Why do we name houses

House names started many years ago with rich people naming their homes. The rich named their Halls, Houses, Manors, Castles, and Lodges according to ancestry, location, and family titles: Norfolk House (Duke of), Belvoir Castle (overlooking the Belvoir Valley); Castle Droge (named after a 13th ancestor) etc. Gradually over the years other people began to give names to their homes too. House Signs are becoming more popular with the increase in home ownership and the relaxed rules governing the use of House signs. Generally speaking throughout the UK house names can be used without notifying the local authorities providing the house number is used in the address line.

Street Numbering

Street numbering was introduced by act of Parliament in 1765. Every house in a town and city has a number followed by the name of the road it is in e.g. 26 Avebury Avenue. The first house in the road is number one and the last house is the number of buildings in the street. The number readily identifies the location of a property in a road and so makes it easier for the emergency services to find houses quickly.

Odd numbers are usually assigned to the left side of the street and even numbers to the right, as they head out of town.

The UK's Top 50 house names (from the Halifax House Names Survey 2003)

1. The Cottage 18. Orchard Cottage 35. Fairview 

2. Rose Cottage 19. Yew Tree Cottage 36. White Cottage 

3. The Bungalow 20. The Laurels 37. Mill House 

4. The Coach House 21. The Old Post Office 38 The Orchard 

5. Orchard House 22. The Gables 39. Treetops 

6. The Lodge 23. The Hollies 40. Primrose Cottage 

7. Woodlands 24. The Beeches 41. The Granary 

8. The Old School House 25. The Firs 42. The Nook 

9. Ivy Cottage 26. Woodside 43. Corner Cottage 

10. The Willows 27. Meadow View 44. School House 

11. The Barn 28. The Stables 45. Greenacres 

12. The Old Rectory 29. The White House 46. The Old School 

13. Hillside 30. Holly Cottage 47. Honeysuckle Cottage 

14. Hillcrest 31. Willow Cottage 48. Lilac Cottage 

15. The Croft 32. Highfield 49. Wayside 

16. The Old Vicarage 33. The Haven 50. Oaklands 

17. Sunnyside 34. Springfield  

The most Common Themes for House names in Britain

House signs today are inspired by a bewildering array of sources: everything from location and local history to literature and legends.

Animals and birds

Favourite House Signs include: Badgers Cottage, Cuckoo Cottage, Curlew Cottage, Dolphin Cottage, Fox Hollow, Kestrels, Magpies, Mole End, Nightingale Cottage, Robin Hill, Rookery Nook, Squirrels Leap, Swallow Barn, The Jays and Two Hoots.

Trees

Favourites House Names include: Orchard House, The Orchard, Woodlands, Treetops, Oaklands, The Willows, Yew Tree Cottage, The Laurels, The Hollies, The Beeches and The Firs.

Plants and flowers

Favourite House Signs include: Rose Cottage, Primrose Cottage, Honeysuckle Cottage and Lilac Cottage.

Locations and views

Favourites House names include: Hillside, Hillcrest, Sunnyside, Woodside, Meadow View and Fairview.

Historical

Historic House names include: The Coach House, The Old School House, The Old Rectory, The Old Vicarage, The Old Post Office, Mill House, The Granary and The Grange.

Fairytales and Old Favourites

House signs can be seen with Thimble Cottage, Pippins, The Little House, The Nutshell, Whispers, Wishing Well Cottage and The Nest.

Holidays and beauty spots

Other House Sign favourites include: Ambleside, Blencathra, Eskdale, Rydal, Tarn Hows, Windermere, Larmona, Tresco and Kynance.

To see examples of our House Signs click on the appropriate link:
House Signs in Slate
House Signs In Wood
House Signs in Marble