Meaning behind the names of 17 towns and villages in Essex

Many Essex place names preserve layers of history from Roman forts and Celtic words to Old English farms and medieval markets; this report explains the origins of 17 towns and villages, including Colchester, Clacton and Saffron Walden.

Many towns and villages across Essex keep names that date back centuries and record earlier peoples, landscape features and local activities. These names reflect Roman, Celtic, Old English and later influences and often describe rivers, farms, forts or markets. The article outlines the origins of 17 places and shows how elements such as ceaster, tūn, hām or references to crops and animals appear in modern names. Local records such as the Domesday Book and later charters help trace these changes. Notable name origins: - Colchester: evolved from Latin Colonia Victricensis and Celtic Camulodunum; the Old English form Colneceaster meant a fort on the River Colne, with 'ceaster' indicating a Roman fort. - Clacton: likely combines an Old English personal name (probably Clacc) with tūn (farmstead); the suffix "on-Sea" was added as the settlement developed as a seaside resort. - Saffron Walden: formerly Walden or Chipping Walden, it gained "Saffron" in the 1540s after extensive saffron cultivation and trade made the town notable for that crop. - Halstead: recorded in the Domesday Book and later granted a market charter; its name likely comes from Old English elements meaning a sloping hillside and a place of shelter. - Rayne: shown as Raines in the Domesday Book, with theories linking it to Old English hrægene (shelter or hut) or to an ancient river name possibly connected to the River Brain. - Black Notley and White Notley: both derive from Old English hnutu + leah (nut wood or clearing); the prefixes 'Black' and 'White' were later additions to distinguish the neighbouring settlements. Summary: These place names preserve layers of local history, from Roman and Celtic roots through Anglo-Saxon settlement and medieval markets to later seaside identities. They show how landscape features, crops and early landholders were recorded in names. Undetermined at this time.