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Guidance

Toponymic guidelines for the United Kingdom

Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) toponymic guidelines for map and other editors.

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published:
3 July 2014
Last updated:
30 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. Latest edition of Gaelic names policy changed from 2015 to 2024.

  2. The information in section 12.2 of the Toponymic Guidelines attachment has been updated to reflect administrative changes to two-tier authorities.

  3. Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland updated due to the official status change for Gaelic and Scots.

  4. Updated 'Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.

  5. Edited definition of 'Great Britain' under 'Geopolitical terminology'.

  6. Updated 'Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' with the latest version.

  7. Updated the page and added notes that West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire replaced the two-tier county of Northamptonshire and its constituent districts in April 2021.

  8. Updated the Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  9. Removed Poole from section 12.2 as it's now part of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

  10. Added the most up to date version of the Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  11. Added updated Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  12. First published.

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Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland produced by PCGN.

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