Toponymic in Catalonia

Toponymic in Europe

Toponymic in iberian peninsula

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The toponyms of proto-Basque origin distributed by Europe are one of the few ways that can leave us evidence of the existence of a substratum likely related with the man of cro-magnon. From here we will focus on it from two perspective: some key words that make reference to basic geographical accidents, and some zones where these toponyms seem to concentrate.

Paraules clau

Haran / Aran (Valley): Basque current word that means "Valley". Might also make reference to "region", "piece of land". Sometimes Celtic etymology is argued with. It could be a loan of a tongue to the other. The big representative is the Vall D'aran, in the pirineus.

Arundel, in England. Arendal, in Norway and Sweden. Several Arntal, in Germany and Tirol. Val d'Héréns, in Switzerland. Aran islands, in Ireland

In Germany there are numerous examples: Arnach, Arnsberg, Arnstern, Arensburg, Ahrensburg. It is also the case of Ohrenbach im Odenwald that long ago was called Aranbach. Mohrenstein, before Marnstein (in Arnstein).

Ibai (river) / Ibar ("valley with river" or "near river") it is the word that gives name to the Ebre (Iberian)

Ibar, inKosovo. Ebros, inTurquey.

Germany. Ebrach. Seven places with the name of Ebersberg, Nou Ebersdorf and sixteen Ebersbach. Eighty places in total that start for "eber" from Eberau until Ebertsheim. Oberaula in Hessen. Exists an Ibra.

France: Ebréon, Ibarrolle, Evrune, Ivry, Ivors, Averdon, Avricourt, Avrolle, Yvré

In Austria the river Ybbs (long ago Ibisa)

Is: "Water": It turns up in many Basque words, although it is not used separately, which speaks us about its antique. For example, the word Izokin "salmon" Iz - water; -kin - food. This is an important word, then speaks us about a loan of the Basque in an ancient Celtic "esok". Many European rivers start, or their ancient name starts for "is". Is calculated that some 200 from Norway as far as Italy, from Spain until Russia, from Great Britain until the Balkans:

Danube, in the low parts of his course, "Istar"

Iselfjorden in Norway. Isa in Italia. Isainka in Russia. Ieslà in Lithuania. Jizera in the Cesk republik. Ijssel in the Netherlands. Iskar, in the black Sea. Isar in Bavaria. Ijseel, affluent of the Rin. Saar. Iseer: France. Ischl in Centreeuropa. Eisack

Ur: Water: Ur in current Basque. Present to many rivers: Urula (Norway), Irwell (Great Britain), Ourthe (Belgium), Auerbach, Urbach, Aurach (Germany), Irrsee (Austria), Aroffe - long ago Urofia -, Huriel (Francia), Urura, Urola (Spain), Urwis (Polonia), Ura (Russia) Ural.

Selfjorden a Noruega. Isa a Italia. Isainka a Rússia. Ieslà a Lituània. Jizera a la República Txeca. Ijssel als Països Baixos. Iskar, al Mar negre. Isar a Bavaria. Ijseel, afluent del Rin. Saar. Iseer: França. Ischl a Centreeuropa. Eisack

Zones of toponyms accumulation

  Artanavoz: arta= rock (harkaitz), naba=plain, hotz=cold. Ayas: aia=slope. (There is a place in the Basque country that is called aia) as= of atrás (Aosta Valley). Arbelei= arbel=slate (arbel), ei=punta (hegi). Arieta: Arrieta (place of stones). Arroil: gorge (equal in Basque). Arrobi, Arpe, Aran, Arpeta: "nest of eagle" (arrano habi), "under the rock", "valley" y "Valley under the rock" respectively. Gane: peak (equal in Basque). Lesache, Lessona, Lezetta: abys (lezea, Lezona, lezeta in Basque) Loy: lohi (mud, humite land in Basque) Orio: as the Gipuzkoan river. Oyace: Ohiane (jungle). Oren= orein (stag)

Aiarnola, Arlas, Aralalta, Cima of Gana Bianca (gana=pick in Basque), Ormea (wall in Basque) etc, are alpine mountains.

There are many valleys with the ending -asca, which in suletin (zuberotarra) means valley: Val di Anzasca, Val di Verzasca, etc.

Liguria (zone of Genova, ancient people conquered by Rome in 3rd century), in the arounds of Savona and the north part (near Génova): Aiona, Albissola, Ardola, Berri, Carcare, Olano, Orba, Ormea (wall), Savona, Varezze,Venasca. Benasco

Ladinia: (near the Tirol y Trento): Agordo, Andraz, Arabba, Ardo, Arta, Ega, Gardena, Gares, Lasa (Tirol), Maya, Mendola (Trentino), Padola etc. River Ubaye, the Ega in Ladinia, The lake Bai de Dones.

Etruria (among the rivers Como and Tíber),

Oscia Ancient people conquered by the Romans, of the one that does not know almost anything.

North of the Piamont, Lombardia and Aosta in Italia (zone of Milan and to the North ) The Ticino: Azasca, Andrate, Aranno, Artore, Arbedo, Arese, Arizzano, Arona, Arola, Arrobio, Arzo, Ascona, Balzola, Barasso, Bettola, Biasca, Gabiola, Gauna, Gazza, Gordola, Landarenca, Lesa, Oria, Ossola, Zubiena. The rivers Lambro (fog in Basque) and Olona (zone of millet).

In Lombardia there are many names finished in "ate", usual in the Basque country, which means "door", "step": Albizzate, Alzate, Lazate, Velate, Lurate, Lainate, Azzate. Often they are copied with the of the Basque country. There are more than 200 in 100 kilòmetres

Rest of Italy: Less frequent, but worthy of study, also.

Beaschi (Pavia), Benéche, (The Chapelle), Venasque (Vaucluse), Ausona, Liberi (Nápoles y Campania), Orria (Salermo), Anzi (Potenza), Abriola (Potenza), Banzi (Potenza)

Caucas: In Geòrgia: Gorbeya (like the mountain among Bizkaia and Alaba). Armenia: the mountain Ararat (like the saw Aralar among Alaba, Gipuzkoa and Navarra) or Gora (mountain in several languages of the zone, "above" or "cime" in Basque).

British islands: Endings in "-bars" or "-berri"; "Landa". The river Gara (Ireland). The mining zones of Scotland and ireland of Carrick (Karr"=stone).

Area beréber: Finishes in "-neighborhood": Sugabarri, Zuchabbarri (Ptolomeo) or Succbar (Plinio). With some rael: "-Gar)a" (altitude): Garb, Garian, Gardaya