Liverpool and Suburbs
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Last updated 23rd December 2007
Place Original Name Language Meaning Notes
Aigburth Aykeberh (ca.1200) Old Norse Oak-tree hill  
Aintree Aintree (1226) but Ayntre (1292) is the usual mediaeval spelling Old Norse Lonely tree Up to 100 years ago, before urbanisation, the area was noted for its lack of trees.
Allerton Alretune (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Alder-tree farm or settlement  
Anfield Hongfield (1642) Middle English/Anglo-Saxon Field on a slope The land slopes down northwards from Everton.
Bootle Boltelai (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Dwelling house  
Childwall Cildeuuelle (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Children's (or Cilda's) spring or stream Childwall Brook (not extant) was once fed by a spring near the present Childwall Abbey pub and formed the boundary between Childwall and Roby.
Croxteth Croxstath (1228) Old Norse Croc's (or river-bend) landing place Vikings settled here after sailing up the River Alt.
Dingle Dingyll (1246) Middle English Deep dell After a once lovely riverside cove and leisure attraction at the outlet of the Dingle Brook (not extant).
Everton Evretona (1094) Anglo-Saxon Wild-boar farm or settlement  
Fazakerley Phasakyrlee (ca.1250) Anglo-Saxon Border acre wood or clearing  
Ford Ford (1300) Anglo-Saxon Ford Could refer to a ford over Rimrose Brook
Garston Gerstan (to 1500) Anglo-Saxon Great stone  
Gateacre Gateacre (1559) Anglo-Saxon Field by a gate or goat field  
Great Crosby Crosebi (DB 1086), Magnam Crossby (1190) Old Norse Cross farm or settlement  
Huyton Hitune (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Landing place farm or settlement The River Alt used to stretch as far as Huyton.
Kirkdale Chirchedele (DB 1086) Old Norse Church valley Not exactly a valley, but it does have the higher ground of Everton and Walton to the east.
Linacre   Anglo-Saxon Flax field  
Litherland Liderlant (DB 1086) Old Norse Slope land The original village was on sloping land presumably once known as Hatton Hill, though the name only now survives in the name of a road.
Liverpool Liuerpul (1194) Anglo-Saxon Thick, muddy pool  
Netherton Formerly The Netherton (1576) Anglo-Saxon Lower farm or settlement  
Orrell Orhull (1280) Anglo-Saxon Ore hill  
Roby Rabil (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Boundary farm or settlement  
Smithdown Esmedune (DB 1086)     Survives only as Smithdown Road, Wavertree.
Thingwall Tingwell (1177) Old Norse Assembly field  
Toxteth Stochestide (DB 1086) Old Norse Toki's landing place  
Walton Waletone (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Britons' farm or settlement  
Wavertree Wauretreu (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon (?) Wavering tree (?) Possibly the aspen tree of which there remain examples.
West Derby Derbei (DB 1086) Old Norse Deer farm/settlement An abundance of deer was one of the things that attracted early Viking settlers.
Woolton (Much) Uuetone (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Wulfa's farm or settlement More or less the modern Woolton
Woolton (Little) Uluentune (DB 1086) Anglo-Saxon Wulfa's farm or settlement Parts of Gateacre, Childwall and Netherley. No longer in use.