Pub names explained
Have you ever sat outside your local on a warm summer afternoon, looked up at its all too familiar sign and wondered: ‘why is it called the dog and bone?’ Well, there is an answer to these questions. So below are the roots of all the traditional pub names that grace the green lands of England. Can you find the roots of your local among them?
As many pubs are centuries old the vast majority of their customers would have been illiterate, so pictorial signage became commonplace because they were more easily recognised than words, which couldn’t be read. Today however, modern establishments are choosing to mimic the style of old names for marketing purposes, making them comic and thus (in theory) memorable, Slug and Lettuce being an example.
Alcohol related
The most obvious pub names should in theory be alcohol related. This isn’t always the case but lets not rule out that marketing was alive and well in the middles ages too (whether they recognised it or not). Barley Mow, Brewery Tap, Malt Shovel and Hop Inn are all classics in this category.
Found objects
If painted signs were hard to come by and before they were commonplace pub owners would identify their establishment by hanging or placing a recognised object outside their front doors. Boots, Copper Kettles and Crooked Billets (a bent tree branch) where all quite popular for this type of pub sign.
Heraldry
Using heraldry as the title or symbol of your public house was also common as it was used to demonstrate loyalty, allegiances or favor for/of local Lords, country or county and the sovereignty. Horns, as on Richards II’s white Hart emblem; Ostrich Feathers, denote a royal allegiance; the Red Dragon, of Cadwaladr and the symbol of Wales; and Unicorns, popular in 15th century best known from the royal coat of arms of Scotland and the United Kingdom: two unicorns support the Scottish arms; a lion and a unicorn support the UK arms, were all common among public houses.
Names with arms as a suffix refer to local land owners for example The Percy Arms, for Sir Henry Percy, son of the Earl of Northumberland. Also collections of three where often based on the arms of the London livery companies. Such as Three Hammers for blacksmiths, Three Arrows is for fletchers, Three Wheatsheafs for bakers, and so on.
Location
Location also could play a part in the naming of the local pub. Depending on close proximity to railway stations or canals, pub names like the Railway House, the Station and the Locke became popular. Also the town, city or village could often lend its names to local public houses like the Selsey Arms.
Historic events
Some names can be based on historical events. The most common of these is the Royal Oak that denotes the tree that Prince Charles escaped the roundhead by hiding in during the Battle of Worcester in the English Civil War.
Myths and legends
Myths and Legends were obviously popular at the time when mummers and fire side story telling were still very popular in public houses. Images from these stories would have been memorable so where popular in areas of competition. George and Dragon for old St. George, The Green Man, a spirit of the woods, and Lion and Unicorn are all easily recognisable names of this type.
Religious
Religious imagery was always going to be popular as it dominated the styles of rule that England saw through the ages. The Anchor, taken from bible passage Hebrews 6:19 is quite popular, the Cross(ed) Keys is the sign of St. Paul, the gatekeeper of Heaven and the Three Crowns (or Kings) which are the wise men or magi.
Royalty
Royal names have always been popular (except under Oliver Cromwell’s rule during the Commonwealth). For the same reasons as heraldry; names like the Kings or Queens Arms or Head, Queen Victoria, Prince of Wales and so on.
Sports
A sport is another great derivative and particularly applicable to Sussex where village pubs would reflect village communities and activities. The Cricketers Arms or Bat and Ball are a classic example of this. There are also examples of Hunting or ‘blood’ sports again popular in rural communities, like the Dog and Fox, Hare and Hound and Bird in the Hand (which denotes falconry)
Trades, tools and products
Finally tools, trades and products which again would represent the community in which the pub was situation. Blacksmith’s Arms, Foresters, Ship Inn and Hammer and Anvil are all obvious roots.