List of Latin place names in Continental Europe, Ireland and Scandinavia
This list includes European countries and regions that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references. As a large portion of the latter were only created during the Middle Ages, often based on scholarly etiology, this is not to be confused with a list of the actual names modern regions and settlements bore during the classical era.
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 : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Brigantium, Brigantia | Bregenz |
Carnuntum | Bad Deutsch-Altenburg / Petronell |
Chremisa | Krems |
Idunum | Judenburg |
Iuenna | Jaunstein -, Völkermarkt |
Iuvavum, Iuvavia, Salisburgum | Salzburg |
Lentia | Linz |
Noreia | Neumarkt in der Steiermark |
Oenipons | Innsbruck |
Ovilava | Wels |
Veldidena | Wilten |
Vindóbona, Vienna | Vienna |
Virunum, Maria in Solio | Maria Saal - |
Cities and towns in Belgium
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Aldenarda | Oudenaarde, Audenarde |
Alostum | Aalst, Alost |
Anderlacum | Anderlecht |
Antverpia | Antwerp, Antwerpen, Anvers |
Atuatuca Tungrorum | Tongeren, Tongres |
Brugae | Bruges, Brugge |
Bruxella, Bruxellae | Brussels, Brussel, Bruxelles |
Cortoriacum, Cortracum | Kortrijk, Courtrai |
Damma, Dammum | Damme |
Furna | Veurne |
Gandavum | Ghent, Gent, Gand |
Leodium | Liège, Luik, Lüttich |
Lovanium | Leuven, Louvain |
Orolaunum | Arlon, Aarlen |
Rothnacum | Ronse, Renaix |
Tamasiacum, Tamisiacum, Temsica | Temse, Tamise |
Teneramonda | Dendermonde |
Tornacum | Tournai, Doornik |
Viroviacum, Virovino | Wervik, Wervicq |
Cities and towns in the [Czech Republic]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Alta Muta | Vysoké Mýto |
Beneschovium | Benešov |
Broda Bohemica | Český Brod |
Brunna | Brno |
Budovisium | České Budějovice |
Carnovia | Krnov |
Colonia | Kolín |
Eburum, Olomutium, Olomucium | Olomouc |
Luna | Louny |
Nova domus | Jindřichův Hradec |
Oppavia | Opava |
Ostravia | Ostrava |
Pilsenum, Pilsna | Plzeň |
Praga | Prague |
Racona | Rakovník |
Vallis Gaudiorum | Bruntál |
Verona | Beroun |
Znoimium | Znojmo |
Cities and towns in Denmark
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Arus, Arhus | Århus |
Fredericia | Fredericia |
Hafnia | Copenhagen |
Othonia | Odense |
Sora | Sorø |
Wibergis | Viborg |
Cities and towns in [Estonia]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Pernavia | Pärnu |
Revalia | Tallinn |
Tharbata | Tartu |
Cities and towns in Finland
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Aboa | Turku - |
Arctopolis | Pori - |
Arx Savonum | Savonlinna - |
Arx Tavastiae, Tavasteburgum | Hämeenlinna - |
Borgoa | Porvoo - |
Brahestadium | Raahe - |
Cajaneburgum | Kajaani - |
Carolina Vetus | Kokkola - |
Christinea | Kristinestad - |
Espo | Espoo - |
Fredericia | Hamina - |
Granivicus | Jyväskylä |
Helsinkium, Helsingia | Helsinki - |
Michaelia | Mikkeli - |
Neo-Carolina | Nykarleby - |
Neostadium | Uusikaupunki - |
Ostia Carelorum | Joensuu |
Portus Mariae | Mariehamn - |
Raumoa | Rauma - |
Sala | Salo |
Tammerforsia | Tampere - |
Tornea | Tornio - |
Uloa | Oulu - |
Vallis Gratiae | Naantali - |
Vantania | Vantaa - |
Vasa | Vaasa - |
Cities and towns in France
See also: :Category:Roman towns and cities in France andCanonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Adiacium | Ajaccio |
Alberti campus | Champaubert |
Andematunnum, Lugdunum, Lingones | Langres |
Aquae Sextiae | Aix-en-Provence |
Antissiodorum, Autesiodorum | Auxerre |
Arelate, Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum | Arles - |
Argentoratum | Strasbourg |
Arpajonum, Arpajoni castrum, Arpacona | Arpajon, Paris |
Atrebatum | Arras, Pas-de-Calais |
Augusta Argentorate | Strasbourg |
Augustobona Tricassium, Tricassae | Troyes |
Augustodurum, Bajocae, Bajocassium civitas | Bayeux |
Augustodunum | Autun |
Aurelianum | Orléans |
Autricum, civitas Carnutum, Carnutes | Chartres |
Avenio | Avignon |
Belna | Beaune |
Brestum, Brestia, Brivates Portis | Brest |
Briva Isara | Pontoise |
Burdigala | Bordeaux |
Catalaunum, Catelaunorum | Châlons-sur-Marne |
Catculliacum | Saint-Denis, Paris |
Condate Riedonum | Rennes |
Crisenaria | Cressy |
Cularo | Grenoble |
Damovilla | Damville |
Darioritum | Vannes |
Dinia, Diniensium civitas | Digne-les-Bains, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
Divio | Dijon |
Divodurum | Metz |
Durocortorum | Reims |
Flavia | Saint-Germer-de-Fly, Oise |
Flaviniacum | Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or |
Gesoriacum, Bononia | Boulogne-sur-Mer |
Glanum | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône |
Lemonum, civitas Pictonum, Pictones | Poitiers |
Lugdunum, Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum | Lyon |
Lugdunum Clavatum | Laon |
Lugdunum Convenarum | Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges |
Lutetia | Paris |
Massilia | Marseille |
Medicinum | Mézin, Lot-et-Garonne |
Mediolanum Aulercorum | Évreux |
Mediolanum Santonum | Saintes |
Narbo Martius | Narbonne, Aude |
Nemausus | Nîmes |
Nicaea, Nicia | Nice |
Noviodunum | Soissons |
Noviomagus Lexoviorum | Lisieux, Calvados |
Noviomagus Veromanduorum | Noyon, Oise |
Novio Rito | Niort, Deux-Sèvres |
Portus Namnetum | Nantes |
Ramboletium | Rambouillet |
Rotomagus | Rouen |
Samarobriva | Amiens |
Sancti Audoeni fanum, villa aut domus | Saint-Ouen, Paris |
Spinetum, Spinogelum, Spinoilum, Espinolum | Épinay-sur-Orge, Paris |
Tolosa | Toulouse |
Tullum Leucorum | Toul |
Caesarodunum, Augusta Turonum, Metropolis civitas Turonum, Turonica civitas, Turones, Toronus | Tours |
Tutelae | Tulle |
Verodunum | Verdun - Wirten |
Vesontio | Besançon |
Vienna Allobrogium | Vienne, Isère |
Viennavicus | Vienne-en-Val, Loiret |
Vierium | Vihiers, Maine-et-Loire |
Cities and towns in Germany
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Ara Agrippinensium | Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Aqua Villae | Badenweiler |
Aquisgrana, Aquis Granum, Aquae Grani, Aquensis urbs, Granis aquae | Aachen, Aix-la-Chapelle, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Antunnacum | Andernach, Rhineland-Palatinate |
Arae Flaviae | Rottweil |
Asopus | Aspe |
Assindia | Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Augusta Vindelicorum | Augsburg |
Augusta Treverorum | Trier |
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 | 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, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Colonia Ulpia Traiana, Vetera | Xanten, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Confluentes | Koblenz |
Constantia | Konstanz - |
Cruciniacum | Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate |
Dispargum | Duisburg |
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, Hammonia | Hamburg |
Hannovera | Hanover - |
Herbipolis | Würzburg |
Hildanus | Hilden |
Iuliacum | Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Lauriacum | Lorch |
Lindaugia, Lindavia | Lindau |
Lipsia | Leipzig |
Locoritum | Lohr, Bavaria |
Lubica | Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein |
Magdeburgum | Magdeburg |
Megalopolis | Mecklenburg |
Misnia | Meissen, Saxony |
Moguncia, Moguntia, Moguntiacum, Mogontiacum | Mainz |
Monachium, Monacum | Munich |
Monasterium in Eifel | Bad Münstereifel |
Monasterium Westphaliae | Münster |
Norimberga | Nuremberg |
Northusia | Nordhausen |
Novaesium, Novensium | Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Noviomagus Nemetum | Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate |
Noviomagus Trevirorum | Neumagen-Dhron near Trier |
Patavia, Castra Batava | Passau |
Ratisbona, Radaspona | Regensburg, Bavaria |
Rigomagus | Remagen, North Rhine-Westphalia |
Rostochium | Rostock |
Sumelocenna | Rottenburg am Neckar |
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
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Ad Flexum | Mosonmagyaróvár |
Aegopolis | Kecskemét |
Agria | Eger |
Alba Regia | Székesfehérvár |
Alisca | Szekszárd |
Altinum | Kölked |
Annamatia | Baracs |
Aquincum | Budapest |
Arrabona | Győr |
Brigetio | Komárom / Szőny |
Budapestum, Budapestinum, Buda Vetus | Budapest |
Caesariana | Baláca |
Campona | Budapest |
Cirpi | Dunabogdány |
Civitas Archiepiscopalis | Víziváros |
Contra-Aquincum | Budapest |
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, Strigonium | Esztergom |
Sopianae | Pécs |
Tricciana | Ságvár |
Valcum | Fenékpuszta |
Vetus Salina | Adony |
Ulcisia Castra | Szentendre |
Cities and towns in Ireland
Cities and towns in [Latvia]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Rugensis civitas | Riga |
Cities and towns in [Moldova]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Grigoriopolis | Grigoriopol |
Tiraspolis | Tiraspol |
Cities and towns in [Monaco]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Monaecum | Monaco |
Cities and towns in the [Netherlands]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Ad Duodecimum | unknown location |
Albaniana | Alphen aan den Rijn |
Alcmaria | Alkmaar |
Amivadum | Amersfoort |
Amstelodamum | Amsterdam |
Arenacum | Arnhem |
Blariacum | Blerick |
Carvium | Herwen |
Carvo | Kesteren |
Caspingio | unknown location |
Castra Herculis | Arnhem |
Ceuclum | Cuijk |
Coriovallum | Heerlen |
Daventria | Deventer |
Eindovia | Eindhoven |
Elenio | Naaldwijk |
Fectio | Vechten |
Flevum | Velsen |
Forum Hadriani | Voorburg |
Ganuentum | |
Grinnes | Rossum |
Horgana | Hargen |
Laurium, Laurum | Woerden |
Lefevanum | Wijk bij Duurstede |
Lugdunum, Lugdunum Batavorum | Katwijk |
Matilo | Leiden |
Maunnaricium | Maurik |
Mosae Traiectum | Maastricht |
Municipium Aelium Cananefatum | Voorburg |
Nigrum Pullum | Zwammerdam |
Praetorium Agrippinae | Katwijk |
Ruraemunde | Roermond |
Sablones | Venlo |
Silva Ducis | 's-Hertogenbosch |
Tablis | unknown location |
Traiectum | Utrecht |
Traiectum ad Mosam | Maastricht |
Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum | Nijmegen |
Venlonum | Venlo |
Vienna, Vigenna | Vianen |
Vadae | Wageningen |
Cities and towns in Norway
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Asloa | Oslo |
Berga | Bergen |
Cities and towns in Poland
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Bethania, Bithomia | Bytom |
Bilici-Biala, Bielici-Biala | Bielsko-Biała |
Bydgostia | Bydgoszcz |
Calisia | Kalisz |
Cervimontium, Mons Cervi | Jelenia Góra |
Cracovia | Cracow |
Culmen | Chełmno |
Elbinga, Elbingus, Elbinca, Elbangum, Elbingense castrum | Elbląg |
Gedania, Gedanum, Dantiscum | Gdańsk |
Glivitium | Gliwice |
Ostrovia | Ostrów Wielkopolski |
Posnania, Poznania | Poznań |
Resovia | Rzeszów |
Sandomir | Sandomierz |
Siradia | Sieradz |
Stargardia | Stargard |
Sedinum, | Szczecin |
Thorunium | Toruń |
Varsovia, Varsavia | Warsaw |
Vratislavia, Wratislavia | Wrocław |
Cities and towns in Russia
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Archangelopolis | Archangelsk |
Asovia | Azov |
Astrachanum | Astrachan |
Belogradum | Belgorod |
Caluga | Kaluga |
Casanum | Kazan |
Catharinoburgum | Ekaterinburg |
Columna | Kolomna |
Demitriovia | Dmitrov |
Iaroslavia | Yaroslavl |
Iuliania | Ulianovsk |
Moscua, Mosqua, Moscovia | Moscow |
Novogardia Inferior | Nizhny Novgorod |
Novogardia Magna | Veliky Novgorod |
Orenburgum | Orenburg |
Permia | Perm |
Petropolis, Petroburgum | Saint Petersburg |
Pscovia, Plescovia | Pskov |
Regiomontium | Kaliningrad - Königsberg |
Resania | Ryazan |
Rostovia | Rostov |
Saratovia | Saratov |
Smolenscum | Smolensk |
Stauropolis | Stavropol |
Susdalia | Suzdal |
Toropetia | Toropets |
Tueria | Tver |
Ustiuga | Veliky Ustyug |
Volodimiria | Vladimir |
Vologda | Vologda |
Viatcia, Venetica | Kirov - Vyatka |
Viburga, Viburgum, Viburgum Careliorum | Vyborg |
Cities and towns in [Slovakia]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Cassovia | Košice |
Castrum Novum | Nové Zámky |
Bartfa | Bardejov |
Forum Dominarum | Bátovce |
Semnichia | Banská Štiavnica |
Celemantia | Iža |
Cismarcinum, Forum Caseorum | Kežmarok |
Comaromium | Komárno |
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 : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Amalia | Åmål |
Arosia | Västerås |
Boërosia | Borås |
Calmaria | Kalmar |
Caroli Corona | Karlskrona |
Christinae portus | Kristinehamn |
Christiania | Kristianstad |
Cimbrorum portus | Simrishamn |
Clara Vallis | Ljusdal |
Copinga | Köping |
Coronia | Landskrona |
Dalecarlius | Dalälven |
Delisboa | Delsbo |
Eckesioea, Ecksium | Eksjö |
Encopia | Enköping |
Falcopia | Falköping |
Gevalia | Gävle |
Gothia | Gothenburg |
Halmostadium | Halmstad |
Hiovia | Hjo |
Holmia, Stockholmia | Stockholm |
Hudvicovaldum | Hudiksvall |
Iuncopia | Jönköping |
Lagaholmia | Laholm |
Lidcopia | Lidköping |
Lincopia | Linköping |
Lindesberga, Linda | Lindesberg |
Lula | Luleå |
Lunda | Lund |
Malmögia | 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 | Södertälje |
Upsala | Uppsala |
Uraniburgum | Uranienborg |
Urbs Mariae | Mariestad |
Vadstenium | Vadstena |
Vemmaria, Wemmaria | Vimmerby |
Vexionia | Växjö |
Visbia | Visby |
Visingsburgum, Wisingsburgum | Visingsborg |
Ystadium, Istadium, Ustadium | Ystad |
Cities and towns in Switzerland
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
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 | Porrentruy, Pruntrut, Jura |
Centum Prata | Kempraten, Jona and Rapperswil, St. Gallen |
Curia | Chur, Graubünden |
Eburodunum | Yverdon-les-Bains, Vaud |
Esquinia | Écône |
Ezelinga, Esselinga | Esseling, Zürich |
Genava | Geneva |
Irgenhausen Castrum | Irgenhausen, Zürich |
Lousonna | Lausanne, Vaud |
Morgiis | Morges |
Noviodunum | Nyon, Vaud |
Octodurum | Martigny, Valais |
Ponczirrum | Baltschieder, Valais |
Solodurum/Salodurum | Solothurn |
Suitia | Schwyz |
Tugium | Zug |
Turicum | Zürich |
Urba | Orbe, Vaud |
Vibiscum | Vevey, Vaud |
Vindonissa | Windisch, Aargau |
Vitudurum | Winterthur, Zürich |
Cities and towns in [Ukraine]
Canonical Latin Name : variant) | English Name - older name,, location |
Alexandria | Oleksandriya |
Alustum, Lusta | Alushta |
Bialoquerca | Bila Tserkva |
Calamita | Inkerman |
Caulita | Yalta |
Charcovia, Charkovia | Kharkiv |
Chiovia, Kiovia | Kiev |
Chersonium | Kherson |
Chersonesus Nordica | Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi |
Czernihovia | Chernihiv |
Eupatoria | Eupatoria |
Leopolis | Lviv |
Marinopolis | Mariyampil |
Mariupolis | Mariupol |
Melitopolis | Melitopol |
Novogardia Severiae | Novhorod-Siverskyi |
Ovidiopolis | Ovidiopol |
Panticapaeum, Cimmericum, Bosporus Cimmericum | Kerch |
Pereaslavia | Pereiaslav |
Sebastopolis, Chersonesus Taurica | Sevastopol |
Solcata | Stary Krym |
Soldaia | Sudak |
Symbolum Portus | Balaklava |
Sympheropolis, Neapolis Scythica | Simferopol |
Ternopolis | Ternopil |
Theodoros, Doros | Mangup |
Theodosia, Caffa | Feodosiya |
Theophania | Feofaniya |