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The Impact of the Transylvanian Saxons on Current Place Names in the Romanian Carpathians Cover

The Impact of the Transylvanian Saxons on Current Place Names in the Romanian Carpathians

Miscellanea Geographica
Volume 29 (2025): Issue 3 (July 2025)
By: ,   and    
Open Access
|Jul 2024
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Study area

Source: Sǎgeatǎ et al. 2017

Figure 2.

The demographic evolution of the German minority in Romania (1930–2021). Census data

Source: own study

Figure 3.

Departures of ethnic Germans from Romania (1983–1997)

Source: own study

Figure 4.

The demographic evolution of the Saxon community in Sibiu, against the background of the overall demographiv evolution of the city (1850–2021)

Source: own study

Figure 5.

Saxon population colonized in Transylvania. A. = Saxon in Southern Transylvania; B. = Saxon in Northen Transylvania

Source: Nägler (1981)

Figure 6.

The Saxon place names of the settlements established by the Saxon settlers in Transylvania. A. = Saxon in Southern Transylvania; B. = Saxon in Northen Transylvania

Source: own study

Figure 7.

The German place names of the settlements established by the Saxon settlers in Transylvania.

A. = Saxon in Southern Transylvania; B. = Saxon in Northen Transylvania

Source: own study

Figure 8.

The Romanian/official place names of the settlements established by the Saxon settlers in Transylvania. A. = Saxon in Southern Transylvania; B. = Saxon in Northen Transylvania

Source: own study

Table 1.

Oiconyms stemming from anthroponyms in the areas settled by Saxons in Transylvania

Name in Saxon dialectName in standard GermanPlace-name meaningName in Romanian
Hältsdref, HaljtsdrefHeldsdorf, Heldesdorf, HeltesdorfHeld’s villageHălchiu
WulkendrefWolkendorfWolbrecht’s villageVulcan
Bronjderf, BrännderfBrenndorfBrenning’s villageBod
BrallerBraller, BrunnweilerBrunn’s hamletBruiu
Händerf, HendrefHenndorf, HegendorfHagino’s villageBrădeni*
Jacosdref, Jôkestref, Giukestref, GiukesdrêfJacobsdorf, JakeschdorfJacob’s villageIacobeni
Hätselderf, HâtseldrefHetzeldorfHetzilo’s villageAțel
Birthälm, Bierthalmen, BierthalmBirthälm, BirthalmenBerath’s villageBiertan
ToppesterfTobsdorf, Tobesdorf, Toppesdorf, Tobiasdorf, Toblasdorf, DupesdorfTobias’s villageDupuș
EibesterfSächsisch-Eibesdorf, Eibesdorf, Abesdorf, IwesdorfIven’s villageIghișu Nou
Mättersdorf, MetesdorfMartinsdorfMartin’s villageMetiș
Mortesderf, MotesdrefMortesdorf, Märtesdorf, MertesdorfMorte’s villageMotiș
Nimesch, NimešNimesch, Niemesch, Nimisch, NimschdorfNiemisch’s villageNemșa
Rittersdorf, ReteschdorfRetersdorfRather’s villageRetiș
Bondorf, Bondref, BodndrefBodendorf, BudendorfBodo’s villageBunești
SchweischerSchweischer, SchweisserSchweischer’s villageFișer
Meschenderf, MešndrefMeschendorf, Meschdorff, MescheMaskilin’s villageMeșendorf
MarembrichMarienburg bei Schäβburg, MerembergMary’s villageHetiur
Wulkenderf, Vulkendref, VulkndrefWolkendorf bei SchäβburgWolo’s villageVulcan
BűlkešBulkesch, Bolkatsch, Bulgatsch, Bolgatsch, BulgeschBalcu’s villageBălcaciu
Bogeschterf, BôzeštrefBogeschdorf, BogistorfBogo’s villageBăgaciu
SejdnSeiden, SkydenSigi’s villageJidvei
Huinderf, HuindorfHohndorf, Hohendorf, HahnendorfHahnen’s villageViișoara/Hundorf**
BelleschterfBelleschdorf, Bellesdorf Bolleschdorf, Belisdorf Billesdorf, BollesdorfBellesch’s villageIdiciu
IrmeschIrmeschErmen’s villageOrmeniș
PrudnPruden, Prüden, ProdenProd’s villageProd
Gergestref, GärjštrefGergeschdorf, GergesdorfGrigore’s villageUngurei
MächelsbärchMichelsdorf, Michelsberg, MichaelsbergMichael’s villageCisnădioara
HameršterfHammersdorfHumbert’s villageGușterița
Neppenderf, Nâpndref, NaepmdrefNeppendorf, Steppendorf, NebendorfNeppen’s villageSatul lui Neppen
BlatritBlutrothBerowin’s villageBerghin
AttelsdrefBilak, Attelsdorf, Adelsdorf, ZeltAttel’s villageDomnești
BonnesdrefBonnesdorf, Bonisdorf, Bunnesdorf, Unter-Bassen, BoneschdorfBonn’s villageBoian
Frek, FraekFreck, FrykFreck’s villageAvrig
Härmeschtat, HermestattHermannstadtHermann’s townSibiu
JokeschderfJakobsdorf, JachesdorfJacob’s villageSâniacob
PiterschterfPetersdorf, PetisdorfPeter’s villagePetiș
MächelsdrefMichelsdorf an der Kokel, MichelsdorfMichael’s villageVeseuș

* Prior to 1 January 1965, the village was officially called Hendorf, a name that comes from German.

** The villages of Hohndorf and Maldorf formed the village of Viișoara

Source: own study

Table 2.

The official written name, in both Romanian and German, of Romanian settlements that are home to ethnic communities of German origin (according to Annex 1/1 of the Decision of the Government of Romania 1 206/2001)

CountyName in RomanianName in German
AlbaBerghinBlutrot
VingardWeingartskirchen
BrașovMeșendorfMeschendorf
LovnicLeblang
MăierușNussbach
Ticușu VechiDeutsch-Tekes
MureșCundReussdorf
SibiuCisnădioaraMichelsberg
GherdealGürteln
ȘomartinMartinsberg
ChirpălKirchberg
VeseudZied
MălâncravMalmkrog
Nou SăsescNeudorf
RoandolaRauthal
Dealu FrumosSchönberg
Apoldu de SusGrosspold
AmnașHamlesch
MighindoalaEngelthal
PetișPetersdorf

[i] Source: Romanian Government (2001)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2023-0037 | Journal eISSN: 2084-6118 | Journal ISSN: 0867-6046 (formerly 2084-6118)
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Language: English
Page range: 165 - 178
Submitted on: Feb 5, 2024
Accepted on: May 31, 2024
Published on: Jul 31, 2024
Published by: Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
Saxons,
Germans,
place names,
Transylvania,
Romania
Related subjects:
Geosciences,
Geosciences, other

© 2024 Radu Danut Sageata, Mircea Buza, Mihaela Persu, published by Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 29 (2025): Issue 3 (July 2025)
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