Celtic toponymy is the study of place names wholly or partially of Celtic origin. These names are found throughout continental Europe,

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The ...

and, latterly, through various other parts of the globe not originally occupied by

Celts The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancien ...

Celtic languages

The

Proto-Indo-European language Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. Its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-European languages. No direct record of Proto-Indo-E ...

developed into various daughter languages, including the

Proto-Celtic language Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, is the ancestral proto-language of all known Celtic languages, and a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. It is not attested in writing but has been partly reconstructed through the comparative method. Proto-Celti ...

. In Proto-Celtic ("PC"), the Proto-Indo-European ("PIE") sound *''p''

disappeared An enforced disappearance (or forced disappearance) is the secret abduction or imprisonment of a person by a state or political organization, or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organi ...

, perhaps through an intermediate *'. After that, languages derived from Proto-Celtic changed PC *''k^w'' into either *''p'' or *''k'' (see:

P-Celtic and Q-Celtic languages The Celtic languages (usually , but sometimes ) are a group of related languages descended from Proto-Celtic. They form a branch of the Indo-European language family. The term "Celtic" was first used to describe this language group by Edward L ...

). In P-Celtic languages, PC *''k^w'' changed into *''p''. In Q-Celtic dialects it developed into /''k''/. P-Celtic languages include the Continental

Gaulish language Gaulish was an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzer ...

and the

Brittonic Brittonic or Brythonic may refer to: *Common Brittonic, or Brythonic, the Celtic language anciently spoken in Great Britain *Brittonic languages, a branch of the Celtic languages descended from Common Brittonic *Britons (Celtic people) The Br ...

branch of Insular Celtic. Common Brittonic is the ancestor of Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Ancient Q-Celtic languages include the Continental Celtiberian and the

Goidelic The Goidelic or Gaelic languages ( ga, teangacha Gaelacha; gd, cànanan Goidhealach; gv, çhengaghyn Gaelgagh) form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages. Goidelic languages historically ...

branch of Insular Celtic. Goidelic is the ancestor of the Gaelic languages

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

and Manx.

Frequent elements

* Celtic *''briga'' 'hill, high place' > Welsh ''bri'' 'honourable, respected' (not directly related to Welsh ''bryn'' 'hill'), Irish ''brí'' 'hill; strength, vigour, significance' *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated'; used as a feminine divine name, rendered Brigantia in Latin, Old Irish Brigit 'exalted one', name of a goddess. * Celtic *''brīwa'' 'bridge' * Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress' > Welsh ''dinas'' 'city' & ''din'' 'fortress', Irish ''dún'' 'fortress' * Celtic *''duro-'' 'fort' * Celtic *''k^wenno-'' 'head' > Brythonic *''penn-'', Welsh ''pen'' 'head, end, chief, supreme', Irish ''ceann'' 'head' * Celtic *''magos'' 'field, plain' > Welsh ''maes'' 'field', Irish ''magh'' 'plain' * Celtic *''windo-'' 'white, fair, blessed' > Welsh ''gwyn/wyn'' / ''gwen/wen'' 'white, blessed', Old Irish ''find'', Irish ''fionn'' 'fair'

Continental Celtic

Austria

Bregenz Bregenz (; gsw, label= Vorarlbergian, Breagaz ) is the capital of Vorarlberg, the westernmost state of Austria. The city lies on the east and southeast shores of Lake Constance, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, between Switze ...

Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( , ; gsw, label= Vorarlbergisch, Vorarlbearg, , or ) is the westernmost state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the ...

, Latin ''Brigantium'' From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) *Wien, English

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, Latin

Vindobona Vindobona (from Gaulish ''windo-'' "white" and ''bona'' "base/bottom") was a Roman military camp on the site of the modern city of Vienna in Austria. The settlement area took on a new name in the 13th century, being changed to Berghof, or now si ...

From Celtic *''windo-'' 'white' (Welsh ''gwyn'') + *''bona'' 'base, foundation' (Welsh ''bôn'' 'base, bottom, stump', Irish ''bun'' 'bottom, base')

Belgium

* Ardennes, Latin ''Arduenna Silva'' From divine name ''

Arduinna In Gallo-Roman religion, Arduinna (also Arduina, Arduinnae or Arduinne) was the eponymous tutelary goddess of the Ardennes Forest and region, thought to be represented as a huntress riding a boar (primarily in the present-day regions of Belgium an ...

'', from Celtic *''ardu-'' 'high' (Irish ''ard'') + Latin ''silva'' 'forest' *

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...

From divine name ''

Gontia Gontia () was a Celtic goddess. She was the tutelary deity of the river Günz, near Günzburg in Germany. She is known from an inscription on a Roman-era altar at Günzburg ( la, Guntia) that reads ''Gontiae / sac(rum) / G(aius!) Iulius / Faventian ...

Czech Republic

Košťany Košťany (; german: Kosten) is a town in Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,200 inhabitants. Administrative parts The village of Střelná is an administrative part of Košťany. Geography Koš ...

, originally ''Costen'', from Celtic ( Cornish) ''costean'' 'tin mine'

France

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

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...

Angers Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the pr ...

* Argentan, Argenton ( Argenton, Lot-et-Garonne, Argenton-les-Vallées, Argenton-l'Église, Argenton-Notre-Dame,

Argenton-sur-Creuse Argenton-sur-Creuse is a commune in the Indre department in central France. Geography Argenton-sur-Creuse lies on the river Creuse, about 28 km southwest of Châteauroux. Argenton-sur-Creuse station has rail connections to Vierzon, Limoges a ...

, Argenton River) *

Arles Arles (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Arle ; Classical la, Arelate) is a coastal city and commune in the South of France, a subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the former province of ...

* Arras *

Autun Autun () is a subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the early Roman Empire by Emperor Augustus as Augustodunum to give a Ro ...

* Bayeux < ''( Civitas) Baiocassensis''; former ''Augustodurum''. ' forum dedicated to

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

* Bourges *

Briançon Briançon (, ) is the sole subprefecture of the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. It is the highest city in France at an altitude of , based on the national definition as a community cont ...

< ''Brigantium'', from Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) * Brive-la-Gaillarde < ''Briva'' 'bridge' * Brives * Caen ( Cahan, Cahon) < ''Catumagos''. From Old Celtic ''catu-'' 'battle' 'fight' 'combat', Old Irish ''cath'' 'battle, battalion, troop', Breton ''-kad'' /''-gad'', Welsh ''cad'' 'combat, troop'; ''mago-'' 'field, plain', Old Irish ''magh''. The general meaning seems to be 'battlefield' *

Cahors Cahors (; oc, Caors ) is a commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitanie Region. The main city of the Lot department and the historical center of the Que ...

Carentan Carentan () is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy in north-western France, with a population of about 6,000. It is a former commune in the Manche department. On 1 January 2016, it was mer ...

< ''Carentomagus'', Idem Charenton, etc. *

Chambord Chambord can refer to: * Chambord (liqueur), a brand of raspberry-flavored liqueur * Château de Chambord, a French ''château'' built in the 16th century * Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, the French commune where the ''château'' is located * Chambord, ...

*Divodurum (Latin), now

Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand ...

Lorraine Lorraine , also , , ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; german: Lothringen ; lb, Loutrengen; nl, Lotharingen is a cultural and historical region in Northeastern France, now located in the administrative region of Gra ...

, from Celtic *''diwo-'' 'god, holy, divine' (Scottish Gaelic ''dia'' 'god') + *''duro-'' 'fort' *

Évreux Évreux () is a commune in and the capital of the department of Eure, in the French region of Normandy. Geography The city is on the Iton river. Climate History In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named ...

< ''(Civitas) Eburovicensis'' ; former ''Mediolanum'' *

Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The holy district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance. ...

, Aisne, Latin ''

Lugdunum Lugdunum (also spelled Lugudunum, ; modern Lyon, France) was an important Roman city in Gaul, established on the current site of Lyon. The Roman city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, but continued an existing Gallic settle ...

Clavatum'' *Lemonum (Latin), now Poitiers,

Vienne Vienne (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Viéne'') is a landlocked department in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It takes its name from the river Vienne. It had a population of 438,435 in 2019.Lillebonne Lillebonne () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in Northern France. It lies north of the Seine and east of Le Havre. In 2019, it had a population of 8,797. History Before the Roman conquest of Gaul, Iuliobon ...

* Limoges *

Lisieux Lisieux () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. It is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland. Name The name of the town derives from the ...

< ''(Civitas) Lexoviensis'' ; former ''Noviomagus'' 'new market', Old Celtic ''noviios'' 'new', ''magos'' 'field, plain'. *

Convenarum (Latin), now

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (, literally ''Saint-Bertrand of Comminges''; Gascon: ''Sent Bertran de Comenge'') is a commune (municipality) and former episcopal see in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is a member of the ...

Haute-Garonne Haute-Garonne (; oc, Nauta Garona, ; en, Upper Garonne) is a department in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country' ...

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...

, Latin ''Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta

'', from Celtic *''lug-'' '

Lugus Lugus was a deity of the Celtic pantheon. His name is rarely directly attested in inscriptions, but his importance can be inferred from place names and ethnonyms, and his nature and attributes are deduced from the distinctive iconography of Gall ...

' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *''dūnon'' 'fortress' * Nant, Nans * Nantes *

Nanteuil Nanteuil () is a commune of the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. See also * Communes of the Deux-Sèvres department The following is a list of the 256 communes of the Deux-Sèvres department of France. The communes cooperate in th ...

Nanterre Nanterre (, ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. In 2018, the commune had a population of 96,807. The eastern part of Nanterre, bordering t ...

*Noviomagus Lexoviorum (Latin), now

Calvados Calvados (, , ) is a brandy from Normandy in France, made from apples or pears, or from apples with pears. History In France Apple orchards and brewers are mentioned as far back as the 8th century by Charlemagne. The first known record of Nor ...

*Noviomagus Tricastinorum (Latin), now

Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux (; oc, label= Vivaro-Alpine, Sant Pau de Tricastin), sometimes known as -en-Tricastin, is a commune, an administrative region, in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Name The settlement is attested as ''Aug ...

Drôme Drôme (; Occitan: ''Droma''; Arpitan: ''Drôma'') is the southernmost department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. Named after the river Drôme, it had a population of 516,762 as of 2019.

Noyon Noyon (; pcd, Noéyon; la, Noviomagus Veromanduorum, Noviomagus of the Veromandui, then ) is a commune in the Oise department, northern France. Geography Noyon lies on the river Oise, about northeast of Paris. The Oise Canal and the Cana ...

Oise Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,41 ...

, Latin ''Noviomagus Veromanduorum'', from Celtic *''nowijo-'' 'new' (Welsh ''newydd'') + *''magos'' 'field, plain' *

Oissel Oissel () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France. Geography A suburban and light industrial town situated by the banks of the river Seine, just south of Rouen at the junction of the D18 and the ...

, Oisseau-le-Petit, several Ussel, etc. *

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

Arausio Orange (; Provençal: ''Aurenja'' or ''Aurenjo'' ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is about north of Avignon, on the departmental border with Gard, which follows th ...

, a water god *

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

< Parisii (Gaul), a Celtic tribe spanning the Seine locally *Périgueux * Pierremande < ''Petromantalum'' < ''petro-matalo-'' 'four road' = 'crossing' * Rennes * Rouen < ''Rotomagus'', sometimes ''Ratómagos'' or ''Ratumacos'' (on the coins of the '' Veliocassi'' tribe). It can be ''roto-'', the word for 'wheel' or 'race', cf. Old Irish ''roth'' 'wheel' 'race' or Welsh ''rhod'' 'wheel' 'race'. ''Magos'' is surer here : 'field', 'plain' or later 'market' cf. Old Irish ''mag'' (gen. ''maige'') 'field' 'plain', Old Breton ''ma'' 'place'. The whole thing could mean 'hippodrome', 'racecourse' or 'wheel market'. *Samarobrīva (Latin), now

, Somme, = "Bridge on the

iver Iver is a large civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. In addition to the central clustered village, the parish includes the residential neighbourhoods of Iver Heath and Richings Park. Geography, transport and economy Part of the 43-square- ...

Somme": River name ''Samara'' + Celtic *''brīwa'' 'bridge'. *

Vandœuvres Vandœuvres is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Geography Vandœuvres has an area, , of . Of this area, or 39.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 5.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 55.1% is settled ( ...

, Vendeuvre < ''vindo-briga'' 'white fortress' *

Verdun Verdun (, , , ; official name before 1970 ''Verdun-sur-Meuse'') is a large city in the Meuse department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital ...

'', Latin "Virodunum" or "Verodunum", second element from Celtic *''dūnon'' ''fortress''. * Vernon < ''Vernomagus''. There are other Vernons in France, but they come directly from ''Vernō'' 'place of the alder-trees'. 'plain of the alder-trees'. ''uernā'' 'alder-tree', Old Irish ''fern'', Breton, Welsh ''gwern'', dial. French ''verne'' / ''vergne''. * Veuves, Voves, Vion

Germany

Alzenau Alzenau (; until 31 December 2006 officially ''Alzenau i.UFr.'') is a town in the north of the Aschaffenburg district in the '' Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Until 1 July 1972, Alzenau was the dist ...

From Celtic ''alisa'', s.f., '

alder Alders are trees comprising the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few sp ...

'. (Compare the modern

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Erlenbach) and

Old High German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...

(OHG) ''aha'', s.n., 'flowing water'. *de Amarahe (?), a lost river name near Fulda c. 800 CE *Amerbach, a stream near

Groß-Umstadt Groß-Umstadt is a town in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg in the Bundesland (federal state) of Hesse in Germany. It is near by Darmstadt and Frankfurt on the northern border of mountain range Odenwald and is on the south-eastern edge of Rhin ...

, Babenhausen,

Ober-Ramstadt Ober-Ramstadt is a town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hessen, Germany. It is situated 9 km southeast of Darmstadt. As of 2020, its population was 15,127. Geography Location Ober-Ramstadt is situated 9 km away from Darmstadt ...

* Ammer * Ammerbach * Ammergraben, a stream near Harpertshausen * Amorbach, a stream near

Mümling The Mümling is a river of Hesse and Bavaria, Germany. It is long and lends its name to the Mümlingtal (Mümling valley) in Odenwald. In Bavaria it is sometimes called Mömling in official documents. It is a left tributary of the Main. Etymol ...

and the village named after it. * Amorsbrunn * Wald-Amorbach Perhaps from Celtic ''ambara'', 'channel, river'. Compare

Indo-European The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the overwhelming majority of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and the northern Indian subcontinent. Some European languages of this family, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Dutc ...

*''amer-'', 'channel, river' >

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

ἀμάρη (amárē), 'channel'. Or, from Celtic ''amara'', ' spelt, a type of grain'. * Annelsbach a suburb of Höchst *

Ansbach Ansbach (; ; East Franconian: ''Anschba'') is a city in the German state of Bavaria. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the river Fränkische Rezat, ...

Mittelfranken Middle Franconia (german: Mittelfranken, ) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the west of Bavaria and borders the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach; however ...

originally Onoltesbah 837 CE From Celtic *''onno''-, ' ash tree' plus an OHG ''bach'', 'small river'. *Boiodurum, now Innstadt, Passau, Niederbayern First element is Celtic *''Boio-'', tribal name (

Boii The Boii (Latin plural, singular ''Boius''; grc, Βόιοι) were a Celtic tribe of the later Iron Age, attested at various times in Cisalpine Gaul ( Northern Italy), Pannonia (Hungary), parts of Bavaria, in and around Bohemia (after whom ...

), possibly 'cattle-owner' (''cf''. Irish ''bó'' 'cow') or 'warrior'. Second element is Celtic *''duro-'' 'fort'. *

Bonn The federal city of Bonn ( lat, Bonna) is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a population of over 300,000. About south-southeast of Cologne, Bonn is in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ru ...

From Celtic *''bona'' 'base, foundation' (Welsh ''bôn'' 'base, bottom, stump') *

Boppard Boppard (), formerly also spelled Boppart, is a town and municipality (since the 1976 inclusion of 9 neighbouring villages, ''Ortsbezirken'') in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (district) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, lying in the Rhine Gorge, a UNE ...

From Gaulish ''Boudobriga'', "hill of victory". Containing the elements *''boudo-'' 'victory' (Welsh ''budd'' 'gain, benefit') + *''briga'', 'hill'. * Düren, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Latin ''Durum'' From Celtic *''duro-'' 'fort' * Hercynia Silva (Latin), a vast forest including the modern

Black Forest The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is t ...

From Celtic *''(φ)erkunos'' 'oak' or divine name

Perkwunos (Proto-Indo-European: ', 'the Striker' or 'the Lord of Oaks') is the reconstructed name of the weather god in Proto-Indo-European mythology. The deity was connected with fructifying rains, and his name probably invoked in times of drought. In a ...

+ Latin ''silva'' 'forest' *

Kempten im Allgäu Kempten (, (Swabian German: )) is the largest town of Allgäu, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. The population was about 68,000 in 2016. The area was possibly settled originally by Celts, but was later taken over by the Romans, who called the town ' ...

Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...

, Latin ''Cambodūnum'', Celtic ''cambodūnom'', *''cambo-'' 'curved, bent, bowed, crooked', ''dūnon'' 'fortress' *

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Ma ...

Rheinland-Pfalz Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...

, Latin ''Moguntiacum'' From Celtic *''mogunt-'', 'mighty, great, powerful', used as a divine name (see

Mogons Mogons or Moguns was a Celtic god worshiped in Roman Britain and Gaul. The main evidence is from altars dedicated to the god by Roman soldiers. Etymology According to J.T. Koch at the University of Wales, the various alternations of the name ' ...

) * Meggingen From Celtic *''mago-'', 'plain, field' *

Neumagen-Dhron Neumagen-Dhron is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a state-recognized tourism communit ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Noviomagus Trevirorum'' *Noviomagus Nemetum (Latin), now

Speyer Speyer (, older spelling ''Speier'', French: ''Spire,'' historical English: ''Spires''; pfl, Schbaija) is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the river Rhine, Speyer li ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz From Celtic *''nowijo-'' 'new' (Welsh ''newydd'') + *''magos'' 'field, plain' *

Remagen Remagen ( ) is a town in Germany in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler. It is about a one-hour drive from Cologne, just south of Bonn, the former West German capital. It is situated on the left (western) bank of the ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Rigomagus'' or ''Ricomagus'' Second element is from Celtic *''magos'' 'field, plain'. The first may be a variant of Celtic ''rigi- 'king, chief of *touta' *

Tübingen Tübingen (, , Swabian: ''Dibenga'') is a traditional university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer rivers. about one in three ...

Some have seen this

toponym Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

as a hybrid form comprising a Celtic form and a Germanic suffix -''ingen''. This may be so, since between the 2nd and 4th centuries, the area around the present day German university town of Tübingen was settled by a Celtic tribe with Germanic tribal elements mixed in. The element tub- in Tübingen could possibly arise from a Celtic ''dubo-'', s.m., 'dark, black; sad; wild'. As found in the Anglo-Irish placenames of

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...

, Devlin, Dowling,

Doolin Doolin () is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland, on the Atlantic coast. It is southwest of the spa town of Lisdoonvarna and 4 miles from the Cliffs of Moher. It is a noted centre of traditional Irish music, which is played nightly ...

and Ballindoolin. Perhaps the reference is to the darkness of the river waters that flow near the town; if so, then the name can be compared to the English

Tubney Tubney is a small village in Oxfordshire, England (in Berkshire until 1974). It lies just south of the A420 road from Oxford to Faringdon, southwest of Oxford. History Tubney was first mentioned in 955, when it was included in land granted to ...

, Tubbanford, Tub Mead and Tub Hole in England. Compare the late Vulgar Latin ''tubeta'' 'morass', from

Gaulish Gaulish was an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switze ...

. The root is found in

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

''dub'' >

''dubh'', Old Welsh ''dub'' > Welsh ''du'',

Old Cornish Cornish (Standard Written Form: or ) , is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. It is a revived language, having become extinct as a living community language in Cornwall at the end of the 18th century. However, k ...

''duw'' > Middle Cornish ''du'', Breton ''du''

''dubo-'', ''dubis'', all meaning 'black; dark' *

Worms Worms may refer to: *Worm, an invertebrate animal with a tube-like body and no limbs Places *Worms, Germany Worms () is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, situated on the Upper Rhine about south-southwest of Frankfurt am Main. It had ...

, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin ''Borbetomagus'' Second element from Celtic *''magos'', 'plain, field', first perhaps related to Old Irish borb 'fierce, violent, rough, arrogant; foolish'

Hungary

* Hercynium jugum (Latin) From Celtic *''(φ)erkunos'' 'oak' or divine name

+ Latin ''jugum'' 'summit'

Italy

Brianza Brianza (, , lmo, label= Brianzöö dialect, Briànsa) is a geographical, historical and cultural area of Italy, at the foot of the Alps, in the northwest of Lombardy, between Milan and Lake Como. Geography Brianza extends from the ...

, Lombardy, Latin ''Brigantia'' From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) *

Genova Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of G ...

, Liguria, English

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

, Latin ''Genua'' Perhaps from Celtic *''genu-'' 'mouth f a river. (However, this Ligurian place-name, as well as that of ''Genava'' (modern

Geneva , neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier , website = https://www.geneve.ch/ Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...

), probably derive the

Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. Its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-European languages. No direct record of Proto-Indo- ...

root *''ĝenu-'' 'knee', see Pokorny, IE

) *Milano, Lombardy, English

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

, Latin ''

Mediolanum Mediolanum, the ancient city where Milan now stands, was originally an Insubrian city, but afterwards became an important Roman city in northern Italy. The city was settled by the Insubres around 600 BC, conquered by the Romans in 222 BC, and ...

'' Unclear. First element looks like Latin ''medius'' 'middle'. Second element may be Celtic *''landā'' 'land, place' (Welsh ''llan''); or, *''plan-'' > *''lan-'', a Celtic cognate of Latin ''plānus'' 'plain', with typical Celtic loss of /p/. * Belluno, Veneto, Latin ''Bellunum'' From Celtic *Bhel- 'bright' and *dūnon 'fortress'. * Bergamo, Lombardy, Latin ''Bergomum'' From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) *

Brescia Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo ...

, Lombardy, Latin ''Brixia'' From Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'. *

Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...

, Emilia Romagna, Latin ''Bononia'' From Celtic *bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump')

Netherlands

Lugdunum Batavorum Brittenburg was a Roman ruin site west of Leiden between Katwijk aan Zee and Noordwijk aan Zee, presumably identical to the even older Celtic Lugdunum fortress. The site is first mentioned in 1401, was uncovered more completely by storm erosion ...

(Latin), now

Katwijk Katwijk (), also spelled Katwyk, is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland, which is situated in the mid-western part of the Netherlands. The Oude Rijn ("Old Rhine") river flows through the town and into the North Se ...

, Zuid-Holland From Celtic *''lug-'' '

' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + *''dūnon'' 'fortress' * Nijmegen, Gelderland, Latin ''Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum'' From Celtic *''nowijo-'' 'new' (Welsh ''newydd'') + *''magos'' 'field, plain'

Poland

* Lugidunum (Latin), now Legnica,

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

Second element from Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress'

Portugal

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Portū (port) + Cale, the mother goddess of the Celtic people, who armed with a hammer, formed mountains and valleys. She hides in the rocks. Mother Nature. Other names: Cailleach (Calicia/Galiza), Cailleach-Bheur, Beira (three Portuguese Provinces of the Central Mountain Region amounting to Lusitania province). *

Braga Braga ( , ; cel-x-proto, Bracara) is a city and a municipality, capital of the northwestern Portuguese district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality has a resident population of 193,333 inhabitants (in ...

, Braga Municipality, Portugal From Celtic *''bracari-'' after the

Bracari The Bracari or Callaeci Bracari were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the northwest of modern Portugal, in the province of Minho, between the rivers Tâmega and Cávado. After the conquest of the region beginning in 136BC, the Ro ...

Celts. * Bragança, Alto Trás-os-Montes, Portugal From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'divine name, Brigantia'. * Beira From Celtic *''beira-'' Cailleach/ Cale's other name Cailleach-Bheura or Beira, the Celtic Goddess of mountains, water and Winter. Three Portuguese provinces: Beira-Baixa, Beira-Alta and Beira-Litoral * Vale de Cambra, Portugal From Celtic *''cambra-'' 'chamber, room'. *

Conímbriga Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements excavated in Portugal, and was classified as a National Monument in 1910. Located in the civil parish of Condeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova, in the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova, it is situate ...

, Coimbra, Portugal From Celtic *''briga-'' 'rocky height or outcrop'. *

Coimbra Coimbra (, also , , or ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population of the municipality at the 2011 census was 143,397, in an area of . The fourth-largest urban area in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto, and Braga, it is the largest cit ...

Cymru place of the people in fellowship - where the people gathered as in at a fairgrounds. Related to the word Cumberland and Cambria. *

Douro The Douro (, , ; es, Duero ; la, Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province, central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part o ...

, Norte, Portugal From Celtic *''Dur'' 'water'. *

Évora Évora ( , ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. It has 53,591 inhabitants (2021), in an area of 1307.08 km2. It is the historic capital of the Alentejo and serves as the seat of the Évora District. Due to its well-preserved old ...

, Alentejo, Portugal From Celtic *''ebora-'' 'plural genitive of the word eburos (trees)'. * Lacobriga, Algarve, Portugal From Celtic *''Lacobriga-'' 'Lake of Briga'.

Romania

* Băișoara and other sites in

Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...

* Boian in

Sibiu Sibiu ( , , german: link=no, Hermannstadt , la, Cibinium, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'', hu, Nagyszeben ) is a city in Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Ci ...

Boianu Mare Boianu Mare ( hu, Tasnádbajom) is a commune in Bihor County, Crișana, Romania with a population of 1,343 people. It is composed of five villages: Boianu Mare, Corboaia (''Korbolyatelep''), Huta (''Hutatelep''), Păgaia (''Úsztató'') and Rugea ...

Bihor County Bihor County () is a county (județ) in western Romania. With a total area of , Bihor is Romania's 6th largest county geographically and the main county in the historical region of Crișana. Its capital city is Oradea. Toponymy The origin of ...

, villages coming from

Călan Călan (; ; ) is a town in Hunedoara County, Romania. Twelve villages are administered by the town: Batiz (''Batiz''), Călanu Mic (''Kiskalán''), Grid, Nădăștia de Jos (''Alsónádasd''), Nădăștia de Sus (''Felsőnádasd''), Ohaba Streiul ...

city in

Hunedoara Hunedoara (; german: Eisenmarkt; hu, Vajdahunyad ) is a city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southwestern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boș (''Bós''), Groș (''Grós' ...

. * Deva, capital of Hunedoara, originally a city of the Dacians * Galați *

Noviodunum {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009 Noviodunum is a name of Celtic origin, meaning "new fort": It comes from '' nowyo'', Celtic for "new", and '' dun'', the Celtic for "hillfort" or "fortified settlement", cognate of English ''town''. Several places ...

now

Isaccea Isaccea (; tr, İshakçı) is a small town in Tulcea County, in Northern Dobruja, Romania, on the right bank of the Danube, 35 km north-west of Tulcea. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 4,955. The town has been inhabite ...

means "new fortress" nowijo- + dūn-. *

Timiș River Timiș may refer to: *Timiș County, a county in western Romania *Timiș (river), a river in western Romania and Serbia * Ținutul Timiș, a former administrative unit of Romania * Temes County, a former administrative county (comitatus) in the hi ...

Banat Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of T ...

Serbia

Singidunum Singidunum ( sr, Сингидунум/''Singidunum'') was an ancient city which later evolved into modern Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The name is of Celtic origin, going back to the time when Celtic tribe Scordisci settled the area in the 3r ...

(Latin), now ''Beograd'', English Belgrade Second element from Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress'

Slovenia

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

Spain

Asturias and Cantabria * Deva, several rivers in northern Spain, and Pontedeva, Galicia, Spain. From Celtic *''diwā-'' 'goddess; holy, divine' *Mons Vindius (now the

Cantabrian Mountains , etymology=Named after the Cantabri , photo=Cordillera Cantábrica vista desde el Castro Valnera.jpg , photo_caption=Cantabrian Mountains parallel to the Cantabrian Sea seen from Castro Valnera in an east-west direction. In the background, ...

), NW Spain. From Celtic *''windo-'' 'white'. Castile *

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is in the Inner Plateau ('' Meseta central''), near the northern slopes of t ...

, Castile and León, Spain, Greek '' Segoubía''. From *''segu-'', conjectured to be Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (

theories A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research. Theories may be ...

). Galicia *

Tambre Tambre is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about north of Venice and about east of Belluno. Tambre borders the following municipalities: Aviano, Barcis, Budoia, Caneva, Chies d' ...

, a river in

Galicia (Spain) Galicia (; gl, Galicia or ; es, Galicia}; pt, Galiza) is an autonomous community of Spain and historic nationality under Spanish law. Located in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, it includes the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, a ...

, Latin ''Tamaris''. Possibly from Celtic *''tames-'' 'dark' (''cf''. Celtic *''temeslos'' > Welsh ''tywyll'' 'darkness'). Other theories. *

O Grove O Grove (alternative spelling: ''Ogrobe'') is a municipality belonging to the province of Pontevedra, in Galicia, Spain. A peninsula that faces the Atlantic Ocean and the shores of O Salnés valley, enclosed by the southern Galician estuaries, ...

, Galicia, Spain, Medieval Latin ''Ogrobre'' 912. From Celtic *''ok-ro-'' 'acute; promontory' and Celtic *''brigs'' 'hill'. * Bergantiños, Galicia, Spain, Medieval Latin ''Bregantinos'' 830. From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated', or divine name Brigantia, or from Celtic *brigantīnos 'chief, king'. * Dumbría, Galicia, Spain, Medieval Latin ''Donobria'' 830. From Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress' + Celtic *brīwa 'bridge'. *

Val do Dubra Val do Dubra is a municipality in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain in the Province of A Coruña. It belongs to the comarca of Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest cit ...

and Dubra River, Galicia. From Celtic *''dubr-'' 'water', *''dubrās'' 'waters' (Welsh ''dwfr''). *

Monforte de Lemos Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo. As of 2017 it had a population of 18,783. Location Monforte de Lemos i ...

(region), Galicia, Spain, Latin ''Lemavos'', after the local tribe of the ''Lemavi''. From Celtic *''lemo-'' 'elm'. * Nendos (region), Galicia, Spain, Medieval Latin ''Nemitos'' 830. From Celtic *''nemeton'' 'sanctuary'. *

Noia Noia () is a town and municipality in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It is the capital of the comarca with the same name. It has a population of 14,947 inhabitants (2010),Swiss Plateau The Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau (german: Schweizer Mittelland; french: plateau suisse; it, altopiano svizzero) is one of the three major landscapes in Switzerland, lying between the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Alps. It covers about 30% of ...

, has many Celtic (

) toponyms. This old layer of names was overlaid with Latin names in the

Gallo-Roman Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...

period, and, from the medieval period, with Alemannic German and Romance names. For some names, there is uncertainty as to whether they are Gaulish or Latin in origin. In some rare cases, such as Frick, Switzerland, there have even been competing suggestions of Gaulish, Latin and Alemannic etymologies. Examples of toponyms with established Gaulish etymology: *

Solothurn Solothurn ( , ; french: Soleure ; it, Soletta ; rm, ) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. It is located in the north-west of Switzerland on the banks of the Aare and on the foot of the Weissens ...

, from ''Salodurum''. The ''-durum'' element means "doors, gates; palisade; town". The etymology of the ''salo-'' element is unclear. *

Thun , neighboring_municipalities= Amsoldingen, Heiligenschwendi, Heimberg, Hilterfingen, Homberg, Schwendibach, Spiez, Steffisburg, Thierachern, Uetendorf, Zwieselberg , twintown = , website = www.thun.ch Thun (french: Thou ...

, Bern: ''dunum'' "fort" * Windisch, Aargau, Latin ''

Vindonissa Vindonissa (from a Gaulish toponym in *''windo-'' "white") was a Roman legion camp, vicus and later a bishop's seat at modern Windisch, Switzerland. The remains of the camp are listed as a heritage site of national significance. The city of B ...

'': first element from *''windo-'' "white" *

Winterthur , neighboring_municipalities = Brütten, Dinhard, Elsau, Hettlingen, Illnau-Effretikon, Kyburg, Lindau, Neftenbach, Oberembrach, Pfungen, Rickenbach, Schlatt, Seuzach, Wiesendangen, Zell , twintowns = Hall in Tirol (Austria ...

, Zürich, Latin '' Vitudurum'' or ''Vitodurum'', from ''vitu'' "willow" and ''durum'' *

Yverdon-les-Bains Yverdon-les-Bains () (called Eburodunum and Ebredunum during the Roman era) is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district. The population of Yverdon-les-Bains, , wa ...

, from ''Eburodunum'', from ''eburo-'' " yew" and ''dunum'' "fort". *

Zürich , neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon , twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco Zürich ...

, Latin '' Turicum'', from a Gaulish personal name ''Tūros'' * Limmat, from ''Lindomagos'' "lake-plain", originally the name of the plain formed by the

Linth The Linth (pronounced "lint") is a Swiss river that rises near the village of Linthal in the mountains of the canton of Glarus, and eventually flows into the Obersee section of Lake Zurich. It is about in length. The water power of the Lin ...

and

Lake Zurich __NOTOC__ Lake Zurich (Swiss German/ Alemannic: ''Zürisee''; German: ''Zürichsee''; rm, Lai da Turitg) is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zürich. Depending on the context, Lake Zurich or ''Zürichsee'' can be used to ...

Insular Celtic

Goidelic

England

Place names in England derived partly or wholly from Goidelic languages include: * Cambois, Northumberland, possibly from Old Irish ''cambas'' ("bay, creek")Bethany Fox, 'The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland', The Heroic Age, 10 (2007), http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox.html (appendix at http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox-appendix.html); *

Carperby Carperby is a village in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England, in the Yorkshire Dales. It lies west of Leyburn. Etymology The derivation of the villages name is uncertain, but Ekwall believes it be mean Cairpe's settlement ...

, Yorkshire containing the Irish Gaelic given-name ''Cairpe'' *

Dovenby Dovenby is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Bridekirk, in the Allerdale district, in the county of Cumbria, England. It is on the A594 road and is north west of Cockermouth, east of Dearham, east of Maryport, north ea ...

, from personal name Dufan of Irish origin (OIr 'Dubhán') * Dunmallard, Cumberland, possibly from Middle Irish ''*dùn-mallacht'' ("fort of curses") *

Fixby Fixby is a suburb in north-west Kirklees bordering neighbouring Calderdale and is traditionally part of Huddersfield in the English county of West Yorkshire. Fixby is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The name "Fixby" derives from the Gaelic Irish ...

, from the Gaelic Irish personal name Fiach *

Glassonby Glassonby is a small village and civil parish in the Eden Valley of Cumbria, England, about south south east of Kirkoswald. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 314, decreasing marginally to 308 at the 2011 Census. There is a m ...

, from the Irish personal name Glassan *

Liscard Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Sh ...

, Cheshire, possibly from Irish Gaelic ''lios na carraige'' meaning "fort of the rock".A. D. Mills, ''A Dictionary of British Place Names'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v. *

Malmesbury Malmesbury () is a town and civil parish in north Wiltshire, England, which lies approximately west of Swindon, northeast of Bristol, and north of Chippenham. The older part of the town is on a hilltop which is almost surrounded by the upp ...

, from the Irish founder of the abbey Máel Dub * Melmerby, Yorkshire, from the Old Irish personal name Máel Muire Place names that directly reference the Irish include

Irby Irby may refer to: * Irby (surname), a list of people * Irby, Merseyside, England, a village * Irby, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community * Irby, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community * Irby in the Marsh, Lincol ...

Irby upon Humber Irby upon Humber or Irby-on-Humber is a small village and (as just Irby) a civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. The village is situated on the A46 road, south-west from Laceby. Village population at the 2001 census was 124, in ...

, Ireby and Ireleth.

Ireland

The vast majority of placenames in

are anglicized

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

names.

Scotland

The majority of placenames in the

Highlands Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau. Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to: Places Albania * Dukagjin Highlands Armenia * Armenian Highlands Australia *Sou ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

(part of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

) are either

or anglicized Scottish Gaelic. Gaelic-derived placenames are very common in the rest of mainland

also.

Pictish Pictish is the extinct Brittonic language spoken by the Picts, the people of eastern and northern Scotland from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages. Virtually no direct attestations of Pictish remain, short of a limited number of geographica ...

-derived placenames can be found in the northeast, while Brythonic-derived placenames can be found in the south.

Isle of Man

The majority of placenames on the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

(a Crown dependency) are Manx or anglicized Manx.

Brythonic

England (excluding Cornwall)

Evidence for a Celtic root to place names in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

is widely strengthened by early monastic charters, chronicles and returns: examples relate to Leatherhead and Lichfield. To describe a place as of the Celts, the Old English '' wealh'' becoming ''Wal/Wall/Welsh'' is often used. This was the main Germanic term for Romano-Celtic peoples, such as the

Britons British people or Britons, also known colloquially as Brits, are the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the British Overseas Territories, and the Crown dependencies.: British nationality law governs mod ...

. Such names are a minority, but are widespread across England. For example, a smattering of villages around the heart and east of

The Fens The Fens, also known as the , in eastern England are a naturally marshy region supporting a rich ecology and numerous species. Most of the fens were drained centuries ago, resulting in a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a ...

hint at this:

West Walton West Walton is a village and civil parish in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk District of Norfolk, England. The parish of West Walton, in the 2001 Census, had a population of 1,659, increasing to 1,731 at the 2011 Census. History The name Wes ...

Walsoken Walsoken is a settlement and civil parish in Norfolk, England, which is conjoined as a suburb at the northeast of the town of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. The parish of Walsoken in the 2001 census, had a population of 1,484 rising slig ...

, and the Walpoles indicate their continued presence. Nearby

Wisbech Wisbech ( ) is a market town, inland port and civil parish in the Fenland district in Cambridgeshire, England. In 2011 it had a population of 31,573. The town lies in the far north-east of Cambridgeshire, bordering Norfolk and only 5 miles ...

, King's Lynn and

Chatteris Chatteris is a market town and civil parish in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely. The town is in the North East Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency. The parish of C ...

have Celtic topographical elements. * Arden (forest of), Warwickshire From Celtic *''ardu-'' 'high' (Irish ''ard'') * Avon (river), Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Somerset * Avon (river), Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset * Avon (river), Northamptonshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Gloucestershire * Avon or Aune (river), Devon From Brythonic *''abona'' 'river' (Welsh ''afon'') *

Axe An axe ( sometimes ax in American English; see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a weapon, and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has ma ...

(river), Devon/Dorset *

(river), Somerset *

Axminster Axminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of the county of Devon in England. It is from the county town of Exeter. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Ax ...

, Devon *

Axmouth Axmouth is a village, civil parish and former manor in the East Devon district of Devon, England, near the mouth of the River Axe. The village itself is about inland, on the east bank of the Axe estuary. The parish extends along the estuary ...

, Devon From Celtic *''iska'' 'water' (Irish ''uisce'') * Brean, Somerset * Bredon, Worcestershire *

Breedon on the Hill Breedon on the Hill is a village and civil parish about north of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in North West Leicestershire, England. The parish adjoins the Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes ...

, Leicestershire *

Brewood Brewood is an ancient market town in the civil parish of Brewood and Coven, in the South Staffordshire district, in the county of Staffordshire, England. Located around , Brewood lies near the River Penk, eight miles north of Wolverhampton c ...

, Staffordshire *

Brill Brill may refer to: Places * Brielle (sometimes "Den Briel"), a town in the western Netherlands * Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village in England * Brill, Cornwall, a small village to the west of Constantine, Cornwall, UK * Brill, Wisconsin, an un ...

, Buckinghamshire First element from Celtic *''briga'' 'hill' * Brent (river), Greater London * Brentford, Greater London From Celtic *''brigant-'' 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia) * Bryn, Greater Manchester Derived from Welsh ''bryn'', 'hill'. *

Camulodunum Camulodunum (; la, ), the Ancient Roman name for what is now Colchester in Essex, was an important castrum and city in Roman Britain, and the first capital of the province. A temporary "strapline" in the 1960s identifying it as the "oldest re ...

(Latin), now

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colch ...

, Essex From *''kamulos'' '

Camulus Camulus or Camulos is a Celtic deity who was identified with Mars via '' interpretatio romana''. Camulus was an important god of Roman Britain and Gaul, especially among the Belgae and the Remi, a Gaulish people living in the region that is ...

' (divine name) + Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress' *

Creech St Michael Creech St Michael is a village and civil parish in Somerset, three miles east of Taunton in the Somerset West and Taunton district. The parish straddles the M5 motorway and includes several scattered settlements. The village of Creech St Michael ...

, Somerset *

Crewkerne Crewkerne ( ) is a town and electoral ward in Somerset, England, southwest of Yeovil and east of Chard all in the South Somerset district. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Coombe, Woolminstone and Henley – and b ...

, Somerset *

Crich Crich is a village in the English county of Derbyshire. The population at the 2001 Census was 2,821, increasing to 2,898 at the 2011 Census (including Fritchley and Whatstandwell). It has the National Tramway Museum inside the Crich Tramway V ...

, Derbyshire *

Cricket St Thomas Cricket St Thomas is a parish in Somerset, England, situated in a valley between Chard and Crewkerne within the South Somerset administrative district. The A30 road passes nearby. The parish has a population of 50. It is noted for the historic ...

, Somerset *Crickheath, Shropshire *

Cricklade Cricklade is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in north Wiltshire, England, midway between Swindon and Cirencester. It is the first downstream town on the Thames. The parish population at the 2011 census was 4,227. History Cricklade ...

, Wiltshire First element from Brythonic *''crüg'' 'hill'Mills, AD. ''Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names''. Oxford University Press, 1991. (Irish ''cruach'') * Crewe, Cheshire From Old Welsh *''criu'' 'river crossing' * Dever (river), Hampshire *Deverill (river), Wiltshire *

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...

, Latin ''

Dumnonia Dumnonia is the Latinised name for a Brythonic kingdom that existed in Sub-Roman Britain between the late 4th and late 8th centuries CE in the more westerly parts of present-day South West England. It was centred in the area of modern Devon, ...

'' First two possibly linked. Latter from tribal name ''

Dumnonii The Dumnonii or Dumnones were a British tribe who inhabited Dumnonia, the area now known as Devon and Cornwall (and some areas of present-day Dorset and Somerset) in the further parts of the South West peninsula of Britain, from at least the Ir ...

'' or ''Dumnones'', from Celtic *''dumno-'' 'deep', 'world' * Dover, Kent, Latin ''Dubris'' *

Andover Andover may refer to: Places Australia *Andover, Tasmania Canada * Andover Parish, New Brunswick * Perth-Andover, New Brunswick United Kingdom * Andover, Hampshire, England ** RAF Andover, a former Royal Air Force station United States * Andove ...

, Hampshire *

Wendover Wendover is a market town and civil parish at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated at the point where the main road across the Chilterns between London and Aylesbury intersects with the once important road a ...

, Buckinghamshire From Celtic *''dubr-'' 'water', *''dubrās'' 'waters' (Welsh ''dwfr''; Breton ''dour'') *

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county * Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...

, County Durham, Latin ''Dunelm'' First element is possibly ''dun'', ' hill fort' (Welsh ddin, 'fort'). * Durobrivae (Latin), now

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

, Kent and

Water Newton Water Newton is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England. Water Newton lies approximately west of Peterborough. Water Newton is situated within Huntingdonshire which is a non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire as well as being ...

, Cambridgeshire *

Durovernum Cantiacorum Durovernum Cantiacorum was a town and hillfort ( la, oppidum) in Roman Britain at the site of present-day Canterbury in Kent. It occupied a strategic location on Watling Street at the best local crossing of the Stour, which prompted a convergence ...

(Latin), now

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

, Kent First element from Celtic *''duro-'' 'fort'; in ''Dūrobrīvae'', Celtic *''brīwa'' 'bridge' * Eskeleth, North Yorkshire Possibly derived from Brythonic *''iska'', 'water, fish' and *''leith'', 'damp, wet'. *

Exe Exe or EXE may refer to: * .exe, a file extension * exe., abbreviation for executive Places * River Exe, in England * Exe Estuary, in England * Exe Island, in Exeter, England Transportation and vehicles * Exe (locomotive), a British locomotive ...

(river), Devon/Somerset * Nether Exe, Devon * Up Exe, Devon * Exebridge, Devon * Exford, Somerset * Exeter, Devon, Latin ''

Isca Dumnoniorum Isca Dumnoniorum, also known simply as Isca, was originally a Roman legionary fortress for the Second Augustan Legion (established ) in the Roman province of Britannia at the site of present-day Exeter in Devon. The town grew up around this ...

'' *

Exminster Exminster is a village situated on the southern edge of the City of Exeter on the western side of the Exeter ship canal and River Exe in the county of Devon, England. It is around south of the centre of Exeter, and has a population of 3,084 (c ...

, Devon *

Exmouth Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter. In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the 5th most populous settlement in Devon. Histo ...

, Devon * Exton, Somerset *

Exwick Exwick is an historic parish and manor in Devon, England, which today is a north-western suburb of the City of Exeter. Its name is derived from the River Exe, which forms its eastern boundary. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish and an electora ...

, Devon From Celtic *''iska'' 'water' (Irish ''uisce''); second element in ''Isca Dumnoniorum'' (Exeter) is a tribal name (see ''Devon'')

Frome Frome ( ) is a town and civil parish in eastern Somerset, England. The town is built on uneven high ground at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, and centres on the River Frome. The town, about south of Bath, is the largest in the Mendip d ...

from the Brythonic word Frama meaning fair, fine or brisk. *

Leatherhead Leatherhead is a town in the Mole Valley District of Surrey, England, about south of Central London. The settlement grew up beside a ford on the River Mole, from which its name is thought to derive. During the late Anglo-Saxon period, Leathe ...

, Surrey From Brythonic *''lēd-'' rom Celtic *''leito-''+ *''rïd-'' rom Celtic *''(φ)ritu-''= "Grey Ford" *

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincol ...

, Lincolnshire, Latin ''Lindum Colonia'' From Celtic *''lindo-'' 'pool' + Latin ''colonia'' 'colony' *

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

, Latin ''

Mamucium Mamucium, also known as Mancunium, is a former Roman fort in the Castlefield area of Manchester in North West England. The ''castrum'', which was founded c. AD 79 within the Roman province of Roman Britain, was garrisoned by a cohort ...

'' or ''Mancunium'' From Celtic *''mamm-'' 'breast' (referring to the shape of a hill) *Noviomagus (Latin), now

Chichester Chichester () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publi ...

, West Sussex and Crayford, Kent From Celtic *''nowijo-'' 'new' (Welsh ''newydd'') + *''magos'' 'field, plain' * Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire Equivalent with Welsh ''pen-y-gant'' ("summit of the border") or ''pen-y-gynt'' ("summit of the heathen"). *Pengethley, Herefordshire From Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ''pen'') + possibly *''kelli'' 'to stand' (Welsh ''gelli'') * Pencoyd, Herefordshire *

Penge Penge () is a suburb of South East London, England, now in the London Borough of Bromley, west of Bromley, north east of Croydon and south east of Charing Cross. History Penge was once a small hamlet, which was recorded under the name Pence ...

, Greater London *

Penketh Penketh is a civil parish and suburb of Warrington in the Borough of Warrington, Cheshire, England. It is located about west of Warrington town centre. It has a population of 8,699. It is in the historic county of Cheshire. The name is derive ...

, Cheshire From Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ''pen'') + *''koid-'' 'wood' (Welsh ''coed''), or *''cēd-'' 'wood' *Pencraig, Herefordshire * Pendlebury, Greater Manchester * Pendleton, Lancashire * Pendock, Worcestershire First element from Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh ''pen'' 'head, end, chief, supreme') = Irish ''ceann'' 'head', from Proto-Celtic *''k^wenno-'' * Penn, Buckinghamshire * Penn, West Midlands From Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill' (Welsh ''pen'') * Lower Penn, Staffordshire From English ''lower'' + Brythonic *''penn-'' 'hill' *

Penshaw The village of Penshaw , formerly known as ''Painshaw'' or ''Pensher'', is an area of the metropolitan district of the City of Sunderland, in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically, Penshaw was located in County Durham. Name and etymology The ...

, Sunderland From Brythonic *''penn''- 'hill' and possibly p-Celtic *''carr'' 'rocks'. This matches the earliest attestation from c. 1190, Pencher.

Old Sarum Old Sarum, in Wiltshire, South West England, is the now ruined and deserted site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury. Situated on a hill about north of modern Salisbury near the A345 road, the settlement appears in some of the earliest r ...

, Wiltshire, Latin ''Sorviodūnum'' Second element from Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress' *

Segedunum Segedunum was a Roman fort at modern-day Wallsend, North Tyneside in North East England. The fort lay at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall (in Wallsend) near the banks of the River Tyne, forming the easternmost portion of the wall. It was in use ...

(Latin), now

Wallsend Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of Segedunum. This f ...

, Tyne and Wear First element conjectured to be Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (

). Second element is Celtic *''dūnon'' 'fortress'. * Sinodun Hills, south Oxfordshire From Celtic *''seno-'' 'old' + *''dūnon'' 'fortress' * Tamar (river), Devon/Cornwall *

Tame Tame may refer to: *Taming, the act of training wild animals *River Tame, Greater Manchester *River Tame, West Midlands and the Tame Valley * Tame, Arauca, a Colombian town and municipality * "Tame" (song), a song by the Pixies from their 1989 al ...

(river), Greater Manchester *

(river), North Yorkshire *

(river), West Midlands *

Team A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal. As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, " team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to inf ...

(river), Tyne and Wear *

Teme The River Teme (pronounced ; cy, Afon Tefeidiad) rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown, and flows southeast roughly forming the border between England and Wales for several miles through Knighton before entering England in the vicinity of ...

(river), Welsh ''Tefeidiad'', Wales/Shropshire/Worcestershire *

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

(river), Latin

Tamesis The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

Possibly from Celtic *''tames-'' 'dark' (''cf''. Celtic *''temeslos'' > Welsh ''tywyll'' 'darkness'). Other theories. *

Trinovantum Trinovantum is the name in medieval British legend that was given to London, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae'', when it was founded by the exiled Trojan Brutus, who called it ''Troia Nova'' ("New Troy"), which was g ...

(Latin), now London 'Of the

Trinovantes The Trinovantēs (Common Brittonic: *''Trinowantī'') or Trinobantes were one of the Celtic tribes of Pre-Roman Britain. Their territory was on the north side of the Thames estuary in current Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk, and included land ...

', a tribal name, perhaps 'very energetic people' from Celtic *''tri-'' (intensive) + *''now-'' 'energetic', related to *''nowijo-'' 'new' (Welsh ''newydd'') *

Verulamium Verulamium was a town in Roman Britain. It was sited southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, England. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated, being now park and agricultural land, though much has been built upon ...

(Latin), now St Albans, Hertfordshire From Brittonic *''weru-'' 'broad' + *''lam-'' 'hand' rom Celtic *''(φ)lāmā''(Welsh ''llaw'', Irish ''láimh'') * Vindobala (Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland *

Vindolanda Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort ('' castrum'') just south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England, which it originally pre-dated.British windo- 'fair, white, blessed', landa 'enclosure/meadow/prairie/grassy plain' (the modern Welsh word ...

(Latin), Roman fort in Northumberland *

Vindomora Vindomora was an auxiliary fort on Dere Street, in the province of Lower Britain (''Britannia Inferior''). Its ruins, now known as Ebchester Roman Fort, are situated at Ebchester () in the English county of Durham, to the north of Consett and ...

(Latin), Roman fort in County Durham. First element from Celtic *''windo-'' 'white' (Welsh ''gwyn''); in ''Vindolanda'', Celtic *''landā'' 'land, place' (Welsh ''llan''). In ''Vindomora'', second element could be 'sea' (Welsh ''môr'', Irish ''muir''). *

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the north-east and Warrington t ...

, Greater Manchester *

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

, Greek ''Ebōrakon'', Latin ''Eboracum'' or ''Eburacum'' from Celtic *''eburo-'' 'yew'

Scotland

The post-6th century AD Brittonic languages of Northern England and Scotland were

Cumbric Cumbric was a variety of the Common Brittonic language spoken during the Early Middle Ages in the ''Hen Ogledd'' or "Old North" in what is now the counties of Westmorland, Cumberland and northern Lancashire in Northern England and the souther ...

and

. Cumbric place-names are found in Scotland south of the River Forth, while Pictish names are found to the north. *

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

, Aberdeenshire From ''*aber'' ("river mouth"). *

Applecross Applecross ( gd, A' Chomraich) is a peninsula north-west of Kyle of Lochalsh in the council area of Highland, Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1,300 years old and is ''not'' used locally to refer to the 19th century village (which ...

, Ross-shire Formerly ''Abercrosan'', from ''aber'' ("river mouth"). * Arran Possibly equivalent to Middle Welsh ''aran'' ("high place"). *

Aviemore Aviemore (; gd, An Aghaidh Mhòr ) is a town and tourist resort, situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area, within the Highland council area. The town is po ...

, Inverness-shire ''An Aghaidh Mhòr'' in Gaelic, possibly involving Brittonic ''*ag-'' ("a cleft"). *

Ben Lomond Ben Lomond (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn, 'Beacon Mountain'), , is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, it is the most southerly of the Munros. Ben Lomond lies within the Ben Lomond National Me ...

, Stirlingshire ''Lomond'' is equivalent to Welsh ''llumon'' ("beacon"). *

Blantyre Blantyre () is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, and its second largest city, with an enumerated 800,264 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, L ...

, Lanarkshire Equivalent to Welsh ''blaen'' ("extremes, source, front") + ''tir'' ("land"). * Blebo, Fife Formerly ''Bladebolg'', from Brittonic ''*blawd'' ("meal") + ''*bolg'' ("sack"). *Burnturk, Fife Formerly ''Brenturk'', equivalent to Welsh ''bryntwrch'' ("boar hill"). *

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

, Moray Equivalent to Welsh ''dôl'' ("haugh, meadow") + ''gwas'' ("abode"). *Darnaway, Moray Ultimately from ancient Brittonic ''Taranumagos'' ("tunder-plain"). * Daviot, Inverness-shire Perhaps from Brittonic ''*dem-'' meaning "sure, strong". *

Dull Dull may refer to: __NOTOC__ Places * Dull, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, United Kingdom, a village * Dull, Ohio, United States, an unincorporated community * Dull, Texas, United States, a ghost town People * Jack Dull (1930–1995), American prof ...

, Perthshire Equivalent to Welsh ''dôl'' ("haugh, meadow"). *

Ecclefechan Ecclefechan (Scottish Gaelic: ''Eaglais Fheichein'') is a small village located in Dumfries and Galloway in the south of Scotland. The village is famous for being the birthplace of Thomas Carlyle. Ecclefechan lies in the valley of the Mein Wate ...

, Dumfriesshire Possibly equivalent to Welsh ''eglwysfechan'' ("small church"). *

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, Midlothian From ''Din Ediyn'', from a Brittonic form meaning "fort of Ediyn" (c.f. Welsh ''din''). * Esslemont, Aberdeenshire Equivalent to Welsh ''iselfynydd'' ("low hill"). *Glasgo, Aberdeenshire See Glasgow, Lanarkshire below. *

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Lanarkshire Equivalent to Welsh ''glascau'' ("blue hollow"). *

Hebrides The Hebrides (; gd, Innse Gall, ; non, Suðreyjar, "southern isles") are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebr ...

''Ebudes'' in Ptolemy (c. 140 AD), possibly from ancient Brittonic ''ep-'' ("a horse"; c.f. Welsh ''ebol''). Woolf, Alex (2012
''Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin''
Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015. *

Keith Keith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Keith (surname) * Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949) * Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons ...

, Banffshire Equivalent to Welsh ''coed'' ("wood, forest"). *

Lanark Lanark (; gd, Lannraig ; sco, Lanrik) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, the town had a population of 9 ...

, Lanarkshire Equivalent to Welsh ''llanerch'' ("a glade"). *Landrick, Perthshire See Lanark, Lanarkshire. *Lanrick, Perthshire See Lanark, Lanarkshire. *

Lauder The former Royal Burgh of Lauder (, gd, Labhdar) is a town in the Scottish Borders in the historic county of Berwickshire. On the Southern Upland Way, the burgh lies southeast of Edinburgh, on the western edge of the Lammermuir Hills. Etymo ...

, Berwickshire Equivalent either to Middle Breton ''louazr'' or Welsh ''llawedrawr''. *Lendrick, Kinross-shire. See Lanark, Lanarkshire. *Lendrick, Perthshire See Lanark, Lanarkshire. *

Lomond Hills The Lomond Hills (meaning either beacon hills or bare hills), also known outside the locality as the Paps of Fife, are a range of hills in central Scotland. They lie in western central Fife and Perth and Kinross, Scotland. At West Lomond is t ...

, Fife See Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire. *Mayish, Arran Possibly from Brittonic ''maɣes'' ("field"; Welsh ''maes''). * Meggernie, Perthshire From an element cognate with Welsh ''migwernydd'' ("boggy meadow"). * Methven, Perthshire Equivalent to Welsh ''meddfaen'' ("meadstone"). * Midmar, Aberdeenshire Equivalent to Welsh ''mig(n)'' ("bog, swamp") + ''

Marr Marr (Scottish Gaelic: ''Màrr'') is one of six committee areas in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It has a population of 34,038 (2001 Census). Someone from Marr is called a ''Màrnach'' in Scottish Gaelic. Etymology The genesis of the name ''Mar ...

'' (a district name). * Migvie, Aberdeenshire Equivalent to Welsh ''mig(n)'' ("bog, swamp"). *

Mounth The Mounth ( ) is the broad upland in northeast Scotland between the Highland Boundary and the River Dee, at the eastern end of the Grampians. Name and etymology The name ''Mounth'' is ultimately of Pictish origin. The name is derived from ...

, Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire Equivalent to Welsh ''mynydd'' ("mountain, moor, hill"). *

Ochil Hills The Ochil Hills (; gd, Monadh Ochail is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth valley bordered by the towns of Stirling, Alloa, Kinross, Auchterarder and Perth. The only major roads crossing the hills pass through Glen Devon/ Gl ...

, Fife Probably from Common Brittonic ''*okelon'' ("a ridge"). * Orchy, Argyll (river) In Gaelic ''Urchaidh'', from ancient Brittonic ''are-cētia'' ("on the wood"). * Panbride, Angus From ''pant'' ("a hollow"). *Panlathy, Angus From ''pant'' ("a hollow"). *Panmure, Angus Equivalent to Welsh ''pantmawr'' ("big hollow"). *Pendewen, Angus First element is possibly equivalent to Welsh ''pen'' ("head, top, summit, source"). *

Penicuik Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...

, Midlothian Equivalent to Welsh ''pen-y-cog'' ("summit of the cuckoo"). *

Pennan Pennan ( sco, Peenan) is a small village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, consisting of a small harbour and a single row of homes, including a hotel. It is on the north-facing coast and is about one hour's drive from Aberdeen. It was formerly known a ...

, Aberdeenshire Probably equivalent to Welsh ''pen'' ("head, top, summit, source"). *Pennygant Hill, Roxburghshire See Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire, England. *

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

, Perthshire Probably equivalent to Welsh ''perth'' ("bush"). *Pinderachy, Anugs First element is possibly equivalent to Welsh ''pen'' ("head, top, summit, source"). *Pinnel, Fife Possibly equivalent to Welsh ''pen'' ("head, top, summit, source"). * Pulrossie, Sutherland Possibly equivalent to Welsh ''pwllrhos'' ("promontory pool"). * Rattray, Aberdeenshire Equivalent to Welsh ''rhawdtref'' ("ramparts town"). *Urquhart, Ross-shire Formerly ''Airdchartdan'', equivalent to Middle Welsh ''ar-cardden'' ("on the enclosure"). * Yell, Shetland Probably from Common Brittonic ''iâla'' ("unfruitful land, pasture").

Wales

The vast majority of placenames in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

(part of the United Kingdom) are either Welsh or anglicized Welsh.

Cornwall

The vast majority of placenames in

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

are either Cornish or anglicized Cornish. For examples, see List of places in Cornwall.

Brittany

The vast majority of placenames in the west of

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...

(part of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

) are either Breton or derived from Breton. For examples, see :Populated places in Brittany.

Notes

{{reflist * Toponymy Place name etymologies