Geographical etymology: a dictionary of place-names giving their derivations

by Christina Blackie

(Scand.), a dwelling, a town—from biga (Norse), to build. This word occurs frequently in town names in the N.E. of England and in some parts of Scotland formerly possessed by the Danes or Normans; e.g. Derby, i.e. Dearaby (deer town), formerly called North Worthige (the northern enclosure); its Celtic name was Durgwent (the white water), from its river; Whitby (white town), A.S. Streones-heal (treasure-hall, streone); Selby (holy town); Danby (Dane’s dwelling); Rugby, anc. Rochberie (the dwelling on the rock, in reference to its castle); Appleby (the town of apple-trees); Sonderby (southern town); Ormsby, Lockerby, Thursby, Grimsby, Lewersby (the dwellings of Ormv, Loki, Ulf, Grimm, Leward); Risby (beech-tree dwelling); Canisby, in Caithness, and Canoby or Cannonbie, Dumfries (the dwelling of the canon), or perhaps Canisby is Canute’s dwelling; Haconby (of Haco); Harrowby, in Doomsday, is Herigerby (the town of the legion), A.S. herige; Kirby, Moorby, Ashby (church town, moor town, ash-tree town); Ashby-de-la-Zouch was simply Ascebi or Esseby, perhaps the town of the Asci, a tribe. It received the addition to its name from the family of the Zouches, its proprietors. In France: Daubœuf, for Dalby (vale dwelling); Elbœuf (old dwelling); Quittebœuf (white dwelling); Quillebœuf (welltown); Lindebœuf (lime-tree town); Karlby-gamba and Karlby-ny (old and new Charles’ town), in Finland; Criquebœuf (crooked town).

C

CAE, KAE (Cym.-Cel.),

an enclosure; e.g. Ca-wood (wood-enclosure); Cayton (wood town or hill). This root is frequently used in Welsh names.

CAELC, or CEALC (A.S.),

chalk or lime—cognate with the Lat. calx, Cel. cailc, sialc; e.g. Challock, Chaldon, Chalfield (chalk place, hill, and field); Chalgrove (the chalk entrenchment, grab); the Chiltern Hills (the hills in the chalky district, ern); Chockier, corrupt. from Calchariæ (the lime kilns), in Belgium; Kelso, anc. Calchou (the chalk heugh or height), so called from a calcareous cliff at the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot, now broken down.

CAER, CADAER (Welsh),
CATHAIR, CAHER (Gadhelic),
KAER, KER (Breton),

an enclosed fortification, a castle, a town, and in Ireland a circular stone fort; e.g. Caer-leon, anc. Isca-legionem (the fort of the legion), on the R. Usk;[3] Caerwent, in Monmouth, anc. Venta-silurum (the fortress in the province of Gwent); Caerwys (of the assizes, gwys, a summons); Caermarthen, anc. Maridunum (the fort on the sea-shore); Caernarvon, Welsh Caer-yn-ar-Fon (the fortress opposite to Mona); Cardigan (the fortress of Caredig, a chieftain)—Cardigan is called by the Welsh Aberteifi (the mouth of the R. Teify); Cardiff, on the R. Taff; Carriden, anc. Caer-aiden or eden (the fort on the wing), in Linlithgow; Caerphilly (the fort of the trench, vallum), corrupt. into philly; Cader-Idris (the seat of Idris, an astronomer); Caer-gyffin (the border fortress); Grongar, corrupt. from Caer-gron (the circular fortress); Caer-hen or hun, corrupt. from Caer-Rhun, named from a Welsh prince; Carlisle, anc. Caergwawl (the fort at the trench); its Latin name was Luguvallum (the trench of the legion). It was destroyed by the Danes in 675, and rebuilt by William II. In Mid-Lothian, Cramond, i.e. Caer-Almond, on the R. Almond; Cathcart, on the R. Cart, Renfrew; Crail, anc. Carraile (the fort on the corner, aile), in the S.E. angle of Fife; Caerlaverock (the fort of Lewarch Ogg), founded in the sixth century; Sanquhar, i.e. Sean-cathair (old fort); Carmunnock or Carmannoc (the fort of the monks); Kirkintilloch, corrupt. from Caer-pen-tulach (the fort at the head of the hill); Cardross (the promontory fort); Kier, in Scotland, for Caer or Cathair; Carew (the fortresses), a castle in Wales; Carhaix, in Brittany, i.e. Ker-Aes (the fortress on the R. Aes—now the Hières). In Ireland: Caher (the fortress); Cahereen (little fortress); Cahergal (white fort); Cahersiveen, i.e. Cathair-saidbhin (Sabina’s fort); Carlingford, Irish Caer-linn, fiord being added by the Danes; its full name is, therefore, the ford of Caer-linn. It was also called Suamh-ech (the swimming ford of the horses); Derry-na-Caheragh (the oak grove of the fort); Caer-gwrle (the fortress of the great legion), i.e. Caer-gawr-lleon, with reference to the twentieth Roman legion stationed at Chester, or Caer-gwr-le (the boundary-place in Flintshire).

CALA (Span.),

a creek or bay—probably derived from Scala (It.), a seaport, Cel. cala (a harbour), and cognate with the Teut. kille; e.g. Callao, in S. America; Cale, the ancient name of Oporto, and probably Calais; Scala (a seaport), in Italy; Scala-nova (new port), in Turkey; Kiel, in Sleswick, so called from its fine bay.