The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names

by Eilert Ekwall (Editor)

Provides over 10,000 chief English place-names of country, counties, towns, parishes, villages, and other locations, for etymologically interesting places

Genres: Reference, Dictionaries

608 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Bror Oscar Eilert Ekwall

Reviews

[Shake n' Vac]

I have just had to pick-up the old philology bible that is Ekwall for some work I was asked to do, and thought I would review it. Yes, this is a 'dictionary', and so would not expect it to be on here, but lets start with that: it covers major, middling and even some minor English place-names in alphabetical order, which can show regional differences in the translations of the elements (syllables) that make up names. It also shows the spelling 'roots' of the places mentioned. What is excellent about the book, however, is that the dictionary is preceded by an introduction that discusses the origins of names, old languages and linguistic development and, in short, problems and pitfalls for researchers. While this source should be used in conjunction with county, regional and local ones, it should be first on the list; Examining a local place-name without consulting Ekwall is, in my opinion, as silly as stirring the ocean with a teaspoon.