Learn English – Do these river names mean anything

etymologynames

I was planning a little trip the other day when I noticed that a number of rivers in Britain have common names. The ones I spotted were Avon, Ouse and Esk. Is there a reason for this? Are these names derived from something?

Best Answer

Avon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon_%28Warwickshire%29#Etymology

"Avon" derives from the British language abona, "river", which also survives as a number of other English and Scottish river names, and as modern Welsh afon (pronounced [ˈavɔn]), "river".

Ouse

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Ouse+River

The English name for the river derives from its Celtic name Usa, from *udso-, "water," which derives from the Indo-European root *wed-, "wet, water" (and the same root from which we derive water and wet). Thus the Ouse River etymologically is the "Water River" or the "Wet River." Of course, the English who borrowed the name from the Celts did not know the meaning of the wordas is rather frequently the case when foreign topographical terms are borrowed.

Esk

http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/engplnam.html

At the same time the river names Axe, Exe, Esk and Usk are all derived from the British word isca meaning "water".

It would seem none of the naming was very original to begin with.

Related Topic