List of generic forms in place names in the British Isles

This article lists a number of common generic forms in place names in the British Isles, their meanings and some examples of their use. The study of place names is called toponymy; for a more detailed examination of this subject in relation to British and Irish place names, refer to Toponymy in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

List

Key to languages: Bry: Brythonic; C: Cumbric; K: Cornish; I: Irish; L: Latin; ME: Middle English; NF: Norman French; OE: Old English (Anglo-Saxon); ON: Old Norse; P: Pictish; S: Scots; SG: Scots Gaelic; W: Welsh

Term	Origin	Meaning	Example	Position	Comments
aber	C, W, P, K	mouth (of a river), confluence, a meeting of waters	Aberystwyth, Aberdyfi, Aberdeen, Abergavenny, Aberuthven	prefix	See also Aber and Inver (placename elements) Notably absent from northern England.
ac, acc, ock	OE	acorn, or oak tree	Accrington, Acomb, Acton, Matlock
afon, avon	Bry, C, P, W, SG, K, I	river	River Avon, Avonmouth, Avonwick, Glanyrafon		W afon is pronounced "AH-von"; several English rivers are named Avon. In Irish the word, spelled abhann, is mainly (though not exclusively) pronounced OW-en.
ar, ard	I, SG	high, height	Armagh, Ardglass, Ardgay
ash	OE	ash tree	Ashby de la Zouch, Ashton-under-Lyne, Ashton-in-Makerfield
ast	OE	east	Aston, Astley	prefix
a-, ard-, ath-, at-	I, SG	ford	Amulree, Atholl, Attymass, Athlone, Athy	prefix	anglicised from áth. A- is the usual form in Scotland.
auch(en)/(in)-, ach-	I, SG	field	Auchendinny, Auchenshuggle, Auchinairn, Achnasheen, Auchinleck	prefix	anglicised from achadh. Ach- is generally the Highland form, and Auch- the lowland. Auchen- (from Achadh nan ...) means 'field of the ...'
auchter-	I, SG	height, top of something	Auchtermuchty, Auchterarder	prefix	anglicised from uachdar
axe, exe, usk, esk	Bry	*uɨsk, a Common Brittonic root meaning "abounding in fish"	Exeter, River Axe (Devon), River Exe, River Usk, Axminster, River Esk, Lothian		cognate of Irish iasc, meaning "fish", and pysg, the plural word for "fish" in Welsh
ay, y, ey	OE/ON	island	Ramsay, Westray, Lundy, Selsey, Orkney	suffix (usually)
bal, balla, bally, ball	SG, I	farm, homestead or mouth, approach, ford-mouth	Ballachulish, Balerno, Ballymena, Ballinamallard, Ballater, Balmoral, Ballaghaderreen	prefix	anglicised from baile ("settlement") or sometimes also béal átha ("ford-mouth"; Scottish beul-àtha) or bealach ("way")
ban, bannau, bannock, bannog, ben, beinn, beann, binn	I, SG, W	mountain, summit, summits, mountainous	Bannau Brycheiniog, Bannockburn, Benbulbin, Ben Cruachan, Ben Nevis
bane, bain, baun, baan	SG, I	white	Strabane, Kinbain, Cregganbaun, Cairnbaan	suffix	anglicised from bán (Scottish bàn)
beck, bach	OE, ON	stream	Holbeck, Beckinsale, Troutbeck, Beckton, Tooting Bec, Sandbach, Comberbach, Starbeck, Wykebeck		cf. Ger. Bach
beg, begs	SG, I	small	Bunbeg, Carrickbeg, Ardbeg, Killybegs	suffix	Anglicised from beag.
bel-	SG, I	mouth, river-mouth	Belhaven, Belmullet, Belfast	prefix	Anglicised from Irish béal, Scottish beul.
berg, berry	OE/ON	hill (cf. 'iceberg')	Roseberry Topping, Berkhamsted, Sedbergh		In Farnborough (OE Fernaberga), berg has converged toward borough, Ger. berg
bex	OE	boxwood tree	Bexley, Bexhill-on-Sea		The OE name of Bexhill-on-Sea was Bexelei, a glade where box grew.
blen, blaen	C, W	fell, hill, upland	Blencathra, Blencogo, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blantyre
boher	I	road	Bohermore, Boherbue	prefix	Anglicised from bóthar.
borris	I, SG	borough, burgage	Borris, Borrisokane, Borrisoleigh, Borrisdale	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish buiríos, Scottish borghas.
bost	ON	farm	Leurbost	suffix	cf. ster, (bol)staðr; this form is usually found in the Outer Hebrides. Related to Swedish 'bol' as in Bäckebol and Brandsbol, as well the direct cognate Bålsta (Baalsta).
bourne, burn	OE	large brook, large stream, small river	Bournemouth, Melbourne, Bourne, Eastbourne, Ashbourne, Blackburn, Bannockburn, Goulburn		cf. Ger. -born as in Herborn. The word "burn" is still in common use in Scotland in this sense.
boy, bue	I, SG	yellow	Bawnboy, Curraghboy, Boherbue, Buidhe Bheinn, Loch Buidhe	suffix	Anglicisation of Irish buí, Scottish buidhe.
brack, breck	I, SG	mottled, speckled	Ballybrack, Mullaghbrack, Dumbreck	suffix	Anglicisation of breac.
brad	OE	broad	Bradford, Bradshaw	prefix
bre	C, W, K	hill	Bredon, Carn Brea	prefix
bryn; also brin and bren	C, K, P, W	hill	Bryn, Brynmawr	prefix (usually)
bun	I, SG	river bottom, foot, mouth	Bunbeg, Buncrana, Bundoran	prefix (usually)
bury, borough, brough, burgh	OE	fortified enclosure	Aylesbury, Banbury, Canterbury, Dewsbury, Bury, Pendlebury, Newbury, Shrewsbury, Tewkesbury, Glastonbury, Middlesbrough, Edinburgh, Bamburgh, Peterborough, Knaresborough, Scarborough, Jedburgh, Aldeburgh	suffix (usually)	See also -bury and Borough for further information and other uses. Burgh is primarily Northumbrian and Scots. Cf. Nl. and Ger. Burg, also -borg found in Nordic languages.
by, bie	ON	settlement, village	Grimsby, Derby, Whitby, Selby, Crosby, Formby, Kirkby, Helsby, Corby, Wetherby, Lockerbie	suffix (usually) but compare Bicker (the town marsh)	also survives in bylaw and by-election
carden, cardden	C, P, W	enclosure	Kincardine, Cardenden, Pluscarden	suffix
caer, car	C, P, W	camp, fortification	Caerdydd, Caerleon, Carlisle, Caerfyrddin	prefix	See also Caer. Brythonic caer from Latin castrum; cf Chester (OE).
caher, car-, cr-	I	stone fort, city	Cahir, Cahircon, Carluke, Crail, Carmunnock	prefix	Anglicisation of cathair. Unrelated to Welsh caer.
cappa(gh)	I	plot, tillage	Cappagh, Cappamore, Cappawhite	prefix	Anglicisation of ceapach.
carn, cairn, carnedd	K, I, SG, W	cairn (pile of stones, esp. as a burial mound)	Carnmoney, Cairnbaan, Carndonagh, Carneddau, Carn Marth	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish carn, Scottish Gaelic càrn, Welsh carnedd.
carrow, carry, carhoo, caherna, kirrie	I, SG	quarter	Carrowmore, Kirriemuir, Carrowdore	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish ceathrú, Scottish Gaelic ceathramh.
carrig, carrick, craig, creag	I, SG	rock	Carrigaline, Carrick-on-Suir, Creag Meagaidh, Creag Rainich	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish carraig, Scottish Gaelic creag.
cashel	I	stone ringfort	Cashel, Cashelore	prefix	Anglicisation of caiseal.
caster, chester, cester, (c/x)eter	OE (<L)	camp, fortification (of Roman origin)	Lancaster, Doncaster, Gloucester, Caister, Manchester, Chichester, Worcester, Chester, Exeter, Cirencester, Colchester, Tadcaster, Leicester, Towcester, Winchester	suffix
cheap, chipping	OE	market	Chipping Norton, Chipping Campden, Chepstow, Chipping		also as part of a street, e.g. Cheapside. Chippenham is from a personal name.
clare, clair	I, SG	plain, flat	County Clare, Claregalway, Clairinsh, Loch Clair	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish clár, Scottish Gaelic clàr.
clere	Possibly W	Possibly clear or bright	Burghclere, Highclere
clo(u)(gh)	I, SG	stone	Clogher, Ardclough, Clachtoll, Clonakilty		Anglicisation of Irish cloch, Scottish Gaelic cloch, clach.
clon, clone, cloon	I, SG	meadow	Clondalkin, Clones, Clonbeith Castle	prefix	Anglicisation of cluain.
combe, coombe, coom	Bry, I	valley	Barcombe ("Valley of the Britons"), Farncombe, Ilfracombe, Salcombe, Coombe Country Park, The Coombe		usually pronounced 'coo-m' or 'cum', cognate with cwm. Also appears as Irish com, "hollow."
coed	W	wood, forest	Betws-y-coed
cor, corr	I, SG	small round hill	Cornafulla, Cornaclea	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish corr, Scottish còrr.
corry, corrie, curry	I, SG	cirque, corrie	Tubbercurry, Corrie, Coire an t-Sneachda	prefix	Anglicisation of coire (lit.'cauldron').
cot, cott	OE, W	cottage, small building or derived from Bry/W Coed or Coet meaning a wood	Ascot, Didcot, Draycott in the Clay, Swadlincote	suffix
Craig, crag, creag, crogh, croagh	Bry, SG, I	A jutting rock.	Craigavon, Creag Meagaidh, Pen y Graig, Ard Crags		This root is common to all the Celtic languages.
croft	OE	An enclosed field	Seacroft, Ryecroft, Crofton, Wheatcroft		The term is also traditionally used in Scotland as a land designation.
cross, croes	I, SG, E, W	crossroads	Crossmolina, Crossmaglen, Crossmyloof, Crossmichael, Gerrards Cross, Tŷ Croes	prefix	From English cross, Irish crois, Welsh croes.
cul	C, W	narrow	Culcheth	prefix
cul, cool, coul	I, SG	rear, back	Cultra, Coolafancy, Coulport, Culkein	prefix	From Irish cúl, Scottish Gaelic cùl.
cul, cool, cole, cuil	I, SG	nook, corner	Coleraine, Cloonacool, Cuil Bay, Culduie	prefix	From Irish cúil, Scottish Gaelic cùil.
-cum-	L	with	Salcott-cum-Virley, Cockshutt-cum-Petton, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Bardsey cum Rigton, Wilsford cum Lake	interfix	Used where two parishes were combined into one. Unrelated to Cumbric cum.
curra-, currie, curragh	I, SG	bog, marsh	Currie, Curracloe, The Curragh	prefix	Anglicisation of currach.
cwm, cum	W, C	valley	Cwmaman, Cumdivock, Cwmann, Cwmbran, Cwm Head	prefix	cwm in Welsh and cum in Cumbric; borrowed into old English as suffix coombe.
dal	SG, I	meadow, low-lying area by river	Dalry, Dalmellington	prefix	Cognate with and probably influenced by P Dol
dale	OE/ON	valley OE, allotment OE	Airedale i.e. valley of the River Aire, Rochdale, Weardale, Nidderdale	suffix	Cognate with Tal (Ger.), dalr (ON)
dean, den, don	OE - denu	valley (dene)	Croydon, Dean Village, Walkden, Horndean, Todmorden	suffix	the geography is often the only indicator as to the original root word (cf. don, a hill)
der, derry, dor, dore	I, SG	grove, particularly of oaks	Derry, Glandore, Loch Doire nam Mart, Derry Cairngorm	prefix	Anglicised form of doire.
din, dinas	W, K	fort	Dinas Powys, Castle an Dinas, Dinas Dinlle	prefix	homologous to dun; see below
dol	Bry, P, W	meadow, low-lying area by river	Dolgellau, Dull	prefix
don, den	Bry via OE	hill, down	Abingdon, Bredon, Willesden	suffix
dona(gh)-, donny-	I	ancient church	Donnybrook, Donaghadee	prefix	Anglicised form of domhnach.
droghed, drohed, drohid, drochit	I, SG	bridge	Clondrohid, Drogheda, Drumnadrochit	prefix	From Irish droichead, Scottish Gaelic drochaid.
Druineach	SG	uncertain	Airigh nan Druineach, Cladh nan Druineach, Druineachan
drom, drum, drim	SG, I, W, C	ridge, back	Drumchapel, Drumnacanvy, Drumnadrochit, Dundrum, Mindrum	prefix	Gaelic examples are anglicised from druim
dubh, dow, dhu, duff	SG, I	black	Eilean Dubh, Eas Dubh, Dublin	suffix, occasionally prefix	anglicised from dubh
dun, dum, don, doune	SG, I, C, Bry, P	fort	Dundee, Dumbarton, Dungannon, Dumfries, Donegal, Dundalk, Dundrum, Dùn Èideann	prefix	See also Dun. Derived from dùn.
Eagles, Eglos, Eglews, Eccles, Eglwys	W, K(<L), C, P, I, SG	church	Eaglesham, Egloskerry, Ecclefechan, Eccles, Ecclesfield, Eglish, Eaglescliffe, Egglescliffe		from Latin ecclesia, thus cognate to French église and G. eaglais, see also the word ecclesiastic, meaning "of the church".
Eilean	I, SG	island	Eilean Donan, Eilean Sùbhainn, Na h-Eileanan an Iar		Sometimes anglicised to island as a prefix e.g. Island Davaar
ennis, inch, innis, innish, inish, insch	I, SG	island	Inishcrone, Ennis, Inch, Insch, Markinch		From Irish inis, Scottish Gaelic innis.
esk(ra), -iscr-, esker	I	esker	Eskra, Esker Riada, Enniscrone		From Irish eiscir, ridge left by retreat of a glacier during the Last Ice Age.
ey, ay	OE haeg	enclosure	Hornsey, Hay (-on-Wye), Roundhay		unrelated to -ey 'island', below; see also -hay below
ey, ea, eg, eig	OE e.g.	island	Romsey, Athelney, Ely, Dursey Island		cf. Low German -oog as in Langeoog, Dutch -oog as in Schiermonnikoog, Norwegian øy(-a) as in Ulvøya
farran-, fer(r)in-	I, SG	piece of land	Feriniquarrie, Farranfore, Farranree, Ferindonald	prefix	From fearann. Also suggested as an etymology for the Faroe Islands and Lindisfarne.
fer-, fear-	I	men (referring to a tribe or clan)	Fercale, County Fermanagh	prefix	anglicised from fir.
fern, farn(e), phairn	I, SG	alder	Farney, Hill of Fearn, Carsphairn, Ferns	prefix	anglicised from Irish fearn, Scottish Gaelic feàrna.
field	OE	open land, a forest clearing	Sheffield, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Mansfield, Macclesfield, Mirfield, Chesterfield, Murrayfield, Whitefield, Lichfield, Driffield	suffix	cf. Ger. Feld
fin, finn, ven	I, SG	white, holy	Findochty, Finglas, Ventry	prefix	anglicised from fionn, finn
firth, ford	ON, S	fjord, inlet	Burrafirth, Firth of Forth, Solway Firth, Firth of Clyde, Broadford, Milford Haven, Strangford, Waterford		from Norse fjorðr
firth, frith, fridd	OE W	wood or woodland or uncultivated land with small trees and bushes at the edge of cultivated land, especially on hillsides.	Holmfirth, Chapel-en-le-Frith	suffix
fold	OE	pen (enclosure)	Dunsfold, Chiddingfold, Cowfold, Alfold, Slinfold	suffix
ford, forth, ffordd	OE, W	ford, crossing, road	Saltford, Bradford, Ampleforth, Watford, Salford, Castleford, Guildford, Stafford, Chelmsford, Retford, Dartford, Bideford, Knutsford, Burford, Sleaford Penffordd, Hereford (Henffordd in Welsh), Ilford, Stratford, Romford		cf. Ger. -furt as in Frankfurt am Main
fos, foss, ffos	L, OE, W	ditch	River Foss, Fangfoss		Separate from ON foss, force, below
foss, force	ON	waterfall	Aira Force, High Force, Hardraw Force, Janet's Foss		Separate from L/OE fos, foss, above
frack	I, SG	Heather (ling)	Letterfrack, Fraoch Bheinn, Mullach Fraoch-choire	suffix	anglicised from fraoch
gurran(e)	I	grove	Gurrane, Gurranabraher, Gurraneachoel	prefix	From Irish garrán.
garry-, gara-	I, SG	garden	Garryspillane, Garryowen, Garafad	prefix	From Irish garraí, Scottish Gaelic gàrradh.
gate	ON	road	Gate Helmsley, Harrogate
gar(t)	SG	enclosed field	Garscube, Gartmore, Gartness
garth	ON, W	enclosure, small summit or ridge	Aysgarth		cf. Ger. -gart as in Stuttgart
garv, gorv	I, SG	rough	Garvagh, Garvaghey, Garbh Sgeir, Garvellachs	suffix	Anglicisation of garbh.
gee, gwee	I	estuary	Geesala, Gweedore	suffix	Anglicisation of gaoth.
gill, ghyll	ON	ravine, narrow gully	Gillamoor, Garrigill, Dungeon Ghyll
glas, -glass	I, SG	stream	Glasnevin, Douglas, Baltinglass	prefix, suffix	Anglicisation of glas.
glas, -glass, glaze	I, SG, W, C	green, dark grey, pale	Pant Glas, Ballyglass, Lusty Glaze, Eilean Glas	suffix	Irish/Welsh/Cornish/Scottish Gaelic glas.
glen, glyn	SG, I, W	narrow valley, dale	Rutherglen, Glenarm, Corby Glen, Glen Nevis		anglicised from gleann
glind	OE	enclosure	Glynde
gorm	I, SG	blue, dark	Galgorm, Cairngorms	suffix	Irish/Scottish Gaelic gorm.
gort, gor-	I, SG	enclosure, small field	Gort, Gorbals, Gortahork		Irish/Scottish Gaelic gort.
gowt		Water outfall, sluice, drain	Guthram Gowt, Anton's Gowt		First reference gives the word as the local pronunciation of go out; the second as "A water-pipe under the ground. A sewer. A flood-gate, through which the marsh-water runs from the reens into the sea." Reen is a Somerset word, not used in the Fens. Gout appears to be cognate with the French égout, "sewer". Though the modern mind associates the word "sewer" with foul water, it was not always necessarily so.
ham	OE	farm, homestead, [settlement]	Rotherham, Newham, Nottingham, Tottenham, Oldham, Newsham, Faversham, West Ham, Birmingham, Lewisham, Gillingham, Chatham, Chippenham, Cheltenham, Buckingham, Dagenham, Evesham, Wrexham, Dereham, Altrincham, Durham, Billingham, Hexham	suffix	often confused by hamm, an enclosure; cf. Nl. hem, Ger. Heim, and Norwegian heim as in Trondheim.
-hay, -hays, -hayes	OE	area of land enclosed by a hedge	Cheslyn Hay, Walsall; Floyer Hayes, Devon; Northern Hay, Shill Hay, Southern Hay, Northern Hay, Fryers Hay, Bon Hay, all surrounding the City of Exeter, Devon; Moor Hayes, Cullompton, Devon; Billinghay, Lincolnshire	suffix	see also Hayes (surname), sometimes derived from this topological source
hithe, hythe	OE	wharf, place for landing boats	Rotherhithe, Hythe, Erith, Covehithe
holm	ON, OE	holly, island	Holmfirth, Lealholm, Hempholme, Holme, Hubberholme, Lindholme
hope	OE	valley, enclosed area	Woolhope, Glossop		cf. Ger. Hof
Howe	ON haugr	mound, hill, knoll	Howe, Norfolk, Howe, North Yorkshire
hurst, hirst	OE	(wooded) hill	Goudhurst, Herstmonceux, Woodhurst, Lyndhurst		cf. Ger. Horst
illan, illaun, island	I	island	Illanmaster, Islandeady, Illaunloughan	prefix	Irish oileán.
inch	C, I, P, SG	island, dry area in marsh	Ince, Inchmarnock, Insch, Keith Inch		cf. W. ynys. Occurs as Ince and Ins in Northern England.
ing (1)	OE ingas	people of	Reading, the people (followers) of Reada, Spalding, the people of Spald, Nottingham, the people (followers) of Snotta, Wapping, Kettering, Worthing, Dorking, Barking, Epping Woking, Pickering	suffix	sometimes survives in an apparent plural form e.g. Hastings; also, often combined with 'ham'->ingham or 'ton'->ington; 'homestead of the people of' (e.g. Birmingham, Bridlington); cf. Nl. and Ger. -ing(en) as in Groningen, Göttingen, or Straubing
ing (2)	OE	place, small stream	Lockinge	suffix	difficult to distinguish from -ingas without examination of early place-name forms.
ings	OE	marshland	Clifton Ings, Fairburn Ings, Sutton Ings, Far Ings	suffix
ington	OE	In most cases it is ing (1) + ton ('town'), with exceptions	Alwington, Bridlington	suffix meaning "settlement of a tribe or family"	Walter William Skeat writes that in some names only ton is a suffix, while "ing" is a later modification, e.g., of personal names ending in "in", judging from the older spelling of the placename, e.g., Eggington in fact means Ecgwynn's farm. But in some cases the exact origin is unclear.
ingham	OE	ing (1) + ham ('homestead, 'village')	Buckingham, Wolsingham, Sandringham	suffix
inver, inner, ineer	SG, I	mouth of (a river), confluence, a meeting of waters	Inverness, Inveraray, Innerleithen	prefix	cf. aber. Scottish Gaelic ionbhar, Irish inbhear.
keld	ON	spring	Keld, Threlkeld
keth, cheth	C	wood	Penketh, Culcheth	suffix	cf. W. coed
kil, cil, kill, killie	SG, I, W	monastic cell, church	Kilmarnock, Kill, Kilkenny, Kilgetty, Cil-y-coed, Kilburn, Kilmacolm	prefix	anglicised from cill, itself from Latin cella. Often it can be difficult to tell if Kil-, Killie- refers to a church or to a forest.
kil, kill, kyle, killie, quilla	SG, I	wood	Lugnaquilla, Kylemore, Killiecrankie, Kilmacsimon	prefix	anglicised from Irish coill, Scottish Gaelic coille. Often it can be difficult to tell if Kil-, Killie- refers to a church or to a forest.
kin, ken, con, can, carn	SG, I	head	Kincardine, Kinallen, Kenmare	prefix	anglicised from ceann. Cognate of C, P and W pen and in some place names, may represent a Gaelicisation of the C and P form.
king	OE/ON	king, tribal leader	King's Norton, King's Lynn, Kingston, Kingston Bagpuize, Seven Kings, Kingskerswell, Coningsby
kirk	ON	church	Kirkwall, Ormskirk, Colkirk, Falkirk, Kirkstead, Kirkby on Bain, Kirklees, Whitkirk		See also Kirk (placename element). cf. ger -kirch as in Altkirch, Nl. -kerk as in Heemskerk
knock, cnwc	I, SG, C, Bry, W	hill, rocky hillock	Knockhill, Knock, County Clare, Knock, Isle of Lewis, Knockentiber, Knock, Cnwc-Parc-y-morfa, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Pen-cnwc, Pembrokeshire, Wales		anglicised from cnoc; Cronk on Isle of Man.
kyle, kyles	SG	narrows	Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyles of Bute	prefix	anglicised from Caol and caolas
lan, lhan, llan	C, K, P, W	church, churchyard, village with church, parish	Lanteglos (Cornwall), Lhanbryde (Moray), Lanercost, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Llanybydder, Llandudno, Llanelli, Llangefni, Llangollen	prefix,	See also Llan (placename)
lang	OE, ON	long	Langdale, Great Langton, Kings Langley, Langbank, Langwathby, Lang Toun	prefix	cf. Ger. -langen as in Erlangen; still in use in English dialect and Scots.
law, low	OE	from hlaw, a rounded hill	Charlaw, Tow Law, Lewes, Ludlow, North Berwick Law	often standalone	often a hill with a barrow or hillocks on its summit; still in use in Scotland.
le	NF	from archaic French lès, in the vicinity of, near to	Chester-le-Street, Burgh le Marsh, Stanford-le-Hope	interfix	Hartlepool appears to contain le by folk etymology; older spellings show no such element.
lea, ley, leigh	OE	from leah, a woodland clearing	Barnsley, Hadleigh, Leigh, Beverley, Keighley, Batley, Abbots Leigh	suffix (usually)	cf. Nl. -loo as in Waterloo, Ger. -loh as in Gütersloh
lea, liath	I, SG	light grey	Killylea, Monadhliath Mountains	suffix	Anglicisation of liath.
letter-	I, SG	hillside	Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Letterfearn	prefix	Anglicisation of leitir.
lin, llyn, Lynn	Bry, C, I, P, W	lake (or simply water)	Lindisfarne, Llyn Brianne	prefix (usually)	From Old Celtic lindon
ling, lyng	OE, ON	heather	Lingmell, Lingwood, Linga
lip	OE, ON	leap	Hartlip, Hindlip, Leixlip, Lippitts, Ruislip	suffix (usually)	From Old English hlȳp, Old Norse hleypa, both meaning "a leap".
lis(s)-, les-, lus-	I, SG	small ringfort	Lisburn, Lisnaskea, Lissycasey, Listowel, Lesmahagow, Luskentyre	prefix	Anglicisation of lios.
loch, lough	C, SG, I	lake, sea inlet	Loch Ryan, Lough Neagh, Sweethope Loughs, Glendalough, Loch Ness		Generally found in Scotland and Ireland, but also a handful in England.
longfor(d), lonart	I, SG	landing-place for boats	Longford, Ballylongford, Longformacus		Referred to landing-places used by Viking raiders; derived from Latin (navis) longa ('longship') and portus ('harbour').
lurgan, lorgan	I	long ridge	Lurganure, Lurgan, Stillorgan		Anglicisation of lorgan.
maum, maam, mam	I, SG	mountain pass	Maumtrasna, Mam Sodhail, Maam Valley		Anglicisation of Irish mám, Scottish Gaelic màm.
magna	L	great, big	Appleby Magna, Chew Magna, Wigston Magna, Ludford Magna		Primarily a medieval affectation
mawr	W	large, great	Pen-y-cae-mawr, Pegwn Mawr, Merthyr Mawr		Fawr is the mutated form
magh, may, moy, moi(gh), ma-	I, SG	plain	Maynooth, Mallow, Moira, Maybole		Anglicisation of Irish maigh, Scottish Gaelic magh.
mere	OE	lake, pool	Windermere, Grasmere, Cromer, Tranmere		See also Mere (lake). cf. Ger. Meer, also likely a cognate of the Norwegian Møre
minster	OE	large church, monastery	Westminster, Wimborne Minster, Leominster, Upminster, Kidderminster, Minster Lovell, Ilminster		cf. Ger. Münster
mona, money, moan	I, SG	peatland	Ballymoney, Cornamona, Inchmoan		Anglicisation of Irish móna, monadh, Scottish Gaelic mòine.
mona, money, winga, winna, winny, vinna, vinny, vunnia, bonni, bunny, mini	I, SG	thicket	Moneymore, Ballywinna, Ballinvinny, Minishant		Anglicisation of muine.
monaster	I	monastery	Monasterevin, Monasterboice, Monasteraden	prefix	Anglicisation of mainistir.
more	I, SG	large, great	Dunmore, Lismore, Strathmore		Anglicised from mòr
moss	OE, S	Swamp, bog	Mossley, Lindow Moss, Moss Side		cf. Ger. Moos Occasionally represents Bry maɣes
mouth	ME	Mouth (of a river), bay	Plymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Monmouth, Sidmouth, Weymouth, Lynmouth, East Portlemouth, Exmouth, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Dartmouth	suffix	cf. Ger. Münden or Gemünd
mulla(gh), mulh-	I, SG	summit	Mullaghmast, Mullaghbrack, Mulhuddart, Mullach Fraoch-choire	prefix	Anglicised from mullach
mullin-, miln-, mul-	I, SG	mill	Mullinahone, Mullingar, Bellanamullia, Milngavie, Mulben	prefix	Anglicised from muileann
mynydd	W	mountain	Mynydd Moel	prefix
nan, nans	K	valley	Nancledra, Nansledan	prefix
nant	C, W	ravine or the stream in it	Nantgarw, Nantwich	prefix	same origin as nan, nans above
ness	OE, ON	promontory, headland (literally 'nose')	Sheerness, Skegness, Furness, Durness, Dungeness, Bo’ness, Bowness-on-Windermere	suffix
-noe	I, SG	new	Ballynoe, Templenoe	suffix	Anglicised from nua
nor	OE	north	Norton, Norbury, Norwich	prefix
owen	I	river	Owenbeg, River Owenroe		Anglicised from abhainn
pant	C, P, W	a hollow	Pant Glas, Pant (Merthyr Tydfil), Pant (Shropshire), Panbride
parva	L	little	Appleby Parva, Wigston Parva, Ruston Parva, Glen Parva, Thornham Parva, Ludford Parva
pen	C, K, W, P	head (headland or hill), top, far end of, end of	Penzance, Pendle, Penrith, Pen-y-ghent, Penarth, Pencoed, Penmaen, Pengam, Penffordd, Pembrokeshire, Pen-y-gwryd, Pennan	prefix,	also Pedn in W. Cornwall
pit	Bry, P, SG (< P)	portion, share, farm	Corstopitum, Pitlochry (Perthshire), Pitmedden	prefix (usually)	Scottish Pit- names typically employ a Pictish loanword into Gaelic. Homologous with K peath, W peth.
pol, pwll, pol(l), poul	C, K, W, I, SG	pool, lake, hole	Polperro, Polruan, Polzeath, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Pwll, Llanelli, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Pollagh, Poulaphouca, Polglass	prefix
pont	L, K, W, C	bridge	Pontypridd, Pontypool, Penpont, Pontefract	prefix	can also be found in its mutated form bont, e.g., Pen-y-bont (Bridgend); originally from Latin pons (pont–)
pool	OE	harbour	Liverpool, Blackpool, Hartlepool, Welshpool, Pool of London	suffix
port	I	stronghold, fort	Portlaoise	prefix	Easily confused with port for harbour or landing-ground.
port	ME, I	port, harbour, landing-ground	Davenport, Southport, Stockport, Bridport, Portsmouth, Newport, Maryport, Ellesmere Port, Portadown
porth	K, W	harbour	Porthcawl, Porthgain, Porthaethwy	prefix
ra(t)h, rait	SG, I	small ringfort	Rathdrum, Rathfarnham, Rathfriland, Raheny, Rathven, Rait, Ravernet	prefix	From Irish ráth, Scottish Gaelic ràth.
-rea(gh), -reva(gh), -riach	SG, I	streaked, speckled	Loughrea, Moneyreagh, Cloonsheerevagh, Braeriach	suffix	From riabhach.
rigg, rig	ON, S	ridge	Askrigg, Bonnyrigg	suffix
rin, ren, rine, reen, ring, rhyn	I, SG, W	headland, promontory	Rinvyle, Ringville, Renfrew, Weston Rhyn	prefix	From Irish/Scottish Gaelic rinn, Welsh rhyn.
-roe, -roy	I, SG	red, red-brown	Murroe, Portroe, Inverroy	suffix	From Irish rua, Scottish Gaelic ruadh.
ros(s), rosh, rus(h), rose	I, SG	wood, wooded promontory	Roscommon, Rush, Rosemarkie, New Ross	prefix	From ros.
royd	OE	field, clearing	Mytholmroyd, Hebden Royd, Fox Royd	suffix	From Old English rodu
sall, salla, sally, shellach	I, SG	willow	Ballysally, Sallins, Achnashellach		From Irish saile, Scottish Gaelic seileach.
shan-	I, SG	old	Shanballymore, Shankill, Shandon	prefix	From sean.
shaw	OE	a wood, a thicket	Openshaw, Wythenshawe, Shaw and Crompton	standalone or suffix	a fringe of woodland, from OE sceaga
shep, ship	OE	sheep	Shepshed, Shepton Mallet, Shipton, Shipley	prefix
sheskin, seskin, cessnock	I, SG	marsh, quagmire	Sheskin, Seskinore, Cessnock	prefix	From Irish seascann, Scottish Gaelic seasgan.
shire	OE	county	Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire	suffix
ske(y)-, skay, skea(gh), sgiack, sgiach, skeith	I, SG	bush, hawthorn	Skehana, Skeheenarinky, Ballyskeagh, Clonskeagh, River Sgiack, Auchenskeith		From Irish sceach, Scottish Gaelic sgitheach.
screen, skreen, skrine, skryne	I	shrine	Skreen, Skryne, Ballinascreen		From Irish scrín.
slieve, sla-	I, SG	mountain	Slievenamon, Slieve Donard, Slamannan	prefix	From sliabh.
sra(gh), srah, stra, strad, strath, straw	C, P, I, SG	floodplain, strath	Strathspey, Sragh, Stranorlar, Straw	prefix	From srath.
stan	OE	stone, stony	Stanmore, Stamford, Stanlow	prefix	cf. Ger. Stein
stead	OE	place, enclosed pasture	Hampstead, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead	suffix	cf. Ger. Stadt or -stätt as in Eichstätt, Nl. -stad as in Zaanstad
ster	ON	farm	Lybster, Scrabster	suffix	cf. -bost from (bol)staðr
stoke	OE stoc	dependent farmstead, secondary settlement	Stoke-upon-Trent, Stoke Damerel, Basingstoke, Stoke Mandeville, Stoke Gabriel	standalone (usually)
stow	OE	(holy) place (of assembly)	Stow-on-the-Wold, Padstow, Bristol, Stowmarket, Felixstowe
streat, street	L, OE	road (Roman)	Spital-in-the-Street, Chester-le-Street, Streatham		derived from strata, L. 'paved road'
sud, sut, suf	OE	south	Sudbury, Sutton, Suffolk	prefix	From Old English sūþ
swin	OE	pigs, swine	Swindon, Swinford, Swinton
tarn	ON	lake	Malham Tarn, Yeadon Tarn, Talkin Tarn		In modern English, usually a glacial lake in a coombe.
ta(gh), taugh, te(e), ti(gh), tay	I, SG	house	Taney, Taghadoe, Timoleague, Tyndrum, Tayvallich	prefix	From Irish teach, Scottish Gaelic taigh.
temple	I, SG	church	Templemore, Ballintemple, Temple	prefix	From Irish teampall, Scottish Gaelic teampull. Some examples are linked to the Knights Templar.
thorp, thorpe	ON	secondary settlement	Cleethorpes, Thorpeness, Scunthorpe, Armthorpe, Bishopthorpe, Mablethorpe, Osmondthorpe		See also Thorp. An outlier of an earlier settlement. cf. Ger. Dorf, Nl. -dorp as in Badhoevedorp
ter, tir, tyr	I, SG	country, land	County Tyrone, Terenure, Terryglass, Tiree	prefix	From Irish tír, Scottish Gaelic tìr; cognate with Latin terra.
termon, tarmon	I	sanctuary, boundary	Termonfeckin, Tarmonbarry, Termonmaguirk	prefix	From Irish tearmann. Land belonging to early Christian monasteries and churches on which right of sanctuary prevailed.
thwaite, twatt	ON thveit	a forest clearing with a dwelling, or parcel of land	Huthwaite, Twatt, Slaithwaite, Thornthwaite, Braithwaite, Bassenthwaite, Finsthwaite, Thwaite Mills	suffix
tieve, too	I	hillside	Tievebulliagh, Tievenadarragh, Tooban	prefix	From taobh.
tilly, tullie, tulloch	SG	hillock	Tillicoultry, Tillydrone, Tulliallan	prefix
toft	ON	homestead	Lowestoft, Fishtoft, Langtoft (Lincs), Langtoft (ER of Yorks), Wigtoft	suffix (usually)
tober, tubber	I, SG	well	Ballintober, Tubber, Tobermory		From tobar.
Tre-, Tra-	C, K, P, W	settlement	Tranent, Trevose Head, Tregaron, Trenear, Treorchy, Treherbert, Trealaw, Treharris, Trehafod, Tredegar,	prefix (usually)
treath, traeth, tra, try	K, W, I, SG	beach	Tywardreath, Traeth Mwnt, Cardigan, Tramore, Ventry
tuam, tom, toom(e)	I	tumulus, burial-mound	Tuam, Toomevara		From tuaim.
tulla(gh), tully, tullow, tullos	I, SG	hillock, mound, heap	Tullamore, Tullyallen, Tullow, Tullos, Tillicoultry	prefix	From tulach.
tun, ton	OE tun	enclosure, estate, homestead	Skipton, Elston, Tunstead, Warrington, Patrington, Brighton, Coniston, Clacton, Everton, Broughton, Luton, Merton, Wincanton, Bolton, Workington, Preston, Bridlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Taunton, Boston, Acton, Brixton, Kensington, Paddington, Crediton, Honiton, Hamilton, Northampton, Southampton, Paignton, Tiverton, Helston, Wolverhampton, Buxton, Congleton, Darlington, Northallerton, Longframlington		OE pronunciation 'toon'. Compare en. town, Nl. tuin (garden) and Ger. Zaun (fence); all derived from Germanic root tun
turlough, turlagh	I	turlough	Turlough, Turlaghmore	prefix	From turlach, a lake that fills seasonally.
upon, on, in	ME	by/"upon" a river	Newcastle upon Tyne, Kingston upon Hull, Stratford-upon-Avon, Staines-upon-Thames, Burton upon Trent, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Walton-on-Thames, Hampton-in-Arden
urlar, urlaur, orlar	I, SG	flat	Stranorlar, Urlar Burn, Urlaur Lough		From Irish urlár, Scottish Gaelic ùrlar, both meaning "floor."
vea(gh), vei(gh), beattie, beath, beigh, beith	I, SG	beech	Glenveagh, Dalbeattie, Dunbeath, Glenbeigh, Aghavea, Clonbeith	suffix	From beithe.
wall, walla, willa	OE	foreigners	Cornwall, Kirkwall, Heswall, Thingwall, Childwall, Wallasey, Willaston		Derived from wealas meaning 'foreigners', as was also applied to the Celtic people of Wales
weald, wold	OE	high woodland	Wealdstone, Stow-on-the-Wold, Southwold, Easingwold, Methwold, Cuxwold, Hockwold		cf. Ger. Wald
wes	OE	west	Wessex	prefix
wick, wich, wych, wyke	L, OE	place, settlement	Ipswich, Norwich, Alnwick, West Bromwich, Nantwich, Prestwich, Northwich, Woolwich, Horwich, Middlewich, Harwich, Bloxwich, Hammerwich, Sandwich, Aldwych, Gippeswyk, Heckmondwike, Warwick	suffix	related to Latin vicus (place), cf. Nl. wijk, Ger. weig as in Braunschweig. Also, cf. Jorvik (modern York)
wick	ON vik	bay	Wick, Lerwick, Winwick, Barnoldswick, Keswick, Prestwick, North Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Goodwick, Glodwick, Ardwick, Beswick, Walberswick	suffix
win, vin, fin	Bry	white	Winchester, Wimborne (earlier Winborne), Vindolanda, Fintry	prefix	uenta- attested in Roman period. Compare with gwyn
worth, worthy, wardine	OE	enclosure	Tamworth, Farnworth, Rickmansworth, Nailsworth, Kenilworth, Lutterworth, Bedworth, Letchworth, Halesworth, Wirksworth, Whitworth, Cudworth, Haworth, Holsworthy, Bredwardine	suffix (usually)	cf. Nl. -waard as in Heerhugowaard
ynys	W	island	Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Ynyslas

External links

.
Bond, Chris. .

List of generic forms in place names in the British Isles

List

See also

External links