List of Latin names for cities or towns in Continental Europe, Ireland and Scandinavia


This list includes European cities or towns that were part of the Roman Empire, or that were given Latin place names in historical references.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 the 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:
  1. Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.
  2. Latinized form of the Asian-derived name via Greek.
  3. Altered Latinized form of the Greek-derived name.

Cities and towns in Austria

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Brigantium, BrigantiaBregenz
CarnuntumBad Deutsch-Altenburg / Petronell
ChremisaKrems
IdunumJudenburg
IuennaJaunstein –, Völkermarkt
Iuvavum, Iuvavia, SalisburgumSalzburg
LentiaLinz
NoreiaNeumarkt in der Steiermark
OeniponsInnsbruck
OvilavaWels
VeldidenaWilten
Vindóbona, Vienna Vienna
Virunum, Maria in SolioMaria Saal

Cities and towns in Belgium

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AldenardaOudenaarde, Audenarde
AlliacumAlken
AlostumAalst, Alost
AndagiumSaint-Hubert
AnderlacumAnderlecht
AnglomonasteriumIngelmunster
AntoniumAntoing
AntverpiaAntwerp, Antwerpen, Anvers
Aquae Luvienses TungrorumSpa
ArschotiumAarschot
AthumAth, Aat
Atuatuca TungrorumTongeren, Tongres
Atuatuca Tungrorum et BorchloniumTongeren-Borgloon, Tongres-Looz
AudergemiumAuderghem, Oudergem
BalliolumBelœil
BastonacumBastogne, Bastenaken
BellomontiumBeaumont
BinchiumBinche
BorchloniumBorgloon, Looz
BrugaBruges, Brugge
BrosellaBrussels, Brussel, Bruxelles
BullioniumBouillon
BussutumBoussu
CamasiacumKemzeke
CaroloregiumCharleroi
CassiniacumKessenich
CastellariumChâtelet
CastrumKaster
ChiniacumChiny
CimaiumChimay
ComineumComines, Komen
ComitiacumKumtich
CondacumKontich
CouvinumCouvin
Cortoriacum, CortracumKortrijk, Courtrai
DalemumDalhem
Damma, DammumDamme
DionantumDinant
DurbetumDurbuy
DurnumDour
FelsecumVelzeke
ForestumForest, Vorst
FurnaVeurne
GandavumGhent, Gent, Gand
GaudiacumGooik
Geldoniacum, GeldoniaJodoigne, Geldenaken
GemblacumGembloux, Gembloers
GerardimontiumGeraardsbergen, Grammont
HaleniumHalen
HanutumHannut, Hannuit
HasseletumHasselt
HelissemiumHélécine
HeristaliumHerstal
HoiumHuy, Hoei
HulpenumLa Hulpe, Terhulpen
LendiumLens
LeodiumLiège, Luik, Lüttich
LiniacumLennik
LimburgumLimbourg, Limburg
LovaniumLeuven, Louvain
MalmunderiumMalmedy
MontiniacumMontenaken
NamurcumNamur, Namen
Novum CastrumNeufchâteau
Novum LovaniumLouvain-la-Neuve
Novus PortusNieuwpoort, Nieuport
OrolaunumArlon, Aarlen
OttiniacumOttignies
RodiumLe Rœulx
RothnacumRonse, Renaix
SeraniumSeraing
SetiliacumZellik
SichemiumZichem
StockhemiumStokkem
SunniacumSoignies, Zinnik
Tamasiacum, Tamisiacum, TemsicaTemse, Tamise
TeneramondaDendermonde
TiletumTielt
TiliacumTilly
Tornacum NerviorumTournai, Doornik
TudinumThuin
TurnholtumTurnhout
VarnetoniumWarneton, Waasten
VillariacumWilrijk
ViroviacumWervik, Wervicq
VisetumVisé, Wezet
VodgoriacumWaudrez
WaterloumWaterloo
ZuindracumZwijndrecht

Cities and towns in the [Czech Republic]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Alta MutaVysoké Mýto
BeneschoviumBenešov
Broda BohemicaČeský Brod
BrunnaBrno
BudovisiumČeské Budějovice
CarnoviaKrnov
ColoniaKolín
Eburum, Olomutium, OlomuciumOlomouc
LunaLouny
Nova domusJindřichův Hradec
OppaviaOpava
OstraviaOstrava
Pilsenum, PilsnaPlzeň
PragaPrague
RaconaRakovník
Vallis GaudiorumBruntál
VeronaBeroun
ZnoimiumZnojmo

Cities and towns in Denmark

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Arus, ArhusÅrhus
FredericiaFredericia
HafniaCopenhagen
OthoniaOdense
SoraSorø
WelleaVejle
WibergisViborg

Cities and towns in [Estonia]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Arx AquilaeKuressaare
Pernavia, PeronaPärnu
RevaliaTallinn
Tarbatum, TharbataTartu

Cities and towns in Finland

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AboaTurku
ArctopolisPori
Arx SavonumSavonlinna
Arx Tavastiae, TavasteburgumHämeenlinna
BorgoaPorvoo
BrahestadiumRaahe
CajaneburgumKajaani
Carolina VetusKokkola
ChristineaKristinestad
EspoEspoo
FredericiaHamina
GranivicusJyväskylä
Helsinkium, HelsingiaHelsinki
MichaeliaMikkeli
Neo-CarolinaNykarleby
NeostadiumUusikaupunki
Ostia CarelorumJoensuu
Portus MariaeMariehamn
RaumoaRauma
SalaSalo
TammerforsiaTampere
TorneaTornio
UloaOulu
Vallis GratiaeNaantali
VantaniaVantaa
VasaVaasa

Cities and towns in France

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AdiaciumAjaccio
Alberti campusChampaubert
Andematunnum, Lugdunum, LingonesLangres
Aquae SextiaeAix-en-Provence
Antissiodorum, AutesiodorumAuxerre
Arelate, Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium SextanorumArles
ArgentoratumStrasbourg
Arpajonum, Arpajoni castrum, ArpaconaArpajon, Paris
AtrebatumArras, Pas-de-Calais
Augusta ArgentorateStrasbourg
Augustobona Tricassium, TricassaeTroyes
Augustodurum, Bajocae, Bajocassium civitasBayeux
AugustodunumAutun
AurelianumOrléans
Autricum, civitas Carnutum, CarnutesChartres
AvenioAvignon
BelnaBeaune
Brestum, Brestia, Brivates PortisBrest
Briva IsaraPontoise
BurdigalaBordeaux
Catalaunum, CatelaunorumChâlons-sur-Marne
CatculliacumSaint-Denis, Paris
Condate RiedonumRennes
CrisenariaCressy
CularoGrenoble
DamovillaDamville
DarioritumVannes
Dinia, Diniensium civitasDigne-les-Bains, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
DivioDijon
DivodurumMetz
DurocortorumReims
Flavia Saint-Germer-de-Fly, Oise
Flaviniacum Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or
Gesoriacum, BononiaBoulogne-sur-Mer
GlanumSaint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône
Lemonum, civitas Pictonum, PictonesPoitiers
Lugdunum, Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta LugdunumLyon
Lugdunum ClavatumLaon
Lugdunum ConvenarumSaint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
LutetiaParis
MassiliaMarseille
MedicinumMézin, Lot-et-Garonne
Mediolanum AulercorumÉvreux
Mediolanum SantonumSaintes
Narbo MartiusNarbonne, Aude
NemaususNîmes
Nicaea, NiciaNice
NoviodunumSoissons
Noviomagus Lexoviorum Lisieux, Calvados
Noviomagus Veromanduorum Noyon, Oise
Novio Rito Niort, Deux-Sèvres
Portus NamnetumNantes
RamboletiumRambouillet
RotomagusRouen
SamarobrivaAmiens
Sancti Audoeni fanum, villa aut domusSaint-Ouen, Paris
Spinetum, Spinogelum, Spinoilum, EspinolumÉpinay-sur-Orge, Paris
TolosaToulouse
Tullum LeucorumToul
Caesarodunum, Augusta Turonum, Metropolis civitas Turonum, Turonica civitas, Turones, ToronusTours
TutelaeTulle
VerodunumVerdun – Wirten
VesontioBesançon
Vienna AllobrogiumVienne, Isère
ViennavicusVienne-en-Val, Loiret
VieriumVihiers, Maine-et-Loire

Cities and towns in Germany

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Aquae Mattiacorum, Aquae MattiacaeWiesbaden, Hessen
Ara AgrippinensiumCologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
Aqua VillaeBadenweiler
Aquisgrana, Aquis Granum, Aquae Grani, Aquensis urbs, Granis aquaeAachen, Aix-la-Chapelle, North Rhine-Westphalia
AntunnacumAndernach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Arae FlaviaeRottweil
AsopusAspe
AssindiaEssen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Augusta VindelicorumAugsburg
Augusta TreverorumTrier
Aurelia AquensisBaden-Baden
Badena civitasBaden
Batavis, Castra Batavorum, Castra BatavaPassau
BerolinumBerlin
BonnaBonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
Borbetomagus, WormatiaWorms
BremaBremen
BrunsvicumBraunschweig
CambodunumKempten, Bavaria
Castra Regina, RatisbonaRegensburg
Castrum NovaesiumNeuss, North Rhine-Westphalia
Chemnitium, ChemniciumChemnitz
Cignavia, Cignea, Cygnea, CynaviaZwickau
CliviaKleve, North Rhine-Westphalia
Colonia Agrippina, Colonia AgrippinensisCologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
Colonia Ulpia Traiana, VeteraXanten, North Rhine-Westphalia
ConfluentesKoblenz
ConstantiaKonstanz
CruciniacumBad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate
DispargumDuisburg
DresdaDresden
Emetha, Amuthon, Embda, Emda, EmbdenEmden, East Frisia
Erfordia, ErphesfurtErfurt, Thuringia
Esilinga, Ezelinga, EzzilingaEßlingen
Francofortum ad MoenumFrankfurt am Main
Friburgum BrisgoviaeFreiburg im Breisgau
GoettingaGöttingen
GorliciumGörlitz, Saxony
GoslariaGoslar, Lower Saxony
Hale SueviceSchwäbisch HallHall in Schwaben, Baden-Württemberg
Hamburgum, HammoniaHamburg
HanoveraHanover
HerbipolisWürzburg
HildanusHilden
IuliacumJülich, North Rhine-Westphalia
LauriacumLorch
Lindaugia, LindaviaLindau
LipsiaLeipzig
LocoritumLohr, Bavaria
Lubica Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein
MagdeburgumMagdeburg
MegalopolisMecklenburg
Misnia Meissen, Saxony
Moguncia, Moguntia, Moguntiacum, MogontiacumMainz
Monachium, MonacumMunich
Monasterium in EifelBad Münstereifel
Monasterium WestphaliaeMünster
NorimbergaNuremberg
NorthusiaNordhausen
Novaesium, NovensiumNeuss, North Rhine-Westphalia
Noviomagus Nemetum Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate
Noviomagus Trevirorum Neumagen-Dhron near Trier
Patavia, Castra BatavaPassau
Ratisbona, RadasponaRegensburg, Bavaria
RigomagusRemagen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Rostochium Rostock
SumelocennaRottenburg am Neckar
Stutgardia, StuogardiaStuttgart
TremoniaDortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
TubingaTübingen
Tulpiacum, TolbiacumZülpich, Tolbiac, North Rhine-Westphalia
Vetera, Colonia Ulpia TraianaXanten

Cities and towns in Hungary

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Ad FlexumMosonmagyaróvár
AegopolisKecskemét
Agria Eger
Alba RegiaSzékesfehérvár
AliscaSzekszárd
AltinumKölked
AnnamatiaBaracs
AquincumBudapest
ArrabonaGyőr
BrigetioKomárom / Szőny
Budapestum, Budapestinum, Buda Vetus Budapest
CaesarianaBaláca
CamponaBudapest
CirpiDunabogdány
Civitas ArchiepiscopalisVíziváros
Contra-AquincumBudapest
Contra ConstantiamDunakeszi
Gorsium, HerculiaTác
IntercisaDunaújváros
LussoniumDunakömlőd
MatricaSzázhalombatta
MursellaMórichida
PartiscumSzeged
QuadrataLébény
SalaZalalövő
SavariaSzombathely
ScarbantiaSopron
Solva, Strigonium Esztergom
SopianaePécs
TriccianaSágvár
ValcumFenékpuszta
Vetus SalinaAdony
Ulcisia CastraSzentendre

Cities and towns in [Latvia]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Rugensis civitasRiga

Cities and towns in [Moldova]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
GrigoriopolisGrigoriopol
TiraspolisTiraspol

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 Duodecimumunknown location
AlbanianaAlphen aan den Rijn
AlcmariaAlkmaar
AmivadumAmersfoort
AmstelodamumAmsterdam
ArenacumArnhem
BlariacumBlerick
CarviumHerwen
CarvoKesteren
Caspingiounknown location
Castra HerculisArnhem
CeuclumCuijk
CoriovallumHeerlen
DaventriaDeventer
EindoviaEindhoven
ElenioNaaldwijk
FectioVechten
FlevumVelsen
Forum HadrianiVoorburg
Ganuentum
GrinnesRossum/Alem
HorganaHargen
Laurium, LaurumWoerden
LefevanumWijk bij Duurstede
Lugdunum, Lugdunum BatavorumKatwijk
MatiloLeiden
MaunnariciumMaurik
Mosae TraiectumMaastricht
Municipium Aelium CananefatumVoorburg
Nigrum PullumZwammerdam
Praetorium AgrippinaeKatwijk
RuraemundeRoermond
SablonesVenlo
Silva Ducis's-Hertogenbosch
Tablisunknown location
TraiectumUtrecht
Traiectum ad MosamMaastricht
Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Nijmegen
VenlonumVenlo
Vienna, VigennaVianen
VadaeWageningen

Cities and towns in Norway

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AsloaOslo
BergaBergen

Cities and towns in Poland

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Aurimontium, Aureus Mons, Auri MonsZłotoryja
Bethania, BithomiaBytom
Bilici-Biala, Bielici-BialaBielsko-Biała
BydgostiaBydgoszcz
CalisiaKalisz
Cervimontium, Mons Cervi Jelenia Góra
CracoviaKraków
CulmenChełmno
Elbinga, Elbingus, Elbinca, Elbangum, Elbingense castrumElbląg
Gedania, Gedanum, DantiscumGdańsk
GlivitiumGliwice
OstroviaOstrów Wielkopolski
Posnania, PoznaniaPoznań
ResoviaRzeszów
SandomirSandomierz
SiradiaSieradz
StargardiaStargard
Sedinum, Szczecin
ThoruniumToruń
Varsovia, VarsaviaWarsaw
Vratislavia, WratislaviaWrocław

Cities and towns in Russia

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Archangelopolis Arkhangelsk
Asovia Azov
AstrachanumAstrachan
BelogradumBelgorod
Caluga Kaluga
Casanum Kazan
CatharinoburgumYekaterinburg
ColumnaKolomna
DemitrioviaDmitrov
Iaroslavia Yaroslavl
IulianiaUlyanovsk
Moscua, Mosqua, Moscovia Moscow
Novogardia InferiorNizhny Novgorod
Novogardia MagnaVeliky Novgorod
Orenburgum Orenburg
PermiaPerm
Petropolis, Petroburgum Saint Petersburg
Pscovia, PlescoviaPskov
Regiomontium Kaliningrad – Königsberg
Resania Ryazan
RostoviaRostov
Saratovia Saratov
Smolenscum Smolensk
StauropolisStavropol
Susdalia Suzdal
ToropetiaToropets
Tueria Tver
UstiugaVeliky Ustyug
VolodimiriaVladimir
Vologda Vologda
Viatcia, VeneticaKirov – Vyatka
Viburga, Viburgum, Viburgum Careliorum Vyborg

Cities and towns in [San Marino]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Aqua VivaAcquaviva
Burgus MaiorBorgo Maggiore
DomenianusDomagnano
Ecclesia NovaChiesanuova
Faetanum, FagetanumFaetano
FlorentinumFiorentino
Marinum, Fanum Sancti MariniSan Marino
Mons ViridariumMontegiardino
OlnanumSerravalle

Cities and towns in [Slovakia]

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
CassoviaKošice
Castrum NovumNové Zámky
BartfaBardejov
Forum DominarumBátovce
SemnichiaBanská Štiavnica
CelemantiaIža
Cismarcinum, Forum CaseorumKežmarok
ComaromiumKomárno
CrempnichiaKremnica
LeuchoviaLevoča
PrividiaPrievidza
Iglovia, Nova VillaSpišská Nová Ves
Suburbium, Villa Sub CastroSpišské Vlachy
LubloviaStará Ľubovňa
DiviniumDevín
Villa TheutonicalisPoprad
Eperiessinum, FragopolisPrešov
GerulataRusovce, Bratislava
LaugaricioTrenčín
TyrnaviaTrnava
NeosoliumBanská Bystrica
Posonium, WratisslaburgiumBratislava
Veterosolium, Vetusolium, SoliumZvolen

Cities and towns in Slovenia

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Iustinopolis, Caput HistriaeKoper
Labacum, AemonaLjubljana
MarburgumMaribor
Mons CarniolaeKranjska Gora
Nova UrbsNovo Mesto
PoetoviumPtuj

Cities and towns in Sweden

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AmaliaÅmål
ArosiaVästerås
BoërosiaBorås
CalmariaKalmar
Caroli CoronaKarlskrona
Christinae portusKristinehamn
ChristianiaKristianstad
Cimbrorum portusSimrishamn
Clara VallisLjusdal
CopingaKöping
CoroniaLandskrona
DalecarliusDalälven
DelisboaDelsbo
Eckesioea, EcksiumEksjö
EncopiaEnköping
FalcopiaFalköping
GevaliaGävle
GothiaGothenburg
HalmostadiumHalmstad
HioviaHjo
Holmia, StockholmiaStockholm
HudvicovaldumHudiksvall
IuncopiaJönköping
LagaholmiaLaholm
LidcopiaLidköping
LincopiaLinköping
Lindesberga, LindaLindesberg
LulaLuleå
LundaLund
MalmögiaMalmö
Medicorum villaMedevibrunn
NicopiaNyköping
NorcopiaNorrköping
ÖrebrogiaÖrebro
ØresundaeÖresund
Pax MariaeMariefred
PitoviaPiteå
SchedinaSkövde
StenbroviumStenbro
Stocholmia, HolmiaStockholm
SudercopiaSöderköping
TelgaSödertälje
UpsalaUppsala
UraniburgumUranienborg
Urbs MariaeMariestad
VadsteniumVadstena
Vemmaria, WemmariaVimmerby
VexioniaVäxjö
VisbiaVisby
Visingsburgum, WisingsburgumVisingsborg
Ystadium, Istadium, UstadiumYstad

Cities and towns in Switzerland

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
Acaunum, AgaunumSaint-Maurice
Ad FinesPfyn
Aquae HelveticaeBaden
Arbor FelixArbon
Augusta RauricaKaiseraugst / Augst
AventicumAvenches
Basilia, BasileaBasel
BernaBern
BrienzolaBrienz
Brunntrudum, BruntrautPorrentruy, Pruntrut
Centum PrataKempraten, Jona and Rapperswil
CuriaChur, Graubünden
EburodunumYverdon-les-Bains
EsquiniaÉcône
GenavaGeneva
LousonnaLausanne
MorgiisMorges
Noviodunum Nyon
OctodurumMartigny
Solodurum/SalodurumSolothurn
SuitiaSchwyz
TugiumZug
TuricumZürich
UrbaOrbe
VibiscumVevey
VindonissaWindisch
VitudurumWinterthur

Cities and towns in Ukraine

Canonical Latin name : variant)English name – older name,, location
AlexandriaOleksandriia
Alustum, LustaAlushta
BialoquercaBila Tserkva
CalamitaInkerman
CaulitaYalta
Charcovia, CharkoviaKharkiv
Chiovia, KioviaKyiv
ChersoniumKherson
Chersonesus NordicaKorsun-Shevchenkivskyi
CzernihoviaChernihiv
EupatoriaYevpatoria
LeopolisLviv
MarinopolisMariiampil
MariupolisMariupol
MelitopolisMelitopol
Novogardia SeveriaeNovhorod-Siverskyi
OvidiopolisOvidiopol
Panticapaeum, Cimmericum, Bosporus CimmericumKerch
PereaslaviaPereiaslav
Sebastopolis, Chersonesus TauricaSevastopol
SolcataStary Krym
SugdaiaSudak
Symbolum PortusBalaklava
Sympheropolis, Neapolis ScythicaSimferopol
TernopolisTernopil
Theodoros, DorosMangup
Theodosia, CaffaFeodosia
TheophaniaFeofaniia