1.0Cross-Channel Geoparkhttps://geoparktransmanche.org/en/Hélène Dehouckhttps://geoparktransmanche.org/en/author/helene/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="5KEMmpsIUp"><a href="https://geoparktransmanche.org/en/blog/2026/09/when-place-names-cross-the-channel/">When place names cross the Channel</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://geoparktransmanche.org/en/blog/2026/09/when-place-names-cross-the-channel/embed/#?secret=5KEMmpsIUp" width="600" height="338" title="“When place names cross the Channel” — Cross-Channel Geopark" data-secret="5KEMmpsIUp" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://geoparktransmanche.org/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> https://geoparktransmanche.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Panneau-routier-Sangatte-fleuri-_maxime-Bodhuin-aspect-ratio-760-400.jpg760400From Sangatte to Sandgate, and from Pihem to Petham, some place names show striking similarities. These familiar-sounding names offer fascinating clues about the people, languages and cultural influences that have shaped the landscapes on both sides of the Channel over the centuries. By looking more closely at place-name elements, we can uncover traces of ancient languages and discover the connections that still link Kent and the Boulonnais today.