The Celtic toponymy of Galicia is the whole of the ancient or modern place, river, or mountain names which were originated inside a Celtic language, and thus have Celtic etymology, and which are or were located inside the limits of modern Galicia.

Ancient Celtic toponyms

In Galicia, approximately half of the non Latin toponyms transmitted from antiquity in the works of classical geographers and authors (Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy...), or in epigraphic Roman inscriptions, have been found to be Celtic,Curchin (2008) pp. 109, 130-131.Vallejo (2009) pp. 272-273. being the other half mostly Indo-European but either arguably non Celtic, or lacking a solid Celtic etymology. Here is a non exhaustive list of toponyms which have been found to be, probably, Celtic.In general, cf. Falileyev (2007), Curchin (2008), Luján (2006). Reconstructed Proto-Celtic forms are usually given according to the forms proposed by Matasovic (2009). As in the rest of the article, an asterisk marks an otherwise hypothetical form. The most characteristic element is ,Koch (2006) p. 790 from Proto-Celtic *brigs,Prósper (2002) p. 358 with its derivative , both meaning 'hill', and thence 'hillfort' and 'town'. The only type of settlement known in Galicia during the Iron Age are forts and fortified towns () built in hills and peninsulas. Many of them were abandoned after the Roman conquest.

Aediobri:Prósper (2002) p. 258. From a votive inscription to the god . To *aydu- 'fire' or *(p)ētu- '(grass)land, territory',cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *fētu-. and *brixs 'hill(fort)'. Cf. Irish 'hill' and Welsh 'crest', and the people of the Aedui in Gaul. Asseconia or Assegonion:Curchin (2008) p.117; Luján (2006) p. 726. A town. Maybe to *Ad-sego- 'The very strong one'. Aviliobris:Curchin (2008) p. 117. Castle (hillfort) in NW Galicia. To *Awelyobrixs 'Windy Hill'. Cf. Breton/Welsh awel 'wind'. Adrobricam urbem:Curchin (2008) p. 115; Luján (2006) p. 728; Delamarre (2012) p. 41 City of the Artabri. To *brig- 'hill(fort)'. Alanobricae – Eiras in San Amaro Albiones:Luján (2006) p. 723. A people living in between the rivers Navia and Eo. To *albiyo- '(upper) world' or 'country'.Delamarre (2003) p. 37; Koch (2006) s.v. albio, albiones. Arrotrebae: A people living by the seashore, in NW Galicia. To *trebā 'settlement', and *aryo-, either 'free man'Delamarre (2003) p. 37 or a derivative of *(p)are- 'in front of'.Prósper (2008) p. 37. Aunios:Curchin (2008) p. 111.Delamarre (2012) p. 67 An island on the Atlantic Ocean, modern Ons. To Celtic *auni-, of unclear meaning and etymology.Delamarre (2003) p. 61. Hydatius mentions a local people called Aunonenses, confronted with the Suevi newcomers in the 5th century. Berisamo:Curchin (2008) p. 118. A hillfort of the Cileni. Probably to the superlative *Bergisamo- 'The highest one'.Prósper (2002) p. 360. Beriso: A hillfort of the Cabarci, probably to the comparative *Bergiso- 'The higher one'. Bonisana:Falileyev (2007) s.v. A town. To *bonu- 'foundation, base, butt'. Cf. Old Iris bun 'foundation, base, estuary'. Brevis: A town. To *brīwā 'bridge'. Brigantia: Ancient city, most probably modern A Coruña ( in 971 CE). From *brigant- 'relevant, powerful'.cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *brig-, *brigo-. See also: Proto-Celtic *Briganti. Callaecia 'The land of the Callaeci', to *kallā- 'wood'cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *kallī-. with a local complex suffix -āik-. Later it became Gallicia, modern Galicia or Galiza. Calubriga:Curchin (2008) p. 119; Luján (2006) p. 728. A hillfort. To *brigā 'hill(fort)', and a first element of unclear meaning. Cambetum:Curchin (2008) p. 119 A town. To *kambo- 'crooked, twisted'. Canibri: A town. To *kani- 'good, nice' and *brigs 'hill(fort)'. Cf. Old Irish cain 'good, nice'. Celtici: Either a descriptive name applied by classical geographers to a group of peoples living in Western Galicia, or a Celtic endonym based on the *kelt- theme also present in a series of Hispano-Celtic names: CELTIATUS, CELTIATIS, ARCELTI, CONCELTI, CELTIUS.Cf. Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby .Búa (2018) p. 176. Cistonia:Curchin (2008) p. 120. A town. To *kistā- 'woven basket',cf. Matasovic (2009). s.v. and eventually 'chariot'.Delamarre (2003) p. 117. Coelerni:Curchin (2008) p.120; Delamarre (2003) s.v. coilos. A people living in southern Galicia. To *koyl- 'thin (naked, bold)'. Cf. Old Irish cóil 'meagre, lean'. Coeliobriga: An oppidum near Celanova, most probably the capital of the Coelerni. To *koyl- and *brigā. Copori: A people dwelling in central Galicia, from the confluence of the Sar and Ulla rivers in the west, until Lugo in the east. Their name is probably non-Celtic, but note the Pictish *copor- 'confluence',Koch (2006) p. 1593. maybe to *kom-bero- 'confluence' (or 'bring together').cf. Matasovic (2009) p. 214. Ebora:Curchin (2008) p. 121. Harbour, by the mouth of the Tambre river. To *eburo- 'yew'. Ebronanto (Valerio of Bierzo, Ordo Cerimonialis, c. 650). A state near modern Rubiá. To *Eburo-nantu 'Yew-Valley'. Equasei:Pliny, Natural History III.28. A people living in southern Galicia. To *ekʷo- 'horse'.cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. Cf. Old Irish ech 'horse'. Ercoriobri:Luján (2006) p. 728. A hillfort of the Albiones. A composite with first element *(p)are-koro- 'blow, shot' (cf. Old Breton ercor 'blow, stroke'),cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *fare-koro-. or *Ēri-corio- 'army/tribe of the west', and *brixs 'hill / hillfort'. Gigurri: A people living in actual Valdeorras. From *Gigur-yo, maybe 'the gander (people)'. Cf. Old Irish gigrann 'gander'. Glandomirum:Curchin (2008) p. 122. To *glendos- 'valley, shore'. Iria: modern Padrón. To *(p)īweryā- 'Fertile land'.cf. Curchin (2008) p. 122. Cognate to Éire and Ériu. Laniobriga:Curchin (2008) p. 123. Probable ancient name of the hillfort of San Cibrao de Lás, San Amaro, although the lecture of the inscription which contains this toponym is disputed.cf. Prósper (2002) p. 258. To *(p)lānyobrigā 'Hillfort of the Plain'.Falileyev (2007) s.v. lān(i)o-. Laniobre: Bishopric during the 7th century. To *(p)lānyobrixs. Lemavi:Lujan (2006) p. 725. A people inhabiting the valley of Lemos. To *Lēmawoi ‘The Elm people’, to *lēmo- 'elm'. Limia:Curchin (2008) p. 113Delamarre (2012) p. 178 River, modern or , near to its sources it became a large lagoon or marshy area, today desiccated. From *līmā- 'flood'.cf. Ward (1996) s.v. Cf. Welsh llif idem. Lubri: Hillfort of the Celtici. The first element, *lū-, can be an evolution of *luw- 'to set free, escape', or of *low- 'to flow', among other possibilities. Maybe Lubri 'The Free Hillfort'. Medullium: Mountain by the Miño river, near the Ocean, where a very large number of opposing Gallaecians would have been besieged by the Romans,Orosius, Historiarum adversum paganos, VI.21. the former giving themselves death when the situation became desperate. To *med-o- 'judge', *med-yo- 'middle' or *medu- 'mead'.Cf. Falileyev (2007) s.v. Medulli. Cf. place-names Medulli, Medullis, Medulla, in Gaul. Minius:Curchin (2008) p. 113 Largest river in Galicia, modern or . To *mīno- 'tender, soft', cf. Old Irish mín idem. Miobri:Curchin (2008) p. 124. Hillfort of the Celtici. Probably to *Meyobrixs 'Minor Hill(fort)'.cf. Delamarre (2003) s.v. meion. A dedication to COSO MEOBRIGO (*Meyobri-ko) may also refer to this castle, or to another one under the same name. Morodon:Curchin (2008) p. 124; Luján (2006) p. 727. A town by the ocean. To *mor- 'sea' and *dūno- 'fort'. Cf. the British toponym Moridunum. Navia:Delamarre (2012) p. 204 River, still known under the same name today. To *nāwiā- 'boat (vase, bowl)'.Delamarre (2003) s.v. nauson. Nemetobriga: Probably the capital of the Tiburi, in SE Galicia. To *nemeto- 'sanctuary' and *brigā 'hill(fort)'. See: Nemeton. Nerii:Curchin (2008) p. 112; Luján (2006) p.724. A Celtici tribe dwelling near or around today's Fisterra. To *nero- 'hero'. Novium:Curchin (2008) p.124; Luján (2006) p.727; Delamarre (2012) p. 178 A town sometimes considered to be modern Noia. From *nowyo- 'new'. Ocelum:Curchin (2008) p. 125. A town, near Lugo. To *ok-elo- 'promontory'.cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *akro-. Olca:Curchin (2008) p. 125; Lujan (2006) p. 727. A castle by Rodeiro, in the highlands of middle Galicia. To *(p)olkā 'arable lands'.cf. Matasovic (2009) s.v. *folkā-. Olina:Curchin (2008) p. 125; Luján (2006) p.727. A town. To *olīnā- 'elbow, angle'. Ontonia:Delamarre (2012) p. 211 A town. From *φonth2-on-yā '(the one of the) path'. Querquerni: A people living in southern Galicia. To Indo-European *perkʷos 'oak', with Celtic assimilation.Curchin (2008) p.116; Luján (2006) p. 724. Seurri: A people living in both banks of the middle curse of the Miño river. To *seg-ur-yo-, 'the powerful ones'.Prósper (2008) pp. 38-40. Talabriga:Luján (2006) p. 729. Castle of the Limici. To *talu- 'front, forehead, protuberance, shield'Ward (1996) s.v.; Delamarre (2003) p. 288. and *brigā 'hill(fort)'. Tamaris:Delamarre (2012) p. 246 River, modern Tambre. To *tamo- 'dark'. Trileukon: A promontory, modern Punta dos Aguillóns or Cabo Ortegal. To *trīs- 'three' or 'very', and *louko- 'bright, shining'. Verubri:Curchin (2008) p. 129; Prósper (2002) p. 259. Name of a castle, as deduced of a dedication to the god BANDUE VERUBRIGO (*Weru-bri-ko or *U(p)ero-bri-ko). To *weru- 'broad' or *u(p)er- 'superior', and *brixs 'hill(fort)'. Vindius: The Cantabrian Mountains, a mountain range, usually more than 2000 meters high, running from Galicia till Cantabria. To *windo- 'white', so 'The White (mountains)'.

Britonia

In the 5th or 6th centuries a colony of Britons settled in northern Galicia,Koch (2006) s.v. Britonia. and their bishops-abbots attended several councils, first of the Suebic Kingdom of Galicia, and later of the Visigoths in Toledo, until the 8th century. A series of place-names have been attributed to them: A Bertonía: A hamlet in Sober. Bertoña: A village in A Capela. It was the centre of a region called Britonia up until the 11th century, comprising the modern municipalities of A Capela and Moeche. Several other places were called Britonia in the neighbourhood. Bretoña: A village in Barro. Bretoña: A parish and a town in A Pastoriza. It is usually considered the heir to the ancient capital of the Britons of Galicia. There also existed a village called Bretonos near the city of Lugo, in the Middle Ages.“Inter Bretonos et Sancto Petro de Mera“, 1078 CE, in Flórez, España Sagrada 40: 420.

Modern and medieval toponyms While there are Celtic toponyms all over Galicia, most Celtic and pre-Latin toponyms can be found along the coastal areas, most notably in the Rías Altas region around A Coruña, and in the valley of the Ulla river.

Regions, Mountains and Islands Some Galician regions - usually called 'comarcas' when spanning over several municipalities, or concellos (councils) otherwise - maintain names either directly inherited from pre-Roman tribal and sub-tribal names, or simply with pre-Roman origin:

Arousa (Arauza, 899 CE): Island and municipality in Arousa bay, Pontevedra. Probably Celtic,cf. Falileyev s.v. araus(i)o-. to *(p)are-auso- 'cheek'. Bergantiños (Bregantinos, 924): Region, to *brigantīno-Matasovic (2009) s.v. 'king', or to *brigantigno-,Koch (2003) s.v. Brigantes both etymons would have yielded the same result. Cf. Middle Welsh brenhin 'king'. Carnota (Carnota, 915 AD): Coastal council and ancient territory, it is presided by the Monte do Pindo, an anciently sacred granite mountain. It was also the name of a mountain near Doroña, Vilarmaior.'discurrente ad aulam Sancte Marie, inter IIos montes Leboreiro et Carnota, secus flumen Doronia', c. 1110. To *karn- 'pile, heap',Moralejo 2010, 106. with a hypocoristic suffix.