Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris Does anyone know what 'London' means? | CITY NAME ORIGINS
Jan 28, 2026
A whirlwind tour of how city names reveal history, language contact, and migration. Stories range from Chicago’s garlicky roots to New York’s link with York and Roman-to-Viking name changes. Learn about English suffixes like -ham and -chester, mysterious London origins, Norse and Welsh influences, and surprising name swaps like Austin’s Waterloo and Boston’s transatlantic copy.
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Austin Was Once Waterloo
- Austin, Texas, was originally called Waterloo before the Republic of Texas renamed it for Stephen F. Austin.
- The Waterloo name likely referenced the Battle of Waterloo and local watery features, making the later renaming politically motivated.
London's Origin Is Still Unknown
- Londonium is the Roman form but the original Celtic source for 'London' remains unknown.
- The name may predate Celtic languages or come from a lost language, making London etymology especially uncertain.
Cincinnati Honors A Roman Hero
- Cincinnati briefly bore the name Losantiville before being renamed for Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.
- 'Cincinnatus' references a Roman hero and the root means 'curly hair', inspiring 'Cincinnati'.
