Mystery often surrounds the origin of place names and much work has been carried out over the years on their meanings and influence.

Burton historian H J Wain looked in detail at local place names for a series of weekly features in the Burton Mail during the 1960s and he warned others attempting their own research, to ensure they found the oldest spelling of the name before delving into history.

As an example, many assumed Foremark was given the name because the land had been purchased for “four marks”. However, the original spelling of the name is Forne Werche which is a Scandinavian word meaning “the old work”.

Again, some assume Drakelow was so named because one of the Gresley family playing bowls with Sir Francis Drake “laid Drake low”. However, the place name of course means “Dragon’s Mound” and dates back to Anglo-Saxon times.

You can imagine the rude and crass connotations associated with Hoar Cross, whereas the name really only means “grey cross” and was probably conceived because of a grey lichen-covered stone used as a boundary marker.

Jumping to conclusions was also common for the name Horninglow with many assuming the name was a result of “horn” – a corner, “ing” a meadow and “low” a brow, hence a meadow on the corner of the hill.

Whereas the name Horninglow actually derives from the name “Horning’s Low” – a burial ground with the prefix “Horning” being a family name.

Many place names appeared for the first time in the Doomsday Book after the conquest of England in AD 1066 by William Duke of Normandy – he found it necessary to assess the taxable value of his new kingdom.

Accordingly, he enlisted the services of monkish scribes – the only people who could read and write – and sent them to visit every town and village to record the number of inhabitants, the presence of a priest, church or mill and the nature and extent of the soil, arable or woodland.

This work took place in AD 1086 and was the first national census undertaken in this country.

What the 1086 census shows is that with the exception of river names which are mostly Ancient British - the majority of Derbyshire place names were of Anglo Saxon origin and a study of these suggests that Anglian settlements in Derbyshire were comparatively late compared with other areas of the country. The basis for this information is that no Derbyshire place names contain the elements of “ing” or “ingham” meaning “family of”.

Those names ending in the word “thorpe” reveal Scandinavian settlements with this ending relating to an outlying farmstead. Local examples of course include Donisthorpe and Oakthorpe.

The suffixes of “ham”, “ton” and “cote” signify a home, a farm or a cottage and place names such as Scropton, Rolleston, Swarkeston and Hatton are fine examples of a Scandinavian prefix used with an Anglo-Saxon suffix. For example, Scrop-ton.

Other fine examples of the use of the Anglo-Saxon suffixes of “ham”, “ton” and “cote” include Measham, the hamlet by the Mease, and Linton – the flax farm.

Swadlincote was originally called “Sivardingescote” which derives from the Scandinavian word “Svartlingr” meaning a dark or swarthy man which is coupled with the Anglo-Saxon suffix of “cote” which related to a farm or cottage.

Many places are of course named after people who lived in the area. Donisthorpe was originally Durands Thorpe, Shobnall was Sceoba’s Hall or Scobenthall, Catton was Catta’s Farm and Lullington was Lulla’s Farm.

While Abbots Bromley, Kings Bromley and Bagots Bromley are named after the owners of the manors where the shrub broom grew.

There are many Newtons scattered throughout the country and it is probably the most common English place name meaning “new homestead”.

In many cases, the name of the owner of the manor was added to distinguish it from other villages and in the case of Newton Solney, it was named after the Norman-French Soligni family.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Bearwood Hill has nothing to do with bears and is made of a double word combining “Bearu” – a grove, and “Wudu” meaning trees.

Woodville was so named in 1845 when a separate parish was carved out of Hartshorne and Ashby Woulds. Previously, Woodville was known as “wooden box” which was derived from the toll-keepers hut on the turnpike road where the side roads led to Swadlincote and Hartshorne.

Stapenhill derives from the Anglo-Saxon word “Stapol” which means a pole or a pillar indicating the name probably relates again to a boundary marker as in the case of Hoar Cross.

Many in Winshill will already be familiar with the name “Gorby’s Knob” while those in Stapenhill may be equally familiar with the name “Donkey Island” - both are relatively modern and crass nicknames.

Unfortunately for those in Winshill, the name “Gorby” has an affinity with being gormless and “knob” means on a hill or knoll. In truth, the actual history of the name Winshill derives from “Wineshull” or “Wynneshulle” with both Wine and Hull being Anglo-Saxon family names.

But Winshill folk shouldn’t feel too downhearted with the nickname of “Gorby’s Hill” as Stapenhill’s “Donkey Island” refers to a crowd of asses which had to travel across the river from Derbyshire. Both Gorby’s Hill and Donkey Island were the work of Burtonian’s having a dim view of those visiting the town from across the river.

There is plenty of speculation as to the origin of the word "Trent"
There is plenty of speculation as to the origin of the word "Trent"

Branston has had many names over the years. In 771 it was spelt “Brentiston”, and then in 978 it became “Brantustun”. The prefix “Brand” was a common Anglo-Saxon personal name and the letters “d” and “t” were often interchanged. It can therefore be said that Branston originates from the name “Brand’s Town” and is based on a family name.

Finally, if we look at Burton, the lesson of finding the earliest example of a name before jumping to conclusions becomes increasingly vital.

The earliest mention of “Byrton” was recorded in 1004 but as “Byr” has no meaning in Anglo-Saxon, the correct spelling of the name is most likely to be “Burhton” which signifies an enclosed place.

To distinguish our town from others, it was known as “Burton Upon Trent” with the latter word “Trent” being one of the most puzzling.

It was thought for years that the river name was derived from the French word “Trente” – meaning 30. It was therefore accepted and debated that the word “thirty” related to 30 separate sources of water which flowed to create the river while others thought 30 related to breeds of fish found in the water.

While the name of the river appears as Trente in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, during the seventh century the name was written as “Trisantona” which causes further turmoil and confusion.

While experts have for years hesitated to give any definite answer as to the origin or meaning of the word “Trent”, there are suggestions that the word “Trent” is simply derived from an old British word “Tren” meaning force or strength.