Eesti etnonüümid, võrdnimed ning piirkonnanimed
Estonian Ethnonyms and Regional Toponyms

Summary/Abstract: The current paper gives an overview of Estonian ethnonyms and regional toponyms not deriving from any particular settlement name. The article also observes some comparatively constructed compound toponyms, a specific type of toponyms consisting of local or native geographical name and widely known foreign name sharing similar features with a given geographical place (e.g. Estonian Switzerland). The Estonian-German Dictionary of F. J. Wiedemann forms the major source of data in the current ethnonym study. The formation factors of etnonyms and geographical location of communities holding particular ethnonyms is analysed. It can be stated that historically the tradition of ethnonyms in South Estonia has been practiced more widely than in North Estonia. The socalled regional toponyms not denoting a given settlement often track the ancient county names. Several of these (e.g. Ugandi) names exist as names of landscape regions today. The map of Estonian ethnonyms, comparative toponyms and regional toponyms is presented in the article.

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