Place Names of Newfoundland and Labrador

Cupids, Come by Chance, Paradise, Leading Tickles — place names in Newfoundland and Labrador can conjure up delightful and colourful images in our minds. But what lies beneath these whimsical monikers?

In Place Names of Newfoundland and Labrador, author Dale Jarvis recounts the origins of more than 250 of the province’s communities. Each short entry in this book delves into the rich etymology of these place names, drawing from research, maps, oral history, and folklore.

The place names reveal the influence of the many people who have called this land home — from the first Indigenous people to the European fishermen and settlers who came after. The names can reflect the physical geography, honour prominent residents, commemorate colonists’ homelands, or describe local industry. Often a name’s origin is uncertain, its original spelling and meaning having been altered, lost, or changed over time.

Jarvis, a renowned folklorist and storyteller, imparts a wealth of knowledge with a delightful touch of humour and wit. Place Names of Newfoundland and Labrador is a captivating journey into the province’s past, offering readers an appreciation for the stories hidden within its unique place names.