The Origin and Meaning of Pub Names in Britain Quiz

Answer: Crown

A survey by CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) in 2007, listed the Crown as the most common name with 704 within Great Britain. The name Crown became popular in 1660 with the return of King Charles II, who restored the crown. Pubs used the crown emblem to show the people's loyalty to King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Answer: Red Lion

There are 668 pubs spread across Great Britain with the name Red Lion. According to public records, (no pun intended) there are around 57,500 public houses in the UK. The third most common pub name is Royal Oak with 541, followed by Swan with 541.

Answer: The Worshipful Company of Farriers

Originally called a Guild, the term was used for a group of craftsman in a particular trade. The Worshipful Company of Farriers received a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1674. It was like a secret society, where craftsmen exchanged ideas and passed on skills to other members of the profession.

Answer: The Worshipful Company of Masons

The Worshipful Company of Masons received the Royal Charter in 1677. The architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed St Paul's Cathedral in London, engaged stone masons from the guild to help build the cathedral. The cathedral took over thirty years to build, and was completed in the year 1708.

Answer: Rebirth

The Green Man represents the new cycle of growth each spring. The face of the Green Man is for the most part always male. Pub signs usually feature the face of a Green Man, although they sometimes show the full figure, and often depict leaves or branches growing from the face.

Answer: English folk hero

Folklore tells us Robin Hood lived in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. Robin Hood's right hand man was Little John; hence some pub names are called Robin Hood and Little John. Robin Hood stole from the rich, and gave to the poor.

Answer: The House of Hanover

To show their loyalty to the new king, lots of pubs in the eighteenth century used the symbol of the white horse on their pub signs. The white horse is part of the coat of arms of the House of Hanover.

Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901) was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover.

Answer: White Hart

The White Hart, is a deer. Richard II used this animal as his personal emblem. The king's knights also had this emblem on their uniform.
In 1393 Richard II made it law that all public houses had to display a sign. The name of the White Hart was so popular in his reign; many pubs used this logo to honor his name. The reign of Richard II was from 22 June 1377 - 29 September 1399. Richard II is known for his work in solving the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

Answer: A tree in which King Charles II of England hid

The Royal Oak is the third most popular pub name in Britain. The name comes from the time King Charles II of England hid in an Oak tree, to hide from the Roundheads following the last battle of the English Civil War, which was in 1651. After the defeat of the Battle of Worcester, King Charles II fled to France.

In 1660, when Charles II returned back to England, he restored the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy. As king he allowed a series of arms to people who helped him hide and escape to France, including the Pendrills, who were five brothers who worked on the estate of Boscobel House.

The coat of arms allowed the Pendrills to show an oak tree and three royal crowns.

Answer: Cock and Bull story

The name supposedly comes from two coaching houses in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England. One of the pubs was called the Cock and the other the Bull. Both pubs elaborated on stories told by passing travelers and tried to out do each other by making things up, and tell unbelievable stories. White lies and fictitious stories are now known as a cock and bull story.

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