The family or clan did not always take its name from the chief who obtained the allotment of land; it was often but a branch of a much older family in the land from which the settlement came. Hence we find patronymics in distant parts of England, which would seem to indicate that different members of the same original family had joined in various separate expeditions to Britain; and it is still more curious that this identity of name is found in districts peopled severally by the different races, Angles, Saxons, or Jutes. This admits of two explanations; it shows the close relationship between the three races themselves, and it proves, probably, that when a great chieftain of one race, an Angle, for instance, planned an expedition to Britain, subordinate leaders from the other Saxons, Jutes, or others, were ready to enlist among his followers. Thus we find the Billingas at Billing-ham in Durham, at Billing-ley in Yorkshire, at Billing-hay in Lincolnshire, at Billing-ton in the counties of Bedford, Stafford, and Lancaster, as well as at other places, all within the district occupied by the Angles. We find a settlement of the same family at Billing-hurst, in Sussex, and some of them appear to have established themselves in the outskirts of London, and to have given name to Billings-gate. (There was a family of Billung on the Continent; and Hermann Billung was invested with the Duchy of Saxony by Otto I. In 1106 the male line of this house became extinct on the death of the last Billung, Duke Magnus, who left two daughters, Eilike and Wulfhild; Wulfhild was married to Henry of Bavaria, surnamed the Black, a descendant of the Guelph family.) The Bosingas are found at Bosing-ham in Kent, and again at the two Bossingtons in Hampshire and Somerset.

The Scearingas are found at Sharring-ton, Shering-ford, and Sharring-ton in Norfolk, Sheering in Essex, at Scarring-ton in Nottinghamshire, and at Sheering-ton in Buckingham and Wiltshire. We have the Haningas at three places named Hanning-ton in Northamptonshire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire, and also probably at Hanning-field in Essex. When we examine further we find in these patronymics, names which belong to the great families whose history is mixed up in the earliest Teutonic mythology. The Waelsings, who are found at Walsing-ham in Norfolk, at Wolsing-ham in Durham, and at Woolsing-ton in Northumberland, appear to have been offsets of the great family of the Volsungar of the Edda, and the Volsungen of the old German romances. The Harlings (Herelingas), who are found at three places named Harling-ton in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, and Yorkshire, as well as at Harling in Norfolk, are also connected with the ancient Teutonic mythology, and their name is found at Harlingen in Friesland. The Swaefas, a tribe who was known to have dwelt on the borders of the Angles on the Continent, appear to have given their name to Swaff-ham in Norfolk. Mr. Kemble, quoting other well known names from the mythic and half mythic history of the continental Teutons, points out as further instances, that the Brentings of the northern romance are found in England at Brenting-ley in Leicestershire, and at Branting-ham in Yorkshire. The Scyldings and Scylfings, celebrated northern races, give their name to Skelding, and to two places named Skilling-ton in Northumberland and Dorsetshire. The Ardings, who are found at Arding-ton in Berkshire, and at Arding-ley in Sussex, are, he says, the Azdingi, the royal race of the Visigoths and Vandals; and the Banings of the Continent, over whom, when the curious Anglo-Saxon fragment called the Traveller’s Song was written, a Prince named Becca ruled, are recognised in Banning-ham in Norfolk. The Helsings gave name to Helsing-ton in Westmoreland, and to Helsing-land in Sweden; and we find the name of the Blecingas as well in Bleckingen in Sweden as in Bletching-ton in Oxfordshire and Bletching-ley in Surrey. In the Gytingas found at Guyting in Gloucestershire, we perhaps trace the Jutungi of Germany; and another Alamannic tribe, the Scudingi, are supposed to be traced in the Scytings, who gave their name to Shutting-ton in Warwickshire.—(The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon.)

(c) Individuals.

The names of persons, especially those of princes and great landowners, constitute a very large element in local nomenclature. The name of Ella is found in Elles-mere (Ella’s-lake); and in Elles-croft (the field of Ella); and that of his son Cissa is found in Chi-chester (Cissan-ceaster, the fortified residence of Cissa), and in Cis-bury, the city of Cissa. Cerdic is remembered in Char-ford (Cerdic’s-ford), and in Chears-ley (Cerdic’s-meadow). Bebba, the Queen of Ida, has left her name in Bam-borough (Bebba’s city—Bebban-burg). The Christian prince Oswald, who was slain in battle, and fell at a particular place near Maserfield, has left his name in Oswes-try, or Oswald’s-tree. The name of the Danish King Canute is found in Knuts-ford (Canute’s-ford), Cnuts-delf (Canute’s-ditch), and in Canew-don (Canute’s-hill). Danish names are a very important element of the local names in the North of England—e.g., Orms-kirk, Worms-head, Ormes-by and Unst (Ormst), derive their names from some Scandinavian leader Orm or Urm. The name of Rafn or Raven is found in Raven-side (the seat or residence of Raven), and in Raven-stone (the stone of Raven). Uller has given his name to Ullers-thorpe, Hubba to Hubber-sty, and Ulfr to Ulles-water and Ulver-stone. Numerous other examples might be given of names of Danish origin, but many of them will be noticed as we proceed.

The following places are derived from the names of the original possessor—e.g.,

(d) Names of Gods.

It is well known that the ancient Teutonic tribes were heathens, and that in their original settlements they worshipped Odin, Thor, Tiw, &c., whose names are still preserved, not only in the days of the week, but in the names of numerous places.

Wuotan, Woden, or Odin, the presiding deity of the Northern nations, has his name preserved in O-dean, Wooden-dean, (Odin’s-hollow), Woods-dale (Odin’s-vale); Wednes-bury and Wan-borough (Odin’s-city); Wednes-field (Odin’s-field); Wam-pool (Odin’s-pool); Wam-brook (Odin’s-brook); Won-stone (Odin’s-stone); Wans-ford (Odin’s-ford); Wans-beck (Odin’s-rivulet); Wan-stead (Odin’s-residence); Wens-ley-fold (Odin’s-meadow-enclosure); Wans-dike (Odin’s-ditch); Odin’s-wald (Odin’s-forest); Oden-se (Odin’s-lake.) The name of his wife, Frigga, Frea, or Freyja, occurs in Freys-torp, in Friday-thorpe, and Frais-thorpe (Frigga’s-city.) We are reminded of Thor by such places as Thor-up and Thors-torp (Thor’s-city); Thors-dal and Turs-dale (Thor’s-vale); Tor-ness (Thor’s-promontory); Thurs-by, and Thurso-by (Thor’s-town); Thurdys-toft (Thor’s-field); Tor-boll (Thor’s-dwelling); Kirby-Thore (Church of Thor); Thurs-ley, and Thur-ley (Thor’s-meadow); Thors-aa (Thor’s-stream).

Thor was also known by the names of Donar (Thunor) and Hamar, which occurs in Thunders-field (Thor’s-field); and in Thunders-ley (Thor’s-meadow); in Hamer-ton and Homer-ton (Thor’s-town); Hamer-ton-kirk (Thor’s-town-Church); Hamer-wick (Thor’s-marsh); and in Hamer-stein (Thor’s-stone). The name of Balder, the son of Odin, and god of light, is still preserved in Balders-ley (the meadow of Balder); Balders-dale (Balder’s-vale); Boldre-wood (Balder’s-wood); and in Balders-haye (Balder’s-enclosure); that of Brage, the god of orators, in Brag-naes (Brage-naes, the promontory of Brage).