Common Pub Names in England and Their Origins
Walk through almost any English town or village and you will spot the same pub names again and again: the Red Lion, the Crown, the Royal Oak, the White Hart. These pub names are not random. Many trace back hundreds of years to kings and queens, old trades, religious symbols and the days when most customers could not read, so a painted sign did all the talking.
This guide explores the most common pub names in England and the stories behind them. Some origins are well documented, while others rely on local tradition, so we have flagged where the history is uncertain.
Why Pubs Have Signs and Names
In medieval England, alehouses often displayed a bush or bundle of greenery on a pole to show that ale was available. A law passed in the reign of Richard II in 1393 is widely cited as requiring brewers and sellers of ale to display a sign so that official ale tasters could find and inspect them. Because many people could not read, signs used simple, recognisable pictures such as animals, crowns and tools. Over time, those images became the names we still use today.
Royal and Patriotic Pub Names
Many of the most popular pub names show loyalty to the monarch or celebrate a famous royal moment.
The Red Lion
The Red Lion is often reported to be the most common pub name in England. There are two popular explanations. One links it to James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England in 1603 and is said to have wanted the red lion of Scotland displayed on important buildings. The other links it to John of Gaunt, the powerful fourteenth-century nobleman whose badge featured a lion. Both stories may have played a part.
The Crown
A simple show of loyalty to the monarchy. A crown was easy to paint and instantly recognisable, which helps explain why the name appears all over the country.
The Royal Oak
This name recalls the escape of the future King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He famously hid in an oak tree at Boscobel to avoid capture. After the monarchy was restored in 1660, naming a pub the Royal Oak became a popular way to celebrate the story.
The Rose and Crown
The Tudor rose combined the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York after the Wars of the Roses. A rose paired with a crown is a patriotic symbol of England and the Tudor dynasty.
The King’s Head and the Queen’s Head
These signs often showed a portrait of the reigning monarch or a famous royal figure such as Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. Some pubs repainted their signs when a new king or queen came to the throne.
The George
Pubs named the George may honour England’s patron saint, St George, or one of the six kings named George who ruled from the early eighteenth century onwards. Some signs show the saint slaying a dragon, while others show a Georgian king.
Names Linked to Heraldry and Nobility
Coats of arms and badges of powerful families inspired many pub signs.
The White Hart
A white deer was the personal badge of King Richard II. Since his reign is linked to the law on pub signs, it is fitting that the White Hart became one of the most widespread names in England.
The Swan
Swans appear on many family crests and are a common sight on English rivers. The unusual name Swan with Two Necks is often explained as a mix-up of swan with two nicks, a reference to the marks once cut into the beaks of swans to show which livery company owned them.
The Marquis of Granby
This name honours John Manners, Marquis of Granby, an eighteenth-century army commander. According to popular tradition, he helped some of his former soldiers set up as publicans, and they named their pubs after him in gratitude.
Names From Trades and Working Life
Many pubs were named after the people who drank there or the work that went on nearby.
The Plough
Common in farming villages, the Plough celebrated the agricultural workers who made up much of the local community.
The Wheatsheaf
Another rural favourite, linked to harvest time and baking. Wheatsheaves also appear in the arms of several trade organisations.
The Three Horseshoes
This name often signalled a blacksmith’s forge nearby. Travellers could have their horse shod while they rested with a drink.
The Coach and Horses
Coaching inns served travellers on stagecoach routes from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, offering food, beds and fresh horses. Many still stand on old main roads.
The Railway
When the railways spread across Victorian Britain, new pubs opened near stations to serve passengers and workers, and many proudly took the name of the new technology.
The Ship
Found in ports and coastal towns, the Ship welcomed sailors, fishermen and dock workers. Some inland pubs use the name too, sometimes linked to shipbuilding or a local family history.
Names With Religious Roots
Before the Reformation, many inns were connected to monasteries or pilgrim routes, and religious symbols were common.
The Cross Keys
The crossed keys are a symbol of St Peter, who is traditionally said to hold the keys to heaven. Many Cross Keys pubs stand near churches dedicated to him.
The Lamb and Flag
The lamb carrying a flag is a Christian symbol representing Christ, sometimes called the Agnus Dei.
The Bell
Often found near churches, the Bell may have been a favourite spot for bell ringers after practice.
Names From Folklore and Countryside
The Green Man
The Green Man is a face made of leaves found carved in many old churches. As a pub name, it may refer to this folklore figure or to foresters and woodsmen dressed in green.
The Fox and Hounds
Linked to the countryside and traditional rural life, this name was popular in hunting areas.
The Nag’s Head
A nag is an old word for a small horse. Inns often hired out horses to travellers, and the sign advertised the service.
Tips for Exploring Historic Pub Names
Look at the sign. Many pubs still have hand-painted signs that reveal more history than the name alone.
Ask the staff. Long-standing pubs often have their own stories, and regulars love sharing local legends.
Check local history groups. Village histories and local archives often record when a pub opened and why it got its name.
Treat legends with care. Some popular origin stories are hard to prove, so enjoy them as tradition rather than fact.
Final Thoughts
Every pub name tells a small story about English history, from royal escapes to village blacksmiths. Next time you settle in at your local, take a moment to look at the sign outside and think about the generations who have gathered under the same name.