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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 Eaft-town, as in fome parts of England Eafter is ftill called After) 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 fays, comes from the Saxon Broke, a Bridge; i. e. a Bridge over the Colne.
- DICH-MARSH, he derives from Dich, which he fays 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 Northamptonfhire, which ftands on a hill, at fome diftance from any river, and which was doubtlefs named from its elevated fituation, High-ham; i. e. the Home or Habitation on High Ground: See Verftigan :) this writer derives from 7, a River, and Cam, in compofition Gam, a Bending.
- NORTHAMPTON, (either so named in contradistinction to SOUTH HAMPTON, or, according to Camden, originally North-avonton;) this egregious Etymologift 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.
