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BASQUE PLACE NAMES IN AMERICA AFRICA & THE PACIFIC [Contacts] Many of the place names in America,
Africa and the Pacific were constructed in a kind of shorthand using the Basque language or its
precursors (Nyland 2001). It is believed
that the individuals responsible for creating these names were ancient
migrants from North Africa and during the Christian Era, Roman Catholic
clerics. These people had a detailed
knowledge of an ancient formula for constructing languages called the Vowel-Consonant-Vowel Formula (see VCV Dictionary). This formula
was being used to increase the size of vocabularies since Neolithic times
(see Saharan). The Benedictine clerics who were sent to
spread Christianity through Europe beginning in the 6th Century
had full knowledge of the formula (see Benedictines). Frequently they
used clever innovations to add double meanings to words and sentences, for
purposes that are not entirely understood.
[Also see: Human Migrations & Language] The Roman Catholic church indeed
had full knowledge of this formula and used it to create many of the modern
European languages. However, it was
not until the late 20th Century that the formula’s existence was brought to the public’s attention by Edo Nyland. He discovered that prior to Christian
times there was a common language in use over most of Europe, Africa, and
parts of Asia and in the Pacific that had its ancient origin in North Africa,
which he called Saharan that we know now was preceded by a more ancient language
from West Africa that was spoken by the Igbo people. Nyland
noted that modern Basque was most closely related to it, also he found that
the Roman Catholic clergy continued to use the ancient language into the 19th
Century to create new words and place names wherever they happened to
travel. The Basque/English dictionary
written by Gorka Aulestia (1989) is a valuable source for the meanings of words of
the ancient Saharan language.
Nyland derived the name Saharan from its use being found at
archeological sites in the Saharan Desert when a higher human
population density flourished during a
wetter and greener North Africa. While
translating ancient inscriptions and place names, Nyland discovered the Basque
origin of many of the names in America and throughout the Pacific that were
commonly thought to be of European or native dialects. He noted that the name
“America” did not
originate with the Italian Amerigo Vespucci, but instead came from the Basque
verb “amerikak egin”, which means, “to make a fortune.” Following are
some of the places that Nyland found with Basque roots in their names. The traditional meanings of these names
are included when possible. For a
complete discussion of how the translations were made please refer to Nyland (2001) and Etymological Dictionary. *********************************************** To find
Subject Matter Depress Ctrl/F: [Also see World
Place Names] |
|
af.-.ri-ika, afa-ari-ika: afa (happy) arinari eman (to escape)
ikaragarritasun (tragedy):
"We are happy to have escaped the tragedy". Agiguan (Marianas) agi-igu-an., agindu (orders) igurika (to wait for) -an (inside):
"Wait for orders on the island".
Agrihan (Marianas) agiri-iha-an, agirian (obviously) ihar (arid) -an (inside):
"The island is obviously arid". Alabama, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Tribal Town (Creek Indian)
Basque Meaning = The many opportunities fill us with joy. Alaska, USA
Traditional
Meanings= Object to which the action of the sea is directed. &/or An Aleut word for mainland.
Basque Meaning =
Indescribable miracles. Ailinglapalap (Marshall
Islands) ai-ili-ing.-.la-apa-ala-apo,
ai (strong desire) ilinti (burning) ingiratu (to get ready)
il (to die) apaiz (priest) alabear (fate) apokeria (human
sacrifice): "I have a burning desire to get ready to die the priest's
fate of a human sacrifice". America ameri-ika, ameriketak egin (to make a
fortune) ikaragarri (enormous): "Make an enormous
fortune". Arizona, USA
Traditional
Meanings = Silver Bearing & Place of the small spring (Papago)
Basque
Meanings = An awfully icy wind here &/or One risks freezing here. Arkansas, USA
Traditional
Meaning = An Indian tribal name
Basque Meaning = The
heartbreaking deaths in the shocking civil war anger me. American Samoa, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Polynesian name.
Basque Meaning = Basque
meaning not yet translated.
aur (child):
"Child of Maloelap". aus.-.tra-ali-iha,
ausa-atra-ali-iha: ausarta (courageous) atrakatzaile (robber,
convict) alizan (capable) ihaurri (to scatter,
to go everywhere): "Courageous and capable convicts went
everywhere" .be-et.
h.-.le-em., abe-ete he-ele-eme: abeletxe (stable) etenune (time of
birth) hementxe (right here) ele (cattle) emekiro (peaceful):
"The time of birth came right here in the stable between the peaceful
cattle." Bikar (Marshall
Islands) bika-ar., bika-arra,
bikain (extraordinary) arrantza (fishing):
"Extraordinarily good fishing". .b.-.ra-azi-il.,
eba-ara-azi-il: ebasle (thief) arrapatu (to plunder) azienda (wealth) ilki (to leave):
"The thieves plundered our wealth and then left". California, USA
Traditional
Meaning = A mythical country named Califia &/or An invented
name for an imaginary island.
Basque Meaning = The
disgusting killing of a person by the quarrelling gold miners is frightening. .ka-ana-ada, akabu (the far end) anaitu (to get
together) ada (the noise of the last word): "At
the far end we'll have a party". Carolina (North & South)
Traditional
Meaning = Carolina named in honor of England’s King Charles I.
Basque Meaning = no Basque
found. txa-ad.,
txa-adi: txankaldu (to divide the land into fields) adiskedigisa (in a friendly
manner): "They divided the land into fields in a friendly manner". Colorado, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Spanish word for “red”
Basque Meaning = I adore the
colors. Connecticut, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Mohican and Algonquin Indian for “Place beside the river.”
Basque Meaning = Remember the
wonderful blessings of productivity and tenacity when you visit our utopia. Dakota (North & South)
Traditional
Meaning = Amerindian name meaning “Alliance of friends.”
Basque Meaning = No Basque
meaning. Delaware, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Believed to have been named after governor Thomas West, Lord de la
Warr.
Basque Meaning = Spread the
word of the Redeemer. Ebon (Marshall
Islands) ebo-on.,
ebo-ondi, eboluzio (development) ondikotsu (unfortunate):
"Unfortunate development". egi-ip.-.t.,
egi-ipu-uto: egin (to create) ipuin (legend) utopia (utopia):
"They created the legend of utopia". Florida, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Spanish word for Pascua Florida &/or Flowery Place (for the
flowering trees).
Basque Meaning = None found. .ga-ali-ile,
iga-ali-ile, igarle (prophet) alienatu (to kill a
person) ileta (lament, mourning): "Lament for the
killed prophet". Georgia, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for King George II of England.
Basque Meaning = None found. Guam (Marianas) , USA
Traditional
Meaning = Pacific Islander name.
Basque Meaning =.gu-am.,
agu-ama, agur (greetings) ama (mother):
"Greetings for mother". Guguan (Marianas) .gu-.gu-an,
agu-agu-an, agur (good bye) agur (good bye) andana (people):
"God buy, good buy people". Hawaii, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Hawaiian word for homeland, “Owhyhee.”
Basque Meaning = This one is
exhausting to reach. |
Hilo ,Hawaii ilo, ilobi (tomb, grave): "Site of the grave". Hudson (Bay) .hu-ud.-.so-on.,
uhu-udi-iso-ona, uhui (cry of happiness) udikan (to get out) isolamendu (isolation)
(isolation) onargaitz (intolerable, hostile): "He cried
for joy to get out of the hostile isolation". Idaho, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Amerindian “E Dah Hoe” or Gem of the Mountains.
Basque Meaning = An
exaggerated description. Illinois, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Algonquin word for “warriors.” or “men and warriors.”
Basque Meaning = This quiet
place possibly will do for a lifetime. Indiana, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Land of the Indians.
Basque Meaning = Our American
brothers. Iowa, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Kiowa name.
Basque Meaning = Be warned about
the thunderstorms. Jerusalem
je-eru-usa-ale-em., jentil (pagan) errukigabe (cruel) usadio (custom) alegia (fake) emankortasun (fertility):"Cruel pagan custom for fake
fertility." Kansas
Traditional
Meaning = Sioux Indian “South wind people”
Basque Meaning = The deaths
in the shocking civil war anger me. Kaula ,Hawaii .ka-aula, akabu (the end, when
we get there) aulagotu (to weaken): "When we got there
we were weakened". Kentucky, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Iroquois word “Ken-tah-ten” meaning Land of Tomorrow &/or
Meadow Land
Basque Meaning = I explored
that stony place and rejected it completely. .ke-eni-iha,
ike-eni-iha: ikertu (to pay a visit) eni (to me) ihardun (to spend
time): "Pay a visit to me and spend some time". Kwajalein (Marshall Islands) .ku-aja-ale-in.,
aku-aja-ale-in., akuila (to urge on) ajaja (laughter) -ale (agent, cause)
indar (strength): "Laughter urges on and creates
strength". Lanai ,Hawaii .la-anai,
ala-anai, alabear (fate) anai (brother):
"The fate of my brother".
lai-izan, laino (foggy) izan (to be):
"It is foggy". Louisiana, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for King Louis XIV of France
Basque Meaning = None
searched for. Maine, USA
Traditional Meaning
= From mainland, changed to French province.
Basque Meaning = Cunningly
neutral. Maloelap (Marshall
Islands) ma-alo-ela-ap.,
maiburuko (guest speaker) alogerekotu (to be paid
money) ela (story) apaindu (to embellish,
to trump up): "The guest speaker was paid money to embellish the
story". Maryland, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for Virgin Mary &/or Henrietta Maria, the wife of
England’s King Charles I.
Basque Meaning = The many
tall oak groves are reduced to ash. Massachusetts, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Algonquian word meaning “At the big hills” or “A large hill place.”
Basque Meaning = Our task is
to bring about statehood, tilling of the soil, harvesting the abundance and
to do subdivision.
.ma-ug.,
ama-uga, ama (mother) ugalkor (prolific):
"Prolific mother". Maui ,Hawaii .ma-uhi,
ema-uhi, eman (to beat repeatedly) uhin (wave):
"Constantly beaten by waves". Michigan, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Amerincian word “meieigama” meaning “Great Water.” &/or
Algonquian word meaning “Forest
clearing.”
Basque Meaning = The military
had to leave because of the unpredictable food supply. Minnesota, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Sioux Indian word for “Sky-tinted water.” &/or “Cloudy water.”
Basque Meaning = It is marvelous
anywhere in these exotic wild hills. Mississippi
Traditional
Meaning = Chippewa Indian words “mici zibi” meaning “Great river.”
Basque Meaning = To my
unspeakable horror he fell into the very deep torrential rain like into the
legendary whirlpool. Missouri, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Amerindian name meaning “Town of the large canoes” &/or
Algonquian for “Muddy River.”
Basque Meaning = Hide from
this miserable torrential rain which keeps falling down. Montana, USA
Traditional Meaning
= Spanish word for “Mountainous.”
Basque Meaning = I loved it
among those pastures in the wonderful wild mountains. Nebraska, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Oto or Sioux Indian word for “Flat water” [= Platte River].
Basque Meaning = Happily the
evangelist comes here to begin his teachings. Nevada, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Spanish for “Snowy.”
Basque Meaning = Nowhere is
firewood to be cut. New Hampshire, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named by John Mason who hailed from Hampshire county, England.
Basque Meaning = None
searched for. New Jersey, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named by Sir George Carterer after his home island.
Basque Meaning = None
searched for. |
New Mexico, USA
Traditional
Meaning = named after Mexico.
Basque Meaning
for Mexico = Gently we introduce elementary teachings. New York, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named after the Duke of York, brother of Charles II.
Basque Meaning = Always
caring and stimulating. Oahu ,Hawaii, oa-ahu, oaratu (in heat) ahuntz (female goat):
"Female goat in heat". Ohio, USA
Traditional Meaning = Iroquois word for “Good river.”
Basque Meaning = Get used to the thunderstorms. Oklahoma, USA
Traditional Meaning = Choctaw word for “Red man.”
Basque Meaning = Her entire lifetime grandma was giving advice. Quebec, Canada ke-ebe-ek.,
ke-ebe-eku: kementze (act of encouraging) ebertar (the Hebrew,
Christ) ekurutasun (peace of mind): "Christ
encourages peace of mind". Rota (Marianas) .ro-ota,
arro-ota, arro (proud) otargile (basket
maker): "Proud basket maker". Rhode Island, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for Greek Island of Rhodos &/or by Dutch explorer Adriaen
Block, “Rhoode Eylandt.”
Basque Meaning = Awful
thunder clouds. .sa-aha-ara,
iza-aha-ara, izadi (nature, character) ahalguzti (Almighty) aratz (pure):
"The Omnipotent's character is pure". The previous translation has been: zahar (old):
"The Old Country?” This is not likely. Saipan (Marianas) sai-aipa, saiaketa (attempt) aipatu (famous for):
"Famous for attempt". .se-ene-ega-al.,
ase-ene-ega-ala: asezin (insatiable craving) enegan (within me) egape (shelter,
home) alai aldi (happiness): "Within me there is
an insatiable craving for a home and happiness". Taka (Marshall
Islands) taka, takada (Gentle push):
"Give me a gentle push". Tennessee, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Cherokee Indian villages called “Tanasi.”
Basque Meaning = The blessed
one who knows will nourish and protect the afflicted; so pay attention. Texas, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Indian tribal name, “Tejas.”
Basque Meaning = Seek shelter
from the many frightening storms. Utah, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Ute Indian name meaning “People of the mountains.”
Basque Meaning = They left
their kinship behind. uga-anda, ugaldu (to grow a
crop) andanaka (in large quantities):"They grow
crops in large quantities". Utirik (Marshall
Islands) uti-iri-ik.: utikan (go away) irrikatu (to desire
vehemently) ikara (terror): "I desire vehemently to
get away from the terror". Vermont, USA
Traditional
Meaning = French “verts monts,” meaning “Green Mountains”
Basque Meaning = We improve
the wilderness and give thanks for nature’s blessings. Virginia, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for England’s “Virgin Queen, “ Elizabeth I.
Basque Meaning = The digging of
the canal bed was accomplished by the engineer’s expertise. Washington, USA
Traditional
Meaning = A personal name from England
Basque Meaning = Well spoken
of person with a carefree disposition who laughs a lot. Wake Island, USA ake, akela (priestess):
"Home of) the priestess". Wisconsin, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Chippewa word “Ouisconsin,” meaning “Grassy place.” &/or
Algonquian for “Long river.”
Basque Meaning = During the
torrential rain we hid from the thunder, safe and sound, in a stable. Wott (Marshall
Islands) ot., ota, otalur (land covered
with furze): "Island covered with furze (Leguminosae)". Wyoming, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Algonquin or Delaware word meaning “Large prairie” or “Broad
plains.”
Basque Meaning = The thunder
is drawing near from all around. Oregon, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Not clear (early map shows “Ouaicon-sint.”
Basque Meaning = So many
wonderful opportunities. Pagan (Marianas) .pa-aga-an.,
opa-aga-ana, opari (sacrifice) -aga (abundance of) anaigo (group of worshippers):
"Group of worshippers with an abundance of sacrifice". Papua (New Guinea) apapua (living in
poverty): "They live in poverty". Pennsylvania, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Named for Admiral William Penn and “sylvan” meaning woodland.
Basque Meaning = Pena/pen in
Basque means suffering. .pe-eru, ape-eru: apez (priest) errukigabe (cruel): "The priests are cruel". Puerto Rico, USA
Traditional
Meaning = Spanish for “Rich port.”
Basque Meaning = No Basque
searched for. |
======================================================
Reference:
Nyland, Edo. 2001. Linguistic Archaeology: AnIntroduction. Trafford Publ., Victoria, B.C., Canada.
ISBN
1-55212-668-4. 541 p. [ see abstract &
summary]