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Product Description
Product Description
Over 15,000 A-Z entries covering England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, make this the most comprehensive and up-to-date dictionary of British place names available. From Abbas Combe to Zennor, it gives the meaning and origin of names of counties, towns, and villages, tracing their development from earliest times to the present day. Invaluable for anyone finding out about a local area, lexicographers and local historians alike will be fascinated by what these place-names reveal. The dictionary features an in-depth introductory essay which discusses the chronology and development of British place-names, different types of formation, and sections focusing on Irish, Welsh, and Scottish place-names. It also includes an extensive bibliography for further research, maps of Britain showing old and new boundaries, and provides a Glossary of common elements in place-names. This critically acclaimed dictionary has been described as 'an indispensable travellling companion' (Landscape History), and 'another volume for every local historian's bookshelf' (Local Historian).
About the Author
A.D. Mills is Emeritus Reader in English, University of London, and is a member of the Council of English Place-Name Society and the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland. His books include Dictionary of London Place Names (OUP, 2001).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you ever wondered about the meaning of place names then this neat little volume will meet your needs. No larger than a paperback novel it will fit neatly in your car's glove box.
It contains useful prefices and appendices with information on how to to analyse any place names not listed in the main section although, regretably, it neither listed nor gave me any help with the etymology of the one place name I wanted to learn more about.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is excellent so far as it goes. Inevitably it is less comprehensive in its coverage of English names than Ekwall's Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. The coverage of Scottish and Welsh place-names is only of more prominent and populous sites, but more comprehensive than that in Nicolaisen, Gelling and Richards, Names of Towns and Cities in Britain. Within limits, the book is excellent.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"A Dictionary of British Place-Names", compiled by A.D. Mills, is a unique resource for understanding the origins of place-names across the British Isles. Whereas many other place-name books are restricted to England or particular regions, Mills' scope is broad, extending to the whole of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and also the Channel Islands.
The book is organised alphabetically rather than by county or region, making it easily navigable, and includes more than 17,000 entries. It is not comprehensive, occasionally neglecting a few of the very smallest settlements, but for most practical purposes it will be sufficient. (Sadly many places which are now subsumed within Greater London have been omitted; these are detailed in the companion volume, "A Dictionary of London Place-names", also by A.D. Mills.) At the back is a glossary of common elements in place-names - an interesting addition - and there is also an extensive bibliography, covering particular regions or specialisations within place-name studies, as well as broader surveys on the interpretation and significance of place-names. This makes the book ideal as a foundation for delving into the subject in more detail.
Typically there are about 25 entries to every page, which means that not a lot of space is afforded to each one. Unfortunately this means that in many cases only the earliest attestation of a location is given. For example, in the case of London only its Roman name, 'Londinium', is given; the changes in spelling and meaning throughout the Anglo-Saxon period and beyond are not charted. This means that it is sometimes difficult to find the name relating to a particular period. In these cases it might be necessary to resort to a more detailed guide such as "The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names". However, where a number of origins have been postulated for a particular place, it should be noted that Mills is careful to record them all.
Everything considered, "A Dictionary of British Place-Names" is an excellent reference, despite a few flaws. As someone currently writing a historical novel set in medieval England, I have found it tremendously useful.
The book is organised alphabetically rather than by county or region, making it easily navigable, and includes more than 17,000 entries. It is not comprehensive, occasionally neglecting a few of the very smallest settlements, but for most practical purposes it will be sufficient. (Sadly many places which are now subsumed within Greater London have been omitted; these are detailed in the companion volume, "A Dictionary of London Place-names", also by A.D. Mills.) At the back is a glossary of common elements in place-names - an interesting addition - and there is also an extensive bibliography, covering particular regions or specialisations within place-name studies, as well as broader surveys on the interpretation and significance of place-names. This makes the book ideal as a foundation for delving into the subject in more detail.
Typically there are about 25 entries to every page, which means that not a lot of space is afforded to each one. Unfortunately this means that in many cases only the earliest attestation of a location is given. For example, in the case of London only its Roman name, 'Londinium', is given; the changes in spelling and meaning throughout the Anglo-Saxon period and beyond are not charted. This means that it is sometimes difficult to find the name relating to a particular period. In these cases it might be necessary to resort to a more detailed guide such as "The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names". However, where a number of origins have been postulated for a particular place, it should be noted that Mills is careful to record them all.
Everything considered, "A Dictionary of British Place-Names" is an excellent reference, despite a few flaws. As someone currently writing a historical novel set in medieval England, I have found it tremendously useful.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sadly deficient
So often when driving or looking at a map I wonder about the origin of the many unusual place names we see around the country, so I decided to get this as a reference, maybe even... Read more
Published 22 months ago by E. L. Wisty
Oxford Dictionary Place Names
I bought the book for my brother -in -law and only cursorily thumbed through. It looked very comprehensive and the few place names I focused on covered what you need to... Read more
Published 23 months ago by alainacteur
Constant companion
If you're one of those people who's fascinated by words and British history, you'll love this book.
Placenames come up all the time - on the road, on telly, in books +... Read more
Placenames come up all the time - on the road, on telly, in books +... Read more
Published on 11 May 2010 by J. Macdonald
Oxford Disctionary of British Place-Names
While appreciating the subject is very wide I must admit I was a little disappointed to find such brief notes of explanation by each place name. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by John C. W. Fulbeck
Well worth the money!
Reading the other reviews for this title, I was led to believe that it wasn't as good as it could be however I bought it regardless, because in comparison to the other titles... Read more
Published on 15 May 2008 by J. Walker
Apparently the Republic of Ireland is once more under British rule
I picked this up shortly after having been asked by my travelling companion where the name Weston Super Mare came from. I didn't know - hadn't really thought about it before. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2007 by CJA
A bit boring and useless!
Probably an ok book if you live in Southern England or that is the area you are interested in,however for Scotland and the North it is not all helpful!
Published on 18 Dec 2005
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