We’re delighted to share the 29th issue of the SNSBI Newsletter, now available to all members and followers of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.
Packed with news, conference highlights, research notes, and future plans, this issue is a must-read for anyone passionate about names, naming traditions, and onomastics more broadly.
🔗 Read the full newsletter here (PDF)
📍 Highlights from the Autumn Conference
Held at King’s Manor, University of York, and streamed online, the 2024 Autumn Conference was themed “Creativity and Innovation in Naming.” Highlights included:
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Tania Styles on how names shape entries in the Oxford English Dictionary
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Alex Harvey on early medieval place-names linked to group identity
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Varshneyee Dutt on decolonisation and street naming in India
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Keith Briggs on the earliest evidence for "road" names in medieval England
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Harry Parkin exploring surname extinction and how it intersects with common vocabulary
The variety of topics reflected the truly interdisciplinary nature of modern name studies—from lexicography to cultural history.
🗓 Looking Ahead: Spring Conference 2025 in Stirling
Mark your calendars! The SNSBI 2025 Spring Conference will be held 11–14 April 2025 at the University of Stirling in Scotland.
Organised by Prof. Thomas Clancy and Dr. Sofia Evemalm-Graham, this four-day gathering will include keynote lectures, presentations on place-names, AI in onomastics, folklore collections, and much more—including a local excursion to Dunblane and Doune.
Featured speakers include:
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Peter Oram, Sofia Evemalm-Graham, Keith Briggs
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Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich, Peter Kitson, Jake King, and many more
It promises to be an intellectually rich and welcoming event for both newcomers and seasoned name researchers.
🌐 New Website Spotlight: Exploring Names
Launched during the autumn conference, SNSBI’s brand-new companion website—Exploring Names—is now live!
This fresh platform offers engaging content aimed at a wider public audience, featuring:
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Introductory materials about names and their study
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A growing "Name Stories" section with monthly features
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Opportunities to contribute your own stories or photos
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A Guide for Contributors and contact details for feedback
If you love names, you’re invited to contribute, comment, and share the site widely!
📬 Contact: exploring-names@snsbi.org.uk
📝 Essay Prize Reminder
Don’t forget—the SNSBI is accepting entries for its annual Essay Prize (worth £100)!
Open to unpublished writers and early-career scholars, the prize is awarded for outstanding work on personal or place names relating to the British Isles or Channel Islands.
🗓 Deadline: 31 October 2025
📄 Approx. 5,000 words
📬 Submit to: secretary@snsbi.org.uk
Details here: https://www.snsbi.org.uk/essay_prize.html
📚 In Print: Special Issue on Surnames
A recent special issue of Genealogy edited by Harry Parkin and Richard Coates brings together innovative global research on surnames—from Iceland and Georgia to Vietnam, Lithuania, and beyond.
Check out contributions on:
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Surname changes in Prague
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Family names in postcolonial Dutch colonies
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Feminine surname forms in Central Europe
…and more!
Access here: Special Issue on Genealogy (MDPI)
🍎 Curious Place-Name Facts
Did you know that 6% of modern UK place names are linked to orchards and fruit—despite a dramatic decline in real orchards since 1900? That’s just one insight from the newsletter’s lighter features on local history and name etymology.
You’ll also find an in-depth look at the history of The Magpie Inn (a.k.a. The Pye) in Suffolk, presented by Keith Briggs—proving that even pub names can reveal centuries of linguistic and social history.
We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Thanks to Dr. Harry Parkin, our editor, and all contributors for another excellent issue.
📣 Share your news, ideas, and feedback at: promotions@snsbi.org.uk
Happy name-hunting!
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