Geographical renaming is the act of changing the name of a geographical feature or area. This can range from the uncontroversial change of a street name to a highly disputed change to the name of a country. Some names are changed locally but are not recognised by other countries, especially when there is a difference in language. Other names may not be officially recognised but remain in common use. There are many reasons to undertake renaming, with political motivation being the primary cause, such as renaming places to honour Stalin, and reverting to the original names (see de-Stalinization). One of the most common reasons for a country changing its name is newly acquired independence. When borders are changed, sometimes due to a country splitting or two countries joining together, the name of the areas can change. This, however, is more the creation of a different entity than an act of geographical renaming. Other more unusual reasons for renaming have included: - To stop having an unusual or embarrassing name
- As part of a sponsorship deal or publicity stunt
A change might see a completely different name being adopted or may simply be just a slightly different spelling. In some cases established institutions preserve the old names of the renamed places in their names, such as the Pusan National University in Busan, South Korea; the Peking University in Beijing, People's Republic of China; Bombay Stock Exchange, IIT Bombay and the Bombay High Court in Mumbai, Republic of India; Persian Gulf, south of Iran (formerly Persia); and the University of Madras, Madras Stock Exchange, the Madras High Court, and IIT Madras in Chennai, Republic of India. Naming disputes- Servia/Serbia, exact date unknown, but quietly changed in opening days of WWI, just after war declared by Austria-Hungary on Servia/Serbia
Significant name changesThe following list shows acts of geographical renaming that have had been of international importance or significance. Countries and territories- Ethiopia – historically known as Abyssinia as well as Ethiopia
- Iran – although locally known as Iran since before the Sassanids (3rd to 7th centuries AD), also called Persia, from the Greek for Parsa, until officially named Iran in 1935
- Ireland – before 1937 the Irish Free State. Was at one time referred to as Éire and is sometimes referred to by its description of the Republic of Ireland. Some British media still persist in usage of these two names.
Subnational entities- Free State – formerly Orange Free State - (South Africa)
- Gauteng – formerly Pretoria Witwatersrand-Vereeninging - (South Africa)
- Guangdong – formerly known in English as Canton - (China)
- Hebei – formerly Zhili (直隶) - (China)
- Limpopo – formerly Northern Province, formerly Northern Transvaal - (South Africa)
- Mpumalanga – formerly Eastern Transvaal - (South Africa)
- Papua – formerly Irian Jaya, Irian Barat, West New Guinea and Netherlands New Guinea. Also known as West Papua - (Indonesia)
- Sabah from British North Borneo in 1963 - (Malaysia)
- Sughd from Leninobod in 2004 - (Tajikistan)
Cities and towns- Beijing – named Peiping from 1927 to 1949, during which time Nanking was the national capital. In English-speaking countries, Beijing was generally known as Peking before its name change, but following the introduction of the pinyin transcription scheme, Beijing was adopted.
- Bangalore, India – set to be changed to Bengaluru with state government approval in 2006 but yet to be ratified by the central government
- Bishkek, Kyrgystan, between 1926 and 1991 called Frunze
- Bogotá – Changed to Santafé de Bogotá D.C. (Distrito Capital) in 1991 from Bogotá D.E. (Distrito Especial). Changed back to the simplified Bogotá D.C. (Distrito Capital) in 2000.
- Guangzhou – formerly known in English as Canton.
- Heraklion in Crete, Greece: Its ancient name was Heraklion. After the Arab conquest in 824 it was named "Handaq" (The Moat) from which derived the Greek name "Chandax" in Byzantine times (961-1204) and later the Italian "Candia" during the Venetian period (1212-1669) when Candia eventually became the name of the whole island of Crete. In Turkish times (1669-1898) it was called "Kandiye" by the Ottomans but from the locals "Megalo Kastro" (Great Castle) or simply "Kastro". During the time of the autonomous Cretan State (1898-1913) scholars proposed to reuse the ancient name "Heraklion" which eventually was accepted by the locals.
- Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa, changed in 1975 after the independence of Angola
- Jakarta, – formerly Batavia and Sunda Kelapa, Jayakarta.
- Lüshun – formerly Port Arthur in English, or Ryojun during the Japanese occupation in 1930s and 40s.
- Malabo – formerly Santa Isabel
- Pretoria to Tshwane – set to be changed to sound more African with local government approval in 2005 but yet to be ratified by the central government
- Ürümqi – formerly known as Dihua, which means "to enlighten" in Chinese. In 1954, renamed to Ürümqi, which means "beautiful pasture" in Dzungar Mongol
- Volgograd – originally Tsaritsyn, Stalingrad between 1925 and 1961.
- Wrocław– in German Breslau, when part of Germany, until 1945.
- Xi'an – formerly Chang'an (长安), Sian, Chang'an was the ancient name for the city when it was the capital of China until the name was changed to Sian. In English-speaking countries, Xi'an was generally known as Sian before its name change, but following the introduction of the pinyin transcription scheme, Xi'an was adopted.
- Yangon– in 1988, back to this original name after a period 1852 - 1988, when known as Rangoon. Still known as 'Rangoon' in many English-speaking countries
- Zlín in the Czech Republic was called 'Gottwaldov' during the communist rule.
Changes resulting from splits and mergers- Various places split with compass directions, such as North and South Dakota, West Virginia and Virginia, North and South Yemen, North and South Korea, East and West Germany, etc., as well as the reunification of some of these places (Vietnam, Germany, Yemen, etc.).
Unusual name changes- Santa, Idaho, a hamlet with a population of 115 became "" on 9 December 2005
- Eastpointe, Michigan, incorporated as the village of Halfway in December 1924 and reincorporated as the City of East Detroit in January 1929. The city changed its name to "Eastpointe" after a vote in 1992; the name change had been proposed to reduce its association with the adjacent city of Detroit (a move that offended many Detroit residents), and the "-pointe" is intended to associate the city with the exclusive communities of the Grosse Pointes. The school district that serves most of the city was unaffected by the municipal name change, and still uses the name East Detroit Public Schools. In fact, the local high school is East Detroit High School.
- On June 4-9 of each year, Dublin, Texas changes its name (and even its road signs) to Dr Pepper, Texas, to commemorate the anniversary of the first Dr Pepper Bottling Plant, which is located there.
- The Spanish village Asquerosa (in Spanish, 'filthy') was renamed as Valderrubio (Pinos Puente municipality) in 1943.
See also
|
|
