List of Latin place names in Iberia explained

This list includes countries and regions in the Iberian Peninsula (Latin Hispania)that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.

Background

Until the Modern Era, Latin was the common language for scholarship and mapmaking. During the 19th and 20th centuries, German scholars in particular have made significant contributions to the study of historical place names, or Ortsnamenkunde. These studies have, in turn, contributed to the study of genealogy. For genealogists and historians of pre-Modern Europe, knowing alternate names of places is vital to extracting information from both public and private records. Even specialists in this field point out, however, that the information can be easily taken out of context, since there is a great deal of repetition of place names throughout Europe; reliance purely on apparent connections should therefore be tempered with valid historical methodology.

Caveats and notes

Latin place names are not always exclusive to one place – for example, there were several Roman cities whose names began with Colonia and then a more descriptive term. During the Middle Ages, these were often shortened to just Colonia. One of these, Colonia Agrippinensis, retains the name today in the form of Cologne.

Early sources for Roman names show numerous variants and spellings of the Latin names.

The modern canonical name is listed first. Sources are listed chronologically. In general, only the earliest source is shown for each name, although many of the names are recorded in more than one of the sources. Where the source differs in spelling, or has other alternatives, these are listed following the source. As an aid to searching, variants are spelled completely, and listed in most likely chronology.

Superscripts indicate:

  1. Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.
  2. Latinized form of the Asian-derived name via Greek.
  3. Altered Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.

Portugal

Cities and towns

See also: Roman cities in Portugal.

Canonical Latin name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) – older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Coimbra
Chaves
Alenquer
Garvão, a parish of Ourique
Alvega
Aveiro
Baesuris, Esuri Castro Marim
west of Tavira
Alcácer do Sal
Braga
Bragança
(a Roman villa between Caetobriga and Malateca)
Tróia, near Setúbal
Vila Viçosa
Castelo Branco
Silves
Marialva Castle, near Mêda
Monte do Castelo, Almendra
Almofala, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Colmeal da Torre, a parish of Belmonte
S. Sebastião do Freixo – Golpilheira, Batalha
Condeixa-a-Nova, south of Coimbra (the inhabitants of Conímbriga fled to nearby Aeminium, the ancient name of Coimbra, in 468)
(location unknown in the Algarve or Baixo-Alentejo)
Elvas
Ebora, Ebora Cerealis, Liberalitas Julia Évora
Eburobritium, Eburobrittium Óbidos
Idanha-a-Velha
Coina, a parish of Barreiro
Guimaranis, Vimaranis Guimarães
Alvor
Lacobriga, Laccobriga Lagos
Lamego
Fiães, a parish of Santa Maria da Feira
Loriga, a parish of Seia
Marateca, a parish of Palmela
Mina de Aljustrel, central Alentejo
Santiago do Cacém
Alter do Chão
near Santarém
Myrtilis Iulia Mértola
Nabantia, Nabancia, Selleum, Sellium Tomar
Olisipo, Olisipo Felicitas Iulia, Felicitas Julia Olissipo, Ulyssipolis, Ulisseia Lisbon (Lisboa)
Faro
Pax Iulia, Pax Augusta, Colonia Civitas Pacensis Beja
Portalegre
Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto
Portimão
Alcácer do Sal
Santarém
Serpa
Sines
Alpedrinha, a parish of Fundão
Marnel, near Águeda
Freixo, Marco de Canaveses
Abrantes
Vinhais
Póvoa de Varzim
Aljustrel
Viseu

Rivers

Fl. Fluvius (Latin), R. Rio (Portuguese)

Roman nameModern name
Minius Fl. R. Minho
Limia Fl. R. Lima
Tamaca Fl. R. Tâmega
Durius Fl. R. Douro
Vacua Fl. R. Vouga
Monda Fl. R. Mondego
Tagus Fl. R. Tejo
Calipus Fl. R. Sado
Ana vel Anas Fl. R. Guadiana
Nabantius Fl. R. Nabão

Mountains

Roman nameModern name
Herminius Mons Serra da Estrela, its former name meant the Mountains of Hermes.
Lunae Mons Serra de Sintra, its former name meant the Mountains of the Moon.

Spain

Cities and towns

Canonical Latin name (source(s): variant(s)) English name (native language(s)) – older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Abdera Adra, Andalusia
Acinipo Ronda la Vieja, near Ronda, Andalusia
Allabo Alagon, Aragon
Arunda Ronda, Andalusia
Astorga, León
Bolonia, a village near Tarifa, Andalusia
Baetulo Badalona, Catalonia
Barcino Barcelona, Catalonia
Baria Villaricos, Andalusia
Beligio Belchite / Azuara / Azaila, Aragon
Bilbilis Calatayud, Aragon
Flavium Brigantium probably Betanzos, Galicia
Bursao Borja, Aragon
Caesaraugusta Saragossa, Aragon
Calagurris Calahorra, La Rioja
Cartagena
Clunia, Burgos
Colonia Victrix Iulia Lepida / C. V. I. Celsa Gelsa / Velilla de Ebro, Aragon
Alcalá de Henares, Madrid
Contrebia Belaisca Botorrita, Aragon
Corduba (2PG3) Córdoba
Dertusa Tortosa, Catalonia
Egara Terrassa, Catalonia
Emerita Augusta Mérida
Castro Urdiales, Cantabria
Gades Cádiz, Andalusia
Gerunda Girona, Catalonia
Granata Granada
Hispalis (2PG3) Seville
Iacca Jaca, Aragon
Ilerda Lleida, Catalonia
Iluro Mataró, Catalonia
Iria Flavia Iria Flavia, Galicia
Labitolosa La Puebla de Castro, Aragon
Legio VII Gemina León
Lucentum Alicante
Lugo, Galicia
MatriceMadrid
Malaca (2PG3) Málaga
Minorisa Manresa, Catalonia
Numantia Soria
Oiartzun, Basque Country
Pompaelo, Pampalona, Pampelona Pamplona, Navarre
Salmantica Salamanca
Segeda Belmonte de Gracián / Mara, Aragon
Tarraco Tarragona, Catalonia
Toletum Toledo
Tude, Tyde Tui, Galicia
Turiaso Tarazona, Aragon
Almería, Andalusia
Valentia Valencia
Virgis Berja

See also

References

In order of likely publication:

External links