The Penguin Dictionary Of British Place Names

Britain's place names are intimately linked with its history, with Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans all leaving their mark on our maps. 'The Penguin Dictionary Of British Place Names' explains the origins of over 10,000 names of not just towns, cities and villages, but rivers, lakes, mountains and islands in England, Scotland and Wales.

Place names have evolved in different and intriguing ways. Some have been taken from personal names, such as Gomshall of Catesby, or derive from saints and local churches, as is St Andrews and St Ives.

Drawing on a range of sources, from the Venerable Bede and 'Domesday Book' to recent government reports, and with maps showing patterns of settlement, this meticulously researched dictionary paints a broad, evocative picture of ancient and modern Britain, displaying to the full our historical, geographical and linguistic heritage.