Just a month to go to our CPD event ‘Opening up the map’. Spaces are limited so get in touch quickly to secure a spot!

Names in tūn (modern -ton) are so extremely common that they might seem tedious, but they can reveal a great deal about what was important to people in the past, and how places and resources were used.

Old English tūn, pronounced ‘toon’ and originally meaning ‘enclosure, fence’, crossed the North Sea with the Anglo-Saxons as they settled parts of Britain from the fifth century onwards, though its heyday began some three centuries later and lasted until after the Norman Conquest.

Tūn: From rustic fence to urban sprawl - SNSBI This story explores the ways in which Old English tūn was used in place-names and traces how tūn developed from a word meaning 'enclosure' or 'fence' to become the most commonly used element in Englis...

Today's name story is 'Tūn: From rustic fence to urban sprawl'. It is written by Nigel Suffield-Jones and Diana Whaley.
For more information, see www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

"when it comes to place-names, knowing what not to translate can be just as important as knowing what to" #translation

Perfect timing! Versions of ‘tūn’ appear frequently in Belfast street names and area grey of example of something that we often choose NOT to translate. Think Newington, Arlington and Cliftonville. Read more in @drfranceskane.bsky.social latest blog here: franceskane.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/w...

When Not to Translate: Irish Street Names and the Limits of Meaning Irish-language street names are becoming an increasingly visible part of our everyday landscape, appearing across new developments and established neighbourhoods alike. With that visibility comes i…

It’s been a while but I’m revisiting my blog to share some work we have been doing with NIPNP. More case studies to follow in coming weeks but here’s a bit of ‘why we do what we do’…

franceskane.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/w...

New project loading……🎙️

Overwhelming support for Irish language signage at Queen’s University The proposal calling for the reintroduction of Irish signs on campus was backed by more than 5,000 students

Overwhelming support for Irish language signage at Queen’s University

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Pity Me – really? - SNSBI Many place-names are deceptive, so it's not surprising that many people have assumed that the striking name Pity Me (best known from County Durham, but found more widely) can't really be what it seems...

Many place-names are deceptive, so it’s not surprising that many people have assumed that the striking place-name Pity Me can’t really be what it seems. What is it, though?
Today's name story is written by Emeritus Professor Diana Whaley of @newcastleuni.bsky.social.
www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

placeswithfrances on Instagram: "Some place-names of St. Patrick" 8 likes, 1 comments - placeswithfrances on March 17, 2024: "Some place-names of St. Patrick".

One from the archives this St. Patrick’s Day www.instagram.com/reel/C4n1j6X...

Mapping Ireland: Joe Mahon in conversation with Keith Lilley & Frances Kane | NI Science Festival

Another date for the diary over this years @niscifest.bsky.social showcasing our wonderful database with this exciting event @ulstermuseum.org nisciencefestival.com/event/mappin...

Paddle Back in Time: | NI Science Festival

‘paddle back in time’ is back for @niscifest.bsky.social 2026! Join us at Nendrum or on the Quoile nisciencefestival.com/event/paddle...

Council agrees to rename Prince Andrew Way despite legal advice A council has agreed to press ahead with the renaming of Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus against legal advice.

m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Saul near Downpatrick refers to a barn which stood on land presented to St Patrick in AD 432 by the local chieftain Dichu as a site for his first churchz In 1170 Saul is referred to as Saball Patraic in the Annals of Ulster and as Sabhall Phádraig ‘Patrick’s Barn’ in the OS Name Book (1834)

Eileamaid na seachdaine
Sabhal "barn"

Thoir dhuinn ainm sabhail a tha a' còrdadh ribh!

'S Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uile!!

#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #Cleachdi #Placenames #Gaelic

Mapa Gàidhlig na Seachdaine
Creag Eileachaidh ~ Craigellachie

buff.ly/PWmFhaE

#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #Cleachdi #Placenames #Gaelic #Maps #NàdarAlba #NatureScot

Ainm-àite na Seachdaine
Loch Ness ~ Loch Nis 'loch of the river Neas'
NH599377

buff.ly/xf3VoQv

#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #Cleachdi #Placenames #Gaelic

Eileamaid na seachdaine
Monadh "hill; moor; upland"

Thoir dhuinn ainm monaidh a tha a' còrdadh ribh!

#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #Cleachdi #Placenames #Gaelic

Mapa Gàidhlig na Seachdaine
CMAL ~ CMAL

buff.ly/PWmFhaE

#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #Cleachdi #Placenames #Gaelic #Maps #CMAL #CalMac

The Co. Armagh village of Newtownhamilton was established c.1770 by Alexander Hamilton, a descendant of the John Hamilton from Scotland who founded Hamiltonsbawn in 1619. The parish was created in 1773 out of the neighbouring parish of Creggan.

Maps & Memories | NI Science Festival

Our friends at @niscifest.bsky.social have been working on a new project and have now launched their website for 'Maps and Memories'. The project marks 200 years since the OS first mapping survey on Divis. Watch this space for exciting collaborations in 2026 nisciencefestival.com/programme/ma...

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

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Council to debate street name change in Carrickfergus Mid and East Antrim councillors will discuss a proposal to change a street sign named after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Dr Gordon McCoy, former UPNS Secretary and a valued scholar of the Irish language, anthropology, and place-names. Gordon’s work with Turas, his Gaelic maps of Belfast and East Belfast, and his research.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

Important notice from the committee of the Ulster Place Name Society 👇

Tá Béal Feirste ag ullmhú d'Oireachtas na Samhna 2025!

Ceannaigh ticéad anseo: www.antoireachtas.ie/oireachtas-n...

#OnaS25

Fógra

Seoladh mór @leabharbreac.bsky.social ag @oirnagaeilge.bsky.social

3pm go dtí 5pm Dé hAoine 31 Deireadh Fómhair, sa gCultúrlann (sa Dánlann ar chúl an tsiopa leabhar, An Ceathrú Póilí)

Prince Andrew: Killyleagh has its say over his baron title - BBC News The prince is relinquishing all of his royal titles - one of which is Baron Killyleagh.

It is possible that Laoch of Cill Ó Laoch ‘church of the descendants of Laoch’ (Killyleagh) is a variant spelling of Luighdheach, a genitive form of Lughaidh which was a popular name in early Ireland. The ruins of the medieval parish church are north of the town centre. www.bbc.com/news/article...