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The name of town of Dover and that of the
river Dour share the
same origin. The Ancient British word dubra meant 'the
waters'.
This name was taken up by the Romans
who called their settlement Dubris. By AD 696 the name
was recorded as Dofras and about AD 1000 it was Doferum.
About 1040 the land surrounding the river
is described as Doferware broc: marshy land (broc
- Old English) belonging to the Doferware, or people
of Dover.
The town and river seem to have shared the
name at one time and developed separate identities as the
names have changed over the centuries. The river Dour
is first recorded in its present form in 1577. In 1610 the
town of Dover is recorded as Douer and passed through
other various spellings such as Dovor and Dower
before settling down to its present spelling in the 19th century.
Other place name origins in Dover:
Buckland - Land granted by deed or charter - Old English
bocland.
Charlton - The farmstead of the churls (peasants) - Old
English ceorla tun.
Crabble - Crab hole, a hole in which crabs are found -
Old English crabba hol.
Kearsney - A place where cress grows - Old French cressonniere.
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