Place Name

Upper Butts, Greater London, England

Where the Name's a Giggle and the Locals Sniggle!

Introduction:

Welcome to Upper Butts, a name that sounds like it got nicked straight out of a cheeky comedy sketch rather than a serious map. You can almost picture the original settlers sittin round a table in the local boozer, pint in hand, sayin, “Go on then, call it that - see if anyone notices.”

Maybe it were a mix‑up, maybe someone fancied a laugh, or maybe they just liked watchin people try to say it with a straight face. Whatever the reason, Upper Butts stands proud as proof that London’s history ain’t just grand it’s got a wicked sense of humour too.

Toponymy:

Let’s break down this name:

Upper – This ain’t just any ol’ butts - this is the upper tier, the posh seats, the VIP section of the butt world. Could be the area sits a bit higher up, or maybe the locals just fancied soundin fancy.

Butts – Comes from the Old English word for a bit of land or a hillock, or sometimes even a place where barrels were kept. But let’s be honest - nowadays it mostly makes people snort like a broken kettle. Picture a tourist askin, “’Scuse me, how do I get to Upper Butts?” and the locals tryin not to burst out laughin.

Together, they make a name that stops visitors in their tracks and gets the giggles goin before the tour even starts.

Historical Context:

Upper Butts goes right back to medieval times, when it were probably more about farmland and boundaries than belly laughs. The origins of the name are a bit foggy - could’ve been a landscape thing, could’ve been a local joke that stuck, or maybe some cartographer had a mischievous streak.

Whatever the truth, Upper Butts has survived the centuries, still raisin eyebrows and smirks in equal measure. And honestly - who wouldn’t want to visit a place that sounds like the punchline to its own joke?

Points of Interest:

If you’re in the area, be sure to check out:

• Brentford Lock – A lovely spot where the River Brent meets the Thames, perfect for a stroll or a cheeky picnic while you mull over the name Upper Butts.

• Gunnersbury Park – Big gardens, a cracking museum and squirrels with more attitude than half of London.

• London Museum of Water & Steam – Learn all about London’s waterworks. No special exhibit on Upper Butts, sadly — but plenty of pipes.

• Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre – Have a swim, break a sweat or just lounge about. Don’t forget your towel.

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – A world‑class garden just round the corner, perfect for wanderin, wonderin and chucklin at the name Upper Butts.

Notable Figures:

Famous folk linked to Brentford and Greater London:

• William Morris – Designer, writer and all‑round clever clogs of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

• Sir Joseph Bazalgette – The bloke who sorted London’s sewers - probably had a right laugh hearin about Upper Butts.

• J.K. Rowling – Giver of wizards, whimsy and names nearly as quirky as this one.

• David Attenborough – The voice of nature itself, remindin us to appreciate the world - even the bits called Upper Butts.

• Charles Dickens – Chronicler of London life, who’d have loved a name this cheeky.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself wanderin through Upper Butts, take a moment to appreciate how geography sometimes throws common sense out the window and just has a laugh instead. In a world full of serious place names, Upper Butts stands tall as a reminder that life’s better when you don’t take it too seriously.

For more sssimply ssstunning strange place names, make sure to look over the inventory at www.strangeplacenames.com and if you stumble across a Lower Butts nearby, you’ve officially completed the set.

FACEBOOK - strangeplacenames

INSTAGRAM - strangeplacenames_2024