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 France, Wallonia, Poland, Northern Portugal, Spain and Northern Italy.
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) | Englishand Scots | Dutchand 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -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) ,, Hilkenbrook, Wesuwer Brook,,, (2) Fuhlbek (Wehrau (river)),[2] Reinbek, Wandsbek, Hasselbeck, Gladbeck, Havixbeck, Fuhlenbrock, Batenbrock, etc. | -bach, -bock , (6) Wambach, (5) Rohrbach, (3) Kaltenbach, Hasselbach, Bütgenbach (Belgium),, Mühlbock [Ołobok], etc. | -beck, -bekk, -bäck, -bæk (2) Fulebæk (DK), (4) Holbæk (DK) | ||
| -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,, Berghain | -berg, -berj (2) Bergen | -bergue(s) in Northern French via Old Low Frankish or Old Saxon Isbergues, (1) Berck, Barques, Barc, Bierges | |
| -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 (burg, burcht) Aardenburg, Limburg, Middelburg, Tilburg | -borg Hamborg [Hamburg] | -burg Burg bei Magdeburg, Regensburg, Neuburg, Salzburg, German: Straßburg, Lower Elsassish/Alsatian-German: Strossburi, Luxembourgish -buerg Lëtzebuerg [Luxembourg]|-borg, -borj Nordborg, Rendsborg, Sønderborg||-bourg in Northern French, via Old Saxon, Old English, Old Norse and German Cherbourg, Cabourg, Bourbourg, le Neubourg, Luxembourg, Strasbourg (single Bourg, Borgo, Buergo, etc. or with a following element are common everywhere in the Romance speaking world) |-|*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,,,, Sommerfeld, Urfeld, ||||-| *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, Bedford -firth (firth) Burrafirth, Holmfirth, Firth of Forth|-foort, -voort, -voorde (voorde) Amersfoort, Vilvoorde, Eexter-Zandvoort, Zandvoorde, Papenvoort|-ford, -fordt, -vörde, -forde Herford,, Bremervörde,,, Osterforde, Lemförde, Buttforde, Bökenförde -forth,,,,,, 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, Sun 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,,, 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,,, Schüttwich, Oer-Erkenschwick,, Lowick,,,,,,,, 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 East GermanicSouthern FranceThe Goths left toponymic traces in France, particularly in the south, however towards Savoy and further north of the Alps it was the Burgundians who also spoke an East Germanic language.[24]
SpainIberia was mostly occupied by the Visigothic Kingdom from the 5th to the 8th century, in which the ruling classes spoke the East Germanic language Gothic. A limited number of Germanic-derived place-names survive in Spain.[25] Examples include:
North GermanicDenmarkProto-Norse is documented in Denmark as far back as 400 AD. As is general in Scandinavian countries, Denmark's toponymy is characterised by uniformity, as the country did not experience language changes during the period in which the names were given; thus the languages that gave rise to the oldest names, Proto-Germanic and Proto-Nordic, are the direct precursors of the languages Old Norse and Old Danish in which the later names were coined. NorwayThe vast majority of place-names in Norway were coined in the North Germanic language Norwegian. Republic of Ireland
Russia
NormandySee main article: article and Norman toponymy. The Duchy of Normandy in modern-day France had its roots in the early 10th century, when the Scandinavian Viking leader Rollo became a vassal of the King of the West Franks, Charles III and, in exchange for homage, acquired territory on the lower Seine. The area was subject to significant Scandinavian settlement. One legacy of such settlement is a body of place-names derived from the North Germanic language Old Norse. Such names include:
Both from Old Norse djuprdalr ("deep valley") (c.f. Deepdale, Yorks, England).
United KingdomEnglandIn the 9th and 10th centuries, some parts of Northern, Midland and Eastern England formed a part of the Danelaw, an area of England which formed a confederacy under the Kingdom of Denmark and was subject to Scandinavian settlement. As a result, place-names containing North Germanic elements are common in much of the former Danelaw, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire and the East Midland counties such as Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. North Germanic toponyms are also common in neighbouring parts of Durham, and in other areas of Norse influence, such as Cumberland and the Wirral Peninsula in Cheshire. They are rare in the West Midlands and most of southern England. Notable examples include:
All from Old Norse kirkju-bȳr ("church farm").
As with the "Kirby" group, all from kirkju-bȳr ("church farm").
ScotlandPlace-names derived from the North Germanic language Old Norse have been established in Scotland since around the 9th century. There is a plurality of such names in Orkney and Shetland as these remained a part of the Kingdom of Norway until the 15th century, and the Norse daughter language Norn remained in use there until c. 1850. Norse toponyms are also frequent in the Hebrides, the Highlands and south-west Scotland, but are uncommon in most other regions. Norse place-names in Scotland include:
Wales
West GermanicFranceFrance originates with the kingdom Francia of the 5th-9th centuries, which was established by the Germanic Franks. Some place-names in France originate in the Franks' West Germanic language Frankish (and the descendants of that language, Dutch and Flemish), and in other West Germanic languages.[30]
There are some place-names with Saxon or Old English etymologies in France (Normandy and Boulonnais), including:
Galicia, northern Portugal, western AsturiasSee main article: article and Germanic personal names in Galicia. The Suevi spoke a West Germanic language: an Elbe Germanic or a Weser–Rhine Germanic language. They left some toponyms and male personal names included or not in the Romance toponyms.
GermanySee main article: German toponymy. Most place-names in Germany are derived from the West Germanic language German. ItalyNorthern Italy was settled in the 6th century AD by the Lombards, whose West Germanic language Lombardic was used in the region until around the 11th century AD. Some places in Italy have names of Lombardic origin, including:
United KingdomEnglandThe overwhelming majority of place-names in most parts of England are derived, at least in their present form, from the West Germanic language Old English, after that language became established in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period (410–1066). For common Old English place-naming elements see the generic forms in place names in the British Isles. Some prominent place-names with common Old English naming suffixes are:
ScotlandMany place-names in parts of Scotland are derived from Old English or its descendant languages such as Scots. This is particularly the case in the south-eastern counties of Scotland such as Berwickshire, East Lothian and Roxburghshire, which were part of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria at its height in the early 8th century.[41] Prominent examples include:
Furthermore, there are a few place-names in Scotland derived from continental Germanic languages such as Dutch and German, mainly from the early modern period (16th-19th century):
WalesPlace-names in Wales are overwhelmingly derived from the Celtic language Welsh or its predecessors, but a small number are of Old English origin. Examples include:
See also
References] |