This is a list of place names in which the origin is Old Celtic. The Celtic languages are a group of related languages now spoken primarily on the British Islands and Brittany.
Aeron(River)Welsh River in Wales, possibly derived from the hypothetical Celtic goddess Agrona.
Breizh(Island & Region)Breton Breton form of Britain and Brittany. Great Britain is called Breizh-Veur in Breton.
Bretagna(Region & Island)Italian Italian form of Britain and Brittany. Great Britain is called Gran Bretagna in Italian.
Bretagne(Region & Island)French, German, Dutch French form of Britannia (see Britain). In French this typically refers to the region known as Brittany in France, while Great Britain is called Grande-Bretagne.
Bretaña(Region & Island)Spanish Spanish form of Britain and Brittany. Great Britain is called Gran Bretaña in Spanish.
Britain(Island)English From Britannia, the Latin name for the island of Great Britain, the land of the Britons. It derives from the name of the Britons, recorded in Greek in the 4th century BC as Πρεττανική (Prettanike), and reconstructed as Proto-Brythonic *Pritanī, possibly meaning "tattooed people".
Brittany(Region)English From Britannia (see Britain). This is the name of a region in northwestern France, so called because many Britons settled there after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It had earlier been called Armorica. In the Middle Ages it was sometimes called Britannia Minor to distinguish it from the island of Great Britain. In French, both the island and the region are called Bretagne.
Carlisle(Settlement)English Originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city. This is the name of a city in Cumbria in northern England.
Cymru(Country)Welsh From the Celtic roots *kom "with, together" and *mrogis "territory, region". This is the Welsh name for Wales.
Deasmhumhain(Region)Irish From Irish deas "south" and Mumhain. This was the name of a medieval kingdom in southern Ireland, created when the kingdom of Munster was partitioned. It is Anglicized as Desmond.
Douglas(River & Settlement)Scottish From Gaelic dubh "dark" and glais "water, river" (an archaic word related to glas "grey, green"). This is the name of a tributary of the River Clyde called the Douglas Water, as well as a town that sits upon it in Lanarkshire.
Éire(Country & Island)Irish Possibly means "abundant land" in Old Irish. This is the Irish name of the country and island of Ireland. According to legend the island was named for the goddess Ériu, though in fact it was she who was named for the island.
Galacia(Region)Spanish Spanish form of Galatia, referring to the region in Anatolia.
Galatia(Region & Political Subdivision)Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, English From the Greek word for the Gaulish people Γαλάτης (Galates), probably a cognate of Latin Gallus (see Gallia). This was the Greek name for the region of Gaul. It was also used to refer to a region in Anatolia (modern Turkey) where Gauls settled in the 3rd century BC.... [more]
Galatya(Region)Turkish Turkish form of Galatia, referring both to Gaul and the ancient region in Anatolia.
Galazia(Region)Italian Italian form of Galatia, referring to the region in Anatolia.
Galia(Region)Spanish Spanish form of Gallia, referring to the historical region of Gaul.
Gallia(Region, Political Subdivision & Country)Ancient Roman, Italian, Greek Latin name for the historical region of Gaul. It is derived from the Latin ethnic word Gallus, referring to the Gauls (Celts of continental Europe), probably ultimately derived from the Celtic root *galn- "be able".... [more]
Gallien(Region)German German form of Gallia, referring to the historical region of Gaul.
Gaul(Region)English From French Gaule, the name of a historical region that was situated approximately in the area of modern France. In the Roman era it was called Gallia, which may be the origin of Gaule, though the evolution of the word would be irregular. It is more likely derived from Frankish walh meaning "foreigner, Celt".
Hamilton(Settlement)English Means "crooked hill" from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". This was the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists). After the town name became a surname, it was used for several other cities, including ones in Scotland, Canada, Australia and the United States.
Ireland(Country & Island)English Derived from Irish Gaelic Éire and English land. This is the name of an island to the west of Great Britain. The country of Ireland occupies the majority of the island.
Kendal(Settlement)English From the name of the river Kent combined with Old English dæl meaning "valley, dale". This is the name of a town in Cumbria.
Kent(Political Subdivision & River)English Possibly from a Brythonic element meaning "border, edge, coast". This is the name of a historic kingdom and modern county in southeastern England, called Cent in Old English, Cantium in Latin. It is also the name of a river in Cumbria, northwestern England.
Kerry(Political Subdivision)Irish From Irish Gaelic Ciarraí meaning "Ciar's people". This is the name of an Irish county.
Lyndon(Settlement)English From Old English lind "linden tree" and dun meaning "hill". This is the name of a few towns in the United Kingdom.
Lyon(Settlement)French, English, German From Latin Lugdunum, derived from the name of the Celtic god Lugus combined with Gaulish dunon meaning "hill fort, citadel". This is the name of a city in central France.
Man(Island)English From Old Irish Mana, possibly from the Celtic root *moniyo- meaning "mountain". The Isle of Man is an island between Britain and Ireland. It is a self-governing British dependency.
Mannin(Island)Manx Manx form of Man (from Manainn, the Old Irish dative case of Mana).
Moridunum(Settlement)Brythonic (Latinized) From Brythonic *mori "sea" and *dūnom "rampart, hill fort". This was the name of a Roman-era fort in southern Wales. It is now known as Caerfyrddin.
Shannon(River)Irish From Irish Sionainn, probably from Old Irish sen meaning "old, ancient". This is the name of a river in Ireland. It is personified by the mythological figure Sionann.
Slane(Settlement)Irish From the given name Sláine. This is the name of a town in Ireland, said to be named for the legendary high king Sláine.
Trefor(Settlement)Welsh Means "big village" from Middle Welsh tref "village" and maur "large". This is the name of a few towns in Wales.
Tyrone(Political Subdivision)Irish From Irish Gaelic Tir Eoghain meaning "land of Eoghan". This is the name of a county in Northern Ireland.
York(Settlement & Political Subdivision)English From Jórvík, the Norse form of Old English Eoforwic, which was from the Brythonic name Eburacon meaning "yew". The Old English form Eoforwic was altered based on eofor "boar" and wic "village".... [more]