Kendal

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A market town in England's Cumbria region known for its historic buildings and scenic surroundings; a surname originating from this location; a type of woolen fabric once produced in the area
2. An English locale famous for its cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes; a family name derived from this geographic origin; a textile historically associated with the town's production
3. A settlement in northwestern England notable for tourism and historic sites; a last name taken from the place name; a variety of cloth historically manufactured locally

Etymology: Kendal is a market town in Cumbria, in the north of England, and its name is a compound of two Old English elements: "Cent", the name of the river Kent, and "dæl", meaning valley. The town therefore means "valley of the river Kent," describing the settlement's position in the river's valley. The river is the older name here. Kendal takes its identity from the Kent, which flows through the Lake District fells and gives the town its name, so the place is named for the water rather than the other way round. The "dæl" element is the same word that survives in English "dale," a valley, and it appears in many northern English place names where Old English speakers settled along river valleys.