British Towns That Changed Their Names (And Why)

Some town names have been around for centuries, barely touched. Others? They’ve had a bit of an identity crisis. Whether it was to dodge confusion, attract tourists, distance themselves from dodgy reputations, or simply adapt with the times, several British towns have decided to ditch the old and go with something new. Some of the stories behind these changes are stranger than you might think—here are some of the most interesting ones.

1. Staines became Staines-upon-Thames to shake off a certain comedy association.

In 2012, Staines, a town in Surrey, officially became Staines-upon-Thames. It sounds more picturesque, doesn’t it? That was exactly the point. Local authorities wanted to give the town a more upmarket feel, and quietly distance it from its most infamous fictional resident: Ali G.

Thanks to Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, Staines had become a bit of a punchline. Though the comedy was good for a laugh, many locals didn’t want their hometown constantly linked to a spoof “gangsta.” Adding “upon-Thames” gave the name a touch of elegance and reconnected it to the river, which had always been a key part of its identity.

2. Ashby-de-la-Zouch was once just Ashby.

This Leicestershire market town didn’t always have such a fancy name. Back in the day, it was simply known as Ashby, which is a Norse word meaning “farmstead.” But in the 12th century, the de la Zouch family took over the local castle, and the town began to adopt their name as well.

By the 15th century, the two names were stitched together into the one we know today. It’s probably one of the few cases where a town name changed because of a bit of family branding. Though it might sound a bit grand, locals just call it “Ashby” most of the time anyway.

3. Basingstoke was once known as Embasinga’s stock.

This isn’t a case of a recent change, but more of a natural evolution. “Basingstoke” comes from Old English, and it originally meant “the stockade of the people of Embasing.” Over time, like many old place names, the pronunciation and spelling were streamlined into something easier to say—and, frankly, less of a mouthful.

You can still see remnants of the older version in local place names and historical documents. But like a lot of towns with Saxon roots, the modern version just stuck after centuries of tweaks.

4. Sutton Coldfield used to be just Sutton.

Way back in the Middle Ages, this town near Birmingham was simply known as Sutton. Then, King Henry VIII got involved. In 1528, he granted the town a royal charter, partly due to the influence of Bishop Vesey, a local lad who had the king’s ear.

The charter added “Coldfield” to distinguish it from the many other Suttons around the country. It refers to the town’s location on the cold, exposed fields of the West Midlands. Today, it still proudly carries the full name, and the “Royal” prefix is sometimes used to reflect its charter.

5. West Hartlepool merged with Old Hartlepool to become, well, just Hartlepool.

At one point, there were two Hartlepools: Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool. They were separate towns, each with their own local council and a fair bit of rivalry.

But in 1967, they officially merged into a single borough and became simply “Hartlepool.” The consolidation helped streamline local governance and made things less confusing, at least on paper. Some locals still refer to the two areas separately, but the official name is now singular.

6. Kingston upon Hull got shortened to just Hull (unofficially, anyway).

Technically, the city is still called Kingston upon Hull. That’s the full, official name. But most people just call it Hull, and have done for ages. The original name comes from its location on the River Hull, and “Kingston” was added by King Edward I in the 13th century when it became a royal port.

Though the long version is still used on official documents and council signage, “Hull” is what you’ll hear from just about everyone who lives there.

7. Gatehead was renamed Gateshead after centuries of spelling debates.

It might not sound like much of a change, but Gateshead didn’t always have that extra ‘s’ in there. Early versions of the name included “Gatisheved” and “Gatesheued,” both of which sound pretty clunky to modern ears.

The current spelling became standard by the 18th century, but it’s a good example of how even small shifts in language can lead to official name changes. Sometimes it wasn’t about branding or politics—it was just about making the spelling match how people actually said it.

8. Derry changed to Londonderry, and sparked a naming war.

Here’s where things get a bit more political. The city of Derry, in Northern Ireland, was renamed Londonderry in 1613 when it was granted a royal charter as part of the colonisation of Ulster by English and Scottish settlers. The “London” part was added to acknowledge the involvement of the London livery companies in the project.

To this day, the name is still contested. Nationalists prefer “Derry,” while unionists tend to stick with “Londonderry.” In practice, you’ll hear both, depending on who you’re talking to—and the debate over the name is far from settled.

9. Caerwys in Wales once had a Latin name.

While the town of Caerwys has proudly carried its Welsh name for many centuries now, during Roman times, it was known by a Latin name that’s since faded from common use. Like many places in Wales, there was a conscious shift back to Welsh place names as a form of cultural reclamation.

Restoring Welsh-language names to towns, villages, and even street signs became more common in the 20th century, reflecting national pride and a desire to protect the language. It’s not a sudden name change like some others on this list, but it’s a shift worth noting.

10. Newtown was once Llanfair-yng-Nghedewain.

Newtown in Powys, Wales, sounds modern and English, but its roots are anything but. It was originally known as Llanfair-yng-Nghedewain. The English name came later, during the Industrial Revolution, when the area was being developed and the government wanted to attract settlers and workers.

“Newtown” sounded fresh, functional, and easier to pronounce for non-Welsh speakers. The old name is still remembered in local history, but these days you’ll see “Newtown” on every signpost.

11. Redditch was originally Red Ditch.

This Worcestershire town evolved naturally over time from “Red Ditch”—a name thought to refer to the colour of the local soil and possibly a manmade drainage channel. As language shifted, the words blended together and became Redditch, which stuck.

It’s a small change, but a good reminder of how place names aren’t always set in stone. A bit of linguistic laziness, some regional accents, and a few generations later, you’ve got a whole new town name.

12. Bridgnorth was split from Quatford and renamed.

In the 12th century, a new settlement was formed on higher ground above the River Severn, near the existing town of Quatford. Because it was built on a bridge north of the original site, the name Bridgnorth—literally “bridge north”—was born.

Quatford still exists today as a small village, but it was Bridgnorth that grew into the more prominent town. It’s a reminder that names often came about in very literal ways, especially when people just needed a simple way to tell places apart.

13. Broughty Ferry was once a simple fishing village.

This town near Dundee in Scotland was originally just referred to as Broughty. The “Ferry” part was added when a ferry service began operating across the Tay estuary. It became such a key part of the town’s identity that the name stuck, even long after the ferry stopped running regularly.

Now, Broughty Ferry is seen as a more affluent suburb of Dundee, and the name gives it a slightly seaside-town charm that still draws in visitors.

14. South Queensferry was renamed to honour a royal crossing.

South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, owes its current name to Queen Margaret of Scotland, who used the crossing point on her travels in the 11th century. The town was named in her honour, with “Queensferry” referencing the ferry route she frequently took.

It’s another example of a name change linked to a bit of royal PR. The name helped distinguish it from other ferries in the region and gave the town a bit of regal clout that’s lasted for centuries.

15. Weston-super-Mare added a splash of Latin flair.

This seaside town in Somerset started out as simply Weston. But in the 19th century, with the rise of the Victorian seaside resort, it got a Latin upgrade: “super Mare” means “upon sea.” The added flourish helped market the town to tourists and gave it a sense of being a little more refined, especially when the railways brought visitors in droves.

Today, Weston-super-Mare is still affectionately called “Weston” by many locals, but the full name continues to give it that nostalgic, seaside-resort feel.