Etymological list of counties of Romania
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the origins of the names of counties
of Romania
. Many of the etymologies are Romanian
interpretations of Slavonic names (e.g.: Gorj and Dolj), as the administration documents in the Middle Ages Romanian Principalities (Wallachia
and Moldavia
) were written in this language.
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Many of the etymologies are Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
interpretations of Slavonic names (e.g.: Gorj and Dolj), as the administration documents in the Middle Ages Romanian Principalities (Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
and Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
) were written in this language.
| County name | Language of origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Alba | Romanian (Latin) |
Named after the city of Alba-Iulia ("The white city of Julius/(the) Gyula Gyula Gyula was, according to Muslim and Byzantine sources, the title of one of the leaders, the second in rank, of the Hungarian tribal federation in the 9th-10th centuries. In the earliest Hungarian sources, the title name is only recorded as a personal name... ; also Gyulafehérvár, "White castle of (the) Gyula Gyula Gyula was, according to Muslim and Byzantine sources, the title of one of the leaders, the second in rank, of the Hungarian tribal federation in the 9th-10th centuries. In the earliest Hungarian sources, the title name is only recorded as a personal name... ; also Bălgrad, "White city" in several Slavic languages Slavic languages The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic... ), probably from the white colour of the city walls. |
| Arad | Hungarian | Named after the city of Arad Arad, Romania Arad is the capital city of Arad County, in western Romania, in the Crişana region, on the river Mureş.An important industrial center and transportation hub, Arad is also the seat of a Romanian Orthodox archbishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training... , formerly Urod (11th century) after the name of a Hungarian knight, probably from the root ur meaning lord, meaning a place, which belongs to your (-od/today:ad) lord (úr). |
| Argeş Arges County Argeș is a county of Romania, in Wallachia, with the capital city at Pitești.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 652,625 and the population density was 95/km².*Romanians – 96%*Roma , and other.-Geography:... |
Dacian | Named after the Argeş River Arges River Argeș is a river of Southern Romania. It starts at the junction of headwaters Buda and Capra in the Făgăraș Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians and flows into the Danube at Oltenița.The main city on the Argeş is Piteşti... , in ancient times Argessos, probably meaning "shiny". |
| Bacău Bacau County Bacău is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with its capital city at Bacău. It has one commune, Ghimeş-Făget, in Transylvania.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 706,623 and the population density was 113/km².... |
Latin | Named after the city of Bacău, in ancient times known as Bacovia, meaning "the road of Bachus". The area was an important source of wine for the romans. |
| Bihor Bihor County Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:... |
Slavic | From vihor (whirlwind) |
| Bistriţa-Năsăud | Slavic and German | Named after Bistriţa Bistrita Bistrița is the capital city of Bistriţa-Năsăud County, Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistriţa River. The city has a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants, and it administers six villages: Ghinda, Sărata, Sigmir, Slătiniţa, Unirea and Viişoara.-History:The earliest sign of... (Slavic, "rapid"), a city and river and the city of Năsăud Nasaud Năsăud is a town in Bistriţa-Năsăud County in Romania located in the historical region of Transylvania. The town administers two villages, Liviu Rebreanu and Luşca.The name Năsăud is possibly derived from the Slavic nas voda, meaning "near the water"... (German Nussdorf, "walnut tree village") |
| Botoşani Botosani County Botoșani is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with the capital city at Botoșani.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 452,834 and the population density was 91/km2.*Romanians – – the highest percentage of Romanians in Romania... |
Romanian (Mongolian) |
Several possible origins: botoş (tick), botos (big-mouthed), botoşei (booties) and where Batu Khan Batu Khan Batu Khan was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Ulus of Jochi , the sub-khanate of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. His ulus was the chief state of the Golden Horde , which ruled Rus and the Caucasus for around 250 years, after also destroying the armies... split a part of his armies, invading what is now the northern Balkans, Hungary, Austria and Bohemia. "Batu", also pronounced "Botu", means "firm" in the Mongolian language Mongolian language The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner... . |
| Braşov Brasov County Brașov ; ) is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Brașov. The county incorporates within its boundaries most of the Medieval "lands" Burzenland and Făgăraș Land.-Demographics:... |
Uncertain, possibly Slavic | Possibly from baras, fortress. |
| Brăila Braila County Brăila is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Brăila.- Demographics :In 2002, Brăila had a population of 373,174 and the population density was 78/km².*Romanians – 98%*Romas, Russians, Lipovans, Aromanians and others.... |
Turkish | Turkish origin from the proper name "Ibrail". Among the earlier names are Ibraila, Brilago, Uebereyl, Brailov. |
| Bucureşti Bucharest Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... |
Romanian (Dacian) |
From Bucur, personal name meaning "joyful", cognate with Albanian bukur (beautiful), assumed to be of Thraco-Dacian origin. |
| Buzău Buzau County Buzău is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Buzău.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 496,214 and the population density was 81/km².*Romanians – 97%*Roma – under 3% declared, and others.... |
Greek | Greek origin from Μουσαίος (Mousaios), the original name of the city of Buzău Buzau The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name... . |
| Caraş-Severin | Turkish and Slavic | Named after the Caraş River Caras River The Karaš or Caraș is a 110 km long river in the Banat region of Serbia and Romania, left tributary of the Danube.-Name:... (Turkish Kara, "dark, black") and Turnu Severin (Romanian, "Northern Tower": turn is borrowed from German Türm, "tower"; severin is an Slavic word meaning "Northern"). |
| Călăraşi Calarasi County Călărași is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the county seat at Călărași.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 324,617 and a population density of 64/km².*Romanians – 95%*Roma and others.-List of cities by population:... |
Romanian (Latin) |
From călăraş, a military auxiliary corps of cavalry during the Middle Ages in Wallachia Wallachia Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians... . The word derives out of Romanian călare (riding), itself from cal (horse), Romanian cognate of Latin caballus. |
| Cluj Cluj County Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:... |
German or Latin | From the first part of Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade... , deriving either from German Klause, "Mountain pass" or Latin clusium, "enclosing", referring to the surrounding hills. |
| Constanţa Constanta County Constanța is the name of a county in the Dobruja region of Romania. Its capital city is also named Constanța.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 715,151 and the population density was 101/km². The degree of urbanization is much higher than the Romanian average. In recent years the... |
Latin | Named after Constanţa Constanta Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region.... . The city, originally called Tomis, was renamed Constantiana by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine, in honor of his sister, Flavia Julia Constantia Flavia Julia Constantia Flavia Julia Constantia was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and his second wife, Flavia Maximiana Theodora.... . |
| Covasna Covasna County Covasna is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Sfântu Gheorghe.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 222,449 and the population density was 60/km².*Hungarians – 73.79% *Romanians – 23.28%... |
Slavic | From cvaz, "sour", referring to the taste of the mineral waters in the area. |
| Dâmboviţa Dâmbovita County Dâmbovița ; also spelt Dîmbovița is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Târgoviște.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 541,763 and the population density was 134/km²... |
Uncertain, possibly Slavic | Named after the Dâmboviţa River Dâmbovita River Dâmbovița is a river in Romania. It has its sources in the Făgăraş Mountains, on the Curmătura Oticu. The upper reach of the rivers, upstream of the confluence with the Boarcăşu River is also known as Izvorul Oticului River or Oticu River.... , of unknown etymology. |
| Dolj | Slavic | From Dolu Jiu, the Jiu of the valley. The Jiu river Jiu River Jiu is a river of southern Romania. It is formed near Petroşani by the junction of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est.It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, Gorj and Dolj before flowing into the Danube a few kilometers upstream from the Bulgarian city of Oryahovo, 331... flows through the county. |
| Galaţi Galati County Galaţi is a county of Romania, in Moldavia region, with the capital city at Galaţi.-History:Historically Galaţi is part of Moldavia... |
Cuman (Arabic) |
From gala(t), borrowedto Arabic qal'at (fortress) (also, an unsourced speculation, ascribe the origin to a certain Galatian celtic tribe) |
| Giurgiu Giurgiu County Giurgiu is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Giurgiu.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 297,859 and the population density was 84/km².* Romanians – over 96%* Roma – 3.5%, and others.- Geography :... |
Unknown, possibly Italian | Possibly from Rossy vel Jargo, Jurcova or Zorio. (see external link). Possibly named after Giurgiu Giurgiu Giurgiu is the capital city of Giurgiu County, Romania, in the Greater Wallachia. It is situated amid mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the opposite bank. Three small islands face the city, and a larger one shelters its port, Smarda... as the Genoese in the 14th century named it after San Giorgio Saint George Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox... , the patron of their city. |
| Gorj | Slavic | From Gora Jiu, "Jiu of the mountains". The Jiu river Jiu River Jiu is a river of southern Romania. It is formed near Petroşani by the junction of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est.It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, Gorj and Dolj before flowing into the Danube a few kilometers upstream from the Bulgarian city of Oryahovo, 331... flows through the county. |
| Harghita | Uncertain | Possibly related to "Argeş" (Argessos), but the peculiar phonetic form indicates that there was an unknown intermediary language that was not Romanian, Hungarian or Slavic, possibly some form of Sarmatian or Scythian. |
| Ialomiţa Ialomita County Ialomița is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Slobozia.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 296,572 and the population density was 67/km².... |
Slavic | Named after the Ialomiţa river Ialomita River The Ialomiţa is a river of Southern Romania that rises from the Bucegi Mountains in the Carpathians and flows into the Danube.The upper reach of the river is sometimes known as Valea Obârşiei or Obârşia Ialomiţei.-Localities:... (Slavic jalov, "barren"). |
| Iaşi Iasi County Iași is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with the administrative seat at Iași.-Demographics:As of 1 July 2007, Iași County had a population of 825,100, making it the second most populous county in Romania after Bucharest, with a population density of 150/km².*Romanians - 98.1%*Roma -... |
Possibly Sarmatian | Named after the Sarmatian Iazygi which lived in the 1st century. However, this does not explain the existence of other localities called Iaşi throughout Romania. |
| Ilfov | Slavic | Named after the Ilfov River Ilfov River The Ilfov River is a tributary of the Dâmboviţa River in Romania. The river has given its name to Ilfov County-References:... , from Slavic "Elhovo" meaning "Alder Alder Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to... " (Alnus glutinosa). |
| Maramureş Maramures Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians... |
Dacian (probably) |
From mara, derived from mal, "shore", and mureş, "murky". |
| Mehedinţi | Romanian (Latin) |
From the town of Mehadia Mehadia Mehadia is a small market town and commune in Caraş-Severin County, Romania. It lies on the European route E70, in the Cerna River valley. The town is located on the site of the ancient Roman colony Ad Mediam and was noted for its Hercules baths. It had a population of 2,492 in 1900, and of 4,474... , possibly be derived from the ancient Latin name of the colony: Ad mediam ("in the middle"). Mehedinţi might also come from Mehadianţi, as -ianţiu/-ianţu is a common ending for family names in the area. |
| Mureş Mures County Mureș is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, with the administrative centre in Târgu Mureș.-Geography:The county has a total area of 6,714 km².... |
Latin | Named after the Mureş river Mures River The Mureș is an approximately 761 km long river in Eastern Europe. It originates in the Hășmașu Mare Range in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Romania, and joins the Tisza river at Szeged in southeastern Hungary.... , in Latin Maris ("murky"). |
| Neamţ Neamt Neamţ may refer to several entities in Romania:County* Neamţ CountyPlaces* Neamţ Citadel* Piatra Neamţ* Târgu NeamţMountain* Neamţ MountainsOther* Neamţ Monastery- See also :* Neamţu* Neamţu * Németh... |
Romanian (Slavic) |
Namd after Piatra Neamţ Piatra Neamt Piatra Neamț , , ; is the capital city of Neamţ County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Because of its privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania... , neamţ means "German" (from Slavic nemeti). The Teutons built a fortress there to protect the Bicaz Pass, which leads to Transylvania Transylvania Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical... |
| Olt Olt County Olt is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia . The capital city is Slatina.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 489,274 and the population density was 89/km².... |
Dacian | Named after the Olt river Olt River The Olt River is a river in Romania. It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its source is in the Hăşmaş Mountains of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near the village Bălan. It flows through the Romanian counties Harghita, Covasna, Braşov, Sibiu, Vâlcea and Olt... , known to the Dacians as Alutus (etymology unknown). The initial "o" could indicate a Slavic intermediary. |
| Prahova Prahova County Prahova is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploieşti.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 829,945 and the population density was 176/km². It is Romania's most populated county, having a population density double than the country's mean... |
Slavic | Named after the Prahova river Prahova River The Prahova River is a river of Southern Romania, which rises from the Bucegi Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians and flows into the Ialomiţa... . Prahova derives either from prag ("water cataract") or prah("dust"). |
| Satu Mare Satu Mare County Satu Mare County is a county of Romania. The capital city is Satu Mare. Besides Romanians , Satu Mare features a significant ethnic minority of Hungarians .-Demographics:... |
Romanian German |
Named after the city of Satu Mare. Satu Mare means "Big village" in Romanian. |
| Sălaj Salaj County Sălaj is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Crișana and Transylvania, with the capital city at Zalău.-Geography:Sălaj county has a total area of .... |
Hungarian | From szállás', "house, hut". |
| Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt... |
Slavic or possibly Latin | Slavic: from sviba, "horn". Latin: from Cibinum, the name of the town of Sibiu as mentioned in 1191 - ultimately derived from the name of the river Cibin Cibin Cibin is a river in central Romania, in the South part of Transylvania. Its source is in the Cindrel Mountains of the Southern Carpathian Mountains. The river is formed at the junction of two headwaters: Râul Mare and Râul Mic. The river flows entirely in Sibiu County... that passes through the town, possibly of Latin origin |
| Suceava Suceava County Suceava is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Moldavia and few villages in Transylvania, with the capital city at Suceava.- Demographics :... |
Hungarian | From Szűcsvár, "Town of the skin-workers", from szűcs, "fourrier" and vár, "city". |
| Teleorman | Cuman | From deli orman "thick forest" (lit. "mad forest"). |
| Timiş Timis County Timiș , , Banat Bulgarian: ) is a county of western Romania, in the historical region Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the largest county in Romania in terms of land area.... |
Possibly Latin | After the Timiş River Timis River The Timiş or Tamiš is a 359 km long river originating from Țarcu Mountains , southern Carpathian Mountains, Caraş-Severin County, Romania. It flows through the Banat region and flows into the Danube near Pančevo, in northern Serbia.... , known to the Romans as Tibisis or Tibiscus, of uncertain etymology. |
| Tulcea Tulcea County Tulcea is a county of Romania, in the historical region Dobruja, with the capital city at Tulcea.-Demographics:In 2002, Tulcea County had a population of 256,492... |
Uncertain, possibly Tatar | Named after the city of Tulcea Tulcea Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :... . Meaning unknown. -cea is a common Turkish ending. There is a town with a similar name (Tulchin) in Southern Ukraine, reinforcing the Tatar hypothesis. |
| Vaslui Vaslui County Vaslui is a county of Romania, in the historical region Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 455,049 and the population density was 86/km².*Romanians - over 98%*Romas, other-Geography:... |
Cuman | Named after the Vaslui River, which shows a typical Cuman ending for hydronyms: -ui, "water". |
| Vâlcea | Romanian/Slavic | Romanian for "little valley", from vale, "valley" (Latin vallis). Also possibly from vlk ("wolf"), the name of a Dark Age Slavic warlord mentioned in Hungarian chronicles. |
| Vrancea Vrancea County Vrancea is a county in Romania, with its seat at Focşani. It is mostly in the historical region of Moldavia but the southern part, below the Milcov River, is in Muntenia.-Demographics:... |
Slavic | Ultimately from vrana, "raven". |
Historical counties
| County name | Language of origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bălţi | Romanian | "ponds" |
| Covurlui | Cuman | From kurgu, "dry" + suffix -ui, "water" |
| Cetatea Albă | Romanian | "White fortress" |
| Câmpulung | Romanian (Latin) |
"long plain" |
| Odorhei | Hungarian | First part of Odorheiu Secuiesc Odorheiu Secuiesc Odorheiu Secuiesc is the second-largest city in Harghita County, Transylvania, Romania. In its short form, it is also known as Odorhei in Romanian and Udvarhely in Hungarian... , from Székelyudvarhely, "Market-town of the Székely" |
| Muscel | Romanian (Dacian?) |
"hillock" |
| Soroca | Slavic | "magpie" |
Sources
- This article is based on a translation of the December 10, 2004 version of the equivalent article on the Romanian WikipediaRomanian WikipediaRomanian Wikipedia is the Romanian language edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Started in July 2003, this edition has about 150,000 articles and is the 19th largest Wikipedia edition...
.