List of Roman place names in Britain facts for kids
A list of Roman place names in Great Britain helps us understand how places in Britain were known during the time of the Roman Empire. These names are important because they show us where Roman towns, forts, and settlements were located.
The Romans ruled parts of Britain for nearly 400 years, from 43 AD to about 410 AD. During this time, they built many cities, roads, and forts. They gave these places Latin names, which were often based on local Celtic names or described something about the place.
Finding these old Roman names can be tricky! The original records often have different spellings or mistakes. Also, some important sources, like the geographer Ptolemy, wrote in Greek. This means we have to change his Greek spellings back into what they might have sounded like in Latin.
Contents
Roman Names for Regions
The Romans had names for the main parts of Great Britain and nearby islands:
| Roman name | Modern region |
|---|---|
| Britannia | Great Britain |
| Hibernia | Ireland |
| Caledonia | Scotland |
Famous Roman Towns and Their Modern Names
Many of today's towns and cities in Britain started as Roman settlements. Here are some of the most well-known examples, showing their Roman names and what we call them today. These names often tell us about the history and importance of these places during Roman times.
| Roman name | Modern name |
|---|---|
| Aquae Sulis | Bath, Somerset |
| Camulodunum | Colchester, Essex |
| Cataractonium | Catterick, North Yorkshire |
| Corinium Dobunnorum | Cirencester, Gloucestershire |
| Deva Victrix | Chester |
| Dubris | Dover, Kent |
| Durnovaria | Dorchester, Dorset |
| Eboracum | York |
| Glevum Colonia | Gloucester |
| Isca Dumnoniorum | Exeter, Devon |
| Isca Augusta | Caerleon, Gwent |
| Lindum Colonia | Lincoln |
| Londinium | London |
| Luguvalium | Carlisle, Cumbria |
| Mamucium | Manchester |
| Noviomagus Reginorum | Chichester, Sussex |
| Pons Aelius | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Ratae Corieltauvorum | Leicester |
| Rutupiae | Richborough, Kent |
| Segontium | Caernarfon |
| Venta Belgarum | Winchester, Hampshire |
| Venta Icenorum | Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk |
| Venta Silurum | Caerwent, Monmouthshire |
| Verulamium | St Albans, Hertfordshire |
| Vindolanda | Chesterholme, Northumberland |
| Viroconium Cornoviorum | Wroxeter, Shropshire |
How We Know These Names
Historians and archaeologists learn about these Roman place names from several old documents and maps. These are called "primary sources" because they were written during or soon after Roman times.
- The Antonine Itinerary (AI): This was like an ancient Roman road map, listing routes and the places along them.
- Ptolemy's Geography (P): Written by a Greek scholar named Ptolemy, this book described the world as it was known to the Romans, including many places in Britain.
- The Ravenna Cosmography (RC): This is another list of places from the Roman Empire, put together by someone in Ravenna, Italy.
- Notitia Dignitatum (ND): This document lists important Roman officials and military units, often mentioning where they were stationed.
- Tacitus's Agricola (T): This book tells the story of Gnaeus Julius Agricola, a Roman governor of Britain, and mentions some places he visited or conquered.
- Confession of St. Patrick (SP): This is a personal account by Saint Patrick, who lived in Roman Britain and mentions some places.
See also
- List of Latin place names in Britain
- History of Britain
- Roman sites in the United Kingdom
