Why Do You Give Your Houses Names?
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 |
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The most Common Themes for House names in Britain
House names 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.
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