Toponymy is the study of place names, specifically their origin. Since this is a Map Monday feature, toponymy seems like a relevant topic.
Wanderlust is a core characteristic of humans. While all of us ultimately trace our origins to Africa, there have been many stops along the way. An earlier Map Monday featured the likely migration of humans out of Africa. Whether searching for better hunting grounds, religious freedom, or economic opportunity, humans love to relocate. However, we rarely forget where we are from. This nostalgia for ‘home’ is often reflected in the names of our new abode. In the US, names like New England, New York, and New Berlin, harken to the origins of the settlers.
Clash of Cultures
Over the last several thousand years, most migrating humans moved to land occupied by other humans. While there was some cultural blending between the natives and the newcomers, in most cases things did not go well for the natives. Examples include the movement of ‘barbarian’ tribes into the Roman Empire and of course Europeans into North America. In the latter case, the newly arriving Europeans borrowed many names from Native Americans. Almost half of US states (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, etc.) come from Native Americans.
Cultural references offer another common source for place names. These can be religious. Examples include Los Angeles or Saint Louis. Other possibilities include places from myth or legend. Given the founding fathers’ obsession with ancient Greece and Rome, it’s not surprising that there are more than two dozen places named Athens and more than a dozen Romes.
Famous People
Names of famous or influential people also figure prominently. The top three in the US are George Washington (94), Benjamin Franklin (89), and Abraham Lincoln (70). My postal address of Pittsford, NY, meets multiple naming criteria. The original founder named the village after his home in Pittsford, VT. In turn, that town was named for William Pitt the Elder, an 18th century British prime minister. My children are also connected to Pitt the Elder – they were all born in Pittsburgh, PA.
Names can also be descriptive or even deceptive. Two of our most visited national parks, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley meet the former. While Erik the Red’s choice of Greenland might be the highwater mark for deceptive naming. A previous Map Monday post highlights the funniest place name in each US state.
Today’s map comes courtesy of Eben Diskin. It’s a road trip hitting all the ‘Springfields’ in the continental US. So if you’ve ever wanted to find Homer Simpson, here’s your chance.
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of toponymy. As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to pay the bills: While I never conciously thought about toponymy, I did create a map for my series the Warders. If you’re interested in a James Bond-like thriller in a fantasy setting, click here for more information. Or find links to purchase books here.
You have the most interesting maps….and the commentary that goes with them. I always enjoy checking Maps out on Monday morning. I also very much like your website. Clean and easy to navigate.
Rick………….
I’m glad you enjoy the Map Monday feature. It’s gotten a lot easier to write interesting posts now that I’ve switched to just the first Monday of the month. I also appreciate your feedback on the website. I recently simplified the menu structure so it would be easier to navigate with smaller screens.