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Durham

city · County Durham

Old EnglishAI-generated

Durham's name combines the Old English 'dun' meaning 'hill' with the Old Norse 'hólmr' meaning 'island'. This refers to the peninsula on which the cathedral and castle stand, surrounded by the River Wear.

Word origins

Durham
Old Englishhill island(from dun "hill", hólmr "island")

Historical forms

Dunholm · Duresme