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

Celtic languages
The Proto-Indo-European language developed into various daughter languages, including the Proto-Celtic language.

In Proto-Celtic ("PC"), the Proto-Indo-European ("PIE") 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 ( atrebo, plural), (Old) Irish athair / athir.Pierre-Yves Lambert, La Langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 16 - 17

After that, languages derived from Proto-Celtic changed PC * kw into either * p or * k (see: P-Celtic and Q-Celtic languages). In P-Celtic languages, PC * kw changed into * p. In Q-Celtic dialects it developed into / k/.

P-Celtic languages include the Continental and the Brittonic branch of Insular Celtic. is the ancestor of , and .

Ancient Q-Celtic languages include the Continental Celtiberian and the Goidelic branch of Insular Celtic. Goidelic is the ancestor of the Gaelic languages , and .

Examples : PIE kʷetwóres "four" >

  • Proto-Italic kʷettwōr "four" > Latin quattuor
  • Proto-Celtic kʷetwares "four" > Irish ceathair, Scottish Gaelic ceithir "four", but Gaulish petuarios "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 -(i)acon (Latin -(i)acum / (i)acus) < endings -ay, -ey, -é, -(i)ac in Gaul.Pierre-Yves Lambert, La langue gauloise, Editions Errance, 1994, p. 39. Brittonic *-ocon / -*ogon 'place of, property of'; Old Breton -oc > -euc > -ek / -eg ( -ec), Welsh -(i)og, etc.
  • Celtic bonus, *bona 'base, foundation' > Old Irish bun 'base, stem, stock', Welsh bon 'base, stem, stock'
  • Celtic briga 'hill, high place'Lambert, p. 37 > Welsh bri 'honourable, respected' (not directly related to Welsh bryn 'hill'), Irish brí 'hill; strength, vigour, significance'.
  • Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated'; used as a feminine divine name, rendered Brigantia in Latin, Old Irish 'exalted one', name of a goddess.
  • Celtic brīwa, *brīua 'bridge'
  • Celtic dubros 'water' > Old Irish dobur 'water', Welsh Welsh dwfr, 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 (wood), assart' > Welsh (tir) 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', '', '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 (France, Cambdonno / Cambindonno 6-7th century), Champbezon (France, Chambedon 11th century), Kempten (Germany, Camboduno 3rd century)
  • Mediolanum > Meulan (France), Milano (Italy)..
  • Noviomagus > Nouvion, Nogent, Novion, Nijon, etc. (France), Nijmegen (Netherland); former name of , Crayford, England
  • Ebur(i)acum > Ivry, Évry (France), former name of , England
  • Epiacum > Epfig (Alsace, France, Epiaco 12th century); X (unknown location in Great-Britain)
  • Lugdunum > Lyon, Lion, Loudun, Laon, Lauzun (France), Leiden / Leyde (Netherlands)
  • Rigomagus > Riom (France), Remagen (Germany)
  • Segodunum > Suin, Syon (France); X unclear location near Würzburg (Germany)
  • Vuerodunum > several Verdun (France), Verduno (Italy, Piedmont), Verdú (Spain, Catalonia), Birten (Germany, Xanten)

Continental Celtic
Austria
  • , , Latin Brigantium : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
  • Wien, English , Latin : from Celtic windo- 'white' (Welsh gwyn) + bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump', Irish bun 'bottom, base')

Belgium
  • , Latin Arduenna Silva : from divine name : from Celtic ardu- 'high' (Irish ard) + Latin silva 'forest'
  • Gent, English , Latin Gandavum : from divine name

France
Most of the main cities in France have a Celtic name (the original Gaulish one or the name of the Gaulish tribe).

  • : from , a Celtic tribe, replaces Samarobriva 'bridge on the river Somme'
  • : from , a Celtic tribe, replaces Juliomagus 'market place dedicated to Julius'
  • : 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 Argenton
  • Argentorate, now
  • : from Arelate
  • : from , a Celtic tribe, replaces Nemetacum, nemeto- 'sacred place' + suffix -acon
  • Augustonemetum, now
  • : from Augustodunum, 'town dedicated to Augustus'
  • : from / Bodiocassi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Augustodurum. 'forum dedicated to '
  • : from Biturigi, a Celtic tribe, replaces Avaricum
  • Briançon < Brigantium, from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
    • several places called Briançon
  • Brive < Briva 'bridge'
    • several places called Brives
  • < 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'Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, 2nd edn. (Paris: Errance, 2003), p. 111.
    • several places called Cahan,
  • : from Carentomagus
    • several places called Charenton, etc.
  • Chambord
    • several places called Chambord, , Chambourg
  • : from , name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Autricum
  • Condom : from Condatomagus
    • other place : Condom-d'Aubrac
  • Divodurum (Latin), now , Lorraine, from Celtic diwo- 'god, holy, divine' (Scottish Gaelic dia 'god') + * duro- 'fort'
  • (also the French name of ) from Celtic dubron, dubra 'water'
    • several places called Douvres
  • Drevant : from Derventum, Celtic dervo 'oak tree' + suffix -entu
  • Évreux : from Eburovici replaces Mediolanum (see below)
  • : from Divoritum 'ford on the river Dives' (Dives from Celtic *dewo 'stream')
  • : from Juliobona 'foundation dedicated to Julius'
  • < (Civitas) Lexoviensis; former NoviomagusSee Noviomagus and . 'new market', Old Celtic noviios 'new', magos 'field, plain'.
  • , Rhône, Latin : from Celtic lug- '' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + * dūnon 'fortress'
  • Mediolanum : from Celtic
    • several places called Nant, Nans
    • several places called Nanteuil, , Nampteuil, Nanteau..
  • ( Nemptu doro 5th century) : from nemeto- 'sacred place' + duro- 'gate', 'forum'
  • , Latin Noviomagus Veromanduorum, from Celtic nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + magos 'field, plain'
    • several places called Noviomagus : Nouvion, Noyen, , , Nojeon, , Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, etc.
  • Orange : from Arausio, a water god
  • : from Parisii (Gaul), name of a Celtic tribe, replaces Lukotekia / Lutetia
  • Périgueux / Périgord : from Petrocorii 'the four armies'
  • < Petromantalum < petro-mantalo- 'four road' = 'crossing'
  • : from , a Celtic tribe, replaces Condate
    • several places called Condé, Condat, Candé, etc.
  • : from Rigomagus
  • < Rotomagus,Other examples include Ruan ( Rothomago 1233 / Rotomagus 5th century), Rom. sometimes Ratómagos or Ratumacos (on the coins of the tribe). 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 (gen. maige) 'field' 'plain', Old Breton ma 'place'. The whole thing could mean 'hippodrome', 'racecourse' or 'wheel market'.Delamarre 2003, pp. 261-2.
    • several places called , Ruan, Rom, etc.
  • Vandœuvre < *vindo-briga 'white fortress'
    • several places called Vandœuvres, Vendeuvre, Vendœuvres
  • , 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
  • : from vidua 'forest' , Vion
    • several places called , Vove
  • Vion : from Vidumagus 'forest market'
    • several places called Vion,

Germany
From Celtic alisa, s.f., ''. (Compare the modern Erlenbach) and Old High German (OHG) aha, s.n., 'flowing water'.

  • de Amarahe (?), a lost river name near c. 800 CE
  • Amerbach, a stream near Groß-Umstadt, Babenhausen,
  • Ammer
  • , a stream near Harpertshausen
  • , a stream near Mümling and the village named after it.
  • < Perhaps from Celtic ambara, 'channel, river'. Compare Indo-European amer-, 'channel, river' > ἀμάρη (amárē), 'channel'. Or, from Celtic amara, ', a type of grain'.
  • a suburb of Höchst
  • in originally Onoltesbah 837 CE : from Celtic onno-, '' plus an OHG bach, 'small river'.
  • Boiodurum, now Innstadt, Passau, Niederbayern : first element is Celtic Boio-, tribal name (), possibly 'cattle-owner' ( cf. Irish bó 'cow') or 'warrior'. Second element is Celtic duro- 'fort'.
  • : from Celtic bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump')
  • : from Gaulish Boudobriga, "hill of victory". Containing the elements boudo- 'victory' (Welsh budd 'gain, benefit') + briga, 'hill'.
  • Düren, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Latin Durum : from Celtic duro- 'fort'
  • (Latin), a vast forest including the modern : from Celtic (φ)erkunos 'oak' or divine name + Latin silva 'forest'
  • Kempten im Allgäu, , Latin Cambodūnum : Celtic cambodūnom, * cambo- 'curved, bent, bowed, crooked', dūnon 'fortress'
  • , , Latin Moguntiacum : from Celtic mogunt-, 'mighty, great, powerful', used as a divine name (see ) + Celtic suffix -(i)acon
  • : from Celtic mago- 'plain, field'
  • , Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Noviomagus Trevirorum
  • Noviomagus Nemetum (Latin), now , Rheinland-Pfalz : from Celtic nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + magos 'field, plain'
  • , Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Rigomagus or Ricomagus : second element is from Celtic magos 'field, plain'. The first may be a variant of Celtic rigi- 'king, chief of *touta'
  • Tübingen : maybe hybrid form comprising a Celtic element and a Germanic suffix - ingen.. 1955. Namenforschung als Wissenschaft. Deutschlands Ortsnamen als Denkmäler keltischer Vorzeit. Frankfurt am Main. The element tub- in Tübingen could possibly arise from a Celtic dubo-, s.m., 'dark, black; sad; wild'. As found in the placenames of , Devlin, Dowling, and . Perhaps the reference is to the darkness of the river waters that flow near the town cf. river (France) and Dove (GB); if so, then the name can be compared to , , in England. Compare the late Vulgar Latin tubeta 'morass', from . The root is found in dub > dubh, dub > du, duw > du, du, dubo-, dubis, all meaning 'black; dark'
  • Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Latin Borbetomagus : second element from Celtic magos, 'plain, field', first perhaps related to Old Irish borb 'fierce, violent, rough, arrogant; foolish'

Hungary

Italy
  • , Lombardy, Latin Brigantia : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
  • , Liguria, English , Latin Genua : Perhaps from Celtic genu- 'mouth of'. (However, this Ligurian place-name, as well as that of Genava (modern ), probably derive the Proto-Indo-European root ĝenu- 'knee'. see Pokorny, IEW)
  • Milano, Lombardy, English , Latin : from Celtic medio- 'middle, central' > Old Irish mide 'middle, centre', Old Breton med, met > Breton mez 'middle', etc.Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, Paris (éditions errance) 2001, p. 221. 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'
  • , Veneto, Latin Bellunum : from Celtic *Bhel- 'bright' and *dūnon 'fortress'.
  • , Lombardy, Latin Bergomum : from Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia)
  • , Lombardy, Latin Brixia : from Celtic *briga- 'rocky height or outcrop'.
  • , Emilia Romagna, Latin Bononia : from Celtic *bona 'base, foundation' (Welsh bôn 'base, bottom, stump')

Netherlands
  • Lugdunum Batavorum (Latin), now , Zuid-Holland : from Celtic lug- '' (divine name) or perhaps 'light' + * dūnon 'fortress'
  • , Gelderland, Latin Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum : from Celtic nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + magos 'field, plain'

Poland

Portugal
  • , Braga Municipality, Portugal : from Celtic bracari- after the 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 (trees)'.
  • , Algarve, Portugal : from Celtic Lacobriga- 'Lake of Briga'.

Romania

Serbia
  • (Latin), now Beograd, English : second element from Celtic dūnon 'fortress'

Slovenia
  • , Latinized Celeia in turn from keleia, meaning 'shelter' in Celtic
  • (Latin), now Drnovo : second element from Celtic dūnon 'fortress'

Spain
Asturias and Cantabria
  • Deva, several rivers in northern Spain, and , Galicia, Spain : from Celtic diwā- 'goddess; holy, divine'
  • Mons Vindius (now the Cantabrian Mountains), NW Spain : from Celtic windo- 'white'.

Castile
  • , Castile and León, Spain, Greek Segoubía : from segu-, conjectured to be Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (theories).

Galicia
  • Tambre, a river in Galicia (Spain), Latin Tamaris : possibly from Celtic tames- 'dark' ( cf. Celtic temeslos > Welsh tywyll 'darkness'). Other theories.
  • , Medieval Latin Ogrobre 912:
    (2025). 9788478008186, Universidad de Salamanca.
    from Celtic ok-ro- 'acute; promontory'
    (2025). 9789004173361, Brill.
    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'.
    (2025). 9789004173361, Brill.
  • 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' (Welsh dwfr).
  • Monforte de Lemos (region), Latin Lemavos, after the local tribe of the Lemavi : from Celtic lemo- 'elm' + suffix -avo.
  • (region), Medieval Latin Nemitos 830 : from Celtic nemeton 'sanctuary'.
  • , Galicia, Spain, Greek Nouion:Ptolemy II 6.21. from Celtic nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd).

Switzerland
Switzerland, especially the , has many Celtic () toponyms. This old layer of names was overlaid with Latin names in the period,such as , Latin Basilea, from the personal name Basilius, ultimately of Greek origin, and, from the medieval period, with such as , founded 1191 and Romancesuch as Neuchâtel, founded 1011 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. Frick has been derived from (a) a Celtic word for "confluence", cognate with fork, (b) an Alemannic personal name Fricco and (c) Latin ferra ricia "iron mine, ironworks".

Examples of toponyms with established Gaulish etymology:

  • , from Salodurum. The -durum element means "doors, gates; palisade; town". The etymology of the salo- element is unclear.
  • , Bern: dunum "fort"
  • Windisch, Aargau, Latin : first element from windo- "white"
  • , Zürich, Latin or Vitodurum, from vitu "willow" and durum
  • Yverdon-les-Bains, from Eburodunum, from eburo- "" and dunum "fort".Bernhard Maier, Kleines Lexikon der Namen und Wörter keltischen Ursprungs, 2010, p. 51.
, (1959:325), s.v. "ē̆reb(h)-, ō̆rob(h)- 'dark reddish-brown colour'": "alb.-ligur.-kelt.-germ. eburo- 'rowan, mountain ash, yew, evergreen tree with poisonous needles'."
  • Zürich, Latin , from a Gaulish personal name Tūros
  • , from Lindomagos "lake-plain", originally the name of the plain formed by the and .

Insular Celtic
Brittonic
England (excluding Cornwall)
The main survey of Celtic place-names in this region is by and .
(2025). 9781900289412, Tyas.
. Evidence for a Celtic root to place names in 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 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 hint at this: , , and the Walpoles indicate their continued presence. Nearby , King's Lynn and have Celtic topographical elements.

  • (Welsh; ), Shropshire, from Brittonic *ambi-uk-t-iko ("little defense").
    (2023). 9789004653733, Brill.
  • Arden (forest of), Warwickshire - from Celtic ardu- 'high' (Irish ard)
  • From Brythonic abona 'river' (Welsh afon):
    • Avon (river), Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Somerset
    • Avon (river), Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset
    • Avon (river), Northamptonshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Gloucestershire
    • Avon or Aune (river), Devon
  • From Celtic iska 'water' (Irish uisce):
    • Axe (river), Devon/Dorset
    • Axe (river), Somerset
    • , Devon
    • , Devon
  • , East Riding of Yorkshire, from Brittonic beβr ("beaver") + *lech ("lair").
  • First element from Celtic briga 'hill':
    • , Somerset
    • , Worcestershire
    • Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire
    • , Staffordshire
    • Brill, Buckinghamshire
  • From Celtic brigant- 'high, lofty, elevated' (or divine name, Brigantia):
    • (river), Greater London
    • , Greater London
    • Bryn, Greater Manchester - from Welsh bryn, 'hill'.
  • , Stoke-on-Trent, the -lem element is a Celtic district name from lemano ("elm").
  • (Latin), now , Essex - from kamulos '' (divine name) + Celtic * dūnon 'fortress'
  • Catterick, North Riding of Yorks., catu ("battle") + ratis ("rampart") + onjon (suffix).
From *cem (root associated with cefn below) + -*ed (suffix)
    • Chevet, West Riding of Yorkshire
    • , Northumberland
  • , Wharfedale, equivalent to Welsh cefn ("ridge").
  • , North Riding of Yorkshire, equivalent to Welsh craig ("rock").
  • From Brythonic * crüg 'hill'Mills, AD. Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford University Press, 1991. (Irish cruach)
    • Creech St Michael, Somerset
    • , Somerset
    • , Derbyshire
    • Cricket St Thomas, Somerset
    • Crickheath, Shropshire
    • , Wiltshire
  • , Cheshire - from Old Welsh * criu 'river crossing'
  • Cunececestre (Old English), now Chester-le-Street, County Durham, from Latin , from *cönig, a root of uncertain meaning.
  • , Latin - from tribal name or Dumnones, from Celtic dumno- 'deep', 'world'
  • From Celtic dubr- 'water', dubrās 'waters' (Welsh dwfr; Breton dour):
    • , Kent, Latin Dubris
    • Andover, Hampshire
    • , Buckinghamshire
    • (river), Hampshire
    • Deverill (river), Wiltshire
  • Durham, County Durham, Latin Dunelm - first element is possibly dun, ' hill fort' (Welsh ddin, 'fort').
  • First element from Celtic duro- 'fort'; in Dūrobrīvae, Celtic brīwa 'bridge':
    • Durobrivae (Latin), now Rochester, Kent and , Cambridgeshire
    • Durovernum Cantiacorum (Latin), now , Kent
  • From Celtic iska 'water' (Irish uisce); second element in Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) is a tribal name (see Devon):
  • , Gloucestershire, from Latin Glevum (+ Old English ceaster), from gleiwom ("bright place").
  • Holland, Lincolnshie, possibly from haiw- ("a swamp") (+ OE land).
  • From the equivalent of Welsh ynys ("island").
  • Inskip, Lancashire, equivalent to ynys-cyb ("bowl-shaped island").
  • , Lincolnshire, from cēt- ("a wood") (+ Old Norse stefna ("a meeting place") added later).
    (2025). 9780191578472, OUP Oxford.
  • , Surrey - from Brythonic * lēd- from + rïd- from = "Grey Ford"
  • Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Latin Lindum Colonia - from Celtic lindo- 'pool' + Latin colonia 'colony'
  • From Brittonic mamm- 'breast'
  • Noviomagus (Latin), now , West Sussex and , Kent - from Celtic nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd) + magos 'field, plain'
  • , Staffordshire, from *onnā ("ash trees").
  • From *panto- and its descendants (Welsh pant, Cumbric pant).
    • Pant, , West Riding of Yorkshire
    • Pant Foot, Ingleton, West Riding of Yorkshire
    • Pantend, Westmorland
    • , Gloucestershire
    • Pont (river), , Northumberland
  • Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire - equivalent with Welsh pen-y-gant ("summit of the border") or pen-y-gynt ("summit of the heathen").
  • Pengethley, Herefordshire - from Brythonic * penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen) + possibly * kelli 'to stand' (Welsh gelli)
  • From Brythonic penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen) + koid- 'wood' (Welsh coed), or cēd- 'wood':
  • First element from Brittonic * penn- 'hill, top, head, chief' (Welsh pen 'head, end, chief, supreme') = Irish ceann 'head', from Proto-Celtic kwenno-:
    • Pencraig, Herefordshire
    • , Greater Manchester
    • Pendleton, Lancashire
    • , Worcestershire
    • , West Midlands
    • Penn, Buckinghamshire
    • Penn, West Midlands
    • , Staffordshire
    • , Sunderland
  • Pen Bal Crag, , from pen ("head") + wāl ("wall") (+ English crag).
  • , Wiltshire, Latin Sorviodūnum - second element from Celtic dūnon 'fortress'
  • (Latin), now , Tyne and Wear - from Celtic for 'victorious', 'strength' or 'dry' (theories). Second element is Celtic dūnon 'fortress'.
  • , south Oxfordshire - from Celtic seno- 'old' + dūnon 'fortress'
  • Possibly from Celtic tames- 'dark' ( cf. Celtic temeslos > Welsh tywyll 'darkness'):
    • (river), Devon/Cornwall
    • Tame (river), Greater Manchester
    • Tame (river), North Yorkshire
    • Tame (river), West Midlands
    • (river), Tyne and Wear
    • (river), Welsh Tefeidiad, Wales/Shropshire/Worcestershire
    • (river), Latin
  • (Latin), now London - 'Of the ', a tribal name, perhaps 'very energetic people' from Celtic tri- (intensive) + now- 'energetic', related to nowijo- 'new' (Welsh newydd)
  • (Latin), now , Hertfordshire - from Brittonic * weru- 'broad' + * lam- 'hand' from (Welsh llaw, Irish láimh)
  • , from wīg ("Roman ") + ann (suffix).
  • First element from Celtic windo- 'white' (Welsh gwyn); in Vindolanda, Celtic landā 'land, place' (Welsh llan). In Vindomora, second element could be 'sea' (Welsh môr, Irish muir):
  • , Northumberland, formerly Gefrin, equivalent to Welsh gafrfryn ("goat hill").
  • , Greek Ebōrakon, Latin Eboracum or Eburacum - from Celtic eburo- 'yew'

Scotland
The post-6th century AD Brittonic languages of Northern England and Scotland were and . Cumbric place-names are found in Scotland south of the River Forth, while Pictish names are found to the north.
  • , Aberdeenshire - from *aber ("river mouth").
  • , Ross-shire - formerly Abercrosan, from aber ("river mouth").
  • Arran - possibly equivalent to Middle Welsh aran ("high place").
  • , Inverness-shire - An Aghaidh Mhòr in Gaelic, possibly involving Brittonic *ag- ("a cleft").
  • , Stirlingshire - Lomond is equivalent to Welsh llumon ("beacon").
  • , Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh blaen ("extremes, source, front") + tir ("land").
  • , Fife - formerly Bladebolg, from Brittonic *blawd ("meal") + *bolg ("sack").
    (2025). 9781900289771, Shaun Tyas.
  • Burnturk, Fife - formerly Brenturk, equivalent to Welsh bryntwrch ("boar hill").
  • Dallas, Moray - equivalent to Welsh dôl ("haugh, meadow") + gwas ("abode").
  • Darnaway, Moray - possibly from ancient Brittonic Taranumagos ("thunder-plain").
  • Daviot, Inverness-shire - perhaps from Brittonic *dem- meaning "sure, strong".
  • Dull, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh dôl ("haugh, meadow").
  • , Dumfriesshire - equivalent to Welsh eglwysfechan ("small church").
  • , Midlothian - from Din Ediyn, from a Brittonic form meaning "fort of Ediyn" (cf. Welsh din).
  • , Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh iselfynydd ("low hill").
  • Glasgo, Aberdeenshire - see Glasgow, Lanarkshire below.
  • , Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh glascau ("blue hollow").
    (2025). 9781906566357, Birlinn LTD.
  • - Ebudes in Ptolemy (c. 140 AD), possibly from ancient Brittonic ep- ("a horse"; cf. Welsh ebol). (2012) Ancient Kindred? Dál Riata and the Cruthin. Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  • Keith, Banffshire - equivalent to Welsh coed ("wood, forest").
  • , Lanarkshire - equivalent to Welsh llanerch ("a glade").
  • Landrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lanrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • , Berwickshire - equivalent either to Middle Breton louazr or Welsh llawedrawr.
  • Lendrick, Kinross-shire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • Lendrick, Perthshire - see Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • , Fife - see Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire.
  • Mayish, Arran - possibly from Brittonic maɣes ("field"; Welsh maes).
  • , Perthshire - from an element cognate with Welsh migwernydd ("boggy meadow").
  • Methven, Perthshire - equivalent to Welsh meddfaen ("meadstone").
  • , Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig(n) ("bog, swamp") + Mar (a district name).
  • , Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mig(n) ("bog, swamp").
  • , Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh mynydd ("mountain, moor, hill").
  • , Fife - probably from Common Brittonic *okelon ("a ridge").
  • , Argyll (river) - in Gaelic Urchaidh, from ancient Brittonic are-cētia ("on the wood").
  • , Angus - from pant ("a hollow").
  • Panlathy, Angus - from pant ("a hollow").
    (2010). 9789004188013, Brill. .
  • Panmure, Angus - equivalent to Welsh pantmawr ("big hollow").
  • Pendewen, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").
  • , Midlothian - equivalent to Welsh pen-y-cog ("summit of the cuckoo").
  • , Aberdeenshire - probably equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").
  • Pennygant Hill, Roxburghshire - see Pen y Ghent, Yorkshire, England.
  • Perth, Perthshire - probably equivalent to Welsh perth ("bush").
  • Pinderachy, Angus - first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").
  • Pinnel, Fife - possibly equivalent to Welsh pen ("head, top, summit, source").
  • , Sutherland - possibly equivalent to Welsh pwllrhos ("promontory pool").
  • Rattray, Aberdeenshire - equivalent to Welsh rhawdtref ("ramparts town").
  • Urquhart, Ross-shire - formerly Airdchartdan, equivalent to Middle Welsh ar-cardden ("on the enclosure").
  • Yell, Shetland - probably from Common Brittonic iâla ("unfruitful land, pasture").

Wales
The vast majority of placenames in (part of the United Kingdom) are either or anglicized Welsh.

Cornwall
The vast majority of placenames in are either or anglicized Cornish. For examples, see List of places in Cornwall.

Brittany
The vast majority of placenames in the west of (part of ) are either or derived from Breton. For examples, see .

Goidelic
England
Place names in England derived partly or wholly from Goidelic languages include:

  • Aireyholme, Yorkshire (), recorded as Erghum (1138), from Old Irish airgh ("summer pastures").
  • Ben, Yorkshire (), probably from the Gaelic benn ("a peak").
  • , Northumberland, possibly from Old Irish cambas ("bay, creek")Bethany Fox, 'The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland', The Heroic Age, 10 (2007), http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox.html (appendix at http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox-appendix.html);
  • , Yorkshire, possibly from Old Irish carric ("a rock").
  • , County Durham, possibly from Old Irish étan ("forehead, hill-brow")., The Place-Names of Northumberland and Durham (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1920), p. 71.
  • † Crosskelloc, Lancashire (), from Irish cros ("a cross") + Chelloc (personal name).
  • , Cumberland, possibly from Middle Irish dùn-mallacht ("fort of curses")
  • Durdar, Cumberland (St Cuthbert Without), from Gaelic doiredarach ("oak copse").
  • , Cumberland, from Irish craicc-Suthan ("Suthán's rock/cliff").
  • Kilmond, Yorkshire (), possibly from Gaelic ceann-monadh ("head of the hill").
  • Knockupworth, Cumberland (), from Irish cnocc ("hillock") (+ the Germanic personal-name Hubert).
  • , Cumberland, possibly from Old Irish lettir ("a slope").
  • , Lancashire (), possibly from Irish ''lettir ("a slope").
  • , Cheshire, possibly from Irish Gaelic lios na carraige meaning "fort of the rock".A. D. Mills, A Dictionary of British Place Names (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.
  • , Cheshire, from Irish cnocc-tírim ("dry hill").
  • Pool Darkin, Westmorland (), possibly from Gaelic poll ("pool") + the personal name *Dercan.
  • , Cumberland, from Irish rann-Glas ("Glas's part/share").
  • Torkin, Cumberland (), from Irish tor-cheann ("peak-head").

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.

  • , Yorkshire containing the Irish Gaelic given-name Cairpe
    (1970). 9780198223146, Clarendon. .
  • , from personal name Dufan of Irish origin (OIr 'Dubhán')
  • Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire (), from the Gaelic personal name Donnchad (> English Duncan) (+ Old English halh, "haugh").
    (2025). 9789353897918, The University Press. .
  • , Yorkshire, from the Gaelic Irish personal name Fiach
  • , Yorkshire, from the Irish personal name Gaithen (+ Old Norse byr, "farm").
  • , from the Irish personal name Glassan
  • †Iocemhil, Lincolnshire (Killingholme), possibly contains the Irish personal name Eogan.
  • , Wiltshire, from the Irish founder of the abbey Máel Dub
  • Mellishaw, Lancashire (Lancaster), possibly the Irish personal name Mdeldn (+ Old Norse haugr).
  • Melmerby, Yorkshire, from the Old Irish personal name Máel Muire
  • , Yorkshire, contains the Irish personal name Eogan (+ Old Norse þveit, "clearing").

Place names that directly reference the Irish include Irby, Irby upon Humber, Ireby and Ireleth. Place names with Scot- or similar, such as 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 are anglicized names.

Scotland
The majority of placenames in the Highlands of (part of the ) are either or anglicized Scottish Gaelic. Gaelic-derived placenames are very common in the rest of mainland also. -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 (a Crown dependency) are or anglicised Manx, although there are also many Norse-derived place names.

See also
  • Aber and Inver as place-name elements
  • Celtic onomastics
  • List of Celtic place names in Portugal

Notes
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