List of geographic portmanteaus explained

This is a list of geographic portmanteaus. Portmanteaus (also called blends) are names constructed by combining elements of two, or occasionally more, other names.

For the most part, the geographic names in this list were derived from two other names or words. Those derived from three or more names are usually considered acronyms or initialisms and can be found in the List of geographic acronyms and initialisms. However, there are exceptions to this two/three rule in both lists, so it is more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule.

Note that not all combinations of two names are considered portmanteaus. Simple concatenation of two names (whether hyphenated or not) does not produce a portmanteau. Nor does a combinative form of one name plus the full name of another (examples: Eurasia, Czechoslovakia). These kinds of names are excluded from this list.

Regions named from their components

Some regions (including countries and provinces) have names that are portmanteaus of subregions or cities within the region.

Countries

Chinese provinces

Some Chinese provinces have names that are blends of their two largest cities.

Korean provinces

During the Joseon Kingdom, seven Korean provinces (all but the region around the capital) were named by combining the first characters of their two major cities. The provinces were reorganized in the 1890s but the names are still in use. All these traditional provincial names are carried forward by two current provinces and for all except Gangwon (which is the only one where the two carrying the name were split between North and South Korea) a North and a South province of the same name. However note that for most former provinces, the two current provinces with the name are usually not entirely coextensive with the former province.

The dates of the former provinces are those when they carried that name; they often existed with a different name before that year.

Somalia provinces

Two of Somalia's federal member states are portmanteaus of the smaller administrative regions (gobols) within the states.

Vanuatu provinces

Half of Vanuatu's provincial names are portmanteaus of their main islands or island groups.

Merged towns

Sometimes a portmanteau name is created from the names of predecessor towns. Names that are merely a concatenation of the predecessor names, such as Budapest, are excluded.

Schools and school districts

Some school districts that serve two or three towns have names that are blends of those towns' names. Or they're a blend of county names that the district covers parts of.

Other regions portmanteaued from their components

Border portmanteaus

A border portmanteau combines the names of two, or occasionally three, adjacent polities (countries, states, provinces, counties, cities) to form a name for a region, town, body of water, or other feature on or near their mutual border.

Regions

Generalized border regions

These are generalized (and unofficial) regions usually centered on cities near state borders in the United States. They usually extend across state lines and their names are portmanteaus of two or three state names.

Other portmanteau regions

Towns, villages, and localities

§ This symbol marks localities with no current population; some of them never had any population.

Blends of country, state, and province names

Note: places listed on the same line are immediately across the border from each other. Some others with non-similar names are also across a border from each other.

Blends of county names

Blends of town names

Bodies of water

Lakes that are on or near borders also sometimes get named with portmanteaus of the neighbouring polities.

Topography

Geographic features on borders or between towns sometimes get border portmanteau names.

Roads and other forms of transportation

These can either run along or near a border or connect two places.

Roads along a border

Connectors

Other border portmanteaus

Maps

Below are maps of the towns (red dots), bodies of water (blue dots), and other geographic features (green dots) that are portmanteaus of country, state, and province names. Also included are pseudo-border portmanteau towns (yellow dots).

Map legend:

red dot = border portmanteau towns and localities

yellow dot = pseudo-border portmanteaus

blue dot = bodies of water

green dot = other features

Pseudo-border portmanteaus

Some places have names that are blends of country, state, and provincial names. However, they are either not near their mutual border, or of regions that do not have a mutual border.

From personal names

Most here are blends of two personal names, but some are of a personal name with some other name or word.

Livestock

Other portmanteaus

See also

Notes and References

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  3. Book: Williams. Mary Ann Barnes. Origins of North Dakota Place Names. 1966. Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, ND.
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  5. Book: Shirk. George H. Oklahoma Place Names. 1987. University of Oklahoma Press. 0-8061-2028-2.
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  7. Book: Foscue. Virginia O.. Place Names in Alabama. 1989. University of Alabama Press. 9780817304102.
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  9. Web site: Dunklin County Place Names, 1928–1945 . The State Historical Society of Missouri. September 20, 2018.
  10. Book: Rand McNally & Co. . Rand McNally 1997 Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide . 1997 . Rand McNally & Co. . 128th.
  11. Book: Temple. Robert D.. Edge Effects: the Border-Name Places. 2009. iUniverse, Inc.. Bloomington, Indiana. 978-0-595-47758-6. 2nd.
  12. Book: Krakow. Kenneth K.. Georgia Place-Names. November 1999. Winship Press. Macon, Georgia. 0-915430-00-2. Third.
  13. Web site: Wooster. Robert. Texla, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 31 January 2018.
  14. Book: Boone . Lalia Phipps . Idaho place names : a geographical dictionary . 1988 . University of Idaho Press . Moscow, Idaho . 0893011193 .
  15. Web site: McCarthy. John. A Guide to Sarasota Beaches. Sarasota Magazine. SagaCity Media. 27 January 2018.
  16. Book: McCoy. Sondra Van Meter. Hults. Jan. 1001 Kansas Place Names. 1989. University Press of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas. 0-7006-0392-1.
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  18. Book: Morris. Allan. Florida Place Names: Alachua to Zolfo Springs. 1995. Pineapple Press, Inc.. Sarasota, Florida. 1-56164-084-0.
  19. Book: Chicago and North Western Railway Company. A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. 1908. 2nd.
  20. Web site: Constanze . German Kofferwörter (Portmanteau Words) . German Language Blog . Transparent Language . 27 November 2018.
  21. Book: Jenkins. Elwyn. Falling into Place: The Story of Modern South African Place Names. 2007. New Africa Books. 9780864866899.
  22. HAISV. Vade, Saskatchewan.
  23. GAQBK. Mansask Lake.
  24. FEQLF. Mantario Lake.
  25. GAQBV. Manticia Lake.
  26. Book: Geographic Board of Canada. Place-names of Manitoba. 1933. J. O. Patenaude, acting King's printer. Ottawa. 2027/mdp.39015027929515.
  27. HAHJL. Saskman Lake.
  28. HAJBJ. Saskoba Lake.
  29. KAACK. Canalaska Mountain.
  30. Web site: Montana Placenames from Alzada to Zortman. Montana Place Names. Montana Historical Society. 26 October 2017.
  31. Book: Mills . A. D. . A dictionary of London place-names . 2010 . Oxford University Press . 9780199566785 . 2nd .
  32. Web site: Keeley . Sean . Poll: Is Frelard An Actual Seattle Neighborhood? . Curbed Seattle . Vox Media . 27 September 2019.
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  36. Web site: Hart . Brian . Texhoma City, TX . Handbook of Texas Online . Texas State Historical Association . 27 October 2018.
  37. Web site: Long. Christopher. Texla, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 31 January 2018.
  38. Book: Tarpley. Fred. 1001 Texas Place Names. 2010. University of Texas Press. 9780292786936.
  39. Book: Overman. William Daniel. Ohio Town Names. 1959. Atlantic Press. Akron, Ohio. 2027/mdp.39015015361465.
  40. HABMB. Alpat Lake.
  41. Book: Barry. Bill. Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. registration. September 2005. People Places Publishing, Ltd.. Regina, Saskatchewan. 1-897010-19-2.
  42. Book: Stewart. George R.. American place-names; a concise and selective dictionary for the continental United States of America. registration. 1970. Oxford University Press. New York.
  43. Book: Kenny, Hamill. West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. 1945. The Place Name Press. Piedmont, WV. 2027/mdp.39015009099824.
  44. Book: Van Cott. John W.. Utah Place Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Origins of Geographic Names : a Compilation. 1990. University of Utah Press. 9780874803457.
  45. Book: Barnes. Will Croft. Arizona Place Names. 2016. University of Arizona Press. 9780816534951.
  46. Book: Upham . Warren . Minnesota place names : a geographical encyclopedia . Minnesota Historical Society Press . 9780873513968 . 3rd., rev. and enl . 7 December 2019. 2001 .
  47. Web site: Minor. David. Birome, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 23 November 2017.
  48. Book: Baker, Ronald L.. From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. registration. October 1995. Indiana University Press. 978-0-253-32866-3.
  49. Book: Hanson. Raus McDill. Virginia Place Names : Derivations, Historical Uses. 1969. McClure Press. Verona, Virginia.
  50. HATRQ. Cookson, Saskatchewan.
  51. Book: Carlson. Helen S.. Nevada Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. 1974. University of Nevada Press. 9780874170948.
  52. HAPEQ. Coxby, Saskatchewan.
  53. Book: Federal Writers' Project. South Dakota place-names, v.1-3. 1940. University of South Dakota. 2027/mdp.39015027015455. Federal Writers' Project.
  54. Book: Warren Upham. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 157.
  55. HAFFC. Dankin, Saskatchewan.
  56. Book: Rennick. Robert M.. Kentucky Place Names. 2013. University Press of Kentucky. 9780813144016.
  57. Book: Callary. Edward. Place Names of Illinois. October 2009. University of Illinois Press. Champaign, Illinois. 978-0-252-03356-8.
  58. Book: Julyan. Robert Hixson. The Place Names of New Mexico. 1996. UNM Press. 9780826316899. revised.
  59. Web site: Wooster. Robert. Gladstell, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 18 November 2017.
  60. Book: Wick. Douglas A.. North Dakota Place Names. 1989. Prairie House. 9780911007114. 79.
  61. Book: Hamilton. William Baillie. Place Names of Atlantic Canada. 1996. University of Toronto Press. 0802075703. 209.
  62. Web site: Barrier. Carolyn. Idalou, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 20 November 2017.
  63. Web site: Justice. Glenn. Iraan, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 20 November 2017.
  64. Book: D'Artois Leeper. Clare. Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. 2012. LSU Press. 9780807147382.
  65. Web site: Anderson. H. Allen. Lazbuddie, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 20 November 2017.
  66. Web site: Leaday, TX. Handbook of texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 20 November 2017.
  67. Book: Meany. Edmund S.. Origin of Washington geographic names. 1923. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 2027/mdp.39015027074981.
  68. Web site: Hart. Brian. Mabank, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 19 November 2017.
  69. HAKVA. Macworth, Saskatchewan.
  70. Web site: Hart. Jan. Mansfield, TX. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. 20 November 2017.
  71. HATZH. Marchwell, Saskatchewan.
  72. Book: Espenshade, A. Howry. Pennsylvania place names. 1925. The Pennsylvania State College. State College, PA. 2027/mdp.39015012934249.
  73. Book: Upham. W.. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance, v. 17. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society.
  74. HAPBB. Maxstone, Saskatchewan.
  75. Web site: Krawchuk. Peter. Ukrainian Place Names in Canada. Virtual Museum of Canada. Canadian Museum of History. 20 February 2018.
  76. Book: Ramsay. Robert L.. Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names. 1952. University of Missouri Press. 9780826205865.
  77. Book: Eaton. David Wolfe. How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. 1916. State Historical Society.
  78. Book: Canadian Board on Geographical Names. Place-names of Alberta. 1928. F. A. Acland, printer. Ottawa. 2027/mdp.39015070267029.
  79. Book: Akrigg. G. P. (Philip) V.. Akrigg. Helen. British Columbia Place Names. 2011. UBC Press. 978-0774841702. Third.
  80. Book: Waldman. Carl. Braun. Molly. Atlas of the North American Indian. 2009. Infobase Publishing. 9781438126715.
  81. Book: Kenny. Hamill. The Placenames of Maryland : their origin and meaning. 1984. Maryland Historical Society. Baltimore, Md.. 0-938420-28-3.
  82. Book: Gudde. Erwin Gustav. California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names. 2010. University of California Press. 9780520266193.
  83. Book: Marden. Ernest G.. Marden. Austin. Community Place Names of Alberta. 2010. Lulu.com. 978-1897472170.
  84. Book: Vasiliev. Ren. From Abbotts to Zurich: New York State Placenames. 2004. Syracuse University Press. 9780815607984.
  85. Web site: Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. 10 November 2018.
  86. Book: Romig. Walter. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. 1973. Wayne State University Press. 9780814318386.
  87. Web site: New Madrid County Place Names, 1928–1945 . The State Historical Society of Missouri . March 9, 2020 .
  88. Book: Gard. Ropbert E.. The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names. 2015. Wisconsin Historical Society. 9780870207082.
  89. Web site: Reynolds. W. Dale. Okeene. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. 21 November 2017.
  90. Book: McArthur. Lewis A.. McArthur. Lewis L.. Oregon Geographic Names. 1992. Oregon Historical Society Press. 0-87595-237-2. 6th.
  91. Book: Bright. William. Colorado Place Names. 2004. Big Earth Publishing. 9781555663339.
  92. Book: Miller. Larry. Tennessee Place-names. 2001. Indinan University Press. 9780253214782.