The word Fowl, which occurs in numerous places, had originally a much wider meaning than at present. Any flying creature, was a bird; and in this sense we find it in
- Fouls-ham, Ful-ham, the bird’s home;
- Full-wood, the bird’s wood;
- Fouln-ey, Fugl-oe, the bird’s island;
- Vogels-berg, the bird’s hill.
The names of Fish seem rather scarce; we find
- Fish-bourn, the stream, abounding in fish;
- Fisher-gate, fish street;
- Fisher-ton, fish town;
- Fish-guard, fish enclosure;
- Fish-toft, fish field;
- Fish-field, fish field;
- Fisch-back, fish rivulet;
- Fisk-um-foss, the waterfall of the fish dwelling.
The Salmon (Lax) occurs in
- Lax-ey,
- Lax-field,
- Lax-ay, salmon river;
- Lax-voe, salmon bay;
- Lake-fiord, salmon firth.
The Trout (Truht) is found in
- Trouts-dale,
- Trout-beck, the trout rivulet.
The Eel may be traced in
- Aal-borg, eel city;
- Aal-en, eel island;
- Aal-st, eel district;
- Aal-rust, eel torrent.
The Frog and Toad are perhaps the only reptiles we find in place-names. They evidently give names to
- Frog-hill, Frog-more, the frog’s moor;
- Frox-feld, the frog’s field;
- Frox-ton, the frog’s town;
- Friskn-ey, the frog’s island;
- Tad-ley,
- Tad-low.
The Scandinavian term for the reptile is Padda, which occurs in
- Pad-gate, frog street;
- Paddon-Beck, frog stream;
- Paddy-gill, frog rivulet; &c.
The insect Wigga, Wiega, a beetle, is perhaps found in
- Wig-more, the beetle’s moor;
- Wiggen-holt, the beetle’s wood;
- Wig-sell, the beetle’s seat;
- Wig-ton, Wigs-ton, Wiggin-ton, the beetle’s town;
- Wig-toft, the beetle’s field.
In German, the name of the beetle is Kafer, cognate with the En-Chafer, which occurs in
- Kafer-loh, the beetle’s meadow;
- Kafern-burg, the beetle’s city.
(C) THE NAMES OF TREES, PLANTS, &c.
Trees performed no unimportant part in the division of land among the Teutonic nations; they were used as land marks and boundaries, and county courts were held under them.
The word Tree occurs very often in the names of places, and is no doubt connected with some historical circumstance: e.g.—
- Oswes-try,
- Coven-try,
- Dodin-tree,
- Web-tree,
- Grey-tree,
- Els-tree, &c.
The Oak (Ac) is found in
- Ac-ton, the oak town;
- Ack-worth, the oak farm;
- Auck-land, the oak district;
- Aike-Beck-Mouth, the mouth of the oak rivulet;
- Oak-leigh, Ock-ley, Oak-ley, Wok-ing, the oak meadow;
- As-kew (Ake-skeugh), the oak knoll;
- Ax-holme, the oak island;
- Ex-fold, the oak enclosure;
- Ex-twistle, the oak borders;
- Oke-hanger-mere, the oak meadow-lake;
- Oak-ham, the oak dwelling;
- Ock-brook, the oak brook;
- Uck-field, the oak plain;
- Bald-ock, the bare oak;
- Mart-ock, the market oak;
- Eich-horn, the oak height;
- Eichs-feld, the oak field;
- Eich-stadt, the oak town.
The Ash (Aesc) occurs in
- Ash-stead, ash dwelling;
- As-cot, ash hut;
- Ash-don, Ashen-don, Ash-down, ash hill;
- Ash-combe, Es-combe, ash valley;
- Esh-gill, ash rivulet;
- Ash-ling, ash heath;
- Ash-by, Ash-ton, aston, ash town;
- Ash-well, ash spring;
- Ash-borne, ash stream;
- As-hurst, ash thicket;
- Ash-fold, ash enclosure.
The Scandinavian form occurs in
- Ask-rigg, ash ridge;
- Ask-ern, ash dwelling;
- Asker-sund, ash sound;
- Ask-han, Ask-heim, ash home.
The German form is found in
- Eschers-leben, Aschers-leben, ash field or level;
- As-perg, ash hill;
- Eschen-bach, ash stream;
- Esch-wege, ash way;
- Esch-weiler, ash dwelling;
- As-sens, As-sen, ash dwelling;
- Assen-heim, ash home.
The Alder is found in
- Alder-bury, alder city;
- Alder-ley, alder meadow;
- Alder-minster, alder church;
- Aller-dale, alder vale;
- Aller-by, alder town;
- Alders-haugh, alder hill;
- Alder-mas-ton, alder marsh town;
- Alden-ham, alder home;
- Alder-shot, alder wood;
- Alli-thwaite, alder path;
- Aller-ton, Owler-ton, Eller-ton, alder town;
- Elle-ray, alder corner;
- Ell-feld, alder field;
- Ell-bogen, alder bending;
- Ell-rich, alder district;
- Ell-wangen, alder meadow;
- Erl-ach, alder dwelling on the stream;
- Erl-angen, Erl-au, alder meadow.
The Broom gives name to
- Brom-ton, broom town;
- Brom-borough, broom city;
- Brom-ley, broom meadow;
- Brom-yard, broom enclosure;
- Brom-hurst, broom forest;
- Broms-wold, broom wood;
- Brom-berg, broom hill;
- Bram-field, broom field;
- Bram-with, broom wood;
- Bram-shot, broom wood;
- Bram-ber, broom pasture;
- Bram-cote, broom hut.
The Beech may be traced in
- Bock-am, beech home;
- Buch-au, beech meadow;
- Buch-holz, beech wood;
- Buch-horn, beech corner;
- Buchs-weiler, beech dwelling.
The Birch gives name to
- Bark-by;
- Bark-ham;
- Bark-brough;
- Bark-ey;
- Birk-stall;
- Berke-ley, birch meadow;
- Birken-shaw, birch field;
- Berk-hamp-stead, birch homestead;
- Bark-by, birch town;
- Birken-field, birch field;
- Bjork-ö, birch island;
- Birk-thwaite, birch path.
The Apple is found in
- Apple-ton, Apple-by, apple town;
- Appuldur-combe, Appuldre-combe, apple valley;
- Apple-shaw, apple field or wood;
- Apple-dore, Apple-thwaite, apple path.
The Hazel occurs in
- Hazel-ton;
- Haze-leigh;
- Hazel-badge;
- Hasle-mere;
- Hazle-wood, hazel wood;
- Hasel-bury, hazel city;
- Hasle-don, hazel hill;
- Hasle-wall, hazel bank;
- Haysel-dean, hazel hollow;
- Hazle-shaw, hazel wood;
- Hassel-feld, hazel field.
The Lime-tree (Linde) occurs in
- Lind-field, lime field;
- Lind-ridge, lime ridge;
- Lind-hurst, lime forest;
- Lind-au, the lime meadow;
- Linden-fels, lime hills;
- Lindes-berg, lime hill;
- Hohen-Linden, the high lime tree.
The Maple-tree is found in
- Mapper-ley;
- Maple-stead;
- Mapper-ton, maple town;
- Mappow-der, maple dwelling;
- Maple-hurst, maple forest;
- Mapul-beck, maple rivulet.
The Pine occurs in
- Pine-low;
- Pin-hoe, pine hill;
- Pine-hurst, pine thicket; &c.
The Thorn gives name to
- Thorn-waste, thorn level;
- Thorn-bury, thorn city;
- Thorn-ey, thorn island;
- Thorn-ham, thorn home;
- Thorn-ton, thorn city;
- Pightles-thorne, the enclosure by the thorn;
- Moster-ton (Mortes-torne), slaughter thorn.
The German form, Dorn, occurs in
- Dorn-burg, the thorn city;
- Dorn-holz-hausen, thorn wood-dwelling;
- Dorn-han, thorn field;
- Dorn-stetten, thorn town.
The Willow (Welig) may be traced in
- Willough-by, Willough-ton, willow town;
- Withe-ridge, willow ridge;
- With-ern, willow dwelling;
- Withy-sike, willow brook;
- Withy-ham, willow home;
- Weid-a, willow water dwelling;
- Weid-en, willow district;
- Weiden-au, willow meadow.
Sauch, Sough, Say, a willow, is the root of Nick-sough, Saw-ley, Saigh-ton, and Saug-hall.
The Yew appears in
- U-ford,
- Uf-ton,
- U-ton,
- Iw-erne,
- Iw-ade,
- Ew-hurst, yew forest;
- Ew-den, yew hollow;
- Ewan-rigg, yew ridge;
- Iw-ern, yew dwelling;
- The Views, the yews;
- Eiben-stock, yew enclosure.
The Brier occurs in
- Brier-den,
- Briar-cliff,
- Brier-ley, briar meadow;
- Bre-wood, briar wood.
The Fern gives name to
- Furn-ham, Farn-ham, fern home;
- Fern-ton, fern town;
- Farns-ley, fern meadow;
- Farn-borough, fern city.
The Furze (Fyrs), Whin, Scandinavian, occurs in
- Whin-berg,
- Whin-fell,
- Whin-brig-dale;
- Whinn-ey-nab,
- Furz-leigh, the furzy meadow;
- Furz-brook, the furzy brook;
- Furz-moor-gate, the furzy moor-street.
Flax (Lin) appears in
- Lin-gards, flax enclosure;
- Lin-thwaite, flax path;
- Lin-ton, flax town;
- Lin-dale, flax vale.
Grass (Gaers, and Sprot) is found in
- Years-ley,
- Grat-ton,
- Gretn-a,
- Sprot-ton,
- Sprat-ton,
- Sprough-ton,
- Spros-ton,
- Gras-mere, grass lake;
- Gar-grave, grass grove;
- Gras-garth, grass enclosure;
- Gars-ton, grass field;
- Gar-stang, grass pool;
- Gars-dale, grass vale;
- Gras-croft, grass field;
- Grass-by, grass town;
- Gras-brook, grass brook;
- Gars-by, the enclosed grass town.
Cress (Nasturtium) occurs in
- Cress-well, nasturtium spring;
- Creas-y, nasturtium dwelling by the stream;
- Cress-ham, nasturtium home;
- Cress-low, nasturtium hill.
Moss gives name to
- Mose-ley, Moss-ley, moss meadow;
- Mos-ton, moss town;
- Mus-borough, moss city;
- Gil-moss, the rivulet of the moss;
- Moss-soe, moss lake;
- Mosen-berg, moss hill;
- Mos-bach, moss stream.
Sedge appears in
- Sedge-moor;, Sedge-ly, sedge meadow;
- Sedg-barrow, sedge wood.
The Rush is an element in
- Rush-ley, rush meadow;
- Rush-hulme, rush island;
- Rush-mere, rush marsh;
- Ris-borough, rush city;
- Rus-combe, rush valley;
- Rus-warp, rush mound;
- Rush-worth, rush farm;
- Rus-land, Rush-land, rush district.
The Nettle in Nettle-combe, Nettle-den, Nettle-stead, and Nettle-ton.
The Reed gives name to
- Reed-ham, reed home;
- Rid-ley, reed meadow;
- Ror-bach, reed stream; &c.
Barley (Bigg) may be traced in
- Big-by, barley town;
- Byg-land, barley district.
Beans appear in
- Bin-stead, bean dwelling;
- Been-ham, bean home;
- Bine-gar, bean enclosure;
- Bin-don, bean hill;
- Bin-field, bean field.
The Oat occurs in Oad-by, Ot-ley, and Oat-land.
The Scandinavian Haver (oats) gives names to Haver-ham, Haver-ford, and Haver-thwaite.
The Slow is easily seen in Slow-burn and Slow-combe.
Haw-ley and Haw-don derive their name from the haw; Apse, Asp-ley, and Asp-don from the asp (aps).
Wheat appears in Whit-field, Wheat-ley, Wheat-hamp-stead, Wheat-on, Whate-ly, and Whit-barrow.
Shrop-ham, Shrop-shire, Scrop-ton, Scrop-ley-hill, Scrap-loft, and Scrobb are derived from Scrybe, a shrub; as well as Screve-by, Scroo-by, and Scraf-ton.
Wort-ley, Wort-well, Wor-stead, Wors-borough, Wors-ley, Wroot, Wurz-burg, Wurz-ach, Wurz-em, &c., contain the root Wyrt, Wort, an herb.
(D) NAMES OF MINERALS.
Erz (German), Ore, occurs in
- Erz-gebirge, ore mountains;
- Erz-en, ore district.
Clay in
- Clay-pole,
- Clay-worth,
- Clay-gate, clay street;
- Clay-don, clay hill;
- Clai-borne, clay stream.
Cisel (gravel)
- Chisel-hampton,
- Chisel-don,
- Chesil-borne,
- Chisel-hurst, gravel forest;
- Chisel-bury, gravel city;
- Chesil-bank, gravel bank.
Chalk gives name to Chalk-grove, Chal-ford, Chilt-ern, Kalk-stein, and Calke.
Gries (German), gravel, is found in
- Gries-bach, gravel stream;
- Gries-heim, gravel home;
- Gries-kirch, gravel church; &c.
Marl occurs in Mar-low, Marl-borough, and Marls-ton.
Salt appears in Salter-ton, Salt-ash, Saltn-ey, Sal-combe, Salt-coats; Salz-brunn, Salz-burg, Salz-dahl-um, Salz-wedel, &c.
Eisen (German), iron, is found in Eisen-ach, Eisen-berg, Eis-eld, Eis-leben, Eis-grub, Eisen-burg, &c.
Sand gives name to Sand-wich, Sand-hurst, Sander-croft, &c.
Stone (Stan) appears in Stone-leigh, Stan-ley, Stan-ton, Staines, Stan-bury, Stain-land, Stain-drop, Stan-hope; Steen-bergen, Steen-wyk, Stein, Stein-ach, Stein-au, Stein-bach, Stein-borth, Stein-holm, Stein-horst, Stein-weiss, &c.
(E) ADJECTIVES.
Al, Alt, Ald, Au (old)—Ald-borough, Al-thorpe, Al-bourne, Al-ton, Al-ford, Al-cester; Alten-burg, Alten-markt, Alten-dorn, Alten-feld, Al-torf, Olde-bach, Olde-boorn, Olden-dorf, Olden-burg, Au-burn, and Au-thorpe.
Brad (broad)—Brad-well, Brad-stock, Brad-ford; Breit-horn, Breiten-bach, &c.
Cheil, Col, Cald (cold)—Col-burn, Coal-brook, Cold-stream, Cold-side, Chels-field, Cowd-ham, Child-hay, Chilt-thorn, Chil-worthy, Cald-well; Calde-cote, Cal-bourne, Caude-bec (Calde-bec), Colden-weide, Colden-hoff, Kalt-brun, Kalten-nord-heim, and Kalten-sund-heim.
Deop (deep)—Dept-ford, Deep-dale, Diepen-beck, Diepen-heim, Diepen-au, &c.
Kine, King (royal, king)—Kine-ton, Kinner-ton, Kings-bury, Kinger-by.
Ost, Oost, Osten (east)—East-bourne, Eas-ton; Ost-ende, Oster-ach, Oster-end, Oster-holz, Oste-rode, Oster-sunde, Ost-hem, Ost-heim, Ost-wolde, Oost-burg, Ooster-einde, Ooster-wyk, Ooster-wolde, Oost-kerke, &c.
Hol (hollow)—Hol-beach, Hol-land, Hol-born, Hol-bek, Hollen-beek, &c.
Lang (long)—Lang-baurgh, Lang-don, Langen-hoe.
Lille (little)—Lilles-don, Lilles-hall.
Mickle, Much (large)—Mickle-fell, Mickle-field, Much-wen-lock.
Nor, Nord (north)—Nor-folk, Nor-ham, Nor-mandy, Nor-mark, Nor-den, Nord-heim, Norr-telge, Norr-land, Norr-koping, Nord-horn, Noord-welle, Noorder-wyk, Norden-ey, &c.
Neu, Nieu (new)—Neu-berg, Neu-haus, Neu-land, Neu-stadt, Nieu-wold, Nieuw-kerk, Nieu-berg, Ny-stad, Ny-kerk, &c.; New-lands, New-ark, New-bury, New-ton, &c.
Nieder, Nether (downward or further)—Nether-bury, Nether-compton, Nether-lands, Nieder-bronn, Nieder-rad, Niedern-hall, Nieder-wald, Nider-dorf, &c.
Sud, Sut (south)—Sur-rey, Suf-folk, Sut-ton, Sus-sex, South-leigh, Sout-ham, South-end, Sut-torp, Sud-bury, Suder-oe, Sunder-land, Kalten-Sund-heim, Sund-gau, Soder-fors, Soder-hamn, Soder-telge, Sorer-Koping, &c.
Sell (happy, fortunate)—Sel-by, Sel-kirk, Sell-hurst, &c.; Seligen-stadt, Seligen-thal, &c.
Up, Upper (higher)—Up-ton, Up-hay, Up-lyme, Up-sala, &c.
Under (lower) Under-barrow, Under-cliffe.
West, Wester, Vester (west)—West-bury, Wester-borg, Wester-by, Wester-holt, Wester-land, Wester-loo, West-heim, West-land, West-rup, Westr-um, Vest-irg, Vester-hoe, &c.
DIVISION II.
GENERAL ELEMENT.
(A) WORDS SIGNIFYING WATER, RIVER, &c.
Ea.—This Anglo-Saxon word signifies (1) water in general, and (2) any running body of water, river, &c.—It occurs in the names of rivers, in the names of places near rivers, and in the names of marshes formed by rivers.
The rivers Medway and Stour were anciently written Meduw-ea, and Stur-ea. In the East Anglian counties the term is still preserved, for we meet with Popham’s ea, St. John’s ea, Hammond eau, &c.
Eye, Yeo, and Aye, are slightly altered forms of the same root, and ea is another name for the river Leven.
- E-hen, fowl river;
- Ea-mont (Ea-mot), water-meeting.
The following places near rivers contain some form of the Anglo-Saxon root, ea:—
- Chels-ea, the cold river-marsh;
- Batters-ea, St. Peter’s river-marsh;
It formerly belonged, together with Peter’s-ham, to St. Peter’s Abbey, Cherts-ey.
- Ea-ton, E-ton, the town of the river;
- E-dale, the river vale;
- E-rith, water channel;
- Ea-land, Yea-land, river district;
- Eg-ham, the dwelling on the stream.
The plural form, Eas, water-course, occurs in Eas-dale, Eas-writh, and Eas-tyn.
In the Gothic we meet with the following cognate forms:—aha, aue, awe, owe, ahva, and ach, e.g.,
- Fuld-a, Fuld-aha;
- Goth-a, Goth-aha;
- Lahn, Lon-aha;
- Sieg, Seg-aha.
We find a, a contraction of aha, in Schwein-a, Asch-a, Born-a, Buch-a, Baren-wald-a, Konigs-werth-a, Hoyers-werd-a, Berk-a, Vach-a, Goth-a, &c.
In Burgundy, we find the terminations ay, oy, and y, used to designate habitations established along running water, e.g.—Cambr-ay, Tourn-ay, Dou-ay, Quesn-oy, Chaum-y, &c.
The ending ow, in Beesk-ow, Godan-owa, and Buch-ow, is another form of the same root.
The form Ach occurs in
- Stadt-stein-ach,
- Dorn-ach,
- Aach-en,
- Baden-ach,
- Gold-ach,
- Nieder-ach,
- Stein-ach, the stony-dwelling on the stream;
- Wurz-ach, the herb dwelling on the stream;
- Wolf-ach, the wolf’s dwelling on the stream;
- Rod-ach, the cleared spot or path on the stream.
The plural form, ar, er, signifying the confluence of waters, occurs in Ohre, Er-furt, Ohr-druf, and Neck-ar.
The Scandinavian forms for water, are, A, Aa, and Aae.
In England we find Cald-a, Routh-a, Rath-a, Ay-am, Ay-cliffe, &c.
Aa occurs as the name of several rivers in Hanover, France, Brabant, Groningen, and Switzerland.
Aa is found in
- Nips-aae,
- Schol-aae,
- Sus-aae,
- Skar-a,
- Grenn-a,
- Wad-sten-a,
- Sal-a,
- Nor-a,
- Hag-a,
- Foss-aa,
- Aa-kirke,
- A-bo, the dwelling by the water;
- A-land, water district;
- A-hus, the house by the water;
- A-dorf, Ay-throp, the village by the water.
Ain, the river, forms part of the following names:—Glomm-en, Alt-en, Ul-en, Sus-en, &c.
Beck (Scandinavian), a rivulet.—In England, the following places contain this root:—
- Elder-beck,
- Beck-cote,
- Raven-beck,
- Pinch-beck,
- Wel-beck,
- Pur-beck,
- Crumm-ock-water,
- Crum-beck-water,
- Hol-beck, hollow rivulet;
- Hil-beck, hill rivulet;
- Swarth-beck, black rivulet;
- Beck-with, the wood of the rivulet;
- Becken-ham, the home of the rivulet;
- Wans-beck, Odin’s rivulet;
- Coupland Beck (Coupman Beck), merchant’s rivulet;
- Bex-ley, the meadow of the rivulet;
- Beck-ford, the ford of the rivulet, called the Yare or Yarty.
In Denmark we meet with Aale-beks, Aal-bek, Egje-bek, Vinde-bek, and Hol-bek.
In Oldenburg we find Vis-beck, sacred rivulet; in the south of Luxemburg we meet with Becke-rich, the district of the rivulet.
In West Flanders the form beke occurs in Roos-beke, Wam-beke, Haerle-beke, Meule-beke, &c.; in south Brabant the form beeke is prevalent, e.g.—Buns-beeke, Clab-beeke, &c. We also meet with a Becke-voort, having the same signification as Beck-ford in England. The root Beck occurs very frequently in the names of places in the neighbourhood of the rivers Rhine and Elbe, e.g.—Wandes-beck, Schwarzen-beck, Flot-beck, Stein-beck, Barn-beck, Suder-beck, Hals-beck, Schip-beck, &c.
In France we find the exact spots where many of the old Norse leaders settled down, by the presence of this root—e.g.,
- Bol-bec, the habitation by the rivulet;
- Foul-bec, the rivulet of birds;
- Ro-bec, the rivulet of the cleared ground;
- Caude-bec, the cool rivulet.
In Germany and Austria we find the cognate form, Bach, a rivulet—e.g.,
- Hunds-bach, the hound’s rivulet;
- Ror-bach, the reed rivulet;
- Gries-bach, the gravelly rivulet;
- Finster-bach, the dark rivulet;
- Eschen-bach, the ash rivulet;
- Ross-bach, the horses’ rivulet;
- Erl-bach, the alder rivulet;
- Alde-bach, the ancient rivulet;
- Fisch-bach, the fish rivulet;
- Bem-bach, the tree rivulet;
- Wam-pach, the deep rivulet.
Bath (baed, baeth, bad, Anglo-Saxon), water.—Bath, Bath-ford, Bath-easton, Bad-by, Bad-bury, Badon-hill, Bux-ton, Ba-ke-well, &c.
The German form, Bad, Pad, occurs in Baden, Wies-baden, Carls-bad.
Borne, Bourne, Burn, Burne (Anglo-Saxon), a stream, from Birnan, to burn.—It “denotes the bubbling of a welling running stream with the singing of the boiling water and the flaming of fire.”
- Winter-borne, the stream flowing in the winter season;
- Sher-borne, the clear stream;
- Ty-born, the district stream;
- Hol-born, the hollow stream;
- Col-burn, the cool stream;
- Hart-burn, the hart’s stream;
- Burn-side, the habitation of the stream;
- Burn-ham, the stream dwelling;
- Au-burn, the ancient stream;
- He-burn, the high stream.
We find Born on the continent, in Sal-born, Pader-born, Sonne-born, Eschen-born, &c.
The German form, Brun, occurs in
- Wolf’s-brunnen, the wolf’s stream;
- Kiesel-brunn, the gravelly stream;
- Schön-brunn, the bright stream;
- Bruns-wick, the city on the stream;
- Bruns-buttel, Bruns-torp, the village on the stream.
Botten, Botn (Scandinavian), the sea.—Gulf of Bothnia, Norr-botten, Boden-see, Bott-sand, Holt-pade, Lacus Bodam-icus (Lake Constance), Botten Viken, Botten Hafvet, &c.
Brigg, Bridge, a passage of wood or stone over a river.—It is often applied to fording and landing places.
- Brigg,
- Glandford Briggs;
- Brig-stock;
- Brix-ham, the home of the bridge;
- Brix-ton, the town of the bridge;
- Bris-tol, the dwelling-place of the bridge.
The Scandinavian form, Bro, occurs in
- Bro-ra, bridge-rivulet;
- Bro-gar, bridge-enclosure;
- Vester-bro, west-bridge; &c.
As cognate forms, we find Bruges, Esten-brug, Coppen-brugge, Brugg, Brig, Inns-bruck, Del-bruck, Konigs-bruck, Hers-bruck, Bruck, Brucken-au.
Bred, Bread (Anglo-Saxon), border, shore-bank.—Bread-sale, Bret-by clump, Bred-hurst, Bred-field, Bred-sted.
Brad (Anglo-Saxon), broad, expansive, the expansion of a river in a flat country, a lake so formed.—Outton-broad, Braydon-broad, Breydon-water, Mut-ford-broad.
Broc (Anglo-Saxon), a brook, a rushing stream.—Brox-ash, Brox-bourne, Ock-brooke, Cole-brooke, Ful-brook, Wam-brook, Mill-brook, Bruck-land.
We find the same root in Rad-brock, Alten-brock, Ooster-brock, Wester-brock, Strad-broke.
Bruoch (old High German), and Bruch (German), evidently cognate forms, signify a bog or marsh, e.g.—Alten-bruch, Bruch-sal, Bruch-berg and Brussels (Bruschels).
Ceol, Ciol (Anglo-Saxon), Keol (Danish), a ship.—Kiel, Kieler-fiord, Culen-burg, and Kuylen-burg.
Crundel (Anglo-Saxon), a water-course, “a spring or well with its cistern, trough, or reservoir to receive water.”—Grindle, Grindla-ton, Grindles-mere, Cron-dall, Crow’s Crundel, Cradwan Crundel (Crowden Farm).
Comber (Scandinavian), Kumpr (Old Norse), a running sheet of water; and hence it enters into combination with the names of places bordering on ponds and water-troughs.—Comber-ton, Comber-mere, Comber-bach.
Dam, from Dammen (German), to bank, dam.—Amster-dam, (Armstel-dam), Rotter-dam, Saar-dam, Schie-dam, &c.
Delve (English), to dig.—Delve is a local word, signifying a quarry or ditch.—Delven-au and Delft.
Dic (Anglo-Saxon), a ditch, dike, or river.—Wans-dike, Wran-dyke, Dish, Flen-dish (Flamin-dic), Cars-dyke, Hague-dike, Dyck-buttel, Wolvers-dyke, &c.
Diupr, diup (Scandinavian), deep.—It is often applied to parts of the sea, and to rivers.—Dieppe, Diupa, Depe-dale, Hollands-diep, Mars-diep. We also find Linn Deeps.
Dub (Scandinavian), a pool or piece of water (from Dyb, (Danish), deep).—Ash-dub, the ash-pool.
Efes, Eves (Anglo Saxon), the bank of a river, a border, edge of a mountain.—Eaves-ham, Habergham-eaves, Eves-batch, Eves-knoll.
Elf (Scandinavian), a river.—Elfs-burg, Elfs-nabben, Kong-elf, Elf-karle-by, Elbe, Alb, &c.
Fiord (Danish), Fiorth (Old Norsk), Firth (Scotch), an inlet of the sea, a bay, a station for ships.—Firth of Forth, Firth of Tay. (Frith is a mis-spelling for Firth.)
The Ford in Mil-ford, Haver-ford, Water-ford, is not to be confounded with Ford, a passage, but is another form of the Scandinavian Fiord, in Kieler-fiord, Ecken-fiord, Laxe-fiord, &c.
Ford, Fort, Fyrd (Anglo-Saxon), Forth (Scandinavian), a passage through a stream.
- Holm-forth, island ford;
- Spot-forth, the place at the ford;
- Sand-ford, Mud-ford, Brad-ford, ford;
- Cuck-ford, the rapid ford;
- Whit-ford, the wide ford;
- Ox-ford, the ford of the ox;
- Rom-ford, the broad ford;
- Stam-ford, the stony ford;
- Here-ford, the ford of the army;
- Wad-ford, the waded ford;
- Sto-ford, the dwelling-place at the ford;
- Ash-ford, the ford of the ash;
- Frods-ham, the home of the ford;
- Tiver-ton (Twy-ford-tun), the two ford town.
The German Furt, a ford, occurs in Hirsch-furt (Hart-ford), Her-furt (Here-ford), Schwein-furt (Swine-ford), Ochsen-furt (Ox-ford).
The Dutch Voort, a ford, is found in Wester-voort, Becke-voort, Amers-foort, Brede-voort, &c.
Fen, Faen (Anglo-Saxon), wet-land.—Fen-ham Flats, Fen Ditton, Walling Fen, Fen-stan-ton, Feni-ton, Fins-bury, Fen-brig, &c.
The Dutch form, Veen, occurs in Amster-Veen, and in Ven-lo, &c.
Fljot, Floi, Flod (Scandinavian), Fleot, Fleth (Anglo-Saxon), Fleet (English), a flow or flush of water, channel or arm of the sea between the coast, and an island, a river, a tide creek.—The presence of the root marks habitations on the sea, rivers, or canals.—The Fleet, Long-fleet, Ben-fleet, Shal-fleet, Salt-fleet, Fax-fleet. The Flow (a piece of water in Scotland), Flow Moss, Solway Flow, Flout-ern, Scar-let, and Flow-ton.
In France the root Floi occurs under the form, Fleur, in Bar-fleur, Har-fleur, Vite-fleur (White-fleet), Flot-beck, Pos-flethe, Beyden-fleth, and Aver-fleth.
Fors, Forse, Force, Foss (Scandinavian), a water fall.—River Foss, Forss-water, Forse, Forsin-ard, Low-force, Scale-force, Billing-fors, Fos-kilde, and Fos-land.
Gat (Scandinavian), a sound.—Catte-gat, the Gatt, Helle-gat, Rams-gate, Mar-gate.
Gau (German), a district watered by a river.—Aar-gau, Tor-gau, Breis-gau, Bur-gau, Wolve-ga, and Finke-ga.—Gaw, in England, as a local word, signifies a hollow with water springing in it, a furrow.—Gaw-thorpe, Goy-don, &c.
Geo (Scandinavian), a hollow, a chasm in the shore, a small inlet.—Wolfs-geo, Gui-odin, Gue-odin (Odin’s-inlet), Varren-ge-fiord, Varen-ge-ville, Varren-gue-bec.
Goe (Old Norsk), a cleft, a small opening in the land, a bay.—Red-goe, Raven-goe, Tod’s-goe, Whale-goe.
Gill (Scandinavian), a small gravelly stream, also a glen or valley; Gool, a ditch.—Row-gill, Woo-gill-tarn, Kesh-gill-burn, Esh-gill, Ive-gill, Gils-land, &c.; Goole, Gille-by, Gille-skaal, &c.
Gout, Gote, a drain or ditch, from Geotan (Anglo-Saxon), to pour.—River Goyt, Win-thorpe-gout, Trus-thorpe-gout, Tyd-gote, Got-ham, &c.
From the German Giessen, gösse, gegossen, to pour, to water, are derived—Gies-en, Giess-bach, Goss-au, &c.
Haf (Scandinavian), the sea, Havn (Danish), a haven.—Stone-haven, White-haven.
The old Haaf, Havre, Haver-ford, Hafs-lund, Frische-haf, Aland Haf, Haff of Stettin, Hafs-loe, Westman’s havn, Havn-sur-Dive, Havn-sur-Mederet, &c.
Hamn (Scandinavian), a port, bay, gulf.—Hamna-voe, Soder-hamn, Carls-hamn, Torn-hamn-sudde, Quister-ham, Go-ham, Cane-ham, Estre-ham, Ham-bye, &c.
Hatch (Provincial), a flood-gate, dam.—Mers-ham-hatch, Kelve-don-hatch.
Hyd, Hithe, Hythe (Anglo-Saxon), originally a receptacle; (2), haven; (3), coast.—Hythe, Hyde, Seche-Hythe, Rother-hithe, Green-hithe, Lamb-eth.
Holm (Scandinavian), a river island, a green plot of ground surrounded by water, low land lying along the river or ocean.—Holm, Holmes, Holm-moss, Holm-head, Holm-forth, Kirk-yet-holm, Hipper-holme, Den-holm, Steep-holm, and Flat-holm, Houlmes (near Rouen), Engo-homme, Tur-hulm (Tor-holm), Stock-holm, Hoy-holm, Borg-holm, Born-holm.
Heafod (Anglo-Saxon), the source of a stream.—Wood-head, Holm-head, Leather-head, &c.
Ig (Anglo Saxon), an island.—It assumes the various forms of Eage, Aege, Eig, &c.—Aig-burth, Eigh-ton, Eg-ham, Ight-field, Ight-ham, &c.
Kell, Keld (Scandinavian), a spring, “the gathering of water within a hill side, which then bursts out with a considerable gush, and forms a strong stream.”—Kil-ham, Kil-bourn, Kel-sal, Kil-hope, Kel-stedge, Kel-sale, Kel-sey, Lath-kill, Gunner-kild-bottom, Oer-kell, Halli-keld, Sal-keld, Kielder Moors, Kelder-vik.
Lad, Lode, Lade (Anglo-Saxon), water running into the sea, a pan for water, a drain, a pool, a gentle lake, an artificial water-course.—River Lyde or Lythe, Even-lode, West-lode, Whap-lode, Salter’s Lode-sluice, So-ham-lode, Burwell-lode, Reach-lode, Swaff-ham-lode, Lech-lade.
Lays (Provincial), lakes; Lay, a large pond.—Lowes-toft, the field of lakes; the provincial form is Lays-toft; forest of Lowes, Lowes-by, &c.
Laug (Scandinavian), water.—Bal-laugh, Lamp-lugh, Laugh-ton, Skir-laugh, Winters-lag, &c.
Lock, meeting of waters, junction of rivers.—Mat-lock, Whee-lock, Wen-lock.
Lecha, Letch, a small river.—Leck-hamp-stead, Latch-ford, Leckon-field, Letch-worth.
Lagu, Lage, Lache (Anglo-Saxon), water, a lake.—River Lac, Mort-lake, Shock-lach, Laken-heath, Ship-lake, Burg-has-lach, Dur-lach, and Lace-by.
Mere (Anglo-Saxon), a lake.—Comber-mere, Winder-mere, Col-mere, Mer-ton-Say, Hornsea-mere, Youns-mere, Ring-mer, Aves-mere; Haar-lem-mere, Alk-maar, Mor-ton, Mar-tin.
Mire, the Scandinavian form, Myri (Old Norsk), signifies a marsh or bog.—Gris-mire, Ling-mire, Wrag-mire, Sour-mire.
In Norway we find Rosse-myre, and in Iceland, Skala-myre.
We find the Frisian form, Mar, in Mar-strand, Hiel-mar, Mar-stall, Wis-mar, Wol-mar.
Mersc, Mars, Mas (Anglo-Saxon), a marsh or bog.—Mars-ton-moor, Mers-ham, Raw-marsh, Alder-mas-ton, Merst-ham, Meas-ham, Marsk, Os-mas-ton, Mas-ham, Tor-mas-ton, Mars-den, the Mash.