The Distribution Of Placenames

I've ever wanted to do a map that visualized the geographical distribution of place-names. bgrsquared has right away made that map.

Places! allows you lot to map the relative density of place-names inward dissimilar countries some the world. Using the application you lot tin instruct inward place-name prefixes or suffixes together with thought a map showing the geographic distribution of place-names containing those terms.

For example, inward the Great Britain nosotros tin instruct inward the place-name suffixes of -thorpe together with -thwaite to run into where the Vikings settled inward Britain. The resulting map shows that these ii place-name endings are pop throughout the expanse that was in i trial known every bit the Danelaw, next the Viking invasions of the 9th century.

If nosotros accept ii to a greater extent than mutual town endings, such every bit -ford or -bridge nosotros honour that the geographic distribution of places amongst these endings is far to a greater extent than evenly spread across the UK.


Places! uses OpenStreetMap for the place-name data. The application includes a release of options which permit you lot to adapt the size of map, circle points together with an 'advanced' selection which allows you lot to comport out 'regular expression' searches.

You tin get got hours of fun amongst Places! For instance inward the USA you lot could search for the distribution of the San- or Santa- prefixes to run into where at that topographic point mightiness get got been a rigid Castilian influence inward place-names. On the other manus the suffix -ville mightiness hold upward a practiced indication of where French immigrants originally settled inward the USA.