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In the area of modern Portugal a significant number of towns with Celtic toponymic were already mentioned by ancient Greek and Roman authors.
The regions where we can find a greater number of these names are in the north (inhabited by the Callaici or Callaeci) and center (inhabited by the Lusitanians) of Portugal. However, Celtic toponymy occurs throughout the whole country and is also found in the south (the Alentejo, inhabited by the Celtici, and the Algarve, inhabited by the Cynetes), which correspond to the ancient Roman provinces of Gallaecia and Lusitania.
The name of Portugal (Portvgalliæ) itself is partly of Celtic origin (see: Name of Portugal and Portus Cale).
Celtic name | Modern name |
---|---|
Anobrega | Ponte da Barca |
Anobra | Anobra in Condeixa-a-Nova. Likely derived from ānniyobris "hill", "ring" (Cf. old Irish ainne "ring"),[1] |
Arabriga | probably Alenquer or between Sesimbra and Outão |
Arcobica | probably Torrão in Alcácer do Sal |
Arcobriga | probably near Braga |
Aritium Praetorium | probably Tamazim, near Bemposta |
Aritium oppidum vetus | Casal da Várzea |
Aritium Vetus | Alvega in Abrantes |
Aranni | probably near Ourique |
Arandis | near Ourique |
Ardila | |
Armona | Ilha de Armona |
Auobriga/ *Aobriga | in the Ave Valley region |
Equabonna/Aquabona | Coina in Barreiro |
Auaron Pr. | Carreiro in Póvoa de Varzim (Cape Santo André) |
Axabrica/Axabrix | Xabregas |
Boidobr(ig)a (?) | Boidobra, in Covilhã. A combination of two elements:
|
Bracara | Braga |
Brigantia | Bragança |
Brita/s | |
Budens | Budens |
*Burrulobriga | around Elvas |
Caetobriga/Caetobrix/Kaitobrix | Setúbal |
Caeilobricoi | Castro Daire in Lamas de Moledo |
Calabria > Caliabriga | Castelo Calabre in Vila Nova de Foz Côa |
Caladunum | probably Vilar de Perdizes in Montalegre |
Cambra<Calambriga | Vale de Cambra (Aveiro), Casal de Cambra (Sintra) |
Cale | Vila Nova de Gaia; Portucale; Portugal |
Cantippo | |
Castellum Araocelum | São Cosmado in Mangualde |
Catraleucus/ Contraleuco | |
Cempsibriga | Sesimbra |
Colobre | Alcolobre in Constância (Colobre, 935 C.E.): the first element derives from *kwolu- 'wheel'[3] |
Conimbriga | Conímbriga, Condeixa-a-Nova; Coimbra (name only) |
Civitas Aravorum <Aravi> | Marialva |
Collippo | Batalha |
Corumbriga | |
Cottaiobriga | near Almeida |
Ebora | Évora |
Eburobrittium | Óbidos |
*Elaneobriga | around Braga |
Evion | |
Ercobriga | |
Etobrico | Alenquer |
Jerabrica/Gerabrica/Hierabrica | between Lisbon and Santarém |
Jurumegna | Juromenha in Alandroal |
Lacobriga | Lagos |
Lamecum | Lamego |
Langobriga | Fiães |
castello Letiobri | around Braga |
Lemos | |
Londobris | Berlengas |
Longobriga | Longroiva in Mêda |
Lubrigos | Vila Real |
Civitas Aravorum <Aravi> | Marialva (Mêda) |
Malaceca/Malateca | Marateca |
Medrobiga | Marvão |
Meidubriga | in Beira Alta |
Mirobriga | Miróbriga |
Mirobriga | Montemor o Velho |
Meribriga/Merebriga | in Alentejo |
Merobriga | probably Sines or near river Mira |
Montobriga/Mundobriga | around Castelo de Vide |
Moron | Almorol or Montalvão |
Ocelum | Ferro probably in Covilhã |
Pendraganum | Pedrógão Grande |
Seliobriga | São Martinho de Pedrulhais in Sepins |
Senabriga | Seia |
Talabriga | Lamas do Vouga |
Talabriga | Ponte de Lima, Estourãos |
Tameobriga | near Paiva and Douro |
Terena | Terena |
Tongobriga/ Tuntobriga | "capela dos mouros" in Freixo |
Tur(o)lobriga | around Chaves |
Uxonoba | |
Vicus Camalocensis | around Crato |
Vicus Veniensis | Cabeço de Lameirão in Meimoa |
Vipasca | Aljustrel |
Celtic name | Modern name |
---|---|
Arda from Proto-Celtic *ardwo- [4] | Arda |
Latinised Arduinna from Celtic *ardwo- hight, related to forests, Goddess of the forests [5] | Ardena |
Ardila *same as above | Ardila |
Latinised Arauca from Celtic[6] | Arouca |
Latinised Arauca from Celtic[7] | Arouce |
Latinised Arauca from Celtic[8] | Arunca |
Latinised Cavalum from Celtic/Gaulish *caballos - horse[9] | Cavalum |
Lethes | Lima |
Minius | Minho |
Munda, Latinised Mundaecus or Mondaecus | Mondego |
Latinised Tamaga, likely from Tamaca[10] | Tâmega |
caballos celtic etymology.