Pudemeid Liber Census Daniaest
Miscellanea from Liber Census Daniae

Summary/Abstract: The listing of liber Census Daniae (lCD) contains three names with the component vald (Finnic *valta): Jakawoldal (modern Jägala), Kazwold (Kasu) and Kiriawold (Kirivalla). In the name Jakawoldal the second part can consist either of *valta + Adessive ending or *valta + the toponymic suffix -la. Both explanations seem viable, while in the latter case one could presume that Jakavalta was perhaps originally a personal name. Adessive endings are nowadays also common in place names of anthroponymic origin, which nevertheless does not exclude the first explanation. The origins of the name Kiriawold lie most probably also in a personal compound name where the first component *kirja refers to a sign, decoration or pattern; this component is frequent both in Estonian place names and in ancient personal names. There is a fourth name Ranwalæ in lCD, which could be explained as having the component *valta, but on second thoughts it seems probable that the name is rather related to modern Rahula, as also explained by johansen. The component *valta has signified both power and an area from the very beginning of the record. For Rapla parish the listing of lCD contains approximately 40 names, of which two occur twice. Compared to other parishes the names in rapla have been preserved remarkably well. Most of the names (32) are easily identifiable in today’s landscape under the same name, while one name (Kotoaassen, presumably Estonian Kosu or Kotsu) has changed into another (Valtu, from the German Waldau). Two names (Wori and Lepat) might have alternative explanations in addition to johansen’s findings, and five names (Kiarkiuer, Liuas, Veri, Soka, Wæræng) should be considered as still unresolved, although some possible explanations are suggested in the article (notably for Liuas).

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