Somerset Place Names

County Towns

The Status of being the County Town of Somerset has changed many times through history.

• Ilchester During the 11th and 12th century.
• Somerton During the late 13th century
• Taunton took over the status of the county town of somerset in about 1366.

Incomplete list of Places named from geographic features

• Many places in the County of Somerset have names from rivers or roads.
  

• Taunton is the county town and it gets its name from 'Town on the river or Tone Town'. A list of places can be found in Wikipedia.
• AxbridgeThe name is suggested to come from a bridge over the river Ax. This was named in about the 9th century.
• North Petherton The name comes from the area location to the north of the river Perret