Why do a lot of English cities have rivers in their names such as Newcastle upon Tyne and Stoke-on-Trent?

There are a few reasons why many English cities have rivers in their names.

1) Geography: England is a relatively small country, but it is home to a large number of rivers. The country is essentially a series of river valleys, with the rivers providing important sources of transportation, trade and power.

2) History: Many English cities were founded on the banks of rivers, as these locations provided easy access to water, transportation, and trade. In addition, rivers were often used as defensive barriers against invading armies.

3) Culture: The English have a long history of celebrating their rivers, and this is reflected in the names of many cities and towns. For example, the city of Oxford is named after the Old English word "Oxenford", meaning "ford for oxen", while the city of Cambridge is named after the Old English word "Grantabridge", meaning "bridge over the river Granta".