10 Origins Of Famous City Names

9. London

Each year, around 26 million overnight visits are made to the city of London making it one of the most visited tourist hot spots in the world. The city is steeped in a long history with archaeological evidence of a settlement and a bridge across the Thames dating back over 3000 years.

After the Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD, they established a settlement on the Thames in which they named Londinium. This Roman settlement was initially only about the size of modern day hyde park but would soon begin to grow and change to become the centre of British politics in subsequent generations. The architecture of London is incredibly varied thanks to each generation of Britons leaving their own mark on the iconic city from the Norman Tower of London to the modern addition of the London Eye.

The origin of the name London is not entirely clear. However, a 12th Century account states that the main root of the word, lund or lond originates from a pre Roman king named Lud. Lud is believed to have ruled over a settlement that occupied the area that was destined to become the city of Londinium and later London.