Cornish Place Names

Cornish places names are a constant source of puzzlement to most visitors and, indeed, many of the Cornish. Pronunciation is a major puzzle to many, as is the close proximity of English and non-English names in some parts. For instance, on one bank of the River Camel is Wadebridge (Saxon bridge by the ford) on the other Egloshayle (Cornish church on tidal water), now forming part of Wadebridge. The answer lies in when places were named. Until Tudor times little was spoken except Cornish so most places names were in that Brythonic Celtic language. As English influence became stronger, new settlements might get English names, some old ones might be re-named. For example, Padstow was Petrocstow, the stow being a Saxon holy place; and Slaughterford, once Cornish Melorn, is the Saxon ford by the marsh. Perhaps a quarter of place names are in English, these predominantly in the more English settled north east. A few have both Cornish and Saxon elements and a very few derive from the Norman-French. And, even where settlement names are English, farm names are usually still Cornish. Among the commonest prefixes are Tre farm, Pol pool or hollow, Pen head or end, Chy and Bos dwelling, Porth cove or landing place and Ros promontory. The vast number of Saint prefixes reflects the evangelisation of Cornwall by Irish and Welsh priests in the dark ages.

Demelza - Cornish Dyn Malsa, Maelda's fort

Craig Weatherhill's Place Names in Cornwall is the bible

Cornish