What does without mean in place names such as thanington without?

Answer:

"Without" has two meanings. It can indicate the lack of something (as in "without a hat"), but it can also mean the opposite of "within".



Many people, including locals, will say that Thannington is outside Canterbury's medieval city walls, giving the place its name, but the truth is more complex. If this version were true, other Canterbury districts (such as Wincheap, Nackington, St Stevens and St Martins) which are outside the walls would also have to be called "Without", but they are not.

In fact, Thannington is outside the area occupied by most of the Canterbury parishes - it stands alone and isolated, hence outside the area of "greater" Canterbury and nothing to do with the city walls.