Four pre-English river names in and around Fenland:Chater,Granta,NeneandWelland

Abstract

In the context of discussion by Vennemann (1994) and Kitson (1996) in this journal about the linguistic nature of some ancient European river-names, I offer accounts of four unexplained or unsatisfactorily explained names in England. I argue that these four are pre-English in origin: that one (Granta) is Old European, in the sense of the term introduced by Hans Krahe (1962, 1964) whose position informs Kitson's work, and that the other three can be interpreted as British Celtic, borrowed into Old English [OE] at the Neo-Brittonic stage datable to c.400–600 C.E.** The spellings given as evidence are compiled from sources referred to in the bibliography. The dates given are those of the manuscript or other source in question, and if this is a later copy of an earlier record, the date of the ostensible source is given in brackets, e.g. ‘(1022) c.1200’. Forms like ‘9th’ mean ‘9th century’. The forms found in Anglo-Saxon charters are referred to by the relevant Sawyer number (Sawyer 1968). Other primary sources are given in brief. I am grateful for advice and comments from Andrew Breeze, Hywel Wyn Owen, Max W. Wheeler and two anonymous referees.