10 Origins Of Famous City Names
Why is New York called New York?
We see the names of famous cities all the time be it on the news, an airport departure board or on a travel show. Names hold a lot of power in our world, everyone gets one and everything has one. You only need to hear a name and a flurry of associated images and feelings will follow. Cities are no exception, hearing the name New York for example will instantly conjure up an image in our heads of the Statue of Liberty and streets thronging with yellow taxis. When you look back at the history of the world, from the cave dwellings of prehistoric man to the soaring skyscrapers of today, cities literally stand out as the greatest physical marker of how far the human race has evolved.
As cities grow and evolve so do their names. The study of the origins of words and how their meanings have changed and evolved over time is known as etymology. Although we are all very familiar with the names of famous world cities the stories behind their names are often much less well known to us. Here we have a run down of 10 of the worlds most famous cities and the history behind their names.
10. Paris
Paris has long held the the title of being the world's ultimate romantic destination and is an incredibly popular location to for couples to get engaged. The French capital began life around three centuries before Christ when a group of Celtic fishermen, named the Parisii, settled on the banks of the river Seine. The name Parisii stems from the gallic word parisio, which means the working people or craftsmen. Under Roman rule, a garrison known as Lutetia was founded on the banks of the Seine. The garrison evolved into a town and later became known as Civitas Parisiorum which meant City of the Parisii. This was later changed to simply Paris when Clovis I became the first King of the Franks in 481 AD and proclaimed the city his capital.
Paris also holds the nickname La Ville-Lumiere, which translates as The City Of Light. This nickname originates from Paris reputation as an important centre for education and enlightenment and also due to the fact that Paris was one of the first European cities to have gas street lighting.