There has been human activity on Wirral for thousands of years.
Artifacts found by archaeologists suggest evidence of hunter-gatherers of the Mesolithic period and the peninsula is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086.
With such a deep wealth of history intertwined with a number of cultures and civilisations over the ages, Wirral has a number of place names that give a glimpse into its past.
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We have taken a look at some of the place names across the borough and where it is thought their names originated. Many come from Old Norse words or Anglo Saxon settlements, reflecting Wirral's rich heritage.
Firstly, let's look at Wirral itself.
Wirral is translated from Old English and means "myrtle corner" because the small flowering plant Bog Myrtle used to be found all over the area.
It is still found there and is even used in the Wirral Gin made by Still Master Eric Healing.
Viking roots
Norsemen are believed to have settled in Wirral in about 902 and as well as areological evidence, there are some of the place names that come from Old Norse words.
Irby , Frankby and West Kirby have endings that come from the word 'byr', which means "settlement" in Old Norse.
Thingwall also means "meeting place" from the Old Norse word 'ping-vollr'.
Meols was also named by the Vikings and is Old Norse for 'sand dunes'.
Thurstaston is not named after Thor's Stone on Thurstaston Common, it actually means 'farm village' in Old Norse.
Storeton also comes from Old Norse, meaning 'great farm'.
Bromborough
It is thought that Bromborough could be the site for the 937 Battle of Brunanburh which united the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England.
While the origin of the battle has not been officially established it is thought Bromborough's name comes from old English for 'Bruna's fortification' meaning a fortified place.
Wallasey
Wallasey comes from the Germanic word 'Walha' meaning 'Briton' or 'Welshman' and the 'ey' part means an area of dry land - which would have been the case hundreds of years ago before the docks and the areas of marshland around Wallasey in Bidston and Moreton.
Eastham
'Ham' is usually added to towns and villages named by Anglo Saxons and means 'homestead' or 'settlement'.
The main settlement of Eastham centred around St Mary's Church which has been a place of worship since before the time of the Doomsday Book and is now a Grade II listed building with an ancient yew tree in the courtyard thought to date back to 1152.
Heswall
Heswall is mentioned in the Doomsday Book as Eswelle and was owned by Patrick de Haselwall from 1227.
The name eventually became 'Hestlewelle' in the late 1800s before eventually becoming Heswall.
Moreton
Moreton comes from the Anglo Saxon words for marsh 'more' and settlement 'tun'.
Upton
Upton is Old English meaning 'hill farm' - 'up' meaning hill and 'ton' meaning farm or settlement.
Saughall Massie
Saughall is an Anglo Saxon word meaning a place were willow shrubs grow while Massie has been connected to the time of the Norman conquest when Hamon de Massey was made Earl of Chester from 1071.
Noctorum
Noctorum comes from the Old Irish words 'Cnocc Tirim' which means 'dry hill'.
Birkenhead
Some think the name comes from the name of the stream 'Birket' which runs through Wallasey to Birkenhead, but it is actually from Old English.
It is thought that the name Birkenhead comes from Old English for birch tree and means a 'headland overgrown with birch'.
Liscard
Liscard was first mentioned as a settlement in 1260 and comes from the Welsh 'Llys carreg' which means 'hall at the rock/cliff'.
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