British Place-Name Etymologies

1. Latin (Roman Influence)

Suffix: -chester, -caster, -cester Meaning: Derived from the Latin castra (camp or fortification).

• Colchester: 

• Manchester: 

• Lancaster:

• Gloucester:

• Chester:

2. Old English (Anglo-Saxon Influence)

A. Suffix: -ham

Meaning: Village, estate, or settlement (related to the modern word "home").

Birmingham

Nottingham

Cheltenham

B. Suffix: -ton

Meaning: Farm, enclosure, or estate (later evolved into "town").

• Brighton: 

• Luton: 

• Southampton: 

• Northampton: .

C. Suffix: -bury, -borough, -burgh

Meaning: A fortified place or stronghold (from burh).

• Canterbury: 

• Salisbury:

• Edinburgh: 

D. Suffix: -ford

Meaning: A shallow place to cross a river.

• Oxford: 

• Stratford: 

• Guildford: 

3. Old Norse (Viking Influence)

A. Suffix: -by

Meaning: Farmstead or village.

• Whitby: 

• Derby: 

• Grimsby: 

B. Suffix: -thorpe

Meaning: A secondary settlement or an outlying farm.

• Scunthorpe: 

• Cleethorpes: 

4. Summary Table

Origin	Suffix	Example	Meaning
Latin	-chester	Winchester	Fortified camp
Old English	-ham	Fulham	Settlement
Old English	-ton	Kingston	Enclosure/Farm
Old English	-ford	Bedford	River crossing
Old Norse	-by	Kirkby	Village
Old Norse	-thorpe	Mablethorpe	Outlying farm