List of Latin place names in Continental Europe
About 9 pages (2,653 words)
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continental European countries and regions that were part of the Roman Empire , or that were given Latin place names in historical references .
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:
Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.
Latinized form of the Asian-derived name via Greek.
Altered Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.
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
Vindóbona, Vienna (Austriae)
Vienna (Wien )
Virunum
Maria Saal - Maria in Solio, (Gospa Sveta)
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 (nl ), Audenarde (fr )
Alostum[2]
Aalst (nl ), Alost (fr )
Anderlacum
Anderlecht
Antverpia
Antwerp (en ), Antwerpen (nl ), Anvers (fr )
Atuatuca Tungrorum
Tongeren (nl )
Brugae
Bruges (fr ), Brugge (nl )
Bruxella, Bruxellae
Brussels (en ), Brussel (nl ), Bruxelles (fr )
Cortracum[3]
Kortrijk (nl ), Courtrai (fr )
Damma, Dammum
Damme (nl )
Furna[4]
Veurne (nl )
Gandavum[5]
Ghent , Gent (nl ), Gand (fr )
Leodium
Liège (fr ), Luik (nl ), Lüttich (de )
Rothnacum
Ronse (nl )
Tamasiacum, Tamisiacum, Temsica
Temse (nl ), Tamise (fr )
Teneramonda[6]
Dendermonde (nl )
Tornacum
Tournai (fr ), Doornik (nl )
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)
Aros
Århus
Hafnia
Copenhagen (København )
Fredericia
Fredericia
Wibergis
Viborg
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)
Pernavia
Pärnu
Revalia
Tallinn
Tharbata
Tartu
Cities and towns in Finland
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)
Adiacium
Ajaccio
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
Briva Isara
Pontoise
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
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 , Rhineland-Palatinate
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, Wormatia
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 , Saxony
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 )
Northusia
Nordhausen
Novaesium, Novensium
Neuss , North Rhine-Westphalia
Noviomagus Nemetum (GOL: Augusta Nemetum, Nemetis, Nemodona, Spira, Spiratia, Sphira, Spyrea)Speyer - Spires, Rhineland-Palatinate
Noviomagus Trevirorum (NLU; GOL: Augusta Trevirorum, Treviris, Treberis)Trier - Treves
Patavia, Castra Batava
Passau
Ratisbona, Radaspona
Regensburg - Ratisbon, Bavaria
Rigomagus
Remagen , North Rhine-Westphalia
Rostochium (Rhodopolis)
Rostock
Stutgardia, Stuogardia
Stuttgart
Tremonia
Dortmund , North Rhine-Westphalia
Tubinga
Tübingen
Tulpiacum, Tolbiacum
Zülpich - Tolbiac, North Rhine-Westphalia
Vetera, Colonia Ulpia Traiana
Xanten
Cities and towns in Hungary
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bartfa
Bardejov
Forum Dominarum
Bátovce
Semnichia
Banská Štiavnica
Celemantia
Iža
Comaromium
Komárno
Kismarkinum, Forum Caseorum
Kežmarok
Crempnichia
Kremnica
Leuchovia
Levoča
Prividia
Prievidza
Iglovia, Nova Villa
Spišská Nová Ves
Suburbium, Villa Sub Castro
Spišské Vlachy
Lublovia
Stará Ľubovňa
Divinium
Devín
Villa Theutonicalis
Poprad
Eperiessinum, Fragopolis
Prešov
Gerulata
Rusovce , Bratislava
Laugaricio
Trenčín
Tyrnavia
Trnava
Neosolium
Banská Bystrica
Posonium, Wratisslaburgium
Bratislava
Veterosolium, Vetusolium, Solium
Zvolen
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
Delisboa
Delsbo
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
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
Cities and towns in Ukraine
References In order of likely publication:
PNH : Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus), Naturalis Historia PG : Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus), Geographia 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 .
See also
External links
View More Summaries on List of Latin place names in Continental Europe
