LONDON · OLD ENGLISH · PLACE-NAMES
What is your street's name actually saying?
Every London name is a sentence in Old English. This page teaches you to read them.
Hackney is Haca's island. Chelsea is a chalk landing-place. Aldgate sold ale. Type any of the 204 decoded names — or pick one from the layers below — and watch a thousand years of farms, fords and clearings parse themselves into stem and ending.
- 1086
- Domesday Book spellings anchor the decoder
- 785
- Chelsea already written down as chalk landing
- 1965
- Newham invented from nothing
Hackney
first written 1198
The decoder
Type a London name. Read a thousand years.
Pick one of the 204 decoded names. Each parse shows the layer it belongs to, the stem and the ending with their Old English glosses, the earliest form ever written down, and how sure the scholars are.
No decoded name matches. Try the full list below — or another spelling.
Every decoded name
The complete table. No search needed: every parse is already here.
| Name | Parse | Earliest form | Layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Mills | Wigge (Wicga, a man called Wicga (reconstructed)) + mulne (myln, mill (from Latin molina)) | Wiggemulne · 1312 | Saxon |
| Abchurch | Ab (Abba, a man called Abba (reconstructed)) + church (cirice, church) | Habechirce · c.1200 | Saxon |
| Acton | Ac (āc, oak tree(s)) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate; later a town) | Acton · 1181 | Saxon |
| Addington | Eddin (Eadda, a man called Eadda or Æddi (reconstructed)) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Eddintone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Addiscombe | Addis (Æddi, a man called Æddi (reconstructed)) + combe (camp, enclosed land) | Edescamp · 1229 | Saxon |
| Addle Hill | Addle (ætheling, prince (genitive -es or plural -a)) + strate (strǣt, Roman road, from Latin strata) | Adhelingestrate · 1244 | Saxon |
| Addle Street | Addle (adela, a dirty, muddy place) + lane (lane, lane) | Addelane · 1304 | Saxon |
| Adelphi | Adelphi (adelphoi, brothers (Greek)) | Adelphi · late 18th c. | Modern |
| Agar Grove | Agar (William Agar, developer) | Agar Town · 1830s | Modern |
| Albany | Albany (a royal dukedom) | Albany · late 18th c. | Modern |
| Aldborough Hatch | Aldborough (the Alborgh family (14th–15th c.)) + Hatch (hæcc, a hatch gate, into Hainault Forest) | Aldborough Hacche · c.1490 | Saxon |
| Aldermanbury | Alderman (ealdormann, alderman, nobleman of rank) + bury (byrig, manor (dative byrig, not a fort)) | Aldremanesburi · c.1124 | Saxon |
| Aldersbrook | Alders (alder, alders) + brook (broke, brook, small stream) | Aldersbroke · 1535 | Saxon |
| Aldersgate | Alders (Ealdrād, a man called Ealdrād (reconstructed)) + gate (geat, gate, opening in the wall) | Ealdredesgate · c.1000 | Saxon |
| Aldgate | Al (ealu, ale) + gate (geat, gate, opening in the wall) | Alegate · 1108 | Saxon |
| Aldwych | Ald (ald, old) + wych (wīc, trading settlement, specialised farm) | Aldewic · 1211 | Saxon |
| Alexandra Palace | Alexandra (Princess Alexandra of Denmark) | Alexandra Palace · 1873 | Modern |
| Allfarthing | All (healf, half) + farthing (fēorthing, a fourth part) | Elverding · c.1230 | Saxon |
| Alma Grove | Alma (a Crimean river, a battle) | Alma Grove · after 1854 | Modern |
| Alperton | Alper (Ealhbeorht, a man called Ealhbeorht (reconstructed)) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Alprinton · 1199 | Saxon |
| Amen Corner | Amen (the prayer word) | Amen Lane · 1603 | Modern |
| America Square | America (the transatlantic trade) | America Square · c.1768 | Modern |
| Amwell Street | Amwell (*Æmma + wella, spring of a man called *Æmma (reconstructed)) | Amwell Street · early 17th c. | Modern |
| Anerley | Anerley (anerly, solitary, lonely (Scots)) | Anerley · mid-19th c. | Modern |
| Angel | Angel (an inn sign) | the Angel · 17th c. | Modern |
| Aperfield | Aper (apuldor, apple-tree) + field (feld, open land) | Apeldrefeld · 1242 | Saxon |
| Archway | Archway (a stone arch, then an iron one (1897)) | Archway · 19th c. | Modern |
| Ardleigh Green | Ardleigh (hǣth, heather, heath) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing) | le Haddeleye · 1362 | Saxon |
| Arkley | Ark ((e)arc, an ark, chest, fishing-bin (likely)) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing) | Arkleyslond · 1332 | Saxon |
| Arnos Grove | Arnos (the Arnold family) + Grove (grāf(a), grove, copse) | Arnoldes Grove · 1551 | Saxon |
| Arrandene | Arran (the Scottish island) + dene (dean, valley (house-name English)) | Arran Dean · c.1868 | Modern |
| Arsenal | Arsenal (the Royal Arsenal armoury) | Arsenal · 1913 | Modern |
| Artillery Lane | Artillery (the gunners’ practice ground) | Artyllerye lane · 1600 | Modern |
| Ave Maria Lane | Ave Maria (the Hail Mary prayer) | Ave-maria aly · c.1510 | Modern |
| Baber Bridge | Baber (Babba, a man called Babba (reconstructed)) + worth (worþ, enclosed settlement) | Babbewrth · 1268 | Saxon |
| Baker Street | Baker (William Baker, builder) | Baker Street · 1794 | Modern |
| Bakerloo | Baker (Baker Street) + loo (Waterloo (station)) | Bakerloo · 1906 | Modern |
| Balaclava Road | Balaclava (a Crimean battle) | Balaclava Road · after 1854 | Modern |
| Balham | Bal (*b(e)alg, smooth, rounded (dative -an)) + ham (hamm, meadow or enclosure in a river bend) | Belgeham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Barking | Bark (Berica, a man called Berica (reconstructed)) + ing (-ingas, the people of) | Berecingas · 687 | Saxon |
| Barnet | Barnet (bernette, little slope, bank (Old French)) | la Bernete · 1216–1307 | Norman |
| Battersea | Batter (Beaduric, a man called Beaduric) + sea (īeg, island, dry ground in marsh) | Badrices ege · 693 | Saxon |
| Beckenham | Becken (Becca, a man called Becca) + ham (hām, homestead) | BACHEHAM · 1086 | Saxon |
| Bedfont | Bed (Beda, a man called Beda) + font (funta, spring (Latin loan)) | Bedefunt · 1086 | Saxon |
| Belsize | Bel (bel, beautiful (Old French)) + size (assis, sited (Old French assis)) | Belassise · 1334–5 | Norman |
| Bermondsey | Bermond (Beornmund, a man called Beornmund) + sey (īeg, island, dry ground in marsh) | Bermundesye · 11th c. | Saxon |
| Bexley | Bex (box, box-tree) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing) | Bix · 1086 | Saxon |
| Blackwall | Black (blæc, black) + wall (weall, wall (weall — not a spring)) | Blakewale · 1377 | Saxon |
| Bloomsbury | Blooms (Blemund (Norman family, de Blemont)) + bury (byrig, manor (dative byrig, not a fort)) | Blemondisberi · 1281 | Saxon |
| Bow | Stratford (strǣt + ford, ford at the street (Roman road)) + Bow (boga, the arched bridge over the Lea) | Stratford atte Bowe · 1279 | Roman |
| Brent | Brent (*brigant-, high, elevated (Celtic)) | Breġuntford · 705 | Celtic |
| Brentford | Brent (the river Brent) + ford (ford, ford) | Breguntford · 705 | Saxon |
| Bromley | Brom (brōm, broom) + ley (lēah, field, pasture, clearing) | Bronlei · 1086 | Saxon |
| Brondesbury | Brondes (Brand, a man called Brand, sword (probably)) + bury (byrig, fortified place, manor (dative byrig)) | Brondesbury · 1291 | Saxon |
| Camberwell | Camber (obscure (nothing satisfactory found)) + well (wella, spring) | Cambrewelle · 1086 | Saxon |
| Cambridge Heath | Cambridge (Genebriht, Genebriht (perhaps)) + Heath (hǣth, heath) | Camprichtesheth · 1216–1307 | Saxon |
| Camden | Camden (the Earl’s title) | Camden · 1791 | Modern |
| Canary Wharf | Canary (the Canary Islands trade) + Wharf (quay, berth 32 (1936)) | Canary Wharf · 1937 | Modern |
| Charing Cross | Charing (*Caerra, the people of *Caerra) + Cross (Eleanor cross (Edward I)) | Cherringe · 1198 | Saxon |
| Chelsea | Chel (cealc, chalk) + sea (hȳð, landing-place on the river) | CEALC HYTHE · 785 | Saxon |
| Chelsfield | Chels (Cēol, a man called Cēol) + field (feld, open land) | Ciresfel · 1086 | Saxon |
| Chingford | Ching (the dwellers by the stumps) + ford (ford, ford) | Cingefort · 1086 | Saxon |
| Chislehurst | Chisle (ceosol, gravel) + hurst (hyrst, copse, wooded hill) | Ciselhyrst · Textus Roffensis | Saxon |
| Chiswick | Chis (cēse, cheese) + wick (wīc, specialised farm) | Ceswican · c.1000 | Saxon |
| Clapham | Clap (Cloppa, a man called Cloppa) + ham (hām, homestead) | Cloppaham · 9th c. | Saxon |
| Clapton | Clap (stumps (*clop?) or Cloppa) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Clopton · 1581 | Saxon |
| Clerkenwell | Clerken (cleric, of the clerks) + well (wella, well, spring) | fontem clericorum · c.1100 | Saxon |
| Colham | Col (Cola, a man called Cola (or the Colne)) + ham (hamm, enclosure, meadow) | Colanhomm · 831 | Saxon |
| Coulsdon | Couls (Col, a man called Col) + don (dūn, hill) | Colesdone · 10th c. | Saxon |
| Cowley | Cow (Cufa, a man called Cufa) + ley (lēah, pasture, clearing) | Cofenlea · 959 | Saxon |
| Cranford | Cran (cran, crane) + ford (ford, ford) | Cranforde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Cray | Cray (fresh (Welsh crai?) or chalk (Latin creta?)) | Crecca · before Cray | Celtic |
| Crayford | Cray (the river Cray) + ford (ford, ford) | Crecganford · 457 | Saxon |
| Crouch End | Crouch (cric, cross (from Latin crux)) + End (ende, boundary, limit) | atte Crouche · 1400 | Saxon |
| Croydon | Croy (croh, crocus) + don (denu, valley (not dūn hill)) | Croindeine · 11th c. | Saxon |
| Cubitt Town | Cubitt (William Cubitt, builder) | Cubitt Town · c.1850 | Modern |
| Cudham | Cud (Cuda, a man called Cuda) + ham (hām, homestead) | Codeham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Dagenham | Dagen (Daecca, a man called Daecca (reconstructed)) + ham (hām / hamm, homestead (hām) or river-bend land (hamm)) | Daeccanhaam · 687 | Saxon |
| Dalston | Dals (Deorlaf, a man called Deorlaf (probably)) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Dorleston · 1388 | Saxon |
| Darent | Darent (oak river (Celtic)) | Tærent · Saxon charters | Celtic |
| Dawley | Daw (dāl, portion, allotment) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing) | Dalle · 1210 | Saxon |
| De Beauvoir | De Beauvoir (assumed surname, 1822) | Benyon de Beauvoir · 1822 | Modern |
| Deptford | Dept (dēop, deep) + ford (ford, ford) | Depeford · 1293 | Saxon |
| Docklands | Docklands (the dock areas, collectively) | London Docklands · 1971 | Modern |
| Dulwich | Dul (dile, dill) + wich (wīc, farm) | Dilwihs · 967 | Saxon |
| Ealing | Eal (Gillingas, the Gillingas (folk-name)) + ing (-ingas, the people of) | Ylling · 1165 | Saxon |
| East Acton | East (ēast, eastern) + Acton (āc + tūn, farmstead by the oak trees) | Estacton · 1294 | Saxon |
| East Ham | East (ēast, eastern) + Ham (hamm, river-bend land) | Hame · 1086 | Saxon |
| Ebury | E (īeg, island (the Eye)) + bury (byrig, manor (later addition)) | Eia · 1086 | Saxon |
| Edgware | Edg (Ecg, a man called Ecg) + ware (wer, weir, dam, fishing pool) | Egces wer · 972 | Saxon |
| Edmonton | Edmon (Ēadhelm, the sons of Ēadhelm) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Adelmetone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Elephant & Castle | Elephant & Castle (a howdah-bearing elephant sign) | Elephant and Castle · 1765 | Modern |
| Eltham | Elt (eald, old) + ham (hām, homestead) | Alteham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Enfield | En (Ēana, a man called Ēana) + field (feld, open land, not woodland) | Enefelde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Erith | Eri (ærre / ēar, old (ærre?) or gravel (ēar?)) + th (hȳð, haven, landing-place) | Erhede · 1086 | Saxon |
| Farnborough | Farn (fearn, fern) + borough (beorg, hill (beorg — not a fort)) | FEARNBERGA · Textus Roffensis | Saxon |
| Finchley | Finch (*Pinca, a man called *Pinca (genitive -s)) + ley (lēah, pasture, clearing) | Pynchesle · 1243 | Saxon |
| Finsbury | Fins (Finn, a man called Finn (or Pin)) + bury (byrig, fortified place, manor (dative byrig)) | Finesbur · 1216–1307 | Saxon |
| Fitzrovia | Fitz (fitz, son of (Norman French)) + rovia (from (Fitz)Roy + -ia, 1940) | Fitzrovia · 1940 | Modern |
| Fulham | Ful (ful, full (crowded? overstocked? — not foul)) + ham (hamm, bend in the river) | Fullanhamme · 879/881 | Saxon |
| Greenford | Green (grēne, green) + ford (ford, ford) | grenan forda · 845 | Saxon |
| Greenwich | Green (grēne, green) + wich (wīc, trading-place) | Gronewic · 918 | Saxon |
| Gunnersbury | Gunners (Gunnhild, a woman called Gunnhild) + bury (byrig, manor (late -bury)) | Gunnyldesbury · 1348 | Saxon |
| Hackney | Hack (Haca, a man called Haca (reconstructed)) + ney (ēg, island, dry ground in marsh) | Hackney · 1198 | Saxon |
| Hackney Wick | Hackney (Haca’s island (see Hackney)) + Wick (wīc, dwelling, dairy farm) | la Wyke · 1242 | Saxon |
| Hammersmith | Hammer (Heahmaer, a man called Heahmaer (probably)) + smith ((ge)mȳthe, river mouth, junction of waters) | Hameresmythe · 1312 | Saxon |
| Hampstead | Hamp (hām, home) + stead (stede, place, stead) | Hamestede · 1086 | Saxon |
| Hampton Wick | Hampton (the home farm (Hampton)) + Wick (wīc, dwelling, farm) | Hamptone la Wyke · 1268 | Saxon |
| Hanwell | Han (Hana, a man called Hana) + well (wella, spring, well) | Hanewelle · 959 | Saxon |
| Hanworth | Han (Hana, a man called Hana (cock)) + worth (worþ, farm, enclosure) | Haneworde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Harefield | Hare (here, army) + field (feld, open space) | Herefelle · 1086 | Saxon |
| Harlington | Harling (Hygered, the sons of Hygered) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Herdintone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Harmondsworth | Harmonds (Heremod, a man called Heremod) + worth (worþ, enclosure, holding) | Hermodesworde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Harringay | Harring (Hæring, the people of Hæring) + ay (ēg, island (kept spelling)) | Haringue · 1201 | Saxon |
| Hatch End | Hatch (hæcc, hatch gate) + End (ende, end, edge) | atte Hacche · 1393 | Saxon |
| Hatton | Hat (hǣth, heath) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Hatone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Hayes | Hayes (hēse, brushwood land) | linganhese · 793 | Saxon |
| Hendon | Hen (hēah, high) + don (dūn, hill) | Heandun · 978 | Saxon |
| Heston | Hes (Hise, Hise (perhaps)) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Hestune · c.1180 | Saxon |
| Highbury | High (hēah, high) + bury (byrig, manor or stronghold (dative byrig)) | Heybury · c.1370 | Saxon |
| Highgate | High (hēah, high) + gate (geat, gate, opening (toll-gate)) | Heygate · 1391 | Saxon |
| Hillingdon | Hilling (hyll + -ing-, the hill-dwellers) + don (dūn, hill, down) | Hillendone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Holborn | Hol (hol, hollow) + born (burna, stream) | Holeburne · 1086 | Saxon |
| Holloway | Hollo (holh, hollow) + way (weg, way, road) | Holwey · 1480 | Saxon |
| Hornsey | Horns (Hæring, the people of Hæring) + ey (ēg, island, dry ground in marsh) | Haringue · 1201 | Saxon |
| Horsenden | Horsen (Horsa, Horsa (or his sons)) + den (dūn, hill) | Horsendun · 1203 | Saxon |
| Houndsditch | Hounds (hund, of the hounds) + ditch (dīc, ditch, or dike) | Hundesdich · 1216–1307 | Saxon |
| Hounslow | Houns (Hund, a man called Hund (dog)) + low (hlāw, mound, tumulus) | Honeslauu · 1086 | Saxon |
| Hoxton | Hox (Hōh, a man called Hōh) + ton (tūn, farmstead, enclosure) | Hoohestone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Hyde Park | Hyde (hīd, a hide (land measure)) | Hida · 1204 | Saxon |
| Ickenham | Icken (Ticca, a man called Ticca) + ham (hām, homestead) | Ticheham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Ilford | Il (debated (Īeg? ȳle?)) + ford (ford, ford) | ILEFORT · 1086 | Saxon |
| Isle of Dogs | Isle of Dogs (enigma since 1520) | the Isle of Dogs · 1520 | Open |
| Isleworth | Isle (*Gistel, a man called *Gistel) + worth (worþ, enclosure, farm, estate) | Gistelesworde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Islington | Isling (īsen, iron (or an Isen- name)) + ton (dūn, hill (dūn)) | Iseldone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Kensington | Kensing (Cynesige, the sons of Cynesige) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Chenesitun · 1086 | Saxon |
| Kenton | Ken (Cena, the sons of Cena (or Coena)) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Keninton · 1232 | Saxon |
| Kingsbury | Kings (cynges, king’s) + bury (byrig, manor, or fortified place (dative byrig)) | Cyngesbyrig · 966 | Saxon |
| Kingston | Kings (cyning, king’s) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Cyngestun · 10th c. | Saxon |
| Lambeth | Lam (lamb, lamb) + beth (hȳð, landing-place on the river) | Lanchei · 1086 | Saxon |
| Lea | Lea (*lug-, bright, or flow (Celtic)) | Lygan · 895 | Celtic |
| Lewisham | Lewish (Lēofsa, a man called Lēofsa) + am (hām, homestead) | Levesham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Leyton | Ley (the river Lea) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Leituna · 1086 | Saxon |
| London | London (pre-Celtic, still debated) | Londinio · AD 65–80 | Open |
| Malden | Mal (mæl, cross) + den (dūn, hill) | Meldone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Marylebone | Maryle (St Mary (the church)) + bone (burna, stream (bourne, not good)) | Mariborne · 1535 | Saxon |
| Merton | Mer (mere, mere, pool) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Mertone · 967 | Saxon |
| Mitcham | Mit (micel, big) + cham (hām, homestead) | Miceham · 8th c. | Saxon |
| Mole | Mole (Mul + ēg, from Molesey, Mul’s island (or Latin mola, mill)) | Muleseg · c.675 | Saxon |
| Muswell Hill | Mus (mēos, mossy) + well (wella, spring, well) | Mosewella · 1152–60 | Saxon |
| Neasden | Neas (nes, nose) + den (dūn, hill) | Neasdune · 939 | Saxon |
| Newham | New (new (1965 invention)) + ham (the old Ham territory) | Newham · 1965 | Modern |
| Northolt | North (norþ, northern) + olt (halh, nook (hale — the t is fake)) | Northala · 1086 | Saxon |
| Old Ford | Old (eald, old) + Ford (ford, ford) | Eldeford · 1349 | Saxon |
| Orpington | Orping (Orped, the sons of Orped) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Orpedingtune · 1032 | Saxon |
| Osterley | Oster (eowistre, sheepfold (ewe-fold)) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing) | Osterlee · 1351 | Saxon |
| Paddington | Padding (Pada, the sons of Pada) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Padintune · 959 | Saxon |
| Penge | Pen (*penn, head, end (Brittonic)) + ge (*koid, wood (Brittonic)) | Penceat · 1067 | Celtic |
| Pimlico | Pimlico (Ben Pimlico’s ale, or Pamlico Sound) | Pimlico · 1598 Hoxton | Modern |
| Plaistow | Plai (plega, play) + stow (stōw, place) | Playstowe · 1414 | Saxon |
| Plumstead | Plum (plūme, plum-tree) + stead (stede, place) | Plumstede · 960 | Saxon |
| Putney | Put (Putta, a man called Putta (reconstructed)) + ney (hȳð / lēah, landing-place (hȳð) or clearing (lēah)) | Putelei · 1086 | Saxon |
| Rainham | Rain (Ricinga, the Ricingas (folk-name)) + ham (hām, homestead) | Ricingahaam · 687 | Saxon |
| Ravensbourne | Ravens (rand, boundary, edge) + bourne (burna, stream) | Randesbourne · 1360 | Saxon |
| Richmond | Rich (riche, rich, strong (Breton French)) + mond (mont, hill (Breton French mont)) | Rychemount · 1501 | Norman |
| Rotherhithe | Rether (rowers (rōther?) or cattle (hrȳðer?)) + hithe (hȳð, landing-place on the river) | Rethereshide · 893 | Saxon |
| Soho | Soho (hunting call Soho!) | Soho · 1636 | Modern |
| Southwark | South (sūþerne, southern) + wark (geweorc, fortification, defensive work) | Suthringa geweorc · 10th c. | Saxon |
| Stamford Hill | Stam (stān, stone, stony) + ford (ford, ford) | Staneford · 1321 | Saxon |
| Stepney | Step (Stybba, a man called Stybba (reconstructed)) + ney (hȳð, landing-place on the river) | Stybbanhythe · c.1000 | Saxon |
| Stoke Newington | Newing (nīwe, new) + ton (tūn, farmstead, enclosure) | Neutone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Strand | Strand (strand, margin, edge, shore) | Stranda · 1219 | Saxon |
| Streatham | Streat (strǣt, Roman road, from Latin strata) + ham (hām, a dwelling) | Stretham · 7th c. | Roman |
| Sudbury | Sud (sūth, southern) + bury (byrig, fortified place (dative byrig)) | Susbure · 1066 | Saxon |
| Sutton | Sut (sūth, southern) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Sudtone · 11th c. | Saxon |
| Teddington | Tedding (Tuda, the sons of Tuda (or *Tedda)) + ton (tūn, farmstead, estate) | Tudingtun · 960 | Saxon |
| Thames | Thames (*tamēsa, perhaps dark (Celtic *tamēsa)) | Tamesis · 54 BC | Celtic |
| Thamesmead | Thames (the river) + mead (meadow) | Thamesmead · 1967 | Modern |
| Thorney Island | Thorney (þorn + īeg, thorn island) | Torneia · 785 | Saxon |
| Tollington | Tolling (Tola, the sons of Tola) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Tolentone · 1086 | Saxon |
| Tooting | Toot (*Tota, a man called *Tota (reconstructed)) + ing (-ingas, the people of) | Totinges · 1086 | Saxon |
| Tottenham | Totten (Tot(t)a, a man called Tota) + ham (hām, home, enclosure) | Toteham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Twickenham | Twicken (Twica, a man called Twica (not crossroads)) + ham (hamm, bend in the river) | Tuican hom · 704 | Saxon |
| Twyford | Twy (twi, double) + ford (ford, ford) | Tueverde · 1086 | Saxon |
| Tyburn | Ty (tīege?, tie, bond, enclosure (debated)) + burn (burna, stream) | Teoburnan · 971 | Saxon |
| Upminster | Up (upp, upper) + minster (mynster, monastery) | UPMONSTRA · 1086 | Saxon |
| Uxbridge | Ux (Wuxa? water (*wysc?)? — disputed) + bridge (brycg, bridge (over the Colne)) | Woxbrigg · 1316 | Saxon |
| Vauxhall | Vaux (Falkes de Bréauté (d. 1226)) + hall (hall, hall, manor house) | la Sale Faukes · 1293 | Norman |
| Walthamstow | Waltham (Wilcume, the Wilcume (Welshmen?)) + stow (stōw, place) | WILCUMESTOU · 1086 | Saxon |
| Wandle | Wandle (from Wandsworth, Wendle’s enclosure) | Hlidenburnan · 12th c. | Saxon |
| Wandsworth | Wands (Wendle, a man called Wendle) + worth (worþ, enclosure) | Wendleswurthe · 7th c. | Saxon |
| Wanstead | Wan (Wæn? (first element debated)) + stead (stede, place) | WENESTEDA · 1086 | Saxon |
| Wapping | Wapp (*wapol, marsh (revised; was *Waeppa)) + ing (-ing, place characterised by) | Wapping mill · 1218 | Saxon |
| Wembley | Wemb (*Wemba, a man called *Wemba) + ley (lēah, woodland clearing, pasture) | Wemba lea · 825 | Saxon |
| West Drayton | Dray (drǣg, hidden nook, retreat) + ton (tūn, farmstead) | Draegtun · 939 | Saxon |
| West Ham | West (west, western) + Ham (hamm, river-bend land) | Hame · 1086 | Saxon |
| West Wickham | Wick (wīc, dwelling, farm (wīc)) + ham (hām, homestead) | Wicheham · 1086 | Saxon |
| Westbourne | West (west, western) + bourne (burna, stream) | Westeburne · 1259 | Saxon |
| Westminster | West (west, western) + minster (mynster, monastery (from Latin monasterium)) | uuestmunstur · 785 | Saxon |
| Willesden | Willes (Willa, a man called Willa) + den (dūn, hill (dūn; -den is new)) | Wellesdune · 939 | Saxon |
| Wimbledon | Wimble (Wynnman, a man called Wynnman) + don (dūn, hill) | Wimmeldon · 13th c. | Saxon |
| Woodford | Wood (wudu, wood) + ford (ford, ford) | WDEFORT · 1086 | Saxon |
| Wormholt | Worm (Wyrma, a man called Wyrma (dragon-name)) + holt (holt, wood, copse) | Wermeholte · 1200 | Saxon |
| Yeading | Yead (Gedd, the sons of Gedd (or Geddi)) + ing (-ingas, the people, the sons of) | Geddincggum · 825 | Saxon |
Layers
Five conquests, one map
London was never renamed all at once. Each wave of rulers named what it saw and kept what it could pronounce — so the map reads bottom-up like strata.
The rivers that stayed Celtic · 6 names in the decoder
The Saxons renamed the farms but kept the river-names they heard: the Thames (perhaps ‘the dark one’ — Tamesis when Caesar crossed in 54 BC), the Lea, the Brent, the Darent, the Cray — plus Penge, ‘head of the wood’, a whole settlement that slipped through in British. Three rivers break the rule on purpose: the Wandle, the Ravensbourne and the Mole are Old English latecomers, named after the settlements instead of the other way round. (Mills, Hasted, VCH)
The street the Saxons could still see · 2 names in the decoder
Strǣt is a loanword from Latin strata — the regular Old English word for a Roman road in place-names. Streatham is the ham on the London road (Stretham in the 7th century); Watling Street is Wæcelinga Stræt, the street of Wæcel’s people. London itself kept its Roman name straight into Lunden — likely why the capital has no -chester, while St Albans, which lost Verulamium, became Wætlingaceaster. The City gates are doors, not streets: Aldgate and Aldersgate are Old English geat, an opening — where York’s gates are Norse gata, streets. (Lysons, Historic England, EPNS)
The grammar of farms · 161 names in the decoder
The big layer: 161 decoded names built from a small kit of parts — tūn farms, hām and hamm hams, lēah clearings, burh manors, dūn hills, īeg islands, hȳð landing-places, wīc farms and ports. The stems are Saxon men and women known only from the names themselves: every asterisk is a ghost. (Mills, VCH, Bonner)
The French shelf (thin by design) · 4 names in the decoder
The Normans added family names to manors and left the Saxon map standing. London’s true French layer is three stones: Belsize, ‘beautifully sited’ (1334–5); Vauxhall, the hall of Falkes de Bréauté; and Richmond, renamed from Sheen by Henry VII in 1501 for his Yorkshire earldom. Malden looks French and is not — Old English for a cross on a hill. (VCH)
Invented yesterday · 29 names in the decoder
Camden (building leases 1791), Newham (1 April 1965), Thamesmead (a newspaper competition, 1967, £20 prize), Canary Wharf (a fruit warehouse, 1937), Fitzrovia (first printed 1940), Soho (a hunting cry, 1636): 29 names coined, borrowed or won in living memory — proof the map is still being written. (Survey of London, VCH, RIBA)
The ones that won’t crack · 2 names in the decoder
London itself — Londinio on a tablet of AD 65–80, still unexplained after 150 years of philology — plus the Isle of Dogs, an enigma since 1520, and Putney, where landing-place and clearing still fight it out in the journals. Open badges are not gaps in the research; they are the research. (Survey of London, JEPNS)
One ending, two words
Which ham is which?
The ending -ham hides two Old English words that sound the same and mean different things. Charters and rivers tell them apart — when they tell at all.
hām: the home
hām
home, house, estate
- Streatham’s ham is ‘a dwelling’ (Lysons, Environs of London)
- Dagenham’s Daeccanhaam (687) could be this one
- Bosworth-Toller: home, house, estate, property
hamm: the river-bend
hamm
enclosure, meadow in a river bend
- Balham’s Bælgenham (957 charter) is hamm (Mills)
- Belgeham in Domesday Book (1086)
- The same word as in ‘the enclosure’ (Bosworth-Toller)
So: Balham is proven hamm. Dagenham, with its 687 charter form and no landscape to check it against, could be either — and the serious sources say so. When a decoder badge reads ‘inferred’, this is usually why.
Sound shifts
How endings wear down
Unstressed endings shed sounds for a thousand years: consonants drop, vowels collapse to e, whole syllables vanish. Twelve London names, three spellings each — then the two rules that govern them all.
| Today | Old English | Earliest written | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balham | *b(e)alg + hamm | Bælgenham 957 | the vowel settles, hamm freezes |
| Acton | āc + tūn | Acton 1181 | almost unchanged for 800 years |
| Chelsea | cealc + hȳð | CEALC HYTHE 785 | h drops, -hythe becomes -ey, then -sea |
| Battersea | Beaduric + īeg | Badrices ege 693 | five syllables wear down to three |
| Stepney | Stybba + hȳð | Stybbanhythe c.1000 | -hythe wears all the way to -ney |
| Wandsworth | Wendle + worþ | Wendleswurth 7th c. | Domesday writes -orde for -worth |
| Aldwych | eald + wīc | Aldewic 1211 | the old trading place keeps its y |
| Tooting | *Tota + -ingas | Totinges 1086 | the ending sheds its Latin-looking tail |
| Malden | mæl + dūn | Meldone 1086 | the hill ending shortens to -don |
| Ardleigh Green | hǣth + lēah | le Haddeleye 1362 | the clearing loses its h |
| Kingsbury | cyng + byrig | Cyngesbyrig 966 | the dative byrig becomes -bury |
| Aldermanbury | ealdormann + byrig | Aldremanesburi c.1124 | -bury already means manor, no fort |
The 1086 distortion field
Domesday’s Norman clerks could not spell English sounds: th becomes d (Chelched for Celchyth), B becomes P (Patricesy for Batric-), whole endings are guessed. Domesday spellings are evidence, not verdicts — always check the charters before and the Middle English after. (Bonner)
The dog that didn’t bark
Middle English lengthened short vowels in stressed open syllables — but endings are unstressed, so they reduce instead of stretching. The engine runs on loss, not lengthening.
The master rule
Unstressed second elements shed consonants, collapse vowels and lose whole syllables; folk etymology then re-dresses the remains (-ey becomes -sea, -hythe becomes -ey). Every shift above is this rule wearing a different ending.
Test yourself
Folk tale or true parse?
Twelve London names, two readings each. One is what the name seems to say; the other is what the earliest form proves. The earliest form is always the reveal.
Chelsea
chalk landing-place CEALC HYTHE, 785. The sea arrived 800 years later, by respelling.
Battersea
Beaduric’s island Badrices ege, 693. Patrick and the sea were both ruled out.
Aldgate
the ale gate Alegate, 1108. The -d- sneaked in during the 1600s.
Stepney
Stybba’s landing-place Stybbanhythe, c.1000. The -ney is a worn-down landing-place.
Wapping
the marsh The county history withdrew *Waeppa: no such name was ever found. Marsh it is.
Barking
Berica’s people Berecingas, 687. Berica’s people — with the birch ruled out.
Tooting
Tota’s people Totinges, 1086. No hill, no horn: the lookout theory failed.
Hackney
Haca’s island First written 1198. The horse is named for the place, not the reverse.
Soho
a hunting cry Soho, 1636. Shouted at hounds centuries before Manhattan.
Vauxhall
Falkes’s hall la Sale Faukes, 1293. A Norman captain’s manor house.
Isle of Dogs
nobody knows The Isle of Dogs, 1520. The county history calls it an enigma.
Elephant & Castle
an inn sign Elephant and Castle, 1765. The Infanta story is a myth.
The true parses, all twelve
- Chelsea — chalk landing-place
- Battersea — Beaduric’s island
- Aldgate — the ale gate
- Stepney — Stybba’s landing-place
- Wapping — the marsh
- Barking — Berica’s people
- Tooting — Tota’s people
- Hackney — Haca’s island
- Soho — a hunting cry
- Vauxhall — Falkes’s hall
- Isle of Dogs — nobody knows
- Elephant & Castle — an inn sign
Sources
Receipts
Four shelves. County histories and the Survey of London carry the verdicts; the dictionaries carry the glosses; Domesday and the charters carry the dates.
Domesday & charters
County histories & the Survey
Dictionaries & papers
What the badges mean
- Attested: a published source ties the earliest form to the meaning.
- Inferred: the scholars’ best reading, hedged with probably or a second-hand form.
- Open: live dispute or genuine enigma — London, the Isle of Dogs, Putney.
- Every asterisk is a ghost: *Tota means nobody ever wrote Tota down.
Type: Fraunces and Source Serif 4, under the SIL Open Font Licence.
Keep walking
Thirty-three boroughs, one by one — with their own ending explorer next door:
Short answers
What does Hackney mean?
Probably Haca’s island: raised, dry ground in marshland, named for a Saxon man called Haca — first written down in 1198. The hackney horse is named for the place, not the reverse.
Why do so many London names end in -ham?
Because -ham is two endings wearing one coat: hām, a home or estate, and hamm, a meadow or enclosure in a river bend. Only the earliest spellings tell them apart — Balham’s 957 charter proves hamm; Dagenham’s 687 form could be either.
Is -sea ever the sea?
In Battersea and Chelsea, never: both are worn-down landing-places and islands (-īeg, -hȳð), respelled with an ea centuries later. The sea has nothing to do with either.
How certain are these meanings?
Each of the 204 parses carries a badge: attested where a published source ties form to meaning, inferred where the scholars hedge, open where the journals still argue. Open badges are the honest part.