Italian place names

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the 1940s and 1950s, the linguist and Romanist Gerhard Rohlfs compiled some etymologies of Italian place names , which are reproduced below.

Note: Underlining in this article means that the underlined vowel is emphasized. Italian place names without underlining are stressed on the penultimate syllable.

Eponymous peoples in Italy

Different peoples have left their mark on the Italian place names . See also: History of Italy , Roman Empire, and Languages ​​in the Roman Empire .

Unknown races

Some place names in Italy cannot be assigned to a known language.

For example, in the Italian Alps there are some names of mountains that are derived from a reconstructed word * kripp or * gripp ("rock tip"). It is not known what language these names come from. All we know is that they are pre-Roman. Examples: Crep , Crepa , Creppo , Greppolungo , Grepp o n .

Other groups of place names that cannot be assigned to any known language are the names in -ósine and -ésine and the names in -ego and -ega (with an emphasis on the third from last syllable). Examples: Trem o sine , Agn o sine ( Lombardy ), Malc e sine (V e neto), Bell e sine ( Friuli ), L e vego (Veneto), Marz e nego (Veneto), Albign a sego (Veneto), Nos a rego ( Liguria ), Res i nego (Veneto), Sess a rego (Liguria), Tr a nego (Veneto), V e trego (Veneto), Corn o sega (Veneto), Germ e nega (Veneto).

Pre-Roman place names from Sardinia are: A rdara , B a nari , S a ssari , B i rori , Bol o tana , Bon a rcado , B o rore , B u nnari , D e sulo , I sili , M o goro , U sini , U ssana , Baunei , Lanusei , Orosei , Urzulei , Ollolai , Ul a ssai , Uss a ssai .

Phoenician

Some place names near the coast in Sardinia, Sicily and in the west of the Italian peninsula can be assumed to have a Phoenician origin. For example, Magomadas (name of a village in Sardinia) corresponds to the place name Macomades , which appeared several times in ancient North Africa. In Hebrew , another Semitic language , maqom hadaš means "new place".

Ligurian

The place names in -asco are of Ligurian origin (see below, section -asco ). The place names in -anco and -anca , which are common in Piedmont and Ticino, are also Ligurian . Examples: Altanca , Aranco , Noranco , Pizzanco , Ruminca , Schieranco .

The Taurines ( Latin Taurini ) were a Ligurian tribe. Her name lives on in the place name Torino ( Turin ). In Roman times the city was called Augusta Taurinorum .

In the place name B e rgamo and G e nova ( Genoa ) is also believed that they originally Ligurian.

Celtic

The place names on -ago , -one and -ate have a Celtic origin (see below, sections -ako , -one and -ate ).

Further examples:

  • Milano ( Milan ), from the Celtic word mediolanum ("Mittenfeld")
  • Verduno (once in Lombardy and once in Piedmont , see Verduno ), from the Celtic word virodunum ("strong castle")
  • Duno ( Province of Como ), from the Celtic word dunum ("castle")
  • Brianza (landscape in the province of Como), from a reconstructed Celtic word * Brigantia , which contains the Celtic word briga ("mountain")
  • Monte Barro (near Lecco ), from a Celtic word barros ("peak")
  • Reno , the name of numerous rivers in Lombardy , Tuscany and Veneto , from a Celtic word renos ("river")
  • Nant , Nant Borrant , Nant Bozona , the name of numerous streams in the Piedmontese western Alps, the place names Nante (in Airolo , Ticino) and Nanto (near Vicenza ), from a Celtic word nant ("valley", "brook")

Etruscan

Etruscan are probably those names that occur more frequently within ancient Etruria and not at all outside of it.

An example is the name Monte Murlo (in the provinces of Pisa , Siena , Arezzo and Perugia ), Montemurlo (province of Prato) and Murlo (province of Siena).

Other examples are the place names Pescia and Elsa .

Latin

The place names on -anus , -anicus and -aticus are of Latin origin (see below, sections -anum / ana , -anico and -aticus ).

The place names with Latin origins also contain words that are no longer used in Italian:

Place names can also be shaped dialectically. For example, in Lombardy and Piedmont there are various place names with Co- , which contain the Lombard word co "head", from the Latin caput "head". Examples (Tuscan equivalents in brackets): Codelago ( Capo di Lago ), Codemonte ( Capo di Monte ), Codiponte ( Capo di Ponte ), Codevilla ( Capo di Villa ).

Oscar

The Oscars probably contributed to the Italian place names as well. But this can only be determined where the Oskish has clearly differed from the Latin. Where Latin had the sound -b- between vowels, Oscar had the sound -f- . Instead of Latin -br and -lb , it had -fr- and -lf- . Place names with these sounds are likely to have an Oscar origin or an Oscar influence.

Examples:

Greek

Greek settlers have left their mark in the south of Italy. See also: Magna Graecia and Greek Colonization .

Examples from the Naples area:

  • N a poli ( Naples ), derived from the Greek Νεάπολις ( Neápolis )
  • N i sida (island near Naples), from the Greek νῆσις ( nē̃sis , "small island")
  • For i o (in Ischia), from the Greek τὸ χωρίον ( tò chōríon , "village")

Examples from the Cilento :

  • Agr o poli , from ὰκρόπολις ( àkrópolis , "high city")
  • For i a , τὰ χωρία ( tà chōría , "villages")
  • Papajanni , "Pastor Janni" (see below, section Personalities )
  • Policastro , παλαιόκαστρον ( palaiókastron )
  • Montec o rice , from κόραξ ( kórax , "raven")

Examples from Calabria :

  • the place names ending in -à , -adi , -oni (see below, sections -à , -adi , -oni )
  • Calimera , from the Greek greeting "Guten Tag", probably a nickname
  • Papaglionti ("Pastor Leóntios", see below, section Personalities )
  • Catafor i a , "lower village"
  • Paracor i o , "beyond the village"
  • Din a mi , named after the sacred dynamis
  • Pented a ttilo , from the Greek πέντε δάκτυλοι ( pénte dáktyloi , "five fingers"), named after a five-pointed mountain
  • Squillace ( Skylákion )
  • Stilo ( stýlos , "column")
  • Valanidi ( balanídi , "acorn")
  • Nicastro ( Neókastron )
  • Ceramida ( keramís , "clay")
  • Anoja ( ἀνώγεια , anṓgeia , "upper houses")
  • Nic o tera , from the personal name Νικότερας ( Nikóteras )
  • Panaja , παναγία ("Madonna")
  • Sp i linga , from ancient Greek σπήλυγγα (spḗlynga, "cave")

See also: Greek-Calabrian dialect .

Examples from the northeast of Sicily ( Province of Messina ):

  • the place names ending in -à (see below, section -à )
  • Derivations of Roman gentile names with the ending -anus (Greek -anós ) with Greek emphasis: Cagnan o (from Canius ), Frazzanò (from Flaccius ), Magnan o (from Mannius )
  • Baf i a ( βαθεῖα batheĩa "valley")
  • Bronte ( βροντή brontḗ "thunder")
  • Calamona ( καλαμών kalamṓn "reed")
  • Calispera (from the Greek greeting "good evening", probably a nickname )
  • Castanea ("chestnut tree")
  • Catal i mita ( τά καταλείμματα tá kataleímmata "ruins")
  • L i mina ( λίμνη límnē "swamp")
  • Linguaglossa (named after a lavatongueon the outskirts, from Latin or Italian lingua "tongue" and Greek γλῶσσα glō̃ssa "tongue")
  • Mel i a ( μελία Melía "ash")
  • Mili ( μύλη mýlē "mill")
  • Pot a me ( ποτάμιον potámion "small river")
  • Pal o straco (formerly Pal o castro , originated from παλαιόκαστρον palaiókastron )

Arabic

In Sicily there are place names with Arabic origin. See also: History of Sicily , section Arab domination .

The Arabic word qal'at ("rock", "castle") can be found in the following place names: Caltanissetta , Caltagirone , Caltavuturo , Caltabellotta , Calatafimi .

The Arabic word beni ("sons") is found in the following place names: Benarifi , Ben a goli , Benimingallo .

The Arabic word jebel ("mountain") is contained in the following names of mountains: Mongibello (the popular name of Etna ), Monte Gibele (in Pantelleria ), Gibli , Gibilgabbi (= Gibil Habib ), Gibilmesi , Gibilmanna , Gibliscemi .

The Arabic word rahal ("country estate") is contained in the following place names: Racalmuto , Racalmari , Regalbuto , Regalmici

Slavic

There are Slavic place names in eastern Friuli and Istria . Occasionally there are also on the east coast of southern Italy, for example L e sina (North Apulia ), which belongs to the Slavic lěsьno , an adjective of lesь "forest".

Germanic

Germanic place names are found in Italy mainly in the north of the country. In Sardinia , Corsica and Sicily they do not occur.

The name of the Goths can be found in various northern Italian place names: G o dia (Friuli), Godo (Friuli), G o dega ( Province of Treviso ).

The name of the Longobards has been preserved in the name Lombard i a ( Lombardy ), as well as in Lombardore (twice in Piedmont) and in Longobardi (twice in Calabria).

The place names in -engo are also Longobard , see below, section -engo .

Different Lombard words are included in place names:

Causes of naming

Soil condition

Simple naming

Prato ("meadow"), Fiume ("river"), Fl u mene (Sardinia, "river"), Lago ("lake"), Arena , Ponte ("bridge"), Poggio ("hill"), Rocca ( "Castle"), Borgo ("suburb"), Villa , Vico ("small town").

Simple naming with an adjective

Sometimes also with adjective : Pratolungo ("long meadow"), Fiumefreddo ("cold river"), Fl u minimaggi o re (Sardinia, "larger river"), Lagonegro ("black lake"), Pontenuovo ("new bridge") , Poggioreale ("royal hill"), Roccaforte ("strong castle"), Borgosatollo , Villafranca ("free city"), Vicopisano ("Pisan town"). Occasionally also with an adjective before the noun: Altavilla ("high city"), Altomonte ("high mountain"), Biancavilla ("white city"), Lungavilla ("long city"), Malcantone ("bad area"), Chiaravalle ( "bright valley"), Francavilla ("free city"), Belmonte ("beautiful mountain"), Malalbergo ("bad hostel").

With a suffix that expresses size or smallness: Fiumicello (Friuli), Vallecchia ( Tuscany ), Pontecchio ( Province of Rovigo ), Roccella ( Calabria ), Rocchetta (Liguria), Monticello ( Piedmont ), Civitella (Abruzzo), Castelluccio (Lucania) , Castellucchio (Lombardy), Fiumone , Petrone , Vallone , Castellazzo .

It is -ones a magnifying extension ( Augmentativsuffix ). There is also a diminutive ending ( diminutive suffix ) -ione . An example of this is the common place name Castiglione . This corresponds to the French place name Châtillon and the Spanish Castejón . These forms come from the Latin castellionem ("Schlösschen"). Another example: Viglione ( Campania ), which corresponds to the French Villon ( Champagne ) and which comes from a reconstructed Latin * villionem "town". Monzone (Tuscany) from a reconstructed Latin word * montionem "small mountain".

rock

A word for "rock" is found in the common place name Motta ("mountain top"), in the common place name Serra ("jagged mountain ridge"), in Morra ("mountain cone") and in Penna ("mountain peak").

Derived from the word peschio or posco ("rock", Latin pessulum "bar"): Peschio , Pesco , Pescone , Pescocostanzo , Pesco Falcone , Pescolanciano , Pesco Lombardo , Pescopagano , Pescosolido ("single mountain").

The meaning "big rock" is in: P e ntima ( Abruzzo ), P e ntema ( Liguria ), P e ntuma ( Sardinia ), Montepertuso (Campania) ("perforated mountain"), Monte Caruso (Sicily, "bald mountain "), Pettinascura (Calabria," dark ridge "), Pizzo P e ttano (Lombardy," ridge top "), Sassalbo (Lombardy," white rock "), Perdalunga (Sardinia," long stone ").

Depression

Named after a lowland : Lama (several times in Veneto, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Apulia), Lama dei Peligni (Abruzzo), Lamalunga (Apulia), Lamatorta (Apulia).

Waters

According to the location of the place on a body of water: Piedilago (Campania), Subiaco (Latium, from the Latin sub lacum , "under the lake"), Peslago ( Como province ) and Poschiavo ( southern Switzerland ) from the Latin post lacum , Terlago ( Trentino ) from Latin inter lacum , "between the lakes", Sam o laco (Lombardy) from the Latin summuslacus ("uppermost lake", with a peculiar accent shift), Soraga (Trentino) from the Latin superaqua "above the water", T e ramo (Abruzzo) from Latin Interamna , Entracque ( Piedmont ), Introdacqua (Abruzzo), Trasacco (Abruzzo) from Latin trans aquam "beyond the water", Rivolta (on the Adda ) from Latin ripa alta "high bank".

caves

Places named after caves : Grotto (Sicily), Grottammare ( Marken ), Grottaglie (Apulia), Gr o ttole (Lucania), Grottaferrata (Latium), Spelonca (Corsica), Speluncas (Sardinia), Sperlonga (Latium), Sperlinga (Sicily ), Sp i linga (Calabria) from ancient Greek σπήλυγγα (spḗlynga, "cave").

Common animals, plants, minerals

Some places are named after animals, plants or minerals that are common there.

The ending -aia or -ara (also -iera in French ), from a Latin ending -aria, was used for this .

Volpaia (Tuscany) and Volpara (Lombardy) from Latin volpes "fox"; Lupara (Apulia) from Latin lupus "wolf"; Corvaia (Tuscany) and Corbara (Campania) from Latin corvus "raven"; Orsara (Piedmont), Orsera (Friuli) and Orsiera (Piedmont) from lat. Ursus "bear"; Colombaia (Tuscany) and Colombara (Lombardy) from columba "dove"; Palombara (Latium) from palumbes "wood pigeon"; Merlara (Veneto) from merula "blackbird"; Cerbaia (Tuscany) and Cervara (Latium) from cervus "deer"; Pescaja (Tuscany) and Pescara (Abruzzo) from piscis "fish"; Felicara (Lucania) and Filicaja (Tuscany) from felis "cat" (see also the following paragraph); Falghera (Lombardy, from felce "bracken"); Orticaja (Tuscany), Ortighera (Lombardy), Ardicara (Latium) (all three from urtica "nettle"); Giuncaja (Tuscany) from juncus "rush"; Fungaja (Tuscany) from fungus "mushroom"; Brughiera (Lombardy, to Lombard brük "heather"); Ferrara and Ferriera (Lucania) from ferrum "iron"; Petraia (Tuscany) and Petrara (Campania) by petra "Stein"; Argentera (Piedmont) from argentum "silver"; Sabbionara (Lombardy, "sand pit"); Gessara (Campania); Solfara (Sicily) from sulfur "sulfur"; Carbonara (Apulia) from carbo "coal".

Another theory suggests that the place name Filicaja (Tuscany) comes from "filigare", Tuscan for the Italian word "felceto" for "fern". However, quite a few places also bear the name Filicaja , since they were founded, inhabited or owned by members of the Filicaja family.

plants

etum / eta ending

Places named after plants often have an ending in the place name that goes back to the Latin ending -etum or -eta . These Latin endings have developed differently in the individual regions of Italy: -eto , -edo , -edu (Sardinian), -è (Piedmont), -ei (Dolomites), -ito (southern Italy).

Examples: Faggeto , Faggeta , Faedo , Faito , Faè from Latin fagus "beech"; Querceto and Cerzeto from quercus "oak"; Pineto and Pineta from pinus "pine, spruce"; Frascineto , Frasnedo , Frassenè from fraxinus "ash"; Castagneto , Castagneda , Castagnè , Castagnito by castanea "chestnut tree"; Cerreto , Cerrè , Cerrito ; Nogaredo , Nogarè , Nughedu ; Oneta and Oneto (from the Latin alnus "alder"); Escovedu (Sardinia, to escova "heather"); Alzeta (Corsica, alzu "alder"); Rovereto , Roverè ; Zenevredo (Lombardy, to Lombard zenevro "juniper"); Pecedo , Pecè , Pesseda (in northern Italian pezzo , pes "fir", from the Latin piceus ); Canazei (from Latin cannacetum ); Ortisei (from Latin urticetum ); Colloredo and Colloreto (in Lombard kóler "hazel bush ", from the Latin corylus ).

The ending -etum / -eta is rarely found in terms other than plants: Fontanedo (Lombardy) and Fontaneta (Tuscany) from fons "source"; Pantaneto (brands); Pedredu (Sardinia); Sasseta (Tuscany).

on / ona ending

The Altgallische used in place names that are derived from plants name, an extension -one or -ona . Examples: Bellinzona (Ticino, from a reconstructed Gaulish word * belitio "juniper"), Vallona (near Bologna and near Forlì, derived from a reconstructed Gaulish word * aballo "apple"), the name Agarone , Agrone , which is common in Northern Italy and Ticino , Grone (derived from the Gallic word ákaros "maple").

à ending

In the once Greek areas of southern Italy (southern Calabria , Province of Messina ), place names derived from plant names have the ending -à . This ending is the continuation of a Greek ending -ᾶς , originated from -έας . Examples: in Südkalabrien Carida (from the Greek word καρύδιον karýdion "nut"), Carda (of κάρδος Kardos "Thistle"), Ciminà (of κύμινος kýminos "cumin") Cossifà (of κόσσυφος kossyphos "Blackbird"), Marasà (of μάραθον marathon "fennel"), Scinà (from σχῑνος skhīnos "mastic bush"), Spartà (from σπάρτος spártos "gorse"); in the province of Messina: Cardà , Maracà (from αμάρακον amárakon "marjoram"), Spartà , Sparagonà (from ασπαραγωνία asparagōnía "wild asparagus"). The older form of the ending, -έας , occurs in more northerly regions, for example in the place name Marat e a ( Lucania , from the Greek μαραθέας marathéas , from μάραθον "fennel" márathon ).

eccia / iccia ending

In Corsica, place names derived from plant names have the ending -eccia or -iccia . Examples: Castagneccia (in Latin castanea "chestnut tree"), Albitreccia (in Corsican albitru "strawberry tree"), Carpiniccia (in Corsican càrpinu " hornbeam ").

Roman road system

Numerous place names bear traces of the road system of the Roman Empire . They are often named after the number of miles to the nearest provincial capital. One mile is about 1.5 kilometers long.

Examples:

Ventimiglia, on the other hand, does not contain miles ("twenty miles"), but is a folk etymology . The Latin name of the city is Albium Intermelium .

Sometimes places are named after road bifurcations and crossings . Examples: Bebbio ( Emilia , Latin bivium "intersection"), Trebbio ( province of Brescia , Latin trivium "intersection"), Carobbio ( province of Bergamo ) and Codroipo (Friuli) from the Latin quadruvium .

Ecclesiastical, religious

The following place names contain ecclesiastical or religious terms:

Abbadia Cerreto , Abbaz i a and Bad i a Calav e na (" Abbey "); Macaw ( Valsesia , "altar"); Cella (Pavia); Con o nica ( Bergamo Province ); Bas e lica (Bologna), Baselga (Province of Trento), " Basilica ", Trebas e leghe (Veneto, tres basilicae , "three basilicas"), Bascapè (Pavia, from the Latin basilica Petri "Basilica of Peter"); Episcop i a (Lucania), Piscopio (Calabria, "bishopric"); Chiesa (Lombardy), Iglesias (Sardinia), La Glesie (Friuli) from ecclesia "Church"; Ghisalba (Bergamo, from the Latin ecclesia alba "white church"), Monastero (common place name), Monasterace (Calabria, with a Greek ending), Monasterolo (Piedmont and Lombardy), Monastir (Sardinia) from monasterium " monastery "; Pieve (often and in many compositions, from the Latin plebs "parish"); Sagrado (Friuli, from the Latin sacratum , the holy place around the chapel of St. Anne); Laur i a (Lucania, from the late Greek λαυρία lauría "monk cells"), Metuojo (a field name in Roccagloriosa, Salerno, from the Greek μετόχιον metóchion "monastery courtyard").

Pagan elements in the naming: Fano (Marche and Corsica), Fano Adriano (Abruzzo), Montefano (Marche) from the Latin fanum "sanctuary"; Fiano (Piedmont and Latium) from a reconstructed * flanu , which in turn comes from the Latin fanulum ; Pagani (Campania), Pag a nico (Latium).

The following places are named after medicinal springs and baths: Acqui (Piedmont), Bagnolo (Lombardy, Emilia, Piedmont, Apulia), Bagnoli (Campania, Abruzzo, Veneto), Bagnara (Calabria), Pozzuoli (Campania, from the Latin puteoli "small fountain") ), Fuscaldo (Calabria, from the Latin fons calidus "warm spring").

"City" as a city name

Often the inhabitants of a city do not use the name of that city, but only talk about the city. An example of this is the place name Istanbul , which is the continuation of the Greek expression εἰς τὴν πόλιν "in the city". The city of Cividale (in Friuli ) was formerly called Cividade . The Latin name of this city, Forum Julii , was shortened to Friuli and later the name of the entire area (in German Friuli ).

Often there are place names such as Città , C i vita , Cividate . Later they got name additions so that one could tell the places apart: Civita Castellana , Città di Castello and so on.

people

anum / ana ending

A large number of place names are derived from personal names. Mostly this expresses ownership or affiliation. In Roman times, the endings -anum and -ana were used to name an owner's estate . Here, referring -anum on praedium and -ana on villa . Examples: Octavianum (= praedium octavianum ), Sabiniana (= villa sabiniana ). This type of place name can be found all over Italy. The relative frequency allows conclusions to be drawn about the strength of the Roman colonization. For example, this type of place name is rare in southern Calabria, eastern Sicily and Sardinia, while it occurs thousands of times in other parts of Italy.

Originally the endings -anum and -ana were only used with Latin personal names, later in northern Italy also with Celtic personal names.

Such place names can also be used to reconstruct Roman gentile names that are not documented in writing.

Examples (with Latin personal names ): Aguzzano (from Acutius ), Alvignano (from Albinius ), Albuzzano ( Albucius ), Anzano ( Antius ), Appiano ( Appius ), Aprigliano ( Aprilius ), Barbazzano ( Barbatius ), Calvenzano ( Calventius ), Cornegliano ( Cornelius ), Fulignana ( Fulinius ), Gavignano ( Gavinius ), Laurignano ( Laurinius ), Macognano ( Macconius ), Magliano ( Mallius ), Nebbiano ( Naevius ), Ottaiano ( Octavius ), Petrognano ( Petronius ), Pompeiana ( Pompeius ), Savignano ( Savinius ) etc.

Examples (with Celtic personal names ): in Northern Italy: Banzano (from Bantios ), Borgnano (from Burnios ), Caranzano (from Carantios ), Igliano (from Ilios ), Izzano (from Iccios ), Lugliano (from Lullios ), Sirano (from Sirios ), Ugnano (from Unios ).

ako ending

The Celtic ending -ako had the same function as the Latin ending -anum , namely the formation of place names from personal names. Originally this ending was used together with Celtic personal names, but later also with Latin.

In northern Italy this Celtic ending appears in the form -ago (in Piedmont, Lombardy and Friuli dialectal -ac ), e.g. B. Marcignago (dialectal: Marcignac ). Because of the dialectal pronunciation -ac , a standard form of the place name with -acco was formed in some parts of northern Italy .

In Piedmont, the ending -ago has evolved from -ai to partly -è . Examples: Agliè , Bianzè , Cigliè , Ciriè .

Examples of -acco with Latin personal names : in Piedmont: Drusacco (from Drusius ), Lagnacco (from Lanius ), Vidracco (from Viturius ); in Friuli: Cassacco (from Cassius ), Cussignacco (from Cusinius ), Martignacco (from Martinius )

Examples of -acco with Celtic personal names : in Northern Italy: Arnago (from Arnos ), Arzaga (from Artios ), Bornago (from Burnos ), Cadorago (from Caturos ), Cambiago (from Cambios ), Carniago (from Carnios ), Cavagnago (from Cavannos ), Virago (from Virios ) etc.

Examples of -ago with Latin gentile names: Cassago (from Cassius ), Cazzago (from Cacius ), Comignago (from Cominius ), Conzago (from Contius ), Crescenzago (from Crescentius ), Fabriago (from Fabrius ), Lisignago (from Licinius ), Gerenzago (from Gerentius ), Marcignago (from Marcinius ), Martignago (from Martinius ), Ornago (from Ornus ) etc.

The ending -ac is also found in many southern French place names, e.g. B. Aurillac / Orlhac.

anico ending

Another ending with which place names are derived from personal names is the Italian ending - a nico (Latin -anicum ). It often occurs in northern Italy, usually in the form - a nigo or - a nego (with the emphasis on the a ). This Italian ending is related to the southern French place name ending -anges or -argues , as in Milhanges , Antignargues , Barbaranges , Domessargues , Flessanges , Julianges , Martignargues .

Examples: Cambi a nica (from Cambius ), Cass a nego (from Cassius ), Cassign a nica (from Cassinius ), Chius a nico (from Clusius ), Cors a nico (from Cursius ), Flacc a nico (from Flaccus ), Gagli a nico (from Gallius ), Maggi a nico (from Majus ), Migli a nico (from Aemilius ), Mign a nego (from Minius ), Ogli a nico (from Ollius ), Parz a nica (from Parcius ), Ranz a nico (from Rantius ).

aticus ending

The same function as the Latin ending -anus is also used by the Latin ending -aticus . With different place names in -atico it can happen that a place name in -ano or -ana is derived from the same personal name .

Examples of northern Italy and Tuscany: Avi a tico (of Avius , see FIG. Aviano ) Laj a tico (of Larius , see FIG. Lajano ), Lorenz a tico (of Laurentius , see FIG. Lorenzana ), Maj a tico (of Marius , cf. . Majano ), Marz a tica (by Marcius , see Marzano ), Massenz a tico (by Maxentius , see Massenzano ), Orci a tico (by Orcius , see Orciano ), Sign a tica (by Sinnius , see Signano )

asco ending

Another ending with which place names are derived from personal names is the Italian ending -asco .

It also occurs in modern Italian (outside of place names) to express affiliation: bergamasco "from Bergamo ", comasco "from Como ".

This place-name broadcast occurs only in western northern Italy, west of the line Garda - Mantua - Parma . Some linguists therefore assume that the ending -asco goes back to a Ligurian ending.

These place names in -asco are formed with Latin and Celtic personal names, like the names in -acum and -anum .

Examples: Arnasco (from Arnius , see Arnano and Arnago ), Aviasco (from Avius , see Aviano ), Bagnasco (from Bannius , see Bagnac in France), Barbarasco (from Barbarius , see Barbarano ), Basiasco (from Basius , see Basiano and Basiago ), Buriasco (from Burius , see Buriano ), Calvignasco (from Calvinius , see Calvignano ), Cavagliasco (from Caballius , see Cavagliano ), Fabiasco (from Fabius , see Fabiano ), Lagnasco ( from Lanius , see Lagnano ), Majasco (from Majus , see Majano ), Sagliasco (from Salius , see Sagliano ), Soriasco (from Saurius , see Soriano ).

one ending

Another ending with which place names are derived from personal names is the Italian ending -one . It is attached to Latin and Celtic personal names.

However, it has nothing to do with the Italian enlarging ending -one (as in nasone "large nose" versus naso "nose") or with diminishing or pejorative endings from other Romance languages. Possibly this -one comes from the Celtic.

This ending occurs (in the form -on ) also in France: Aubusson (from Albucius ), Manson (from Amantius ), Banson (from Bantius ), Cornillon (from Cornelius ), Germignon (from Germinius ), Termignon (from Terminius ) , Vertaizon (from Vertasius ).

In Italy place names with this ending occur, the parallels to place names with -anum and -acum .

Examples:

  • Albone (Lombardy, from Albus , see Albano in Piedmont)
  • Anzone (Lombardy, from Antius , see Anzano in Lombardy)
  • Azzone (Lombardy, by Attius , cf. Azzano and Azzago , both in Lombardy)
  • Biviglione (Lombardy, by Bivellius , see Bivigliano in Tuscany)
  • Carignone (Lombardy, by Carinius , see Carignano in Piedmont)
  • Cavignone (Lombardy, by Cavinius , cf. Cavignaga in Liguria)
  • Genzone (Lombardy, from Gentius , see Genzano in Piedmont)
  • Gragnone (Umbria, from Granius , see Gragnano in Lombardy)
  • Martignone (Tuscany, from Martinius , cf. Martignano in Apulia, Martignago in Lombardy, Martignac in France)
  • Petrignone (Abruzzo, by Petrinius , see Petrignano in Umbria, Pedergnaga in Lombardy, Perignan and Pérignac in France)
  • Savignone (Liguria, by Sabinius , see Savignano in Emilia, Savegnago in Veneto, Savignac and Savigny in France)

onico ending

Just as the Latin ending -anicum occurs next to the Latin ending -anum , there is an ending - o nico (with an emphasis on the penultimate syllable) next to the Italian ending -one .

This -onico is common in place names in the Lake Como area . Examples: Alb o nico (from Albus ), Anz o nico (from Antius ), Gor o nico (cf. Gorasco ), Livr o nico (from Liberius ), Mar o nico (from Marius ), Mond o nico (cf. Mondano ), Mossenz o nico (from Maxentius ), Mezz o nico (from Mettius ), Rezz o nico (from Recius ).

Place names that express descendants

engo ending

While the above endings -ano , -ánico , -ago , -ático , -asco , -one and -ónico express ownership, there are other endings expressing descendants. A well-known example are the endings with -ing - , which occur where Germanic tribes have settled. An example from Germany is the place name Sigmaringen , which originally had the meaning for the descendants of Sigmar . In Italy, such an ending occurs in the settlement area of ​​the Lombards , i.e. in Lombardy and northern Piedmont. There it has the form -engo , which is the continuation of a Germanic ending -ingos .

The place Albarengo was named after the descendants of an Albhari.

Examples with Germanic personal names : Albarengo (from Albhari ), Aramengo (from Aramo ), Bollengo (from Bolo ), Bussolengo , Ghislarengo (from Gîsalhari ), Isengo (from Iso ), Odalengo (from Odilo ), Offanengo , Pertengo (from Berto ) , Pettinengo (from Petto ), Remorfengo (from Rômolf ), Rodengo .

ate extension

Another place name ending is -ate , which occurs predominantly in western northern Italy (Piedmont, Lombardy). Linguists suspect that this ending is the continuation of the Latin ending -ates , which occurs in many Latin names for tribes and city dwellers, for example Asconates "inhabitants of the city of Ascona ".

If a person's name appears in -ate in an Italian place name , then the place name probably indicates the descendants, as with the ending -engo (see section -engo ). The place name Arnate would then be the place of the descendants of a Celt or Roman named Arnos . Together with the ending -ate there are often personal names that are also known from place names with -ano , -ago and -asco . This means that not only Arnate , but also Arnano , Arnago and Arnasco are derived from the personal name Arnos .

Examples of location names that are derived from the Latin or Celtic personal names: Agliate (of Allius , see FIG. Agliano ), Agrate (of Agrius , see FIG. Agrano ) Albate (of Albus , see FIG. Albano ) Alzate (of Alcius , see FIG. Alzano ), Antegnate (from Antinius , see Antignano and, in France, Antignac ), Arnate (from Arnos , see Arnano , Arnago and Arnasco ), Azzate (from Attius , see Azzano , Azzago , Azzone ), Bobbiate (from Bovius , see Bobbiano ), Bornate (from Burnos , see Bornago and Bornasco ), Cairate (from Carius , see Cairano and Cairago ), Capriate (from Caprius , see Capriano ), Carnate (from Carnos , see Carnago and Carnano ), Casorate (from Casurius , see Casorano ), Cesate (from Caesius , see Cesano ), Masate (from Masius , see Masano ), Mezzate (from Mettius , see Mezzano , Mezzago and Mezz o nico ), Olgiate (from Olgius , cf. Olgiasca ), Pagliate (from Pallius , cf. Pagliano ), Verzate (from Vercius , cf. Verzano and Verzago ).

adi ending

In southern Calabria there are a few dozen place names that end in -adi . These place names go back to Greek personal or family names that end in -άδες ( -ádes ). Such place names also occur in Greece , for example on Corfu . For example, the Greek place name Μεταξάδες ( Metaxádes ) had the original meaning "place of the family Μεταξᾶς (Metaxãs)".

Examples from Italy: Bagaladi , Drungadi , Limbadi , Laganadi , Moladi .

oni ending

In southern Calabria there are about two dozen place names that end in -oni and are stressed on the third from last syllable.

Examples: C a roni , Com e rconi , M a croni , Pann a coni , Pod a rgoni , Stavr a coni , Stefan a coni .

These place names are the continuations of Greek personal or family names, such as οἱ Γάστρωνες ( hoi Gástrōnes ) = "the members of the family Γάστρων (Gástrōn)".

"Object + person's name" pattern

Another type of place name has the structure subject + personal name . One example is the Italian place name Montegiorgio , which consists of Monte ("mountain") and Giorgio " Georg " and originally meant "Berg des Giorgio".

This type of place name is common in Italy. Examples: Montegiorgio ("Mountain of Giorgio"), Montemilone , Castrogiovanni ("Castle of Giovanni "), Casteldidone , Casalborgone , Rocca San Felice ("Rock of St. Felix "), Camposampiero ("Field of St. Peter "), Villaromagnano .

Examples with Germanic personal names : Monte Grimano , Villa Faraldi , Castelgrimaldo ("Castle of Grimoald "), Castelfalfi , Castelraimondo ("Castle of Raimondo "), Casalbeltrame ("Village of Beltrame"), Roccamandolfi , Pontelandolfo ("Bridge of Landolfo") , Rocca Sinibalda ("rock of Sinibalda"), Vidigulfo (near Pavia, in Latin vicus Landulphi ).

The first part of the place name is sometimes omitted so that only the personal name describes the place. Examples with Germanic personal names : Aghinolfi (Tuscany), Frodolfo (Lombardy), Gandolfi (Veneto), Grimaldi (Calabria), Gosaldo (Veneto), Gualtieri (Emilia), Guasila (Sardinia).

Examples with Latin gender names or Gallic personal names : Arienzo (Campania, from Arentius , see Arenzano , Liguria), Origlio (Ticino, from Aurilius , see Origli a n , Aosta Valley), Calvigno (Apulia, from Calvinius , see Calvignano and Calvignasco , both in Lombardy), Canzo (Lombardy, by Cantius , see Canzano , Abruzzo), Caranza (Tuscany, by Carantius , see Caranzano , Piedmont), Casiglio (Lombardy, by Casilius , see Casigliano , Campania) , Casigno (Tuscany, from Casinius , see Casignana , Calabria), Cutigno (Calabria, from Cotinius , see Cutignano , Campania), Gavigno (Tuscany, from Gavinius , see Gavignano , Tuscany), Ostiglia (Lombardy, from Hostilius , see. Ostigliano , Campania), Livigno (Lombardy, of Livinius , see FIG. Livignano , Lucca), Poveglia (Veneto, of Popilius , see FIG. Povegliano , Veneto), Savigno (Emilia, of Sabinius , see FIG. Savignano , Veneto and Lombardy) , Samprogno (Veneto, from Sempronius , cf.Samprugnano , Tuscany), Serviglio ( Umbria, by Servilius , cf. Servigliano , Marche), Seregno (Lombardy, by Serenius , see Seregnano , Veneto), Vocogno (Lombardy) and Vogogna (Piedmont) (by Voconius , see Vogognano , Tuscany).

Next to the examples of this type of place name are place names that contain the same personal name but have an ending in -ano / -ana or -asco . See above, sections -anum / ana and -asco . In linguistics, it is not clear whether some of these place names are not abbreviations from place names ending in -ano or -ago .

Personalities

Occasionally, places are named after people who played an important role there. There are some place names in southern Italy that contain the Greek word παπᾶς ( papãs ) "pastor": Papas i dero (Calabria) from παπᾶς Ισίδορος ( papãs Isídoros "pastor Isodor"), Papagliontis (Calabria) from Λπαότνς ( papετiosις ) from απαό "Pastor Leontios"), Papandrea (Sicily) from παπᾶς Ανδρέας ( papãs Andréas "Pastor Andreas"), Papajanni (Campania) from παπᾶς Γιάννης ( papãs Giánnēs "Pastor John").

Other examples: Abatemarco (in Campania and Calabria, "Abbot Marco"), Abate C e sare (Apulia, "Abbot Cesare"), Abbatemasi (in the Terra d'Otranto ), Cavallerleone (Piedmont), Civit e lla Mess e r Raimondo (Abruzzo, "Civitella des Lord Raimondo").

Owned by a family

Some places are named after family properties. Examples: Ca 'd'Andrea ( Province of Cremona ), Ca' de 'Stefani (Lombardy), Ca' di David (Verona), Ca 'Emo ( Province of Rovigo ), Ca de' Caggi (Lombardy).

jobs

Some places are named after professions. Examples: Pignataro (Campania, "potter"), Panettieri (Calabria, "baker"), Carbonari (Veneto, "Köhler"), Calderari (Sicily, " tinker "), Ortajolo (Lombardy), Fabro (Umbria, fabbro = " Blacksmith "), Armajolo (Tuscany," armorer "), Verbicaro (Calabria," Shepherd "), Porcari (Tuscany), Pastori (Lombardy," Shepherd ").

people

Some places are named after peoples. Examples: Greci (Albanian village in the province of Avellino , "Greeks"), Romanù ( province of Salerno , from the Greek τοὺς Ρωμανοὺς , toùs Rōmanoùs "the Romans"), B o lgare ( province of Bergamo , "Bulgarians"), B o lgheri ( Province of Livorno , "Bulgarians"), Galloro (Tuscany, "Gauls"), Ispani (Province of Salerno, "Spaniards"), Longobardi ( Province of Cosenza , " Lombards "), Godi (Lombardy), Saracena (Province of Cosenza, " Saracens " ), S a rmato ( province of Piacenza ) and S a rmede ( province of Treviso , both named after the Sarmatians ), Sassinoro ( province of Benevento , "Saxon settlement "), Z i bido (province of Milan, after the Gepids ), Schiavi (province of Chieti , "Slavs"), Schiav o n (Vicenza province), Nemci (Trieste, from the Slovenian nemci "German").

Animal names

Animal names appear especially in names of mountains and high places. Examples: A quila (Abruzzo), Gerace (Calabria, from the Greek word ἱεράκιον , hierákion , "hawk"), Girifalco (Calabria, "gyrfalcon"), Falcone (Sicily, "falcon"), Mont a quila (Abruzzo, "eagle mountain "), Monte Sparviere (Lukanien) and Roccasparvera (Piedmont, both after Sperber), Monte V u lture " Geiersberg " Monte Nibio (Umbria), Monte Corvo (Sicily," Raven mountain "), Monte Merlo (Tuscany," Blackbird Berg "), Monte Mula (Calabria), Monte Cervo (Calabria," Hirschberg "), Monte Orso (Piedmont," Bear Mountain "), Monte Porco (Campania," Pig Mountain "), Monte Margiani (Sardinia, from the Sardinian word margiani " Fox "), Leonessa (Latium / Abruzzo," Lioness "), Monteleone (Umbria," Lion Mountain "), Monte Tauro (Sicily," Bull Mountain ").

Gods

Names of places or mountains can contain god names. See also: Roman mythology .

Examples: Monte Giove (more common mountain name, "Mount of Jupiter "), Collegiove (Umbria, "Hill of Jupiter"), Casagiove (Campania, "House of Jupiter"), Monte V e nere (Tuscany and Latium, "Mountain of Venus." "), Porto V e nere (Liguria," Port of Venus "), Minerbe (Verona), Minerbio (Bologna) and Manerbio (Brescia, both from the Latin minervium " Temple of Minerva "), Nettuno (Rome," Neptune ") , Sodorno (near Bergamo, from Saturnus ), E rcole (Campania) and Erchie (near Salerno and in the Terra d' O tranto, after Hercules ).

Emperor

Named after Roman emperors : Aosta (Piedmont, after Augustus ), Porto Adriano (Apulia, after Hadrianus ), Fano Adriano (Abruzzo, after Hadrianus), Monte Nerone (Umbria, after Nero ), Fordongianus (Sardinia, from the Latin Forum Trajani " Forum of Trajan ").

See also

swell

  1. ↑ Gerhard Rohlfs , "Forays through Italian Toponomastics", in: Reinhold Kontzi (Ed.), " Substrate and Superstrate in the Romance Languages", Darmstadt, 1982, ISBN 3-534-066-80-4 , p. 451– 481
  2. ↑ see discussion page
  3. ^ Dtv-Atlas zur deutschen Sprache, Werner König , Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich, 11th edition, 1996, ISBN 3-423-03025-9 ; P. 129