List of Latin place names in Continental Europe

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Latin Place Names
by country
Africa
Asia
Europe Balkans Continental Iberia Italy North Atlantic islands
by type
Cities
Countries
Islands
Lakes
Mountains
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This list includes continental European countries and regions that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.

Contents 1 Background 2 Caveats and notes 3 Cities and towns in Austria 4 Cities and towns in Belgium 5 Cities and towns in the Czech Republic 6 Cities and towns in Denmark 7 Cities and towns in Estonia 8 Cities and towns in Finland 9 Cities and towns in France 10 Cities and towns in Germany 11 Cities and towns in Hungary 12 Cities and towns in Latvia 13 Cities and towns in Malta 14 Cities and towns in Monaco 15 Cities and towns in Netherlands 16 Cities and towns in Norway 17 Cities and towns in Poland 18 Cities and towns in Russia 19 Cities and towns in Slovakia 20 Cities and towns in Sweden 21 Cities and towns in Switzerland 22 Cities and towns in Ukraine 23 References 24 See also 25 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Cities and towns in Austria

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Brigantium, Brigantia	Bregenz
Carnuntum	Deutsch-Altenburg - Petronell
not known	Klagenfurt - Celovec
Iuenna	Jaunstein - Podjuna
Iuvavum	Salzburg
Lentia	Linz
Noreia	Neumarkt in der Steiermark
Oenipons	Innsbruck
Ovilava	Wels
Salisburgium, Iuvavia	Salzburg
Veldidena	Wilten
Vindobona, Vienna (Austriae)	Vienna (Wien)
Virunum	Maria Saal - Maria in Solio, (Gospa Sveta)

[edit] Cities and towns in Belgium

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Aldenarda[1]	Oudenaarde Audenarde
Alostum[2]	Aalst
Anderlacum	Anderlecht
Atuatuca Tungrorum	Tongeren
Brugae	Bruges
Bruxella, Bruxellae	Brussels
Cortracum[3]	Kortrijk Courtrai
Damma, Dammum	Damme
Furna[4]	Veurne
Gandavum[5]	Ghent
Leodium	Liège
Teneramonda[6]	Dendermonde
Tornacum	Tournai (fr) - Doornik (nl)

[edit] Cities and towns in the Czech Republic

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Brunna	Brno
Eburum, Olomutium, Olomucium	Olomouc
Oppavia	Opava
Pilsenum, Pilsna	Plzeň
Praga	Prague (Praha)
Znoimium	Znojmo

[edit] Cities and towns in Denmark

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Hafnia	Copenhagen (København)

[edit] Cities and towns in Estonia

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Revalia	Tallinn
Tharbata	Tartu

[edit] Cities and towns in Finland

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Aboa	Turku (Åbo)
Arctopolis	Pori (Björneborg)
Arx Savonum	Savonlinna (Nyslott)
Arx Tavastiae, Tavasteburgum	Hämeenlinna (Tavastehus)
Borgoa	Porvoo (Borgå)
Brahestadium	Raahe (Brahestad)
Cajaneburgum	Kajaani (Kajana)
Carolina Vetus	Kokkola (Karleby)
Christinea	Kristiinankaupunki (Kristinestad)
Fredericia	Hamina (Fredrikshamn)
Helsinkium	Helsinki (Helsingfors)
Michaelia	Mikkeli (St. Michel)
Neo-Carolina	Uusikaarlepyy (Nykarleby)
Neostadium	Uusikaupunki (Nystad)
Ostia Carelorum	Joensuu
Portus Mariae	Maarianhamina (Mariehamn)
Raumoa	Rauma (Raumo)
Sala	Salo
Tammerforsia	Tampere (Tammerfors)
Tornea	Tornio (Torneå)
Uloa	Oulu (Uleåborg)
Vallis Gratiae	Naantali (Nådendal)
Vantania	Vantaa (Vanda)
Vasa	Vaasa (Vasa)

[edit] Cities and towns in France

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Alberti campus	Champaubert
Aquae Sextiae	Aix-en-Provence
Arelate	Arles
Argentoratum	Strasbourg
Arpajonum, Arpajoni castrum, Arpacona	Arpajon, Paris
Atrebatum	Arras, Pas-de-Calais
S. Audoeni fanum, villa od. domus	Saint-Ouen, Paris
Augusta Argentorate	Strasbourg
Augustodurum, Bajocae, Bajocassium civitas	Bayeux
Aureliani	Orléans
Avenio	Avignon
Belna	Beaune
Brestum, Brestia, Brivates Portis	Brest
Bononia, Gesoriacum	Boulogne-sur-Mer
Burdigala	Bordeaux
Catalaunum, Catelaunorum	Chalons-sur-Marne
Crisenaria	Cressy
Damovilla	Damville
Dinia, Diniensium civitas	Digne-les-Bains, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Divio	Dijon
Flavia (GOL: Flaviacum)	Saint-Germer-de-Fly, Oise
Flaviniacum (GOL: Flaviacum)	Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or
Glanum	Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône
Lugdunum	Lyon
Lugdunum Convenarum	Saint Bertrand de Comminges
Lutetia	Paris
Massilia	Marseille
Medicinum	Mézin, Lot-et-Garonne
Mediolanum Aulercorum	Evreux
Mediolanum Santonum	Saintes
Narbo Martius, Narbonensis	Narbonne, Aude
Nemausus	Nîmes
Nicaea, Nicia	Nice
Noviodunum	Soissons
Noviomagus Lexoviorum (GOL: Lexovium)	Lisieux, Calvados
Noviomagus Veromanduorum (GOL: Noviomium, Noviomense palatium, Noviomum, Novionum)	Noyon, Oise
Novio Rito (GOL: Niortum, Novirogus, Nyrax)	Niort, Deux-Sèvres
Ramboletium	Rambouillet
Rotomagus	Rouen
Samarobriva	Amiens
Spinetum, Spinogelum, Spinoilum, Espinolum	Épinay-sur-Orge, Paris
Tolosa	Toulouse
Turoni, Metropolis civitas Turonum, Turonorum, Augusta Turonum, T(h)oronus, Turonica civitas, Caesarodunum	Tours
Vesontio	Besançon
Vienna Allobrogium	Vienne, Isére
Viennavicus	Vienne-en-Val, Loiret
Vierium	Vihiers, Maine-et-Loire

[edit] Cities and towns in Germany

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
(Colonia Claudia) Ara Agrippinensium	Cologne (Köln), North Rhine-Westphalia
Aqua Villae	Badenweiler
Aquisgrana, Aquis Granum, Aquae Grani, Aquensis urbs, Granis aquae	Aachen, (French Aix-la-Chapelle), North Rhine-Westphalia
Antunnacum	Andernach, Rheinland-Pfalz
Arae Flaviae	Rottweil
Asopus	Aspe
Assindria	Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Augusta Vindelicorum	Augsburg
Aurelia Aquensi	Baden-Baden
Badena civitas	Baden
Batavis, Castra Batavorum, Castra Batava	Passau
Berolinum	Berlin
Bonna	Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
Borbetomagus	Worms
Brema	Bremen
Brunsvicum	Brunswick (Braunschweig)
Cambodunum	Kempten, North Rhine-Westphalia
Castra Regina, Ratisbona	Regensburg
Castrum Novaesium	Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia
Chemnitium, Chemnicium	Chemnitz
Cignavia, Cignea, Cygnea, Cynavia	Zwickau
Clivia	Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia
Colonia Agrippina, Colonia Agrippinensis	Cologne (Köln), North Rhine-Westphalia
Colonia Ulpia Traiana, Vetera	Xanten, North Rhine-Westphalia
(Castellum apud) Confluentes	Koblenz
Constantia	Konstanz - Constance
Cruciniacum	Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Dresda	Dresden
Emetha, Amuthon, Embda, Emda, Embden	Emden, East Frisia
Erfordia, Erphesfurt	Erfurt, Thuringia
Esilinga, Ezelinga, Ezzilinga	Eßlingen
Francofortum ad Moenum	Frankfurt am Main
Friburgum Brisgoviae	Freiburg im Breisgau
Goettinga	Göttingen
Gorlicium	Görlitz, near Zgorzelec, Poland
Goslaria	Goslar, Lower Saxony
Hale Suevice	Schwäbisch Hall - Hall in Schwaben, Baden-Württemberg
Hamburgum, Hamburgium, Hammonia	Hamburg
Hannovera	Hanover (Hannover)
Herbipolis	Würzburg
Hildanus	Hilden
Iuliacum	Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia
Lauriacum	Lorch
Lindaugia, Lindavia	Lindau
Lipsia	Leipzig
Locoritum	Lohr, Bavaria
Lubica (GOL: Lubicana, Lubeca, Lubecum, Lubacovia, Lybichi)	Lübeck - Lubeke, Schleswig-Holstein
Magdeburgum	Magdeburg
Misnia (GOL: Misnensis marchia)	Meissen, Saxony
Moguncia, Moguntia, Moguntiacum, Mogontiacum	Mainz
Monachium, Monacum	Munich (München)
Monasterium in Eifel	Bad Münstereifel
Monasterium Westphaliae	Münster
Norimberga	Nuremberg (Nürnberg)
Novaesium, Novensium	Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia
Noviomagus Nemetum (GOL: Augusta Nemetum, Nemetis, Nemodona, Spira, Spiratia, Sphira, Spyrea)	Speyer - Spires, Rheinland-Pfalz
Noviomagus Trevirorum (NLU; GOL: Augusta Trevirorum, Treviris, Treberis)	Trier - Treves
Patavia, Castra Batava	Passau
Ratisbona, Radaspona	Regensburg - Ratisbon, Bavaria
Rigomagus	Remagen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Stutgardia, Stuogardia	Stuttgart
Tremonia	Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
Tubinga	Tübingen
Tulpiacum, Tolbiacum	Zülpich - Tolbiac, North Rhine-Westphalia
Vetera, Colonia Ulpia Traiana	Xanten
Wormatia	Worms

[edit] Cities and towns in Hungary

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Ad Flexum	Mosonmagyaróvár
Agria (Medieval Latin)	Eger
Alba Regia	Székesfehérvár
Alisca	Szekszárd
Altinum	Kölked
Annamatia	Baracs
Aquincum	Budapest (Óbuda)
Arrabona	Győr
Brigetio	Komárom - Szőny
Budapestum, Budapestinum, Buda Vetus (Medieval Latin)	Budapest
Caesariana	Baláca
Campona	Budapest (Nagytétény)
Cirpi	Dunabogdány
Contra-Aquincum	Budapest (Pest)
Contra Constantiam	Dunakeszi
Gorsium, Herculia	Tác
Intercisa	Dunaújváros
Lussonium	Dunakömlőd
Matrica	Százhalombatta
Mursella	Mórichida
Partiscum	Szeged
Quadrata	Lébény
Sala	Zalalövő
Savaria	Szombathely
Scarbantia	Sopron
Solva	Esztergom
Strigonium (Medieval Latin)	Esztergom
Sopianae	Pécs
Tricciana	Ságvár
Valcum	Fenékpuszta
Vetus Salina	Adony
Ulcisia Castra	Szentendre

[edit] Cities and towns in Latvia

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Rugensis civitas	Riga

[edit] Cities and towns in Malta

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Civitas Victoriosa	Birgu
Melita, Notabilis	Mdina

[edit] Cities and towns in Monaco

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Monaecum (GOL: Monoecum, Portus Herculis Monoeci)	Monaco

[edit] Cities and towns in Netherlands

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Ad Duodecimum	unknown location
Albaniana	Alphen aan den Rijn
Amivadum	Amersfoort
Amstelodamum	Amsterdam
Arenacum	Arnhem
Blariacum	Blerick
Carvium	Herwen-De Bijland
Carvo	Kesteren
Caspingio	unknown location
Castra Herculis	Arnhem-Meinerswijk
Ceuclum	Cuijk
Coriovallum	Heerlen
Daventria	Deventer
Eindovia	Eindhoven
Elenio	Naaldwijk
Fectio	Vechten
Flevum	Velsen
Forum Hadriani	Voorburg
Ganuenta	Colijnsplaat
Grinnes	Rossum
Horgana	Hargen
Laurium, Laurum	Woerden
Lefevanum	Wijk bij Duurstede
Lugdunum, Lugdunum Batavorum	Katwijk, Brittenburg
Matilo	Leiden-Roomburg
Mariaucum	Maurik
Mosae Traiectum	Maastricht
Municipium Aelium Cananefatum	Voorburg (MAC)
Nigrum Pullum	Zwammerdam
Praetorium Agrippina	Valkenburg (South Holland) (Zuid-Holland)
Ruraemunde	Roermond
Sablones	Venlo
Silva Ducis	Den Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch)
Tablis	unknown location
Traiectum	Utrecht
Traiectum ad Mosam	Maastricht
Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum (HLU; GOL: Batavodurum, Niumagum, Niwimagum, Neumaia)	Nijmegen - Neumagen - Nimwegan, Gelderland
Venlonum	Venlo
Vienna (Nederlandia), Vigenna	Vianen
Vadae	Wageningen

[edit] Cities and towns in Norway

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Osloensis	Oslo
Bergensis	Bergen
Hamarensis	Hamar

[edit] Cities and towns in Poland

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Bydgostia	Bydgoszcz
Calisia	Kalisz
Cervimontium, Mons Cervi (adj. cervimontanus, hirschbergensis)	Jelenia Góra
Cracovia	Kraków
Culmen	Chełmno
Elbinga, Elbingus, Elbinca, Elbangum, Elbingense castrum	Elbląg
Gedania, Gedanum, Dantiscum	Gdańsk
Ostrovia	Ostrów, Ostrów Wielkopolski
Posnania, Poznania	Poznań
Resovia	Rzeszów
Sandomir	Sandomierz
Siradia	Sieradz
Stargardia	Stargard Szczeciński
Thorunium	Toruń
Varsovia, Varsavia	Warsaw (Warszawa)
Vratislavia, Wratislavia	Wrocław

[edit] Cities and towns in Russia

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Archangelopolis (GOL: S. Michaeli Archangeli fanum, Michaelopolis)	Archangelsk
Asovia (GOL: Assovium; HLU: Tanais)	Azov
Astrachan (HLU: Astrachanum)	Astrachan
Casan, Cazan (GOL: Casanum, Kazanum)	Kazan
Iaroslavia (GOL: Jereslavia)	Yaroslavl
Moscua, Mosqua, Moscovia (HLU: Moscha)	Moscow
Novogardia Inferior	Nizhny Novgorod
Novogardia Magna	Veliky Novgorod
Permia	Perm
Petropolis, Petroburgum (GOL: St. Petri fanum)	Saint Petersburg
Pscovia	Pskov
Regiomontium (GOL: Regiomontum, Regalis, Regius)	Kaliningrad, Königsberg
Resan, Rezan (GOL: Rhezania; HLU: Rezana)	Ryazan
Rostovia	Rostov
Smolenscum (GOL: Smolska)	Smolensk
Tueria (GOL: Tuera, Twera)	Tver
Volodimiria	Vladimir
Viatcia	Kirov, Vyatka
Viburga, Viburgum Careliorum (GOL: Viburgus)	Vyborg

[edit] Cities and towns in Slovakia

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Cassovia	Košice
Celemantia	Iža
Comaromium	Komárno
Divinium	Devín, Bratislava
Eperiessinum, Fragopolis	Prešov
Gerulata	Rusovce, Bratislava
Laugaricio	Trenčín
Neosolium	Banská Bystrica
Posonium, Wratisslaburgium	Bratislava
Veterosolium, Vetusolium	Zvolen

[edit] Cities and towns in Sweden

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Amalia	Åmål
Arosia	Västerås
Boërosia	Borås
Calmaria	Kalmar
Caroli Corona	Karlskrona
Carolina Vetus	Gamla Karleby
Christinae portus	Kristinehamn
Christiania	Kristianstad
Cimbrorum portus	Simrishamn
Copinga	Köping
Coronia	Landskrona
Dalecarlius	Dalälven
Eckesioea, Ecksium	Eksjö
Encopia	Enköping
Falcopia	Falköping
Gevalia	Gävle
Gothia	Gothenburg (Göteborg)
Halmostadium	Halmstad
Hiovia	Hjo
Holmia, Stockholmia	Stockholm
Hudvicovaldum	Hudiksvall
Iuncopia	Jönköping
Lagaholmia	Laholm
Lidcopia	Lidköping
Lincopia	Linköping
Lindesberga, Linda	Lindesberg
Lula	Luleå
Lunda	Lund
Malmogia	Malmö
Medicorum villa	Medevibrunn
Nicopia	Nyköping
Norcopia	Norrköping
Orebrogia	Örebro
Oresundae	Öresund
Pax Mariae	Mariefred
Pitovia	Piteå
Schedina	Skövde
Stenbrovium	Stenbro
Stocholmia, Holmia	Stockholm
Sudercopia	Söderköping
Telga	Tälje
Upsala	Uppsala
Uraniburgum	Uranienborg
Urbs Mariae	Mariestad
Vadstenium	Vadstena
Vemmaria, Wemmaria	Vimmerby
Vexionia	Växjö
Visingsburgum, Wisingsburgum	Visingsborg
Ystadium, Istadium, Ustadium	Ystad

[edit] Cities and towns in Switzerland

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Acaunum, Agaunum	Saint Maurice, Valais
Ad Fines	Pfyn, Thurgau
Aquae Helveticae	Baden, Aargau
Arbor Felix	Arbon, Thurgau
Augusta Raurica	Kaiseraugst (Augst)
Aventicum	Avenches, Vaud
Basilia, Basilea	Basel
Berna	Bern
Brienzola	Brienz, Bern
Brunntrudum, Bruntraut	Pruntrut
Curia	Chur, Graubünden
Eburodunum	Yverdon-les-Bains, Vaud
Ezelinga, Esselinga	Esseling, Zürich
Genava	Geneva
Lousonna	Lausanne, Vaud
Morgiis	Morges
Noviodunum (Colonia Iulia Equestris)	Nyon, Vaud
Octodurum	Martigny, Valais
Solodurum/Salodurum	Solothurn
Suitia	Schwyz
Tugium	Zug
Turicum	Zürich
Urba	Orbe, Vaud
Vibiscum	Vevey, Vaud
Vindonissa	Windisch, Aargau
Vitudurum	Winterthur, Canton of Zürich

[edit] Cities and towns in Ukraine

Canonical Latin Name (source(s): variant(s))	English Name (native language(s)) - older name(s), (other language(s)), location(s)
Chiovia, Kiovia	Kiev
Leopolis	Lviv
Novogardia Severiae	Novhorod-Siverskyi
Pereaslavia	Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi

[edit] References

In order of likely publication:

• PNH: Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus), Naturalis Historia; book "PNH" chapter (that is, "37PNH81" instead of the usual "N.H.xxxvii.81").

• PG: Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus), Geographia; book "PG" chapter (that is, "2PG3" instead of the usual "II.3"). Ptolemy wrote in Greek, so names are transliterated back into Latin to reveal the original form.

• HLU: Hofmann, Johann Jacob (1635-1706): Lexicon Universale

• GOL: The standard reference to Latin placenames, with their modern equivalents, is Dr. J. G. Th. Graesse, Orbis Latinus : Lexikon lateinischer geographischer Namen des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit (1909), an exhaustive work of meticulous German scholarship that is available on-line. To use it, one must understand German names of countries, as they were in 1909. The original was re-edited and expanded in a multi-volume edition in 1972.

[edit] See also

• Chemical elements named after places (several element names employ Latin place names)

[edit] External links

• Graesse, Orbis Latinus
• Hofmann: Lexicon Universale
• Place Names of Europe
• Pliny the Elder: the Natural History
• Ptolemy: the Geography