Dr Kathryn Bullen

Fox - SNSBI What might link the family names Fox, Gough, Todd and Redknap? If you're foxed, you should probably read this family name story...

Our next name story is the surname Fox and is written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name Studies) at the University of Nottingham.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
@namestudies.bsky.social @englishplacenames.bsky.social @logainm.bsky.social @placenames.bsky.social @ainmean-aite.bsky.social

Just settling in for the (online) @snsbi.bsky.social conference: Names Abroad: Names From Abroad, organised by Peder Gammeltoft (University of Bergen). I'll try to post some highlights from the papers. Looks like a great line up: www.snsbi.org.uk/2025_autumn_...

Glaschu ~ Glasgow and Gart nan Gad ~ Garngad - SNSBI This story looks at some Glasgow place-names which tell us about the natural environment through a language which was the mother tongue of the area’s communities for several centuries: Gaelic.

Our next name story comes from Glasgow, Scotland, and is written by Dr Alasdair Whyte, Lecturer in Celtic Onomastics at the University of Glasgow.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
@namestudies.bsky.social @ainmean-aite.bsky.social

Hitchcock - SNSBI This name story traces the history of the family name Hitchcock, best known today as the name of the film director Alfred Hitchcock.

Our next family name story is 'Hitchcock: a southern English family name' and is written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name Studies) at the University of Nottingham. @namestudies.bsky.social

www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/peop...

Registration is now open for the SNSBI 2025 Autumn Day Conference, which will take place online via Zoom on Saturday 25 October (11.00 to 16.30) - do join us!

Booking is via Eventbrite link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/names-abro...

Abstracts are available here: www.snsbi.org.uk/2025_autumn_...

Our congratulations to Emeritus Professor Hywel Wyn Owen, recent recipient of the Green Robes at the Gorsedd, the society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. @placenames.bsky.social

Isle of Axholme place-names Discovering the landscape through the language of place-names

@kfbullen.bsky.social has developed a useful and interesting site based on her research into Axholme place-names:
axholmeplacenames.wordpress.com

Take a look at this new book by Liz Curtis on East Lothian place-names: spns.org.uk/resources/pl....

East Lothian is the Scottish county east of Edinburgh. The book shares a varied collection of place-names, providing windows on the past.

@ainmean-aite.bsky.social @namestudies.bsky.social

York — the archaeology of a place-name - SNSBI The place-name York, like the city itself, has a fascinating history reflecting the influence of many different peoples

Our next name story explores the archaeology of the place-name 'York', written by Diana Whaley, Emeritus Professor of Early Medieval Studies @newcastleuni.bsky.social. Explore the name's development reflected in the people/languages + layers of influence shown in buildings/archaeology.

Etymology of the day: spiders were once known as ‘attercops’, or ‘poison-heads’, because it was believed most spiders were venomous. The ‘cop’ element became the ‘cob’ in ‘cobweb’.

Discover routes into names and name studies with the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland! | Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland Discover routes into names and name studies with the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland! Our new SNSBI website contains lots of material on place-names and surnames, with name-stories foc...

The SNSBI is now on LinkedIn! 👋 Give us a follow for content on names, place-names and events! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Attenborough - SNSBI Where does the surname Attenborough come from?

Welcome to the first in a series of @snsbi.bsky.social name stories. This month, Peter McClure takes a look at the name 'attenborough'. Find out more about the famous brothers, the place-name which gave rise to the surname 'attenborough', & more about the surname...
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

Call for papers! The @snsbi.bsky.social autumn day online conference "Names Abroad - Names From Abroad" is on Sat 25/10/2025: A) Current Name Research in Scandinavia, of relevance to Britain/Ireland, B) Names of other origins in Britain and Ireland and elsewhere. Deadline for abstracts: 15 August.

Come join us @imc-leeds.bsky.social in 2026 to talk about names! Please share this CfP with anyone interested - all are welcome

An excellent read👌

Isle of Axholme place-names Discovering the landscape through the language of place-names

You're welcome! And if you're interested in another fenland area, have a look at axholmeplacenames.wordpress.com

Fascinating talk tonight, thanks! For anyone looking for more detail on place-names, see www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na..., and kepn.nottingham.ac.uk for an up-to-date guide to the interpretation of the names of England's cities, towns and villages.

Virtual branch: The Cuckoo’s Lea In his recent book The Cuckoo's Lea Dr Michael J Warren provides a beautiful exploration of how birds are entwined with British history, particularly in our place names. Join us for an exclusive Q&A ...

I’m with @histassoc.bsky.social tonight talking all about how birds have been shaping and transforming our relationships with place for a very long time. Old places and old ways. Come join! Online, free, 19:30: www.history.org.uk/events/calen.... #thecuckooslea #naturewriting

And, now I'm at home, here's the page with the etymology. The only thing that's changed is the terminology, as we now refer to the language as Primitive Welsh rather than Celtic. Hope that all helps!

Have a look at Ekwall's River-Names (published 1928, but still highly regarded) - I've clipped a page here which shows the spellings with dates of sources - earliest reference is Dufan 951 (13th).

The focus was on Nottinghamshire, but early origins of many river names were mentioned, including the River Dove (there are multiple rivers named Dove: in Derbyshire, N Yorks, Suffolk, Barnsley) = PrW (primitive Welsh) meaning "black, dark".

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland "The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland" published on by Oxford University Press.

Finally, Dr Peter McClure speaks about Nottinghamshire surnames - what counts? Due to linguistic changes many surnames now convey a false sense/no sense. Researching surnames contributes to a better understanding of the history of English language and society. www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1...

Now, @susan-kilby.bsky.social introduces Nottingham's street-names, what they tell us about occupations of its inhabitants/transport routes. These provide evidence of the city's history/development. Stoney Street 1218 = once the paved main route to York and a gateway to Sherwood Forest. Speed's map.

Next, Dr Dominic Thompson gives a fascinating insight into British Sign Language and how place-names are produced in BSL. He focuses on the psychology of language, shape/movement during BSL communication, regional variations + why we label things the way we do.
www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/gro...

Now, Dr Paul Cavill shares about interpretation of field-names (and minor names), and how these names provide information about the development and use of land, namers and vocabulary used for familiar things. Pic from my own research nearby in Axholme axholmeplacenames.wordpress.com/field-names-...

Thynghowe A Viking Age assembly site in Sherwood Forest

Next, Dr John Baker explores medieval assembly sites: the infrastructure of local government, held in the open air in established locations, inc names of recorded meeting places + place-names with elements that imply the presence of assembly - mæþel, þing, (ge)mōt

thynghowe521978831.wordpress.com

Next, Professor Jayne Carroll explores watercourses, their varied linguistic origins, and how rivers behaved and were perceived, including the "trespassing" Trent and the "lazy" Idle. Photo shows the River Idle near Retford. www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/idle-valley

At the Nottinghamshire Names Day, @beccagregs.bsky.social introduces place-names, their origins as descriptions of the world + importance of early spellings.

www.nottingham.ac.uk/conference/f...

@namestudies.bsky.social, @englishplacenames.bsky.social @snsbi.bsky.social @uonenglish.bsky.social

Next up: Introducing the place-names of Britain and Ireland;
diverse landscapes, diverse human uses.

Photo was taken at Ellenabeich, a small village on the isle of Seil, 7 miles southwest of Oban, in Scotland. @ainmean-aite.bsky.social

www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

What is a name? This regular series of posts features pages from our new website: www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Let us know your thoughts below!

@namestudies.bsky.social, @englishplacenames.bsky.social,
@placenames.bsky.social, @logainm.bsky.social, spns.org.uk, www.ulsterplacenamesociety.org