The Names of Public Houses all have a story behind them even if that story is merely that a marketer thought that the name would be memorable. Interesting origins are not confined to old or traditional names, however. Names and the origins fall into a relatively small number of categories:
Found Objects
Before painted inn signs became commonplace publicans would identify their establishment by hanging or standing a distinctive object outside the pub.
The Boot
The Copper Kettle
The Crooked Billet
This is a bent branch from a tree.
Heraldry
The ubiquity of the naming element arms shows how fundamental heraldry is to the naming of pubs.
The Ostrich
Ostrich feathers feature in the crest of the Prince of Wales. They are also part of the crest of John of Gaunt Earl of Leicester so the name may appear in places once owned by the Leicesters.
The Red Lion
Originally an armorial symbol of John of Gaunt, this became the most common inn name in England when James I decreed that the Stuart Red Lion be displayed throughout the kingdom. Although it was widely recognised as a Scottish emblem many innkeepers acknowledged the royal proposal and adopted the name.
The Rose and Crown
First recorded early in the seventeenth century this consists of a symbol of the monarchy and a symbol of England. The combination was a mischievous reaction to James I's encouragement of the red lion as an inn sign. It communicated English nationalism whilst demonstrating loyalty to the Crown.
The Unicorn
Unicorn
The White Bear
Bear
The White Hart
The white hart was the emblem of King Richard II of England. It became so popular as an inn sign in his reign that it was adopted by many later inns and taverns.
Historic Events
The Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak can commemorate King Charles II hiding from the Parliamentarians or the Royal Naval vessel of this name.
Myths and Legends
Images from myths and legends are evocative and memorable.
The George and Dragon
Saint George is the patron saint of England and his conflict with a dragon is fundamental to his story. This sign is a symbol of English nationalism.
Personal names or titles
The Marquis of Granby
John Manners, Marquess of Granby was a general in the 18th century. He showed a great concern for the welfare of his men upon their retirement and provided funds for many to establish taverns, which were subsequently named after him.
The Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Cambridge
The Lord Nelson
Horatio Nelson
The Queen Victoria
Victoria was queen of the United Kingdom at the time of greatest expansion of housing stock and associated public houses. She inspired great loyalty and affection, and publicans aimed to reflect this.
Puns and Corruptions
Puns became increasingly popular through the twentieth century after falling from favour in the nineteenth century. Corruptions arise through error or wordplay and can be difficult to distinguish from puns without contemporary evidence of the transition.
The Bag o'nails
A corrupted version of "Bacchanals"
The Bull and Mouth
Believed to celebrate the victory of Henry VIII at "Boulogne Mouth" or Harbour.
The Goat and Compasses
A corrupted version of the phrase "God encompasseth us".
The Dew Drop Inn
The Elephant and Castle
Possibly a corruption of "Infanta de Castille ". It is popularly believed amongst residents of Elephant and Castle that a seventeenth century publican near Newington named his tavern after the Spanish princess who was afianced to King Charles I of England. The prohibition of this marriage by Church authorities in 1623 was a cause of war with Spain so it seems unlikely to have been a popular name. A more probable and prosaic explanation is that the name derives from a popular description of the trademark of Cutlers, a local firm of ivory traders. This was an elephant carrying a howdah , or riding seat.
The Hop Inn
A particularly pleasing double pun that involves an essential ingredient of ale.
The Nowhere Inn Particular
The King's Arms
The King's Head
The Queen's Arms
The Queen's Head
The Rose and Crown
See Heraldry above.
The Cricketers
Cricketers
The Fox and Hounds
Fox hunting
The Castle
A castle is usually a dominantly unique feature of a place.
Trades, Tools and Products
Trades, Tools and Products
The Mason's Arms
Masons
The Foresters
Foresters
The Harrow
Harrow
The Oyster Reach
The Propeller
Propeller
The Wheatsheaf
A Wheatsheaf
