The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
LightNews LightNews
banner
snsbi.bsky.social
The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
@snsbi.bsky.social
78 followers 53 following 110 posts
The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland. Follow us for updates on events, publications and other name-related news. https://www.snsbi.org.uk/index.html
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
snsbi.bsky.social
The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland @snsbi.bsky.social · May 11
Discover routes into names and name studies with the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland! Our new SNSBI website contains lots of material on place-names and surnames, with name-stories focussing on interesting examples.
Exploring names - SNSBI
www.snsbi.org.uk
snsbi.bsky.social
THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Spring conference March 27-29 2026
The Guildhall, Guildhall St, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Join us for our 32nd annual conference, which will take place in the Guildhall, a beautiful medieval building in the historic town of Bury St Edmunds.
January 26, 2026 at 10:08 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
This name story continues the story of Hamilton. In part 2, we consider the spread of the family name as it was carried far from its place of origin. It is written by Professor Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name-Studies) @uniofnottingham.bsky.social
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Hamilton part 2: the spread of the family name - SNSBI
This story continues the story of Hamilton. In part 2, we consider the spread of the family name as it was carried by the tides of history far from its place of origin?
www.snsbi.org.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:16 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our next name story explores the origin of the Hamilton family name, and is written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name Studies) at the University of Nottingham. Have a look! 👀

www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Hamilton part 1: the origin of the family name - SNSBI
Scottish and Irish families including a line of dukes, over 200,000 Americans, towns in Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, a football club, a racing driver, a musical – all these Hamiltons a...
www.snsbi.org.uk
December 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Take a look at the second part of our Mills and Boon story www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na....
Both stories show changes in status and mobility.
@namestudies.bsky.social, @englishplacenames.bsky.social, @logainm.bsky.social, @placenames.bsky.social, @placenamesni.bsky.social, @ainmean-aite.bsky.social
Mills & Boon part 2: Boon - SNSBI
Part 2 of the Mills & Boon story explores the origins of the family name Boon.
www.snsbi.org.uk
December 9, 2025 at 11:17 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Call for Papers!

Our Spring Conference @snsbi.bsky.social will be held on 27-29 March 2026 in the historic Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds.

@namestudies.bsky.social, @englishplacenames.bsky.social, @logainm.bsky.social, @placenames.bsky.social, @placenamesni.bsky.social, @ainmean-aite.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Next, we take a look at Mills & Boon, an article written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name-Studies) at the University of Nottingham. www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Mills & Boon part 1: Mills - SNSBI
Since the 1930s ‘Mills & Boon’ has been a byword for escapist romantic fiction. Part 1 of the Mills & Boon story explores the occupational connections of the family name Mills.
www.snsbi.org.uk
November 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Today's name story is: Carpets of Wild Garlic, Creamhchoill and other aromatic place-names in Ireland, written by Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill. Additional text referring to wild garlic beyond Ireland is written by Diana Whaley.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Creamhchoill and other aromatic place-names in Ireland - SNSBI
Creamh or wild garlic abounds in damp woodlands – and in the place-names of Ireland as well as parts of Britain.
www.snsbi.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
northlincsmuseum.bsky.social
#Makers
Dr Kathryn Bullen led the session today discussing the history of place names in the area.
lady with short brown curly hair speaking to the group
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our next name story is the surname Fox and is written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name Studies) at the University of Nottingham.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
@namestudies.bsky.social @englishplacenames.bsky.social @logainm.bsky.social @placenames.bsky.social @ainmean-aite.bsky.social
Fox - SNSBI
What might link the family names Fox, Gough, Todd and Redknap? If you're foxed, you should probably read this family name story...
www.snsbi.org.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
chegchenko.bsky.social
Just settling in for the (online) @snsbi.bsky.social conference: Names Abroad: Names From Abroad, organised by Peder Gammeltoft (University of Bergen). I'll try to post some highlights from the papers. Looks like a great line up: www.snsbi.org.uk/2025_autumn_...
SNSBI: 2025 autumn conference
www.snsbi.org.uk
October 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our next name story comes from Glasgow, Scotland, and is written by Dr Alasdair Whyte, Lecturer in Celtic Onomastics at the University of Glasgow.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
@namestudies.bsky.social @ainmean-aite.bsky.social
Glaschu ~ Glasgow and Gart nan Gad ~ Garngad - SNSBI
This story looks at some Glasgow place-names which tell us about the natural environment through a language which was the mother tongue of the area’s communities for several centuries: Gaelic.
www.snsbi.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our next family name story is 'Hitchcock: a southern English family name' and is written by Peter McClure, Honorary Professor (Name Studies) at the University of Nottingham. @namestudies.bsky.social

www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/peop...
Hitchcock - SNSBI
This name story traces the history of the family name Hitchcock, best known today as the name of the film director Alfred Hitchcock.
www.snsbi.org.uk
September 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Registration is now open for the SNSBI 2025 Autumn Day Conference, which will take place online via Zoom on Saturday 25 October (11.00 to 16.30) - do join us!

Booking is via Eventbrite link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/names-abro...

Abstracts are available here: www.snsbi.org.uk/2025_autumn_...
September 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our congratulations to Emeritus Professor Hywel Wyn Owen, recent recipient of the Green Robes at the Gorsedd, the society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. @placenames.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Take a look at this new book by Liz Curtis on East Lothian place-names: spns.org.uk/resources/pl....

East Lothian is the Scottish county east of Edinburgh. The book shares a varied collection of place-names, providing windows on the past.

@ainmean-aite.bsky.social @namestudies.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Our next name story explores the archaeology of the place-name 'York', written by Diana Whaley, Emeritus Professor of Early Medieval Studies @newcastleuni.bsky.social. Explore the name's development reflected in the people/languages + layers of influence shown in buildings/archaeology.
York — the archaeology of a place-name - SNSBI
The place-name York, like the city itself, has a fascinating history reflecting the influence of many different peoples
www.snsbi.org.uk
August 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
The SNSBI is now on LinkedIn! 👋 Give us a follow for content on names, place-names and events! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Discover routes into names and name studies with the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland! | Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
Discover routes into names and name studies with the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland! Our new SNSBI website contains lots of material on place-names and surnames, with name-stories foc...
www.linkedin.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Welcome to the first in a series of @snsbi.bsky.social name stories. This month, Peter McClure takes a look at the name 'attenborough'. Find out more about the famous brothers, the place-name which gave rise to the surname 'attenborough', & more about the surname...
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Attenborough - SNSBI
Where does the surname Attenborough come from?
www.snsbi.org.uk
July 13, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
drmjwarren.bsky.social
I’d like to officially announce birdsandplace.co.uk, my website accompanying #thecuckooslea which aims to record and share for the delight of everyone all birds in English place-names (and from there, one day, other birds/languages in Britain/Ireland too). Take a look! #naturewriting #birdsandplace
July 5, 2025 at 7:12 AM
snsbi.bsky.social
Call for papers! The @snsbi.bsky.social autumn day online conference "Names Abroad - Names From Abroad" is on Sat 25/10/2025: A) Current Name Research in Scandinavia, of relevance to Britain/Ireland, B) Names of other origins in Britain and Ireland and elsewhere. Deadline for abstracts: 15 August.
July 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
placenames.bsky.social
6 August 2025, 13:30
Cymdeithasau 2 at the National Eisteddfod, Wrecsam

Hywel Wyn Owen

Some place-names around the eisteddfod.
A survey of a selection of place-names reflecting the area's history, environment, language, people and industry.

In Welsh with simultaneous translation into English
May 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
seaxeducation.bsky.social
Come join us @imc-leeds.bsky.social in 2026 to talk about names! Please share this CfP with anyone interested - all are welcome
June 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
snsbi.bsky.social
Young researchers - save the date! International Council of Onomastic Sciences, Summer School, 24-28/8/2026, Helsinki, Finland: Digital Tools/Databases. @namestudies.bsky.social, @englishplacenames.bsky.social, @logainm.bsky.social, spns.org.uk, ulsterplacenamesociety.org, @placenames.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
kfbullen.bsky.social
Fascinating talk tonight, thanks! For anyone looking for more detail on place-names, see www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na..., and kepn.nottingham.ac.uk for an up-to-date guide to the interpretation of the names of England's cities, towns and villages.
Place-names of Britain and Ireland - SNSBI
The place-names of Britain and Ireland, from Aberdeen to Zone Point (Cornwall), and Galway to Norwich, are exceptionally diverse and full of interest, reflecting the remarkably variegated geology, geo...
www.snsbi.org.uk
June 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by The Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
drmjwarren.bsky.social
I’m with @histassoc.bsky.social tonight talking all about how birds have been shaping and transforming our relationships with place for a very long time. Old places and old ways. Come join! Online, free, 19:30: www.history.org.uk/events/calen.... #thecuckooslea #naturewriting
Virtual branch: The Cuckoo’s Lea
In his recent book The Cuckoo's Lea Dr Michael J Warren provides a beautiful exploration of how birds are entwined with British history, particularly in our place names. Join us for an exclusive Q&A ...
www.history.org.uk
June 19, 2025 at 7:28 AM