Gallia Lugdunensis

This page includes the following civitates. In later Lugdunensis I, those of the Segusiavi and Ambarri (ancient diocese of Lyon), Haedui (ancient dioceses of Mâcon, Chalon, Autun, Nevers), Lingones (ancient diocese of Langres). In later Lugdunensis IV, those of the Tricasses (ancient diocese of Troyes), Senones (ancient dioceses of Sens and Auxerre), Parisii (ancient diocese of Paris), Meldes (ancient diocese of Meaux), Carnutes (ancient dioceses of Chartres and Orleans). In later Lugdunensis II, those of the Veliocasses and Caletes (ancient diocese of Rouen and possibly Lillebonne), Aulerci Eburovices (ancient diocese of Evreux), Lexovii (ancient diocese of Lisieux), Baiocasses and Viducasses (ancient diocese of Bayeux), Unelli (ancient diocese of Coutances), Abrincates (ancient diocese of Avranches), Arvii, Esuvii and Sagii (ancient diocese of Exmes and later Séez). In later Lugdunensis III, those of the Redones (ancient diocese of Rennes), Coriosolites (ancient dioceses of Dol, Saint-Malo, and Saint-Brieuc), Osismii (ancient dioceses of Léon, Tréguier, and Cornouaille), Venetes (ancient diocese of Vannes), Namnetes (ancient diocese of Nantes, except lands south of the Loire), Andecaves (ancient diocese of Angers), Aulerci Cenomani and Aulerci Diablinti (ancient dioceses of Le Mans and Jublains), Turones (ancient diocese of Tours).

Common remarks: the place-names have been put in the nominative case, an asterisk * means not attested, reconstructed form. The late place-names of probable Latin origin have not been included. The IE roots are in the form given by Pokorny's Indogermanische Wörterbuch. The links will be active when the single pages will be published, see the main page. For any comment, suggestion, email me.

Segusiavi and Ambarri

Aquae Segetae

Place: Moingt of Montbrison, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Aquae Segete (Peut.) Aquae (Rev.)
Etymology: The name recalls that of the Gaulish goddess Segeta, known from inscriptions.

Arar fl.

Place: river Saône, department Rhône, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Arar fl. (Ptol., Plin., Strab., Liv., Caes.)
Etymology: Unknown, but related to an A-language stratum, see under Arauris fl.

Cosia fl.

Place: river Coise, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Cosia fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Considered as Gaulish without explanaition [Delamarre, p. 126], the hydronym compares with Cosa fl. (Latium).

Forum Segusiavorum

Place: Feurs, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Forum Segusianorum (Ptol.) Forum Segustavarum (Peut.)
Etymology: A Latin name forum 'market', specified by the ethnonym Segusiavi.

Iciomagus

Place: Usson-en-Forez, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Icidmagus (Peut.) Icutmageum (Rav.)
Etymology: A compound with Gaulis magos 'marketplace' (see under Ritumagus). The first element is considered a personal name [Delamarre, p. 163; Faileyev].

Lugdunum

Place: Lyon, department Rhône, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Lugdunum (Ptol., Strab., It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: A compound Gaulish name. While the second element is Gaulish dunon 'fortress, hill fort', a cognate of PIE dheu-n 'to reel, dissipate, blow', the first element has been alternatively interpreted as the god name Lugus [Delamarre, p. 183; Falileyev; Nègre, p. 171] or as Gaulish **lugu-* 'bright'. The latter is explained as a late Gaulish cognate of PIE *leuk- 'bright, to shine, to see', however, the proper Gaulish phonology would require a form **l(e)uko-*. For this reason the traditional interpretation is more widely accepted.

Lunna

Place: between Taponas and Belleville, department Rhône, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Lunna (It. Ant.) Ludna (Peut.)
Etymology: Unclear, given the varieties of the forms.

Mediolanum

Place: disputed, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Mediolanum (Peut.)
Etymology: Like many other similar placenames in the Celtic domain, it has to be divided as medio- 'middle', from the IE root medh- 'middle', and a second element -lanum. The latter is traditionally explained as 'plain', from the IE root pel 'wide and flat'. However, a different explanation [Delamarre, p. 26] relates it to Latin plenus 'full' and eventually to the PIE root *pel(e)- 'full, to fill, to pour, town'. The meaning would be 'full central point', a sacred place.

Renus fl.

Place: river Rhins or Reins, department Rhône, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Renus fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Clearly [Nègre, p. 121; Delamarre, p. 220] explained as a Gaulish word meaning 'river, stream', a cognate of the PIE root *rei- 'to flow'.

Rodomna

Place: Roanne, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France
Name: Rhodumna (Ptol.) Roidomna (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 222] analyzed as an hydronym ro-dumna, a compound of Gaulish ro- 'very' and dumno- 'deep' (from the PIE root dheub- 'deep'). Semantically the latter is sound, however, the ending -umna* is not surely attested before the late antiquity. Being unlikely the derivation [Nègre, p. 41] from a pre-Celtic stem **rod-, with a Romance suffix -umna, and although no possible Gaulish cognates is attested or reconstructed, several PIE roots like red- 'to dig, scrape' or reid- 'to hold, support' could be invoked as an alternative, through an O-grade form ro(i)dom-na-. Compare the latter stem with the nearby river name Rhodon.

Haedui

Aballo

Place: Avallon, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Aballo (It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: Well explained (Pokorny) from Gaulish aballo, avallo 'apple(-tree)', although an unattested god name *Aballos has been proposed [Delamarre, p. 37] in alternative.

Alesia

Place: Mont-Auxois of Alise-Sainte-Reine, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Alesia (Caes.)
Etymology: The name shows the stem *alis-, discussed under Alisincum.

Alisincum

Place: possibly Anizy of Limanton, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Alisincum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: The stem alis- is traditionally [Pokorny; Nègre, p. 22] interpreted as a pre-Celtic (since the A-grade) appellative alisa 'adler', from the IE root el- 'red, brown'. Thus the placename would have meant '(place) by the adlers'. Considering the A-grade, a more likely alternative [Delamarre, p. 46-47] invokes an S-stem variant of the PIE root pel(i)-s- 'rocky', with drop of initial p that is typical of Gaulish. Formally, an S-stem of one of the roots al- 'to grow, nourish' or *al- 'to wander, roam' would be also possible. A pre-Celtic origin seems however unlikely.

Aquae Nisincii

Place: Bourbon-Lancy, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Aquae Nisincii (Peut.)
Etymology: Unclear.

Aronus fl.

Place: river Aron, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Aronus fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 61] explained with a hydronymic stem ar- that is derived from the PIE root er- 'to move'.

Aturavus fl.

Place: river Arroux, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Aturavus fl. (inferred from medieval sources)
Etymology: Sometimes considered pre-Celtic [Nègre, p. 31] and compared with Autura fl. and Atura fl., for which a non-Celtic etymology is usually invoked. The suffix -ava designating hydronyms is from the IE root au(e)- 'to flow'. The meaning of the element atura* is unknown. Maybe it should be further decomposed as *at-ur, with a Gaulish preposition at- ('the overflowing'?).

Augustodunum

Place: Autun, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Augustodunum (Ptol., Mel., Tac., It. Ant., Peut., Not. Dign.)
Etymology: Founded under Augustus, it took its name, in compound with Gaulish dunon 'fortress'.

Bibracte

Place: mount Beauvray, departments Saône-et-Loire and Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Bibracte (Caes., Strab.)
Etymology: Traditionally related to the Gaulish name for the 'beaver', bebro-. More recently [Vendryes; Nègre, p.; Delamarre, p. 78] explained as a reduplication form bi-bract- of a Gaulish word bract-, a possible cognate of Greek phraktos* 'fence' and thus derived from a PIE root bharekw- 'to stuff'. However, the Gaulish cognate of this root is barca* 'boat, *wooden house'.

Boxum

Place: Buis of Chissey-en-Morvan, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Boxum (Peut.)
Etymology: Formally coincident with Latin buxus 'box', but since hybrid compounds with buxus and a Gaulish second element or suffix are known, possibly reflecting an equivalent appellative of the Gaulish language.

Brebona fl.

Place: river Brévon, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Brebona fl. (late antiquity)
Etymology: Possibly reflecting Gaulish *bebro- 'beaver', with a late metathesis.

Cabillonum

Place: Chalons-sur-Saône, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Cabyllinum (Ptol., Strab.) Cabillonum (Caes., It. Ant.) Cabilio (Peut.)
Etymology: Possibly the same origin of Cabellio (Narbonensis), although an anthroponymic origin has been also proposed [Delamarre, p. 94].

Carilocus

Place: Charlieu, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Carilocus (Ptol. ?)
Etymology: Not proveably of ancient origin.

Decetia

Place: Decize, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Decetia (Caes., It. Ant.) Degetia (Peut.) Dizezeia (Rav.)
Etymology: Usually considered as Gaulish, but either unexplained or explained with a personal name [Delamare, p. 134; Nègre, p. 233]. Given the participe suffix, one might alternatively consider the PIE root deik'- 'to show' and assume a deverbal form dek'-ent-ia meaning 'direction (mark)' as in Sanskrit, Germanic, Greek, etc., although no Celtic cognates of this root have been apparently found.

Dubina fl.

Place: river Dheune, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Dubina fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Clearly explained [Delamarre, p. 142; Nègre, p. 113] from tha Gaulish adjective dubi- 'black', which is a cognate of the PIE root dheubh- 'smoke, misty'. Compare with Dubis fl. (Belgica).

Gravona fl.

Place: river Grosne, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Gravona fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 161] as 'river of gravels', from Gaulish grava 'gravel', a cognate of the PIE root *ghreu-.

Matisco

Place: Mâcon, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Matisco (Caes., It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Falileyev; Nègre, p. 137] explained with the Gaulish matu- 'bear' (a taboo-name, originally an adjective 'good'), possibly from a personal name or a god name. Compare with Matavo (Narbonensis).

Nevirnum, Noviodunum

Place: Nevers, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Noviodunum (Caes.) Nevirnum (It. Ant.) Ebirnum (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Nègre, p. 40] explained from an unattested pre-Celtic hydronym Nevara fl. attributed to the nearby Nièvre* river. However, a derivation from the PIE root (s)neu- 'to flow, swim, damp' through the form neu-_era- seems phonetically and semantically more likely. The proper name of the town could have been Noviodunum, a Gaulish compound meaning 'new fortress' (see neuos and dheu-n).

Oscara fl.

Place: river Ouche, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Oscara fl. (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: As an hydronym, more likely seems a derivation from the PIE root (a)ued- 'water' through a form uod-sk-_era, than from Gaulish *osc- 'ash' [Delamarre, p. 212].

Pocrinium

Place: Digoin, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Pocrinium (Peut.)
Etymology: Very tentatively it could be reconstructed as Epo-crinium, a compound of Gaulish epos* 'horse' and crena, crina 'crack, gap' (from the IE root (s)k(e)rei- 'to cut, separate'), thus 'the horses' ford'. The name could have referred to the river Liger fl. that was here, upstream of the confluence of the Aturavus fl., easily crossed by horses (?).

Sidolocum

Place: Saulieu, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Sidoleucum (It. Ant.) Sidotocum (Peut.)
Etymology: Likely a compound [Falileyev, Delamarre] of Gaulish sedo- 'seat, location' (itself from the PIE root sed- 'to sit'), and leuko-* 'white' (from the PIE root *leuk- 'bright, to shine, to see'). Likely the placename referred originally to a clearance in the wood. A different origin for the second element has been also proposed [Delamarre, p. 237].

Sitillia

Place: Thiel-sur-Acolin, department Allier, region Auvergne, France
Name: Sitillia (Peut.)
Etymology: From a personal name [Delamarre, p. 239].

Telonnum

Place: Toulon-sur-Arroux, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Telonnum (Peut.)
Etymology: For this placename a Gaulish telon-'river', or rather Telu 'river god', has been conjectured [Delamarre, p. 250; Nègre, p. 123]. Likely the placename reflects a kind of common appellative since it has an exact counterpart in Telonnum (Aquitania). Compare also with Telo Martius (Narbonensis).

Tinurtium

Place: Tournus, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Tinurtium (It. Ant.) Tenurcium (Peut.) Trinorc(h)ium (late antiquity)
Etymology: Unclear due to the variety of the attested forms. Sometimes explained as derived from a personal name [Delamarre, p. 252] or as pre-Celtic [Nègre, p. 57].

Vidubia fl.

Place: river Vouge, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Vidubia (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 269] related to Latin vidubium 'serpent' as a metaphor for the stream. Consider also Gaulish uidu- 'tree' found in several toponymic formations.

Lingones

Andematunnum

Place: Langres, department Haute-Marne, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Andomatunum (Ptol.) Andematunnum (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: The Gaulish intensive prefix ande- and the element matu- 'bear' are clearly recognizable. Thus a compound name meaning 'great (town) of the bears' [Nègre, p. 137] or from a personal name meaning 'Great chief of the bears' [Delamarre, p. 51].

Artia fl.

Place: river Arce, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Artia fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: According to [Delamarre, p. 62], the hydronym means '(stream of) the bears', from Gaulish artos 'bear'. A "pre-Celtic" etymology is given in [Nègre, p. 23].

Bridena fl.

Place: river Brenne, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Bridena fl.* (late antiquity source)
Etymology: Explained [Pokorny, p. 164] from the PIE root bhred(h)- 'to wade, wander'. The original form could have been Bredina* (from whence the attested form through a metathesis) or Bredanna.

Dibio

Place: Dijon, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Dibio (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: Commonly [Delamarre, p. 138] explained from a personal name or Gaulish div(i)o- 'god'.

Lagina fl.

Place: river Laigne, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Lagina fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 170] from a Gaulish *lagino- 'blade', with Irish equivalent hydronyms.

Mosa

Place: Meuvy of Breuvannes-en-Bassigny, department , region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Mosa (Peut.)
Etymology: Reflects the name Mosa fl. (Belgica) of the river Meuse where the town is situated.

Segessera

Place: Bar-sur-Aube, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Segessera (Peut.)
Etymology: Same origin as Segustero (Narbonensis) [Delamarre, p. 234].

Tilena

Place: Til-Châtel, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Filena (Peut.) Tilena (inscription)
Etymology: Likely referred to the nearby river Tille, the name could be compared with Tilurius fl. (Illyricum) and explained from the hydronymic stem til-. A more concrete explanation of the element tilo- [Delamarre, p. 251] would assume a Gaulish cognate of Latin tilia 'lime', whence '(river) of the limes'.

Varcia

Place: close to Larret, department Haute-Saône, region Franche-Comté, France
Name: Varcia (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: Possibly related to Welsh cy-warch 'hemp, flax', attributed together with other Celtic words to a generic PIE root *uer-k- 'to turn, wind, bend'. Sometimes interpreted from a personal name as '(domain) of Varcios' [Delamarre, p. 259].

Tricasses

Alba fl.

Place: river Aube, department Marne, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Alba fl. (late antiquity sources)
Etymology: Formally identical with Latin alba 'white' but more likely it reflects a Gaulish adjective having the same meaning, and equally derived from the PIE root *albho- 'white' [Delamarre, p. 44].

Arciaca

Place: Arcis-sur-Aube, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Arciaca (It. Ant.)
Etymology: The name clearly shows the Gaulish suffix -(i)-aco- often used as a derivative from a personal name. A Gaulish personal name Arcu has been actually reconstructed [Delamarre, p. 56], thus 'domain of Arcu' seems the most likely meaning for the placename.

Augustobona

Place: Troyes, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Augustobona (Ptol., It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: Formally meaning 'base, foundation (Gaulish bona) of Augustus'.

Ausa fl.

Place: river Hozain, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Ausa fl.* (late antiquity source)
Etymology: More likely from the PIE root aus- 'to draw water' than from the root aues- 'to shine' with a meaning of 'the golden (river)', as sometimes suggested [Delamarre, p. 67]. Sometimes erroneously confused with the different stem *alis- [Nègre, p. 23], for which see Alisincum.

Clanum

Place: not proveably Villemaur-sur-Vanne, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Clanum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Usually compared with Glanum (Narbonensis) and explained with Gaulish glano- 'pure, clean'. There is also a handful of Gaulish hydronyms showing the stem clan-, which have been tentatively related to Italian hydronyms such as Clanis fl. (Latium). However, the latter are derived, through "Liguro-Sicanian" phonetics, from the same PIE root g'hel- 'to shine, green, gold, blue' as Gaulish glano-. Therefore, the stem clan- must have a different origin.

Corobilium

Place: Corbeil, department Marne, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Corobilium (Peut.)
Etymology: Unclear. If analyzed as a compound coro-bil-, the first part of the name would be a Gaulish adjective coro- 'dwarf', reconstructed from Middle Irish corr 'id.' (korso-) and thus cognate of the PIE root (s)ker- 'to cut'. The second element would be related to Old Irish bile 'tree', derived from the PIE root bhel- 'leaf, bloom', and the overall meaning would be 'bush, bushy (terrain)', possibly also as a personal name [Delamarre, p. 125]. The alternative breaking corbo-ialo-* that would explain some late antiquity attestations would point at the Gaulish appellative ialo- 'clearance' [Nègre, p. 226] instead.

Vigera fl.

Place: river Voire, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France
Name: Vigera fl.* (late antiquity source)
Etymology: A hydronymic stem vig- has been identified from several placenames [Nègre, p. 46; Delamarre, p. 269]. Possibly from the PIE root uei-g- 'to curve, bend, go around, exchange'.

Senones

Agedincum

Place: Sens, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Agedincum (Caes.) Age(n)dicum (Ptol.) Agetincum (Peut.) Agredincum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Usually considered a derivative from a Gaulish personal name Agedus [Delamarre, p. 41; Nègre, p. 166].

Alisantia fl.

Place: river Auxence, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Alisantia fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: For the stem *alis- [Delamarre, p. 46; Nègre, p. 23] see Alisincum. According to the explanation of the stem, the hydronym means 'the stony (river)' or 'the wandering (river)'.

Aquae Segestae

Place: Le-Préau of Sceaux-du-Gâtinais, department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Aquae Segestae (Peut.)
Etymology: Probably the same origin as Aquae Segetae.

Autesiodurum

Place: Auxerre, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Autisiodorum () Autesiodorum (It. Ant.) Autessio Durum (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually explained from a Gaulish personal name Autestius [Delamarre, p. 68] or Autesius [Nègre, p. 176]. The second element is Gaulish duron* 'forum, marketplace', which reflects the PIE root *dhuer- 'door' as explained by Delamarre.

Bandritum

Place: Bassou, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Bandritum (Peut.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 71] as a Gaulish compound banno-ritu, from banno-* 'hill, summit', which is from the PIE root bend- 'spike, needle', and -ritu* 'stream, ford', derived from the PIE root per(e)- 'to carry over, bring, to go over, fare'. However, consider as an alternative for the first part a cognate of Middle irish, Cornish banna* 'drop (source)', which could fit better the name of a stream or ford.

Brivodurum

Place: Briare, department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Brivodurum (It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: Clearly explained [Delamarre, p. 90; Nègre, p. 175] as a Gaulish compound meaning 'market by the bridge', from brivo- 'bridge (bhreua- from the PIE root bhreu- 'bridge') and duron 'marketplace', for which see Autessiodurum.

Condate

Place: Cosne of Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Condate (Ptol., It. Ant.)
Etymology: A Gaulish appellative meaning 'confluence', from the PIE root *da- 'to flow' [Pokorny, Delamarre, p. 120, Nègre, p. 109].

Condate

Place: Montereau-Fault-Yonne, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Condate (Peut.)
Etymology: The same as the other Condate.

Eburobriga

Place: Mont-Avrollot of Saint-Florentin, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Eburobriga (Peut.) Eburobrica (It. Ant.)
Etymology: A clear Gaulish compound meaning 'yew hill', from eburo- 'yew', a metathetical form of the PIE root ereb(h)- 'a kind of dark coulour', and briga* 'hill', which is derived from the PIE root *bher(e)g'h- 'high, mountain' [Delamarre, p. 148; Nègre, p. 168].

Iagonia fl.

Place: Juine, department Essonne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Iagonia fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 162] as 'the frozen (river)' from a Celtic stem iag- 'ice', which derives from the PIE root *ieg- 'ice'.

Icauna fl.

Place: river Yonne, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Icauna fl. (from an inscr.) Egona (Rav.)
Etymology: The hydronym has been reconducted [Carnoy] to the PIE root i_ek- 'health' together with other Celtic placenames. This root could actually be a form of the more established root iek- 'to speak', which would better justify the name as 'the speaking (river)'. The ending -auna is the same as in Alauna.

Massava

Place: Mesves-sur-Loire, department Nièvre, region Bourgogne, France
Name: Massava (Peut.)
Etymology: Explained as a plural neutral derivative of a personal name Mass(av)os [Delamarre, p. 192]. The latter could be from a Gaulish adjective maksos 'beautiful' that seems to be found also in Massilia (Narbonensis). However the name could have a descriptive meaning as well, with the ending -ava* that would not be a suffix but the same hydronym that is found, e.g., in Genava (Narbonensis), that is, a cognate of the PIE root *au(e)- 'to flow'.

Metlosedum

Place: Melun, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Metlosedum, Meclosedum, Mellosedum, Metiosedum (Caes.) Meteglum (Peut.) Mecletum (It. Ant.) Metroselum (Rav.)
Etymology: Usually explained as a Gaulish compound met(e)lo-sedon. While the second element is clearly Gaulish sedon 'residence' (itself from the PIE root sed- 'to sit'), the first element has been related to a mello-* 'hill' [Nègre, p. 173], to a personal name [Falileyev] or, more likely, to an appellative metelo- 'harvester' [Delamarre, p. 198].

Odouna fl.

Place: river Ouanne, department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Odouna fl. (inscr.)
Etymology: A tentative etymology [Delamarre, p. 210] is od-omna 'the odoriferous (river)', from a Gaulish cognate of the PIE root od- 'to smell, to have a (repulsive) smell'.

Salioclita

Place: Saclas, department Essonne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Salioclita (It. Ant.) Sarclita (late antiquity)
Etymology: Clearly a compound name. The second element has been exaplained either as Gaulish clita 'pillar, post' [Delamarre, p. 226] or cleta 'hurdle (palisade)' [Nègre, p. 136], both terms being related to the PIE root k'lei- 'to tip, incline, lean'. The first element can be related [Delamarre, p. 227] to the PIE root sal- 'salt', although the meaning would not be clear. Alternatively, a variant of Gaulish salico-* 'willow' [Nègre, p. 136] or a personal name [Delamarre, Falileyev] have been proposed.

Vellaunodunum

Place: not identified, probably department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Vellaunodunum (Caes.)
Etymology: A clear Gaulish compound name, made up of dunon 'fortress' and vellaunos 'the most valorous', the latter derived from the PIE root *uel- 'to wish, choose'.

Vosegia fl.

Place: river Voulzie, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Vosegia fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: To be likely analyzed as vo-segia, the former element being the Gaulish preposition vo (u(p)o) 'under'. The second element segia is reflected in other hydronyms in the Celtic domain but its meaning is unclear. Tentatively it might reflect the PIE root *seg-h- 'to hold, possess, overcome, victory', thus meaning 'the powerful (river)'.

Parisii

Anderitum

Place: Andrésy, department Yvelines, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Anderitum (Not. Dign.)
Etymology: A clear Gaulish compound name [Delamarre, p. 51; Nègre, p. 196], with ande 'great' (a cognate of the PIE root andh- 'to grow, bloom, blossom') and ritu* 'ford', see Bandritum.

Bebra fl.

Place: river Bièvre, department Paris, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Bebra fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: See under Bibracte.

Exonna fl.

Place: river Essonne, department Essonne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Exona fl.* (late antiquity)
Etymology: Traditionally related to Acionna, the name of a water goddess or [Nègre, p. 115] to explained as a Gaulish compound of esca 'water' (< isca) and the suffix -ona.

Isara fl.

Place: river Oise, department Yvelines, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Isara fl. (Caes., Peut.) Esara fl. (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: Clearly [Delamarre, p. 165; Nègre, p. 39] explained as is_e-ro from the IE root eis- 'to move rapidly' and thus meaning 'the vigorous (river)'. Possibly belonging to an Old-European, pre-Celtic stratum.

Lutetia

Place: Paris, department Paris, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Lutetia (Caes.) Lucotocia (Strab.) L(e)ucotecia (Ptol.) Lutecia (It. Ant., Peut.)
Etymology: Likely [Delamarre, p. 184; Nègre, p. 118] related to a reconstructed Gaulish appellative meaning 'mud', derived from the PIE root *leu-t 'dirt'. In fact, the town was situated on an island in front of a marsh.

Matrona fl.

Place: river Marne, department Val-de-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Matrona fl. (Caes.)
Etymology: Usually [Pokorny; Delamarre, p. 194] equated with a theonym Matrona 'mother goddess (of the sources ?)', to be compared with Welsh Modron.

Orbia fl.

Place: river Orge, department Essonne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Urbia fl.* (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 211] as orbh-io- 'the heir (of a larger river)', from a Gaulish cognate of the IE root orbho- 'orphan, servant, work' analogue to Old Irish or(b)e, orpe 'heir'.

Nemetodurum

Place: Nanterre, department Hauts-de-Seine, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Nemptodorum (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: A clear Gaulish compound [Delamarre, p. 205; Nègre, p. 176] meaning 'market by the shrine'. The first element nemeton 'shrine' is a Gaulish cognate of the PIE root *nem- 'to bend (to bow, venerate)'. For the second element, see Lugdunum.

Meldes

Calagum

Place: Cahilly-en-Brie, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Calagum (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 96] related to a Gallo-Roman calio- 'stone, pebble' and thus to the PIE root kal- 'hard'. Alternatively, it can be compared with other compound toponyms that could be explained with the PIE root *kel- 'spotted'.

Iantinum

Place: Meaux, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Latinum (Ptol.) Iantinum (?) Fixtuinum (Peut.)
Etymology: Explained with a personal name [Delamarre, p. 162] but actually unclear due to the oscillations in the attestations.

Riobe

Place: probably Châteaubleau, department Seine-et-Marne, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Riobe (Peut.)
Etymology: According to [Delamarre, p. 221], the etymology is unclear but could tentatively be reconducted to a Gaulish personal name Riiobiios or Rigobiios.

Carnutes

Autricum

Place: Chartres, department Eure-et-Loir, region Centre, France
Name: Autricum (Ptol., Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Nègre, p.31; Delamarre, p. 68] explained as *Auturicum from Autura fl., since the town is on this river.

Belca

Place: Biauche of Dampierre-en-Burly, department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Belca (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 112] as a 'domain of Belcos' or as a reduction of a Belica (attested elsewhere), which could reflect the PIE root bhel- 'shining, white', possibly with the meaning of '(pertinent to) a clearance'. Alternatively [Isaac], Belca could reflect a Gaulish cognate of Welsh balch 'stout, proud', which depends from the other PIE root *bhel- to grow, spread, swell'.

Cenabum

Place: Orléans, department Loiret, region Centre, France
Name: Cenabum (Ptol., Peut.) Genabum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: According to [Delamarre, p. 112], to be explained as ci-nabon, where nabo-* would be a cognate of the PIE root *(e)nebh- 'navel'. The town would have thus been a sort of religious center.

Diodurum

Place: Ithe of Jouars-Pontchartrain, department Yvelines, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Diodurum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: A clear Gaulish compound [Delamarre, p. 138; Nègre, p. 175] meaning 'marketplace of the god(s)', from di(u)o- 'god' and duron 'forum, marketplace', for which see Autessiodurum.

Durocassium

Place: Dreux, department Eure-et-Loir, region Centre, France
Name: Durocassium (Peut.) Durocassis (It. Ant.)
Etymology: From the ethnic name Durocasses.

Tasciaca

Place: Thésée, department Loir-et-Cher, region Centre, France
Name: Tasciaca (Peut.)
Etymology: Possibly related through a personal name to Gaulish tasgos 'badger'. Thus meaning 'domain of Tasgos'.

Veliocasses

Breviodurum

Place: Brionne, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Breviodurum (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: A Gaulish compound meaning 'market by the bridge', from briva 'bridge (see under Briva) and duron 'marketplace' (see under Autessiodurum).

Briva Isarae

Place: Pontoise, department Val-d'Oise, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Briva Isarae (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: The name reflects the Gaulish appellative briva 'bridge' and describes a bridge-town on the Isara fl.. The appellative derives from the PIE root *bhr(e)u- 'beam, bridge'.

Isara fl.

Place: river Oise, department Val-d'Oise, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Isara fl. (Caes.)
Etymology: Same origin as Isara fl. (Narbonensis)

Itta fl.

Place: river Epte, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Itta fl. (inferred from the survival of the name, late antiquity sources)
Etymology: Traditionally explained [Nègre, p. 39] with a stem itt- with unknown meaning. A more likely etymology [Delamarre, p. 167] is from a Gaulish form itua- 'the nourishing (river)', derived from the PIE root *peit- 'trank, dish, food'.

Petromantalum

Place: possibly Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, department Val-d'Oise, region Île-de-France, France
Name: Petrum Antalum (Peut.) Petromantalum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Explained as 'crossroad', from Gaulish petru 'four' and mantalon 'road' [Delamarre, p. 216; Pokorny, p. 726]. The latter appellative is derived from the PIE root *men- 'to step, tread over, press', i.e., 'the pressed'.

Ritumagus

Place: Radepont, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Ritumagus (It. Ant.)
Etymology: A Gaulish compound of ritu 'ford', see Bandritum, and magos 'field', a clear cognate of the PIE root *meg(h)- 'big' [Delamarre, p. 221; Nègre, p. 193].

Ratumagus

Place: Rouen, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Ratomagus (Ptol.) Ratumagus (Peut., coins) Rotomagus (It. Ant.)
Etymology: The first element is likely to have been ratu-, which has been variously explained as 'fortune' [Delamarre, p. 223] or 'earthworks, fortifications' [Falileyev, Nègre, p. 193]. If the reading roto- is to be preferred, then [Pokorny, p. 866] the name is explained as 'field of the wheel (i.e., of the carts)', from an unattested Gaulish word cognate of the PIE root *ret(h)- 'to run, roll'. For the second element see Ritumagus.

Caletes

Caracotinum

Place: Crétin of Harfleur, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Carocotinum (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Explained from a personal name as 'domain of Caracotinos' [Delamarre, p. 104].

Gravinum

Place: Gréaume of Héricourt-en-Caux, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Gravinum (Peut.)
Etymology: Formally equated with Gaulish *grava 'gravel'.

Iuliobona

Place: Lillebonne, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Iuliobona (Ptol., Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: An hybrid name, meaning 'foundation of Iulius'.

Lotum

Place: Caudebec-en-Caux, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Lotum/Loium (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Unclear.

Aulerci Eburovices

Autura fl.

Place: river Eure, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Autura fl.* (late antiquity sources)
Etymology: Tentatively explained |Delamarre, p. 68] as a Gaulish au-tura 'forceless', where the second element would be related to the PIE root teur- 'strong'. Other, pre-Celtic etymologies [Nègre, p. 31] are baseless.

Condate

Place: Vieux Conches of Conches-en-Ouche, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Condate (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: The same as the other Condate.

Mediolanum Aulercorum

Place: Evreux, department Eure, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Mediolanum Aulercorum (Ptol., Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: See under Mediolanum.

Uggade

Place: Caudebec-lès-Elbeuf, department Seine-Maritime, region Haute-Normandie, France
Name: Uggade (It. Ant.)
Etymology: Possibly reflecting a personal name [Delamarre, p. 268].

Lexovii

Noviomagus

Place: Lisieux, department Calvados, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Noviomagus (Ptol., It. Ant.)
Etymology: A Gaulish compound meaning 'new market' [Delamarre, p. 208; Nègre, p. 191], from novio- 'new' and magos 'market(place)' (see neuos and meg'(h)-).

Sequana fl.

Place: river Seine, departments Seine-Maritime and Calvados, regions Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Sequana fl. (Ptol., Strab.)
Etymology: Traditionally considered as exhibiting a Goidelic-like preservation of PIE kw (instead of Gaulish shift to p). Likely to be reconstructed instead as Seko-(w)anas. A proposal [J. Loth] in this direction pointed to the PIE roots sek- 'to cut' and uen- 'to hit', as in Welsh hesg 'reed' and, respectively, gwanu 'to pierce'. More likely seems to invoke a different PIE root sek- 'quiet, lazy' that fits better a river's feature. As for the ending, it is formally identical to the Old-European hydronymic stem ana.

Baiocasses and Viducasses

Aregenua

Place: Vieux-la-Romaine of Vieux, department Calvados, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Argenua (Ptol.) Araegenua (Peut.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 57] as a compound are-genua, from Gaulish are 'in front of' and an element genua 'estuary', reconstructed after Old Irish gin* 'mouth'. This word is certainly related to the PIE root g'enu- 'chin' and possibly to the other PIE root g'enu- 'knee, joint', to which other Celtic placenames, like Genua (Liguria), are usually reconducted. While the chain of semantic shifts from 'knee' to 'chin' (already PIE?), to 'mouth' (Irish), then to 'mouth of a river, estuary' (Gaulish?) is somehow problematic, it is true that the Aregenua site is close to the estuary of the Orne river.

Augustodurum

Place: Bayeux, department Calvados, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Augustodurum (Peut., inscr.)
Etymology: A clear compound [Delamarre, p. 66; Nègre, p. 176] meaning 'the market of Augustus (the emperor), from Gaulish dunon 'marketplace', for which see Autessiodurum.

Briovera

Place: Saint-Lô, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Briovera (late antiquity sources)
Etymology: A clear [Delamarre, p. 90; Nègre, p. 47] Gaulish compound of briva 'bridge' and Viria fl..

Olina fl.

Place: river Orne, department Calvados, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Olina fl. (Ptol.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 210] as a Gaulish word olina 'elbow' (from its shape), reconstructed from cognate Celtic words related to the PIE root el- 'to bow, bend, elbow'. Compare with Olonna fl. (Transpadana) in the same Celtic domain.

Unelli

Alauna

Place: Alleaume of Valognes, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Alauna (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: A common appellative, used as a hydronym, ethnonym, and theonym. Reconstructed from a Gaulish form alamna and explained [Delamarre, p. 43] from the IE root al- 'to wander, roam'. The meaning would have been thus 'the wandering (river)'. An alternative etymology is from the IE root *al- 'to grow, nourish'.

Coriallo

Place: likely by Cherbourg-Octeville, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Coriallo (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 125] from a Gaulish personal name Corioval(l)os, whose first element is corio- 'army'. The second element could have been re-interpreted as Latin vallum [Delamarre, ib.; Nègre, p. 150].

Cosedia

Place: Coutances, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Cosedia (Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: Tentatively reconducted to a Gaulish stem cosa- [Delamarre, p. 126; Nègre, p. 54], of unknown meaning, or a form co-sed-ia [Delamarre, ib.] compounded from the preposition ko(m)- and a cognate of the IE root sed- 'to sit'. Since the same root generated not only Welsh sedd 'seat' but also Gaulish hedd 'peace', a further speculation [Delamarre, ib.] is that the placename reflects a personal name like Cosedo meaning 'the calm one'.

Crociatonum

Place: Carentan or Saint-Côme-du-Mont, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Crociatonnum (Ptol.) Crouciaconum (Peut.)
Etymology: Explained by [Delamarre, p. 129] as crouci-acaunon 'heap of stones'. The first element is reconstructed from an Irish appellative derived from the IE root kreu- 'to heap up, put together, heap, roof'. The second element would reflect the IE root *ak'- 'sharp'.

Grannona

Place: not proveably Granville, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Grannona (Not. Dign.)
Etymology: According to [Delamarre, p. 161] the place name is from a personal name Grannos.

Viria fl.

Place: river Vire, departments Manche* and Calvados, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Viria fl. (late antiquity sources)
Etymology: Likely from the IE root (a)uer- 'water, rain, flow', with a Gaulish shift from long e (uer-ia) to long i.

Abrincates

Ingena

Place: Avranches, department Manche, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Ingena (Ptol.) Legedia (Peut.)
Etymology: Unclear.

Redones

Condate

Place: Rennes, department Ille-et-Vilaine, region Bretagne, France
Name: Condate (Ptol., Peut., It. Ant.)
Etymology: The same as the other Condate.

**Sipia, *Sipia fl.**

Place: possibly Visseiche (Sipia), river Seiche (Sipia fl.), department Ille-et-Vilaine, region Bretagne, France
Name: Sipia (Peut.)
Etymology: Possibly the same origin as Siparis (Histria), i.e., from the IE root *sei-kw- 'to spill, pour, draft'. The place name is thus originally an hydronym.

Coriosolites

Aletum

Place: Saint-Servan (Aleth) of Saint-Malo, department Ille-et-Vilaine, region Bretagne, France
Name: Aletum (Not. Dign.)
Etymology: Explained with a personal name by [Delamarre, p. 45] as a 'domain of Aletos'. However, the place name formation could be independent from a personal name based on the same Gaulish stem. Consider the IE root *al- 'to nourish, grow' and compare with Aleta (Illyria).

Aregenua fl.

Place: river Arguenon, department Côtes-d'Armor, region Bretagne, France
Name: Aregenua fl. (Ptol.)
Etymology: See under the other Aregenua.

Reginca fl.

Place: river Rance, department Ille-et-Vilaine, region Bretagne, France
Name: Reginca* (Peut.)
Etymology: Identified and explained by [Langouet and Souillet] from the IE root reg'- with a known Gaulish suffix -inco-* [Delamarre, p. 219].

Titus fl.

Place: possibly river Gouët, department Côtes-d'Armor, region Bretagne, France
Name: Titus fl. (Ptol.)
Etymology: To compare with the other hydronym Titius fl. (Illyricum) and with the very productive IE root *tei- 'to melt, dissipate, decay'.

Osismii

Gabaeum pr.

Place: possibly Pointe du Raz or Pointe de Saint Mathieu, department Finistère, region Bretagne, France
Name: Gabaeum pr. (Ptol.)
Etymology: Possibly from an unknown Gaulish cognate of the IE root *gwabh- 'to sink, submerge, plunge'.

Gesocribate

Place: likely Brest, department Finistère, region Bretagne, France
Name: Gesocribate (Peut.)
Etymology: A denominal formation from a personal name *Gaiso-cribos [Delamarre, p. 154].

Saliocanus p.

Place: possibly Porz Liogan of Le Conquet, department Finistère, region Bretagne, France
Name: Saliocanus p. (Ptol.)
Etymology: The first element is the same as in Salioclita and could refer to the 'sea'. However, explained by [Delamarre, p. 227] as a personal name.

Vorgium, Vorganium

Place: Carhaix and possibly Kerilien of Plounéventer if two distinct places, department Finistère, region Bretagne, France
Name: Vorgium (Peut.) Vorganium (Ptol., inscr.)
Etymology: Possibly from a Gaulish word related to irish ferc 'rage, fury' and derived from the IE root *uerg'- 'to abound, be full of strength', a meaning suitable to the capital of the Osismii. If the two variants referred to two distinct place names, the latter could be a diminutive of the former.

Venetes

Darioritum

Place: Vannes, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Darioritum (Ptol., Peut.)
Etymology: Explained by [Delamarre, p. 134] as a Gaulish compound name Dario-riton 'oak's ford'. The first element is Gaulish darion 'oak', a cognate of the IE root *deru- 'tree'. For the second element, see Bandritum. A different Gaulish word is assumed by [Nègre, p. 197].

Duretia

Place: Rieux, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Duretia (Peut.)
Etymology: Although other etymologies are illustrated by [Delamarre, p. 144], the most likely seems that invoking the Gaulish adjective duro- 'strong, solid', of unclear origin (deru- or dhuer- ?).

Herius fl.

Place: possibly river Vilaine, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Herius fl. (Ptol.)
Etymology: Tentatively analyzed as 'the Western (river)' [Delamarre, p. 151], from a Gaulish form e(p)erio- reflecting the IE root epi 'at, by'. The H is purely graphical.

Sulis

Place: Castennec of Bieuzy, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Sulis (Peut.)
Etymology: Compared with a theonym Sulis (goddess of hot springs) attested in Britain [Delamarre, p. 243].

Vicinonia fl.

Place: river Vilaine, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Vicinonia fl. (Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: Unknown [Delamarre, p. 268].

Vindana p.

Place: probably Port-Louis, department Morbihan, region Bretagne, France
Name: Vindana p. (Ptol.)
Etymology: Through a personal name Vindos, the toponym is ultimately related to the Gaulish adjective uindos 'white' [Delamarre, p. 270], itself a cognate of the IE root *ueid- 'to see, know'.

Namnetes

Brivates p.

Place: possibly Saint-Nazaire, department Loire-Atlantique, region Pays de Loire, France
Name: Brivates p. (Ptol.)
Etymology: Related to Gaulish briva 'bridge' [Delamarre, p. 90; Nègre, p. 142], for which see Briva.

Corbilo

Place: not identified, department Loire-Atlantique, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Corbilo (Strab.)
Etymology: Either to be compared with, e.g., Corbio (Latium), from the IE root (s)kerbh- 'to turn, curve', or related to a personal name Corbos 'Crow'.

Condivicnum

Place: possibly Nantes, department Loire-Atlantique, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Condivicnum (Ptol.)
Etymology: A compound name, with the same prefix con- found in con-date. Analyzed as a personal name by [Delamarre, p. 120].

Erida fl.

Place: river Erdre, department Loire-Atlantique, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Erida fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Tentatively explained by [Delamarre, p. 151] as e(p)eri-da 'the Western (river)', from a Gaulish cognate of the IE root uespero-. A more likely alternative seems the IE root *ered- 'flow, dampness'.

Andecaves

Combaristum

Place: Combrée, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Combaristum (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 119] derived from a personal name.

Iuliomagus

Place: Angers, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Iuliomagus (Ptol., Peut.)
Etymology: Litterally, Iulius' market [Delamarre, p. 168; Nègre, p. 195], from the Gaulish appellative magos, for which see Ritumagus.

Ledus fl.

Place: river Loir, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Ledus fl. (late antiquity source)
Etymology: Unexplained by [Delamarre, p. 174].

Meduana fl.

Place: river Mayenne-Maine, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Meduana fl. (Lucan., Greg. Tur.)
Etymology: Unknown. Usually [Pokorny, p. 706-707], related to the Gaulish cognate of the IE root medh- 'middle'. Alternatively, this and various similar hydronyms have been related [Delamarre, p. 196] to medu-* the Gaulish name of the 'mead', for the colour of the waters. Also, [Nègre, p. 119] posits a less likely form mad-uenna 'the flooding (river)', from the IE root mad- 'wet'.

Robrica

Place: possibly Chênehutte of Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Robrica (Peut.)
Etymology: Usually [Falileyev] intepreted as a Gaulish compound ro-brica 'high hill', from ro-* 'very' and briga 'hill', for which see Eburobriga. An alternative explaination, motivated by the fact that the only attestation shows a c instead of a g, is given by [Delamarre, p. 222]. However, the rendering of briga as brica in late antiquity sources is rather common and does not pose any problem.

Segora

Place: likely La Ségourie of Le Fief-Sauvin, department Maine-et-Loire, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Segora (Ptol.)
Etymology: Generically reconducted [Falileyev] to a Gaulish stem sego- and ultimately to the IE root *segh- 'to hold, possess, overcome, victory'. Without explaination in [Delamarre, p. 233].

Aulerci Cenomani

Ituna fl.

Place: river Huisne, department Sarthe, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Ituna fl. (inferred from the survival of the name)
Etymology: Like several other equivalent hydronyms, explained by [Delamarre, p. 167] from a form (p)ituna- 'the nourishing (river)', i.e., 'the fish-rich (river)', derived from the IE root peit- 'trank, dish, food'. Compare with *Itta fl.

Vindinum

Place: Le Mans, department Sarthe, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Vindinum (Ptol.) Subdunum (Peut.)
Etymology: Clearly related to Gaulish uindo- 'white', for which see Vindana p., possibly through a personal name [Delamarre, p. 271].

Aulerci Diablinti

Iagona fl.

Place: river Jouanne, department Mayenne, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Iona fl.* (late antiquity source)
Etymology: Reconstructed by [Delamarre, p. 162] from a Gaulish cognate of the IE root *ieg'- 'ice'. Thus the meaning would be 'the icy (river)'.

Noviodunum

Place: Jublains, department Mayenne, region Pays de la Loire, France
Name: Noviodunum (Ptol.) Nudionum (Peut.)
Etymology: Like the other Noviodunum.

Arvii, Esuvii, Sagii

Vagoritum, Argentomagus

Place: Argentan, department Orne, region Basse-Normandie, France
Name: Vagoritum (Ptol., Peut.)
Etymology: A Gaulish compound name with riton 'ford', for which see Bandritum. The first element is unclear [Delamarre, p. 257] but it could tentatively be related to the IE root *uak- 'to be bent' [Falileyev].

Turones

Caesarodunum

Place: Tours, department Indre-et-Loire, region Centre, France
Name: Caesarodunum (Ptol.) Casarodunum (Peut.)
Etymology: A hybrid compound name, with the Latin personal name Caesaro- and the Gaulish dunum 'fortress' (see Lugdunum).

Conclusions

The most evident stratum found in Lugdunensis is obviously the Gaulish one. Virtually every placename has a Celtic and specifically Gaulish etimology.

The existence of a pre-Celtic stratum has been proposed after a few placenames showing either an unexplained A-grade, the presence of an initial p, or a labiovelar kw. However, alternative Gaulish etymologies can be found for many of these toponyms as well, even if some hydronyms (hydronyms represent generally the oldest stratum of placenames) could really represent a pre-Gaulish stratum.

Antonio Sciarretta's ToponymyAncient Toponymy

Gallia Lugdunensis

Contents

Segusiavi and Ambarri

Aquae Segetae Place: Moingt of Montbrison, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France Name: Aquae Segete (Peut.) Aquae (Rev.) Etymology: The name recalls that of the Gaulish goddess Segeta, known from inscriptions.

Arar fl.

*Cosia fl.

Forum Segusiavorum Place: Feurs, department Loire, region Rhône-Alpes, France Name: Forum Segusianorum (Ptol.) Forum Segustavarum (Peut.) Etymology: A Latin name forum 'market', specified by the ethnonym Segusiavi.

Iciomagus

Lugdunum

Lunna Place: between Taponas and Belleville, department Rhône, region Rhône-Alpes, France Name: Lunna (It. Ant.) Ludna (Peut.) Etymology: Unclear, given the varieties of the forms.

Mediolanum

*Renus fl.

Rodomna

Haedui

Aballo Place: Avallon, department Yonne, region Bourgogne, France Name: Aballo (It. Ant., Peut.) Etymology: Well explained (Pokorny) from Gaulish aballo, avallo 'apple(-tree)', although an unattested god name *Aballos has been proposed [Delamarre, p. 37] in alternative.

Alesia

Alisincum

Aquae Nisincii Place: Bourbon-Lancy, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France Name: Aquae Nisincii (Peut.) Etymology: Unclear.

*Aronus fl.

*Aturavus fl.

Augustodunum Place: Autun, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France Name: Augustodunum (Ptol., Mel., Tac., It. Ant., Peut., Not. Dign.) Etymology: Founded under Augustus, it took its name, in compound with Gaulish dunon 'fortress'.

Brebona fl. Place: river Brévon, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France Name: Brebona fl. (late antiquity) Etymology: Possibly reflecting Gaulish *bebro- 'beaver', with a late metathesis.

Cabillonum

Carilocus Place: Charlieu, department Saône-et-Loire, region Bourgogne, France Name: Carilocus (Ptol. ?) Etymology: Not proveably of ancient origin.

Decetia

*Dubina fl.

*Gravona fl.

Matisco

Nevirnum, Noviodunum

Oscara fl.

Pocrinium

Sidolocum

Sitillia Place: Thiel-sur-Acolin, department Allier, region Auvergne, France Name: Sitillia (Peut.) Etymology: From a personal name [Delamarre, p. 239].

Telonnum

Vidubia fl. Place: river Vouge, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France Name: Vidubia (Peut.) Etymology: Usually [Delamarre, p. 269] related to Latin vidubium 'serpent' as a metaphor for the stream. Consider also Gaulish uidu- 'tree' found in several toponymic formations.

Lingones

Dibio Place: Dijon, department Côte-d'Or, region Bourgogne, France Name: Dibio (Greg. Tur.) Etymology: Commonly [Delamarre, p. 138] explained from a personal name or Gaulish div(i)o- 'god'.

*Lagina fl. Place: river Laigne, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France Name: *Lagina fl. (inferred from the survival of the name) Etymology: Explained [Delamarre, p. 170] from a Gaulish *lagino- 'blade', with Irish equivalent hydronyms.

Mosa

Segessera

Tilena

Tricasses

*Alba fl.

Augustobona Place: Troyes, department Aube, region Champagne-Ardenne, France Name: Augustobona (Ptol., It. Ant., Peut.) Etymology: Formally meaning 'base, foundation (Gaulish bona) of Augustus'.

*Ausa fl.

Clanum

Corobilium

*Vigera fl.