Synonymous names in former colonies with English towns/cities,Reasons?

Being serious, there is a book that explains many a place name and its origins. I'll have to look it up. 

As you know, some of the names date back to ancient times. Some are Saxon, some are Norman, some from the Danes.

I must look this up, as its really quite facinating.  

My Village .... Marske-by-the-Sea

 Marske-by-the Sea near Redcar and Marske near Richmond are Scandinavian pronunciations of the English word marsh, and were thus settlements near marshy land.