Green Men & White Swans: The Folklore of British Pub Names

Green Men & White Swans examines the folklore and history behind Britain’s pub names, tracing how signs and titles preserve stories, customs and traditional beliefs. Jacqueline Simpson considers names shaped by myth, legend, euphemism and wordplay, alongside those commemorating historical figures or local characters.

The examples range from the Green Man, whose image appears in more than one traditional form, to the Moonrakers, Hooden Horse and Derby Tup. Other chapters consider witches, saints, ghosts, highwaymen and smugglers, as well as familiar names such as the Red Lion, Queen’s Head and White Horse. The result is a broad account of how folklore, local history and changing language have influenced the names displayed above British pubs.