This reference work investigates the etymological origins and historical development of over 12,000 English place-names. A. D. Mills, a recognized scholar in the field of onomastics, utilizes historical linguistic data and archival records to trace the evolution of names from their earliest recorded forms to contemporary usage. The text provides a systematic framework for understanding how geographical, cultural, and linguistic shifts have shaped the nomenclature of the English landscape.

Experts and academics frequently cite this volume as a foundational and authoritative resource for the study of English onomastics. Readers note the high density of information and the scholarly rigor applied to each entry, making it a standard reference for historians and linguists alike.