1810.] 
have the name Venta in their endings, 
We also had our Venta Belgarum, Venta 
Icenorum, and Venta Silurum: names 
which have never been rightly under- 
stood or rendered by our antiguaries. 
Of the word Isca, as well as Venta, 
much has been wirtten. Leon, or Lion, 
in Caer Leon, the translation of Isca 
Silurum, has been rendered, in a learned 
disquisiion by a Welsh étymologist of 
the first eminence, ‘The Waters.” £zon, 
the translation of Isca Danmoniowun, 
must therefore be translated the same. 
But the translation Waters describes 
not the situation of these places. I am 
aware that A, An, and On, are plural 
endings in common words; but they are 
not often so when applied in description 
of places. Exon was higher from the 
river formerly, than itis at present, The 
letter A is Gaelic for°a bill; Isca 
might therefore imply, the Water Hill. * 
Tie Saxons seem to have supposed A to 
be a contraction of An or On, which was 
aterm for land; and hence Exon meant 
the water lend. ‘Lhe same must be said 
of Leon, or Lion, in Caerleon. The 
mistake of our etymologisis arises from 
their not distinguishing augments and 
diminutives, and some words tor land, in 
old names of places, trom the plural 
endings of their common words. From 
augments and diminutives we have de- 
rived these plural endings. As augments 
and diminutives in description, they im- 
ply great or little: as plural endings in 
conunon words, they mean many or few, 
This may appear strange, but is not more 
Strange than true; and it Is @ curious 
fact, that from etymologists’ not knowing 
the difference, their translations in these 
points have never been applicable in 
description, 
I have now removed many difficulties; 
and proceed to Laclorodo, or Lacéodoro. 
This name has been derived by our an- 
tiquaries from Lach, a stone, and Daur, 
water: but by monsieur Bullet, in his 
Celtic Dictionary, from Lack, a stone, 
and Torri, to cut. Somewhat like this 
was Bremeniuvm explained by a learned 
writer from Bre and Maen, which he 
rendered the high stone. The name of 
Whitstone, in Cornwall, was derived by 
Mr. Hals, who wrote its parochial his- 
tory, from the White Stone mentioned 
in the Revelations! In the county of 
* In like manner, Venta, originaliy im- 
plied, the Hill Lends. 
fib. 17, 
Derivation of Names in Antoninus. 234 
~ 
Devon there is a parish named Hurhams, | 
In this word, Ux, with the aspirate H, 
imphes, the Water; and Ham is borders 
but an etymologist rendered Hua, hook; 
and stated that the place was formerly 
the Habitation of Hook or Crook! 1 
confess that- the above derivations were 
gotten, like this last, “by hook or crook :” 
for nerther the Water Sione, nor the 
High Stone, nor the to cut a Store, nor 
the White Stone in the Revelations, is 
applicable in description of names of old 
settlements. {tn Lactorcdo, Las implies 
a lake, or stream. Yo in Lacto, is the 
same as To, or Tou, in Brito, or Britou, 
an old name of Bristol.  Brz implies. 
Hill; and To or Tou, being a synonyme 
of Tol, whose root is Ol, imphes border 
land, or border, by this letter. S/o, 
and Séol, (words whose origin is une 
known) being also synonymes of Touy 
and Tol, in Britou, Britol, Bristow, 
and Bristol, all names of this city, must 
also imply the same. Moreover, Rod 
implies a passage, or road; and Dor, 
from Dorus, a passage or door, will 
imply nearly the same: and hence Lac 
torodo will imply the Lake or Stream 
Border, Passage, or Road. In Lactoreda, 
the Saxons seem to have considered Te 
as Tov, Tow, or Toffe, a stream, in their 
translation Toffeceaster: Lac, froin 
Lach, they may have. reckoned fort, or 
camp ; but Dore, in this case, must have 
been omitted in their translation. Qa 
the contrary, if Dor was considered by 
them the inclosed border, or camp; thea 
they sunk Sac, in vendering the name, 
In either then, or in avy case, their 
translation seems to be a very partial, if 
not an erroneous, one. The next sta- 
tion 13, 
Bennaventa. As B and P were in 
some languages the same letter, what 
IT have already said of Pinna, aud Vin, 
Ven, and Venta, will be sufficiens. 
shall however mention, that. stations 
and canips were not generally, in ancient 
times, places of passage; but the public 
roads rather lay in sivht, or passed by, 
than through them. Some stations 
there were which lay on the road, and 
were so placed for its protection: to 
such the term Venta was applicably 
‘given. Bennaventa is said to have been 
situated at a place called Burnt Walls. 
We have the name Burnt, or Brent 
Wood. Ber is sometimes written Bre; 
and hence Ber-en, Elead or Hill Land, 
has been contracted to Bern and Burn, 
and changed to Bren: to the ending in 
. Ni 
