Tre- or tref- is a place name element of Celtic origin meaning "hamlet, farmstead, estate", etc. which survives mainly in Cornwall[1] and Wales.[2]
The Cornish place-name beginning Tre- may be compared to the Cornish place-name beginning Bod- and the place-name endings -worthy and -cot in Devon, and -ham and -tun / -ton throughout England.
In a study by Oliver Padel of surviving place names in South-west England starting with "Tre-", including cities, towns, villages, hamlets, and individual farms, he found that almost all were situated west of the River Tamar, the natural border between Cornwall and Devon, with just a small concentration on the north-east side in Devon, near the narrower, shallower source area of the River. Padel reached two possible explanations: either Tre- names were formed at a date later than the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Devon, or Tre- names existing in Devon were superseded by new names following the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Devon (probably 7th to 8th centuries). He concluded that the striking boundary line was evidence of political and linguistic distinction at some time from the 8th to 11th centuries.[1]
^ abPadel, Oliver J., Place Names, article published in Kain, Roger & Ravenhill, William, (eds.) Historical Atlas of South-West England, Exeter, 1999, pp.88-94, esp.88-90
^"The Welsh Origins of Place Names in Britain". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
January 01, 1970
place, name, element, tref, place, name, element, celtic, origin, meaning, hamlet, farmstead, estate, which, survives, mainly, cornwall, wales, cornish, place, name, beginning, compared, cornish, place, name, beginning, place, name, endings, worthy, devon, thr. Tre or tref is a place name element of Celtic origin meaning hamlet farmstead estate etc which survives mainly in Cornwall 1 and Wales 2 The Cornish place name beginning Tre may be compared to the Cornish place name beginning Bod and the place name endings worthy and cot in Devon and ham and tun ton throughout England In a study by Oliver Padel of surviving place names in South west England starting with Tre including cities towns villages hamlets and individual farms he found that almost all were situated west of the River Tamar the natural border between Cornwall and Devon with just a small concentration on the north east side in Devon near the narrower shallower source area of the River Padel reached two possible explanations either Tre names were formed at a date later than the Anglo Saxon settlement of Devon or Tre names existing in Devon were superseded by new names following the Anglo Saxon settlement of Devon probably 7th to 8th centuries He concluded that the striking boundary line was evidence of political and linguistic distinction at some time from the 8th to 11th centuries 1 See also editTre Pol and Pen List of generic forms in place names in Ireland and the United KingdomReferences edit a b Padel Oliver J Place Names article published in Kain Roger amp Ravenhill William eds Historical Atlas of South West England Exeter 1999 pp 88 94 esp 88 90 The Welsh Origins of Place Names in Britain Ordnance Survey Retrieved 5 June 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tre place name element amp oldid 1097240156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
