Wyrtwala appears in
the dictionaries as "root", i.e. as the equivalent of German
Wurzel, but this cannot be its significance here or in the many
other cases where it appears as a boundary. Weall-wala ( =
(?) " Wall foundation ") occurs only in poetry, but the Wala
here may mean " foundation *' and Wyrt-wala thus = " root-
foundation", or the ground base perhaps of old structures.
The compound, however, may mean simply vegetable {wyrt)
garden. See Crawford Charters (Napier and Stevenson), p. 68,
on a parallel use of Wyrtrum. On tha eggce = " on to the edge,"
a common element in place-names. On thone graf = " on to that
one grove ". On haran stan = " on to the hoar (gray) rock ". On
hric weg = " on to the ridge way ". On oxna healas = " on to the
oxen shelters " [healh, pi. healas = " corner, shelter "). On Heges-
taldes setl = to the residence of Haegestald (see Hexham, p. 174),
and lang Fromes along the Frome river. On Cweorn Cleo/u=.^' to
the quern-cliff", i. e. the cliff from whence querns or stone hand-
mills were obtained. On Befer pyttas = " to the Beaveri.holes '*.
On ^schurhg = " to Ashbury ". On Sinder ford = (?) a ford
where " slag " is used for stepping-stones.
The obscurity of the name Puckle Church has been referred
to elsewhere (see p. 275). To the explanation there advanced
may be added the hypothesis that the latter element (flyrca^
may not be for Church at all, but a modified form of the British
Cruc (= tumulus), in which case the term Pucel would be
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 205
a natural determinative, the whole meaning possibly " fairy
mound"; cf. Pukelonde, B. M. Ch. and Rolls. The names in
this charter have been analysed at some length because they
afford fair instances of Saxon name-giving.
In Cart, Sax. iii, p. 89, we 4iave a confirmation by King
Edwith (var. Eadwig) of the grant in 956 of a vineyard at
PaihenehergHe to Glastonbury. Dr. Birch places this, I know
not upon what authority, at Mere in Wilts., and says the vine-
yard is noticed in Domesday. I should be inclined to look for
it closer to Glastonbury, and if the name Mere is implied any-
where it might more fitly be Meare close to the monastery and
on the Ea {= river) mentioned in the boundaries, that is the
Brue. This is confirmed by the fact (see below) that Pathene-
berga is placed " in insults " in King Edgar's grant of privilege
to the abbey. Pathene seems to be for Pathena, a genitive
plural of a word which is not seemingly English ; cf. Peatanige
now Patney, Wilts., Cart. Sax. iii, p. 354. Pamborough, the
modern surviving form, shows that the place was some four
miles north-west of Glastonbury. Oslakes-leag, in the boundary,
may still survive, but I have not found it on the map.
In Cart. Sax. iii, p. 452, is another Glastonbury charter in
which the Cari stream is mentioned, and in another charter of
Edgar dated 968 {Cart. Sax. iii, p. 493) a grant is made to
Glastonbury of land on the Dorset Stour, in which Dewlish
{JDeveliscK) is mentioned (see p. 150).
King Edgar granted again certain privileges to Glastonbury
in 971 according to Cart. Sax. iii, p. 574, in which certain
places in the islands (in insulis, i. e. in the low insulated lands
near the Abbey) are mentioned, among them ^^ Bekeria^ which is
QdiiXtdi parva Fbernia {\\\.\.\e; Ireland)". It is somewhat striking
that we have in this word, not only a link connecting Glaston-
bury with Ireland, but in the term itself a form but slightly
modified of the Irish Bec-eriu ( = Little-Erin : erinn being the
genitive of Eriu). The term occurs also in the Felire ofOengus
(Henry Bradshaw Soc, p. 118), with the same significance, as the
designation of a little island off the Wexford coast which is
now known as Beggary-island. The Glastonbury form is pre-
served still in the name of a village not far from the Abbey,
called Bickery in the new Ordnance Survey Map, replacing
a misnomer in the older maps, where, doubtless by the influence
of some local antiquary, the surveyors set it down wrongly as
Bickworthy. William of Malmesbury says that St. Bridget
2o6 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
spent some time on this island, and that certain relics of her
and of St. Indracht were preserved in the church. Ind-recht =
*' the Just " ; the modern form in Ireland is Hanratty.
Patheneberga also occurs here as in i?tsuHs, and also Adredes-eya
for the form given above as Amdredesevie. The eya termination
is the usual Latinized form of the Anglo-Saxon ige = island.
King Edgar grants privileges here to Glastonbury at the instance
of St. Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury, Oswald Archbishop
of York, Brictellinus (Beorhtholm) Bishop of Wells, and others,
for the soul of his father whose body rests there, and for the souls
of his ancestors. Among the signatures — at London it is said
in one of the MSS. — appear the names of Keneth [Kinadius
rex Alhanie) King of Scotland, and Mascusius, " High Admiral "
or "Wicing Chief" {Archtpirata), the latter name probably
a distorted form of the name Magnus common among the
Scandinavians.
^thelflaed(Car/. Sax.'iu. 600), second wife of King Edmund I,
she gives for the souls of Edmund and of King ^Edgar and for
her own soul, land at Domerham to Glastonbury.
A charter of King Edgar {Cart. Sax. iii. 608), ascribed to 973,
exchanges land at Brancmtnstre, elsewhere Braniic minstre
involving a Celtic personal name (? St. Branoc, diminutive of
St. Brandan, associated with Bristol and with Braunton, Devon),
for land at Hamme. Branuc Minstre recalls '' Branok hyalf
hiwisce" (Thorp, Dipl. p. 107), belonging to Glastonbury.
In this charter we have as bounds Wernan ford and Wernan-
strem and the river Wern ; also a Stanwei (stone-way, perhaps
a Roman road) and the river Peret (Parret). The names are
corrupt, showing the results possibly of frequent copying. There
are several other charters given in William of Malmesbury's
De Aniiq. Glasion. Some of these contain seemingly early
forms of place-names in the locality, e. g. Ceddren (Cheddar,
where a grant of Elleanhoro is situate); Godenice. (now God-
ney) which is said to be so called from the Holy Trinity ;
Mar/enesi'e (from a chapel of St. Martin on the island) ; Bade-
cumhejuxta Montem Munidop (Mendip, Mened-ipp in 1290 {Cal.
Ch. RollSy ii, p. 363), see note, p. 24); Bedul, Branuc Dunhead
(= Downhead, where probably Branuc Minstre may have been,
cf. Branch Huish (Huish = Hiwisc z=zfamilia and also a land
measure: see above), N.E. of Downhead) ; Lemucerine (probably
a corruption of some Celtic name) ; Eatumberg = ? Emborough,
Eteneberga in 1270 CaL Ch. Rolls, ii. 137 (cf. ^c?/^^ = Jutes
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 207
and Eo/en = g\3.nt. See Asser, Li/e of Alfred^ Stevenson);
Occemund (? Oakhampton) ; Occenefeld (? Okenhede of B. M.
Ch. and Rolls) ; Peasuanere (Peasuc = ? a personal name) ;
Lidencge (cf. Lidenford above) ; leholt, AttahoU, Lupwite
(? Lopen); Z^^/i7^^M^ (? = Lovehill) ; Hochye (= Hoctanhythe) ;
Hornblawerton (now Hornblotton, appears to contain the name
of Horn-blower); Wtarepalh, Ymerwivel^ Munekeneleghe, ultra
Montem usque ad Cumessam ( = ? Combeshed near Marden
Bradley), ad la Britlasche " which is at the head of the south
bridge of Strete ", i. e. Street.
Note H.
Topographical Elements in the earliest Anglo-Saxon
Documents.
I. Glossaries.
Among the earliest, not directly historical, English documents
furnishing words which are found in ancient place-names, the
fipinal and other glossaries (edited in H. Sweet's Oldest English
Texts) occupy an important position. These glossaries belong
to a period extending from the seventh to the ninth centuries.
In the citations which follow, E. = £pinal-Erfurt MSS.,
" written any time between 600-700,*' Sweet ; C. = Corpus MS.
later than £pinal ; and L. = Leiden MS., ninth century.
Bodan (C.) = bottom, as in Botham-ley, Ramsbotham, &c.
Haegu-thorn (E.) = hedge-thorn, white thorn.
Mapuldur (C.) = maple tree, as in Mapledurham,
Holegn (C.) = holly, as in Holenhyrst, now Holnhurst, Glouc.
{Cod. Dip. 385).
Holt-hona (C.) = woodcock.
Aler (E.) = alder-tree ; aler-holt (C.) = alderwood, as in
Alercumb {Cod, Dip. 193), &c.
Boece (C.) = beech, as in Buckhurst.
Gors (C.) = furze.
Scald-thytlas (E.) is given as a gloss on Latin Alg{a)e, =
? sea-weed, here, water-weeds : cf. Thy/el = thicket.*
* In (C.) Sond-hyllas (? for *Sondthyflas) is given as an equivalent, and
seems to indicate that scald = sand or sea-shore ; but scald hulas is given in
(C.) for Papyrus, for which eo-risc ( = river- rash) is alike given.
2o8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Faag (E.) = spotted.^
Faestin (C.) = stronghold : gives fast in place-names, as in
Buckfast. Fasienes in Napier's Glosses to Aldhelm = mumcipn.
Laam (C.) = loam, as in Lamhythe (Lambeth : hythe = har-
bour) ; Lampyttas = loam-pits.
Fleotas (E.) = estuaries, as in Benfleet.
Haesl (E.) = hazel, as in Hasler.
Falaed (E.) = cowstall, fold, as in Stodfold.
Berc (E.) = birch, as in Birchover.
Edisc (C.) = " deor-tuun '\ i. e. deer-inclosure, deer-park, as
in Hldes-Edisc {Cod. Dip. 355).
Edisc-ueard (E.) = game-keeper.
Dael (C.) = Deep-pit, as in Doverdak.
Hrith-hiorde (C.) = cattle-herd.^
Ambrones (C), a word applied by Nennius to the Saxons, is
here glossed Gredge (C.) = Grsedig = Greedy. For the origin
of the term see Holder (who derives it from a Celtic stem mean-
ing " hateful "), Sprachschatz sub voce.
Waeter-thruh (C), Waeterthrum (C.) (abl. pi.) = canal, water-
pipe, and also used (C.) for cataract.
Cisten-beam (C.) = chestnut-tree, from Latin Castanea,
Beber (C.) = beaver, as in Beverley.
Wase(C.)=mud, mire, as in Wase, Wasan, BQik^.^Cod. Dip.
546).
Gloed (C.) = coal, charcoal ; cf. Welsh Glo.
Steort (C.) = tail ; as in Start-point and red-start.
Elh (C.) = elk.
Holu (C.) pi. = caverns.
Pearroc (C.) = '* grating ", gloss for clathrum : cf. German
P/erch and Pearrocas in place-names : modern *' paddock "
and "Park".
Cisirbeam (E.) = cherry-tree.
Gebuur (C.) = husbandman.
Ceapstou (C.) and Gestrio (C), both used to gloss Com-
mercium = trading.
^ Cf. the Celtic Breac, of the same meaning, used largely in place-names.
Cf. Egelis Brich, translated Varia Capella in Holyrood Charters^ p. 9. Cf.
Falkirk. Breac is connected by Thurneysen {Handbuch d. Alt.-Irischen^
§ 219) with the Gaulish personal name Bi'iccus, and with the Greek
Preknds ( = spotted deer) and the Old High Germ. Forhana ( = trout).
2 Cf. Hrither = cattle, cognate with German Rind and Kinder. Cf.
Rinderpool.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 209
Tuun (C.) (= town) and throp (C.)(and thorp) are used to
gloss compitum = a meeting-place, a cross-road.
Hreod (E.) = reed.
Hyrthil (C.) = hurdle.
Gaec (C.) = cuckoo.
Lepeuuince (C.) = lapwing.
Saex (C.) = knife.
Sules reost (C.) = plough-rest.^
Hy'Sae (C.) adi, = station, refuge, i. e. harbour, as in Celchyth,
Chelsea.
(H)oruaeg stiig (E.) = a bye-path ; or = " out of", orweg =
"out of the way".)
Thyrne (C.) = thorn.
Walcyrge (C.) = the Fates.
Walh-habuc (C.) = falcon. Wal/i here = foreign.
Worhona (C.) = pheasant.
We[a]rg-rod (E.) = Felon's Cross = gallows, which appears
in place-names.
Suamm (E.) = fungus.
Cisil (E.) = gravel.
Secg (E.) = sedge.
Risc-thyfil (E.) = bed of rushes."
Yppe (E.) = a summer room, abl.
Gyte (C.) = a flooding.
Sondgewearp (C.) = sandbank.
Huuer (E.) = caldron, as in Wherwell.
Egisi grima (E.) = ghost.'*
Cnol (C.) = hill top, as in Knowle.
Haerg (C.)(= Hearg = heathen temple), employed to gloss
" Lupercal", the cavern sacred to Pan.*
1 Sulh — plough is regarded by English etymologists as an English word,
but it seems borrowed from the Latin Sulc-us, for I can find no Teutonic
connexions, and as Sulh-iung, Sulung^ is a synonym of Furh-lung, i. e.
Furlong, the Sulh = Furk = Latin Sulc-.
^ Cf. Eo-risc (= river rush) and Leber, used in (C.) to gloss Scirpea.
The form eo here for the later ea = 2i river, may serve to explain the form
Yeo, for stream in Devon, Somerset, &c. Leber becomes Liver, Lever, and
Ler, in place-names : e. g. Liverpool, Livermere, &c. The effort to
connect the Liver- of Liverpool with the LAther- in Litherland is futile.
3 Cf. Egisauuda = Ghost or Terror Wood and Fearfulwood in Ordnance
Survey map of Bromsgrove district.
* This word appears in several place-names : e.g. Pepper-harrow (Peper
O
2IO BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Obr (C.) = brink.i
Byre (C.) = shed, cottage. Dr. Sweet makes it the same word
as Bur (modern Bower) which appears in Burford on Teme.
Slach-thorn (E.) = sloe-thorn, i. e. blackthorn.'^
Scytehald (C.) = oblique, steep : hald is given in (C.) for
" prone " and haldi for pendulous.
Uuic-ing sceadan (E.) ace. : = piratic-raid.^
Aesc (E.) = ash.
Thri uuintri steor (E.) (= a steer of three winters) is the gloss
to Prifeta, i. e. Latin Primitius, the aspiration of the m showing
that it was borrowed through the Celtic.
Clif hlep (C.) = according to Dr. Sweet, " leap from a cliff ",
it is the gloss to Pessum (= to the ground).
Cofa (C.) gloss to Pisirinum = a pounding-mill. Cofa in the
dictionaries = Chamber.
Pirge (C.) = pear-tree.
Furh-wudu (C.) = fir-wood. Torf ( Wortschatz der Germ.
Sprach., p. 234) says " Fir " is from the Danish.
Plum-treu (C.) plum-tree.
Birce (C.) used for poplar as well as birch.
Hlyte (C.) = lot, or portion.
Faerh (E.) = young pig, farrow.
Unlab (C.) = posthumous : — lab. = -la/, common in personal
names.
Brycg (C.) = bridge.
Sae-geseotu (C.) = sea-shore, a gloss to Promaritima.
Aac (E.) = oak.
Geberg (C.) = refuge.
Harow in 1 147), Harrow-on -the-hill, &c. The latter locality seems to be re-
ferred to as Gu7neninga hergae in a Charter of 767. Guma, modern English
in hxiAtgrooni = male person. Hence the term means (?) men's harrow.
^ This is the Ofer of the Dictionaries = German Ufer. It occurs in numerous
place-names, especially with the names of trees prefixed, e. g. Birch-over,
Ash-over, Oak-over, Hasel-over, &c. ; all of which forms are found further
shortened to Bircher, Asher, Oaker, Hasler, &c., in the Shropshire-Hereford
district.
2 Sloh-treo or *Slach-tre is another form which appears in a Charter of
779 as Sloh-tranford {tran is the genitive of treo, treu) now Slaughterford.
8 This shows that uuicing was in use before the Norse Wikings made
descent on these islands. Sceadan is traced to Scadan = to divide; it seems
here to have the force of German Schade =^\i2sm. Wicing occurs in place-
names.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 211
Heolstras (C.) = nooks, cf. Holster.
Staethsuualwe (C.) = sand-martin — staeth = bank.
Lectha (E.) = bilge of a ship.
Salh (E.) = willow, sallow.
Seto (E.) = gloss for Stabula = stalls, abodes, Seotu. (C.) =
cattle pasture {Bucetum).
Molde (C.) abl. = sand, earth.
Binder (C.) = slag {^Scoria),
Sugu (C.) = sow.
Staeg ( E.) = pond (Siagnum), -stay in place-names.
Lind (E.) = lime-tree : Baest is a also given in (E.) and (C.)
as the equivalent.
luu (E.) = yew.
Wond (C.) = a mole: also wondeuueorpe.
Win-aern (C.) = wine-house.
Fear (C.) = bull.
Tigule (C.) = tile, an early borrowing from Latin. It appears
in place-names as Tilehurst.
Geteld (C.) = tent.
Stream-um (C.) abl. pi. = ♦' by streams ".
Aespe (C.) = aspen-tree.
Anstig-a (E.) = a pass.^
Cebertuun (E.) caebrtun (C.) = a fore-court.'^
Cuu (C.) = cow.
Elm (E.) = Latin Ulmus,''
Mistel (C.) = mistle-toe, Ua, fem. = twig).
Caelf (C.) = calf.*
Uar (E.) = sea-wrack.
Bergas (E.) = hills.
Hog (L.) = promontory.
Herst (L.) (= Hyrst = wood) is given as a gloss for Lairiun-
cula = covert.
Ibaei (L.) ace. = ivy.
^ Anstige fem, is used also for a narrow path, that is, a path for one
person. It appears in place-names and in personal names borrowed from
the latter as " Anstey".
^ Later = Cafortun, meaning also a mansion. It occurs as Caverton in
place-names.
3 Shows that the name was borrowed from the Latin early. The
Witch- Elm called Wice, in Anglo-Saxon, was indigenous.
* Appears in Challock, Kent, in Charter as Caelf-loca-n« enclosed place
for calves.
O 2
212 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Firgin-gata, i. e. mountain-goat (L.) = Ibexes.*
Beel or Aad (L.) r= funeral pile.
Loh (L.) = hole, abyss.
Haegtis (L.) = witch, modern Hag.^
Lecas (L.) = leeches.
To these may be added a few similar words from Old English
Glosses, Napier, although the glosses, chiefly on Aldhelm's
writings, are not earlier than ninth century.
Waeferlice, belonging to theatres (cf. Waverley).
Hyfa = cells.
Scire = parish.
Bure, dat. = seat.
Telgran = thickets.
Basincge = Lat. vielotce (in Vulgate Heb. xi. 37) in " Goat-
skins". Hedene in same gloss, i.e. Hide-clothed, cf. Basing-
stoke, Basing-werk.
eludes = heights, Chid also = rock.
Sprit = of thickets.
Pleghuses = theatres, cf. Playstowe.
Torra, gen. pi. = rocks.
Stancyslas = gravel, cf. Chesil Beach.
Scraef = cave, as in Shrawley, in Charters Screafleah.
Heahtorra, gen. pi. = mountains, cf. High Tor.
Segel = banner.
Wudefine = wood-heaps, cf. Limfin = lime heap in Cart.
Sax. i. 518.
Waga, gen. pi. = deep waters. This is the way in Medway,
Weymouth, &c.
Cyte and Hulce = cells.
Wasa, gen. pi. = sands.
Wylm = boiling, as in Eawylm, i. e. Ewelm = river-spring.
Onedstowe = wrestling-places.
^ Firgen appears in Cart. Sax. i. 366, Firolandes for (?) Firgenlandes
(cf. Firle beacon near Seaford) for mountain. It occurs on the whale-bone
casket ? 700-800 (Sweet), where the whale is said to have been thrown upon
Fergen-berigy i. e. (?) on the main-land (Sweet) or high ground. Torf
{Wortschatz der Germ. Spracheinheit^ I909> p. 234) makes the original
signification to have been " wooded hill ". The Old High German
Fergunea is the Henynia silva. The stem is /«?r^« = oak, A.-Sax. Furk,
replaced by Danish Fir in Fir tree.
' Connected by Torp with Anglo -Sax. hage ( = hedge, wood, enclosure),
a suffix == hate. Cf. Hagu -staid.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 213
Syla = wallowing-places, cf. Sole in place-names.
Wyla = ? gen. pi. " of Caves ", cf. Wygel, gloss, to Cavea in
Diefenbach's Glossarium, cf. Wyle-cop, Shrewsbury.
Grundwealle, dat. = foundation.
Pintreow = pine-tree, from Lat. Pinus,
Wilegum, dat. pi. = baskets.
Landgemacena, gen. pi. = of neighbouring lands.
Dimhus and Dimhof = hiding or dark place, cf. Dimchurch.
Warena, gen. pi. = citizens : Old Norse -ven\ as in R{im-
verjar = Romans. This is the Varit in Chatuarii, &c., and is
the final element in Caniwarena.
Snaeda = parts.
Hsethen = heathen.
Healle, gen. = stone : also = palace.
Hweras and Crocc = pots.
Moldum, dat. pi. = sands.
Cocca, gen. pi. = "chickens, cf. cei Scyte Cocceajnd cock shot",
(variant) " Cock shade" in place-names. The Dialect Diet,
makes the latter to mean open spaces in woods where wood-
cocks may be shot.
Edwinde = whirlpools.
Watelum, dat. pi. = tiles.
II. Genuine Charters.
Dr. Sweet printed in his Old English Texts (pp. 426 et seq.)
the vernacular words occurring in what he considered to be
genuine Old English Charters. As some additional genuine
charters have come to light since 1885, when Dr. Sweet's book
was published, the following selection of place-names is taken
from authentic charters up to a. d. 800, thus excluding any of
Scandinavian influence.
In an original charter of 679 now in British Museum we
have the following names in Kent : — Tenid (the oldest English
form of Thanet) : Uuestan-ae (i. e. Westan-ea = river running
from the west) : Recuulf (= Reculver Regulbium, see p. 37) in
Sturia (latinized form of Stur, or Stur-ea, now Sturry).
In Essex charter of 692-3 now in British Museum we have:
monastery called Beddan-haam (Beddan is here the weak
genitive of a man's name Bedda: — the haam is properly the
inner bend of the knee, and possibly came like the Celtic Camb-
us to be applied to land on river-bends and then to pieces of
land generally. The East Frisian Hamm meant a piece of
2 14 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
land drained by dykes. It is not the same word as Ham = home,
house); Ricinga-haam (the Ric-inga here is a genitive plural
of a family name). In Deccan-haam (now Dagenham) we have
the genitive of a personal name Decca. In A«gen-lab-es haam
we have a personal name made up of Anga = only, unique,
and lah, later laf = left, remaining : thus " only surviving son ".
Cf. Angen-geot-ing of the Northumbrian genealogies in Sweet,
which may mean " the descendant of the only begotten ", cf.
be-gi^tan, &c., the vulgar use of "get'* substantive; but Dr. Sweet
makes Geoting = son of Geot. The " field in the wood called
Uuidmundes felt "means the field of Widmund. T or p{Wor/sc/ia/z)
traces field " to a stem meaning open, cf. Ladn Fal-am = openly".
Among the boundaries are Writola-burna (in which Writola
seems a genidve plural, but it may be a mangled Celtic word).
Centinces treow (= Centing's tree), Hanc-hemstede (the hanc
here seems to represent the Teutonic stem kan/i = to hang ;
A.-Sax. later forms I/on, heng ; cf. Hanger, Ongar, &c. Hem-
sted is home-stead). The Tamisa is also given as a boundary.
The grant is endorsed ^' to Bercingon ", i. e. the people of Berc
= Barking.
An original charter of 704 now in B. M. gives the name of
Tuican hom (Twickenham? = Twih-ean-ham, i. e. the dwelling
between the rivers Tamisa and Frocesburna, which are men-
tioned. Twicen = a place where two roads meet, is not involved).
In a letter of 705 (original in British Museum) Breguntford,
now Brentford, Middlesex, is mentioned (see p. 25).
A Kent charter of 700 or 7 15 mentions Liming-ae (see below)
and Pleghelmestun (i. e. the enclosure of Pleghelm). The
boundaries are Bere-weg (i. e. way along which the produce of
the land is brought home, Hei-weg = Hay-way), Meguuines
paeth (i. e. Megwines path), and Siret leg (i. e. the wood, after-
wards meadow, on the Street = the Roman-road. A portion of
land called Rumining Seta (see Seto in Epin. Gloss. Rumin-ing,
now Romney Marsh, may involve " Romans "). The grant is
made to the Church of B. V. M. at Lyminge.
The Dean and Chapter of Chichester have the original charter
of the year 725, in which the bounds ofHugabeorg — some
unreadable — are given, e. g. on theodweg (theod = people, public-
way) (to) the East-end of Lavingtunes dices, i. e. Lavington dyke
to Frecce-hlince (Frecce, = bold, is obscure, but Mine = slope,
ridge) to Halignesse beorge (i. e. to the hill of Sanctity) of tham
garan (i.e. from the Gore, '*a piece of land," cf. Kensington
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 215
Gore) to tham Byrgelsun (= to the burying-places) to Billinga
hyrig (to the burg {Dat. byrig) of the Billings) — where Scealces
burna and Bollan-ea come together (scealcs = servants as in
Marah-scalc = marshall) ; — and Isenan aewelm (iron-spring, ea-
welm = river source) and Saengelwicos and other names which
are not intelligible.
An original charter in Brit. Museum, dated 732, grants land
near Limin-ae (i. e. the river Limen which appears in Liminge
and Lympne, near Hythe, and is ultimately traceable to ihtporius
Lemanis, of the Itm. of Antonine), The names Sand tun (Sand-
town) and Hudan fleot (Huda's fleet or estuary) occur in the
copy published in Cart. Sax. i. 215, but as Dr. Sweet rejects
these, they are not probably of the date of the charter.
Another original charter, dated 740, grants fishing at the mouth
of the Limin-aea river, and **a portion of land in which is
situated the oratory of St. Martin, with the dwellings of the fisher-
men, and another portion near the Marsh called Biscopes uuic
(i. e. Bishop's dwelling) as far as the wood called Ripp (unknown
and probably not an English name), and to the bounds of Sussex,
as formerly possessed by Romanus, priest of the Church of the
most blessed Virgin Mary, which [qtwd (sic)) is in Liminia -eae
(Lyminge) ''.
The oratory of St. Martin at Lyminge-ae, and the name of the
presbyter, Romanus, suggest early continental connexions, while
two of the signatories Dun-uualhi Pincerni (gen.) and Dunuuallan
(gen.) seem to point to the Celtic names Duno-vali and Duno-
vellaunus, cf. Cassi-vellaunus, Catuuallon, &c.
A Kent charter of 770 (in B. M.) mentions the monastery of
Recuulfi (attracted into this form on account of the common
name Rac-uulf see above), Perhamstede (where Per = modern
Pear) in the region er (?) of the Caestri-uuara (gen. pi. ="of
the Castlemen"), where is the place called Heahhaam (heah =
high, Higham).
The Hehham (= Highham) ot the original charter of 774
(in B. M.) is possibly the place here mentioned. The boundaries
there given are Msedham (i.e. Meadham), Ac-leag(= Oakley),
Wseter lea (Waterley), Colling (= Cooling), Eohinga burh (Eoh
= steed, Eohinga gen. pi. of patronymic : Burh = burg), Mersc-
tun (Marsh-ton), Mercfleot = " boundary river ". All these
places are near Rochester.
An original charter of 774 (in B. M.) mentions the Mersc-
uuare (i. e. the marsh-people) of Romney,=here Romenal, among
2i6 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
whom Hlid (Lydd, Kent ? = litus^ shore) is placed. Denge
marsh is also mentioned.
The earliest Mercian charter extant seems to be of the year
736. It is now in the B. M. and deals with lands in the
** province of Husmerae ", that is in the region of the Stour
(Stur) above Stourbridge. It gives the ancient Celtic names
of two forests, Cynibre and Moerheb, which still survive in Morfe
and Kenver forests ; see p. 67. Brochyl (i. e. Badger-hill) is
mentioned as being " in silva moreb ".
The synod of Clofeshos (Cloveshou in later charters) is men-
tioned in a Mercian charter (now in possession of Dean and
Chapter of Canterbury) of the date 742.
An original charter in B. M. of a. d. 755-7 contains a grant
by the King of Mercia to Eanberht, of land near the wood called
Toccan-sceaga (i.e. Toccas Shaw or wood) not far from the
hillock {tumulus) called Reada-beorg (i. e. Redhill). A Tyccaea
abbot signs the charter, probably the Tocca here mentioned.
The locality has not been identified.
A Mercian charter of 759 (now in B. M.) grants land in
Worcester at Onnan-forda, bounded on the south by Uuisleag
(Wisley), on the west by Rind-burna (Rind, which is the OHO.
form, is probably a dialectic word here for Hrith ( = Hri-
ther = Rother = cattle), on the north by Meosgelegeo(=: mossy-
tracts : Dr. Sweet), and on the east by Onnan duun. The river
Oney giving its name to Onibury, Shropshire, is perhaps too far
west. Onn is the Welsh for Ash-trees : cf, English " ash" in
stream-names.
In a Mercian Charter of 767 we have a grant of land in
Middtesex lying between Gumeninga hergae (that is the harrow
or pagan temple of the Gumenings = ? Harrow-on-the-hill) and
Lidding brook, in exchange for land in Ciltinne (? Chilterne hills
or Chiltern All Saints) in a place called Wichama.
A Worcester Charter of 770 (in hands of Dean and Chapter of
Worcester) mentions the Huiccii (see p. 164), the river Saluuerp
(Salwarpe), Cymedes halh, Huitan stan (= white [pillar] stone),
and Readan-Solo. Saluuerp seems to mean, like Sal-gewearp,
" Salt-heap," i. e. the river that ran by the Salt, packed ready
for transport at the Salt wic or Salt market — now Droitwich —
was thus called from the fact that river-names frequently take
their designations from such incidental factors.^ Redan solo =
^ The halh in Cymedeshalh is given by Dr. Sweet as = ^^rt/// = corner.
It is evidently the same word which we find in the North in the forms
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 217
Red cattle-ponds. Sole occurs with this meaning in Kentish
place-names, see Syla, pi., in Napier Glossaries.
A Kent Charter of 778 (in B. M.) mentions the following
names: — Brom-geheg (Broom-meadow, Dr. Sweet), and a marsh
called Scaga (= Shaw), a meadow called Hreod-ham {Hreod =
reed), a place east of the bounds of the Clif wara (gen. pi. =
"the people of the Cliff,*' which place, if it existed now, would
be called, like Clif wara near Cheddar, Clewer) **and to the
south of Tucincg-naes".^ To the west of the bounds of the
Culinga (the name of this family is still preserved in Cooling
Castle) is Mearcfleot.''
Another, a Wessex, Charter of 778 gives the names of
Bedewind (Bedwin, Wilts. : which looks like a British name
involving Celtic Vind = white), Cymenes denu ( = Cymen's
Valley), ad Peadan-Stigele (= Peada's style), Tatan Edisc
(= Tata's deer park). Several words then follow involving
gcBt, geatf get = English gate, e. g. Rames dene geat (= Ram's
personal name, ? -den-gate), Holh-ryge-get (= Hollow-ridge-
gate), (fee' In Puttan Ealh (= in Putta's (heathen) temple, of.
Alh-mund = Temple Guardian), to Bulcan pytte (Bulca's pit :
pit from Latin Puteus). Baldwines Healh (see Halh above),
" into the Antient Monuments in a place called cet tham Holm-
stypbum (e= at the Holly Stumps) to Wadbeorge (Woad-hill),
Healc, halec, Halech, Hauch, and Hough. It is always there associated with
rivers, and Jamieson in his Scot. Diet, defines it " low-lying flat ground,
properly on the border of a river". In the Records of Kinloss, p. 112, we
have " the third part of the Halech of Dundurcus and the third part of the
fishery of the same halech ". The old name of Whitby given by Bede
(see p. 180) bears out this signification.
^ Tucincg, a patronymic, and naes = nose or point. This name shows
that nces, like wicing and Tkrop, existed in English place-names before the
coming of the Scandinavians.
^ This is ihe mercfleot of the A. D. 774 charter cited above, which gives
also Colling for Culinga. An original charter of 808, in B. M., also
mentions Culingas, with its bounds Cyninges-tun-tih ( = ? Kingstown
paddock = Tih = Teah = Teag, now Tye and Tey in place-names, e.g.
Marks Tey, Essex, which involves, as Mr. J. H. Round shows, Fettdal
England^ 464, the name of the village of Marck in the Pas-de-Calais, borne
by Adelolf de Merk, the owner of Marks Tey district in Domesday 3.
Cf. Tigan, now Tey river, Essex, Cart. Sax. iii. 602. The 808 Charter
mentions Genlad, Biorn heardes lond (i. e. Bernard's land), and Thomdun.
' These gates were probably entrances to the enclosed Edisc or park.
2i8 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
thence to the spring which is called Forsca burna (= Frogs'
brook)/' 1
A Gloucestershire Charter of 779 (in B. M.) gives the follow-
ing names: — Sulmonnes burg (= Suhl monnes-burg = Plough-
man's burg), the stream called Theodningc (=? a patronymic
from (?) Theodnoth), the river Uuenrisc (now Windrush: the
last element seems Celtic -isc = water, and the first element
Gwen, wen, fem. adj. = white ; cf. the rivers Winster where Ster
is probably the early form of S/ur), Uuithig-ford (= Withy-
ford) a valley called Turca-denu (that is the den on the river
Turca ; cf. the Welsh Twrch = boar, which is also the name of
a river : see Mabinogion story of Twrch TrwytK), Slohtran-
ford (= ford of the Sloe-trees, now Slaughter-ford). This
Charter was signed at loratla-forda (Hartleford, Glouc, seems
to involve Heorot ( = hart, stag) : possibly a genitive plural of
a form Heorotlu, a species of stag).
An early grant (785) to Westminster Abbey, published by
the Ordnance Commission in Photozinc facsimile, gives the
name of the island on which the minster was built, Torneia
(i. e. Thorn-ige = thorn-island), which is called in the Charter
" a terrible place " (perhaps in the sense of holy-dread). The
grant is of land at ^Idenham (Aldenham, Herts.) of which the
bounds are given : among them : — Colen-ea (that is the Colne
river), the middle of the street (i. e. Watling Street, which crossed
the Thames at Thorney island), Tidulfes treow (= Tidulf 's tree;
cf. Elstree), Haesel-hyrst gate (Hasel-wood), Lusebyrge. The
names are manifestly late and most of them unintelligible. This
is probably why Dr. Sweet does not include them in his early
charters.
In Cart. Sax. i, pp. 342, and 344, two charters which
Dr. Birch says are almost contemporary (a. d. 785) are pub-
lished, in which loccham (Ickham) and Per-hamstede (men-
tioned above) are placed in the wood called Andred (seep. 143).
Dens for feeding swine in this wood are mentioned ; e. g.
Dunwal-ing daenn (where we may have a reminiscence of the
Dun-walh(i) before mentioned) Suithhelming daenn : a stream
called Heorat burna ( = Hartbourne), a Snad ( = Snaed, a piece
of a wood), and fishing in the Pusting uuerae (Wer = Weir).
Hroching (now Rocking) also occurs, and Limen wero weald
^ The Peada and Putta in this Charter are not normal English personal
names and imply a foreign connexion.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION 219
(= ? Limen (Liminge), men's wood) and burh waro uuald (i. e.
the Burgmen's wood: Sealterna Steallas (the salt houses'
steads). The names are late forms and Dr. Sweet rightly does
not include these in his early charters.
The charters pp. 350 and 360 Cart. Sax. i (taken from the
ancient Chartulary of St. Denis near Paris) are manifestly late
forms, notwithstanding the seal of Offa affixed to the latter.
The forms Chichestra, Hastingas, and Successa (for Sussex)
amply prove this. Pevenesel may preserve the ancient name
of Pevensey, and Lunden uuic may be Sandwich.
An original Charter of 788 (in B. M.) gives the name of
a region called Eastrgena (now Eastry ; the rgena is supposed
to be the genitive plural of the continental tribe the Rugii, who
also appear in the early name of Surrey ; see p. 178). Duningc-
land and Celchyth (Chelsea, see p. 157) are also mentioned.
Another original Charter of 793 (in Canterbury Cathedral
Library) grants several places in Middlesex : — on Linga Haese
(= Hayes, Middlesex), Geddingas (Yedding, Middlesex), Froces
burna and Tuican ham (see above, for the repairs of the Church
of the Holy Saviour, Canterbury).
An original Charter (in B. M.) of 793-6 grants lands in the
province of the Huuiccii at Uuestburg near the river Aben
(Westbury, Glouc, near the Avon). The Charter is recorded
as having been written in the celebrated place called Clobeshoas.
Another original Charter in B. M. dated 799 grants land at
Ciornincge (Charing, Kent : another village called Charing gave
its name to Charing Cross. " Ch^re reine " is a survival of
days of ignorance), Seleberhtes Cert (perhaps Great Chart).
Cert is a mysterious word. It seems to mean " wood ", but its
origin is probably not Teutonic : Kent was latinized early and
the word (cf. numerous wics in Kent) may be from that
language : cf. Carecium = reed-land or sedge-land. Bryning
lond (called Biringland also), Humbing lond on Bioraham
(? = Barham, Kent) aet Burnan (at bourne).
An original Charter of 798 (in B. M.) mentions several places
in Kent : Hremping-uuic, called also Hafing seota (see Seota
above), south of the Limin-ea (i. e. the river Limin at Liminge) :
also Bobing-seata. In the contemporary endorsement seota is
made of the weak declension genitive singular seotan.
220
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
III. Ancient List of English Territorial Names.
There is a list of English territorial names (given in Cart. Sax,
vol. i, pp. 414-16) copied, presumably from an ancient form, in
the tenth or eleventh century. That it is a copy of an earlier
document seems clear from the distorted forms of some of the
names, which are difficult, if not impossible, to identify.
I append the list with such notes as occur to me.
Myrcna landes (i. e. of the land of the Mercians
Wocen Saetna^ ......
Westerna '^ (Porcensetene in later Latin form =
? Worcensetene)
Pec Saetna^ .
Elmed Saetna*
Lindes farona^
Suth Gyrwa^
North Gyrwa
[East Wixna"^
West Wixna]
Names in brackets from another list, C. S. i. 416.
Spalda® .......
HIDES
30,000
7,000
7,000
1,200
600
7,000
600
600
300
600
600
1 Satna is a genitive plural and is equivalent to ivara, gen. pi. of wer=
man. Cf. Ceaster setna {Cart. Sax. ii. 217) and Caestruuara {Cart. Sax. i.
282). It means thus in the connexion here " of the people or settlers of".
Wocen is possibly an error of the copyist for Wrocen = the Wrekin district,
for the people of which Wreocen Setna actually occurs {Cart. Sax, iii. 355).
^ This seems an error of the copyist. The alternative name Porcensetene
is clearly a mistake for Worcen setna, a duplication possibly of the previous
name.
^ These are the settlers of the peak district.
* Elmed Ssetna would seem to refer to the Elmet district in Yorkshire
mentioned by Bede. We have an Elme-setena (Elmley Lovell) in Cart. Sax.
i. 502, but this, as the list seems to proceed to the north-east, is too far to
the West. An Ylmesceton in Essex (?) appears in Cart. Sax. iii. 601.
' Lindes farona (i. e. Lindsay-farona) seems the gen, pi. of Faru (f.), one
of the meanings of which is '' troop ".
* Gyrwa, Gyrwe fenn is glossed Marsh Gyrwa = of the fens.
' Wixna is gen. pi., a contraction of Wicsetna, that is, people of
the market. There was a Wixenabroc in Worcester {Cod. Dip. 57o)> now
Whitsunbrook.
* Spalda is evidently for Spalding district.
THE TEUTONIC INVASION
221
HIDES
Wigesta^
900
Herefinna'*
1,200
Sweord ora ' .
,
300
Gifla[Eyflain C. 6*. i. 416]* .
300
Hicca [Wicca in C. 5. 1.416] =
300
Wiht gara [-gora in C. 5. i. 416] «
600
Nox gaga''
5,000
Oht gaga
2,000
Total
= 66,ioo
That is, says the oldest MS. which does not give East and
West Wixna with their 900 hides, sixty-six thousand one hundred
hides.
It is clear from this that the copyist of the oldest MS. had
omitted East and West Wixna although his total number of
hides is only correct with their addition.
The list then proceeds : —
HIDES
Hwinca* ........ 7,000
Ciltern Saetna* 4,000
Hendrica [the second list gives hides 3,000] . . 3,500
^ Wigesta might be an error for Wigerna (Worcester), but there was
a Wicgestan near Burton-on-Trent {jCod. Dip. 1298).
" A probable mistake for Hereford.
' There was a Sueordleag in Dorset (orig. Charter Cart, Sax, ii. 34), and
a Sweordestaii in Gloucester {Cart. Sax. ii. 174).
* Gifla may represent (i) the district around Biggleswade where the
name of the river Ivel or Givel still survives in North-ill and South-ill
parishes; or (2) it may mean the district around Ilchester to which the
river Givel = Ivel gave its name.
' Hicca, with its variant reading Wicca, could not mean, owing to the
small number of hides, the province of the Wiccii.
® This name may have nothing to do with Wight.
' Nox and Oht gaga are mexplicable in these forms.
* There is no light on Hwinca.
* Ciltern, or the Chiltern hill district. The remaining names down to
Widerigga are unintelligible. Widerigga may be the Withering-Sett,
Suffolk. East and West Willa seem to refer to the district near the
Wiley river (Wilts.). The name in the Charters is Wilig, Uuielea. The
remaining names explain themselves.
222
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Unecunga
Aro Saetna
Faerpinga [Fearfinga in list C. S. i. 416], which
says the early list, is among the Middle Angles
Bilmiga
Widerigga ......
East Willa
WestWilla
East Engle (of the East Angles) .
East Sexena (i. e. of the East Saxons) .
Cantwarena (of the inhabitants of Kent) ^
Suth Sexena (of the South Saxons)
West Sexena (of West Saxons) .
HIDES
1,200
600
300
600
600
600
600
30,000
7,000
15,000
7,000
100,000
Total = 244,100
Amounting in all, says the list, to two hundred and forty-two
thousand seven hundred hides, falling short of the correct total
by 1,400 hides, or, if we estimate Hendrica at 3,000, by 900
hides.
1 This term involves the Warena in Prof. Napier's Glosses, see p. 213.
It is different from the genitive plural {ward) of iver = man.
III. THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN
Norse Influence on Topographical Nomenclature
AND Language.
The entry in the Chronicle under 787 is remarkable for the
announcement that in Beorhtric's days, who, as we have seen,
succeeded Cynewulf as King of Wessex in 784, the first ships
of Danish men reached the land of the Angles.
The actual year is between 784 and that of his death — 800.
The '^ three " ships, which came from Heretha-land ^ put into
some place on the Dorset coast, according to Eihelwer^s
Chronicle^ whither, the same authority tells us, the King's
Reeve, Beaduheard by name, rode from Dorchester, believing
that they were traders and not foes, and was there slain. From
this date forward until the eleventh century the British Isles
were subject continuously to the raids of these pirates, and
large portions of the land were from time to time occupied by
them.
Their first appearance in the Irish Seas was, according to
the Irish Annals, in the year 795, but they had most probably
been making southerly voyages from a much earlier date. The
^ Heretha-land, "strictly Hor^aland on the Hardangr-fjord in Norway,"
says Mr. Plummer {Two Sax. Chronicles, ii. 58), "the country of the
HorSar or Hawrds (Chamdes, Harudes)." In the Irish Annals it appears
as Irruaith, and is there a general term for Norway. It is to be noted,
however, that the **Hreth" Goths are placed in Jutland or in S. Sweden
{Iceland, Diet., sub Goti and ReiS Gotar), and hence the reason possibly
why these invaders are referred to as Danes by the Chronicle. The Annals
of St. Neot (compiled towards the end of the twelfth century) say that the
ships put into the '* island called Portland".
224 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
causes of these expeditions are not easy to discover. Dr. Vig-
fusson was probably right in ascribing the main cause, as far as
Norway was concerned, to over-population.^ The Danes,
although they are thus named in the entry of the A .-S. Chron-
icle referred to above, and are confused throughout with Norse-
men proper, were not among the first invaders. In the Irish
Annals, the Norsemen and Danes are distinguished as "Fin-
Gall " and " Dubh-Gall ", or fair and dark foreigner respec-
tively. This distinction of fair and dark hair was probably of
a racial character, for ethnologists tell us that the skull of the
average modern Dane is not by any means of Aryan type.
Possibly in pursuit of the whale, the early Norse sailors may
have been led to the soutn and west, and made as their first
land-fall the Faroe or Shetland Islands. In an age when the
compass and the log were unknown, these early navigators
-would normally hug the shore, but once they had reached the
Shetlands, these, and the Orkneys, would become a base for
further explorations. It was from such a base, as we know,
that the Norsemen harried the coasts and islands of Scotland
and Ireland, and it was here that their sovereignty over Sodor
and Man began, which survived until 1470.^ Nowhere else in
these islands do we find such undisputed evidence of the presence
of Norsemen as in the modern place-names of Shetland and
Orkney. The previous occupants, as we infer from the existing
Pictish '' Brughs " and Barrows, were Picts, and the early names
1 " The Northmen," said Dr. Vigfnsson, *' were cribbed up in a narrow,
overpeopled strip of land : a powerful race of men, with vast pent-up
strength lacking all outlet, a great human steam-boiler without the requisite
safety-valve : till in the Wiking Age the great exodus to west and south
opened a new field of action to them" {Corp. Poet. Boreale, i. 426).
^ What is known in Norwegian history as " the flight of the Jarls", who
emigrated to these islands in 872, was the beginning of the Kingdom of
the Sodor (Sudr-eyjar = south islands, or " Sodor islands ", applied to the
Orkneys [_Orig. Iceland, i, p. 253]) and Man. Man and the South isles
were made subject by treaty to Scotland in 1266, but Shetland and the
Orkneys were not really handed over till 1470.
THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN 225
of these groups of islands^ probably preserve a relic of their
original language. Irish missionaries, probably from Hy (lona),
had laboured in these islands from about the end of the sixth
century until the arrival of the Norsemen some 200 years later,
and indications of their presence there are still preserved by
a few Ogam inscriptions, place-names, and dedications of
churches. Irish hermits were found also in Iceland when the
Norsemen discovered it about a. d. 850.*
An account of the voyages of the Norsemen prior to the
time of Alfred the Great (a. d. 849-900) was furnished to that
king by the two Scandinavian travellers Wulfstan and Ohthere,
and their account was added to Alfred's Description of Europe,
No mention of Britain occurs in this account, but it is clear
from the whole narrative that Norse seamen went far afield, and
that they were acquainted with the White Sea as well as the
Baltic. Though they were pagans, and remained so until the
eleventh century, they must have been brought into contact, in
their eastern wanderings, with Gothic Christianity — that is, Greek
and not Latin Christianity. This is evidenced from the word
^ The name of Shetland in the sagas is Hjallt-land. Hjallt and Shialt
(the latter preserved in the existing designation of "Shelty" for a Shet-
lander or a pony from the islands) are evidently the same word, and are
paralleled by the Cymric and Goidelic names Hafrett and Sabem for the
river Severn. The Picts, who in historic times spoke a language more
akin to Welsh than Gaelic, would follow the former in using in place of
Shialt the form Ilialt, The earliest Scandinavian maps {Nordenskjold Atlas)
give Hjialt-land. An analogous instance is the parallel between the Hjal-
pands-ey of the sagas and tlie Shapinsay of our maps.
As Orkn in Norse means a Seal, Orkn-eyjar would seem a natural
designation for these islands, but the term Ore in Orcades goes back to
classical times, long before a Northman had put his foot upon them, and
its meaning must be sought in the language of the earliest inhabitants.
If these were Celts ore, oirenin (glossed Porcellus) has the meaning of
Pig in their language, and is cognate with the Latin Pore-us, and the
A.-Sax. Fearh = farrow. Compare Latin orca = Grampus, but the word
is probably non- Aryan.
2 The Landndma B6c (that is "Land Settlements Book") shows that
there was a considerable Irish element among the early Norse settlers in
Iceland. Place-names like Ir-oe = Irishman's river, occur also in this work
P
226 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
** Papa ", which they applied to the Irish priests they encountered
in the islands, and also from the term ''Kirkja" with which
they were conversant as the designation of church.^ The place-
1 The Goths on the south of the Danube had become Christianized in
the fourth century. They had, as their historians tell us, come originally
from the Baltic coasts, and probably some connexion with their Norse
kinsmen was maintained in later times. There is at any rate no likelier
source for the knowledge by the Norsemen of such terms as Papa and
Kirkja. Professor Kluge thinks the former is from the vocative Papa
of the Greek Pdpas'. the latter is from a Greek adjective formed from
K^rios = Lord. The names of some islands in the Shetland and Orkney
group perpetuate the former appellation, e.g. Papa Isle (Shetland), Papa
Stour (Shetland), Papa Stronsay Isle (Orkney), Papa Westray (Orkney).
The Flateyjarbok, ii. 417-18, gives us some of the saga-forms Pap-ey
hin litla = " Priest-island the little ", and Pap-ey hin Meiri = " Greater
Priest island ", which are now represented by the two Pabeys of the
Hebrides. The name occurs also in Iceland, e.g. Papafjordr. It is
possible that we have in the Domesday "Popeselle" or "Popesalle"
an echo of the same word. It was in Kent, where one would expect from
its Jutish occupiers, a closer connexion with early Scandinavian traditions
and language. I ventured to point out some years ago in the Athenceum
that there was distinct evidence in the place-names of Kent of a Jutish
element therein. I have seen no reason since to change my opinion. The
most important evidence is in the early name of Bapchild. Haddan and
Stubbs, Councils, iii, p. 244, cite from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the
account of the " Great Council, at the place which is called Baccan-Celde "
held about 694, long before the Norse invasion. The element Celde in this
name seems to be the Scandinavian Kelda = a well, of which Outzen
{Friesisches Glossarium^ p. 159) gives the Jutish form Kild with the same
meaning. The only parallel for the term is the Keld of the North ( = well),
of Scandinavian origin, for undoubtedly Norse is the term St. Kilda, which
applies not to a holy person of this name, but to the known Holy Wells
on the island ; cf. Halikeld, Yorks., Cal. Chart Polls, ii. 240. It is a strange
thing to find in Kent alone — apart from the North — a word closely
allied to a Scandinavian form, but the strangeness is explained by the
assumption of a Jutish origin. The Baccan in Baccan-Celde is seemingly
the genitive of a shortened personal name Bacca. Celd occurs also else-
where in Kent, as in an original charter of 858 (British Museum Facsimiles')
in the form Hwyte Celdan ( = white well), it being coupled there with
another well Wassingwell, as the site of a water-mill. There is also a
" Honey Child " in Romney Marsh (^Honi Child 1227), where we have also
a " Snargate " which receives its explanation (see p- 232) as a Scandinavian
THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN 227
names in Iceland referred to in the Landndma Boc, of which
we have a thirteenth-century MS. (the materials therein going
back to the ninth or tenth century), and those in the various
sagas, enable us to show, by comparison with the existing place-
names in Shetland and Orkney, how completely the Scandi-
navian tongue had displaced the original language of these
islands.^ The historical statement that Norwegian was the
term. "The Note " also seems to bear indication of a similar origin. It
is noteworthy also that the Scandinavian Gil (see p. 331) is used in Kent.
^ The topographical nomenclature of Shetland and Orkney is almost
exclusively Scandinavian. As instances we may take the names containing
such Norse forms as Voe (elsewhere -way = Vdgr = creek), Skaw {Skagi
= a low headland as opposed to Hdj'de = a high headland), ness ; wick
(- Vik, a bay),yfr//5 {=fjor6r), Holm (applied to uninhabited islands),
Sound (Sund), ey {= ey, island, plural eyjar)^ exemplified in Lang-ey,
Flat-ey, Sand-ey, Ha-ey (that is " high-island ", now Hoy), Sker-ey (that
is "rock-island''), Hun-ey (for Hafn-ey, i.e. Haven island), Urfas-ey
(probably for Orfirisey, from Orfiri •= ebbing). Stad-r (stead) which takes
the form of ster (plural) and sta, Bustadar (Home steads = Bowster and
Bister, as in Isbister, &c.), ty^r (Danish Ore^ Swedish Or ; - air, ayre,
a gravelly bank or point running out into the sea, as in Helsingor, Shake-
speare's Elsinore), thing (also ting = a meeting of the people, as in
Sands-ting, Ting-wall, where wall = Vollr = field, compare Dingwall in
Sutherland, Cheshire, &c.) : BH (also By = habitation) : CartJr (= garth
*= enclosure) : Scet-f^ mountain pastures: Dal-r, a dale : Skdli, a shieling
or temporary dwelling in the pastures : Skaill = Skal, a bowl, a hollow:
Skdgr (also Skew and Shaw ■= wood — brushwood, Danish Skov) : Klettr^
Danish klint (Clett, Cleat, an isolated rock) : Gnupr (Noup, or Nupe or
Nip = a peak, as in Gaitnip = Goat-peak) : H6p (^a sheltered haven, or
spot) : Hdll^ a hill : Borg (Burg), Hus ( = house, e. g. Bon-us ? = *Boon-
hus = Prayer-house, the equivalent of English Bede-hus, Bed-em. Bettws
in Wales is the English Bedhus, which occurs also in Scotland), Lax
( = Salmon) in Laxforth : Hamarr^ a rock, as in Hamarr-Gnipe in Iceland
= Cragpeak. We should not expect to find on these wind-swept islands
words meaning wood, such as Lund, Holt, &c., and they are absent. The
parallel names in Iceland show how thoroughly the Norse has prevailed in
these islands.
These place-names in their turn have become surnames, as in Foubister,
Isbister, Inkster, Cursitter. We find also in these islands other personal
names which have a distinctively Scandinavian character, e. g. Swan-son,
Man-son, Simon-son, Hender-son, OUa-son, which preserve respectively
the well-known Norse personal names, Svein, Magnus, Sigmundr, Heinrekr,
P 2
228 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
vernacular there down to the seventeenth century is further
confirmed by Brand, who found in Hara in 1701 people who
knew only Norse. Caithness and Sutherland — the parts of
Scotland lying nearest to Orkney — furnish also indubitable
evidence of Norse occupation,' but it is on the chart of the
west coast of Scotland and the adjacent islands that the Scandi-
navian sea-rovers have left their most permanent mark. There
is hardly a headland, or a half-sunken rock, or the scrap of an
island, or a bay or inlet, in these western waters which had not
been charted— although their mode of doing so is unknown to
us — by these daring navigators, and handed down to later map-
makers.^ It is to the same navigators, too, we owe the names
and Olaf. Many such names have become shortened, as in Gunn (from
Gunn-bjom, or Gunn-laugr). Oman is from Amundr, which also appears
in the western islands, in a Celtic dress, as MacAmond and McCammond,
where quite a number of similar Norse appellations are perpetuated, as
McCorquodale for MacThor-Ketel, McCorkell for MacThorkell — the Th
in Gaelic being silent, MacAlden for Mac-Halfdene ; Half-dan (now
Haldane = Half-Dane).
There are pitfalls for the philologist in the place-names of this region.
What could one make, for instance, of Pomona, a designation of the main-
land of Orkney ? Although it occurs early it seems the application to this
island, by an antiquary, of the Pomona associated by Solinus with Thule,
and it remains there to disturb future investigators.
^ In Caithness and Sutherland the following small selection of place-
names supply ample evidence of Norse influence there. Cannis-by, Seater-
hill, Wick, Ny-bster (for New Bustadar, plural), Ul-bster, Lybster, Rester,
Bilster, Bilbster, Thuster, Achilbster, Scrabster, Halla-dale, Armadale,
Torrisdale, Erri-boll {bol = English Botl^ Bold = house), Fres-gill, Lax-
ford, &c., &c. There appear many other Norse forms, such as Clett =
rock ; Geo ( = Gjd, a cleft) which becomes Goe, and in the Hebrides
is Celticized to Geodha, pronounced Geyo [Giau in Manx], and Gil =
stream. These names tend to confirm the assertion of the Saga that
*'01af Feilan (= Irish Faol-an = the Wolf), Thorstan, and Sigurd con-
quered Katness, Sudrland, Ross, Moray, and more than half Scotland",
Landndma B6c, ii. 14.
' The Skeirs and Skerries, the Ha-Skeir (High-reef) and Deas-Skeir
{Des - shaped like a hay-rick, or Irish Deas = south), all significant as
things to be avoided by the navigator, stud the western seas. There, too,
we find Shellay with its shell beach, and Sanda, with its sand, Pabbay,
THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN 229
of Ireland and of three of its four provinces, together with the
appellations of many of the isles and bays on its eastern coast
and on that of the Isle of Man.^ These expeditions were not
made, however, for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of
which marked the lone monastery of world -renouncing Irish monks, Vallay,
which promised Vellir, or fields of rich grass behind its rocky shore — every
name significant if we could interpret them. In the Western Isles, Skye,
Rona, Raasay, Uist, Lewis, Harris, &c, we have fuller illustrations : e.g.
Ose Point {/iss = ridge; Oss, mouth, also occurs as Ois, as in Ois Gillbay),
Scara-vay {Skarar = edge : Fa^= bay), Causa-Mul {A/u/t probably
borrowed from the earlier Celtic inhabitants = jutting crag), Sletta-val
(= level field), Ha-skeir, Ha-clett (« High reef and rock), Geo (cleft).
Valla-rip (rt^r — crag), Greanascore {Grain = forked valley = Grain in
Northumberland, York, and Lincolnshire place-names, and skor = cleft),
Husa-bost, Steis-buist, Kirka-bost {dosi is the shortened form of Btisfad-r),
Staflfa island {stafar = posts of a building), Stack {stakkr = stock), Bola-
val and Bola bratt (= Bull field and Bull hill: Eng. Brant = Brattr),
Vater-galt {vatr = vatre = water, and Gait = Hog = Hogsback, ridge,
but here the Celtic Gait = cliff may be involved ; and countless Sgeirs
( = sker = reef).
^ The Ster in Ul-(for Uladh-)ster, Lein-(for Leigin)ster, Mun-(for
Mumh)ster, is Norse — so is the termination of the islands, Ireland's eye —
as opposed to Angles-ey — and Lamb-ay. Howth Hill, Wicklow (earlier
Wiking-low), Wexford, Water-(that is weather)ford, Leixlip, Carling-ford,
Strang-ford, &c., all show Norse impress.
The Isle of Man is full of Norse appellations, including such Icelandic
forms as a = river, Brekkr ■= brink or slope, Dalr, Ey, Eyrr, Fjoi©-r, GartJr,
Gil, Hammar, Haugr (Tumulus, How), H611, Setr, VaC (a ford), Vik,
Vollr, and the surnames there show also a large Norse influence; e.g.
Casement (from McAsmundr), Caskell and Gaskell for McA skill, short for
McAsketill; Cottar for McOttar, Corlett for McThor-ljotr, Crenill for
McRagnild, &c. In Manx personal names beginning with c {k) we have
the last letter of Mac (= Son), the initial i^ becoming aspirated in oblique
cases and finally vanishing. The Welsh Map, Ap, and P initial represents
the same change, e.g. MapRichard, ApRichard, and Prichard. The spread
of Norse influence in Southern Britain is also marked by Scandinavian
place-names, which will be dealt with in due course. Great caution is
needed here, however, as many English names are similar to the Norse.
The extent to which our Modem English vocabulary is indebted to
imported Norse words exhibits further the pervasive character of Scandi-
navian influence. A short list of familiar words traced to a Norse ancestry
is appended (see Note I).
230 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
geography or for peaceful commerce. They were uniformly
piratical, and the main objects of their pursuit were the costly
shrines, the richly adorned books, and other precious objects of
religious art belonging to the churches and monasteries. The
Wars of the Gaedhill and the Gaill (i.e. the Irish and the
foreigners), and the Annals of Ulster and other Irish Annals
published under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, are
filled with records of the pillaging of religious houses in Ireland,
and the A.-S. Chron. contains records of similar atrocities in
England.^ The early expeditions were of the nature of summer
raids, and the person engaged in them was distinguished by the
name of Sumar-lithi (Somer led), that is, Summer-sailor. The
Norsemen soon came, however, to make permanent settlements
in all parts of Britain, succeeding eventually in asserting their
sovereignty in the early years of the eleventh century (1016)
over all England.
NOTE I
A SHORT List of Words (abstracted chiefly from Torp's
Wortschatz, Gottingen, 1909) borrowed from the Scan-
dinavian Invaders of Great Britain.
Norse.4»^-r is involved in place-names of the western islands,
and a cognate form, Norse eng (grass-land), is the origin of
our northern eng and tng = meadow.
Bahki (= bank) is found in northern place-names. Beck (of
which the English form Bece gives " beach ", and " batch ",
** bach " = Brook : the early form of the Chester Sandbach
was Sandbec); Billow; Bleak; Bloom; Bole (of a tree);
Bunker (heaps, cf Bunker-hill or Golf bunkers) ; Booth ; Boon
(A.- Sax. form is Ben) are from the Norse, as are also —
* Mr. Plummer shows {Two Sax. Chronicles^ ii. 156) how it had become
necessary, owing to the ravages of the Scandinavian pirates, to fortify the
monasteries. Peterborough was, as he says, one of the earliest instances,
which from being a Home-stead (Medes-hamslede) and exposed to attack,
was made a Burh, by being encircled with a wall (an earthwork) with
defences. It was henceforth Vtitx-borough.
. THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN 231
Cake; Car, in northern place-names, Norse Kjarr (= low
bushes); Carl (churl); Cast (to throw) ; Kid; Crook.
Down (feaihers).
Fir (tree) ; Fors = foss ( = waterfall).
Gate (in the sense of way); Gable \- Game! (= old, in
personal and place-names) ; Girth ; Gills (of a fish) ; Guest ;
Gil (= narrow valley in northern place-names and in Kent).
Hope (=a bay and river valley); Holm (a sea- or river-
island in the north. It is also English); Haug-r* in northern
place-names.
111.
Kindle.
Law; Lceck-r (= brook: in northern place-names, as Leek:
the cognate English Leach, Lech, Letch, and Latch appear in
the south and in the Charters as lacu = also '* lake ") ; Loft ;
Loan.
Meols (Norse MeUr, a sand-bank, appears in the Wirral dis-
trict); Muggy; Mire.
The Meoles at Shrewsbury, e.g. Cruck MeoUy seem to involve
the Welsh 3foel = bald, i. e. treeless.
Nore (= Norse NSr, a bay with narrow entrance).'
6ss (river-mouth: in northern place-names); Orm (**Orm*s
Head " = Serpent's head).
Raise (to elevate) ; Royd and Roothings (Norse Rjo5 = a
clearing : in northern place-names : cf. German Riute, Rente) ;
Root; Ra, R6 (= Corner: in northern place-names).
Set and Saet-r (= summer grazing places : in northern place-
names) ; Skagi (tongue of land : in northern place-names) ;
Skog-r (Wood : in northern place-names as Sko and Skov, the
latter a Danish form) Skin; Scab; Skirt; Scrape; Skull; Sky;
Score (a notch) ; Scum ; Screech ; Scrannel ; Scraggy ;
Squatter; Squander; Squall (to cry); Stith (= Anvil) and
* A. -Sax. Gafol = fork, is derived according to Torp {IVortschatZj 125),
from Latino-Celtic Gahalus = Gallows.
"^ The A.-Sax. Hoh^ pi. Hdas ( = promontory), as in Clobes-hoas, Cloves-
hoh, may be cognate, but Sweet makes this to be the same word as Hdh
= heel, which Torp ( Wortschatz) traces to a different Teutonic stem. The
Hill of Howth involves the Norse Hojbe = a high headland ; an OHG.
form appears in Donners haugk, and suggests that the Clob in Clobes-hoh
may be mythological.
' As ** the Nore " in Kent seems the only instance of this term in Britain
it is possibly a Jutish word (see p. 226).
232 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Stithy; Sly; Sleuth (hound) ; Snap; Snar (= quick: in Snar-
gate [= the Shakespearian "next way"], which being in Kent
may be Jutish); Spae -woman (prophetess); Spike; Spill;
Sling; Swain; Sway.
Tarn ; Teig-r (piece of meadow : with ablaut, A.-Sax. Tig^
Tih\ A.-Sax. Teag (= paddock, = Tey in place-names)) is
traced by Torp to a different stem (see p. 217) ; Take; Wapen-
take; Thrive; Thrift; Trash.
Wand (a rod) ; Wath (a ford, in northern place-names : the
English form is Wade (A.-Sax. Wded) in Biggleswade, &c.);
Whin, Whirl.
IV
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN
The events ascribed by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and other
authorities to the closing years of the eighth century are, for
the purpose of this work, comparatively few. Under a. d. 788
we have the record in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of the meedng
of a Synod at Pincanheal (in Simeon of Durham, according to
the Surtees Society Editor, Winchanheal and Wtncahala) and of
the assembling of another at Aclea in the following year — a year
under which the Chronicle notes the slaying of ^Ifwald, King
of Northumbria, Simeon adding that this was " in a place called
Scythles Cester, next the Wall ",^ and that he was buried in the
^ Pincanheal appears in one MS. of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as
Wincanheal. The confusion between the Saxon P and W has often led to
misreading of proper names, and we have no guide here as to the original
form, except the assumption of Matthew of Paris (following R. de Wend-
over), written before 1269 (Rolls, Ed. i. 354), that the place was Finchale,
near Durham, in his days a Benedictine Priory, founded about 1196 on the
site of the hermitage of St. Goodric, who died about 1 1 70. From the lives
of this saint (Capgrave, N'ova Legenda Angltcte, and Ada Sanctorum,
May 21) the place was fixed upon by St. Goodric because it was a primitive
solitude, a resort of wolves. It was not, therefore, likely that it would be
selected for a Church Council some 370 years before this hermit's time.
There is, moreover, as far as I know, no instance of an initial P becoming
F among the Teutonic peoples of Britain in historic times. A change ot
initial ^ to ^ is almost without precedent. An initial Th in Early
English, it is true, became often P-, Thelbrig (i.e. plank or deal bridge) is
now Felbrig; Thindon (1296) is now Finedon (Northants) ; Thenglesham
(831) is now Fenglesham (Kent). The earliest form of Finchale seems
to have been Fink-halh, which became later Fink-halgh, Fink-halugh
{^Priory of Finchale, Surtees Soc, p. xiii), where yf«>^ seems to be theAnglo-
Saxon_/?«ir = finch, the Anglo-Saxon halh representing, according to H. Sweet,
234 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Church of St. Andrew, Hexham (Hehstealdes-ige). The death
of Jaenbryht, Archbishop of Canterbury, is noted in the Chronicle
*' a corner ", «' a hiding-place ", but in its modern equivalent, "haugh''^ low
lands by a river. The final h in halh is a guttural = ch. The latinized form
is Halha^ which appears in a charter of the early thirteenth century, as de-
scriptive of thirteen acres " infra Halha " ( = under the Haugh) between the
rivers Wear and Gaunlesse {Feod. Prior. Dunelm. p. 7 note). This Halha
seems to have been part of Bishop Auckland, of which the earliest form in
the Durham Charters and in the *' Boldon Book " is Alclet, probably for an
earlier Hak-let or Halc-clet, that is Haugh-rock, so that neither "oak"
nor " land" seems to enter into the name. For a parallel transformation of
Nolt-clet to A^oltland see Viking Mag., Jan., 1909. Halugh-ton, near Dar-
lington, a similar compound of Hale, is now Haughton. The form of the
word in Scotch Charters (e. g. Kinloss) is Halech. This form seems to sug-
gest that the word is Celtic, especially as a connexion between English hole
and healh (Torp, Wortschatz) is not clear. The Breton place-name Lin-
halec — salt-lake suggests the connexion. Finchale does not appear in '* the
Boldon Book " drawn up in 1 1 83. Simeon of Durham (who died about 1 1 30)
gives the name of the place of the Council as Pincanheal and Pincahala, which
his Editor (Surtees Soc, Simeon of Durham, i, pp. 22 and 29) has no hesita-
tion in changing to Winchanheal and Wincahala respectively. Whichever
form we assume, the locality of the Council is yet to seek. Haddan and
Stubbs {Councils, iii, p. 444), after pointing out that Smith (Bede, //. E.
iii. 27) identifies Pincahala and Finchale with Pgegnalaech (in Anglo-Saxon
translation of Bede PeginaleaK), are inclined to the reading Wincanheale,
and to connect it with Wincle in Cheshire, but this is Winchul in late
twelfth century {B. M. Charters and Rolls) and possibly the Winescol
of Domesday Book. For the possible modem form of Psegnalaech see
the conjecture, p. 177. The element P*:?^ assumed there seems to occur in
other northern place-names, e. g. the Domesday Paghenale, later Panhale,
and now Pannel, near Harrogate.
As the previous Council of Aclea (782) is not mentioned by Simeon
of Durham, Haddan and Stubbs considered it to have been a southern
gathering. They add, " In the Durham Ritual published by the Surtees
Society there is a note written by a Provost Aldred, at * SuSan Wudigan
gaete (= ?Newdigate, Plummer, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, ii. 78) aet A'clee
on West Ssexum', in the tent of Elfsige the Bishop. The note is of the
tenth century, but the place is probably the synodical place of encampment.
It is not, however, further identified " ; Haddan and Stubbs, Councils,
iii. 439 note. The Synod of Aclea or Aclech of 788, Haddan and Stubbs,
following Raine {Rich, of Hexham, Surtees Soc, p. 38), would identify
with Aycliffe near Darlington, but aclea = oak-wood (original meaning of
leah), and there would be no temptation to change it. " Sc) thles cester next
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 235
under 790, and also the appointment of his successor ^thelheard
[Abbot of the Monastery of Hlud, according to one MS.] in
the same year. Baldulf was consecrated (at Hearrahalch, says
Simeon) Bishop for Hwitern (Whitehorn in Galloway) in 791,
according to the Chronicle, and in the same year, according to
Simeon, two sons of ^Ifwald were slain by ^thelred, King of
Northumbria, at Wonwaldremer.* Under 792 the Chronicle
states that ^thelbryht, King of East Anglia, was beheaded by
order of OfFa, King of Mercia, and that Osred, who had suc-
ceeded -^Ifwald as King of Northumbria (and had returned,
according to Simeon, from exile in the Isle of Man (Eufania),
whither he had been driven in 790), was slain (at Aynburg»
according to Simeon) and buried at Tynemouth. Simeon of
Durham, in recording the death (in 796) of Offa, refers to the
the wall " (variants Scydescesire, Cithlescester and Scithles-uastre) has been
identified with Chesters, near Chollerton (in 1233 Chelreton, Cal. of Chart.
Rolls, i. 171) on the Wall. Both Chollerton and Chollerford seem to contain
the name of the Roman station Cilumum {Not. Dign.) and to involve a pos-
sible earlyname {CholUrn) of the NorthTyne. If Scythles-cester beCilurnum,
it has nothing in common with that name, but it may mean and be
a corruption of some other station near the wall, such as " Uxellodama ",
which follows, with one interval, Aesica (" Great Chesters") in the Ravenna
Geographer.
' Hludense Monasterium \ Haddan and Stubbs {Counc. iii. 468) are
inclined, for reasons there given, to place this in Mercia, and to identify
it with Louth {Luda before 1166, B. M. Charters, p. 487) or with Lydd
or Luddesdown in Kent. Louth does not seem to be recorded in Domesday ,
and Lydd represents an early Lyde and Lide. Luddes-down appears to
involve a personal name. The Domesday Lud-cerce (Lud Church) in
Notts, is almost an exact equivalent, and was probably close to the modem
Lowdham {Ludham in Domesday). It does not, however, appear in
the Taxatio, but it answers the term more fully than any other conjecture.
Simeon interprets Hearra-halch as "the Place of Lords". The Anglo-
Saxon Hearra certainly meant " Lord", as in the Anglo-Saxon version of
Genesis, and in Ccedmon, and halch has been explained above. There
appear in the Charters of Melrose {Monastic Annals of Teviotdale, 260)
a Harehoch and a Harehouden (now Harden in Koxboroughshire), which
may possibly contain the name. Mr. Plunimer suggests Harraton in
Durham. Aynburg has not been identified. Wonwaldremer is Winander-
mere, now Windermere.
236 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
dyke built by him from sea to sea, that is, from the estuary of
the Dee to that of the Severn.
The year 793 is noteworthy in the Chronicle for an attack
on the Church of Holy Island (Lindisfarena €€) made by the
northern heathen pirates who harried Northumberland in the
following year, but after despoiling Ecgferthes Minster at
Donemuth,! were scattered by a storm, some of their ships
being dashed to pieces, and the escaping crews killed by the
English at the river mouth. Under 794, the Annals of Ulster
(Rolls Series, p. 275) records the burning of Rechra^ and the
pillaging of the Isle of Skye i^Ski) by the heathen pirates. The
previous year they had devastated all the islands of Britain
{ibid.^ p. 275), and in 797 Peel {Inis Pairaicc), in the Isle of
Man, and Ireland and Scotland (Alba) were ravaged by them.
In 802 and 806 they devastated lona (/ Columbce Cille), and
the head of that community removed to Kells in Ireland — the
body of St. Columba being taken about the same time to Saul,^
^ Mr. Plummer says, "Yarrow is called 'Donemouth' as being the
junction of the Done with the Tyne" {Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, ii. 64).
"In Lindisfarena ^e" means "in the island (J^, a Northumbrian form,
presumably, for ige) of the people of Lindisfarne", as we see from Simeon
of Durham. It was the custom of the pirates to attack the islands first.
It is curious that in a letter to the clergy and nobles of Kent, dated
797, Alcuin warns them of the extreme danger threatening Britain by
hitherto unheard-of ravages of pagan pirates, and of the need, therefore,
of giving up their internal dissensions. He recommends them to study
Gildas the wise, and to learn from him the causes why the Britons lost
the rule of their country.
2 Rathlin Island off the coast of Antrim, or Lam-bay Island, both called
in early times Rechriu for (?) Rech-eriu = standing before Erin, gen. of
Eriu, cf. Welsh Rach-ynis = island off the coast (Strachan's Middle
Welsh Grammar), Bec-eriu = little Ireland, was the early name of
"Beggery Island" off the coast of Wexford {Martyrology of OettguSj
Henry Bradshaw Soc, p. 118). The same name appears as that of
a place belonging to Glastonbury in a Charter ascribed to 971 {Cart. Sax.
iii. 574), see p. 205.
' The form of this name in The Book of Armagh (a.d. 807) is Saball,
and is, as Pedersen has pointed out {Vergl. Gramm., p. 219), the earliest
Irish instance of a borrowing from the Latin. The original was Stabulum.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 237
Co. Down, Ireland, where it was when The Book of Armagh
was written in 807. The attacks of the Norse pirates became
more and more frequent, and they established themselves in
forts at Dublin and elsewhere. The Danes seem to have
appeared first in these raids, according to The Wars of the
Gaedhill with the (?«z7/ (Rolls Series, p. 19), about 850, although
Mr. Skene {Celtic Scotland) wrongly calls the early invaders
uniformly Danes.
^thelred, King of Northumbria, was slain, according to
Simeon of Durham, in 796 [795], at Cobre,^ and was succeeded
by Osbald, who, obliged within a month to fly, took refuge with
the King of the Picts. Eardwulf, having succeeded, was conse-
crated at St. Peter's, York, in 795, but his claims were
questioned, and were only decided by a subsequent battle which
was fought in 798, according to the Chronicle, at Hweallaege, in
Northumberland, and, according to Simeon, at a place called by
the English, Billingahoth, close to Walalege.^ Eanbald, Arch-
bishop of York, died in 796 (in a monastery called Etclete,' says
Simeon), and was buried at York (Eoforwic). In the same
year Ceolwulf, King of Mercia, made himself master of Kent
and took thence King Eadbryht Prsen prisoner to Mercia. One
MS. of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle relates the death, under
798 [?], at Sudberi (Sudbury, Suffolk) of Alfhun, Bishop of
The Celtic word for barn is in Irish Skibber^ in Welsh Ysgubor, and a Breton
form Skiber which seems to have found its way to the Continent. See the
German forms in Diefenbach's Glossarium, a supplement to Ducange, where
Skiibor, Skiber, Sabal, and Sawl are given (under Acervus) as equivalents
of Barn.
' Cobre is regarded as a shortened form of Corbrigge = Corbridge,
already explained, but it may be for Cover-hAm.
2 HxueallcBg and Simeon's Walalege have been identified with Whalley
in Lancashire. The form in Domesday is Wallei, and the earliest docu-
ments of the Coucher Book of Whalley (fourteenth century) give Whalleye.
Billingahoth does not occur in the latter, but Bilyngton does.
' Etclete is so like the early form of Auckland {Alclet) that, in the
absence of any other possible identification, it may be regarded as a mis-
reading of that name.
238 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Dunwich, and of his burial at the latter place [{on) Domuce],
and the same MS. records that the body of St. Wihtburg was
found at Deorham {Dereham^ Norfolk) in the 5ame year, uncor-
rupted fifty-five years after her burial.
In the last year of the century (800) the Chronicle records the
succession of Ecgbryht to the Kingdom of Wessex, adding that
on the same day ^thelmund, an alderman from the Hwiccii,
rode over Cynemaeres ford {Kempsford, Glouc.) and was en-
countered by the men of Wilts (WilscBte) under their alderman,
Weoxtan, and the latter were victorious, both leaders being
slain.^ Simeon of Durham records in the same year the conse-
cration of Eanbryth at Cettingaham to the bishopric of Hexham.
Under 801, Simeon of Durham notes the death of a certain
Abbot Edwin, " also called Eda,'' and his burial at Gegen-forda."
In the Chronicle from 801 onwards the monotonous record of
the succession of kings and bishops is only broken for some
years by occasionally a more interesting event, such as, under
813, the harrying of Devon and Cornwall {West Walas) from
east to west by Ecgbryht, referred to above, or in 816 the burn-
ing of the English School at Rome. In 822 the Chronicle
records another Synod held at Clofes-hoo (variant Clo/es-ho),
and under the next year we have an account of further fighting
with the Welsh (Wala) and Devon men {Defnd) at Gafulford,'
and of a battle in which Ecgbryht, King of Wessex, defeated at
^ This is the only mention of the Hwiccii in the Chronicle. Cyne-
mseresford was in 1236 Kynemeresford {Cal. Chart. Rolls, i. 222), and in
1 54 1 Kamyseford {B. M. Charters). Cettingham is probably Cottingham,
Yorks. (Domesday Cotingeham, compare Catingeuuic).
* This is Gainford-on-Tees, see Simeon of Durham, Surtees Soc, i. 39
note ; Gegen, Gegn, or Gean involves the idea of our again, and in composi-
tion means ''duplicate". The Genlade of Bede, already explained,
contains the same idea. Note how Edwin is shortened to Eda. This
process has been previously referred to, and we have, as already stated,
many instances of these shortened personal designations in place-names.
* Clofes-hoo has been previously dealt with. Gafulford is identified
(Plummer's Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Index, ii) with Galford, Devon, but
see p. 141.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 239
Ellendun ^ Beornwulf, King of Mercia, with great slaughter. The
same year witnessed the extension of Ecgbryht's power over
Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, and East Anglia : in 827 he over-
ran all Mercia, together with the country south of the Humber,
and led an army to Dore ^ against the Northumbrians, who were
obliged to submit to him. He was also, as the Chronicle says,
the eighth Bretwalda (variant Bryien Wealda) since the origin
of this title. In 828 Ecgbryht led also an army against the
North Welsh (North Walas) and reduced them to obedience.
The Annales Cambriae record, under 816, an invasion by
the Saxons of the district of Snowdon {Monies Ereri) and
Roweynauc (Rhyfoniog^ Denbigh), but this, like the invasion of
the latter region (here called Rieniich) by Offa, recorded in the
same Annales under 795, must be ascribed to the Mercians, and
not to Ecgbryht. The record in the same Annales, under 822,
of the destruction of the citadel of Deganwy (Arx Deganhut)
and of the conquest of Powis {Poywis) by the Saxons possibly
refers to the campaign of Ecgbryht in 828. The Scandinavian
pirates appeared on the scene again in 832, when they ravaged
Sheppey in the Thames (Sceap-tge), and in the following
year Ecgbryht fought against thirty-five ships' crews at Char-
* The site of Ellendun is supposed (Plummer's Anglo-Saxon Chronicle j
Index) to be Wroughton, Wilts. This is fully confirmed by the fact that
Wroughton is still known in ecclesiastical registers as Ellingdon. A paper
on this subject, written by Mr. T. S. Maskelyne, sent to me by Canon
Codrington, D.D., of Chichester, traces the history of the mistake by
which the place was identified by J. R. Green (in his Hist, of the Eng.
People, p. 45) with Wilton. Sir R. C. Hoare was the first to identify the
site with Wroughton {Reg. Wiltun., pp. 54, 55), which name, he says, was
added to Elyngdon.
' Dore (Derbyshire), south-west of Sheffield, still retains the name,
which it bore also in time of Domesday. It is mentioned also in the
Chronicle under 942. Mr. Plummer would make it an English word
( = door) meaning a mountain pass, but it looks more like the cognate
Celtic Dor-um, encountered in many place-names with seemingly the same
meaning. It may, however, be a river name. The Bdora oi Ravennas
seems to be in a sequence with places conjectured to be in Derbyshire,
see p. 117.
240 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
mouth {cBt Carrum), but after much slaughter the Danes
{Deniscan) held the field. In the following year (835) a large
fleet of the pirates, having put into Cornwall, joined forces with
the West Welsh (West Walas) and made successful raids into
Wessex, of which Ecgbryht having heard, he led an army
against them and put to flight both the Cornish {Walas) and
Danes {Demscan) at Hengestdun.^ After a glorious reign of
thirty-seven years he died in 836.
The year 837 witnessed, according to the Chronicle, two
fights with the Danes, one at Southampton {Hamtun\ in which
the Wessex alderman Wulfheard gained a victory over thirty-
three ships' crews of Danes, and the other at Portland {Port),^
where ^thelhelm, the leader, and the Dorset men were defeated
by the Danes, and ^thelhelm slain. In the following year (838)
the Scandinavian pirates inflicted a defeat on Herebryht, alder-
man, in the region of the Marsh-dwellers {Merscware), that is
of Romney Marsh, and slew many in Lindsay {Lindesse), East
Anglia, and Canterbury.
From the middle of the ninth century onwards the attacks of
the Scandinavian pirates on the British Isles became more
frequent. The year 851 is distinguished by a victory obtained
over them at Wicganbeorg by the men of Devon under Ceorl
the Alderman, and also by the slaying of a great number of
them and the capture of nine of their ships in a sea-fight at
Sandwich {SondwicY in Kent, by King ^thelstan — under-
* Hengest-dun is Kingston Down, Cornwall. Hengst ( = stallion, horse
generally, but possibly also a personal name) enters into several place-
names, e. g. Kingston, Cambridge, and Kenstridge, Somerset.
2 Fort is used for what is elsewhere in the Chronicle (982) called
Portland.
3 The Scandinavian invaders are generally designated simply as " Kea-
then " in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This word in one form or another
is common to all the Teutonic dialects. Its assumed connexion with
Heath in the signification of" men of the heather" is not at all convincing.
Professor Kluge would be inclined to look upon the word {Etym. Diet, sub
voce), of which a form appears in the Gothic translation of the Scriptures
{Haithnd—'a. feminine noun sing.), as being adopted like '^Church""
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 241
king of Kent — and the Alderman Ealchere. The heathen in-
vaders, the Chronicle adds, remained in Thanet this year for
the whole winter, a thing they had not done before. The year
851 did not pass away without reverses elsewhere. Three hun-
dred and fifty of the invaders' ships having entered the Thames,
and ^' Pfaffe" (the Papa previously referred to) in some way from the
Greek. It would seem, therefore, that Dr. Vigfusson's suggestion
{Icelandic Diet, sub voce) may be correct that it is adapted from the
Greek td. Uhtie, the word in the New Testament for gentiles^ see also
New Eng. Diet. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle sometimes specifies them
as Danes {Deniscan). In the Irish Annals the Norwegians are called
either Fair Gentiles {Find Geintt) or Lochlanns {Lochlanncuh, i. e. men
from the lake or fiord-land). The latter term is preserved in the surnames
of McLoughlin and McLachlan. The Irish called the Danes Danar or
Dub-geinti (Black Gentiles) or Dubgaill (black foreigners), which still
exists in the surnames McDougal or McDugald, McDowall = " son of the
Dane*' and Doyle. As to Wicganbeorg ( = \Vicga's hill or tumulus),
Mr. Stevenson ( Asser's Life of Alfred, p. 175) rightly dismisses the identifica-
tion with Wembury or with Weekborough, both in Devon. He suggests
Wigborough, Somerset, which Mr. Eyton identified with the Wincheberie of
Domesday and Winchin-beria of the Exon. Domesday. But it is not prob-
able that the beria termination in Z'^wtfja'ay represents ^^^r^= hill, which
appears to be represented apparently therein by berga, representing an
oblique case. Beria seems uniformly to represent the dative of Burh =
Byrig.
The termination bere or bera in the Exon. Domesday seems to represent
the Anglo-Saxon beam, dative bearwe, = wood , as in Ac beara, Collabera,
Eattebera, Lochesbera, Hundesbere, Laurocabera (now Larkbear). It occurs
also alone as in ''Bere Forest".
In Exon. Domesday, Beorg, dative Beorge, appears seemingly as berga^
as in Albretes-berga, Lange berga, &c., and takes in modem times the form
borough. Burh, dative byrig, is represented in Chentis-beria (now Kentis-
bury), Cungres-beria (now Congresbury), &c. In these circumstances
Winchin-beria cannot well represent Wicganbeorg, which remains thus
unidentified.
Sandwich {Sondwic and Sandwic) involves w^V in the sense of "bay",
and is, therefore, probably Scandinavian {=Vik), although, as we have
seen (p. 210), the term Wicing occurs before the arrival of the Norsemen,
and the fVic may be English. It was the chief haven on the south coast
for the assembling of the Danish fleets. It is mentioned in the Sagas
{Corpus Poeticum Boreale^ ii, 262). Sand-vik (sand-bay) is a common
place-name in Iceland and Norway.
Q
242 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
the crews took Canterbury (Cantwaraburg) and London
(Lundenburg) by storm, and put to flight the King of Mercia
(Beorhtwulf) and his army.
Passing over the Thames into Surrey, the invaders were
encountered at Ockley (Acka) by King ^thelwulf, and his
son ^thelbald, together with the Wessex host, who, after
slaughtering an unheard-of number of the heathen, gained
the day.
In one of the MSS. of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle drawn up
at Medeshamstede, that is, Peterborough, we have, under 852,
some local details with regard to the endowment of that monas-
tery. On condition of his assigning Sleaford [Slioiva/ord) in
Lincoln, to Medeshamstede, and paying certain rents in kind,
the monks let to Wulfred the land of Sempringham {Sempinga-
hani) for his lifetime. The Charter dealing with this arrange-
ment is in existence.^
Under 853 the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that the
Mercians assisted by the King of Wessex attacked the North
Welsh {North Walas) and reduced them to obedience. The
Chronicle goes on to state that the men of Kent, under Ealhere
(probably the Ealchere referred to above), and the men of
Surrey, under Huda, fought in the same year with the heathen
^ This Charter is in possession of the Society of Antiquaries, and is
printed in Cart. Sax. (vol. ii, p. 57). Sempingham (which lies to the
south of Sleaford) seems to be the correct form. The name occurs also in
the Domesday Survey of Norfolk in the hundred of Diss {Bice), It is now
Shimpling there. Sempinga is seemingly a genitive plural of a patronymic.
Slioiva ford contains apparently a river-name. Compounds with
involve generally (i) a personal name in the genitive; or (2) the nature of
the river at the point (as Stan-ioxdi, Mud-ford, Sand-ford, &c.) ; or (3) the
animals, &c., which may cross, as Horse-ford, Shef-ford (Sheep), Oxen-ford^
Wain-ford (Wagon) ; (4) the kind of river, and sometimes its name ;
(5) the aids to steady crossing as Staf-ford, that is, with a guiding rail :
Barn-ford (that is. Beam = tree laid across) : Trefford (Tree, Treow-ford).
*' Sliowa-ford " comes under (4), and the brook is there still known as the
*'Slea", for probably Sleow-ea = Tench-river : compare Trout-beck, a fre-
quent brook name.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 243
pirates in Thanet {Tenet), but after an initial success were worsted
with the loss of both their leaders.
In the year 854 the heathen men remained again, the
Chronicle states, over winter, taking up their quarters in Sheppey
(Sceap-ige, that is, Sheep-island).
^thelbald, who had succeeded his father ^thelwulf as King
of Wessex, died in 860, and was buried at Sherborne {cet Sctra-
burnan). ^thelbyrht, his brother, now became King of
Wessex and Kent, and in his days the heathen men came with
a large fleet and stormed Winchester (Win/an Ceas/rey but the
Hampshire and Berkshire men put them to flight and held the
battlefield.
Under 861 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the record occurs
of the death of St. Swithun, Bishop (of Winchester), whose
name is not mentioned anywhere else in the Chronicle.
In 865 the men of Kent tried to buy ofif the heathen army in
Thanet, but the latter stole away in the night and ravaged all
the east of Kent. Next year a great fleet of pirates arrived,
and took up their winter quarters among the East Angles {on
East Engluni) providing themselves, says the Chronicle^ with
horses. The East Angles made peace with this army.
Having crossed the Humber in the following year to York
{to Eoforwic Ceastre) the heathen army was attacked there by
the Northumbrians,* who stormed the town, but were at last
defeated with great slaughter and had to make peace with the
enemy. The Welsh Annals {Annates Cambriae under 866) refer
* Scira-burna = Clear brook. Wintan-ceastre (Winchester) is based on
the ancient Romano-British name Venta-Belgarum, or the Venta of the
Belgae, who, according to Caesar, were Continental Celts. The meaning
of Venta has been already dealt with, p. 32.
^ The Angles attracted Eburacum as I have already said (p. 37) into
a familiar compound Eofor-wic, that is, " Boar-lair or shed." This was,
like all the adaptations from the Romano-British nomenclature, a great
leap, and it took place at the very outset of the occupation. It may be
said, indeed, that all the startling changes in place-names took place
shortly after the Teutonic settlement. The forms afterwards were fairly well
preserved.
Q2
244 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
to this battle at York {Urbs Ebrauc) noting that it was devas-
tated by the Danes (Dub gint = black gentiles).
The heathen army moved the next year into Mercia, to
Nottingham {Snottingaham ^). The Mercians and the men of
Wessex tried to dislodge them, but failed, and had to come to
terms with them.
The heathen went again to York in 869, where they remained
a year. In the following year (870), having passed through
Mercia to the East Angles, they took up their winter quarters
at Thetford {cBt Theodforda'^). Here King Edmund fought
against them but was defeated and slain, and the Danes
(Deniscan) proceeded to subdue the whole country, and to
destroy the minsters. The rich abbey of Medeshamstede was
reduced by them " to nothing " on the occasion.
Some additional details upon the invaders who arrived in
East Anglia in 865 are given in the Chronicle of Melrose ^ a
twelfth-century MS. The leaders are there called Iwar {Ivar)
^ Snottinga-ham is said in Asser's Life of Alfred to have been called by
the British Tig guocobauc, which Asser, who, as a Welshman of St. David's,
knew Welsh, says means " House of Caves" (rather "Cavy-house"), for
guocob-auc is an adjective derived from Guocob = ca.ve, modern Guocof.
Guocob and Guocov occur in the Book of Landaff, — Wookey and Wookey
Hole near Wells, and the early forms are not against the supposition, seem to
represent the British word. Compare Vooga (Williams' Cornish Dictionary)
which Norden makes Googoo, that is Guocof Cf. Fogo in the Brythonic
districts of Scotland. The Tig is the early British form for house, modem
Ty. Any one who has seen the caves at Nottingham cut out of the sandstone
rock will admit the appropriateness of the name. Snottingham has nothing
to do with caves, but is probably, as Mr. Stevenson says, derived from the
patronymic Snottinga, descendants or family of a certain Snuot or Snot.
Snottar is Anglo-Saxon for Wise, and may be a form of the word.
A similar compound exists in Norse names. Another instance of Asser's
knowledge of British Place-names is his British equivalent of Thanet =
Ruim. This would seem to indicate an acquaintance with Nennius, where
this name is also found. See p. 127.
2 Theod-ford made up of Theod^'' people", " public" Sind ford, that is,
it was on a public highway. There are several places of this name and
similar compounds occur among the Scandinavians, e.g. TheoS-braut =
Highroad.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 245
and Hubba, who directed the campaign in Nottingham and
York and were in command when King Edmund was slain in
East Anglia. In the F. MS. of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle they
are called Ingware and Ubba. The heathen army when it
advanced to Reading was, the Melrose Chronicle states, under
the leadership of Bagsecg and Halfdene, Ivar having presumably
died (Wars of Gcedhill and Gatll, p. 270). In the series of
battles fought in this part of Wessex, Baegsecg (Baegscecg in
Asser) was killed, and Halfdene then proceeded with part of his
host into Northumbria, whence (according to the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle under 875) he harried the Picts and Strath-Clyde
Britons. Strath-Clyde had been ravaged by Norsemen (" Loch-
lanns" according to Fragments 0/ Irish Annals, p. 192) a few
years before 870, and Alt Clyde {All Clut in Welsh Annals =
Dumbarton, properly Ail-cluathe^ genitive Ailech Cluathe = the
rock of Clyde) taken by siege. The year before these Norse-
men (according to Fragments of Irish Annals) had ravaged
Fortrenn and made the people tributary.*
^ The various spellings of Ivarr in the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic annals
{Imhar in Irish) are doubtless owing to the early form of this Teutonic
name, viz. Ingo-tnar. In the Flatey Jarbok, iii. 507, it appears as
y'ngvar, but generally in Norse as Ivarr, in which form it has passed into
the Scotch personal name Maclver (or McKeever) = Ivarson and Iveson,
and the Welsh Ivor. The celebrated Archbishop of Reims, Hincmar, bore
the same name. The Ingo is obscure, but Forstemann would connect it
with jung (young) and also identify it with the suffix -ing in Teutonic
personal names, e.g. Harding, Heming, Helding, &c. Hubba is a name
unknown to the Sagas. It is probably a nickname. A similar form Hufa
is used as such, meaning " with a helm ", and Hubo, a Teutonic name, is
made cognate by Forstemann. Bnegsecg is evidently, from the variants,
a corrupt form. It may be an ekename of which the second element is
probably, from the form in Asser, Skegg = beard, as in Kolskegg = Black
beard. It could hardly represent Berserkr, which was also used {Iceland.
Diet, sub voce) as a nickname = "Bear- coat." Half-dene has been already
explained. In the Irish Annals it is Alb-dan.
Ethelwerds Chronicle states that King Edmund was buried at Beado-
rices (/ur/Ae, th&t is, " Beadu-richs farm," the old name of St. Edmundsbury.
Beadu-rich ( = battle-king) was a common Saxon name and gave origin
both to Battersea and Petersham, which in Doniesday Survey are " Patri-
246 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
In 871 the heathen army came to Reading {to Readmgum),
but they were defeated at Engle-field {on Engla-felda ^). Three
days after this, King ^thered, and Alfred his brother (the
future celebrated King Alfred), led an army to Reading against
the heathen men, but after great slaughter on both sides the
Danes held their ground. About four days later. King ^thered
and Alfred fought another battle with the foe at ^scesdune,'* and
cesy" and " Patricesham " respectively. In the original Westminster
Charter of 693 {Cart. Sax. i. 116) the former is Batricesege. In 1067
{Brit. Museum Chart, and Rolls : Copy) the former is Batriceseie or
Fatriceseia, and the latter is in 1266 {Merton Cart.) Petricheskam. It is
clear we have to do in both cases with a Saxon magnate called " Beadu-
rich " and not with " St. Peter ", who is wrongly assumed by some to be
the Petrich in Petrichesham. Initial P is not an uncommon mutation of B
in English.
As to the Scandinavian raid upon the Picts and Strath-Clyde Britons, it is
clear that the aggressors here were Danes, but the siege of Ail-Cluathe
(870 in the Annates Cambriae) was by Lochlanns, who had also in 865 or
869 invaded Fortrenn under Amlaiph (that is, Atnhlaif, pronounced Awlaif
= Olaf) and Avisle {Ann. Ult. i, p. 374 = Haisl) aided by the Scandinavians
of Ireland and Scotland, and had plundered all Pictland. These were not
Danes, as Dr. Todd ( Wars of Gaedhill and Gaill, Ixxix) made them out to
be, but, according to Fragments of Annats, p. 159, Norsemen. Fortrenn
has been dealt with before. It was the Pictish district proper, and
contained Dunkeld and Scone. The similarity of the word to Fortren
(«= mighty, Felire of Oengus, Jan. 31) probably led to its being considered
in the Irish version of Nennius as the eponymus founder of the district.
^ Engla-felda is probably rightly explained by Asser as the " Camp of
the English ". Readingum is the locative plural of a patronymic, nomina-
tive plural Redingas. The Basengum mentioned lower down is of the
same nature. Meretune is probably' Marten, Wilts., which is "Mertone"
in Domesday, and "Meretone" (in Himdred of Kinwarestan) in 1227.
Winburna is most probably, as was previously stated, a hybrid word
involving the British ?F?«« = white and the English buma.
2 ^scesdun is not, as Mr. Stevenson has rightly shown, composed of
Ash-\xQe and Down (as Asser states), but involves a personal name ^sc in
the genitive case, /^sces, contracted from some such original as /^scwine.
The name still exists in Ashdown Park in the manor of Ash-bury (that is,
yEscesburh) at the west end of the Berkshire Downs. A Charter ascribed
to about 931 {Cart. Sax. ii. 376) gives as a boundary y^scces byries
Subgeate, that is, the south entrance to -^scesbury. Mr. Stevenson (Asser's
Life of Alfred, p. 238), though tempted to connect the Nachededorne
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 247
after great slaughter put them to flight. About a fortnight later,
however, ^thered and Alfred were defeated at Basing {cet
Basengum) and again after a hard fight at Meretune, where the
Danes (Deniscan) possessed the batdefield. After this battle
there arrived a great body of pirates {Stimor lida = Summer
army), and in the same year King ^-Ethered died, and was
buried at Wimborne {cei Winburnan)^ his brother iElfred suc-
ceeding to the crown.
Alfred became king, as we saw, in 871, and all the manu-
scripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle agree in giving 901 as the
year of his death. His reign of some thirty years was as event-
ful, perhaps, as that of any English Sovereign, and in his
strenuous career during this stormy period he well earned the
distinction of " The Great " which posterity conferred upon
him.
The record of iElfred*s deeds is preserved for the most part
in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle^ and in his life by Asser, which
supplements the account in the Chronicle by some important
particulars. Alfred's biographer was a Welsh Bishop, who
says, in his own words (Cap. 79), that "he was brought up,
educated, tonsured (as monk), and finally ordained in the holy
places of the extreme west of Britain (St. David's) ". His learn-
ing seems to have given him a certain fame, and he was invited
by Alfred to pay him a visit. Asser relates how he came to
the royal vill at Dene ^ in Sussex, where he saw the King for
the first time. The King's efforts to secure Asser's services in
his literary labours were not at first attended with success.
Asser was unwilling to leave his country and his people without
consultation with them, but promised to let the King know his
decision. On his way back he fell ill of a fever, and lay ill for
( = " barethorne " Hundred, which contained an " Assedone ") of Domesday
with the unica spinosa arbor of Asser, will not associate this Assedone with
the ^scesdun of the battle.
1 This is doubtless the Dene mentioned in ^Elfired's will, and is repre-
sented, as Mr. Stevenson suggests, by east and west Dean, near Eastbourne.
It is in the dative or locative of the Anglo-Sax. Denu, a dell.
248 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
over a year at a place he calls Wintonia.^ Letters from the
King finally induced him to agree to his request, a thing he was
the more content to do because, as he says, the King's authority
had at this time, and long before, extended to all the south part
of Britain : " Himeid, for instance, with all the inhabitants of
the Demetic region, had submitted to Alfred. So also had
Houil {Higuel, that is modern Howel), son of Ris, King of
Gleguising, and Brochmail and Fernmail, sons of Mouric, kings
of Guent. Elised, son of Teudubr, King of Brecheniauc, had
also submitted to the King. Some of these had been driven,
as Asser tells us, by the exactions of Rodri the Great [King
of Gweneth = North Wales], and others by the tyranny of the
" Aldorman " Eadred (that is Ethelred), and of the Mercians
to seek Alfred's protection.^ Asser was honourably received by
* It is clear this could not be Winchester, Venta Belgarum, and it is
probable, therefore, that it was the Venta Silurum, now Caer Went, which
was on the Roman Road to the West, and is styled Guentonia by Welshmen
in the tenth century when writing Latin. See Liber LandavensiSy Rh^s-
Evans, p. 220.
2 Himeid's death is recorded in the Annates Cambriae under 892. He
was King of Dyfed {Demetid). Maes-yvet (Maes Hyveidd of the Myvyr.
Arch.), the Welsh name of Old Radnor before, and in the sixteenth century,
possibly preserves his name. Rotri {Rodri), King of North Mid Wales
and Cardigan, was slain by the vSaxons, according to the Annates Cambriae j
in 876, and Howel's death is placed by the same authority under 885 (894
in the Brui). For Gleguissig {Gteguising) see p. 138. A Fernmail, son of
Teudubir, is mentioned by Nennius as the King then reigning (785-815,
according to Zimmer, Nennius Vindicatus, p. 71) in the two regions Buelt
and Guortigirniaun. Buelt is now Buitth, and embraced that part of
Powis lying between the Wye and the Severn ; and the lordship of Gwrthre-
nion {Gwrthernion : Myrv. Arch., Warthrenion, Geratd. Camb. I tin. c. i)
in Radnorshire, preserves seemingly Guor-tigim-iaun, which stands to
Guortigern {Vor-tigern — oytxAoxd.) as Cereticiaun (Cardigan) does to
Ceretic. The Brochmail and Fernmail of the text are seemingly of later
date, but the latter was probably King of the Builth region. Brochmail
and Fernmail witness a charter in the time of Nud, Bishop of Llandaff
(ninth century), Lib. Land, p. 226. A Teudur, son of the Elised referred
to on the pillar at Abbey Crucis (see p. 55), is mentioned under 927-9 as
King of Brecknock, Lib. Land., p. 237.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 249
King Alfred at his royal vill of Leonaford,^ and we learn from
Alfred's preface to his translation of Gregory's Pastoral Care
how he valued Asser's help. The King rewarded him first by
granting him the monasteries of Cungresbyri and Banuwille,*
and afterwards by the gift of Exanceastre, including the whole
diocese {Parochia)^ which embraced also Cornwall {Cornubia).
As the See of Exeter was not yet formed, it is clear that this
was an earlier ecclesiastical division of which Sherborne was the
Bishop's Stool, for the Annals of St, Neots records his death as
Bishop of Sherborne in 909.
Of Asser's Life of Alfred only one manuscript was in exis-
tence in the sixteenth century, and this was unfortunately
destroyed in the fire at the Cottonian Library in 1731. Prior to
this, however, several copies had luckily been made, upon one
or other of which the existing printed editions are based. It
seems clear from the opinions of experts'* who had seen the
original MS. that it was written in two or more hands about
A. D. 1000. The author seems to have completed his biography
in 893 (Cap. 91. 4), when -Alfred was forty-five years old.
Anything subsequent to this is, therefore, from another hand.
Mr. Stevenson's introduction to the latest printed edition of the
work (Oxford, 1904) is a marvel of painstaking research, and
from this and his numerous valuable notes to the text the reader
cannot but arrive at the conviction that Asser*s Life of Alfred
is a trustworthy historical document. The Annals of St. Neots,
which was formerly associated with Asser's Life of Alfred, and
* Mr. Stevenson conjectures this may be Landford, Wilts.
2 Now Congresbury {Thonne restetk S. Congarus on Congreshyrig —
see Tha Halgan on Angelcynne, Liebermann, Hanover, 1889) and Banwell
(probably from Benawt//e = FTa.yer--we\\). Cf. Bonus and Bedhus pre-
viously explained. In a "History of the Bishoprick of Somerset till
1174" {Camden Society, 1840), Congresburia is made the earliest seat of
the Bishop, and Bishop Daniel is there said to have removed it to
"Cideston" [Tideston], that is, Wells.
3 Among others by Humphrey Wanley, an early Secretary of S.P.C.K.,
and afterwards Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries.
250 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
was so called from its having been discovered by Leland at St.
Neots in Huntingdonshire, is regarded by Mr. Stevenson as
a Post-Conquest compilation, made up chiefly from the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life. Its topographical additions
will be noted in their proper place.
Within a month of Alfred's accession he had a conflict with
the whole army of the Danes at Wilton (Willun), and having
with his small force seemingly put them to flight, a ruse on the
enemy's part, he lost the battle. Asser adds a topographical
detail that Wilton was on a hill on the south side of the river
Guilou} The Chronicle and Asser agree in stating that iElfred
fought in the same year eight pitched battles with the Danes in
the region south of the Thames {Themese), and was day and
night on the move owing to incessant attacks of the enemy. A
peace was patched up at the end.
In 872, the Chronicle tells us, the Danes withdrew from
Reading {Readingum) to London (Lunden by rig) and remained
the winter there, the Mercians making peace with them, which
they also did in the following year when the Danes removed to
Northumbria {on Northhymhre) and settled for the winter at
Torksey (^Turicesiege) in Lindsey {on Lindesse). Next year (874),
the Danes having made their winter settlement at Repton
{Hreopedune), drove King Burgrsed over the sea, putting a thane,
a creature of their own, in his place.
In 875 part of the Danish army (under Healfdan) went from
Repton to the River Tyne, and harried the country, extending
their attacks to the Picts {Peohlas) and Strath-Clyde Welsh
{Sir ceded Walas). Three of their leaders (Godrum, Oscytel,
and Anwynd) removed from Repton to Cambridge (Granle
hrycgey and settled there for one year. In the same year
1 This is presumably the British form of the river Wiley which gives its
name to Wil-tun and fViliumdr, whence IVtl^esa'r, modern Wiltshire.
A similar form of river name occurs in Wales, as in the Camguili
( = '* winding-Guili") and in Aber-guilly in Carmarthenshire. Welsh
2 For the various stages of transition between Granta-brycg and Cam-
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 251
JEUred, having had a naval engagement with the enemy, took
one of their ships and put the others to flight The Danes,
having left Cambridge in the following year, proceeded to the
Castle of Wareham {Wer/iam), where was a monastery (Asser
adds) situated in a most safely protected place between the
rivers Frome (Frauu) and Terente [= Trent] in the district
(paga) which is called in British Durngueis (Mr. Stevenson reads
Durngueir) but in Saxon Thornsceta} Proceeding from hence
bridge see Professor Skeat's masterly paper on the subject. The Cam was
originally called, it would seem, Granta, which also probably gave its name
to Cair Granth (wrongly written Grauth in Nennius's List of Civitates
Britanniae) now Grant Chester. The Camborico of the Itinerary ^ although
near, has nothing seemingly to do with Cambridge.
1 Mr. H. Bradley, whom Mr. Stevenson follows, sees in Frauu an
evolution of a supposed earlier Frdma, of which the river From (given in
the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle under 998) preserves the form, a form that
would have developed naturally in British lips to Frauv^ and later to
Fraw, as in Aberffraw. This would mean that the Saxons had occupied
this district before the British change of m to v had become operative
(but see Pedersen, V. Gramm. § 99. i, for a possible instance of an
aspirated in in the middle syllable in Gaulish). A similar early occupancy
is implied, therefore, wherever we find in Britain a river called Fr5me,
that is, in Somerset, Gloucester, Hereford, &c. As to the reading Durn-
gueir^ which Mr. Stevenson assumes to be that of the original MS., it is
considered to be a natural development of the name of Dorchester in
Roman times, Dumo-varia, gueir representing varia according to Welsh
phonology. But the British dialect in South Britain was not what we
know as Welsh, Moreover, Thomsdta (or better DomscEtd) is not given
by Asser as the equivalent of Dorchester, but of the district {paga) now
Dor-set, an almost exact representative of the Durotriges (cf. Allo-triges
and Allo-briges) of Ptolemy (see p. 55). A possible derivation of Dumo-
varia raises a further difficulty. Durn-o can be explained here (as it has
been by Dr. Whitley Stokes in the personal name Dumcuos) as "fist"
(Irish Dom, Welsh Divni), and Varia, as " plays", " theatre". Seeing
that there is no evidence of a native stronghold at Dorchester, it was
probably founded by the Romans. The amphitheatre they constructed
there would furnish to the natives a significant name for the place, and
in British would possibly be represented by "Fist-plays" (Dourna in
Breton is to fight with the fists). The Cornish word for a theatrical play
was Gwarey a seeming direct descendant of Varia. Cf. plain ait Guare in
Cornwall. " The Guare Miracle, in [English, a Miracle play .... For
representing it they raise an earthen Amphitheatre in some open field,"
252 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
to Exeter [Exanceasire —kss&v, Cairuisc)'^ the Danes lost 120
of their ships in a gale off Swanage (cet Swanawic^ a Norse
name = Swain's bay). The mounted army proceeded to Exeter.
Alfred strove to outride them, but although he failed to prevent
their getting into this stronghold, yet he compelled them to give
him hostages and make peace. The Danes then withdrew to
Mercia.
Asser, under the year 878, relates that the pagan army having
left Exeter [Eaxeancestre) came to the royal vill of Chippenham
{Cippanham), situated on the east bank of the stream "called
in British Abon'' (Avony where they wintered, having driven
Carew's Survey of Cornwall^ 1769, p. 71. Cf. the Welsh Guare miragl of
the lolo MSS., p. 86. The Argento-varia (now ? Horburg) near Argento-
ratum (Strassburg) was probably so called from an amphitheatre. The
Anglo-Saxon forms of Dorchester, Dorn-wara Ceaster and Dorn-warana
C caster y seem to preserve ^wa;'^, and not the genitive plural oi wer^wara,
men or warena,
^ Mr. Stevenson regards the uisc in Cair- ( = casird) uisc as indicating
a "Welsh development of Isca or {Esca) later than the time of the Saxon
occupations of Exeter {Escanceaster), and that Asser heard the name from
the natives of Devon or gave it a Welsh form. The latter is probable.
Asser seems to show in one or two places an acquaintance with Nennius, in
whose list of Civitates occurs Cair Legeion Guar Usic {Uisc\ which the
Irish version places at Oper-uisc (Aber-uisc). This is now Caerleon. The
form uisc is possibly, therefore, Welsh as well as Irish, and, perhaps, an
oblique case. Caer Esca occurs in the Welsh Triads as presumably the
early name of Exeter.
^ Cippanham (Chippenham) seems made up of Ciepa (gen. Ciepan) =
"trader", and hamm, "meadow." The double/ in Cippa suggests, how-
ever, a personal name. "The ham at Cippan-hamme" is a legacy in
Alfred's will {Cart. Sax. ii. 178). There seems to have been no Roman
road nearer to Chippenham than the Fosse Way by which the pagan
army could proceed direct to Cirencester. Asser calls Cirencester Cair
Ceri in British. This is another instance of dependency on the Historia
of Nennius, where Cair Ceri occurs among the Civitates BritanniaCy
most of the names of which seem to belong to Wales and the North.
The identification is not supported by its ancient designation Korinnion^
Ptolemy : Cironium Dobunorum, Ravennas. The Commot of Ceri and the
Castle oiCruk-ceri{Cru\ieT\) in Radnorshire possibly preserve the Caer Ceri oi
Nennius. The form Abon, given by Asser, is almost the same as the Abona
of the Ravenna Geographer, about which Sir J. Rhys finds a difficulty.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 253
many of the inhabitants of the region over sea and compelled
the rest to submission. But Alfred with a small host betook
himself to the protection of woods and moors, where he main-
tained his independence with much privation and trouble. In
the winter of the same year the brother of Ingwar {Inwar —
Asser) and Healfdan sailed from South Wales {Demetic region),
where he had wintered, with twenty-three ships and came to
Devon {Domnom'a). Here, before the king's stronghold of
Cynuit,^ which was well protected on every side but the east,
Alfred's men, by an unexpected sally at daybreak, gained a
complete victory over the pagans, killing their king and over
800 of his men.
In the Eastertide of 879 Alfred and his little host threw up
a fortification at ^Ethelingaeg * {^Aelhelinga-etgge in the Chronicle
= Athelney at the junction of the Tone and Parret).
From this fortress as a centre " iElfred, with the vassals of
Somerset ", Asser says (but the Chronicle gives, " of the part that
was nighest of the Sumursaete ", Sumurscelna gen. plur.), made
frequent successful raids against the pagan army in that region.
At length, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode forth to
Ecgbryhtes-stan * to the east of Selwood {Seal-ivyda, Chron.:
* Cynuit. No word has suffered more than this at the hand of guessers.
It has been made into the Domesday Comich^ now Combwich : and even
into Cannington {Candetona in Domesday). It has also been identified with
an ancient fortification in the parish of Abbotsham near Bideford, for which
the name Kenwith Castle has been assumed. Nothing is known of the
place, which was clearly in Devon. The efforts made to fix the site in
Somerset (and to include the latter in Devon) are based upon the
unsupported opinion that the fleet from Demetia came to co-operate with
the pagan army at Chippenham. ** Arx Cynuit" would probably be
represented in Devon by Dun-cynuit. Domesday gives a Donecheniu
{Domnechenif in Exon. D. day) in Cornwall.
" iEthelinga-eg means not *' the island of nobles ", but the island of the
descendants of some one whose full name was some such form as JEXhtl-
beorht, or iEthel-rasd.
' The place-names involved in this enterprise of Alfred have been the
subject of many conjectures. As to Ecgbrihtes-stan^ Mr. Stevenson (Asser's
Life of Alfred, p. 268) shows clearly that Brixton Deverill is not the place.
254 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
^^ Seluudu^ that is, Sylva-magna in Latin, Coii maur in British
speech/' Asser), where he met [" all ", Asser] the inhabitants of
Sumurtun shire [paga], of Wiltun shire, and of Hamtun shire,
all those who had not voyaged beyond sea for fear of the
pagans. Alfred's host remained one day in camp here, and
starting at daybreak came on to ^cglea [Igka and ^glea, in
the Chronicle] where they camped for the night. On the
All we know is that it was east of Selwood, but the extent of that forest in
the ninth century we have no means of ascertaining. In the list of Cities
attached to Nennius a Cair Pensa vel Coyt occurs (the reading of the Harleian
MS. of the eleventh century : the Vatican MS. of the eleventh century has
Pensa vel Coin) which has been identified by Mr. Kerslake with Penselwood
(Pen-savel-wood), but no light is forthcoming on Savel. In the fourteenth-
century MS. of the Welsh version of Geoffrey of Monmouth {^Red Book of
Hergest : Rh^s-Evans, ii, p. 97) a Pen-hwyl-koet occurs, which is there said
to be the name of Exeter. In an earlier MS. this identification does not
occur. It is a pity, therefore, that Mr. G. Evans should have reprinted this
MS. without the readings of the Dingestow and other earlier MSS.
Pen-hwyl-koet was identified by Mr. Kerslake with Pen-savel-coit, It seems
probable that it was intended to translate Pen selwood, since hwyl and its
cognate Irish form Sedl represent Sel (contracted from i>^^/= Anglo-Saxon
for the modern "sail"). Initial h is not organic in British speech, but
represents an s (cf. Hafren and Sabrin-a), and wy is the representative of
the older long e. Thus the British scribe in translating Sel-wood treated it
as Sail-wood. Geoffrey has many similar grotesque translations of English
names, for instance, his fanciful origins of Walbrook, in the City of London,
and of Southampton. If Savel is the correct origin of the Sel or Seal in
Selwood it is quite obscure. If the extensive pits in the neighbourhood
were meant for granaries, the Irish Sabal derived from the Latin Stabulum
(Pedersen, V. G. § 136.) has that meaning, and was possibly borrowed through
the British. Pen-Sabal would mean *' Chief Granary". The Pe^is which
gave names to Pen-selwood, Pen-domer, &c., seem to be grouped in the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle under the term Aet Peonnum. Domesday selvra,
and selva, now Monk -silver, seem to show that Latin Silva was in early use
for *'wood", and is probably the origin of this sel as well as the many
"silver" streets (i.e. "Forest roads"), &c. Mr. Stevenson adopts the
reading Iglea \_Ig-leah, where leah = wood] of the Chronicle, and identifies
it with a place called Ilegh in 1439 near Sowley (that is, South-leigh)
wood. An " Iley Oak " stood according to tradition near Lord Heytesbury's
lodge at Sowley Wood. A Domesday Illega annexed to Knowles St. Giles
was in South Petherton Hundred, but that would seemingly shift the
locality out of the region of probabilities.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 255
following morning early the standards were moved and the host
came to Ethandun.^ Here JE\hed's host met the whole pagan
army, which after great slaughter was put to flight, the escaping
fugitives being pursued right up to their stronghold [Geweorc,
which may have been Chippenham], where after a siege of
fourteen days they were obliged to submit to ^Elfred's con-
ditions of peace. The pagans gave hostages, swearing to leave
iElfred's kingdom, while their leader, Godrum, promised to
receive Baptism, which promise three weeks afterwards he
fulfilled, when he and some thirty of the worthiest of his army
came to Aller (Aire) over against Athelney. There Alfred
received him from the sacred font as an adopted son, and the
Chrism-fillet was removed eight days after at the royal vill of
Wedmore.
The pagan army removed [879] from Chippenham to
Cirencester ['* Cirrenceas/re, called Catr ceri in British, which
is in the south part of the Huiccii ",^ Asser] and there remained
for a year, and in the same year a band of Wikings assembled
at Fulham [FuUanhamm] on the Thames and took up their
quarters there.
Under the year 880, the Chronicle tells us, the heathen army
which had been for a year at Cirencester proceeded to East
Anglia, and occupied and divided the land.' The force which
^ Ethandtm. A place of this name was left by iElfred to his wife
{^Cart. Sax. ii. 178). That this was a royal possession is clear, and
as King Edgar granted Edington (Wilts.) to Romsey Abbey in 968,
Mr. Stevenson thinks the proof of identity is not seriously questionable
[Asser's Life, p. 273]. In a letter to the Athenaum (October 5, 1907)
Mr. Stevenson goes anew into the question, and says in regard to Edington
(Wilts.), " It cannot by any ordinary process of reasoning be shown to be
an impossible site, and its acceptance does not involve any transgressions of
the laws of history or philology or logic such as Bishop Clififord and his
followers are driven to commit."
* See note above on Cair-Ceri and compare Celtic Folk-Lore (Sir John
Rh^s, i. 280, where Ceiri is connected with Cawr (Giants = Picts or
Scots).
' Evidence from place-names of this and subsequent occupations is clear.
Scandinavian elements in British place-names will be dealt with later.
256 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
had occupied Fulham proceeded to Ghent {Gent) in Flanders
\^Fr one-land'] and fought with the Franks, proceeding afterwards
(882) far up the Meuse (McBse).
In the year 882 Alfred had a sea-fight with the Danes, in
which he captured four of their ships. The next two years the
heathen army were occupied on the Continent, sailing up the
Scheldt as far as Conde {CundothY and the Somme to Amiens
{E?nbenum).
In the year 885 the aforesaid army was split into two divisions,
of which one proceeded to the east, and the other began the
siege of Rochester {Hro/es ceastre\ throwing up a work against
it. yElfred coming to the relief of the besieged city, the enemy
made for their ships, having been deprived of their horses.
Another sea-fight occurred at Sturemouth (Essex) the same
year, in which, returning from a victory over one fleet, Alfred
was beaten by another larger one of the Danes {Deniscan),
Carl (Charles the Fat), the King of the Franks, is said, by the
Chronicle, to have recovered at this time virtually the empire of
Charles the Great — except Brittany (Lidwi'ccium, dative plural
of Lzdwiccias)?
The Chronicle records under 886 that the heathen army pro-
ceeded up the Seine {Sigene = Sequana) and settled for the
winter. At the same time Alfred occupied London {Lunden-
hurg)y where all the English kin, except those who adhered to
the Danes, rendered obedience to him.* After having secured
the place (burg) he gave it to his son-in-law ^thered to hold.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records under 887 that the
^ Condoth is the Anglo-Saxon form of Condate, a common Romano-Celtic
word for confluence. Ambiani was the ancient name of the people whose
capital was Samaro-briva, that is, the bridge on the Samar-a, now the
Somme.
2 See p. 159, where the Letewicion of Nennius is cited as the origin of
the Anglo-Saxon form.
^ Asser says that -Alfred, after the burning of cities and slaughter
of people, restored London City in a worthy manner, and rendered it
habitable.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 257
heathen army proceeded through the bridge at Paris {Part's)^
up the Seine, across to the Marne, and up the latter river to
Chezy {Can'ei for Caziei, that is, Asser adds, " royal vill " : it
appears in an early form as Casiacum), where, and also ** within "
the Yonne (lona), they settled for two winters. It was about
this time that Alfred (as Asser tells us) constructed two monas-
teries, one at Athelney (approachable only by boats) and the
other, a nunnery beside the East gate, at Shaftesbury {Sce/ies-
burg)}
In 890 the Chronicle records the death of King Godruniy
Alfred's godson, who, according to the Annals of Si. NeotSy
had established his rule in East Anglia, after King Edmund — the
same authority adding that he was buried at Headlega (Hadley,
Suffolk).
Under 891 we have an account in the Chronicle of the arrival,
in a skin-covered coracle without oars, of three Irishmen
(Scollas) on the coast of Cornwall {on Cornwallum). They
started out with no aim but that of making a pilgrimage, and
about the seventh day came to land. Their names are given
as Dubslane, Maccbethu, and Maelinmun. They proceeded
soon after their arrival to King Alfred. Asser, in dealing with
the charitable acts of Alfred, after staling that Alfred helped
monasteries and churches in Mercia, Cornwall, Gaul, Armorica,
^ Sceftesburg appears in the Chronicle and Charters as Sceaftesbirig.
The first element is the genitive of a personal name Sceaft, shortened from
some such form as Scef there {Cart. Sax. i, p. 113) or See/twine (ibid.,
p. 164) : Sceaft =» spear. Shafton, another name for the place, is clearly
from the same Sceaft.
In the Latin form of the History of Geoffrey of Monmouth a certain
King Hudibras is said to have built Motint Paladur, now Shaftesbury.
The Welsh version (in the fourteenth-century MS.) calls the builder
Run Falatyr-vras {bras = stout) and the town ** Caer-vynyd Paladur
{niynyd = mount) which is now called Kaer Septon '\ Sceptonia is the
form given in the Latin version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and hence
the later Shafton. The town was walled in Asser's time, as he mentions the
East Gate. Bin port, for " Binnan Port " ( = within the Gate), is still one
of the streets there.
258 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
and Northumbria, adds, "and even sometimes in Ireland
{Hyhernia) also," a fact which may help to explain this voyage.
We have in the Chronicle under 893 an account of the arrival
at Limenemouth ^ from Boulogne {Bunnan representing Bononia,
the Roman name for Gesoriacum\ see p. 63) of 250 ships of
the heathen army. This port, adds the Chronicler, is in the
eastern part of Kent, at the east end of the great wood that we
call Andred^ which is 120 or more miles long and 30 miles
broad. They took their ships four miles up the river from its
mouth, the Chronicle adds, and there stormed a badly defended
stronghold. Then they threw up a strong fort at Apul-dore
{Apuldran, Annals of St. Neots, = Apple-tree).
In the year 891 (in the Chronicle 893) the Annals 0/ St. Neots
records the arrival of Hasteng [Hastengus) with eighty ships
at the mouth of the Thames, on one bank of which, at Middel-
tuna (Milton), he threw up a fortress, and on the other bank,
at Beamfleot (Ben-fleet, Essex), a similar stronghold. The
same annals state under 893 that York was captured by the
Northmen, the bishop — named Sebur — escaping.
In the same year, the same authority adds, " Alfred fought
with the Northmen in a place called Fearnhamme (Farnham,
Surrey) and put them to flight. Pressed by Alfred they crossed
the Thames at the Colne^ river to an island and were there
^ This is the "Ad portum Lemanis" (locative plural) of the Ant. Itin.
Lemana is given as the name of the river, which became on Saxon lips
Limen-ea {ea — river), now Lympne, Kent. The coast has changed much
since Roman times.
2 Colne appears frequently as a river name, and especially in districts
where Roman settlements are manifest. Although it cannot indicate that
such districts were Coloniae, it may preserve some Anglicized form of
that Latin word with its generic meaning of "cultivated place", "farm".
Colonus (from Cold) is properly a farmer. The earliest form encountered
seems to be Colen as in Colenceaster {Cart. Sax. ii, p. 359). Compare
Colen-ea (now Colney, Herts., ibid., i, p. 339). The Cylen in Lindcylne
(in Kent, Cart. Sax. i, p. 483) cannot well be the same word ; nor can
Cunugl-ae {Cart. Sax. i, p. 240), which Mr. Birch identifies with the
Gloucestershire Colne, contain the origin of the word. Cunugl is the
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 259
beset by JElhed. Eventually they went into Essex, ^thered,
who had been left in charge of London, proceeded with his
forces to Beamfleot and captured the heathen army's stronghold
there, together with much spoil — including the wife and two
sons of Hasteng, whom he brought back to London, and
presented to Alfred, but was ordered to restore them at once.
Hasteng, however, according to the Annals 0/ Si. Neois^ repaired
the fortress at Beamfleot, and threw up another at Shoebury
(Sceobyng), the army, which had been at Apuldore, joining his
forces there, and also a large number from East Anglia and
Northumbria. The Chronicle then records the ascent of the
Thames by the heathen army, and their progress westward
until they reached the Severn, up which they proceeded.
iEthered, having in the meantime collected an army, pursued
them to Buttinga-iun on Severn shore {stathe). Here he be-
sieged the heathen army and, compelling them by hunger to
give battle, won the victory, the remnant of the army seeking
safety in flight.*
Having reached their head quarters in Essex, and placed their
women and ships in safety, the heathen set out, with reinforce-
ments, across England, and reached at length a waste Chester
in Wirhealum (locative plural of Wirheall, now Wirral), called
Lega Ceaster (Chester on the Dee). Hence they proceeded to
North Wales.
In the following year (895) they proceeded to Essex, to an
antecedent of Knoyle in Dorset {Cart. Sax. iii, p. 16). The origin {Cnoll)
given in the New English Dictionary for Knoyle is, therefore, not correct.
A river Calne occurs in Scotland.
^ This is the raid recorded in the tenth-century MS. of the Annales
Cambriae under 895. " Nordmani venerunt et vastaverunt Loycr ( = Loegria,
the Welsh name of Mercia probably, but later applied to England) et
Bricheniauc (Brecknock) et Guent et Guinn liguiauc." Guinn Liguiatic is
in Lib. Land, Gimliviuc and later Gwent loog. Liguiauc seems a personal
name, Cymmrodor. Mag. ix. 167. As the Danes are distinctly said to have
gone up the Severn, and as the Brut tells us that in 890 (893) they came
a second time to Montgomery, the place is evidently Buttington, opposite
Welshpool, and not Buttingtontump at the junction of the Severn and Wye.
R 2
26o BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
island called Meresig^ Mereseg (Mersea, Essex), whence they
sailed (896) up the Thames to the Lygan (river Lea), and up
this for twenty miles. King Alfred driving them thence they
proceeded to Cwat-brycge ^ on Severn, which they fortified. In
897 they went across the Channel to the Seine.
In 898 Rollo, the founder of the Dukedom of Normandy,
besieged Chartres {Civtlas Carnotiensis), but had at last to raise
the siege.
The Annals of St, Neots under 900 records the death of
Alfred and the succession of his son Eadward, also the defection
of the latter's cousin ^thelwold, who withdrew to Northumbria
and joined the fortunes of the Northmen there.
When the tenth century opens we find Eadward, the son and
successor of Alfred, reigning in Wessex, his sister ^thelflaed
and her husband ruling in Mercia, where their authority was
limited seriously by the Danes, who bore sway also in East Anglia
and Northumbria. ^thelwald, Eadward's cousin, before taking
1 Prof. Earle pointed out that there is still a Quat and Quatford near
Bridgenorth. Mr. Eyton {^Antiquities of Shropshire, vol. ix, 143-150)
derives Quat from Coed (early form Coyt = forest), pointing out that
the Wyre, Kinver, and Morf Forests embrace all this district on both
sides of the Severn. In an original charter of A.D. 736 \Cart. Sax.
i, p. 223) we have the early names of two of these forests, Cynibre (which
has become "Kinver", passing through the forms Chenefare [dative,
Domesday'] and Kinefar, Testa de Nevill) and Moerheb (which has
become **Morfe"). Moerheb is interesting as it is probably the same
word as the twelfth-century More/ (now Moray, in Scotland : Murief in
Geoffrey of Mon.), representing possibly an earlier *morapa, apa ( = Lat.
aqua^ Old High German aha) being, according to Dr. W. Stokes, the
Gaulish form of water, giving ep-^ ef-, -aff in the later termination of river-
and place-names. Compare also the Morbi-o of the Not. Dig. Moravia in
Germany also was in the ninth century Mor-ava and Mor-aha, implying that
*Morapa was the original form. Cynibre is also interesting as showing the
possible source of some of our place-endings in -far and -ver, and may
represent an early *Cunobriga = high-burgh. Bridgenorth does not appear
in Domesday y but its early name Bricge occurs in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
in A.D. 912. The Norse Bryggja, = a landing-place, may be the origin of
the bridge in Bridgenorth — the ''north" is obscure if it be not a corruption
oiMorf. See p. 61.
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 261
refuge in Northumbria, had, as the Chronicle records under 901,
seized without the King's leave the residences at Wimborne
[cet Winburnan) and at Christchurch {cet Tweoxn-eam, that is,
" between the rivers '\ known in the twelfth century as Christe
Cerce). King Eadward moved against him and encamped at
Badbury Rings {cei Baddan-hyrig^\ ^Ethelwald, who had
escaped by night to Northumbria, where he was received as
king, came back later on with a fleet to Essex.
Under 903 we have the record of the Consecration of the
New Minster at Winchester, wherein were placed the relics
of St. Judoc,^ and wherein Grimbald the priest, who had come
over from the Continent to help -Alfred, and had died in 903,
was buried.
Under 905 the Chronicle relates how iEthelwald, having
induced the Danes of East Anglia to break the peace, ravaged
Mercia as far as Cricklade {Crecca-gelade^)^ where, crossing the
* Baddan-byrigf Badbury Rings. This seems to be, according to the
mileage, the Vindo-Cladia (variant Vindo-gladia) of the ////;. Ant. Vind-o
is represented now by the Welsh Gwynn = White ; Irish Finn : cladia
(= Kladia?), as Dr. W. Stokes has pointed out {Wortschatz der Keltischen
Spracheinheit, p. 82), contains probably the stem Klado (« ditch) pre-
served in Welsh Cladd (^Clawdd)^ and Irish Clad. The compound would
thus mean " White-ditches ", a natural term for a stronghold with a series
of concentric rings cut in the chalk. Baddan is the weak genitive of
Badda, a name which occurs frequently, and is probably a shortened form
of some such name as Beadn win = " war friend ". For Winbuma, which
seems also to contain Vindo, see p. 194. Tweoxn- earn = '' between the
rivers " {£a « river), is declined irregularly and ^am is the dative or
locative plural.
" St. Judoc was a Breton saint of the seventh century. The name is
a diminutive from some full form such as Jud-gtial. It has become, both
in Brittany and in Cornwall, Just.^ as in St. Just^ see Les Petit s
Bollandistes. The new minster was removed to Hyde Abbey in the
twelfth century.
^ Crecca-gelade is now Cricklade. Gelade (dative) is " a passage ", and
is a collective form of Lad = way — preserved in the numerous "Lodes"
on the Severn, e.g. "Saxon's Lode". Crecca is possibly connected with
Welsh Craig = ** rock", or with Cruc =» mound.
on Bradene. The name Bradcn occurs in Domesday in Bradenc stocky
262 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Thames, the heathen army raided in and about Bredon forest
(on BrcBdene), and then set out homeward. Eadward overran
all their country between the dikes {dicum) and the Ouse {Wusan)
and as far as the fens {/ennas) northward. On the king's
homeward journey the Kentish men {Kentiscan) lagged behind
contrary to orders, and were attacked by the Danes, who
gained the victory, after much slaughter on each side. This
battle seems to have been that fought at Holme (somewhere
in East Anglia), which is recorded in one of the MSS. of the
Chronicle under an earlier year.
In 907 the Reeve of Bath died (cet Badum), and in the same
year peace was concluded both with the East Angles and
Northumbrians at Yttingaforda. For the next three years we
have records of the construction or repairs by the English of
strongholds at strategic points in connexion with the move-
ments of the Danes. Thus, that at Chester (Ltgcester^ that is,
Castra Legionis) was renewed in 907. There was a fight
between the Angles and Danes at Tattenhall {Teotan-healh'^),
and there is also a Domesday Bradene (dat.) in Somerset. Its modern
form of Bredon, a name found both in Wales and in the West Country,
suggests that it represents possibly an early Brigo-dun-um, that is, ** hill
fortress.''
Between the dikes and the Ouse. " The dikes ", some of which seem
to have been in existence in Roman times, were evidently a known term in
the tenth century. The Wusa is obscure. It may be a modified form of
some Celtic word, or it may be connected with Wdse (mud), compare
Wos = wet. Early forms occur in Charters, e.g. Usa {Cod. Dip. 480),
Use (ibid., 621). Yttingaforda has not been identified. It may be a mis-
reading for Ultingford and be thus represented by Ulting in Essex.
^ Teotan heal contains the weak genitive of a personal name {Teota)
contracted from a full form such as Theod-win. Heall is used for a large
structure where a chief resided, as well as for ** shed " generally.
cet Bremes byrig has been identified by Mr. Plummer with Bromesberrow
near Ledbury, Hereford. In favour of the identification is the fact that
Bromesgrove represents an earlier Bremesgraf^ but berrow is not the usual
modern equivalent of the dative of burh.
To Scergeate. Mr. Taylor {Danes in Gloucestershire^ would make this
Shrewsbury, but this is linguistically impossible. The place is most
probably the Scrget {Codex Diplomat. 1199, where the editor makes it
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 263
Staffordshire, in 910, in which the Angles were victorious, and
in the same year ^thelflsed built the stronghold {burh) at
Bromesberrow [cei Bremes hyrig) near Ledbury, Herefordshire.
In 9 1 2 she arrived at Scergeat {to Scergeate) on the eve of the
Invention of the Holy Cross, and constructed the burg {burh)
there, and in the same year that at Bridgenorth {Bn'cge). In
the next year, 913, she came with all the Mercians to Tam-
worthy {Jo Taviaweordige ^) and built the burg there, and after-
wards that at Stafford {cBt SicEfforda). King Eadward in the
same year ordered the northern burg at Hertford (cei Heorot-
fordd) between the rivers Maran, Beane, and Lee {betweox
Memeran Beneficcan and Lygean) to be built. When he was
afterwards at Maldon {^Mceldun) in Essex he constructed the
burg at Whitham (Wi/ham), in the same county, whereupon
many of the people who had been previously under the Danes
Sc[i]rget). It was near Beenham in Berkshire, and close to the Kennet
{Cynetd) river.
* Tamaweorbige appears in the Charters as Toman-worthtgy involving
probably the genitive of a personal name Toma or Tuma^ which occurs.
Stafford has been previously explained.
The river Memera (variant Mara) is obscure, as is also Bene ficca.
Lygean^ now the Lea^ from the variant Ligette, looks as if the n were
organic and suggests that the word is connected with the common Celtic
river-name, Logana.
at Eadesbyrig is identified by Mr. Taylor {Danes in Gloucestershire) ^
probably rightly, with Eddisbury, Cheshire, but the same writer's identifica-
tion of z'«/(" silent"), earlier Taguel.
3 Bradan relice. This has been dealt with under A. D. 918.
* Faversham was Fefres-ham in 811 {B. M. Charters and Rolls)y and
Febresham in 858 (ibid.). In Domesday it was Faversham. The first
element is a personal name in the genitive, but there seems to be no
THE WARS OF ENGLISH AND NORSEMEN 303
place-names mentioned in this portion, but none of importance.
Under 1087 we have mention of Berkeley {Beorclea) * and the
Castle of Tonbridge {Tonbrucge), and in 109 1 occurs " Lothian "
(into Lothene)^ which is declared to be in England, and into
which King Malcolm of Scotland led his troops. The hallowing
of the minster at Battle {Baiaille) is recorded under 1094. In
1095 we have an account of an expedition made by William
against the Welsh, who had destroyed the Castle of Montgomery
(Muntgumni) in Domesday it is Muntgumeri) and slain the
garrison. The king's troops proceeded as far as Snowdon
{Snawdun : in Welsh Mynydd Eryri), which they reached on
All Saints' Day, but, the enemy having retired into their fast-
nesses, the king had to return.
In 1098 a prodigy is recorded at Finchamstead, Berks.,
where a fountain of blood was seen, and in the same year Earl
Hugh is stated to have been slain by foreign Wikings (Uiwikin-
gan) in Anglesey {Angles ege). In mo, the Chronicle tells us,
Henry I spent Easter at Marlborough (Mcerle-beorgY In a
scrap of another MS. (H), there is an account (under 1114 ?) of
a grant by Henry of the Earldom of Northampton Shire (North-
ham tun Scire) to David of Scotland, who was the queen's
brother, and also grants of Abbacies at Ramsey {Ramesige),
Thorney (Thornige\ and Cerne Abbas (Cernet). The same MS.
records also the death of the Abbot Nigel at Burton-on-Trent
similar Saxon designation. It may possibly be a case of the survival of
the Latin Faber, = Smith, in a thoroughly Latinized district such as Kent
must have been.
* Beorc-lea contains BcorCy ■» birch, and leah^ in its original signification
of wood.
* Lothenef= Lothian, has already been discussed. Freeman contends
{Norman Conquest ^ vol. i, note B) that Lothian was given up to Scotland
after, and as a result of, the battle of Carham (see back). The territory
covered by the name is vague. It probably extended south of the Tweed,
and thus confirms the text.
^ Mcerl'beorgy = Marlborough, shows that beorg ( = hill) becomes, as else-
where in the South, borough. The Meerl is obscure. The Domesday form
is Marleberg.
304 BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
(ByrtuTi)^ and the burning of Chichester {Cicesire) and its
Minster. At Pentecost, the MS. continues, King Henry was
at St. Albans {St. Albanestowe), from whence he led an expe-
dition into Wales, where he built castles, and the Welsh kings
submitted to him. Returning to Winchester he bestowed,
among dignities to other clerics, the Abbacy of Muchelney
{Myclanyge) on the monk Ealdulf. MS. E tells us that in
October, 1114, King Henry was at Rowner {Rugenore: in
Domesday it is Ruenore) in Hants, and that he kept, in 11 16,
Christmas at St. Albans, and Easter at Odeham {Wudiham\
Hants. In 11 21 he spent Christmas at Brampton (Bramtun),
Hunts, and in 11 23 the same festival at Dunstable {Dunestaple),
and went thence to Woodstock ( Wudestoke), In the latter year
he appointed a canon of St. Osyth's (Cicc : in Domesday, Cice\
Essex, archbishop. In 11 24 Ralph Basset and the king's thanes
held a meeting at Hundcot {Hundehoge : in Domesday it is Hune-
coie), in Leicestershire (Letheccestresctre : cf. the Domesday form
Ledecestre). In 11 25 John Bishop of Lothian [Lothene) is men-
tioned. In 1 132 the Prior of St. Neots {St. Neod) is named, and
in 1 135 is recorded the death of King Henry, and his burial at
Reading {Redinge), Stephen of Blois succeeding to the throne. His
first act was to take possession of the castles of those noblec> who
were disaffected, among these are named the castles of Rock-
ingham {Rogi'ngham), Cottingham {Cottngham), Easton {Esiun),
Irthlingborough {Hyrtlingheri\ Stanwick {Stanewig), and Ald-
wyncle {Aldewingk), all in Northants. The defeat of David,
King of Scotland, at the battle of '* the Standard " is recorded
under 11 38, and Stephen's death under 1154.
The consideration of later records containing place-names is
not worth pursuing, as the forms therein presented vary but
little from those now in use, and the new terms introduced by
the Continental monastic orders, such as BeauUeu, Rievaulx,
Jervaulx, Sec, explain themselves.
INDEX
Ahallaba {Avalana, ?Papcastle), 99,
100, loi, 115, 272.
Abbandun (Abingdon), 40, 2*j*j n.^
379, 292.
Abbercurnig (Abercorn), 186.
Abbots Anne {Domesday Anne),
144 «.
Aben, the river, 219.
Aber, meaning of, 186 n,
Abercorn. See Abbercurnig.
Aberdeen. See Devana,
Abergavenny. See Gobannio.
Aber-guilly, 250 «.
Abingdon. See Abbandun,
Abon (?Sea Mills), Abone, Abona
(river Avon), 22, 23 w., Ii2,ii3«.,
252.
Ab-os (or Aboub-os), the river, 98.
Abravann-os river-mouth, 93, 95.
Ac beara, 241 «.
Acemannes Ceastre, 378. See Bathan
ceaster.
Aclea, Acley (Ockley), 196, 197 «.,
242.
Aclea (Aycllffe), 234 «.
Ac-leag (Oakley), 215.
Acviodce (i^ibudes Islands ■= Heb-
rides), 90.
Ad Ansam (? Stratford), no, in n.
Ad Baruae, i8r.
Ad Lapidem (Stoneham), 183.
Ad Murum (Walton), royal vill
called, 178.
Ad Pontem (?E. Stoke-on-Trent),
109.
Ad-Tanatos (Thanet), 91. See also
Tenid.
Adamnan's monastery at Hii, 191.
Adel, 169 «.
Adescancaster. See Exanceastre.
"Adgefrin," the royal vill called,
168.
Adour, the, 114.
Adredes-eya, Andredes-emg, 203, 206.
iEcglea. Sec Aclea and Iglea.
iEd wines clif (" Eldunum near Mel-
rose") now Eildon, Eildon hills),
196.
Aedan, King, 162.
iEgelbeorht {^gelbiryth)^ a Prank-
ish Bishop, 175.
/Egelesbyrig, jEgeUsburg (Ayles-
bury), 147, 267.
-^gelesthrep {^Mgelesforda^ Aylei-
ford), 139, 140, 141, 287.
^Idenham (Aldenham), 218.
iElfetee {El-vety Elfetu, Elmet),
196.
iElfheah (Archbishop), slain, 286;
his body taken up, 288.
iElfric selected Archbishop of Can-
terbury, 281.
/Eschongas, 287. See also Hangra.
JEsica (Great Chesters), 99, 115.
.Esp hangra, 287.
i^t-Treocum (Utrecht), 190 «.
ALthelingadene^ 283.
iEthelingaeg (Athelney), 253.
i^thelred crowned at Kingston, 279 ;
goes to Normandy, 286; at war
with Cnut, 286.
-^Ethelric, Bishop of Worcester,
buried at Ramsey, 289.
iEthelstan's grants of lands, 162;
death of king, 273.
iEthelwold made Bishop of Win-
chester and rebuilds Ely, 277;
"father of monks," 280.
Aetius, the third Consulate of, 127.
Afallen (Avallon), 198.
Afene-mutha (Avonmouth), 294.
Agelberct (Agelbeorht), Bishop,
182.
Ageloco (Littleborough), io8,io9«.,
172. See also Segeloci, and
Tiouulfingacsestir.
" Agricola, a Pelagian," 124.
•aha, names ending in, 68.
Aibouda (?Uist), 92.
Aiboudai, the, 92.
3o6
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Ail-Cluade. See Nemthur.
Ailcluit (Alclut, Dumbarton, Dun-
Brettan), 84, 152 «., 153.
"Ail-dun," 196 «.
"Aircol, son of Trephun," 56.
Airer-Gaedhel (Argyll), 84.
Akeburg, 171.
Ake-mann CcBster (Bath), 41. See
Bathan ceaster.
Akemann Street, 41.
Alauna, Alaun-os (Alnwick, Alne,
Alum), 97, 99, 203.
Alauna Silva, 96.
Alaun-os (? Axe), the river, 96.
Alba, extent of, 88.
Alban (Scotland), 9, 76, 92.
Alban, martyrdom of St., 35, 60,
69, 70.
Albans, St. (St. Albanestowe). See
Verulamium.
Albion (Albiona), 88. See also
Alvion.
Alcester. See Alne-Chester.
Alclet (Hak-let, Auckland), 234 «.,
237-
Alcluith {Petram Cluithe). See Ail
Cluade, Ailcluit, and Alt Clyde.
Alcuin, 124 w.
Aldborough. See Isourion.
Aldewingle (Aldwyncle), 304.
Aldhelm, 166.
Aler (in Alercumb), 207.
Alfred's Description of Europe,
225.
Alh-mund, 217.
Alione {Alone\ in, 116.
AUectus, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67.
Aller. See Aire.
Allerdale (Alner-dale), 273.
Alne. See Alauna.
Alne-Chester (Alcester), 203.
Alner-dale. See Allerdale.
Alney Island. See Olan-ige,
Alnwick. See Alauna.
Aire (Aller), 255.
Alt Clyde, 245.
Alum. See Alauna.
Alvion (Albion), 92.
Ambiani (Amiens), 79.
Amboglanis. See Ambo-Glanna.
Ambo-Glanna (Burdoswald. ? Gaba
Glanda), loi, 115.
Ambresbyri (Amesbury), 382.
Ambrones, 208.
Ambrosius Aurelianus, 122, 149.
Ambrosius (the Myrdin of Geoffrey
of Monmouth), 136, 137 «.
Amesbury. See Ambresbyri.
Amiens. See Ambiani and Em-
benum.
Amwythig (Shrewsbury), 285 «.
Anava (Noe), the river, 117.
Anavio (? Brough), Anavione, 109,
116, 117.
Ancalites, 10.
Ancaster. See Causennis.
Andeferan (An-dever, Andover,
Anton-dover), 97, 144 «., 281.
Ande-gav-ia (Angers, Anjou), 109 n.
Anderitos (Anderida, Andredes
Wald, Andereton, Anderitum),
113. See also Andredes-Cester.
Andover. See Andeferan.
Andred (Andredesleage), the forest
of, 143, 195, 218, 258.
Andredes Cester (?Pevensey, Pevt-
nisei), Anderida, 143 «.
Andredes-eme. See Adredes-eya,
Andredes Wald. See Anderitos.
Andret, 143 n.
Andros (Adros), 90.
Aneurin, poems of, 154.
Angen-geot-ing, 214.
A«gen-lab-es hamm, 214.
Angers. See Ande-gav-ia.
Angles, 128.
Angles-ey (Angles ege), 229 «., 303.
See also Mona.
Angra and Hanger in place-names,
214, 286 «.
Angra (Ongar), 287?/.
Anlaf besieged by Eadmund, at
Leicester, 274; arrival at London,
281.
Annan, the river, 95.
Annport, 144 «.
Anse, win.
Anstige (Anstey), 211 «.
Antivestaion. See Belerion.
Antona, the river, 22, 117 Note F,
144 «.
Antondover. See Andeferan,
Anthun, 56.
*^-apa^' names ending in, 68, 69.
INDEX
307
Apostle's Oak (the) on Abberley
Hill, 168.
Appenzell, 190.
Apuldran (Apul-dore, Appledore),
187 «, 258.
Aquamania, 41.
Aquis (Buxton), 116.
Aqiiis Solis. See Bathan ceaster.
-drd, in river-names, 187 «.
Arbeia (? South Shields), 114.
Arcencale {Ercal), 266 n.
Arcunia, 266.
Arcuulf, Bishop, 191.
Areconio, Ariconium (Deanery of
Erchen^€i^^ 107 w., 112, 139 «.,
266 «.
Aregenua. See Arguenon.
Argento varia (Horburg), 151 «.,
252 «.
Arguenon {Aregenua)^ the river,
155 «.
revll.
Argyll. See Airer-Gaedhel,
Armagh, Book 0/, I28«., I29«.
Armorica (Brittany), 9,61, 122 «.;
emigration to, 154; state of, be-
fore sixth century, 1 54 ; Celtic
names in, before and after immi-
gration of British, 155; Gaulish
vrords in, in fifth century, 156 «. ;
British words imported into, 157,
256.
Aro Ssetna, 222.
Arran, 171 «.
Arras, 12.
Artbrannan, 50.
Arthur, King, place-names in con-
nexion with legendary, 149; his
victories, 149.
Arthuret, 84. See Westmoreland.
Artois, 12.
Arviragus, 137 n.
Arwa (Orwell), the river, 2 87.
Arxy the Citadel of Vortigem, be-
side the river Teibi, 1 76 n.
"ArxCynuit", 253 «.
Arx-Decant-orum, Arx Deganhui^
(Deganwy), 94, 239.
Ascan-mynster (Axminster), 196.
Asclepiodotus, the Praetorian Pre-
fect, 62, 64, 66.
Ashbourne, 187 «.
Ashdown. See Assandun.
Ashingdon. See Assandun.
Ash-over (Asher) 210 «,
Assandun, -^scesdun, ^scesbtirh
(Ashingdon, Ashdown), 346 «.,
284, 287, 288.
Atclete. See Etclete.
Ath (Adwy = ford). See Path.
Athelney. See iEthelingaeg.
AthoU. See Fotla.
A[d]trebates, the, 9, 12.
AtrebcUioi, the, 103, 104.
Atrebatum (Silchester), 9.
Attacotts (Atecotts, Atticotts, Atta-
cotti), 6i«., 78, 79, 81; harass
Britons, 11^ n.
Auckland. See Alclet and Etclete.
Augustine, St., arrival of, 148;
meeting-place with the British
Bishops, 164.
"Augustine's Oak," 164; ?near
Cncklade, 167 ; ada.
Auray {fferio-s), the river, 155 n.
"Aust Cliff," 303.
Aust on Severn, 167.
Aust Passage, ii^n.
Austlin {Austiriy "Austins rick,"
Penryn Aws/in^, 202; ?** Au-
gustine's Oak," " Austin's Well,"
*' Aust Cliff," 202, 203.
Avalana. See Aballaba.
AvanniiSy 95.
Avon. See Abon.
Avonmouth. See Afene-muiha,
Axa (Axe, Exa), the, 96, 199.
Axeloduno (Axelodunum, Uxellu-
damo, ? EUenborough or Hex-
ham), 99, 100, loi, 115, 174W.
Axium, the, 96.
Axminster. See Ascan-mynster.
Aycliffe. See Aclea.
Aylesbury. See -^Egelesburg.
Aylesford. See /Egelsthrep.
Aynburg, 235.
Baccan-Celde, 226 «.
Badbury. See Baddan-byrtg.
Baddan-byrig (? Vindo-gladia, Bad-
bury), 16, 113, 261.
Badecan - Wiella {Badecanwiellan,
Bakewell), 147, 268.
Badonic Mount. See Caer Badon.
Baenesingtun (Benson), 147.
u a
3o8
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Bagillt, 46.
Bakewell. See Badecanwiellan,
Bald wines Healh, 217.
Balsboro. See Balteresberghe.
Balteresberghe (Balsboro, Baltones-
boro), 201.
Bamborough. See Bebbanburh,
Dinguoaroy.
Bampton, 175.
Ban-Chor (Bangor, Bancornaburg,
Bangor-is-coed), 130 «. ; meaning
of, 167; "Bangor" applied to
Glastonbury, 167 «.; Bangors in
Wales, in Brittany, and in Scot-
land, 167 n.
Bancornaburg. See Ban-Chor.
Bangor. See Ban-Chor.
Bangor Wydrin in Afallen (Avalon),
198.
Banna, 99, 100, loi.
Bannagher, 167;?.
Bannatia, loi.
Bannavem (Bannaventa, Bannavento,
Bennavento), 33, 34, 106, 107 w.,
109, no, i29«., 130 «. See also
Isannavantia.
"Bannavem Tabemiae," (Nentre,
Nentria or Ventre), 129 «.
Banno-vallum, 72 n.
Banuwille (Banwell), 249.
Bapchild (Baccan-Celde), 226 «.
Barbury Camp. See Beranburg.
Bardaneu {Bardanege, Bardney),
174.
Bards, the, 54.
Baregain, 272. See also Burrens.
Bare-oak-shire, 11.
Barganes lapidum, " Sbeep-fold[s]
oiStone[s]," 28.
Barham. See Bioraham.
Barking. See Bercingon.
Barnbougle, 86.
Barwick-in-Elmet, 1 70 n.
Basincge (Basing - stoke, Basing-
werk), 212.
Basings {Basengum), 247.
Bassas, the river, 150, 152.
Bataille (Battle), 303.
Batch (Bach), 230.
Bat-chet (Bathgate), 86 «., 181 n.
Bath. See Bathan ceaster.
Batham Gate, 117.
Bathan ceaster {Ba^um, Ealdan-
byrig, Hydata Thermae Aquis
Solis, Bath), 9, 104, 113, 148;
hot baths at, i6\n.y 262, 278.
Bathgate. See Bat-chet.
Battersea involves " Beadu-rich,*'
245 «.
Battle. See Bataille.
Battle of Stamford Bridge {Stanfora
Brycg\ 301.
Bdora, 116, 239 «. See also Dote.
Beadorices Uurthe (St. Edmunds-
bury), 245 «.
Beamfleot (Ben-fleet), 208, 258, 259.
Beandune, battle of, 175.
Beane, the river. See Beneficcan.
Beardanig (Beardan-eu, Beardan-
ige), 194.
Bearruc-scire (Berkshire), 10, 284.
Bebban-burh (Bebbanbyrig, Boily-
banburhy Bamborough, Dinguo-
aroy)^ 146, 15T«., 269, 281.
See also Dumono-varia, Argent
varia.
Beber (iu Beverley), 208.
Bech (Batch, Bach), 230.
Bedanforda (Bedcanforda, Bedean-
ford, Bekeford, Bydanford Bede-
forde, Bedford), 147, 266, 285.
Beddan-haam, 213.
Bede-hus (Bettws), 227 «.
Bed-ern, 227 «.
Bedford. See Bedanforda.
Bedwig, 142.
Bedwin. See Biedan Heafde.
Beeston. See Bovio.
BeferpyttaSf 204.
Beferith, 11.
Beggares-thorne^ 204.
"Beggary-island," 205, 236 «.
BekeHa {=parva Ybernta), Bee-
eriu, Bickery, Bickworthy, 205.
Belerion (Bolerion Antivestaion).
See Fenwiht Steort,
Belgae, 8, 9, 10, 104.
Belgium, 61.
Belisama, estuary of the, 93, 95.
Bellum Cochboy^ i74«. See also
Maserfelth.
''Belly-moor." '^tt Bolgros.
*' Benavent " (in Catalonia), 33.
*' Benaventa " (S. of Astorga), 33.
INDEX
309
Berhichor, 167 «.
Beneficcan (Beane), the river, 263.
Benesingtim (Benson), 196.
Beneventa, 129 n.
'* Beneventana Civitas," 34.
" Beneventenreut " (in Germany), 33.
" Beneventum" (now "Benevento",
in S. Italy), 33.
Ben-fleet. See Beamfleot.
S. Benignus (Beonna), 198.
Benson. vSee Benesingtun.
Ben well Hill. See Conderco.
Beonna. See S. Benignus.
Beorclea (Berkeley), 303.
Beorg-ford (Berg-ford, Burford),
195, 210.
Beorh - ham - stead (Berkhamstead,
Berchamstead), 30a. See also
Berstead.
Beowi, 142.
Beowulf, poem of, 130, 131, 143.
Beranburg (Beran burh, Barbury
Camp), 146; battle of, 160.
Bercingon (Barking), 214.
Beret, the Northumbrian leader, 185.
Bcrctfrid fights Picts, 193.
Berct-hun, Abbot, 188.
-bere or -bera in place-names, 241 «.
Bere Foresi, 241 n.
Bere-weg, 214.
-berga in place-names, 341 ;/.
Bergiona (Iberion), 88.
Bergos (Berehu, Burhou), 88 n.
Berigon, 88 w.
Berkeley. See Beorclea.
Berkhamstead. See Beorh-ham-
stead,
Berkshire. See Bearruc-scire.
Beniicii, 26, 28.
Bernwood Forest. See Bymewudu.
Berricen, 88 w.
Berstead, 302.
Berwickshire. See Prender^oj/.
Betendune. See Vetadi^n.
Bettws (Bedhus), 227 w.
Beverley. See Beber, and In-dera-
uuda.
Beverston. See Byferestan.
Bibracte (Autun), 11.
Bibr-ax (Beuvray), 11.
Bibrdci, the, 10.
Bickery. See Bekeria.
Bickworthy. See Bekeria.
Bieda, son of Port, 144.
Biedafi Heafdei^. Bed win, Bedewind),
123;/., 217.
Billinga byrig, 215.
Billingahoth, 237.
Billingsley. See BylgesUge.
Bilmiga, 222.
Binchester. See Vinovia.
Bindon, 175.
Bioraham (? Barham), 219.
Birc hanger , 287//.
Birch-over (Bircher), 208, 210 n.
Birdoswald, loi.
Birinus, 175.
Birrens Camps (Burrins Camps), 28,
272 n,
Biscopes uuic (Bishop's dwelling),
215.
Bishop Felix (Dunwich), 173.
Bishopricks in 731, 193.
Bishops Waltham. See Wealiham.
Bittern , Hants. See Clausentum and
"Butter -Bittern".
Bitton. See Trajectus.
Bituriges (Bourges), Britons received
by the Emperor in, 160.
Blabo, Blabolg, 106 n.
Bladney. See Bledenhithe.
Blaecca of Lincoln, baptism of,
171.
Blcethgent, brother of Griffin, the
Welsh king, 299.
Blato-bulgio (Blatobulgium), 105,
106 »., 298 n.
Bledenithe (Bled one, Bleadon,
Bladney), 200.
BUdgint, 299;/.
Bledone (Bleadon), 200.
Blestio (Monmouth), 1 1 2.
Bobing-seata, 219.
Bodan (in Bothamley, Ranasbotham,
&c.), 207.
Boderia, Bodotria Estuary (Firth of
B^orth), 44, 45, 97, 152.
Bodfari. See Varis.
Bodmin manumissions, the, 162.
Bodotria. See Boderia.
Boece = beech (in Buckhurst), 207.
Bogtielt. See Boiillaion.
Boisil, Bishop of the Hwiccas, 184.
Bolerion. See Belerion.
3IO
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Bolgros ('* Belly-moor"), 298 «.
See also hwlch.
Bollan-ea, 215.
Bomio (? Cowbridge), 112, 129 «.
Boniface (Winifrith), educated at
Adescancastre, martyred at Doc-
cuniy 190 n.
Bonny, the river, 152.
Bononia. See Gesoriacum.
Bon-US (Bede-hus, Bed-ern), 227 w.
Bootham Bar. See Galman-hithe.
Borcovicioy 115.
" Boresti," 47.
Boructuari, 189.
Bosenhani (Bosan-hamm, Bosham),
182, 291.
Bosham. See Bosenham.
Bosley Minn, 158 «.
-bost^ shortened form of B^stad-r,
229.
Boston (Lines.). See Icanho.
Bothamley, Ramsbotham. See
Bodan.
Botulf, St., 176 w., 278.
"Bouden Hill" (Badon Mount).
See Caer Badon.
Boudicca, Queen, 34, 36.
Boullaion (? Builth, Boguelt, Buelt),
103.
Boulogne. See Gesoriacum.
Bourges. See Bituriges.
Bovio (Beeston, Buistane), 103,
106.
Bowes, 106.
Bown-hill {Badon hill). See Caer
Badon.
Bowne, barony of, 153 n.
Bowness (Cumberland), 54.
Braboniaco (? KirkbyThore), 105;/.,
114. See also Ravonia.
Brada7iforda be Afne (Bfadford-on-
Avon), 175.
Bradan Relice {Steapan Relice^
Flatholm, Echni), 266, 302.
Bradene (Bredon), 193, 262 n.
Bradford-on-Avon. See Brada7i
forda be Afne.
Bradwell, 276 «.
Brcegentforda (Brentford), 25, 26,
214, 287.
Braintree, iii.
Bramtun (Brampton), 304.
Brancaster, Branchester. See Bra-
noduno.
Branch Huish {Htwisc), 206.
Brancminstre {Branucminstrey i. e.
ofS. Branoc, = S. Brandan), 206.
Brandon. See Bravonio and Bran-
nogenium.
Brandon Hill, 294 «. See also p. 206.
Brandon, St., memorials of, 206,
294 «.
Brannogenion {Bravinnio, ? Bran-
don), 102, 103.
Branoduno, Branodumim (Brancas-
ter, Branchester), 98, 113.
'■'■ Branok hyalf hiwisce," 206.
Bramic Dtmhead (Downhead),
206.
Braunton, Devon, 206.
Bravinnio. See Brannogenion.
Bravonio (Brandon), 105 w., 112.
Bre, in place-names, 105//., 193.
Brecenan Mere, 264.
Brecknock. See Bricheniauc.
Bredon. See Brddene and Briudun,
Bregedes-were^ 202.
Breguntford (Brentford), See Bra:-
gentforda.
Bremenio {Bretnenium, Bremenion,
Riechester), 53, 99, 105.
Bremes byrig (Bromesberrow),
262 «., 263.
Bremesgraf {^xoxi\t^^xov%)y 262 n,
Bremeta7i7iaco, 105 «., Bremetonaci,
Bremetonacum, Bresnetenace
Veieranorum (Ribchester), 102,
III, 116.
*' Brent," 26.
Brente (Brent Knoll), 199.
" Brente " hill, 26, 199.
Brentford. See BrcBgentforda.
Bremen-land, 142 n,
Breton's lands, the, 162 w.
Brettanoii 75.
Bretwalda, 239.
Bricg Stowe (Bristol), 294.
Bricge (Bridgenorth), 260 «., 263.
Bricheniauc (Brecknock), 259 w.
Bridgenorth. See Bricge.
Bridstow, 294?/.
Briga {^Brigy Brigs), 28.
Brigantes, the, 25, 26 ; State of, 30;
49; 50> 94) 1 01, 102.
INDEX
3"
'* Brigden," early Brigo-duno-n,
193 «.
Brige (Brigae), 113.
Brigit and Briganiia, 94.
Brigo-duno-n. See " Brigden ".
" Briguntford." See Bragentforda,
Brisnodes Land-share, 298 «.
Bristol. See Bricg St owe.
Britain, Provinces of, 71.
Br it amity 89.
Britannia, Britt6nes,^nVa««/, 88, 89.
Britannia Minor, 1 56 n.
Britannia Prima (Province of
Britain), 71.
Britannia Secunda (Province of
Britain), 71.
Britford, 25 «.
British, cities of, 165 n.
British troops in Gaul, 158.
Britons, 84 ; on the Loire, 160 n. ;
under Riothimus cross into Gaul,
159-
Brittany. See Armorica and Lid-
wiccium.
Brittones, 89.
Briudun (Bredon, Breodun), monas-
tery of, 193. See also Bradene.
Briuu (Brue), the river, 199.
Brixton Devcrill, 253 n.
Brocava, Brocavo (near Brougham
Castle), 105;;., 108, 109 «.
Brochyl, 216.
Brockley Hill. See SuUoniacis and
"Tunsteall, the old".
Brocoliti. See Procolitia.
Broco-mago, 115.
Brog in place-names, 105 «. (Brog-
2aos = Breton name for England.
Bro-cavo, Bro-vonacis, &c., pos-
sibly involve Bro^.
Bromesberrow. See Bremes byrig.
Bromesgrove. See Bremesgraf.
Bromfield. See Bruningafeld.
Brom-geheg, 217.
Broom, Loch. See Volas bay.
Brough. See Anavio, Crococalana
and Verteris.
Brougham Castle, 108.
Brovonacis (Kirkby Thore), 106.
Brunanburh, 161, 370, 271, 273.
Brue. See Briuu.
Bruningafeld (Brunefeld, Brune,
Brunanwercj IVeondune, Brom-
field), 271, 272, 273.
Brut of Layamon, the, 137 «.
Brytaen Vechan, 156;/.
Bry tan for dan (Britford), 300.
Brythons, 9.
B ry t /and {\Y ales), 297, 300.
Buckfast. See Faestin.
Buckhurst. See Boece.
Budecakch {Bodecaleie, Butley), aoi,
202.
Buelt {Bogitelt, Builth), 29, 103,
248 n. See Boullaion.
" Bugga," pet appellation of St.
Eadburga, 133 «.
Buistane. See Bovio,
Bulcan pytte, 217.
Bullaeum, 39.
Bun-an-Tabema, 129W.
Bunchrew, 130W.
Bun-doran, Bun-an-dall, 130 «.
Bunker (Bunker Hill, Golf bunkers),
330.
Burdoswald. See Anibo-Glanna.
Burehu. See Bergos.
Burford. See Beorg-ford.
Burganes Lapidum, 272 «,
Burgh and Burgh Castle, 98. See
Garianno.
"burgs, the five," freed by Ead-
mund, 274.
Burgundians sent into Britain, 53,
Burgundiones, the, 27.
-burh in place-names, 241 «.
Burhou. See Bergos.
Burrens {Burians^ Birrens, Bur-
wens, Borwen = Cumulus) ^ 28,
272 w.
Burrins Camps. See Birrens Camps.
Burrio (? Usk), 112. See also Din-
birrion and Wylisce Axa.
Burrium, 29.
Burton-on-Trent. See Byrtun.
Bustadar, 228//., 229;/.
Butley. See Budecakch,
"Butter" (= Bittern), lai.
Buttington, 259 «.
Buttingtontump, 259 «.
Buxton. See Aquis.
bivlch, 298 n.
Bydanford. See Bedanforda.
Byferestan (Beverston), 293.
3T2
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Bylgeslege (?Billingsley), 297.
Byrgelsun (burying-places), 215.
Byrhtmser, Bishop, buried at Lich-
field, 289.
Byrncwudu (Bern wood Forest), 267.
Byrtun (Burton-on-Trent), 304.
Cad bury (Camelot), 20, 21.
Cadegyr (Categern), 139 «., 140.
Coder ^ 16.
Cseanganoi, 24. See also " Dece-
angli ".
Caedualla, king of Gweneddy 173,
183.
Caelf-loca-a (Challock), 211 «.
Caer Badon {Mons Badottiais, Bown
Hill), 1 23, 1 23, 148 «., 149, 150 w.,
151, 153.
Caer Esca (Exeter), 252 «.
Caere. See Hsefe and Caere.
Caer Guiragon. See Caerwrangon,
Caer-Gworthigirn (? Tintern, Din-
thigim, Dindeyrn), 176 n.
Caerleon (Mon.), (" Camp of the
Legions," Isca), 54, 71, 113.
*' Caer LigidW (Lichfield), 289 n.
Caerluel (Carlisle). See Luguvallo.
C<7«r /%m J (Dumfries), 120, 189.
Caer Seiont. See Segontium.
Caer Vudeiy 148 w.
Caer Went. See Venta Silurum,
Caerwrangon {Caer Guiragony Wor-
cester), 165 n. See Wigomia.
Caesaromago, 108, no, win.
Caestri-uuara (Caestniuara), 215,
220 «.
Cafortun (Caverton), 211 «.
Cairbre Righfada. See Reuda.
Cair Ceri. See Cirenceastre.
"Cair Glovi." See Gleawan Ce-
aster.
Cair Granth (Grant Chester), 251 «.
Cair Lerion, 265 n.
Cair Luit Coyt, 181.
Cair Pensa vel Coyt, 254 n.
Q^\xn-Ryan. 94.
Cairuisc. See Exanceastre.
Caistor. See Venta Icinorum.
Cait (Caithness^ 76, 77.
Calacum {Kalagon\ 101 ; Casterton
on Lune, 102 ; ? Overtown on
Lune, III.
Caladbolg, 106 n.
Calat-ria (Kalentyre, Callender), 46.
Calat-ros, 46.
Calcaria (Tadcaster), 106, 301.
Calder, the river, 144 n.
Caldour (Caiedo/re), the river, 144 «.
" Caledo," 45.
Caledofre. See Caldour.
Caledouy wood of. See Celidon.
Caledonia, 45.
Caledonians, 65.
Calgacos, 83.
Callender. See Calat-ria.
Calleva Atrebatum (or Galleva, Sil-
chester), 9, 47, 64 w., 103, no,
112, 113.
Calne, 277 «., 279.
Calne, the river (Scotland), 259 n.
Calo-dunum, 277 w.
Cal-ston hill, 277 «.
CamaldunOy 90.
Camboduno. See Campodunum.
Camborico, 108.
Cambridge. See Grantabrycge,
Cambus, 213.
Cam-dwr, 150 n.
" Camel," river involving, 21, 141.
Cameleac, Bishop, 266.
Camelot, 20, 21.
Camguili, the river, 250;/.
Cam-las, 149 w.
"Camlet way," 21.
Camp-town, 170 w.
Campodonum {Donafeld, Slack),
106, 169 «.
Campus Lapideus, 88.
Camulodunum (Camuloduno, Co-
lonia, Colneceastre, Colchester),
13, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 102, 103,
108, no, 267.
Canary Islands (Makaroi nesoi), 91,
92.
Candida Casa (Whitehorn in Gal-
loway), 124 w.
Candover, 144 «., 281 w.
Canegan-Mersces (Canning Marsh,
Cannington Hundred, Caningis,
Canninga mare), 285.
Canning Marsh. See Canegan-
Mersces.
Canonio (? Kelvedon), no, in n.
Canterbury. See Durobemia.
INDEX
313
Caniio-n. See Cantium.
Cantium (Cantio-n), 9.
Cantref Orddwyf (Hundred of the
Ordovi), 32, 102.
Cantuc-uudu (Quantocks), 199.
Cantwarena. See Warena.
Canubio (Conway river), 102.
Car {Kjarr) in northern place-
names, 231.
Caratacus, 29, 144 «.
Carausius, 59, 60, 62-6, 68, 69, 1 19.
Carbantorigon {Carbantiuni), 99.
Cari stream, the, 205.
Carling-ford, 229 «.
Carlisle. See Lugiivallium.
Carlisle, Old, 53.
Carlued. See i.uguvallo.
Carmarthen. See Maridufion,
Carnarz'iJW, 10.
Carravvburgh. See Procolitia,
Carron River, 46.
Carron-Water, 186 n.
Carrum (Carham), 288.
Carriim (Charmouth), 239, 340.
Cartismandua iCartimandua), 30,
107 «.
Carventana Arx, 33.
Carvoran, 115.
Cary. See Kari.
Cassi, the, 10.
Cassiterides, the, 90.
Casielluni Menapiorum, 67.
Casterton, 102. See also Calaatm.
castle in place-names, 296.
Castle Hill. See Margiduno.
Castle-ford (Yorks.). See Ceaster-
forda.
Castleford. See Legeolio.
Castor, See Castre.
Castor on the Nene. See Daro-
brivas.
Castra Exploratorum, 105.
Castre (Castor), 278.
Cataracta (Cataractone, Katourak-
tonion, Cataractoni, Catterick),
loi, 102, 105, 106, 108, 169.
Categim (Cadegyr), death of, 139,
140.
Cathir, 16.
Catraeth. See Galt-reath.
Cat-scaul, battle of, 174 «.
Catterick. See Cataracta.
Catu in Celtic names, 1 39 n.
Catn-Vellauni {KatveUaufiot), 103.
Cat-vvalader, 139 n.
Causennis (? Ancaster), 108, 109 «.
Caverton. See Cafortun.
Ce, 76.
Ceahhyth. See Celchyth.
Cealf-loca (Challock), 197 «.
Ceangi. See Deceangli.
Ceap-stowe (Chepstowe), 208, 294 «.
Ceasterforda (Castle-ford, Yorks.),
375 «•
Ceaster setna, 2 2o«.
Ceastrum ( = York), 196. See also
Eburacum.
Ceddren (Cheddar), 206.
Ceitern (Kernes), 139 w.
Celchyth{CealchythjC\it\sQ2i), 157 «.,
196, 197, 219.
Celidon (Caledon, Celyddon), the
wood of, 45, 150, 153, 153. See
also Dun-chailden.
Celtae, 9.
Cemyn^ 300.
Cenapa, 1 76 n.
Cenepes-moor, 176 «.
Cefid, 86 n.
Cen-defrion, 281 n.
Cen or Can-dover^ 281 n.
Cenimagtii {jCeno-manni), 10.
Centinces treow, 214.
Ceoftefne^ 181 «.
Ceolesige (Cholsey), 284.
Ceollach (Kelly), Bishop, 178.
Ceorlingcburh (Charlbury), 178 n.
Ceortes-tge (Chertsey), 183 n. ;
canons expelled from, 278.
Cerdic. See Cerdices-ora.
Cerdices-ford, 144, 145.
Cerdices-leaga, 145.
Cerdices-ora (Cerdic, Certic), 143 «.,
144.
Ceretic (Corotic), 144 «.
Ceme Abbas. See Cernel.
Cernel (Ceme Abbas), 303.
Certic, See Cerdices-ora.
Cestell Merit, 296 n.
• Cet in place-names, 181 «. See
LetocettuH.
Ceto-bricca, 86 «., 181 n.
Cett as tumulus, 181 «.
Cett, Bosco de, 181 n.
314
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Cettingaham, 238.
Challock. See Cealf-loca.
Char- ford, 144 w.
Charing. See Ciomincge.
Charing Cross, 219.
Charlbury. See Ceorlingcburh.
Charmouth. See Carrwn.
Charterhouse-on-Mendip, 24.
Charters, 213.
Chartulary of Red on, names in,
161 «.
Charudes, Heretha-land, the country
of the, 223 «.
Chatti (now Hesse), the, 10 «.
Cheddar. See Ceddren.
Chelmsford, 108.
Chelsea. See Celchyth.
Chentis-beria (Kentisbury), 241 n.
Chepstow. See Streguil.
Cherchehulle. See Cyric-hurh.
Cheriton, 90.
Chertsey. See Ceortes-tge.
Chester. See Deva and Legeceastre.
Chesterholm. See Vindolana.
Chester-le-Street. See Incunenin-
gum,
Chesters. See Scythles cester.
Chet = Keith in place-names, 86 «.,
181 «.
Chett, Forest of, 165 «., 181 «.
Chetwood, 165 «., 181 n.
Chevenage, Cefn^ 158 «.
Chichester. See Regno.
Chichestra. See Regno.
Child-rey. See Cilla-rith.
Chiltem, See Ciltinne.
Chippenham. See Cippmiham.
Chirchind, 52.
Q\i\xV{CyriC'bur}i), 263 «.
Chiulas. See Cyulas.
CJiochilaicus (Hygelac), 131.
CholleAoid, 115. See Cilurn.
Chollerioxi, 115, 235 «.
Cholsey. See Ceolesige.
Christchurch. See Tweoxn-eam.
Christian-Mal-ford ( = Cristenial =
" Christs Cross "), 203.
"Christs Cross." See Christian-
Mal-ford.
Churchill. See Cyric-burh.
Churn, the river. See Corinnium.
Chute (Chet), Forrest, 165 w., 181 n.
Cicc {Cice^ Chich, St.Osyth), i79«.,
304.
Cicht, 74.
"Cideston" (Tideston), Wells,
249 «.
Cilla-rith (Child-rey), 171 «.
Ciltern Ssetna, 221.
Ciltinne (Chiltem), 216, 285.
" Cilurn," the river, 115.
Cilurnum (Celunno), 115, 235 w.
Cinges-tune (Kingston), 279.
Ciomincge (Charing), 219.
Cippanham (Chippenham), 252.
Circinn. See Cirig.
Cirenceastre {Cair Ceri, Corinion
( ? Cironium ), Durocornoviu7?iy
Cyren-ceastre, Cirencester), 103,
112, T47, 148, 175, 252«., 288.
Cirig (Circinn), 52, 76, 77.
Cironiufn. See Cirenceastre.
Cironiw/i Dobunorum, 252 «.
Cissa (son of ^lle), 142 «. See also
Cissecester (Chichester), Cissan
beorh.
Cissan beorh, 142 «.
Cissecester (Chichester), 142 «. See
also Regno.
Cithlescester. See Scythles cester.
City of the Legion. See UrbsLegionis.
Ciulae. See Cyulas.
Clackmannan {Manau), 67, 100.
Clceighangra (Clayhanger), 286,
287 «.
Clanoventa. See Glannibanta,
Claudian the poet quoted, 80.
Clausentum (? Bittern), 53, 54, 64^.,
no.
Clayhanger. See Claighangra.
Cledemuthan (Clede-mouth), 267.
See also Dou Clediv.
Clevo. See Gleawan Ceaster.
Clewer. See CI if wara.
Clif wara (Clewer), 217.
Cliffe at Hoo, 194.
Clist-ton. See Glis-tun.
Cloister words from Greek, 172 n.
Closeworth. See Cloveshou.
Clota et Bodotria. See Boderia.
Cloveshou (Cloveshdh, Clofeshos),
194, 216, 238.
Cloves-wurthe (Cloves-uude, Close-
worth), 194 //.
INDEX
3^5
Cliid (rock), 212.
Clyde, the. See Klota.
Clyde-Forth wall, 49,51.
Clysts, the, 283 «.
Cnobhere, 1 76 n.
Cnobheresburg. See Garianno.
Cnofwealh (Cnobwalch), 176 «.
Cnut, attack on London, 286; Cnut
and Eadmund divide kingdom
between them, 288 ; Cnut sole
monarch, 288 ; he receives sub-
mission of King Malcolm, 289 ;
dies at Shaftesbury and is buried
at Winchester, 289.
Cobre, 237. (? Cover-h&m.)
Coccio (? Wigan), 1 1 1 .
Cocidius ( = Mars), 116.
Cockermouth. See Glatinibanta.
Cock shot (Cock shade), 213.
Cocuneda (Coquet), 99, 100.
" Coel, King," 63.
Cofa, 210.
Cofan-treo (Coventry), 297.
Cogidubn-i, lion.
Coit maur. See Seal-ivyda,
Colanica. See Kolanika.
Colchester. See Camulodunum.
Coldingham, 179 w.
Colen-ea (Colne), 218.
Coleshill. See Counsylht.
Coligny, inscriptions at, 87.
Colling (Cooling), 215.
Col man, Bishop of Lindisfame,
180.
Colne, the river, 218, 258.
Colneceastre, See Camulodunum.
Colonia. See Camulodunum.
Cohidi urbs {Cohtdes-huTh) , 179 n.
Columba, 49.
Columcelli, 190.
Combretonio, no, in.
Combroges. See Cymry.
Comich (Combwich), 253;/.
Contpendio (Compiegne), 182.
Concangios. See Deceangli.
Concha-ceastre, I79«. See also
Incuneningum.
Conchenn, (Conchend, Cyngen,
Doghead, Ogam Cuna-Cena),
55, 68.
Conchess, name of St. Patrick's
mother, 73.
Condate (Northwich), 102, 103,
106 «., 1 1 1. See also Kind Street.
Conde. See Cundoth.
Conder, the river, 144 «.
Conderco (Condecor = Benwell Hill) ,
115-
Congangios. See Deceangli.
Congavata. See Incuneningum.
Congresbury. See Cungres-beria.
Conovio (Conway), in.
Conway river. See Canubio.
Cooling Castle, 217. See Culinga.
Coonore, 143 «•
Coquet, the river, 100, 116.
Corbridge. See Corstopitum.
Corda, 99.
CoTfe, 298 n.
Corfes Geat (Corfe Castle), 376 «.,
278.
Corin (Chum), the river, aSS «.
Corinium, 288 n.
Corio ( = Irish Cuire^ host), 155 «.
See also Tri-corii, Petni corii.
Coriosolites, the, 155 «.
Corio-sopites f 155 w.
Corio-vallum (Heer-le), 155 «.
Com in " Abercom ", 186 n.
Cornish compared with Breton place-
names, 155-62.
Comovii, the, 1 1 2 «.
Corotic. See Ceretic.
Corsept, 155 w.
Corstopitum (Corbridge), 100, 105,
155 ».
Coscaer, 158 n.
Cotmgham (Cottingham), 304.
Council of Aries, British Bishops at
the, 70.
Coimsylht (Coleshill), 24, 46.
Count of the Saxon Shore, 79.
Coventry. See Cqfan-treo.
Cowbridge. See Bomio.
Crailing. See Traver-er-lin.
Crann, 86 «.
Cray, the river. See Crecga.
Cray ford. See Crecganford.
Crecca-gelade (Crick lade), 261.
Crecga, the (Cray), 141.
Crecgafiford {Cx2iyiox^)y 141.
Crediton (? Cridian-tun), removal of
Bishop Leofric's See from, 131 w.,
277 «.
3i6
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Credy, the river, 377.
Creech^ 39.
Creech-hill. See Crich hulk.
Creech Michael. See Crycbeorh,
Criccyl, 265 «.
Crich htdle (Creech-hill), 199.
Crick-howel, 39 n.
Cricklade. See Crecca-gelade.
CHdian-tun (Crediton), 277 «.
Cristemal. See Christian-Mal-ford.
Crococalana (?Brough), 109, no.
Croes-oswald (Oswestre). See
Maserfelth.
Croyland. See Cruland.
Cr«<: ( = tumulus), 204. See Pn eel-
ancyrca.
Cructan. See Crycbeorh,
Cruimther, 121 n,
Cruk-ceri (Crukeri), 252 «.
Cruland (Croyland), 178 «.
Crummock brook, 273.
Cruthenech, See Crtithni.
Cfuthni (or Cruthenech), 74, 75 ;
sons of, 76, 83. (Cf. Ogam in-
scription, Luguqrittj where qritt
= cruth.)
Crycbeorh (Cructan, Creech Mich-
ael), 39.
Cuichelm, King of Wessex, 175.
Cuit, the syllable, 85.
Cul-chet (Culquith), 86 n.
Culinga (Cooling Castle), 2 1 7.
Culquith. See Cul-chet.
Cumber, meaning of, 1 86 71.
Cumberland (Cumerland), in; an
English possession, 273; ravaged
by Eadmund, 2 74, and by ^thel-
red, 283.
Cumbroges (Combroges, Cyrary),
26, 136 «., 299 «.
Cutnenesora, 142 n.
Cumrew, in.
Cuncha-Chester. See Inamenin-
gum.
Cundoth (Conde), 256.
*'Cunedda and his sons" arrive in
Wales from Strathclyde, 136?/.
Cu-neit, 82.
Cunet-io(Cunetione,Kennet),ii,ii3.
Cungres-beria (Cungersbury, Cun-
gresbyri, Congresbury), 241 n.,
249.
Cuno — in Celtic personal names, 55.
Cunobellinos, 12, 19.
Cunoglas, 68. Cf. Glasi-Cunas,
C«««^/ (Cunugl-ae, Knoyle), 258 «.
Cununga-Chester. See Incunenin-
gum.
Cursitter, 227 «.
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, his conse-
cration, 184 ; at Cloveshou Synod,
194, 195.
Cu-Ulaid, 82.
Cwat-brycge, 260. See also Qttat.
Cweorn Cleofu, 204.
Cwicelmes-hlsew, 284.
Cyddivfr, 150 «.
Cymbeline (Shakespeare's), 66.
Cymedes halh, 216.
Cymen (son of iElle), 142. See
also Cymenesora, Cynienes-denu,
Citmenesora.
Cymenes-denUy 142;;,, 217.
Cymenes-ora, 142 «., 143.
Cymry. See Ctimbroges.
" Cynebellinga-gemsere," 12.
Cynegils, King of Wessex, 175.
Cynemseres ford {Kempsford), 238.
Cynetan (Kennet), 284.
Cyngen, 55. See also Conchenn.
Cynibre (Kinver), 216, 260 «.
Cynlas (a Welsh brook), 150 «.
Cynomannia (Cenomani = Maine) ,
299 n.
Cynuit, 253.
Cyren-ceastre. See Cirenceastre.
Cyric-burh (? Cherchehulle, Chur-
chill), 263 «., 264.
Cyulas {Cmlae, Chiulas~\ong
ships), 122, 127 «.
Dacore (Dacre, Bacara), 187, 269 «.
Dacre, 269. See Ea?notu7n.
Dsegstan. See Egesan-stan.
dcel ( = valley), 23.
Dael (in Doverdale), 208.
-dsel ( = portion), 23.
DcBrettta Mutha. See Darent.
Dagenham. See Deccan-haam.
Dal-chet (Dalkeith), 86 w.
Dalreudini, 84.
Dalriada, 84.
Damnonioi (Dumnonii), the, 31,
99, 104.
INDEX
317
Damnonion (Devonian) , promon-
tory, the, Okrion, 94, 96.
Danai, the, 189.
Danes, 224, bought off for ;^io,ooo,
281 ; destroy Bamborongh, 281 ;
fleet ravages country about Sand-
wich, 284; ;^36,ooo tribute paid
to, 285. See also Northmen,
coming of, 223 et seq.
Danihel, Bishop in the Isle of
Wight, 166.
Dano (Doncaster), 108, 109;/., no,
114.
Dante, a resemblance of the trilogy
of, 188 «,
Dante and bolgia^ 298 n,
Daoulas, 159 n.
Darent {Darenta Mutha, Der\vent),
141, 291. See also Den 150^ i5i> i53> I59«->I74«'
Dubris. See Dofra-n.
Duecaledonian Sea, the, 92.
Duin Necthan (Dunnichen, Dun-
nechtyn, Dunnichen Moss = Nech-
tanesmere), 185 n. See also Linn
Gar an.
Du-las. See Dubglas.
Dumbarton. See Ailcluit.
Dumfries. See Caer Pheris.
Dumna. See Dotimna.
Dumnonii, the. See Damnonioi.
Dun-bulg, 106 «.
Dun-Brettan. See Ailcluit,
Duncan. See Duno-Catus.
Duncansby Head. See VirvMrum
promontory.
Dunchad, Abbot, 192. See also
Duno-Catus.
Dun-Chailden (Dunkeld), 45, 153.
Dunestaple (Dunstable), 304.
Dunfoeder {1 Fothurdun), 269.
Dun-fries. See Caer Pheris,
Dungeness. See Ncesse.
Dun-gleddy. See Dou Clediv.
Duningcland, 219.
INDEX
319
Dunion {^ Muridununiy Ridunto^
?Sidmouth or Seaton), 104.
Dunipace, 152.
Dunkeld. See Dun-Chailden.
Dunmay, 52.
Dunmyat (Dalmyot), 52.
Dunnet Head. See Tarvedum, the
promontory of.
Dunnichen, Dunnechtyn. See Duin
Necthati.
Dunnichen Moss. See Duin Nee-
than.
Duno-Catus (Duncan), * the fortress
warrior': derivative Mac Dhun-
cadh = MacConkey or Maco-
nochie), 139 «., 192 «.
Dunpeleder (Dmmpellier), 86 n.
Dun-rechet(?Dunragit),i24w. See
also Reget.
Dunstable. See Durocobritis.
Dunstan, Abbot of Gloestingaberig,
274; banished by Eadwig, 277;
made Bishop of Worcester by
Edgar, and Archbishop, 277 ; his
death, 280.
Dun-uualhi Pincerni, 215.
Dunuuallan, 215.
Dunwal-ing daenn, 288.
Dunwich. See Donunoc.
Durcinate, 175 «.
Durham, Cuthbert's body removed
to, 186.
Durlstone Head, 157 «.
Durngueis (Durngueir, Thornsaia,
Dornsceta ) , 1 3 8 «. , 251.
Durnono-varia^ Dumo-varia, Dorft-
warn Ceaster (Dorchester), 113,
138 »., 151 «., 251 71., 252.
Dumo-varia, involves varia = theatre,
251 n.
Dur-o {Duron) y 187 «.
Duro-bemia {Duro-vemiim, Dar-
vernoUy Duroavef-us^ Cantwara-
burg, Dorwit-ceastre,Canterbury),
38, 103, 106, 107 «., 187/1., 242.
Durobrivas (? Castor on the Nene),
108.
Duro-brivis (Rochester), Hrofibrevi^
Hrofesbretay Hrofes-ccesiir), 37,
38, 106, 107, 256, 280.
Durocobrivis (Dunstable), 106,
107 w., 109, no.
Durocomovio. See Cirenceaster.
Dtirocornovitim. See Corinion.
Durolevo (?near Sittingbourne), 106,
107 «., 280 w.
Duroli (Duroliponte, ? Godman-
chester), 108 n.
Durolito (? Writola-buma), Writtle,
no. III, 214.
Durotriges, the {por-sata)^ 104,
138 «.
Durovernum (Canterbury). See
Duro-bemia.
Dux Britanniarum, 114.
Dwf[n]las (Dawlish), 150//., 159//.
Dyfed. See Demetai.
Dyrham. See Deorham.
ea = river, in river and place-names,
68, i79«.
Eadburga, St., I33«.
Eadesbyrig (Eddisbury), 263 «.,
264.
Eadmund ^Etheling, succeeds
i^thelstan in 940, 273 ; over-
runs Northumberland, 274; be-
sieges Anlaf at Leicester, 274;
ravages Cumberland, and leases
it to King of Scots, 274 ; stabbed
at Pncklechurch in 946, 274.
Eadmund iEtheling (known as
"Ironside"), chosen king in
1016, 286 ; fights at Pen and Sher-
ston, 286 ; attacks enemy in Kent,
287 ; is defeated at Ashingdon,
287 ; divides kingdom with Cnut,
288 ; dies, and is buried at Glas-
tonbury, 288.
Eadolfesnasse {Eadulfes vase, the
Naze), 291, 296.
Eadred, succeeds Eadmund i^thel-
ing in 946, 274; reduces North-
umbrians to obedience, 274;
ravages Northumberland, 274;
forces slaughtered at Ceasterforda,
275 ; imprisons Archbishop Wul-
stan, 275 ; slaughter at Theotford,
276 ; dies at Frome, and is buried
at Ealdminster^ 277.
Eadward, succeeds Cnut in 1042,
289; his favour to Normans, 292;
comes to Westminster and has the
Minster consecrated (1065), 301 ;
320
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
his death, and burial in the Min-
ster, 301.
Eadward, succeeds Eadgar in 975,
278; he is slain at Corfe Castle
and buried first at Wareham, 278.
Eadwig, succeeds Eadred in 957
and banishes Dunstan, 277.
Eadwin, King of Northumbrians,
baptism of, 168.
Ea-landj 68.
Ealdminster (Old minster), 277.
Eamotum (? Emmet or Dacre), 269,
273.
Earldom of Northampton Shire
granted to David of Scotland, 303.
Earnes-Scaga (Herneshaw), 188.
East Anglia, ravaged by Danes, 285.
East Saxons (Essex), 129.
Easton. See Estun.
East-ryge (Eastrgena, Eastr^ge,
Eastry), 178^., 179«., 219.
Ea-ton, 68.
Eatumberg (? Emborough, Etene-
berga), 206.
Ebbsfleet, 133. See Eopwines Jledt.
Ebchester. See Vindomora.
Ebriacus (now Yvre-le-Polin), 71 n.
Eburacum (Eburaco, Eborakon, Eo-
forwic Ceastre, York), 37, 71, loi,
102, 106, 108, no, 112, 237, 243,
344.
Eburiacus (now E vry near Melun) ,71.
Eburo-Caslum, 71 «., 99 «.
Eburodunum (now Yverdon), 71 n.
Eb(ur)oudouron (nowlvorne), 71 n.
Eburomagus, 71 n.
£bur6s ( = Yew), 71 n.
Ecbryhtes-stan, 253.
Eceni. See Venta-Icenorum.
Ecgberct, Father, 185, 189, 193.
Echni^ island of, 266.
Eddesbury. See Eadesbyng.
Eden, the river, 95, i2o«.
Edinburgh. See Mount Agned.
Edington. See Ethandim.
Edisc (in Hides-Edisc), 208.
Edisc-ueard, 208.
Effe-cestre^ 276 «.
Egelis Brich ( = Varia Capelld)^ 208.
Egesan-stan (Daegstan), Daegsa-stan,
162, 163.
Egisauuda (Fearful wood), 309 n.
Egonesham (Eynsham), 147.
Eildon. See Eldunum.
/, meaning of Welsh, i70«.
Eldunum, near Melrose (Eildon),
196 «.
Eleuther (Eleutherus), 57. See also
Lucius.
Elfetu. See ^.Ifetee and Elmet.
Elge (Ely). See Elig, Eligabirig.
Elgovai. See Selgovai.
Elig, Eligabirig {E\y), I'jgn., 277.
Eliseg (Elised, Elized), 55, 56, 248.
EUeanboro, 206.
Ellenborough. See Axeloduno.
EUendun (Wroughton), 239 «.
Elleti, the field of, 136.
EUos, the, a headwater, 97.
Elmed Ssetna, 220.
70,
Elmet {Elvet, Elvael), 143 «.,
196 n. See also Mlfetee,
Elvaelj I'jon. See Elmet.
El-vet. See Elmet.
Embemwt (Amiens), 256.
Emborough. See Eatumberg.
Emmet, 269 n. See Eamotum.
* ' Emricor va " (Chepstow), 34. See
also Streguil.
Engla-felda, 246 «. See also Te-
geingl.
Engle, East, 222.
Eofeshamme (Evesham), 289, 297.
Eoforwic Ceastre. See Eburacum,
Eogan, 96.
Eohinga burh, 215.
Eopvines Jledt, Eobbes-fleet, Ebbes-
fleet, \iin,
Eormenburg {Domneva), his
brothers slain, 179 «.
Epiakon (Epiacon), loi, loa, 114.
Epidioi, the, 100.
Epidion Promontory, the (Mull of
Cantire), 92.
Episford {Rithergabail), 139, 140.
Epistola of Gildas, the, i23«.
Erchen^€iA. See Areconio.
Eriu {Erinn), 73.
Erlamstret ( = Verlam-stret), 41.
Essex, ravaged by Northmen, 290 n.
Estun (Easton), 304.
Esugen-us, 96.
Etclete (Atclete, Auckland), 334,
237-
INDEX
321
Eteneberga. See Eatumberg.
Etha7idun (Edington, Wilts.),
355 «•
Etive, Loch, 93.
eu, the termination, I79«.
Enfania (Isle of Man). See Mo-
napia.
Eure, the river, 71.
Eustace, Count of Boulogne, 292.
Evania (Isle of Man). See Monapia.
Evernili Patria, 73.
Evesham. See Eofeshamme.
Evigantes. See Jugantes.
Ewelm (river spring), 212.
Eivyas, See Gewis.
" Ewyas, Earl of Erging and,"
139 «.
Ewyas Harold, 296 n.
Etca. See Axa.
Exanceastre (Isca Dumnuniorum,
Adescancastre, Cairuisc^ Exeter),
104, 113, 131 «., 190 «., 252,
254; taken by storm, 284.
Exanmtttha7i {Iska-moMih, Ex-
mouth), 96, 283.
Exe, the. See Exanmuthan.
Exeter. See Exanceastre,
Exochej the promontory, 98.
exploratores, the (scouts), 106 n.
ey, the Norse, 197 «.
Eynsham. See Egonesham.
Faddiley (not Fethanleag), 148.
Fserpinga (Fearfinga), 222.
Faestin (in Buckfast), 208.
Fagan (Phaganus, Dyfan), 197,
198.
Fano-Cocidu See Tunnocelo.
Fara, 170 «.
fari in Lindesfarona, 180 «.
Faringdon. See " Famdun in
Mercia ".
^* Famdun in Mercia^' (Faringdon),
268.
Fame Island (Holy Island), 171 «.,
184, 186.
Famham. See Feamhamme.
Faroe (Shetland Islands), 224.
Fauresfeld{Fefres-hamf¥B.\txi\itim),
302.
Faversham. See Fauresfeld.
Fearful wood. See Egisauuda.
Feamhamme (Famham), 258.
Felbrig. See Thelbrig.
Felix, Bishop, from Burgundy, 176;
death of (Bishop of Dunwich),
178.
" Fell," in North of England, 196 n.
Fenglesham. See Thenglesham.
Fenny Stratford. See Magiovinto.
Fergtinea (Hercynia silva), 212 «.
Ferramere (Meare), 198.
Ferrex and Porrex^ 66.
Fethanleag (not Faddiley), 148.
Fethar {Yoihox^^'i Fiodh-thir), 77.
Fetter (in Fetteresso), 77.
Fib ( = Fife), 76, 77,83.
Fidach, 76.
" Fif and Fothrif," 77.
Finan, Bishop, 178.
Finchale. See Pincanheal and
Fink-halh.
Finch amstead, 303.
Find Geinti, 241 «.
Fine, Loch. Ste Lemannonion hzy .
Fined on. See Thindon.
" Fin-Gall " (Norsemen), 224. See
also Northmen.
Finglas, 1 50 n. See also Gias.
Finhaven. See Fothenaven.
Finisk (Phoenix), 292 n.
Fink-halh (Fink-halgh, Fink-halugh,
Finchale) , 2 3 3 w. , 2 34 «. See also
Pincanheal.
Finnsburg, Battle ofy 131.
Fir gen (Firolandes, Firgenlandes,
Fergen-berig), 212 «. See also
Firle beacon.
Flatholm. See Bradan Felice.
Flavia (Province of Britain), 71.
Flod, 195.
Flynnon Gwas Patrig, 82 m.
"Fobbinges," 178W.
Fogo in place-names, 244.
Foithre, 270 n.
Folcesstane = Folkestone. See Ful-
chestan.
Foodra (Peel of Further), 270 «.
Forays (Forres), 47.
'fordy compounds with, 242 «.
Foreign Wikings (Utwikingan) in
Anglesey (Angles Ege), 303.
Forres. See Forays.
Fors (= foss), 231.
322
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Forsca burna, 218.
Fortenses, the, 276 «.
Forth, Firth of. See Boderia estuary.
Fortrenn, 76, 77, 84, 245, 246 «.
Fosse-way, the, 293 n.
Fothenaven, 77.
Fother. See Fethar.
Fotla 76, 77.
Foubister, 2 2 7 «.
Fowey. See Kenton, the.
Frankish Bishop, a (iEgelbeorht),
175.
Franks, 61.
Frauu (Frama, From - muihan,
Frome), the river, 204, 251 «.,
277, 283, But cf. Pedersen
§303.
Fresia (Friesland), 190.
Fresicummare (Frisian Sea), 120.
Frisians, Fresones, 120, 131, 189 «.
See also Dun-fries (Dumfries).
Frocester, 123.
Frome. See Frauu.
From-muthan. See Frauu.
/^wAr-i^j/aw (Folkestone), 142, 280 «.,
295-
Fulham. See Fullanhatn.
Fullanham?n (Fulham), 255, 256.
Fulney, 68.
Funt, Funtan, in place-names (as
in Havant, Fovant, &c.) borrowed
from Latin, through British, 118,
Cf. Cornish Funten.
Fumess. See Futher-ness.
Fursey, a Religious, 176, 177, 182.
Futerna (Whiterne), 124W.
Futher-ness, 78, 270 w.
Fynten Goys, 158 «.
Gaast (morass), lai.
Gaba Glanda, 115.
gahail, 141.
Gabrant(6)vikoi, Gulf-port of the
(Humber-mouth), 98, 102, 274.
Gabrosente {Gabro-senti, Gabro-
centes, ? Gateshead), 94, 116.
Gaedhill and Gaill, Wars of, 230.
Gaelic. See Goidelic.
Gafol, 231 n.
Gafulford (Galford), 238.
Gainford - on - Tees. See Gegen-
orda.
Gainsborough. See Gegnes hurh.
Gala Water in Wedale, the, 152.
Galava, iii.
Galgacos. See Calgacos.
Gallemborne (Walbrook), 67.
Galleva. See Calleva.
Galli, 9.
Galloway. See Novantoi.
Galmariho {Galnianhithe, Bootham
Bar), 297.
Galmetona (Ganton), 297.
Gait ( = cliff), 229 ». C/ inorganic,
cf. Ord a.nd Gorrd : Pedersen § 302.
Gait (=Hog), 229 «.
Galt-hanin, 46.
Gal[t]kliat Wood, 46.
Galt-reath (Catraeth), 46.
Gait-res, 46.
** Galt-weid " (Gait- way), 46.
Gamber, the river, 98, 268 n,
Gamel, 231.
Ganganoi {Kaianganot), 95.
Ganton. See Galmetona.
Garianno (Gariennos mouth, Gari-
annum, Cnobheresburg, Burgh
Castle), 83 «., 98, 113, 176, 177 w.
Garmani, 189.
Garrans. See Din-Gerein,
Gate (in the sense of way), 231.
Gateshead. See Gabrosente.
Gavylton (Yeovilton), 141.
-ge termination =■ gau (?), 179.
Geardcylle (Yarkhill), 288 n.
Gedtas (Jutes), 131 «.
Ged-burgh (Gedde worth, Jedburgh),
179 «., 276 ft.
Geddeworth. See Jedburgh.
Geddingas (Yedding), 219.
Gegen - forda (Gainford - on - Tees),
238.
Gegnes burh (Gainsborough), 286,
Geguuis. See Gewis.
Gelade, 189, 261 n.
gelat, place-names ending in let, 1 89.
Gemapia, 69.
Gemido = Gemythe- = mouth, 202.
Gemythe. See GemiSo.
Genava (Geneva), 155 «.
Genealogies, Imperial Succession in
Welsh, 58.
Genevieve, St., persuaded to dedi-
cate herself to God, 125.
INDEX
3»3
Genlade {Genhda.Venlei), the river,
I20, 189, 238 «.
Genunian territory, 49, 50.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, 65.
Geona Cohort, 49, 50.
Geoila (Ithan-ceaster), 276 tt.
Gerent, Gerontius (Wala-king),
192.
German, St., Bishop of Auxerre,
visits Britain, 70 ; Bede's account
of "Hallelujah Victory" taken
ixovci Life of St. German, ii9».,
125, 126, 127.
Gerontius. See Gerent.
Gesoriacum, origin of name, 63, 64.
Gestrio, 208.
Gewis {^Gegutiis, Giuoys, Iwys,
Ewyas, Gewissi, Gutmnesse,
Gunnis), 137, 138 «., 139/;.,
183.
" Gewissi." See Gewis.
Gifla (?Ivel or Givell), 141 w., 221.
Gil (= narrow valley), 231.
Gildas, his work, " The Destruction
of Britain y^ 121, 122; his
*' Epistola'\ I23«., 128, 135;
'' Life of Gildas r \ii.
Gilling. See Ingetlingum.
Gillinga-ham (Gillingham), 286.
Giolla^ the use of, 82 «.
Gtsly as a prefix, 195, 200.
Giuoys. See Gewis.
Givel, 141, 221 w.
Gla-morgan, 1 38 n.
Glan, Glann, 16, iii «.
Glannibanta (Glannibenta, Clano-
venta = ? Cockermonth), 34, m,
116.
Glas, a common river designation,
149 «.
Glascoed (Lasket), 181 n.
Glas-Naoidhen. See Glas-Nevin.
Glas-Nevin {Glas-Naoidhen), i^on.
Glastenic (GlfEstingaberig, Glastin-
ga-byrigy Glastingabyrg, Glaston-
bury), 60, 127 «.; •* Glastimber
of the Goidels," 130W., 147 «.,
153; the Minster built (? repaired j
by Ina, 184 ; Note on, 197 ; names
in doubtful Charters, 198 et seq.;
grant to church of Blessed Mary
and St. Patrick, 199; grant of
Ineswytrin, 200; St. Dunstan,
Abbot, 274; Glastenic, native
name, 275 n. ; Eadmund buried at,
288, 296.
Glastingabyrg. See Glastenic.
Glastonbury. See Glastenic
Glazebrook, 150 «.
Gleawan Ceaster (" Cair Glovi,"
Clevo, Clev-um, Glevum, Gloe-
cester, Gloucester), 112, 147.
Glegivisic {Gleguissing), 136/1.,
138 «., 248.
Glein, the river, 149.
Glen, the river, 152, 168,
Glendy 16.
Glessariae, 90.
Glevum. See Gleawan Ceaster.
Glis-tun (Clist-ton), 283.
Glossaries, 207 et seq.
GloUy 112 n.
Gloucester. See Gleawan Ceaster.
G/ynn, 16.
Gobannio (Abergavenny), 112.
Gobban, Presbyter, 177.
Godenicz (Godney), 206.
Godmanchester. See Duroliponte.
Godney. See Godenice.
Gododin {Guotodin), " Manaw of
the Gododen," 100, i88«. See
also Otadinoi.
Godwin and his sons exiled, 294,
Godwin dies at Winchester, 396.
Gofer y meaning of, 186 n.
Goibniu, 112 w. See Gobannio.
Goidels, 9 ; origin of name, 63 ;
Goidelic (Gaelic), place-names in
Scotland, 83, 121.
Gold-clifif, 47.
Gore, 214.
Gospatric, " writ" of, 273.
Got. See Cait.
Gottes-scalc, 83 n.
Gower, 1 24 n.
"Grain" in Northumberland, 229 n.
<* Grampian" Hills, 47.
Granta, the river, 251 w.
Graj^itabTycge (Grantandrycg-e, Cam-
bridge), 108 «., 250, 251, 267.
Grant Chester. See Cair Grant h.
Graupian Mount, 47.
Great Chesterford, 108 «.
Great Chesters. See ^sica.
X 2
324
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
GTeenzvic, 280 n.
Gregory the Great, St. , quoted, 126 n.
Grendel, a demon called, 131 «.
Grendelesviere (Wiltshire), 131 «.
Grendhs bee, Grindelespytt (Wor-
cestershire), 131 «.
Griffin, Welsh king, 290, 294, 299.
Griffins in the Tudor arms, 137 «.
Grindelespytt. See Grendles bee.
Gryffith. See Griffin.
Guare (Guare Miracle, Welsh
Chware), 251 «.
Guasmoric {Gwysmeuric, Gwys Veu'
^«0> 137 ^-j 138 «. See also
Westymar.
Guened ( Venedotiaj now Gwynedd),
135. 136 «•
"Guent,"32.
Guent, 259 n.
Guentonia, 248 «.
Guem in Guem-s-ey, 1 7 1 «.
Guilou (Wiley), the river, 221 «.,
250. See also Wiltun.
Guinn liguiauc (Gwent loog), 259 n.
Cf. Irish Imliuch (Emly), and
Amlwch.
Guinnion, the Castle of, 150, 152.
Guital (?Vitalis), 56.
Gulb(=beak), 189 «.
Gumeninga hergae (? Harrow-on-
the-Hill\ 209, 216.
Gunnis, Guunnesse. See Gewis.
guocob, in place-names, 244 n.
Guorthigem, 127 «., 128, 134-7.
See Vortigem, the Irish form of
the name used by Gildas and Bede.
Guorthemir, son of Guorthigirn,
138, 139-
Guortigimiaun, 248 n.
Guotodin. See Gododin,
Guthlac, St., 194.
Gwas, the use of, 8 2 «.
Gweek ( = Wick), 166 «.
Gwenedd (Gweneth, N. Wales), 32,
173 «., 248.
Gweneth. See Gwenedd.
Gwent loog. See Guinn liguiauc.
Gwern-og. See Vern-um.
Gwerthyr, 84.
Gwic-Wern, 165 «.
Gwig, 165 n.
Gwynedd. See Gwenedd,
Gwyr y Gogledd, 152.
Gwysmeuric {Gwys Veuruc), 137 «.
Gypeswic (Iipsv/ich), 280 «., 281.
Gyrvii, the, 178.
Gyrwa, North and Suth, 220.
'' Gyrwa river," 178 «.
Gyrwe, a Teutonic tribe (?), I'jSn.
" Gyrwe-fenn," 178 w.
Gytha, Harold's mother, retires to
Flatholm, 302.
Hadley. See Headlega.
Hadrian's wall, 49.
Hsefe and Caere, between (Avon and
Carron, the rivers), 192.
Haerg. See Gumeninga hergae.
Haesel-hyrst gate, 218.
HcBstinga Ceastre (Hastings), 292,
295»
HcBstinga Forty 301.
Haethfelth (? Hatfield chase), battle
of, 173. See Meicen^ battle of.
Hafing seota. See Hrempinguuic.
Hafren (Severn), 24, Initial S be-
comes H in British c. 300 A. D. :
Pedersen § 303.
hage (hedge, wood, enclosure),
212 «.
Hagustaldesham (Hexham), 99,
115; meaning of, I74«., 184 «.
See also Axeloduno,
Hale (Healh), 180 w.
Hal^-let, 234;/.
Halech, 234.
Halha, 234 n.
Halidene. See Hefenfelth.
Halignesse beorge, 214.
"Hallelujah victory," 119, 126, 127.
Hallington. See Hefenfelth.
Halugh-ton (Haughton, Halech),
234 n.
Ham (home), 213. See also Hamm.
Hamble. See Homel-ea.
HajHfti (land drained by dykes),
213. See Ricinga-haam, &c.
Hamtun {Hamtune — Southampton,
Northampton), 240, 264, 266,
285.
Hanc-hemstede, 214.
Hanger, 214.
Hangra in place-names, 286 «.
Hanratty. See St. Indracht.
INDEX
325
Harbour, 155 «.
Harda-Cnut succeeds Harold ; dies
at Lambeth, 289.
Hardwick, 166 w.
Harelioch, 235 «.
Harehouden (Harden), 235 w.
Harold succeeds Cnut as King in
1034, 289; dies at Oxford (1040)
and is buried at Westminster,
289.
Harold at Bylgeslege^ 297 ; invades
South Wales in 1062, 299 ; suc-
ceeds King Eadwardin 1066, 301.
Harraton, 235 n.
Harrow. See Gumeninga hergae.
Hartboume. See Heorat buma.
Hartleford. See loratla-forda.
Hartle/^^/. See Herut-eu.
Harudes, 223;/.
Hasel-over (Hasler), 208, 210;/.
Hashhangra^ 287 «.
Hasler. See Hasel-over.
Hastings. See HcBstinga Ceastre,
Hatfield Chase. See Haethfelth.
Haughton. See Halugh-ton.
Haug-r (Donners haugk), 231.
Havvrds. See HorSar.
Hayes. See Linga IIcBse.
Headlega (Hadley), 257.
Heahhaam (Higham), 215.
Hearrahalch, 235.
"Heathen," meaning of, 240 ».,
241 n.
Hehelmes Landschere^ 298 n.
Hebrides. See Acmodct.
Hedene (Hide-clothed), 212.
'^ Ileer-W {Cono-vallum), 1^6 fi.
Hefenfelth (Halidene, Hallington\
i74«.
Hegestaldes setly 204.
Hei-weg, 214.
Helena (wife of Constantius), 62.
Hemgisl, Abbot, 198.
Hendrica, 221, 222.
Ilengest (stallion), and Hengist,
132.
Hengestdun (Hingston Down), 240.
Hengestes-ige (Hinksey), 132.
Hengestes-ricg (Henstridge), 132.
Hengist arrives in Britain, 127 «.,
I28«. ; name mentioned in Beo-
wulf, 131, 132 «., 133, 139.
Henry I, spends Easter at Marl-
borough in mo, 303.
Henstridge. See Hengestes-ricg.
Heofeshamme. See Eofeshamrae.
Heorat buma (Hartboume), 218.
Heorotforda (Hertford), 263.
Herberct, Presbyter, of St. Herbert's
Isle, Derwent water, 186.
Herctilisy promontory of, 94.
Herefinna, 221.
Hereford Port (Hereford), 297.
Herepath, io«., 155 «.
Heretha-land (HorSar, Hawrds,
Charudes, Harudes), 223 «.
Herio-s. See Auray.
Heriri, montes*(Snowdon), 136, 239,
303.
Herneshavv. See Earnes-Scaga.
Hertford. See Heorotforda.
Henit-eu (Herot-ea, Hartle/V?^;/),
179 »., 180.
Hesket (Hesketh), 86 «.
Hesse, 10.
Heuuald (Black and White) Pres-
byters, 190.
Hew Goose {Uch coed), 158 n.
Hexham. See Hagustaldesham and
Axeloduno.
Hibaldestowe, 294 n.
" Hiberni," forms of, 72.
Hicca, 221.
Hides- Ed isc. See Edisc.
High Cross. See Venonio.
High Riechester. See Bremenio.
High Tor, 212.
Higham. See Heahhaam.
Hii (Hy,Iona), 146, 178, 185 «., 190,
191, 193, 225, 236.
Hii Columcelli (/ Columba Cille),
190, 236.
Himeid, King of Dyfed {Demetid),
248. See also Maes-yvet.
Hincmar, Archbishop, 245 n.
Hingston Down. See Hengestdun.
Hinksey. See Hengestes-ige.
Hin-Locrinus {Locrinus, Lloegr),
198.
Historia Britonum, 65.
Hjallt-land (Shetland), 225 «.
Hjalpands-ey (Shapinsay), 225 «.
Hlid (Lydd), 216, 235 «.
Hlidaford (Lydford), 282.
326
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
hlinc (slope), 214.
Hlud, Monastery of, 235.
Hocneratun (Hokenarton, Hook
Norton), 265 n.
Hdh (promontory), 194 «.
Hokenarton. See Hocneratun.
Holegn (in Holenhyrst), 207.
Holenhyrst. See Holegn.
Holni^ 231.
Holm-ryge, 1*^8 n.
Holy Island. See Fame Islands.
Holy Places, a work on the, pre-
sented to King Aldfrid by Adam-
nan, 191.
Holy well. See Tegingel.
Homel-ea (Hamble),*the river, 21,
145 «., 172;?.
Honeffe, 69.
" Honey Child " in Romney Marsh,
226 «.
Honorius, Archbishop of Canter-
bury, 178.
Hook Norton. See Hocneratun,
Hope ( = a bay and river valley), 231.
Horburg. See Argento Varia.
Horca or Orca (Okrion-point), the
Lizard, 89, 96.
Hornblawerton (Homblotton), 207.
Homcastle, 102.
HortJar (Hawrds, Charudes, Ha-
rudes), 223;?.
Horsa arrives in Britain, 127 w.,
i2Sn., 131, 132 n., 133; his death,
139, 140.
Horsa/a/d {Hor&f all) f 132.
Horsaleah (Horsley), 132.
Horsfall. See Horsafald.
Horsham, 132.
Horsley. See Horsaleah.
Horstead, 140.
Howth Hill, 229W.
Hiemping-uuic (Hafing seota), 219.
Hreod-ham, 217.
Hreopa-dun (Hreopedune, Repton),
196 «., 250.
" Hreth " Goths, 223.
Hreutford (Hreodford— Redford or
Redbridge), 172??., 183.
Hris (Rhys), slain, 296.
Hrither (= cattle), 208 «., 216.
Hroching (Rocking), 218.
Hrofes-castir, HrojFes-breta, Hrofi-
brevi (Rochester). See Duro-
brevis.
ZTf-other, 183 «.
Hudan-fedt, 132, 133;?., 215.
Hugabeorg, 214.
Hughes, Professor M'^Kenny, and
the landing-place of Augustine,
135-
Huic, 165 «. See also Hwicna.
Huicceundu, 165 «.
Huiccii (Huich), 164, 216.
Huiccii, territory of, 166.
Humbran muthe (H umber estuary),
281.
Humir, the, 98.
Hunapa, 69.
Hundehoge {Hunecote, Hundcot),
304.
Hiinengraber, 82 «.
Hunger-\\\\\, 287 «.
Hunni, 189.
Hunno {Onno), 115.
Hiinoz, 82 «.
Huntandun (Huntingdon), 267.
Husmerae, province of, 216.
Hussa, son of Ida, founder of the
kingdom of Bernicia, 163.
Hwcerwella-n (Wherwell), 294.
Hweallsege (Whalley), 237.
Hwiccas, 184. See aho ffmccii.
Hwicna biscop, 164 «.
Hwicna Gemcere, 16^ n.
Hwinca, 221.
Hivitan Wylles geat (Whitewell's
gate), 274, 275 «.
Hwitciricean (Whitchurch), T03,
283.
Hwitem, 235.
Hwyte Celdan, 226 «.
Hy (Ion a). See Hii.
Hybernia, 90.
Hydata Thertna. See Bathan-
Ceastre.
Hygelac. See Chochilaicus.
Hyppeles Fleote (near Sandwich),
134-
Hyrtlingberi (Irthlingborough),
304-
Hywel Dda, 267 «.
lam (or Iron) language, 75 n.
Iberran, loi.
INDEX
327
Iberion, 88.
Ican^ \*l(i n. See also Iceni.
Icanho (Boston), 176.
Iceland discovered, 225.
Icenan, the river, 108 «. See also
Itchington.
Icenhtldeweg, ion.
Icenhylt (Icknield)^ 12, 13.
Iceni, the, 12, 20, 176 w.
Icht, see of. See Muir-n-Icht,
Icinos (?Ick worth), 108.
Ickham. See loccham.
Icknield. See Icenhylt.
Ickworth. See Icinos.
/ Columbcs Cille. See Hii.
Iction. See Ition.
Ictis, 89.
Ida, founder of the kingdom of Ber-
nicia, 163.
Idla. See Yddil.
lena, the (Wigton-bay), 93, 95.
lerne (Ivema), 89.
t]^'™ island, 179 «.
Iglea (-^glea, MgUd). See
Aclea.
Ikenoi, the, 103.
//a, the river, 97.
Ilchester. See Ivel- Chester.
Ilegh (South-leigh\ 254/1.
"IleyOak," 254 w.
//^^/5/5a// (Ulf-ketels-heall), 284 «.
Ilkley. See OHcana,
Imperial Succession in Welsh Ge-
nealogies, 58.
Inber Domnann, 99.
Incnneningum {Congavafa, Kunka-
Cester, Concha-ceastre, Cunanga-
Chester, Chester-le-Street), 115,
116, i79«., 188.
In-dera-uuda (Beverley), 188.
Indracht, St. (Hanratty), 206.
Ine, King of Wessex, 194.
/«awy/rm (Glastonbury), 200. See
also Glastenic.
7n Feppingtim, 178.
Ingetlingum (Gilling), 178.
Ingo-mar. See Ivarr.
In gyruiim (Yarrow), 178 «., 191.
See also Donemouth.
Inhrypum (Ripon), 191. See also
Ripar.
Inisboufind, 180.
Inis Metgoi'i. See Lindisfam.
Inis Patraicc (Peel), 236.
inis Prydain (Welsh name for Great
Britain), 74.
Inlet (Yenlade), 121, 189.
Inscribed stone at Deerhurst, 298//.
Inscriptions at Coligny, 87.
Inscriptions at Rom, 87.
Inscriptions at Todi, 87.
"Insi-Gall," 27 «.
In Undalum (Oundle), 191.
InvcTy meaning of, i86«.
loccham (Ickham), 218.
lona. See Hii.
loratla-forda (Hartleford), a 18.
Ipswich. See Gypeswic.
Ircingafelda (Erchenfield). Sec
Areconio.
Ireland. See ** luuerna ".
Ireland, Ecgfrid invades, 184, 185.
Irin. See luuerna.
Iris {Irin), See luuerna.
Irish sources in Nennius, 128 «.;
hermits in Iceland, 225 ; among
Norse settlers in Iceland, 225 «. ;
pilgrims land in Cornwall, 257.
Irruaith, 223 w.
Irthlingborough. See Hyrtlingberi,
Isannantia. See Isannavantia.
Isannavantia (Isannantia), 109, See
also Bannaventa and Bannarento.
Isam^ 75 n.
Isbister, 227//.
Isca. See Caerleon.
Isca Dumnuniorum. See Exan-
ceastre.
Isenan awelm, 215.
Iska (Exeter). See Exanceastrt.
/f>^a-mouth. See Exanmuthan.
Iskalis, 9«., 104.
Isotirion {Isubrigantum, Isurium,
[01, 102,
'rj
106,
Aldborough),
108.
Isubrigantum. See Iscurion.
Isurium. See Isourion.
Itchington, 108 n.
lihtige, 1 1 1 «.
Ition (ikion, Iction), 74, 90.
Itios river-mouth, the (?the Sound
of Sleat), 92, 93.
Ituna, the river, 93, 95, 120 n.
IiidoH'byrig {luthan bin'g), 179;/.;
328
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Wulstan imprisoned in, 275,
276 n. See Geoda, Ythanceaster.
"luuerna" (Hiberni,Iverna, Ivernia,
Evernili Patria, Eriu, Erinn,
Iwerddon, Ireland), 72 «., 73, 89.
Ivarr (Ingo-mar), 245 n.
Ivel, 141, 221 «.
Ivel-Chester (Ilchester), 141, 221 «.
Iverna, Ivernia. See luuerna.
Ivorne. See Eb(ur)odouron.
Iwerddon. See luuerna.
Iwys. See Gewis.
Jsickmenis, 158 «.
Jarls, flight of the, 224 n.
Jedburgh. See Ged-burgh.
Jemeppe, 69.
Joseph of Arimathea, 197.
Judoc, St. {/ud-gual,/usf), 261 n.
Jud-gual. See St. Judoc.
Jugantes (Evigantes) , State of the, 30.
Jutes, the, 128, 131 «., 140.
futhan-hirig. See ludanbyrig.
Kaer Septon. See Sceftesburg.
Kaer vudei (? Woodchester), 123 «.
Kaianganoi^ promontory of the, 93.
Kaianganoi {Ganganoi), 95.
Kaili-os, the mouth of the (? Port
Gordon), 97.
Kainos Limen (? Portsmouth), 97.
See also Fo7'tesmutIia.
Kairlium, 153. See Chester and
Dumbarton.
Kalagon. See Calacum.
Kaledofr. See Cen-defrion.
Kaledonian forest, the, 100. See
also Caledonia.
Kaledonioi, the, 100, loi. See also
Caledonia.
Kalentyre. See Calat-ria.
Ka^noulodounon. See Camulodu-
num.
Kantioi (Kent), 103, 104.
Kantion, Noukafttion, the promon-
tory (Kent),? Beachy Head, 89, 97.
Kari (Gary), 201.
KarnSnakai. See Kerones.
KarnSnes. See Kerones.
Karreg Tylhvaen, 157 n.
Kassiterides (tin-islands), 89.
Kassiteros, See Kattiteros.
Katouraktonion. See Cataracta.
Kattiteros {Kassiteros), 89.
Katvellaunoif the. See Catu-Vel-
launi.
''Keiths," in Scotland, 86«., 181 «.
Kelda ( = a well), 2 26 n.
Kelly. See Ceollach.
Kelvedon. See Canonio.
Kemesegia (Kempsey), 289.
Kempsey. See Kentesegia.
Kempsford. See Cynemseres ford.
Ken, the prefix, 86 n.
Kenchester (Hereford), 54. See also
Magnis.
Kenetbury (Kintbury), 11, 284.
Keneth, King of Scotland, 206.
Kenion, the (? Fowey), 96.
Kennet. See Cunetio.
Kenstey, Bishop of Dinnurrin, 193 n.
Kent, evidence of Jutish place-names
in, 226 «. ; peace bought in East
Kent for ^3,000, 285.
Kent. See Kantioi.
Kentisbury. See Chentis-beria.
Kenver, 216.
Ker ( = horn), the root, 183 n.
" Kernes and Gallowglasses,"
(Shakespeare), 139 «.
Kernwy, 203.
Kerones, the (Kreones, Karndnes,
Karnonakai), 100.
Kerriemuir, 270.
Kesteven. See Ket-stefena.
Ket-stefena (Kesteven), 181 «.
Keynor, 143 «.
Kidderminster, 150 n. (of. also Welsh
Cyt-tir = a common).
Kiddermore Green, 1 50 w.
Kit-, in place-names, 190.
Kilda, St., 226 «.
Kilpatrick, 190.
Kimble, 12.
Kimbolton, 12.
Kind-street, 102, 106 «., 107 «.
King Lear (Shakespeare), 66.
Kingston. See Cinges-tune.
Kinnaird's Head, 97.
Kinross. See *'Fif and Fothrif".
Kintbury. See Kenetbury.
" Kinver." See Cynibre.
Kirkby Thore. See Braboniaco.
KirkmtuUoch, 52.
INDEX
329
"Kirkja," use of word by Norse-
men, 226.
Kirknewton, carved sarcophagus at,
168.
Kirtlington. See Kyrtlingtun.
Kits Cotty-house, 140.
Kjarr, 231.
Kleit-r, 16.
Klota (Clyde), 92.
Knoyle. See Cunugl.
Kolanika {Colanica), 99.
Korio, 99.
Koritavo {Koritanot), the, 103.
Kornavioi, the, 100, loi, 103.
Kreones. See Kerones.
" Kunka-Cester." See Congavata.
Kyrtlingtun (Kirtlington), 279.
Laam (in Lamhythe, Lampyttas),
208.
Lackford, 108 «.
Lactodoro (Lacto-duro, Lactodrodo,
Lado-donim, Tofeceaster, Tow-
cester), 106, 107 «., 109, 266, 267.
Laech. See ledh.
Lagecio. See Legeolio.
Lagny. See Latiniacuvi.
"Lakehead" (Penne locos), 109 it.
Lamb-ay, 229 n.
Lambeth. See Lambhythe.
Lambhythe, Lamhytha (Lambeth),
289. See also Latn seat has and
Laam.
Lampyttas (loam-pits), 208.
Lamseathas (Loampits), 290 ;/. See
also Lambhythe.
"Lanchers" at Worth Maltravers,
298 «.
Lanchester (Durham), 53.
Lanchester north of Binchester, 114.
Lanchester on the Lune, 114,
Lancing y 142 «., 143 w. See also
Wlencing.
Landford. See Leonaford.
Landndma B6c, 225 n.
LMndschar die, 298 n.
Landscor-ford, 298 «.
Land'scoru, 298 «.
Land's End. See Penwiht Steort,
Penbryn Penwaeth.
Langatreo (Longtree H.), 293 n.
Lange herga, 241 «.
Zflw/iJ^fl/ (Lantocai), 198, 201.
Larkbear. See Laurocabera,
Lasket in Cumberland, 181 «.
Lasket grove, 181 «.
Lastingaeu (Lastingham), 179, 180.
Lastingham. See Lastingaeu.
Latch, 231.
Latin words borrowed from, n8.
Latiniacuni (Lagny), 177-
Laurocabera (Larkbear), 241 «.
Lausiac of Palladius quoted, 172 n.
Lavatres, Lavatris, Levatris, io6,
108, 109 «., 114.
Lavingtunes dices, 214.
Layer Marney. See Legra marany.
Lea, the river. See Lygan.
Leach, 231.
lead, 82 «.
iedh in place-names, 145 «., 177 n.
Lech, 231.
Le(c)to-cet-um. See [L]Eto-cet-
um.
Ledecestre. See Ligera Ceastre.
Leden-ioxd (Leadon), 301, 282 «.
Leeds. See Loidis.
Leek, 231.
Legeceastre (Lega Ceaster, Leg-
ceastre, Ligcester, Urbe Legionis,
Carlegion, Chester), 150, 151 ;
battle of Chester (616), and
slaughtering of monks, 1 68 ; West
Chester, 173 «., 259, 262, 277,
283, 298. See also Deva.
Legecio. See Legeolio.
Legeolio (Lagecio, Castleford), 108,
109 n., no.
Ivegions in Britain, 117.
Legra {Legra marany, Layer
Marney), 265 n. See also Ratae.
Leicester. See Ligera Ceastre.
Leighton Buzzard. See Lygtun.
Lein-ster, 229 «.
Leith (Lode), 120.
Leixlip, 2 29«.
Lemanis (Lemannis, Limen - ea,
Lympne, Liminge, Limen wero),
90, 108, 113, 214, 215, 218, 219.
Lemannonion bay (? Loch Fine or
Loch Linhe), 92, 100.
Len-borough. See Lygeanburg.
Leofric, Bishop of Worcester, death
of, 289.
33©
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Leomynstre, Leof minster (Leomin-
ster), 390, 295.
Leonaford (?Landfoid), 249.
-let and gel&t (a junction of roads),
place-names ending in, 189.
Letch, in place-names, 231.
Letewic (Lledewic), 159 «.
Letewicion, 159 «.
LetheccEstrescire . See L igera Ceastre.
[Z] Eto - cet •• ufn {Le{c)to - cet - icm,
Luit-coet, Litcidfeld, Lyccidfelth,
Llwyd coed, Licetfelda, Lichfield),
38, 106, 181 «., 194, 296.
Leucaro (? Loghor), 1 1 2,
Levatris. See Lavatres.
Liber Vitae, the, 200.
Licetfelda. See \^L\Eto-cet'Utn.
Lichfield. See [L']Eto-cet-um.
Licitit. See Caer Ligidit.
Lid, the stream, 282 n.
Lidwiccium (Brittany), 256. See
also Armorica.
Ligera Ceastre {Ligora, Ligara-
ceaster, Letheccestrescire^ Leicester),
264, 274, 304. See also Ratae.
Ligualid. See Lugu-vallium.
Ligures, the, 88.
Limen-ea. See Lemanis.
Limenemouth, 258.
Limen wero. See Lemanis.
Limfin (lime heap), 212.
Liminge. See I^emanis.
"Limit," the (N. Wall), 105, 106 n.
Limnus, See Lemanis.
Lincoln. See Lindocolina,
Lind {Llynn), 16, 170 «.
Lind-Cylne in Kent, 171 «., 275 n.
Lindes farona, 220.'
Lindesige {Lindessef Lindsay), 240,
281.
Lindis, the river, 171 w.
Lindisfari distinct from Lindisfarne,
193 «.
Lindisfam {Medcaut, Inis Metgoit,
Lindisfarena €€) , meaning of name,
170 «., 171 «. ; assigned to Aedan
by Oswald, 174, 178; Cuthbert's
body removed to, 186, 196 ;
attack on the Church, 236.
Lindissi (Lindissa, "Lindis-faro-
rum "), 170 w.
Lindocolina (Lindon, Lindo, Lin-
dum, Lind-Cylene, Lincoln), 16,
99, 103, 108, 109, no, 171, 274,
275 «.
Lindsay. See Lindesige.
Linga Hme (Hayes), 219.
Linhalec, 1 59 n.
Linhe, Loch. See Lemannonion
bay. Also Longos, the river.
Linn. See Lind.
Linn Garan, 185 «.
Linnuis, 150.
Litau, I59«.
Litchfield in Hants. See Lydes-
chulv.
Litherland, 209 «.
Littleborough, See Ageloco.
Litus Fresicum(¥ris\2LVi Shore), 120.
Livermere, 209 «.
Liverpool, 209 w.
Livius Gallus, 67.
Liwellid. See Lugu-vallium.
Lizard, the. See Horca.
Llanaledh (St. Germains), 279 «.
Llancarvan, 34, 129 «. [In Life of
S. Finnian ** Garbayn, alio nomine
Nont " is mentioned along with
a civitas Melboc. Carvan is the
same name as the Ogam Carbagni.l
Llandaff, Book of, names m, 16 1 n.
Lledewic. See Letewic.
Llewelyn, 12 «. See Lugu-Vallium.
Lloegr. See Loegria.
Llwyd coed. See Luit Coyt.
Llyn. See Lind.
loca (in Pynloke, &c.), 197 «.
Lochie, Loch, 92.
Lochlannach (men from fiords),
241 n.
Locrinus, 198.
** Loddera-wyllon," 204.
^^ lodes'" on the Severn, 120, 189.
Lodonia. See Lothene.
Lceck-r, 231.
Loegria (Loycr), 198, 259 «.
Loghor. See Lucaro.
Loidis (Leeds), royal vill in region
of, 170.
Loingseach (Lynch), 122 n.
Londinium (London, Londinio,Lon-
donion, Lunden byrg), 35, 36, 78,
79, 103, 106, 107, 108, 109, no,
141, 242.
INDEX
331
Longae Naves, 122 n.
Longeas, 122 n.
Longmi'nd, 158 w.
Longo-vicio (Longo-vico), 114.
Longos, the river, 92.
Lossiemouth. See Lojca, the.
Lothene (Lothian), i-jo ft., 303,
304.
Lothian. See Lothene.
Loucopibia, 99.
Louenlitton. See Luetensium.
Lougoi, the, 100, 10 1.
Loiiih, 170, 235 «.
Lowdham, 335.
Lowther, the, 109;/.
Loxa, the (Lossiemouth), 97.
Loycr. See Loegria.
Loyt Coyt. See {^L\etocetuvu
Luce-hoy and river, 94.
Lucius and Eleutherus, fable of,
197.
Lucotion, 99.
Lud-ccrce, 235 n.
Luddesdown, 235 «.
Luel, 187 M.
Luetensium {Luentinum, LuentU
non), 103, 288.
Ltigu-dun-um, i^n.
Lugitvalliuin, Lugu-vallum (Caer- |
Ligualid, Liwellid, Carlued, I
Luguvallo, Lugubalia, Carlisle),
12, 13, 71, 106, 108, 137 «., 186,
187 «.
Luit-coet. See [L'jEto-cet-um.
Lunden byrg. See Londinium.
Lune, the, 102, iii «., 115.
Lusebyrge, 218.
Lyccidfelth. See [L']EtO'Cet-um.
Lydd. SeeHlid.
Lydeschulv (Litchfield in Hants),
181 n.
Lydford. See Hlidaford.
Lydney, 20.
Lygan (Lea), the river, 260, 263.
Lygeanburg (Len-borough), 147.
Lygtun (Leighton Buzzard), 265.
Lympne. See Lemanis.
Lynch. See Loingseach.
Lynn. See Lind.
Ma and Maes, 166 n.
MacAlpin, King Kenneth, 84.
Macbeth, King, 297.
MacConkey or Maconochie, 192 n.
Mac Dhuncadh (MacConkey or Ma-
conochie), 192 n.
MacNachten. See Nechtan.
Maeatae. See Maiatai.
Msedham (Medeham), 215.
MjEgla, son of Port, 144.
Mae I, the use of, 82 «.
Mseldun {Afeldufta, Maldon), 263,
281 ».
" Maelmin " (Melmin, Melmun) ,
the royal vill, 168.
Mael-ros (Melrose), 168 «., 190.
Maen, 112 w.
il/<7«z]f«(IsleofMan). SeeMonapia.
Maercrjedes-burn, 143.
Marle-beorg (Marlborough), 303.
Maes-Aleth, 136.
Mats Garmon, 127.
Maes-yvet (Maes Hyveidd, Old
Radnor), 248.
Magen. See Magnis.
Magenasaete. See Magonsete.
Mageo. See Mayo.
Magesatas (Magon-Setum), 287 w.,
288.
Magesitania, 166.
Magh-girginn. See Cirig.
Magio-vinto (Magiovento, Magio-
vinio, Fenny Stratford), 106,
107 ;/., 109, no.
Mag-ith, 1 1 1 «.
Maglone, 114.
Magnis {Magen, Maen, ? Ken-
chester, or Carvoran), 112, 115.
Cf. Magos.
Magnum Monasterium, I24«. See
Whitehom.
Magonsete (Magenasrete), 166.
Magos, 112 n.
Maia, 100, loi.
Maiatai {^Maeatae), the, 52, loo,
loi, 163.
Maine. See Cynomannia.
Mailros, 184.
Maio, 1 01.
Mais, loi.
Malahide Bay, 99.
il/a/a/^j(?Mull),92.
Maldon. See Mreldun.
** Maleventum," 33, 34.
332
BRITISH PLACE-NAMES
Mamble, Momela, Mamele, 268 n.
Mameceaster. See Mancunio.
Mam-ilet, Matn-heilad^ Mam-hilad^
268 n.
Mamucio. See Mancunio.
Man, Isle of. See Monapia.
Manand (Manann), in Cafnpo, 60,
67, 192 n,
Manapia (? on the Wexford Coast),
68. See also Monapia.
manau Guodoton {Manaw of the
Gododin or Votadinoi), 60, 67.
Mancetter. See Manduesedo.
Manchester. See Mancunio.
Mancunio (Mancunium, Mame-
ceaster, Manchester), 26, 102, 106,
III, 268.
Mandu in personal names, 107 n.
Manduesedo (Mancetter), 106, 107 «.
Manna (Isle of Man). See Monapia .
Map, Walter, 65.
Maple-durham, 187 n.
Maran, the river. See Memeran.
Mara-scalc (now Marshall), 83 n.
Margiduno (Castle Hill), 109, no.
Maridu7ion (Maridunum, Muriduno,
Carmarthen), 29, 103, 104, 112,
113.
Marlborough, 113.
Marshall. See Mara-scalc.
Marten. See Meretune.
Martenesie, 206.
Martin, St., episcopal See and
Church of, 124 n.\ oratory of,
215.
Mascusius, " High Admiral," 206.
Maserfelth (? Oswestry, Croes-os-
wald, Bellum Cochboy, " Wane-
loc," ?Wenloc), i74«.
Mathuedoi, Count of Poher, 160.
Maxim Guletec, 56.
Maxima Caesariensis (Province of
Britain), 71.
" Mayo of the Saxons," 180.
Meanuari {Meaniuard)^ East and
West Meon and Meonstoke, 182.
Mearcfleot, 217,
Meare. See Ferramere.
Meave, Queen (Mab, Medb., Medvii
in Ogam). See Pit Meave.
Medcaut. See Lindisfarn.
Medeshamsted {Medeshamstede, Me-
des-wael, Peterboro), i*j6n., 177,
244, 277; relics transferred to,
278.
Medewsegan (Med way), 285 «.
Mediolano {Mediolanion, ? Whit-
church), 102, 103, 106, 107 «.,
III.
meends, in place-names, 158 «.
Megas Limen (? Poole Harbour), 96.
Meguuines paeth, 214.
Meicen, battle of, i73«.
Melandra Castle^ 116.
Meldu7ia. See Mseldun.
Melrose. See Mael-ros.
Melvas, King, 153.
Memeran (Maran), the river, 263.
Menapia, Menapioi (in the Low
Countries), 60, 67, 90. See also
Monapia.
Mendip. See Munidop.
Menevia (St. Davids), 67. See also
Monapia.
vienez, mene, menedh^ 158 «.
Meoles at Shrewsbury, 231.
Meols {Mel-r), 231.
Meosgelegeo, 216.
Merantun, 195.
Meresig {Mereseg, Mersea), 260.
Meretune (Marten), 246 n.
Merlin. See Myrdin.
Merscuuare, 215; (Merscware) of
Romney (Romenal), the, 215,
240.
Mertai, the. See Smertai.
Messappia, early name of Milan, 69.
Metaris estuary, the (" the Wash "),
98.
Meuric (Marius), 137 «. See also
Gwysmeuric.
Mevania, name given by Bede to
Man and Anglesea, 67. See also
Manapia.
Miathi, battle of the. See Maiatai.
MicheW