The story
- Old English · inherited fromGrante bryċġ
- Middle English · inherited fromCambrigge
- English todayCambridge
From late Middle English Cambrigge, Caumbrigge, from earlier Cantebrigge, Cauntebrigge, from Old English Grante bryċġ, Granta-briċġ, Grantanbryċġ (“Granta bridge”). The river name Granta is probably of Celtic origin. The modern pronunciation with /eɪ/ develops from Middle English /aː/, which develops from earlier /au̯/ before /m/ (as in Middle English chambre for earlier chaumbre). By Middle English when the name of the settlement had changed to "Cantebrigge" and eventually "Cambridge", the lower stretches of the River Granta were renamed Cam by back-formation from Cambridge.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.