Dorchester

English

Dorchester, Iowa

Etymology

Ultimately from Celtic *Durno-wārjā (Latin Durnovāria) + Old English ċeaster (“fort, Roman town”).

The civil parish in New Brunswick and Ontario town are named in honour of colonial administrator Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724 - 1808).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɔː(ɹ)ˌtʃɛstə(ɹ)/, /ˈdɔː(ɹ)tʃɪstə(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Proper noun

Dorchester

1. A town and civil parish with a town council in Dorset, southern England, which is the county town (OS grid ref SY6990).
2. A village and civil parish (served by Dorchester-on-Thames Parish Council) in South Oxfordshire district, Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames (OS grid ref SU5794).

   Synonym: Dorchester-on-Thames

3. A civil parish and shire town in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada.
4. A town in Thames Centre municipality, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.
5. A number of places in the United States:
   1. A village in Macoupin County, Illinois.
   2. An unincorporated community in Waterloo Township, Allamakee County, Iowa.
   3. A neighbourhood of Boston, Massachusetts.
   4. A village in Saline County, Nebraska.
   5. A town in Grafton County, New Hampshire.
   6. A ghost town in what is now Dorchester County, South Carolina.
   7. A minor city in Grayson County, Texas.
   8. An unincorporated community and coal town in Wise County, Virginia.
   9. A village mostly in Clark County, Wisconsin.

Derived terms

• Dorchester County

Translations

town

• Latin: Durnovaria f
• Old French: Dorecestre