Dumnonii the origin of the interpretation of Dumnonii as "deep valley dwellers" from his understanding of the Welsh of his time. John Rhys later theorized that the tribal name was derived from the name of a goddess, "Domnu", probably meaning "the goddess of the deep". The proto-Celtic root *dubno- or *dumno- meaning "the deep" or "the earth" (or alternatively meaning "dark" or "gloomy") appears in personal names such as Dumnorix and Dubnovellaunus. Another group with a similar name but with no known links were the Fir Domnann of Connacht. The Roman name of the town of Exeter, "Isca Dumnoniorum" ("Isca of
Limes Britannicus was established in "Isca Dumnoniorum". This was abandoned about 75 AD and the place was elevated into the "civitas" of the Dumnonii. The city of Lincoln was initially the headquarters of the "Legio IX Hispana" and, at the end of the reign of Domitian, was elevated to a "Colonia". It lay on the river Witham, another important communication route. Near the town there was probably a bridge across the river. "Ermine Street" linked London ("Londinium") with the legion camp of York ("Eburacum"). In addition, one of Roman Britain’s main roads, the "Fosse Way", which ran from the west from the