Locations in the Green Ember seem to follow one of a few naming patterns. Some are named for a distinguishing physical feature: the Blue Moss Hills were covered in blue flowers (and moss?), Cloud Mountain is a mountain surrounded by clouds, the High Bleaks are high and bleak, etc. Others are named based on their position: West Wood and East Wood, for example, or the Bog of the Bleaks, which is a bog...near the High Bleaks. Still others are named for what they represent: Halfway Harbor was "halfway" between Seddleton and the Great Wood, while First Warren was the capital of the rabbit kingdom.
Another couple of categories include locations that are named for individuals or groups. Most often, it is in memory of some esteemed individual, as seen with the Rivers Flint and Fay, Seddleton, or Massie. However, some few have been dubbed for association with wicked figures. These include Grimble Island, site of Lord and Captain Grimble's infamous treachery, and the Brute's Gorge, final resting place of so many of rabbitkind's foes in the War for All Natalia.
However, there are some locations in Natalia that seem like they're named after someone, or may have been named after someone, but we know nothing about their namesake. Aside from the one mentioned in the title of this post, there is (or was) Lake Merle in First Warren, Lener's Crossroads, Blitter's Fork, Krebb's Stand, Jonston's Glen, and Corby, among others. For that matter, there's the mystery as to the origins of the names of Terralain, Akolan, and the various secret citadels (apart from Kingston, obviously).
Thought this might make for some interesting discussion.
Another weird thing: Take the secret citadels and forbidden Island on a paper..... Many of the letters fit together....... Weird theory..... It was under our noses the whole time.....
As for Terralain, I know that "Terra" means "Earth", and Bleston made off there with his "gang of malcontents". Kind of like the devil being cast down to earth with his demons. I don't know so much about Akolan, that is a topic of interest for me and requires further research.
and Krebb's stand could be named for a rabbit king, or a battle, like Bunker Hill in the US. I looked up the latin root 'terra' which means earth. Lain, however many times i've looked it up, doesn't mean anything. So Terralain: Earth?... As for Harbone: Har doesn't mean anything, but a similar root means 'stick' and as for the last part, could mean 'good'. Vandalia: as for the latin: Vandal means lavender.....??? Thinking on Nick Hollow: sort of like sleepy hollow and might have been named for a legend. As for Lake Merle, all iv'e come accross is the french meaning of blackbird. Not very helpful. Blackstone, i persume, was named for the blackstone, similar to what picket's sword was made of........
[i googled the meanings....]
well. i would say that Jonston is named for Lord Blackstar's father, as was almost mentioned in TBSoK.... Halfwind citadel i always thought of as being in the course of two winds.....
I've wondered that too! It's a very interesting thing to think about, but I don't have any theories.