List of Roman place names in Britain
Roman Britain. Map from 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
A partial list of Roman place names in Great Britain .[1]
This list includes only names documented from Roman times. For a more complete list including later Latin names, see List of Latin place names in Britain .
The early sources for Roman names show numerous variants and misspellings of the Latin names. Moreover, Ptolemy , one of the principal authorities, wrote in Greek , so names that he records need to be transliterated back into Latin to reveal the original form.
Note that in general only one source is shown below for each name, although many of the names are recorded in more than one of the sources.
Lists
Geographic regions
Settlement names
Roman name
Modern name
Appearances
Aballava
Burgh by Sands , Cumbria
ND, T
Ad Ansam
Unknown (Higham , Suffolk ?)
AI
Ad Pontem
East Stoke , Nottinghamshire
AI
Ad Pontes or Pontibus
Staines-upon-Thames , Middlesex
AI
Aesica
Great Chesters, Northumberland
ND, T
Alaunodunum
Maidenhead , Berkshire
other[2]
Alione or Alavana
Watercrook or Low Borrowbridge, Cumbria?
ND, AI
Alauna
Maryport , Cumbria
ND
Alaune
Alcester , Warwickshire
RC, T
Amboglanna or Banna
Birdoswald , Cumbria
ND
Anderitum
Pevensey , East Sussex
ND, T
Aquae Arnemetiae
Buxton , Derbyshire
RC
Aquae Sulis
Bath , Somerset
AI, P
Arbeia
South Shields , Tyne & Wear
ND, T
Ardotalia
Gamesley , Glossop , Derbyshire
RC
Argistillum
Unknown (Tewkesbury , Gloucestershire ?)
RC
Ariconium
Weston under Penyard , Herefordshire
AI
Bannavem Taburniae
unknown
SP
Bannaventa
Norton , near Daventry , Northamptonshire
AI
Belgic oppidum
Braintree , Essex
other[3]
Blatobulgium
Birrens , Dumfrieshire
AI
Blestium
Monmouth
AI
Bomium
Cowbridge , South Glamorgan ?
AI
Bovio
Tilston , Cheshire
AI
Branodunum
Brancaster , Norfolk
ND, T
Bravonium
Leintwardine , Herefordshire
AI
Bremenium
High Rochester , Northumberland
AI
Bremetennacum Veteranorum
Ribchester , Lancashire
AI, ND, RC, T
Brige
Ashley or Stockbrigde , Hampshire ?
AI
Brocavum
Brougham , Cumbria
AI
Brocolitia or Procolitia
Carrawburgh , Northumberland
ND, T
Brovonacae or Bravoniacum
Kirkby Thore , Cumbria
AI, T
Burrium
Usk , Monmouthshire
AI
Caesaromagus
Chelmsford , Essex
AI, RC
Calcaria
Tadcaster , North Yorkshire
AI
Calleva Atrebatum
Silchester , Hampshire
AI, P, RC
Camboduno
unknown (Huddersfield ?)
AI
Camboglanna
Castlesteads, Northumberland
RC, T
Camborico
Lackford or Hockwold , Norfolk
AI
Camulodunum
Colchester , Essex
AI, P, RC
Canonium
Kelvedon , Essex
AI
Caromago
Cramond , Edinburgh
RC
Castra Exploratorum
Netherby , Cumbria
AI
Cataractonium
Catterick , North Yorkshire
AI, P, RC
Causennis
Unknown (Sapperton , Lincolnshire ?)
AI
Cilurnum
Walwick Chesters, Northumberland
ND, T
Clausentum
Bitterne , Hampshire
AI
Coccium
Wigan , Lancashire
AI
Colonia
Colchester , Essex
AI, RC
Conbretovium
Coddenham , Suffolk
AI
Concangis
Chester-le-Street , County Durham
ND, RC, T
Congavata or Coggabata
Drumburgh , Cumbria
ND, T
Condercum
Benwell , Newcastle upon Tyne
ND, T
Condate
Northwich , Cheshire
AI
Conovium
Caerhun , Clwyd
AI, RC
Corinium Dobunnorum
Cirencester , Gloucestershire
AI, P, RC
Coria or Corstopitum
Corbridge , Northumberland
AI, P, RC
Crocolana
Brough , Nottinghamshire
AI
Cunetione
Mildenhall , Wiltshire
AI
Curia
Traprain Law , East Lothian
P
Danum
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
AI, ND, T
Delgovicia or Devovicia
Malton , North Yorkshire
AI, RC
Deva Victrix
Chester
AI, P, RC
Derventione
Papcastle , Cumbria
ND, T
Derventio Brigantum
Stamford Bridge or Malton , Yorkshire
AI
Derventio Coritanorum
Little Chester , Derby
RC, T
Dictim
near Sunderland
ND, T
Dubris
Dover , Kent
AI, ND, RC, T
Durnovaria
Dorchester , Dorset
AI, RC
Durobrovis
Rochester , Kent
AI, RC
Durobrivae
Water Newton , Cambridgeshire
AI, RC
Durocobrivis
Dunstable , Bedfordshire
AI
Durocornovium
Swindon , Wiltshire
AI
Durolevum
Unknown (Ospringe or Sittingbourne ?)
AI
Durolipons
Cambridge
AI, RC
Durolitum
Little London, Essex
AI
Durovernum Cantiacorum
Canterbury
AI, RC
Durovigutum
Godmanchester
RC
Eboracum
York
AI, P, RC
Evidensca
East Lothian
RC
Gabrosentum
Unknown (Moresby, Cumbria or Gateshead?)
ND, T
Galacum
Burrow-in-Lonsdale?
AI
Galava
Ambleside , Cumbria
AI
Garrianonum
Burgh Castle , Norfolk or Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk
ND, T
Glannoventa or Cantiventi
Ravenglass , Cumbria
AI, ND, RC, T
Glevum Colonia
Gloucester
AI, RC
Gobannium
Abergavenny , Monmouthshire
AI, RC
Hortonium
Halifax , West Yorkshire
other[4]
Isca Dumnoniorum
Exeter , Devon
AI, P, RC
Isca Augusta
Caerleon , Gwent
AI
Isannavantia
Norton , Northamptonshire
AI
Isurium or Isubrigantum
Aldborough , North Yorkshire
AI, P
Lactodorum
Towcester , Northamptonshire
AI, RC
Lagentium or Legeolio
Castleford , West Yorkshire
AI, RC
Lavatris
Bowes Castle , County Durham
AI, ND, RC, T
Leodis or Loidis
Leeds
other[5]
Leucarum
Loughor , Swansea
AI
Letocetum or Etoceto
Wall , Staffordshire
AI
Lindinis
Ilchester , Somerset
P, RC
Lindum Colonia
Lincoln
AI, P
Londinium
London
AI, P
Longovicium
Lanchester , County Durham
ND, RC, T
Luentinum
Pumsaint /Dolaucothi
P
Luguvalium
Carlisle , Cumbria
AI, RC
Lutudarum
Wirksworth or Carsington , Derbyshire
RC
Magiovinto
Fenny Stratford , Buckinghamshire
AI
Magis
near Workington , Cumbria
ND, T
Magnis
Kenchester , Herefordshire
AI, ND, RC, T
Maglona
Wigton , Cumbria
ND, T
Magnus Portus
Bosham , Sussex
P
Manduesedum
Mancetter , Warwickshire
AI
Mamucium or Mantio
Manchester
AI, RC
Maromago
Midlothian
RC
Margidunum
Bingham , Nottinghamshire
AI
Mediolanum
Whitchurch , Shropshire
AI, P, RC
Morbium
Piercebridge , County Durham
ND, T
Moridunum
Axminster , Devon
AI
Moridunum
Carmarthen
P
Navio or Anovius
Brough-on-Noe , Hope Valley , Derbyshire
RC
Nidum
Neath , West Glamorgan
AI
Noviomagus Reginorum
Chichester , Sussex
AI, P, RC
Noviomagus Cantiacorum
West Wickham , formerly supposed to be Crayford , both in the historic county of Kent [6]
AI
Olenacum
unknown (Elslack , North Yorkshire ?)
ND, T
Olicana
Ilkley , West Yorkshire
P
Onnum or Hunnum
Halton , Northumberland
ND, T
Othona
Bradwell-on-Sea , Essex
ND, T
Pennocrucium
Water Eaton, Staffordshire
AI
Petriana
Stanwix in Carlisle , Cumbria
ND, T
Petuaria
Brough , Yorkshire
P, RC
Pons Aelius
Newcastle upon Tyne
ND, T
Portus Abonae
Sea Mills , Bristol
AI
Portus Adurni
Portchester , Hampshire
ND, RC, T
Portus Felix
Filey , North Yorkshire
other[7]
Portus Lemanis
Lympne , Kent
AI, ND, T
Praesidium
unknown (Newton Kyme , North Yorkshire ?)
ND, T
Praetorium
unknown (Bridlington?)
AI
Ratae Corieltauvorum
Leicester
AI, P
Regulbium
Reculver , Kent
ND, T
Rutunium
Harcourt Park, Shropshire
AI
Rutupiae
Richborough , Kent
AI, ND, P, T
Salinae
Middlewich , Cheshire
RC
Segedunum
Wallsend , Tyne and Wear
ND, T
Segelocum or Agelocum
Littleborough , Nottinghamshire
AI
Segontium
Caernarfon
AI, RC
Sitomagus , Sitomagum, Sitomago, or Senomagus
Unknown, possibly Ixworth , Suffolk
AI
Sorbiodonum
Salisbury , Wiltshire
AI, RC
Spinae
Speen , Berkshire
AI
Sulloniacae
unknown (Brockley Hill ?)
AI
Trajectus
Keynsham , Somerset
AI
Trimontium
Newstead , Scottish Borders
P
Tripontium
Churchover , Warwickshire
AI
Uxacona
Redhill , Shropshire
AI
Uxelodunum or Axelodunum
Bowness-on-Solway , Cumbria
ND, RC, T
Vagniacae
Springhead , Kent
AI
Varae
St Asaph , Denbighshire ?
AI
Vectis
Isle of Wight
P
Venonae
High Cross , Leicestershire
AI
Venta Belgarum
Winchester , Hampshire
AI, P, RC
Venta Icenorum or Icinos
Caistor St Edmund , Norfolk
AI, P, RC
Venta Silurum
Caerwent , Monmouthshire
AI, RC
Vercovicium or Borcovicium
Housesteads , Northumberland
ND, T
Verlucione
Sandy Lane , Wiltshire
AI
Verterae or Verteris
Brough , Cumbria
AI, ND, T
Vertis
Unknown (Worcester ?)
RC
Verulamium
St Albans , Hertfordshire
AI, P, RC, T
Verometum or Vernometum
Willoughby on the Wolds , Nottinghamshire
AI
Vindobala
Rudchester, Northumberland
ND, T
Vindocladia
Shapwick , Dorset
AI, RC
Vindolanda
Chesterholme , Northumberland
RC, T
Vindomis
Neatham , Hampshire
AI, RC
Vindomora
Ebchester , County Durham
AI
Vinovia
Binchester , County Durham
AI, P, RC
Viroconium Cornoviorum
Wroxeter , Shropshire
AI, RC
Virosidum
Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
ND, T
Voreda
Penrith , Cumbria
AI, RC
See also
Primary sources
AI: The Antonine Itinerary [8]
P: Ptolemy 's Geography [9]
RC: The Ravenna Cosmography [10]
T: Tacitus 's On the Life and Character of Julius Agricola .
SP: Confession of St. Patrick
ND: Notitia Dignitatum
References
^ A L F Rivet, Colin Smith (1979). The Place-names of Roman Britain . B.T. Batsford Limited. ISBN 978-0713420777 .
^ The Itinerary of John Leland the Antiquary . Mr. Thomas Hearne M. A. 1768.
^ Finch Smith, Roger (1987). Roadside Settlements of Lowland Roman Britain . British Archaeological Reports British Series. p. 161. ISBN 0-86054-411-7 .
^ A Gazetteer of the World . A. Fullarton & Co. 1856.
^ Bede (731). Historia Ecclesiastica .
^ The discovery of the lost Roman town of Noviomagus, at West Wickham, Kent. Brian Philp, Gerald Clewley, Debbie Cooper. Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, Special Subject Series 26. 2021. ISBN 0947831371
^ Walker, John (1834), "VIII. Observations to prove Filey Bay, in Yorkshire, the Portus Felix or Sinus Salutaris; and Flamborough Head, the Ocellum Promontorium, of the Romans" , Archaeologia: or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity , vol. 25, Society of Antiquaries of London, pp. 127–145
^ "The Antonine Itinerary" . The Roads of Roman Britain . Retrieved 7 April 2022 .
^ Thayer, Bill (1991). "Ptolemy's Geography - Book II, Chapter 2" . LacusCurtius . Retrieved 7 April 2022 .
^ "Britannia in the Ravenna Cosmography" . www.kmatthews.org.uk . Retrieved 7 April 2022 .
External links
Placenames in brackets are either present-day names or counties where the towns formerly existed.
Capitals
Surviving Extinct