Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1885 — Nations’ Names. [ARTICLE]

Nations’ Names.

These are derived principally from some peculiar causes or object. For instance, Ireland—which Julius Cicsar first called Hibernia—is a kind of modification of Erin, or the country of the west, y . Scotland, from Scotia, a tribe which originally came from Ireland. It was anciently called Caledonia, which means a mountainous country—forests and lands. » ■» Portugal, the ancient Lusitania, was named from a town on the River Douro called Cale, opposite to which the inhabitants built a city called Porto or Oporto. And when the country was recovered from the Moors the inhabitants combined the words and called it the kingnom of ’ Portucale—-hence, Portugal. - * Spain, the ancient Iberia, from the river Iberius or Hispania, from the Phoenician! Spaniga, which signifies abounding with rabbits, which animals are very numerous in that country—hence, Spain. France, from the Franks, a people of Germany, who conquered that country. Its ancient name was Celta, Gaul or Galia, Barechatta. the latter signifying striped breeches, which were worn by the natives. Switzerland, the ancient Halvetia, was so named by the Austrians, who called the inhabitants of these mountainous countries Schweitzers. Italy received its present name from a renowned prince named Italus. It was called Hesperia, from its western locality. Holland, the ancient Batavia, a warlike people, was so named from the German word hold, the English of which is “hollow.” implying a very low country. The inhabitants are colled Dutch, from the German deutsch or teutsch. Sweden and Norway were anciently called Scandinavia, which the modern antiqarians think means a country and woods, which have been burned or destroyed. The appellation Sweden is derived from Sintuna or Svitheod, the native term Norway, or the northern way, explaining itself. Prussia, from Peuzal, a Sciavonic race; but some writers suppose it took its name from Russia and the Sclavonic syllable po, which means adjacent or near. Denmark means the marches, territories or boundaries cf the Danes. Russia is the ancient Sarmatia, which has been subsequently named Muscovy. It derives its present name from Russi, a Sclavonic tribe who founded the Russian monarchy. The original savage inhabitants used to paint their bodies in order to appear more terrible in battle. They generally lived in the mountains, and their chariots were their only habitations. Turkey took its name from the Turks or Turcomans, which signifies wanderers, and originally belonged to the Scythians or Tartars. It is sometimes called the Ottoman empire, from Othman, one of their principal leaders.Galignani's Messenger.