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Quiz about Understanding English Placenames
Quiz about Understanding English Placenames

Understanding English Placenames Quiz


Why not try an educated guess at the meaning of some English placenames. Test your sixth sense for language..and history!

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
flem-ish
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
163,219
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
4 / 10
Plays
481
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What may Spitalfields in Greater London have got its name from? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Where did the Ermine Street get its name from? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What is the modern name of the town that was described as Salopescira or Sciropescira in the Domesday Book? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which of these names is etymologically speaking a synonym of Keswick and also means "cheese-farm"? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What do all these placenames derive from: Prestwich; Prestwick; Prescot; Preston? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. With which of these words have, in the course of history, the names Camden, Norton, Ongar and Sodbury been combined to mark their origins as "market towns"? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which of these is the correct etymology of the name Cirencester? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. How must the name Woodstock be understood? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What does the name Haslemere stand for? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which of these English town names originally meant "Roman Camp" near to a glowing or shining river? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What may Spitalfields in Greater London have got its name from?

Answer: fields belonging to a hospital

In 1394 the place was still called Seintmariespitel. This plot of land belonged to the Priory of St Mary Spital (founded in 1197).
Spitals were the lowest category of hospitals, and were meant for beggars and for the poor in general.
2. Where did the Ermine Street get its name from?

Answer: street through the lands of the Earningas

Would have been a rather big estate for just one Lord.
The Ermine Street ran from near Pevensey to York. London and York were on that road.
There was also an Ermine Street that ran from Gloucester to Silchester.
3. What is the modern name of the town that was described as Salopescira or Sciropescira in the Domesday Book?

Answer: Shrewsbury

Shropshire has the same etymology as Shrewsbury, but it is not a town.
Though the name Salop is etymologically correct for Shropshire it bears an unpleasant resemblance to French salope (a slut).
Salisbury derives from Sarisberie. The Normans found it easier to pronounce the name of "Sarum" with an -l- rather than with an -r- and so Salisbury was born.
4. Which of these names is etymologically speaking a synonym of Keswick and also means "cheese-farm"?

Answer: Chiswick

Chevy Chase is the "chase" or hunting-ground near to the Chevy Hill. Same root as Cheviot Hills.
Chesham has no link with cheese. It is the reduction of "ceastel-hamm" in which "ceastel" is a heap of stones and "hamm" refers to a river meadow.
Cheshire is short for Chester-shire.
"Wick" and "Wich" are etymologically related to Latin vicus but in English they may refer to a farm. Compare: Eastwick, Greenwich, Droitwich, etc.
5. What do all these placenames derive from: Prestwich; Prestwick; Prescot; Preston?

Answer: the Middle- English word preste for priest

Prestwich and Prestwick refer to a "priests' outlying farm".
Preston is a "priests' village".
In all these cases the name probably refers to an endowment for priests who may have served a church somewhere else.
Prestcot ("priests' cottage") may have been a parsonage.
Preseli in Wales is probably related to "prys", wood or grove.
6. With which of these words have, in the course of history, the names Camden, Norton, Ongar and Sodbury been combined to mark their origins as "market towns"?

Answer: Chipping

Chipping means "market place" and is related to Chep in Chepstow or Cheap in Cheapside (= street alongside the market area)."Céap" is a market.
7. Which of these is the correct etymology of the name Cirencester?

Answer: Corinium Castrum

Cirencester was not a Roman Camp dedicated to the Moon (Selena), nor was it a circular camp or a camp full of sirens.
Domesday Book spells it as "Cisetur", which may account for the later pronunciation "Sissiter".
8. How must the name Woodstock be understood?

Answer: place near or in the wood

Another "wood-place" is Stow-on-the-Wold which means: assembly-place in or near the wood.
9. What does the name Haslemere stand for?

Answer: lake with hazel-trees

Also in Ellesmere and Windermere "mere" means lake. Compare Dutch "meer" as in Ijsselmeer.
10. Which of these English town names originally meant "Roman Camp" near to a glowing or shining river?

Answer: Gloucester

Worcester and Gloucester are both on the same river: the Severn. Gloucester derives from Gleawcestrescir (Camp near the glowing river) and Worcester from Wireceastrecir (Camp near the winding river). The Latin name for Gloucester was Glevum.
Leicester derives from Laegreceastrecir (documented in 1087) and probably refers to a tribe, the Ligore.
Colchester - the old Colonia Camelodunum - has often been described as "Old King Cole's Camp", but the true etymology relates to the River Colne on which the town stands.
Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor fringe before going online.
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