Celtic toponymy


Celtic toponymy is the study of place names wholly or partially of Celtic origin. These names are found throughout continental Europe, Britain, Ireland, Anatolia and, latterly, through various other parts of the globe not originally occupied by Celts.

Celtic languages

The Proto-Indo-European language developed into various daughter languages, including the Proto-Celtic language.
In Proto-Celtic, the Proto-Indo-European sound *p disappeared, perhaps through an intermediate *. It is a common point between all the Celtic languages. Examples : Latin pater "father", but Gaulish *atir / ater, Irish athair / athir.
After that, languages derived from Proto-Celtic changed PC *kw into either *p or *k. In P-Celtic languages, PC *kw changed into *p. In Q-Celtic dialects it developed into /k/.
P-Celtic languages include the Continental Gaulish language and the Brittonic 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 branch of Insular Celtic. Goidelic is the ancestor of the Gaelic languages Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx.
Examples : PIE kʷetwóres "four" >
  • Proto-Italic kʷettwōr "four" > Latin quattuor
  • Proto-Celtic kʷetwares "four" > Irish ceathair, Scottish Gaelic ceithir "four", but Gaulish petuar "fourth", Welsh pedwar "four", Old Breton petguar > Breton pevar "four"

Frequent elements in place-names and their cognates in modern Celtic languages

  • Celtic *-āko-, suffix : Gaulish -acon acum / < endings -y, -y, -é, -ac in Gaul. Brittonic *-ocon / -*ogon 'place of, property of'; Old Breton -oc > -euc > -ek / -eg, Welsh -og, etc.
  • Celtic bonus, *bona 'base, foundation' > Old Irish bun 'base, stem, stock', Welsh bon 'base, stem, stock'
  • Celtic briga 'hill, high place' > Welsh bri 'honourable, respected', Irish brí 'hill; strength, vigour, significance'.
  • Celtic 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, *brīua 'bridge'
  • Celtic dubros 'water' > Old Irish dobur 'water', Welsh Welsh dwr, Cornish dur, Breton dour 'water'
  • Celtic dūnon 'fortress' > Welsh dinas 'city' and din 'fortress', Irish dún 'fortress'
  • Celtic duro- 'door, gate, forum' > Welsh dor, Breton dor 'door'
  • Celtic ialo- 'clearing, assart' > Welsh ial
  • Celtic kwenno- 'head' > Gallo-Brythonic *penn-, Welsh pen 'head, end, chief, supreme', Breton penn, but Old Irish cenn > Irish ceann 'head'
  • Celtic magos 'field, plain' > Welsh maes 'field', Old Irish mag > Irish magh 'plain'
  • Celtic nemeto- 'wood', 'sacred enclosure', 'sanctuary' > Old Irish nemed 'sanctuary'
  • Celtic rito- 'ford' > Welsh rhyd 'ford'
  • Celtic windo- 'white, fair, blessed' > Welsh gwyn/wyn / gwen/wen 'white, blessed', Old Irish find, Irish fionn 'fair'

European connection

  • Brigantes
  • Cambodunum > Champéon, Champbezon, Kempten
  • Mediolanum > Meulan, Milano..
  • Noviomagus > Nouvion, Nogent, Novion, Nijon, etc., Nijmegen ; former name of Chichester, Crayford, England
  • Eburacum > Ivry, Évry, former name of York, England
  • Epiacum > Epfig ; X
  • Lugdunum > Lyon, Lion, Loudun, Laon, Lauzun, Leiden / Leyde
  • Rigomagus > Riom, Remagen
  • Segodunum > Suin, Syon ; X unclear location near Würzburg
  • Vuerodunum > several Verdun, Verduno, Verdú, Birten

Continental Celtic

Austria

  • Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Latin Brigantium : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'
  • Wien, English Vienna, Latin Vindobona : from Celtic windo- 'white' + bona 'base, foundation'

Belgium

  • Ardennes, Latin Arduenna Silva : from divine name Arduinna : from Celtic ardu- 'high' + Latin silva 'forest'
  • Gent, English Ghent, Latin Gandavum : from divine name ''Gontia''

France

Most of the main cities in France have a Celtic name.
  • Amiens : from Ambiani, a Celtic tribe, replaces Samarobriva 'bridge on the river Somme'
  • Angers : from Andecavi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Juliomagus 'market place dedicated to Julius'
  • Argentan : from Argentomagus 'silver market', based on arganto- 'silver' cognate to Old Welsh argant > ariant, Old Breton argant > Breton arc'hant 'silver' + magos 'market'
  • *several places called ArgentonArgentorate, now Strasbourg
  • Arles : from Arelate
  • Arras : from Atrebates, a Celtic tribe, replaces Nemetacum, nemeto- 'sacred place' + suffix -acon
  • Augustonemetum, now Clermont-Ferrand
  • Autun : from Augustodunum, 'town dedicated to Augustus'
  • Avignon : from Avenii a Celtic tribe. It was one of the three cities of the Cavari
  • Bayeux : from Badiocassi / Bodiocassi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Augustodurum. 'forum dedicated to Augustus'
  • Bourges : from Biturigi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Avaricum
  • Briançon < Brigantium, from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'
  • *several places called Briançon
  • Brive < Briva 'bridge'
  • *several places called Brives
  • Caen < 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'
  • *several places called Cahan, Cahon
  • Cahors
  • Carentan : from Carentomagus
  • *several places called Charenton, etc.
  • Chambord
  • *several places called Chambord, Chambors, ChambourgChartres : from Carnuti, name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Autricum
  • Condom : from Condatomagus
  • *other place : Condom-d'Aubrac
  • Divodurum, now Metz, Lorraine, from Celtic diwo- 'god, holy, divine' + *duro- 'fort'
  • Douvres from Celtic dubron, dubra 'water'
  • *several places called Douvres
  • Drevant : from Derventum, Celtic dervo 'oak tree' + suffix -entu
  • Évreux : from Eburovici replaces Mediolanum
  • Issoudun
  • Jort : from Divoritum 'ford on the river Dives'
  • Lillebonne : from Juliobona 'foundation dedicated to Julius'
  • Limoges
  • Lisieux < Lexoviensis; former Noviomagus 'new market', Old Celtic noviios 'new', magos 'field, plain'.
  • Lyon, Rhône, Latin Lugdunum : from Celtic lug- 'Lugus' or perhaps 'light' + *dūnon 'fortress'
  • *several places called Lugdunum : Laon, Lion-en-Beauce, Loudun, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, etc.
  • Mediolanum : from Celtic
  • *several places called Meillant, Meulan, etc.
  • Nant
  • *several places called Nant, Nans
  • Nantes
  • Nanteuil
  • *several places called Nanteuil, Nantheuil, Nampteuil, Nanteau..
  • Nanterre : from nemeto- 'sacred place' + duro- 'gate', 'forum'
  • Noyon, Latin Noviomagus Veromanduorum, from Celtic nowijo- 'new' + magos 'field, plain'
  • *several places called Noviomagus : Nouvion, Noyen, Nyons, Nijon, Nojeon, Lisieux, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, etc.
  • Oissel
  • *several places called Oisseau, Ussel, etc.
  • Orange : from Arausio, a water god
  • Paris : from Parisii (Gaul), name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Lukotekia / Lutetia
  • Périgueux / Périgord : from Petrocorii 'the four armies'
  • Pierremande < Petromantalum < petro-mantalo- 'four road' = 'crossing'
  • Rennes : from Redones, a Celtic tribe, replaces Condate
  • *several places called Condé, Condat, Candé, etc.
  • Riom : from Rigomagus
  • Rouen < Rotomagus, sometimes Ratómagos or Ratumacos. 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 'field' 'plain', Old Breton ma 'place'. The whole thing could mean 'hippodrome', 'racecourse' or 'wheel market'.
  • *several places called Rouans, Ruan, Rom, etc.
  • Vandœuvre < *vindo-briga 'white fortress'
  • *several places called Vandœuvres, Vendeuvre, Vendœuvres
  • Verdun, Virodunum or Verodunum, from Celtic *uiro-, *uero- 'high' and dūnon 'hill, fortress'
  • *several places called Verdun
  • Verneuil : from verno- + ialo- 'clearing, plain with alder-trees'
  • *several places called Verneuil
  • 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.
  • *several places called Vernon
  • Veuves : from vidua 'forest' Voves, Vion
  • *several places called Voves, Vove
  • Vion' : from Vidumagus 'forest market'
  • *several places called Vion, Vions

Germany

From Celtic alisa, s.f., 'alder'. and Old High German aha, s.n., 'flowing water'.

Hungary

Italy

  • Brianza, Lombardy, Latin Brigantia : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'
  • Genova, Liguria, English Genoa, Latin Genua : Perhaps from Celtic genu- 'mouth '.
  • Milano, Lombardy, English Milan, Latin Mediolanum : from Celtic medio- 'middle, central' > Old Irish mide 'middle, centre', Old Breton med, met > Breton mez 'middle', etc. and ɸlan- > lan-, a Celtic cognate of Latin plānus 'plain', with typical Celtic loss of /p/ or ɸlānos > Old Irish lán, Welsh llawn, Breton leun 'full'
  • Belluno, Veneto, Latin Bellunum : from Celtic *Bhel- 'bright' and *dūnon 'fortress'.
  • Bergamo, Lombardy, Latin Bergomum : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'
  • Brescia, Lombardy, Latin Brixia : from Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'.
  • Bologna, Emilia Romagna, Latin Bononia : from Celtic *bona 'base, foundation'

Netherlands

  • Lugdunum Batavorum, now Katwijk, Zuid-Holland : from Celtic lug- 'Lugus' or perhaps 'light' + *dūnon 'fortress'
  • Nijmegen, Gelderland, Latin Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum : from Celtic nowijo- 'new' + magos 'field, plain'

Poland

Portugal

  • Braga, Braga Municipality, Portugal : from Celtic bracari- after the Bracari 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, Coimbra, Portugal : from Celtic briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'.
  • Évora, Alentejo, Portugal : from Celtic ebora- 'plural genitive of the word eburos '.
  • Lacobriga, Algarve, Portugal : from Celtic Lacobriga- 'Lake of Briga'.

Romania

Serbia

Slovenia

  • Celje, Latinized Celeia in turn from keleia, meaning 'shelter' in Celtic
  • Neviodunum, 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, NW Spain : from Celtic windo- 'white'.

Castile

Galicia

  • Tambre, a river in Galicia (Spain), Latin Tamaris : possibly from Celtic tames- 'dark'. Other theories.
  • O Grove, Medieval Latin Ogrobre 912: from Celtic ok-ro- 'acute; promontory' and Celtic *brigs 'hill'.
  • Bergantiños, Medieval Latin Bregantinos 830 : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated', or divine name Brigantia, or from Celtic *brigantīnos 'chief, king'.
  • Dumbría, Medieval Latin Donobria 830 : from Celtic dūnon 'fortress' + Celtic *brīwa 'bridge'.
  • Val do Dubra and Dubra River, Galicia : from Celtic dubr- 'water', dubrās 'waters'.
  • Monforte de Lemos, Latin Lemavos, after the local tribe of the Lemavi : from Celtic lemo- 'elm' + suffix -avo.
  • Nendos, Medieval Latin Nemitos 830 : from Celtic nemeton 'sanctuary'.
  • Noia, Galicia, Spain, Greek Nouion: from Celtic nowijo- 'new'.

Switzerland

Switzerland, especially the Swiss Plateau, has many Celtic toponyms. This old layer of names was overlaid with Latin names in the Gallo-Roman 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:

Insular Celtic

Brittonic

England (excluding Cornwall)

The main survey of Celtic place-names in this region is by Richard Coates and Andrew Breeze. Evidence for a Celtic root to place names in England 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. Such names are a minority, but are widespread across England. For example, a smattering of villages around the heart and east of The Fens hint at this: West Walton, Walsoken, and the Walpoles indicate their continued presence. Nearby Wisbech, King's Lynn and Chatteris have Celtic topographical elements.
  • Amwythig, Shropshire, from Brittonic *ambi-uk-t-iko.
  • Arden, Warwickshire - from Celtic ardu- 'high'
  • From Brythonic abona 'river' :
  • *Avon, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Somerset
  • *Avon, Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset
  • *Avon, Northamptonshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Gloucestershire
  • *Avon or Aune, Devon
  • From Celtic iska 'water' :
  • *Axe, Devon/Dorset
  • *Axe, Somerset
  • *Axminster, Devon
  • *Axmouth, Devon
  • First element from Celtic briga 'hill':
  • *Brean, Somerset
  • *Bredon, Worcestershire
  • *Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire
  • *Brewood, Staffordshire
  • *Brill, Buckinghamshire
  • From Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' :
  • *Brent, Greater London
  • *Brentford, Greater London
  • *Bryn, Greater Manchester - from Welsh bryn, 'hill'.
  • Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, the -lem element is a Celtic district name from lemano.
  • Camulodunum, now Colchester, Essex - from kamulos 'Camulus' + Celtic *dūnon 'fortress'
  • Catterick, North Riding of Yorks., catu + ratis + onjon.
From *cem + -*ed

Scotland

The post-6th century AD Brittonic languages of Northern England and Scotland were Cumbric and Pictish. Cumbric place-names are found in Scotland south of the River Forth, while Pictish names are found to the north.
  • Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire - from *aber.
  • Applecross, Ross-shire - formerly Abercrosan, from aber.
  • Arran - possibly equivalent to Middle Welsh aran.
  • Aviemore, Inverness-shire - An Aghaidh Mhòr in Gaelic, possibly involving Brittonic *ag-.
  • Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire - Lomond is equivalent to Welsh llumon.
  • Blantyre, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh blaen + tir.
  • Blebo, Fife - formerly Bladebolg, from Brittonic *blawd + *bolg.
  • Burnturk, Fife - formerly Brenturk, equivalent to Welsh bryntwrch.
  • Dallas, Moray - equivalent to Welsh dôl + gwas.
  • Darnaway, Moray - possibly from ancient Brittonic Taranumagos.
  • Daviot, Inverness-shire - perhaps from Brittonic *dem- meaning "sure, strong".
  • Dull, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh dôl.
  • Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire - equivalent to Welsh eglwysfechan.
  • Edinburgh, Midlothian - from Din Ediyn, from a Brittonic form meaning "fort of Ediyn".
  • Esslemont, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh iselfynydd.
  • Glasgo, Aberdeenshire - see Glasgow, Lanarkshire below.
  • Glasgow, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh glascau.
  • Hebrides - Ebudes in Ptolemy, possibly from ancient Brittonic ep-.
  • Keith, Banffshire - equivalent to Welsh coed.
  • Lanark, Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh llanerch.
  • Landrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lanrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lauder, Berwickshire - equivalent either to Middle Breton louazr or Welsh llawedrawr.
  • Lendrick, Kinross-shire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lendrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lomond Hills, Fife - see Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire.
  • Mayish, Arran - possibly from Brittonic maɣes.
  • Meggernie, Perthshire - from an element cognate with Welsh migwernydd.
  • Methven, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh meddfaen.
  • Midmar, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig + Mar.
  • Migvie, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig.
  • Mounth, Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mynydd.
  • Ochil Hills, Fife - probably from Common Brittonic *okelon.
  • Orchy, Argyll - in Gaelic Urchaidh, from ancient Brittonic are-cētia.
  • Panbride, Angus - from pant.
  • Panlathy, Angus - from pant.
  • Panmure, Angus - equivalent to Welsh pantmawr.
  • Pendewen, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen.
  • Penicuik, Midlothian - equivalent to Welsh pen-y-cog.
  • Pennan, Aberdeenshire - probably equivalent to Welsh pen.
  • Pennygant Hill, Roxburghshire - see Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire, England.
  • Perth, Perthshire - probably equivalent to Welsh perth.
  • Pinderachy, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen.
  • Pinnel, Fife - possibly equivalent to Welsh pen.
  • Pulrossie, Sutherland - possibly equivalent to Welsh pwllrhos.
  • Rattray, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh rhawdtref.
  • Urquhart, Ross-shire - formerly Airdchartdan, equivalent to Middle Welsh ar-cardden.
  • Yell, Shetland - probably from Common Brittonic iâla.

Wales

The vast majority of placenames in Wales are either Welsh or anglicized Welsh.

Cornwall

The vast majority of placenames in Cornwall 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 are either Breton or derived from Breton. For examples, see :Category:Populated places in Brittany.

Goidelic

England

Place names in England derived partly or wholly from Goidelic languages include:
  • Aireyholme, Yorkshire, recorded as Erghum, from Old Irish airgh.Ben, Yorkshire, probably from the Gaelic benn.
  • Cambois, Northumberland, possibly from Old Irish cambas
  • Carkin, Yorkshire, possibly from Old Irish carric.Castle Eden, County Durham, possibly from Old Irish étan.
  • †Crosskelloc, Lancashire, from Irish cros + Chelloc.
  • Dunmallard, Cumberland, possibly from Middle Irish dùn-mallacht Durdar, Cumberland, from Gaelic doiredarach.Greysouthen, Cumberland, from Irish craicc-Suthan. Kilmond, Yorkshire, possibly from Gaelic ceann-monadh. Knockupworth, Cumberland, from Irish cnocc .Latrigg, Cumberland, possibly from Old Irish lettir.Latterbarrow, Lancashire, possibly from Irish lettir.
  • Liscard, Cheshire, possibly from Irish Gaelic lios na carraige meaning "fort of the rock".Noctorum, Cheshire, from Irish cnocc-tírim.Pool Darkin, Westmorland, possibly from Gaelic poll + the personal name *Dercan.Ravenglass, Cumberland, from Irish rann-Glas.Torkin, Cumberland, from Irish tor-cheann.
Furthermore, some non-Goidelic place-names in mainly Northern and Midland England reference Irish personal names, due to Norse-Gaelic settlement Britain during the 10th century.Carperby, Yorkshire containing the Irish Gaelic given-name Cairpe
  • Dovenby, from personal name Dufan of Irish origin Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire, from the Gaelic personal name Donnchad .
  • Fixby, Yorkshire, from the Gaelic Irish personal name FiachGatenby, Yorkshire, from the Irish personal name Gaithen.
  • Glassonby, from the Irish personal name Glassan
  • †Iocemhil, Lincolnshire, possibly contains the Irish personal name Eogan.
  • Malmesbury, Wiltshire, from the Irish founder of the abbey Máel DubMellishaw, Lancashire, possibly the Irish personal name Mdeldn.
  • Melmerby, Yorkshire, from the Old Irish personal name Máel MuireYockenthwaite, Yorkshire, contains the Irish personal name Eogan.
Place names that directly reference the Irish include Irby, Irby upon Humber, Ireby and Ireleth. Place names with Scot- or similar, such as Scothern in Lincolnshire or Scotton in the North Riding of Yorkshire, may refer to Gaelic speakers from Scotland or Ireland, since Old English Scottas originally had connotations of Irish Gaels.

Ireland

The vast majority of placenames in Ireland are anglicized Irish language names.

Scotland

The majority of placenames in the Highlands of Scotland are either Scottish Gaelic or anglicized Scottish Gaelic. Gaelic-derived placenames are very common in the rest of mainland Scotland also. Pictish-derived placenames can be found in the northeast, while Brythonic-derived placenames can be found in the south.

Isle of Man

Many placenames on the Isle of Man are Manx or anglicised Manx, although there are also many Norse-derived place names.