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British names: But when he boldly proceeds to our names of Villages and Towns, which are most of them purely Saxon and English, he falls into such diverting blunders as these, viz.
- Acton (which is from the Saxon Ac, an Oak, and Ton, a Town) he derives from Ac, a River, and Ton, Habitation.
- Aston (which is merely East-town, as in some parts of England Easter is still called Aster) he will have from As, River, and Ton, Habitation.
- Aukland (which is probably old English for Oak-land) he fetches from Oc, a little Hill, Lan, River, and D from Dy, Two.
- Colbroke, he says, comes from the Saxon Broke, a Bridge; i. e. a Bridge over the Colne.
- Dich-Marsh, he derives from Dich, which he says is from Dichlud, Borne, and Mar, Water. Dich-mar, Land borne up by Water.
- Hanwell, he says, is from Han, a Bending, and Val, in composition Vel, a River.
- Higham (a borough in Northamptonshire, which stands on a hill, at some distance from any river, and which was doubtless named from its elevated situation, High-ham; i. e. the Home or Habitation on High Ground: See Verstigan :) this writer derives from J, a River, and Cam, in composition Gam, a Bending.
- Northampton, (either so named in contradistinction to South-hampton, or, according to Camden, originally North-avonton;) this egregious Etymologist derives from Nor, (Embouchure) the Mouth of a river, Tan, a River, and Ton, Habitation.
- Northill, (which I suppose is merely North-Hill) he derives from Nor, River, and Tyle, Habitation.
- Oundale (contracted for Avon-dale) he derives from Avon, a River, and Dal, Inclosed, surrounded.
- Ringwood (i. e. I suppose, a “Wood ring-fenced,” a common forest term) he derives from Ren (Partage) a Division, Cw, River, and Hed, a Forest.
