|
 | Anglo Saxon History |  | |
| | Gelling Cole Hypothesis |
|---|
| |
|---|
| My Current Theory |
|---|
My current theory on Saxon Place Names
In 2000 I was looking at the place names around Hastings, which all appear to be Saxon, with a very few exceptions, and wondered what they meant.
My research lead me to conclude that this area was settled between the take over of Kent by Henghest and Horsa, and the take over of the South Downs area by Aelle, so around 465AD, and was settled by the Saxons.
If you are interested in this invasion please take a look at The sequence of the Saxon Invasion
As a lot of villages have similar snippets in their name and I wondered if each of these meant something, and that this in turn might mean that the settlement names described the use or surroundings of a place.
I am not a historian, so until 2026 I had not come across the Gelling-Cole Hypothesis, but this seems to fit well with my stuff. I have also in 2026 found an academic document written by Dr Robert Higgs from the 'The Journal of Coastal Research' which discusses sea levels in early Saxon times, this also fits my research.
So what could these snippets mean ??
My conclusions may seem surprising but please read Places containing the snippet æg meaning island before reading any other snippet pages as this explains the reason for the '4.5 metre line' described in other snippets.
| | |
|---|
| Gelling Cole Hypothesis |
|---|
I have recently found that there is a similar theory that was put forward by Margaret Gelling and Ann Cole and published as a book in 2000 - 'The Landscape of Place-Names'
The Gelling-Cole Hypothesis posits that Old English (OE) topographical place-name elements, especially for hills, weren't synonyms but precise terms describing specific landform shapes, forming a consistent naming system across much of England, like dūn (flat-topped hill) or hōh (heel-shaped hill). This hypothesis, developed by Margaret Gelling and Ann Cole, suggests Anglo-Saxon settlers used a systematic, precise vocabulary for landscape features, with each term having a distinct meaning, although later research shows variations and complexities.
Developed by place-name scholar Margaret Gelling and geographer Ann Cole, the hypothesis argues that Old English (OE) topographical terms—which modern speakers might translate simply as "hill" or "valley"—were actually part of a highly nuanced naming system.
List of Landscapes described in the research
- Rivers, Springs, Pools and Lakes
- Marsh, Moor and Floodplains
- River-Crossings and Landing Places, Roads and Tracks
- Valleys and Remote places
- Hills Slopes and Ridges
- Tres, Forests, Woods and Clearings
- Ploughland and Pasture
‘many landscape terms which occur in names of places where geography dictates that that is where people would choose to live’ (Gelling & Cole 2000)
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Local Interest
Just click an image |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
