Xll INTRODUCTION. 



occupation beyond the roads and stations, the bulk of these 

 words being derived, through the Norman-French, from the 

 Latin. The robust Anglo-Saxon or ^Teutonic tongue had 

 struck its roots deeply during the four centuries of its conti- 

 nuance, as proved by the survival, dming and in spite of the 

 two centuries of Scandinavian power, of 217 words. 



In the Scandinavian category we find that the Norse 

 tongue predominates the Danish by 44 place-names to 21, 

 and many of the Scandinavian words have a Swedish charac- 

 ter. 



It would hence appear that the Upper Valley of the Tees 

 must have been invaded by Scandinavians from the west 

 and not from the east ; that bands of Norsemen from Cum- 

 berland and Westmorland had poured over the hills, and 

 settled on the banks of the Tees and its tributaries, the fells 

 and valleys of the district pleasing them, as putting them in 

 mind of their northern homes. They must, however, have 

 adopted the language of the people whom they dispossessed, 

 as their compatriots did in France about the same period — 

 an occurrence which is not without precedent in history. 



The Upper Teesdale district ought therefore, if the premises 

 herein be correct, to be classed in linguistic topography with 

 Cumberland and Westmorland rather than with Yorkshire 

 and Lincolnshire. 



The Norse test or peculiar words are far more numerous 

 than the Danish. 



It is curious that so many Celtic words have been pre- 

 served. They represent, on the whole, the great features 

 of the district, whilst the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian 

 names refer to minor features, to clearings in the forests, 

 enclosm^es, settlements, farms, villages, churches and towns. 



The purely English names are comparatively few, being 

 mostly proper names, and some may be found to be referable 

 to one or other of the above classes. 



