This volume investigates the etymological origins and historical development of over 10,000 English place-names. Eilert Ekwall, a renowned scholar in English philology, utilizes rigorous linguistic analysis to trace the evolution of names for counties, towns, parishes, and villages. The work provides a systematic framework for understanding how geographical nomenclature reflects the linguistic layers of English history, including Old English, Old Norse, and Celtic influences.

Experts and historians recognize this work as a foundational reference text for the study of English toponymy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a primary resource for researchers in linguistics and local history.