List of generic forms in place names in the British Isles

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This article lists a number of common generic forms in place names in the British Isles, their meanings and some examples of their use. The study of place names is called toponymy; for a more detailed examination of this subject in relation to British and Irish place names, refer to Toponymy in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Key to languages: Bry: Brythonic; C: Cumbric; K: Cornish; I: Irish; L: Latin; ME: Middle English; NF: Norman French; OE: Old English (Anglo-Saxon); ON: Old Norse; P: Pictish; S: Scots; SG: Scots Gaelic; W: Welsh

Term	Origin	Meaning	Example	Position	Comments
aber<ref name="oswelsh">Template:Cite web</ref>	C, W, P, K	mouth (of a river), confluence, a meeting of waters	Aberystwyth, Aberdyfi, Aberdeen, Abergavenny, Aberuthven	prefix	See also Aber and Inver (placename elements) Notably absent from northern England.<ref name="BLITON"/>
ac, acc, ock	OE	acorn, or oak tree	Accrington,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Acomb, Acton, Matlock<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
afon, avon<ref name="oswelsh"/>	Bry, C, P, W, SG, K, I	river	River Avon, Avonmouth, Avonwick, Glanyrafon		W afon is pronounced "AH-von"; several English rivers are named Avon. In Irish the word, spelled abhann, is mainly (though not exclusively) pronounced OW-en.
ar, ard<ref name="osgael">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	I, SG	high, height	Armagh, Ardglass, Ardgay
ash	OE	ash tree	Ashby de la Zouch, Ashton-under-Lyne, Ashton-in-Makerfield<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
ast	OE	east	Aston, Astley<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	prefix
a-, ard-, ath-, at-	I, SG	ford	Amulree, Atholl, Attymass, Athlone, Athy	prefix	anglicised from áth. A- is the usual form in Scotland.
auch(en)/(in)-, ach-<ref name="osgael"/>	I, SG	field	Auchendinny, Auchenshuggle, Auchinairn, Achnasheen	prefix	anglicised from achadh. Ach- is generally the Highland form, and Auch- the lowland. Auchen- (from Achadh nan ...) means 'field of the ...'
auchter-<ref name="osgael"/>	I, SG	height, top of something	Auchtermuchty, Auchterarder	prefix	anglicised from uachdar
axe, exe, usk, esk	OE	from acsa, meaning river	Exeter, River Axe (Devon), River Exe, River Usk, Axminster, River Esk, Lothian
ay, y, ey<ref name="osscand">Template:Cite web</ref>	OE/ON	island	Ramsay, Westray, Lundy, Selsey,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Orkney	suffix (usually)
bane, bain, baun, baan	SG, I	white	Strabane, Kinbain, Cregganbaun, Cairnbaan	suffix	anglicised from bán (Scottish bàn)
bal, balla, bally, ball<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I	farm, homestead or mouth, approach, ford-mouth	Ballachulish, Balerno, Ballymena, Ballinamallard, Ballater, Balmoral, Ballaghaderreen	prefix	anglicised from baile ("settlement") or sometimes also béal átha ("ford-mouth"; Scottish beul-àtha) or bealach ("way")
beck,<ref name="osscand"/> bach	OE, ON	stream	Holbeck,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Beckinsale, Troutbeck, Beckton, Tooting Bec, Sandbach, Comberbach, Starbeck		cf. Ger. Bach
beg, begs	SG, I	small	Bunbeg, Carrickbeg, Ardbeg, Killybegs	suffix	Anglicised from beag.
bel-	SG, I	mouth, river-mouth	Belhaven, Belmullet, Belfast	prefix	Anglicised from Irish béal, Scottish beul.
ban, bannau, bannock, bannog, ben, beinn, beann, binn	I, SG, W	mountain, summit, summits, mountainous	Bannau Brycheiniog, Bannockburn, Benbulbin, Ben Cruachan, Ben Nevis
berg, berry<ref name="osscand"/>	OE/ON	hill (cf. 'iceberg')	Roseberry Topping, Berkhamsted, Sedbergh		In Farnborough (OE Fernaberga),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> berg has converged toward borough, Ger. berg
bex	OE	boxwood tree	Bexley, Bexhill-on-Sea<ref name="kepn7138">Template:Cite web</ref>		The OE name of Bexhill-on-Sea was Bexelei, a glade where box grew.<ref name="kepn7138"/>
blen, blaen	C, W	fell, hill, upland	Blencathra, Blencogo, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blantyre
boher	I	road	Bohermore, Boherbue	prefix	Anglicised from bóthar.
borris	I, SG	borough, burgage	Borris, Borrisokane, Borrisoleigh, Borrisdale	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish buiríos, Scottish borghas.
bost<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	farm	Leurbost	suffix	cf. ster, (bol)staðr; this form is usually found in the Outer Hebrides. Related to Swedish 'bol' as in Bäckebol and Brandsbol, as well the direct cognate Bolstad.
bourne, burn	OE	large brook, large stream, small river	Bournemouth, Melbourne, Bourne, Eastbourne,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ashbourne, Blackburn, Bannockburn, Goulburn		cf. Ger. -born as in Herborn. The word "burn" is still in common use in Scotland in this sense.
boy, bue	I, SG	yellow	Bawnboy, Curraghboy, Boherbue, Buidhe Bheinn, Loch Buidhe	suffix	Anglicisation of Irish buí, Scottish buidhe.
brack, breck	I, SG	mottled, speckled	Ballybrack, Mullaghbrack, Dumbreck	suffix	Anglicisation of breac.
brad	OE	broad	Bradford<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	prefix
bre<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, W, K	hill	Bredon, Carn Brea	prefix
bryn; also brin and bren	C, K, P, W	hill	Bryn, Brynmawr	prefix (usually)
bun	I, SG	river bottom, foot, mouth	Bunbeg, Buncrana, Bundoran	prefix (usually)
bury, borough, brough, burgh	OE	fortified enclosure	Aylesbury, Banbury, Canterbury, Dewsbury, Bury, Pendlebury, Newbury, Shrewsbury, Tewkesbury, Glastonbury,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Middlesbrough,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Edinburgh, Bamburgh, Peterborough, Knaresborough, Scarborough, Jedburgh, Aldeburgh	suffix (usually)	See also -bury and Borough for further information and other uses. Burgh is primarily Northumbrian and Scots. Cf. Nl. and Ger. Burg
by,<ref name="osscand"/> bie	ON	settlement, village	Grimsby,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Derby, Whitby, Selby, Crosby, Formby, Kirkby, Rugby, Helsby, Corby, Wetherby, Lockerbie	suffix (usually) but compare Bicker (the town marsh)	also survives in bylaw and by-election
carden, cardden<ref name="BLITON"/>	C, P, W	enclosure	Kincardine, Cardenden, Pluscarden	suffix
caer, car<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, P, W	camp, fortification	Caerdydd, Caerleon, Carlisle,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Caerfyrddin	prefix	See also Caer. Brythonic caer from Latin castrum; cf Chester (OE).
caher, car-, cr-	I	stone fort, city	Cahir, Cahircon, Carluke, Crail, Carmunnock	prefix	Anglicisation of Template:Lang. Unrelated to Welsh caer.
cappa(gh)	I	plot, tillage	Cappagh, Cappamore, Cappawhite	prefix	Anglicisation of Template:Lang.
carn, cairn, carnedd	K, I, SG, W	cairn (pile of stones, esp. as a burial mound)	Carnmoney, Cairnbaan, Carndonagh, Carneddau, Carn Marth	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang, Welsh Template:Lang.
carrow, carry, carhoo, caherna, kirrie	I, SG	quarter	Carrowmore, Kirriemuir, Carrowdore	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
carrig, carrick, craig, creag	I, SG	rock	Carrigaline, Carrick-on-Suir, Creag Meagaidh, Creag Rainich	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
cashel	I	stone ringfort	Cashel, Cashelore	prefix	Anglicisation of Template:Lang.
caster, chester, cester, (c/x)eter	OE (<L)	camp, fortification (of Roman origin)	Lancaster,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Doncaster, Gloucester, Caister, Manchester, Chichester, Worcester, Chester, Exeter, Cirencester, Colchester, Tadcaster, Leicester, Towcester, Winchester	suffix
cheap, chipping	OE	market	Chipping Norton,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chipping Campden, Chepstow, Chipping		also as part of a street, e.g. Cheapside. Chippenham is from a personal name.
clare, clair	I, SG	plain, flat	County Clare, Claregalway, Clairinsh, Loch Clair	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
clere	Possibly W	Possibly clear or bright<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Burghclere, Highclere
clo(u)(gh)	I, SG	stone	Clogher, Ardclough, Clachtoll, Clonakilty		Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
clon, clone, cloon	I, SG	meadow	Clondalkin, Clones, Clonbeith Castle	prefix	Anglicisation of Template:Lang.
combe, coombe, coom	Bry, I	valley	Barcombe ("Valley of the Britons"), Farncombe, Ilfracombe, Salcombe, Coombe Country Park,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Coombe		usually pronounced 'coo-m' or 'cum', cognate with cwm. Also appears as Irish com, "hollow."
coed<ref name="oswelsh"/>	W	wood, forest	Betws-y-coed
cor, corr	I, SG	small round hill	Cornafulla, Cornaclea	prefix	Anglicisation of Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Template:Lang.
corry, corrie, curry	I, SG	cirque, corrie	Tubbercurry, Corrie, Coire an t-Sneachda	prefix	Anglicisation of Template:Lang (Template:Lit).
cot, cott	OE, W	cottage, small building or derived from Bry/W Coed or Coet meaning a wood	Ascot, Didcot, Draycott in the Clay, Swadlincote<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix
Craig, crag, creag, crogh, croagh	Bry, SG, I	A jutting rock.	Craigavon, Creag Meagaidh, Pen y Graig, Ard Crags		This root is common to all the Celtic languages.
croft	OE	An enclosed field<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Seacroft, Ryecroft, Crofton, Wheatcroft		The term is also traditionally used in Scotland as a land designation.
cul	C, W	narrow	Culcheth<ref name="kepn12983">Template:Cite web</ref>	prefix
cul, cool, coul	I, SG	rear, back	Cultra, Coolafancy, Coulport, Culkein	prefix	From Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
cul, cool, cole, cuil	I, SG	nook, corner	Coleraine, Cloonacool, Cuil Bay, Culduie	prefix	From Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
-cum-	L	with	Salcott-cum-Virley, Cockshutt-cum-Petton, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Bardsey cum Rigton, Wilsford cum Lake	interfix	Used where two parishes were combined into one. Unrelated to Cumbric cum.
cwm, cum<ref name="oswelsh"/>	W, C	valley	Cwmaman, Cumdivock, Cwmann, Cwmbran, Cwm Head	prefix	cwm in Welsh and cum in Cumbric; borrowed into old English as suffix coombe.
dal<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I	meadow, low-lying area by river	Dalry, Dalmellington	prefix	Cognate with and probably influenced by P Dol
dale<ref name="osscand"/>	OE/ON	valley OE, allotment OE	Airedale i.e. valley of the River Aire, Rochdale, Weardale, Nidderdale	suffix	Cognate with Tal (Ger.), dalr (ON)
dean, den, don	OE - denu	valley (dene)	Croydon,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dean Village, Walkden, Horndean, Todmorden<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix	the geography is often the only indicator as to the original root word (cf. don, a hill)
der, derry, dor, dore	I, SG	grove, particularly of oaks	Derry, Glandore, Loch Doire nam Mart, Derry Cairngorm	prefix	Anglicised form of Template:Lang.
din, dinas<ref name="oswelsh"/>	W, K	fort	Dinas Powys, Castle an Dinas, Dinas Dinlle	prefix	homologous to dun; see below
dol	Bry, P, W	meadow, low-lying area by river	Dolgellau, Dull	prefix
don, den	Bry via OE	hill, down	Abingdon,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bredon, Willesden	suffix
dona(gh)-, donny-	I	ancient church	Donnybrook, Donaghadee	prefix	Anglicised form of Template:Lang.
droghed, drohed, drohid, drochit	I, SG	bridge	Clondrohid, Drogheda, Drumnadrochit	prefix	From Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
Druineach<ref name="Watson2013">Template:Cite book</ref>	SG	uncertain	Airigh nan Druineach, Cladh nan Druineach, Druineachan
drom, drum, drim<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I, W, C	ridge, back	Drumchapel, Drumnacanvy, Drumnadrochit, Dundrum, Mindrum	prefix	Gaelic examples are anglicised from druim
dubh,<ref name="osgael"/> dow, dhu, duff	SG, I	black	Eilean Dubh, Eas Dubh, Dublin	suffix, occasionally prefix	anglicised from dubh
dun, dum, don, doune<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I, C, Bry, P	fort	Dundee, Dumbarton, Dungannon, Dumfries, Donegal, Dundalk, Dundrum, Dùn Èideann	prefix	See also Dun. Derived from dùn.
Eagles, Eglos, Eglews, Eccles, Eglwys	W, K(<L), C, P, I, SG	church	Eaglesham, Egloskerry, Ecclefechan, Eccles, Ecclesfield, Eglish		from Latin ecclesia, thus cognate to French église and G. eaglais
Eilean	I, SG	island	Eilean Donan, Eilean Sùbhainn		Sometimes anglicised to island as a prefix e.g. Island Davaar
ennis, inch, innis, innish, inish, insch	I, SG	island	Inishcrone, Ennis, Inch, Insch, Markinch		From Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
esk(ra), -iscr-, esker	I	esker	Eskra, Esker Riada, Enniscrone		From Irish Template:Lang, ridge left by retreat of a glacier during the Last Ice Age.
ey, ay	OE haeg	enclosure	Hornsey,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hay (-on-Wye), Roundhay		unrelated to -ey 'island', below; see also -hay below
ey, ea, Template:Not a typo, eig	OE eg	island	Romsey,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Athelney, Ely, Dursey Island		cf. Low German -oog as in Langeoog, Dutch -oog as in Schiermonnikoog, Norwegian øy(-a) as in Ulvøya
fer-, fear-	I	men (referring to a tribe or clan)	Fercale, County Fermanagh	prefix	anglicised from fir.
fern, farn(e), phairn	I, SG	alder	Farney, Hill of Fearn, Carsphairn, Ferns	prefix	anglicised from Irish Template:Lang, Scottish Gaelic Template:Lang.
field	OE	open land, a forest clearing	Sheffield,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Huddersfield, Wakefield, Mansfield, Macclesfield, Mirfield, Chesterfield, Murrayfield, Whitefield, Lichfield, Driffield	suffix	cf. Ger. Feld
fin, finn, ven	I, SG	white, holy	Findochty, Finglas, Ventry	prefix	anglicised from fionn, finn
firth,<ref name="osscand"/> ford	ON, S	fjord, inlet	Burrafirth, Firth of Forth, Solway Firth, Firth of Clyde, Broadford, Milford Haven, Strangford, Waterford		from Norse fjorðr
firth, frith, fridd	OE W	wood or woodland or uncultivated land with small trees and bushes at the edge of cultivated land, especially on hillsides.	Holmfirth, Chapel-en-le-Frith<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix
fold	OE	pen (enclosure)	Dunsfold, Chiddingfold, Cowfold, Alfold, Slinfold	suffix
ford, forth, ffordd	OE, W	ford, crossing, road	Saltford, Bradford, Ampleforth, Watford, Salford, Castleford, Guildford, Stafford, Chelmsford, Retford, Dartford, Bideford, Knutsford, Burford, Sleaford Penffordd, Hereford (Henffordd in Welsh), Ilford, Stratford, Romford		cf. Ger. -furt as in Frankfurt am Main
fos, foss, ffos	L, OE, W	ditch	River Foss, Fangfoss<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		Separate from ON foss, force, below
foss, force<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	waterfall	Aira Force, High Force, Hardraw Force, Janet's Foss		Separate from L/OE fos, foss, above
frack	I, SG	Heather (ling)	Letterfrack, Fraoch Bheinn, Mullach Fraoch-choire	suffix	anglicised from fraoch
gate	ON	road	Gate Helmsley,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Harrogate
gar(t)<ref name="osscand"/>	SG	enclosed field<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Garscube, Gartmore, Gartness
garth<ref name="osscand"/>	ON, W	enclosure, small summit or ridge	Aysgarth		cf. Ger. -gart as in Stuttgart
garv, gorv	I, SG	rough	Garvagh, Garvaghey, Garbh Sgeir, Garvellachs	suffix	Anglicisation of garbh.
gee, gwee	I	estuary	Geesala, Gweedore	suffix	Anglicisation of gaoth.
gill, ghyll<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	ravine, narrow gully	Gillamoor, Garrigill, Dungeon Ghyll
glas, glass	I, SG	stream	Glasnevin, Douglas, Baltinglass	suffix	Anglicisation of glas.
glen,<ref name="osgael"/> glyn	SG, I, W	narrow valley, dale	Rutherglen, Glenarm, Corby Glen, Glen Nevis		anglicised from gleann
glind	OE	enclosure	Glynde
gorm	I, SG	blue, dark	Galgorm, Cairngorms	suffix	Irish/Scottish Gaelic gorm.
gort, gor-	I, SG	enclosure, small field	Gort, Gorbals, Gortahork		Irish/Scottish Gaelic gort.
gowt<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>		Water outfall, sluice, drain	Guthram Gowt, Anton's Gowt		First reference gives the word as the local pronunciation of go out; the second as "A water-pipe under the ground. A sewer. A flood-gate, through which the marsh-water runs from the reens into the sea." Reen is a Somerset word, not used in the Fens. Gout appears to be cognate with the French égout, "sewer". Though the modern mind associates the word "sewer" with foul water, it was not always necessarily so.<ref>Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1972 reprint: "sewer".</ref>
ham	OE	farm, homestead, [settlement]	Rotherham,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Newham, Nottingham, Tottenham, Oldham, Newsham, Faversham, West Ham, Birmingham, Lewisham, Gillingham, Chatham, Chippenham, Cheltenham, Buckingham, Dagenham, Evesham, Wrexham, Dereham, Altrincham, Durham, Billingham, Hexham<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix	often confused by hamm, an enclosure; cf. Nl. hem, Ger. Heim, and Norwegian heim as in Trondheim.
-hay, -hays, -hayes	OE	area of land enclosed by a hedge<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Cheslyn Hay, Walsall; Floyer Hayes, Devon; Northern Hay, Shill Hay, Southern Hay, Northern Hay, Fryers Hay, Bon Hay, all surrounding the City of Exeter, Devon; Moor Hayes, Cullompton, Devon; Billinghay, Lincolnshire	suffix	see also Hayes (surname), sometimes derived from this topological source
hithe, hythe	OE	wharf, place for landing boats	Rotherhithe,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hythe, Erith, Covehithe
holm	ON, OE	holly, island	Holmfirth, Lealholm, Hempholme, Holme, Hubberholme<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
hope	OE	valley, enclosed area	Woolhope, Glossop<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		cf. Ger. Hof
howe	ON haugr	mound, hill, knoll	Howe, Norfolk, Howe, North Yorkshire<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
hurst, hirst	OE	(wooded) hill	Goudhurst, Herstmonceux, Woodhurst, Lyndhurst<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		cf. Ger. Horst
illan, illaun, island	I	island	Illanmaster, Islandeady, Illaunloughan	prefix	Irish oileán.
inch	C, I, P, SG	island, dry area in marsh	Ince, Inchmarnock, Insch, Keith Inch		cf. W. ynys. Occurs as Ince and Ins in Northern England.<ref name="BLITON">Template:Cite web</ref>
ing (1)	OE ingas	people of	Reading,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the people (followers) of Reada, Spalding, the people of Spald, Nottingham, the people (followers) of Snotta, Wapping, Kettering, Worthing, Dorking, Barking, Epping<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=eie>Eilert Ekwall, English Place-names in -ing</ref> Woking, Pickering	suffix	sometimes survives in an apparent plural form e.g. Hastings;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> also, often combined with 'ham'->ingham or 'ton'->ington; 'homestead of the people of' (e.g. Birmingham, Bridlington); cf. Nl. and Ger. -ing(en) as in Groningen, Göttingen, or Straubing
ing (2)	OE	place, small stream	Lockinge<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=eie/>	suffix	difficult to distinguish from -ingas without examination of early place-name forms.
ington	OE	In most cases it is ing (1)<ref name=ding>Ing ɪŋ</ref> + ton ('town'), with exceptions	Alwington, Bridlington	suffix meaning "settlement of a tribe or family"<ref name=wws>Walter William Skeat, "The Place-names of Bedfordshire", 1906, pp. 57-60</ref>	Walter William Skeat writes that in some names only ton is a suffix, while "ing" is a later modification, e.g., of personal names ending in "in", judging from the older spelling of the placename, e.g., Eggington in fact means Ecgwynn's farm. But in some cases the exact origin is unclear.<ref name=wws/>
ingham	OE	ing (1)<ref name=ding/> + ham ('homestead, 'village')<ref>Eilert Ekwall, English Place-names in -ing, Section "Excursus. Names in ingham"pp. 126,127</ref>	Buckingham, Wolsingham	suffix
inver, inner, ineer<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I	mouth of (a river), confluence, a meeting of waters	Inverness, Inveraray, Innerleithen	prefix	cf. aber. Scottish Gaelic ionbhar, Irish inbhear.
keld	ON	spring	Keld, Threlkeld<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
keth, cheth	C	wood	Penketh, Culcheth<ref name="kepn12983"/>	suffix	cf. W. coed
kil,<ref name="osgael"/> cil, kill, killie	SG, I, W	monastic cell, church	Kilmarnock, Kill, Kilkenny, Kilgetty, Cil-y-coed, Kilburn	prefix	anglicised from cill, itself from Latin cella. Often it can be difficult to tell if Kil-, Killie- refers to a church or to a forest.<ref name=fortrenn>https://fortrenn.substack.com/p/wood-or-church-deciphering-the-place</ref><ref name=eamonncmckee>https://eamonncmckee.com/2021/01/30/kill-cill-a-church-but-also-coill-a-wood/</ref>
kil, kill, kyle, killie, quilla	SG, I	wood	Lugnaquilla, Kylemore, Killiecrankie, Kilmacsimon	prefix	anglicised from Irish coill, Scottish Gaelic coille. Often it can be difficult to tell if Kil-, Killie- refers to a church or to a forest.<ref name=fortrenn/><ref name=eamonncmckee/>
kin, ken, con, can, carn<ref name="osgael"/>	SG, I	head	Kincardine, Kinallen, Kenmare	prefix	anglicised from ceann. Cognate of C, P and W pen and in some place names, may represent a Gaelicisation of the C and P form.<ref name="BLITON"/>
king	OE/ON	king, tribal leader	King's Norton, King's Lynn,<ref>previously Bishop's Lynn and Lynn Regis</ref> Kingston, Kingston Bagpuize, Seven Kings, Kingskerswell, Coningsby<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
kirk<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	church	Kirkwall, Ormskirk, Colkirk, Falkirk, Kirkstead, Kirkby on Bain, Kirklees, Whitkirk		See also Kirk (placename element). cf. ger -kirch as in Altkirch, Nl. -kerk as in Heemskerk
knock, cnwc	I, SG, C, Bry, W	hill, rocky hillock	Knockhill, Knock, County Clare, Knock, Isle of Lewis, Knockentiber, Knock, Cnwc-Parc-y-morfa, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Pen-cnwc, Pembrokeshire, Wales		anglicised from cnoc; Cronk on Isle of Man.
kyle, kyles<ref name="osgael"/>	SG	narrows	Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyles of Bute	prefix	anglicised from Caol and caolas
lan, lhan, llan<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, K, P, W	church, churchyard, village with church, parish	Lanteglos (Cornwall), Lhanbryde (Moray), Lanercost, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Llanybydder, Llandudno, Llanelli, Llangefni, Llangollen	prefix,	See also Llan (placename)
lang	OE, ON	long	Langdale,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Great Langton, Kings Langley, Langbank, Langwathby, Lang Toun	prefix	cf. Ger. -langen as in Erlangen; still in use in English dialect and Scots.
law, low	OE	from hlaw, a rounded hill	Charlaw, Tow Law, Lewes, Ludlow,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> North Berwick Law	often standalone	often a hill with a barrow or hillocks on its summit; still in use in Scotland.
le	NF	from archaic French lès,<ref>Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse. Retrieved 26 May 2010.</ref> in the vicinity of, near to	Chester-le-Street, Burgh le Marsh, Stanford-le-Hope	interfix	Hartlepool appears to contain le by folk etymology; older spellings show no such element.
lea, ley, leigh	OE	from leah, a woodland clearing	Barnsley,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hadleigh, Leigh, Beverley, Keighley, Batley, Abbots Leigh	suffix (usually)	cf. Nl. -loo as in Waterloo, Ger. -loh as in Gütersloh
lea, liath	I, SG	light grey	Killylea, Monadhliath Mountains	suffix	Anglicisation of liath.
letter-	I, SG	hillside	Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Letterfearn	prefix	Anglicisation of leitir.
lin, llyn,<ref name="oswelsh"/> Lynn	Bry, C, I, P, W	lake (or simply water)	Lindisfarne, Llyn Brianne	prefix (usually)	From Old Celtic lindon<ref name="BLITON"/>
ling, lyng	OE, ON	heather	Lingmell, Lingwood, Linga
lip	OE, ON<ref name="VikingIrelandWales">Template:Cite web</ref>	leap	Hartlip, Hindlip, Leixlip, Lippitts, Ruislip	suffix (usually)	From Old English hlȳp, Old Norse hleypa, both meaning "a leap".
lis(s)-, les-, lus-	I, SG	small ringfort	Lissycasey, Listowel, Lesmahagow, Luskentyre	prefix	Anglicisation of lios.
loch, lough	C, SG, I	lake, sea inlet	Loch Ryan, Lough Neagh, Sweethope Loughs, Glendalough, Loch Ness		Generally found in Scotland and Ireland, but also a handful in England.
longfor(d), lonart	I, SG	landing-place for boats	Longford, Ballylongford, Longformacus		Referred to landing-places used by Viking raiders; derived from Latin (navis) longa ('longship') and portus ('harbour').<ref>https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/education/the-viking-age-geography/the-vikings-in-the-west/ireland/dublin-as-a-longphort</ref>
lurgan, lorgan	I	long ridge	Lurganure, Lurgan, Stillorgan		Anglicisation of lorgan.
maum, maam, mam	I, SG	mountain pass	Maumtrasna, Mam Sodhail, Maam Valley		Anglicisation of Irish mám, Scottish Gaelic màm.
magna	L	great, big	Appleby Magna, Chew Magna, Wigston Magna, Ludford Magna		Primarily a medieval affectation
mawr	W	large, great	Pen-y-cae-mawr, Pegwn Mawr, Merthyr Mawr		Fawr is the mutated form
magh, may, moy, moi(gh), ma-	I, SG	plain	Maynooth, Mallow, Moira, Maybole		Anglicisation of Irish maigh, Scottish Gaelic magh.
mere	OE	lake, pool	Windermere,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Grasmere, Cromer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tranmere		See also Mere (lake). cf. Ger. Meer, also likely a cognate of the Norwegian Møre
minster	OE	large church, monastery	Westminster, Wimborne Minster, Leominster, Upminster, Kidderminster, Minster Lovell, Ilminster<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		cf. Ger. Münster
mona, money, moan	I, SG	peatland	Ballymoney, Cornamona, Inchmoan		Anglicisation of Irish móna, monadh, Scottish Gaelic mòine.
mona, money, winga, winna, winny, vinna, vinny, vunnia, bonni, bunny, mini	I, SG	thicket	Moneymore, Ballywinna, Ballinvinny, Minishant		Anglicisation of muine.
monaster	I	monastery	Monasterevin, Monasterboice, Monasteraden	prefix	Anglicisation of mainistir.
more	I, SG	large, great	Dunmore, Lismore, Strathmore		Anglicised from mòr
moss	OE, S	Swamp, bog	Mossley, Lindow Moss, Moss Side<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		cf. Ger. Moos Occasionally represents Bry maɣes<ref name="BLITON"/>
mouth	ME	Mouth (of a river), bay	Plymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Monmouth, Sidmouth, Weymouth, Lynmouth, East Portlemouth, Exmouth, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Dartmouth	suffix	cf. Ger. Münden or Gemünd
mulla(gh), mulh-	I, SG	summit	Mullaghmast, Mullaghbrack, Mulhuddart, Mullach Fraoch-choire	prefix	Anglicised from mullach
mullin-, miln-, mul-	I, SG	mill	Mullinahone, Mullingar, Bellanamullia, Milngavie, Mulben	prefix	Anglicised from muileann
mynydd<ref name="oswelsh"/>	W	mountain	Mynydd Moel	prefix
nan, nans	K	valley	Nancledra, Nansledan	prefix
nant<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, W	ravine or the stream in it	Nantgarw, Nantwich	prefix	same origin as nan, nans above
ness<ref name="osscand"/>	OE, ON	promontory, headland (literally 'nose')	Sheerness, Skegness, Furness, Durness, Dungeness, Bo’ness, Bowness-on-Windermere	suffix
-noe	I, SG	new	Ballynoe, Templenoe	suffix	Anglicised from nua
nor	OE	north	Norton, Norbury, Norwich<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	prefix
owen	I	river	Owenbeg, River Owenroe		Anglicised from abhainn
pant<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, P, W	a hollow	Pant Glas, Pant (Merthyr Tydfil), Pant (Shropshire), Panbride
parva	L	little	Appleby Parva, Wigston Parva, Ruston Parva, Glen Parva, Thornham Parva, Ludford Parva
pen<ref name="oswelsh"/>	C, K, W, P	head (headland or hill), top, far end of, end of	Penzance, Pendle, Penrith, Pen-y-ghent, Penarth, Pencoed, Penmaen, Pengam, Penffordd, Pembrokeshire, Pen-y-gwryd, Pennan	prefix,	also Pedn in W. Cornwall
pit	Bry,<ref name="BLITON"/> P, SG (< P)	portion, share, farm	Corstopitum,<ref name="BLITON"/> Pitlochry (Perthshire), Pitmedden	prefix (usually)	Scottish Pit- names typically employ a Pictish loanword into Gaelic.<ref name="BLITON"/> Homologous with K peath, W peth.<ref name="BLITON"/>
pol, pwll, pol(l), poul	C, K, W, I, SG	pool, lake, hole	Polperro, Polruan, Polzeath, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Pwll, Llanelli, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Pollagh, Poulaphouca, Polglass	prefix
pont<ref name="oswelsh"/>	L, K, W, C	bridge	Pontypridd, Pontypool, Penpont, Pontefract	prefix	can also be found in its mutated form bont, e.g., Pen-y-bont (Bridgend); originally from Latin pons (pont–)
pool	OE	harbour	Liverpool, Blackpool, Hartlepool, Welshpool,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pool of London	suffix
port	I	stronghold, fort	Portlaoise	prefix	Easily confused with port for harbour or landing-ground.
port	ME, I	port, harbour, landing-ground	Davenport, Southport, Stockport, Bridport, Portsmouth, Newport, Maryport, Ellesmere Port, Portadown	suffix
porth<ref name="oswelsh"/>	K, W	harbour	Porthcawl, Porthgain, Porthaethwy	prefix
ra(t)h, rait	SG, I	small ringfort	Rathdrum, Rathfarnham, Raheny, Rathven, Rait	prefix	From Irish ráth, Scottish Gaelic ràth.
rigg, rig	ON, S	ridge	Askrigg, Bonnyrigg	suffix
shaw	OE	a wood, a thicket	Openshaw, Wythenshawe, Shaw and Crompton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	standalone or suffix	a fringe of woodland, from OE sceaga
shep, ship	OE	sheep	Shepshed, Shepton Mallet, Shipton, Shipley	prefix
shire	OE	county	Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire	suffix
stan	OE	stone, stony	Stanmore, Stamford,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stanlow	prefix	cf. Ger. Stein
stead	OE	place, enclosed pasture	Hampstead, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix	cf. Ger. Stadt or -stätt as in Eichstätt, Nl. -stad as in Zaanstad
ster<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	farm	Lybster, Scrabster	suffix	cf. -bost from (bol)staðr
stoke	OE stoc	dependent farmstead, secondary settlement	Stoke-upon-Trent,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stoke Damerel, Basingstoke, Stoke Mandeville, Stoke Gabriel	standalone (usually)
stow	OE	(holy) place (of assembly)	Stow-on-the-Wold,<ref name="kepn6302">Template:Cite web</ref> Padstow, Bristol,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stowmarket, Felixstowe
strath<ref name="osgael"/>	C,<ref name="BLITON"/> P, SG, I	wide valley, vale	Strathmore (Angus), Strabane, Ardstraw	prefix	Gaelic examples are derived from srath (but conflated with Brythonic Ystrad)
streat, street	L, OE	road (Roman)	Spital-in-the-Street, Chester-le-Street, Streatham		derived from strata, L. 'paved road'
sud, sut	OE	south	Sudbury,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sutton	prefix
swin	OE	pigs, swine	Swindon, Swinford, Swinton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
tarn	ON	lake	Malham Tarn		In modern English, usually a glacial lake in a coombe.
thorp, thorpe	ON	secondary settlement	Cleethorpes,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Thorpeness, Scunthorpe, Armthorpe, Bishopthorpe, Mablethorpe, Osmondthorpe		See also Thorp. An outlier of an earlier settlement. cf. Ger. Dorf, Nl. -dorp as in Badhoevedorp
thwaite, twatt<ref name="osscand"/>	ON thveit	a forest clearing with a dwelling, or parcel of land	Huthwaite, Twatt, Slaithwaite, Thornthwaite, Braithwaite, Bassenthwaite, Finsthwaite, Thwaite Mills	suffix
tilly,<ref name="osgael"/> tullie, tulloch	SG	hillock	Tillicoultry, Tillydrone, Tulliallan	prefix
toft<ref name="osscand"/>	ON	homestead	Lowestoft, Fishtoft, Langtoft (Lincs), Langtoft (ER of Yorks), Wigtoft	suffix (usually)
Tre-,<ref name="oswelsh"/> Tra-	C, K, P, W	settlement	Tranent, Trevose Head, Tregaron, Trenear, Treorchy, Treherbert, Trealaw, Treharris, Trehafod, Tredegar,	prefix (usually)
treath, traeth	K, W	beach	Tywardreath, Traeth Mwnt, Cardigan
tun, ton	OE tun	enclosure, estate, homestead	Skipton, Elston, Tunstead, Warrington, Patrington, Brighton,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Coniston, Clacton, Everton, Broughton, Luton, Merton, Wincanton, Bolton, Workington, Preston, Bridlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Taunton, Boston, Acton, Brixton, Kensington, Paddington, Crediton, Honiton, Hamilton, Northampton, Southampton, Paignton, Tiverton, Helston, Wolverhampton, Buxton, Congleton, Darlington, Northallerton, Longframlington		OE pronunciation 'toon'. Compare en. town, Nl. tuin (garden) and Ger. Zaun (fence); all derived from Germanic root tun
upon, on, in	ME	by/"upon" a river	Newcastle upon Tyne, Kingston upon Hull, Stratford-upon-Avon, Staines-upon-Thames, Burton upon Trent, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Walton-on-Thames, Hampton-in-Arden
wall, walla, willa	OE	foreigners	Cornwall, Kirkwall, Heswall, Thingwall, Childwall, Wallasey, Willaston		Derived from wealas meaning 'foreigners', as was also applied to the Celtic people of Wales
weald, wold	OE	high woodland	Wealdstone, Stow-on-the-Wold,<ref name="kepn6302"/> Southwold, Easingwold, Methwold, Cuxwold, Hockwold		cf. Ger. Wald
wes	OE	west	Wessex	prefix
wick, wich, wych, wyke	L, OE	place, settlement	Ipswich, Norwich, Alnwick, West Bromwich, Nantwich, Prestwich, Northwich, Woolwich, Horwich, Middlewich, Harwich, Bloxwich, Hammerwich, Sandwich, Aldwych, Gippeswyk, Heckmondwike, Warwick<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	suffix	related to Latin vicus (place), cf. Nl. wijk, Ger. weig as in Braunschweig
wick<ref name="osscand"/>	ON vik	bay	Wick, Lerwick, Winwick, Barnoldswick, Keswick, Prestwick, North Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Goodwick, Glodwick, Ardwick, Beswick, Walberswick	suffix	cf. Jorvik (modern York)
win, vin, fin	Bry	white	Winchester, Wimborne (earlier Winborne), Vindolanda, Fintry	prefix	uenta- attested in Roman period. Compare with gwyn
worth, worthy, wardine	OE	enclosure	Tamworth,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Farnworth, Rickmansworth, Nailsworth, Kenilworth, Lutterworth, Bedworth, Letchworth, Halesworth, Wirksworth, Whitworth, Cudworth, Haworth, Holsworthy, Bredwardine, Kenilworth	suffix (usually)	cf. Nl. -waard as in Heerhugowaard
ynys<ref name="oswelsh"/>	W	island	Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Ynyslas

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