Germanic toponyms are the names given to places by Germanic peoples and tribes. Besides areas with current speakers of Germanic languages, many regions with previous Germanic speakers or Germanic influence had or still have Germanic toponymic elements, such as places in Northern France, Wallonia, Poland and Northern Italy.
Comparative table
In round brackets, the contemporary cognate for the toponym in the respective language is given. In the square brackets, the most frequently used name in English is given.
Proto-Germanic (or ancient loan word from Celtic, Greek or Latin) |
English
and Scots |
Dutch
and Afrikaans |
Low German | (High) German | Continental North Germanic (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) |
Other Germanic languages | Loans or remnants in non-Germanic languages (mainly in Old Northern French) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*baki[1] "creek" |
-bach, -beck, -batch, -brook, -brooke, -bech, -beach, -broke, (beck) (1) Harbrook, Emm Brook, Sparkbrook, Walbrook, Marshbrook, Fullabrook, Sandbach, Comberbach, Brinsabach , Eastbach, etc., (2) Fulbeck, (3) Caldbeck, (4) Holbeck, Wansbeck, Starbeck, Welbeck, Skirpenbeck, Boosbeck, Killingbeck, Pinchbeck, Purbeck, Birkbeck, Swaffham Bulbeck, Leigh Beck, Waterbeck, etc., Pulverbatch, Inglesbatch, Oxbatch, Snailbatch, Wagbatch, Radbatch, Wisbech, Holbeach, Holbeck, Holbrook, Addenbrooke, Kidbrooke, Holbech, Bolingbroke, Stradbroke, Begbroke, Kembroke Hall, Hazelbadge, Burbage, Brocton, Brockweir, Brogden, Brookhampton, Brookland, Brooksby etc. |
-beek (beek) (5) Boutersem, Bierbeek, Lembeek, Schaarbeek [Schaerbeek], Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, etc. |
-bek, -beck, -brook, -brock, (1) de:Harbrook, de:Billbrook, Hilkenbrook, Wesuwer Brook, de:Marschbrook, de:Hammerbrook, (2) Fuhlbek (Wehrau (river)),[2] Reinbek, Wandsbek, Hasselbeck, Gladbeck, Havixbeck, Fuhlenbrock, Batenbrock, etc. |
-bach, -bock de:Sandbach, (6) Wambach, (5) Rohrbach, (3) Kaltenbach, Hasselbach, Bütgenbach (Belgium), de: Schnellbach, Mühlbock [Ołobok], etc. |
-beck, -bekk, -bäck, -bæk (2) Fulebæk (DK), (4) Holbæk (DK) |
||
*berga-[3] "hill, mountain" |
-bergh -berrow -barrow -berry -berge -bear (barrow) Sedbergh, Thrybergh, Caldbergh, Bedbergh, Babergh Hundred, Rubergh Hundred, East Bergholt, Bergh Apton, Berghersh, Inkberrow, Bromsberrow, Sedgeberrow, Whitbarrow, Cruckbarrow, Fellbarrow, Wanbarrow, Brockenbarrow, Inkberrow, Rowberrow, Ingleberry, Skelberry, Solberge, Sadberge, Thurlbear |
-berg, -bergen (berg) (2) Bergen [Mons], Geraardsbergen, Grimbergen, Kortenberg |
(1) Barg, (2) Bargen[4] | -berg Heidelberg, Kaisersberg [Kaysersberg], Königsberg [Kaliningrad], Nürnberg [Nuremberg], Bamberg, Bromsberg, Bromberg, Kruckenberg, de:Fellberg, Berghain |
-berg, -berj (2) Bergen |
-bergue(s) in Northern French via Old Low Frankish or Old Saxon Isbergues, (1) Berck, Barques, Barc, Bierges | |
*brugjō-[5] "bridge" |
-bridge -brigg (bridge) Cambridge, Knightsbridge, Woodbridge, Fordingbridge, Seabridge, Weybridge, Uxbridge, Agbrigg, Felbrigg, Lambrigg, Gillingbrigg, Brigg, Brigroyd |
-brugge (brug) Brugge [Bruges], Zeebrugge |
-brücken, -brück, -bruck -brig Innsbruck, Osnabrück, Saarbrücken, Brig |
-bro, -bru Hobro, Holstebro, Nybro, Örebro |
|||
*burg-[6][7] "city, fortified town, fort" |
-borough, -bury, -burgh, -brough (borough) Canterbury, Tilbury, Aldbury, Grimsbury, Limbury, Cissbury, Kentisbury, Holmbury St Mary, Shoeburyness, Irthlingborough, Peterborough, Knaresborough, Middlesbrough, Hemingbrough, Mickleburgh, Aldeburgh, Rumburgh, Happisburgh, Bamburgh, Edinburgh, Salsburgh, Pedlersburgh, Cunningsburgh, Mayburgh Henge |
-burg (burg, burcht) Aardenburg, Limburg, Middelburg, Tilburg |
-borg Hamborg [Hamburg] |
-burg Burg bei Magdeburg, Regensburg, Neuburg, Salzburg, German: Straßburg, Lower Elsassish/Alsatian-German: Strossburi, Luxemburgish -buerg Lëtzebuerg [Luxembourg] |
-borg, -borj Nordborg, Rendsborg, Sønderborg |
-bourg in Northern French, via Old Saxon, Old English, Old Norse and German | |
*felthuz[8] "plain, open land, field" |
-field -fold (field) Huddersfield, Mansfield, Macclesfield, Mirfield, Wakefield, Sheffield, Moorfields, Dogmersfield, Aperfield, Archenfield, Kerfield, Whisterfield, Bentfield Green, Bloomfield, Westerfield, Summerfield, Thunderfield, Bassingfield, Lindfield, Englefield Green, Exfold, Penfold, Chiddingfold |
-veld Schinveld, Warnsveld |
-feld, -felde, -filde (Feld) Bielefeld, Mansfeld, de:Moorfeld, de:Mirfeld, de:Westerfilde, Sommerfeld, Urfeld, de:Eichsfeld |
||||
*furdi-, *furdu-[9] "low water crossing" |
-ford, -forth (ford) Bradford, Guildford, Oxford, Stafford, Watford, Hereford, Sandford, Thetford, Stanford, Arford, Conford, Lemsford, Hannaford, Filford, Wyfordby, Catford, Gosforth, Garforth, Stainforth, Ampleforth, Handforth, Dishforth, Catforth, Shawforth, Birdforth, Yafforth, Hollowforth, Strafforth, Hartforth -firth (firth) |
-foort, -voort, -voorde (voorde) Amersfoort, Vilvoorde, Eexter-Zandvoort, Zandvoorde, Papenvoort |
-ford, -fordt, -vörde, -forde Herford, de:Herzford, Bremervörde, de:Diersfordt, de:Conneforde, Osterforde, Lemförde, Buttforde, Bökenförde -forth de:Steinforth, de:Bruneforth, de:Kaiforth, de:Honigforth, de:Achelforth, de:Stallforth, Braunsforth |
-furt Dietfurt, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Ochsenfurt, Steinfurt, |
-fjord(en) Oslofjorden, Limfjord |
-fort Northern French Houllefort | |
*hafnō-[10] "harbor, port" |
-haven "-avon" (haven) Shellhaven, Sandhaven, Buckhaven, Newhaven, Whitehaven, Greenhaven, Peacehaven, Cockhaven, Middlehaven, Stonehaven, Littlehaven, Fairhaven, Balhaven, Cuckmere Haven, Orwell Haven, Holland Haven, Anton Haven, Cuckhold's Haven, Milford Haven, East Haven |
-haven (haven) Eemshaven, Ketelhaven, Delfshaven |
-haven (haven) Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven |
-hafen (Hafen) Friedrichshafen |
-hamn, -havn København [Copenhagen], Åkrahamn |
Faroese: -havn Tórshavn, Skudeneshavn |
French Le Havre, several le Hable |
*haima-[11] "homestead, dwelling" |
-ham, -om (home) Denham, Dunham, Newham, Nottingham, Rotherham, Tottenham, Ickenham, Twickenham, Sydenham, Dagenham, Alkham, Wokingham, Manningham, Edmondsham, Kirkham, Gotham, Egham, Debenham, Bassingham, Foxham, Great Blakenham, Berkhamsted, Walthamstow, Ebbisham, Epsom, Wilsom, Besom, Hollom, Hysom, Allum Green, Cocum, Hoccum, Cottam, Hannam's Hall, Ednam, Dagnam Park, Buckinghamshire, Bodiam, Northiam, Mitchum |
-(g)em, -(h)em, -en, -um -ham (heem, heim) Alphen, Berchem, Nossegem, Wevelgem, Zaventem, Blijham, Kolham, Dongjum (Donningham), Drogeham, Foxham, Blankenham, Den Ham, Schophem, Dalhem |
-um, Alkersum, Nordenham, Bochum, Borkum, Wilsum, Walsum, Fulerum, Loccum, Arnum Bolzum, Achtum, Heyersum, Westernam |
-(h)am,-heim, -(h)em, -um (Heim) Crailsheim, Kirchham, Hausham, de:Hundham, de:Borkerham, Mannheim, Pforzheim, Schiltigheim, Bassenheim, Hildesheim, Cochem, Waldhambach, Babensham, Egglham |
-heim, -hem, -um, Trondheim, Varnhem, Lerum | Unknown East-Germanic language: *Boiohaimum [Bohemia][12] |
-ham, -hem, -ain, -[s]ent in Northern French via Old Low Frankish, Old Norse or Old English Ouistreham, Étréham, Huppain, Surrain (Surrehain 11th century, then Surreheim 12th century[13]), Inxent (Flemish Enessem) |
*hufa-[14] "enclosed area, garden" |
-hope, -hop -op -hove Woolhope, Stanhope, Mithope, Bullinghope, Byerhope, Dinchope, Dryhope, Longhope, Mythop, Northop, Middop, Glossop, Worksop, Warsop, Hove |
-hof, -hoven, -hove (hof) Wintershoven, Zonhoven, Volckerinckhove, Hove |
-hoft, Bockhoft, Ahrenshoft |
-hof, -hofen (Hof) Bechhofen, Diedenhofen [Thionville] |
-hof, -hoff | (translated into -court in Northern France, compare Bettenhoven, Bettenhoff with Bettencourt, Bethancourt, etc.) | |
*hulmaz[15] "elevation, hill, island" |
-holm, -holme, -hulme (holm) Grassholm, Denholm, Buckholm, Marholm, Bromholm Priory, Killingholme, Hempholme, Skokholm, Nunburnholme, Hubberholme, Skyreholme, Holmsgarth, Holmwrangle, Holmethorpe, Holmbush, Holmwood, Holmsted, Holmegate, Steep Holm, Cobholm, Levenshulme, Kirkmanshulme |
-holm (holm) De Holm |
-holm (holm) Holm, Holm |
-holm (holm) Holm, Holm |
-holm (holm) Stockholm, Holm |
Faroese: -hólmur (hólmur) Gáshólmur |
-homme, le Houlme, le Hom in Old Norman Robehomme, le Houlme |
W.Gmc. *kirika from Greek kyriakon, "Lord's assembly" | -kirk (church) Colkirk, Falkirk, Ormskirk, Chadkirk, Peakirk, Romaldkirk, Halkirk, Woodkirk, Algarkirk, Laithkirk, Whitkirk, Oswaldkirk, Bradkirk Hall, Houndkirk Moor, Kirkcambeck, Kirkcudbright, Kirkwall, Kirkby, kirklees, Whitchurch, Stokenchurch, Baschurch, Dymchurch, Hornchurch, Offchurch, Kenderchurch, Churchover, Churchstoke, Churcham |
-kerk, -kerke (kerk) Duinkerke (Dunkirk), Middelkerke, Nijkerk, Ridderkerk, Koudekerk aan den Rijn, Adinkerke, Koolkerke, Kaaskerke, Klemskerke, Grijpskerk, Oldekerk, Niekerk |
-kerk, (Kirche) Aldekerk |
-kirche, -kirchen (Kirche) Feldkirch, Neunkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Kirchweyhe, Kirchham |
-kirke, -kyrkje, -kjerke Kyrkjebø |
-crique, -kerque in Northern French Yvecrique, Criquetot, Dunkerque (Dunkirk) | |
*landom[16] "land, ground, soil" |
-land (land) England, Ireland, Scotland, Sunderland, Northumberland, Shetland, Lothingland, Bishop Auckland, Holland, Breckland, Upholland, Rutland, Hartland, Kessingland, Westmorland, Heligoland, Leyland, Buckland, Kingsland, Westlands, West Midlands, Fenland, Litherland, Thurgoland, Dormansland, Leesland, Thurland Castle, Backaland, West Heogaland, Swaisland, Wringsland, Sealand, Ecklands, Austerlands, Maylandsea |
-land (land) Friesland, Holland, Nederland [Netherlands], Zeeland, Gelderland, Westland, Nuland, Dirksland, Duiveland, Sint Philipsland, Flevoland, Hamaland, Heuvelland, Rilland, Kempenland, Reiderland, Engeland, Nieuwlande, Lageland, Pajottenland |
-land (land) | -land (land) Deutschland, Sudetenland, Moormerland, Wangerland, Blockland, Holtland, Ammerland, Sauerland, Westerland, Saarland, Seeland, Münsterland, Vierlande, [Germany], Emsland, Burg-Reuland, Rheinland, Carinerland, Muttland, Südbrookmerland, Thurland, Neuholland, Oberneuland, Helgoland, Baselland, Arelerland |
-land (land) Jylland [Jutland], Sjælland [Zealand], Nordland, Hjelmeland, Jørpeland, Iveland, Froland, Hogland [Gogland], Oppland |
-land, -lan in Northern French château d'Ételan, Heuland, le Tingland, le Vatland, etc. | |
*rotha "clearing" |
-royd, -rode, -rod, -rith, -road, -royde Ackroyd, Murgatroyd, Kebroyd, Hangingroyd, Boothroyd, Oldroyd, Mytholmroyd, Dockroyd, Odd Rode, Bergerode, North Rode, Wivelrod, Blackrod, Heyrod, Gollinrod, Ormerod, Harrod, Walkerith, Huntroyde Hall, Cockroad |
-rade, -ray, -rode, -rooi (rode) Asenray, Gijzenrooi, Landsrade, Middelrode, Nieuwrode, Nistelrode, Sint-Genesius-Rode, Stamproy, Kerkrade |
-rade, -rath, -rode, -roth -rod -rith Overath, Radebeul, Radevormwald, Roth, Wernigerode, Heyerode, Darlingerode, Ivenrode, Hainrode, Rainrod, Rumrod, Wallmerod, Karith, Herzogenrath |
-rud, -rød, -röd, -ryd, -rue -rui Buskerud, Birkerød, Kajerød, Bergeröd, Tolvsrød |
Rœulx, Rœux, Ruitz in Northern French[17] Swiss: Cormérod (Kormerat) | ||
*stainaz[18] "stone" |
-stan, -stam, -stein, -stone (stone) Stanlow, Stanmore, Stanfree, Stanground, Stambermill, Waterstein, Dangstein, Stamford, Stonehaven, Staines, Stanwick, Stenhousemuir |
-steen (steen) Steenokkerzeel, Steenkwijk |
-steen (steen) Sleswig-Holsteen [Schleswig-Holstein] |
-stein (Stein) Schleswig-Holstein, Stein, Steinfurt, Stein-Wingert |
-sten, -stein | -stain, -étan in Northern French Grestain, Roche Gélétan, Étaimpuis, Estaimpuis (Dutch Steenput) | |
*thurpa-[19] "farm, settlement" |
-thorp, -thorpe -throp -trop -thrup -drup -drop Cleethorpes, Scunthorpe, Mablethorpe, Casthorpe, Catthorpe, Boothorpe, Ibthorpe, Cutthorpe, Swanthorpe, Ingmanthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Thorpeness, Burthrop(Eastleach Martin), Heythrop, Winthrop, Colethrop, Casthrope House, Knostrop, Wilstrop, Westrop, Etrop, Upthrup, Pindrup, Staindrop, Newdrop, Souldrop, Burdrop, Huntingdrop, Hilldrop, Throop |
-dorp (dorp) Hazerswoude-Dorp, Opdorp |
-dorp, -trop (dorp) Dusseldorp [Düsseldorf], Bottrop, Waltrop, Frintrop, Uentrop, Hiltrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Huttrop |
-dorf, -torf (Dorf) Dorf |
-torp, -arp, -rup Kattarp, Kastrup, Olofstorp | Lorrain -troff Bénestroff (German Bensdorf) | -tourp(s), -tour, Torp in Old Norman Clitourps, Saussetour, le Torp-Mesnil |
Lat vīcus[20] "dwelling place, village" *wīhsą "village, settlement" |
-wich Ipswich, Norwich, Harwich, Aldwych, Lower Ledwyche, Lutwyche Hall, Heckmondwike, Warwick, Alnwick, Gatwick, Lerwick, Hawick, Fenwick, Berwick, Gippeswyk Park, Walwick, Glodwick, Hardwicke, Rumboldswyke, Ankerwycke Yew, Lowick, Shopwyke, Casewick, Borthwick, Breiwick, Edgwick, Keckwick, Muggleswick, Osbaldwick, Barnoldswick, Smethwick, Withernwick, Plardiwick, Sesswick, Marwick Hall, Wick, Hamwick Green, Hackney Wick, East wick, Feldwicke Cottage, Marchweeke, Northweek, Highweek, |
-wijk (wijk) Ewijk, Waalwijk, Harderwijk, Oisterwijk, Noordwijk, Beverwijk, Noorderwijk, Meeswijk, Wervik |
-wig, -wich -wick Sleswig-Holsteen [Schleswig-Holstein], Kettwig, Dellwig, Sleswick, Brunswick, de:Suderwich, de:Suderwick, Schüttwich, Oer-Erkenschwick, de:Berwicke, Lowick, de:Harwick, de:Crosewick, de:Ellewick, de:Wennewick, de:Holtwick, de:Kockelwick, de:Marwick, Am Halswick, Feldwicker Weg |
-wig, -wiek (Weich) Schleswig-Holstein, Prorer Wiek, Wyk |
Craywick, Salperwick, French Flanders | ||
*walhaz[21][22] "stranger, non-Germanic person" |
wal- (Welsh) Cornwall, Wales, Walsall, Walsden |
wal- (Waal) Wallonië [Wallonia] |
wal- Wallis [Valais] Welschneudorf |
Unknown Germanic language: Wallachia |
Germanic wal- became: | ||
*walþuz[23] "forest" | -wold Easingwold, Hockwold, Southwold |
-wald Greifswald |
-voll ("meadow") Tingvoll |
See also
- Germanic names
- Norman toponymy (includes Old Norse placenames in Normandy)
- German toponymy
- Celtic toponymy
- Placenames in the United Kingdom and Ireland
References
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ Wolfgang Laur, Historisches Ortsnamenlexikon von Schleswig-Holstein, Karl Wachholtz Verlag, 1992, p. 261b.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ Wolfgang Laur 138b.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. 1922-04-05. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ Louis Guinet, « Des toponymes normands en Ham (-ain) et de l'étymologie du français hameau » in Annales de Normandie, 1963, Volume 13, Numéro 13-2, p. 76 (online : French) Persée Revues scientifique
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. 1973-08-23. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ Albert Dauzat et Charles Rostaing, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France, Edition Larousse 1968, réédition Librairie Guénégaud, Paris, 1979, p. 566a.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "etymologiebank.nl". etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ Alwin Kloekhorst (2008) Etymological Dictionary of the Hittite Inherited Lexicon, Leiden, Boston: Brill Academic Publishers