GeoNames Forum

In the UK, we talk about Devon, Essex, Kent, etc. I have never heard anyone talk about the "County of Devon", the "County of Essex" or the "County of Kent", yet this is exactly what I see when I list the administrative 2 divisions of the UK.

Should we consider changing the names in these fields or consider a "familiar name" column?

Of interest is this page provided by the UK government on "Names and codes for Administrative Geography", which could influence the approach: http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/geography/products/geog-products-area/names-codes/administrative/index.html

Edit: Some additional links of reference:
- http://www.gazetteer.co.uk/section3.htm#table5
- http://www.abcounties.co.uk/
- http://www.abcounties.co.uk/counties/list.htm
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/beginners_guide.asp

'Devon' is in the alternate names, marked as short form.

I think the name 'county' is not so useless. Some users are even asking for it

http://forum.geonames.org/gforum/posts/list/1386.page

Best

Marc

I wasn't asking for the name to be prefixed in the other thread. The other thread was what the label should be for the sub division. In Canada we don't label things as "Province of Ontario", instead it is simple "Ontario". The same logic happens in the UK: it is not written "County of Devon", rather simply "Devon".

For me it is about having names displayed properly, as people expect them.

The official name is 'The County of Devon'. Maybe we should add the 'The' in front of it to have the full official name.

http://geonames.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/ordnance-survey-administrative-divisons/

'Devon' is considered a vernacular name by the Ordnance Survey, the official authority in the UK. We have it as alternate name flagged with as short version.

Best

Marc