London Place Names In Provincial Towns

[Mosaic]

Does anyone know why some place names that originated in London are used in other towns? eg Piccadilly (Manchester), Pimlico (Clitheroe), Pall Mall (Manchester)?

[emmie]

there is a St Pancras in Chichester...

[dzug2]

Because someone thought it a nice name and decided to apply it to their new area?

Could work the other way round too - origin in the provinces, reused in London

[Buenchico]

Just because a name appears in London and elsewhere, there's no reason to assume that there's any link between the two.

'Pimlico' (in London) is believed to take its name from someone who owned land (or had a business) there. The same might have occurred in Clitheroe.

Similarly, the origin of 'Piccadilly' might have occurred in both London and Manchester:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly#History

'Pall Mall' is probably (in both instances) simply where the game was played:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pall-mall

[emmie]

it is possible that some names are popular so crop up in different areas.

[DJHawkes]

the main road out of chorley is called Pall Mall, though it's known locally as Skanks Lane.

[emmie]

nice ^^

[boxtops]

Presumably for similar reasons that people emigrating to the US with the Pilgrim Fathers, and to New Zealand and Australia, have called towns after the places they knew and loved in the UK.

[Mosaic]

Interesting...the pall mall ball game kind of fits for Manchester - nearby is Concert Lane, so it must have been the original clubland.....

Thanks folks!

[Mosaic]

Sorry, leaned on the keyboard.