Cambroianna
Attested: Cambroianna at position 167 in the Ravenna Cosmography
Where: Probably Drumlanrig Roman
fort at NX85439891 in SW Scotland, where the river Nith has a large flood plain.
Name Origin: Cambo- in place names is now understood to be essentially the same word as Latin campus, often a flood plain, or καμπη ‘winding (of a river)’. The -roianna part resembles Greek ροια ‘flow’ (best known in compounds such as diarrhoea!), plus the common watery ending -na.
Notes: This analysis overrules a previous focus on the more immediate riverside plateau of the Roman fort (which glossed over the awkward R in the name). Richmond and Crawford wondered if this name should be amended to end in -lanna. Unnecessary, but this has prompted a widespread mistake of amending this name to Camboglanna. See here for a discussion of all Roman names in this area north of the Solway.
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Last edited 30 May 2023 to main Menu