The names of places in The Lake District (UK)
Hi there,
My friends are planning a trip to the Lake District next year.
I've checked the map with them to discuss the hiking route, and found some names on the map are quite interesting... for example:

1. what the word stem "thwaite" means?
I saw names of places like Stonethwaite Bridge, Esthwaite Water, and Bassenthwaite Lake.
It got my attention with "th" after Stone/ Es/ Bassen... a bit difficult to pronounce it properly...
Am just curious that whether put "thwaite" in the end of a word has any specific meaning?
(Like Loch Ness in highland, Loch itself means a lake, in Gaelic language)

2.Similar questions as the first. does the "water" mean a lake?
for places like Ullswater, Hawes Water, Wast Water, and Derwent Water

Thank you for your kindly help.
oh and may I have your advice that in which month you would recommend people to visit Lake District?
We heard that it's easy to have rainy days there.

Question

The names of places in The Lake District (UK)
Hi there,
My friends are planning a trip to the Lake District next year. 
I've checked the map with them to discuss the hiking route, and found some names on the map are quite interesting... for example:

1. what the word stem "thwaite" means? 
I saw names of places like Stonethwaite Bridge, Esthwaite Water, and Bassenthwaite Lake. 
It got my attention with "th" after Stone/ Es/ Bassen... a bit difficult to pronounce it properly...
Am just curious that whether put "thwaite" in the end of a word has any specific meaning? 
(Like Loch Ness in highland,  Loch itself means a lake, in Gaelic language)

2.Similar questions as the first. does the "water" mean a lake?
for places like Ullswater, Hawes Water, Wast Water, and Derwent Water

Thank you for your kindly help.
oh and may I have your advice that in which month you would recommend people to visit Lake District? 
We heard that it's easy to have rainy days there.

Answer

'Thwaite' indicates a settlement of some kind, usually in a clearing between wooded areas.

'Water' in a place name means a lake. So does 'mere'.

Yes, it's a very rainy part of the country. Like everywhere in the British Isles, the weather is changeable. 'Changeable' in fact means 'unreliable'. Even in summer, it can be cool, cloudy and wet. Or you may be lucky and have lovely sunny weather - you never know. The key to clothing is layering. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, jeans and a T-shirt, with a long sleeved top over that. Plus a warm layer or fleece if it gets chilly and a light waterproof hooded jacket for those inevitable downpours. Any time from May to September is best to visit the Lake District.

Answer

The Lake District is quite a rainy place with changeable weather any time of year. Best months for low rainfall are probably July and August, like in the rest of England. But bring a good raincoat and have some ideas of what to do and where to go if / when it rains. Keswick, Kendal and Windermere are all nice towns.  The Settle to Carlisle railway is a beautiful journey. Have a nice trip!

Answer

Hi eesen,

You may find this article useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbrian_toponymy

The short answer is that these words were originally in Norse, Danish, or Celtic and they were gradually converted into English based on the pronunciation of the locals.

Wikipedia says that "thwaite" means clearing or river.

Water just means that there is some water present. A lake, a stream, a river, etc.

Answer

1. Etymonline is great for looking up such words:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=thwaite

"cleared land," 1620s, from Old Norse or Old Danish þveit "a clearing, meadow, paddock," literally "a cutting, cut-piece" (related to Old English þwitan "to cut, cut off;" see whittle).

2. Yes, I suppose it means "lake" in place names.

3. I can't really give any recommendations.

Answer

I see. thank you, we will try to arrange in these months and hope for the best. :)