Acta geographica Slovenica, 57-1, 2017, 141–152
MICROTOPONYMS AS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF SLOVENIAN CULTURAL
HERITAGE
Jožica Škofic
Plaque with the oeconym Pr Píž in Lancovo.
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Jožica Škofic, Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3986/AGS.4670
UDC: 811.163.6’373.21(497.4)
COBISS: 1.01
ABSTRACT: This article presents a methodology for data collection and documentation of microtoponyms
in the Upper Carniola / Gorenjsko dialect of Slovenian based on visual and audio recordings. Special atten-
tion is placed on transcription (phonetic or simplified phonological transcription and standardization), which
should be based on a morphological analysis of the toponyms examined. Linguistic analysis and its con-
sideration of the dialect characteristics of toponyms can help reconstruct their naming motivation and origin.
The article presents selected toponyms lexicographically and cartographically.
KEY WORDS: microtoponyms, linguistic analysis, standardization of dialect names, orthography, lexicography,
geolinguistic presentation of toponyms, Upper Carniola / Gorenjsko dialect, Slovenia
The article was submitted for publication on September 5th, 2016.
ADDRESS:
Jožica Škofic, Ph.D.
Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Novi trg 4, SI –1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail: guzej@zrc-sazu.si
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1 Introduction
Slovenia ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO
in 2003 in Paris, on December 19th, 2007. With this ratification, Slovenia committed itself to protecting
oral traditions and vocabulary, including language as a bearer of intangible cultural heritage. From this point
of view, dialect forms of microtoponyms in the broad sense (including oeconyms and cadastral toponyms)
that are used in everyday life by local people are also an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage.
An oeconym (also known as a house name, farm name, etc.) is a toponym that denotes an occupied
or unoccupied house with a street number in a settlement, a farm with or without land, farm outbuildings
(e.g., grain mills, sawmills, etc.), or communal village buildings (e.g., a church, rectory, school, inn, fire
station, etc.). Oeconyms remain connected to houses and estates even after the original owners move on
and may remain unchanged for centuries. A microtoponym in the narrow sense (also known as a cadas-
tral toponym, field name, etc.) is a non-settlement-related toponym in the narrow (toponymic) and wider
(geonymic) senses, denoting parts of the land used for cultivating crops or fodder, fields, orchards, vine-
yards, meadows, pastures, and forests (agronyms); water areas (hydronyms); small slopes and mountains
(oronyms); paths; and orientation points (overlooks, signs, wayside crosses, mountain cabins, etc.). They
often reflect the geomorphological, historical, biological, geological, and social characteristics of a coun-
try, as well as the historical development of the spoken language. People use microtoponyms to designate
the space where they live and work, and to make orientation in it easier.
Slovenian oeconyms and microtoponyms are of great interest to linguistics, and so many onomastics
articles have been published on this topic in recent years (this article draws upon Šivic-Dular 1988, 2000;
Merkù 1993; Furlan, Gložančev and Šivic-Dular 2000; Škofic 2001, 2007, 2009; Keber 2002; Čop 2007;
Šekli 2008; Snoj 2009). In recent years, many projects have also been carried out to collect oeconyms and
microtoponyms. »Their collection and research was unsystematic, spatially dispersed, and used varying
research methodologies. Regarding the researchers’ profiles, these types of issues were at the center of inter-
est of not only professionals from various scholarly disciplines, but also individual amateur researchers«
(Klinar and Geršič 2014, 414).
This article presents oeconyms that were collected by RAGOR (the Northwest Upper Carniola Develop -
ment Agency) in cooperation with the author of this article in projects such as »Nomen vulgare« and others
(Klinar 2013) and in the cross-border project »FLU-LED – Kulturni portal ledinskih in hišnih imen« (The
Cultural Portal of Microtoponyms and Oeconyms), which is being carried out as part of the EU’s 2007–2013
Slovenia–Austria Operational Program in the border area of southern Carinthia and Upper Carniola
(Klinar et al. 2012; Internet 1). In this project, the methodology for recording microtoponyms was set up
and presented in the volume Metode zbiranja hišnih in ledinskih imen (Methods for Collecting Oeconyms
and Microtoponyms; Klinar et al. 2012). The results were published in special booklets titled Kako se pri
vas reče? (What’s the Name of Your House?; Klinar 2011; Škofic 2011), on printed and e-maps of the FLU-LED
project (Klinar and Škofic 2015a, 2015b, 2015c) and also on some internet portals (for more about col-
lecting and marking oeconyms in these projects, see Klinar and Geršič 2014).
Acta geographica Slovenica, 57-1, 2017
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Figure 1: Booklets in the series Kako se pri vas reče? (What’s the Name
of Your House?).JO
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Jožica Škofic, Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
2 Methods and transcription
Not only contemporary dialect information from local people but also historical sources are important
for collecting and recording oeconyms and microtoponyms: »An overview of written sources is a good
basis for fieldwork, in which the selection of good informants is vital« (Klinar and Geršič 2014, 415).
Because Slovenian is an inflective language, the nouns and adjectives in a toponym must be documented
in the various forms they appear in; namely, in the nominative case, the bare genitive (as a subject in ne -
gative clauses or as a negated direct object), and in the locative, accusative, genitive with a preposition
(corresponding to where at? where to? where from?). Names that are prepositional phrases must be record-
ed as well.
In the next stage of research (transcribing the material collected), the collaboration of linguists is also
of great importance because they can offer advice on how to design a simplified dialect transcription that
can be used by local people and non-linguists, even though linguists and dialectologists need more pre-
cise information about the pronunciation of oeconyms and microtoponyms. In Slovenian dialectology (and
in this article) a standardized Slovenian phonetic transcription is used (see Kenda-Jež 2016) to mark all
qualitative and quantitative features of the spoken language and its phonemes (e.g., Pər Matíːjọc, Matíːjọčọ
vòːx). Unlike IPA transcription, this simplified transcription uses only the Slovenian alphabet, a special
letter for schwa (ə), three diacritics to mark accent (acute, grave, and circumflex), and the IPA length mark.
Careful consideration is needed for deciding how to write or mark accents, the length and quality of accent-
ed vowels, syncopated and reduced vowels, and semivowels. One should also consider other dialect
developments of vowels and consonants, means of preserving morphological word-formation, and syn-
tactic features as preserved in names (such as Pər Matíjovc, Matíjovčov vóh, to repeat the same two examples).
A third possibility for writing these names is to standardize them on the basis of careful linguistic (mor-
phonological) analysis; for example, Pri Matijevcu and Matijevčev log (to repeat the same two examples).
In Slovenian onomastics, the practice is to standardize oeconyms only at the phonetic and orthographic
levels (because people can identify with them easily), whereas microtoponyms and other toponyms used
by the general public are standardized in line with etymological and historical principles (e.g., [špáːnove
níːve] is written as Španove njive, and not *Županove njive).
3 Linguistic analysis and presentation
3.1 The motivation, origin, and structure of oeconyms and microtoponyms
Oeconyms often have one of the following naming motivations: the surname of the first owner (Klinar,
Potočnik, etc.), the first name of the first owner (Balont »Valentin«, Jernač »Jernej«, Matevžek »Matej/Matevž«,
Šema »Simon«, Jerca »Jera, Gertruda«, etc.), a nickname of the first owner, which may have arisen from
characteristics of the property (Vretena »spindle«, Loden »shop (cf. Germ. Laden)«, Oštarija »inn (cf. It.
osteria)«, etc.), typical foods (Štrukelj »dumpling«, Klobasa »sausage«, Kašar »porridge«, Zabela »butter,
fat, lard«, Prata »smoked pork«, etc.), typical plants (Smrekar »spruce«, Podlipnik »linden«, Žavbla »sage«, etc.),
typical animals (Volk »wolf«, Komar »mosquito«, Zajček »rabbit«, Muren »cricket«, Miška »mouse«, etc.),
physical characteristics of the owner (Kobala »bowlegged«, Ta dolgi »long«, etc.), psychological character-
istics of the owner (Fovšaritnica »envious«, Alelojovka »alleluia«, Tajč »German (cf. Germ. Deutsch)«, etc.),
or the geographical origin of the owner (Kropar »Kropa«, Dražgošan »Dražgoše«, Korošček »Carinthia«,
Bohinjec »Bohinj«, Rezijan »Resia«, Amerikanc »America«, etc.). Oeconyms are also frequent that have arisen
from the profession of the owner (Kovač »blacksmith«, Šuštar »shoemaker«, Žnidar »tailor«, Mlinar »miller«,
Fadajinka »noodle-maker«, Skirar »ax-maker«, etc.), the social status of the owner (Špan »mayor«, etc.),
the position of the house (Na Skalci »rock«, Podgradovc »castle«, Mostar »bridge«, etc.), the function of
the house (Mežnarija »sexton«, Šola »school«, etc.), and so on.
Microtoponyms often have one of the following naming motivations: position (Zgornji/Srednji/Spodnji
konec »upper/middle/lower part«, Za krajem »at the end«, etc.), geomorphological characteristics (Čelce
»forehead«, Ojstra peč »sharp rock«, Zjavka »cave«, Galerije »gallery«, Frtala »to spin«, Vilice »fork«, Podplatasta
skala »rock like a sole«, etc.), typical color (Črni vrh »black peak«, Črni potok »black stream«, etc.), plant
names (Bukovlje »beech«, Pod Lipo »linden«, Brezovica »birch«, Hrinovec »horseradish«, etc.), animal names
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(Junčevica »steer«, Jagnjevica »lamb«, Petelinovec »rooster«, Konjski britof »horse boneyard«, Gamsov skret
»chamois dung area«, Medvehka »bear«, etc.), structures (Zgornji bajer »upper pond«, Za mlinom »mill«,
Skakalnica »ski jump«, Pri stogu »hayrack«, Pretvornik »convertor«, Kapelica »wayside shrine«, Plac »mar-
ket square«, Mala gasa »little alley«, etc.), personal names (Na Jernaškem »Jernej«, Pri Marijici »Marija«,
Petrovec »Peter«, Boštjanov bošt »Boštjan«, Mihovčev strmec »Miha«, Martinček »Martin«), owned pro perties
(Koničarjev travnik »Koničar’s meadow«, Klofčarjev graben »Klofčar’s ravine«, etc.), and people’s activity
(Za Dolgo njivo »long field«, Streljavnica »to shoot«, Dekliški tomf »maiden pool«, Mili pogled »gentle view«,
Tam, kjer je ta mrtvi ta živega ubil »Where the dead one killed the living one«, Žegnan studenec »blessed
well/spring«, etc.).
As can be seen, many of these names are of Slavic origin, but many of them are loanwords from va -
rious contact languages (mostly German and Italian). Oeconyms and microtoponyms also have different
structures because these »are mainly one-word toponyms with masculine, feminine, or neuter gender, in
the singular or plural. Quite common are also noun phrases with left attributes that specify possession,
position, and other characteristics of the places named. Special attention is given to prepositional and com-
pound names, which are interesting because of their polymorphic structure; such toponyms are often in
a process of formation (nomina propria in statu nascendi »developing proper names«), and so these names
often show an intermediate stage between common and proper name, pointing to their false propriety (pseu-
do-propriety or proto-propriety)« (Škofic 2016, 220). Toponyms with more complex structures (such as
a sentence) are quite rare.
3.2 Lexicographic and cartographic presentation of oeconyms
This subsection presents the microstructure of entries in the dictionary of Slovenian dialect oeconyms
(Škofic 2014).
Although many names have the same root, it is necessary to present not only the root but also all deri -
vative forms with various suffixes in their Proto-Slavic forms.
The standardized form of an oeconym (formed on the basis of morphological analysis, in which the
phonetically abstracted name, following the phonetic rules of the dialect, is followed by its Proto-Slavic
equivalent and by its derivational predecessors or sources from foreign languages) is followed by the symbol 
and an identification of the name (i.e., places/villages with house numbers) with the dialect form of the
oeconym accented and standardized (in square brackets). This is followed by the standardized and dialect
names for the male and female head of the property (following the symbols ♂ and ♀) in the nominative
and genitive as well as the corresponding adjective in standardized and dialect variants (in the masculine, fem-
inine, and neuter forms). Each identification unit may also have a documentary section (after the symbol ❖),
stating the name in its historical sources: FK = the Franciscan cadaster (Protocols … 1823–1896); SA = Status
animarum (parish family records; Parish … 1750–1950; Škofic 2013, 2014).
kovač- ➩ Kovač, Kovaček, Kovačevec, Kovačič, Kovačijovec, Kovačnica ← *kov-a-č-ь (»smith«) ←
*kov-a-ti kuj-ǫ »to forge«
Pri Kovaču < *pri »at« + *kov-a-č-ь
 HN Bašelj 14: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e], adj. Kováčov
[kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Kovatsch, SA 1771 Kovazh, SA 1880 Kovač
 HN Begunje na Gorenjskem 109: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca
[kovačíːca -e], adj. Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ SA 1750–1859 Kovazh, SA 1750–1873 Kovazh
 HN Bistrica (Naklo) 16: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kovàč [koˈvəč kováːča], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca-e],
adj. Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ /
 HN Bled, hamlet of Rečica, Triglavska cesta 5: Pri Kováču [pər kováːčo], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca
[kovačíːca -e], adj. Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ /
 HN Bodešče 22: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e], adj. Kováčov
[kováčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Kovatsch, SA 1900–1910 Kovač
 HN Bohinjska Bela 118: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e], adj.
Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ SA 1900–1910 Kovač
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Jožica Škofic, Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
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 HN Bohinjska Bela 24: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e], adj.
Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Kovatsch, SA 1900–1910 Kovač
 HN Bohinjska Češnjica 73: Pri Kováču [pər kováːčo], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e],
adj. Kováčov [kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Kovazh, SA 1831 Kovazh, SA 1882 Kovač
 HN Brezje 52 and 76: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kovàč [koˈvəč kováːča], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e],
adj. Kováčov [kováːčo o] ❖ /
 HN Češnjevek 29: Pri Kováču [pər kováːč], ♂ Kováč [kováːč -a], ♀ Kovačíca [kovačíːca -e], adj. Kováčov
[kováːčo -ova -o] ❖ /
Pri Kovačku < *pri »at« + *kov-a-č-ьk-ъ
 HN Begunje na Gorenjskem 131: Pri Kovačkù [pər kovačˈko], ♂ Kovačèk [kovaˈčək -čˈka], ♀
Kovačkôva [kovačkóːva -e], adj. Kovačkôv [kovačkóː -óːva -óː] ❖ SA 1750–1859 Kovazhik, SA
1750–1873 Kovazhik
 HN Koroška Bela, Cesta Ivana Cankarja 14: Pri Kovačkú [pər kovačk.óː], ♂ Kovačkóv [kovačkóː -ga],
♀ /, adj. Kovačkóv [kovačkóː - .óːva -óː] ❖ /
Pri Kovačevcu < *pri »at« + *kov-a-č-ev-ьc-ь
 HN Bohinjska Češnjica 8: Pri Kovačévcu [pər kovačːco], ♂ Kovačévc [kovačːc -a], ♀ Kovačévka
[kovačːka -e], adj. Kovačév [kovačː -ːva -ː] ❖ FK 1827 Kovazhouzh, SA 1831 Kovazheuc, SA
1882 Kovačevc
Pri Kovačiču < *pri »at« + *kov-a-č-i-ь (< surname Kovačič)
 HN Slovenski Javornik, Pionirska ulica 11: Pri Kováčiču [pər kováːčič], ♂ Kováčič [kováːčič -a], ♀ /,
adj. Kováčičev [kováːčičo -ova -o] ❖ /
Legend
Pri Kovaču
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Figure 2: Spatial distribution of the oeconym Pri Kovaču in Upper Carniola. It is interesting that there are no oeconyms motivated by the profession
smith (Slov. kovač) in Kropa. Kropa is known for its traditional iron forging and smithies, and almost all of the inhabitants made their living by hammering
and blacksmithing, so any naming motivated by this activity would not be useful.
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Pri Kovačijovcu < *pri »at« + *kov-a-č-(ij)-ov-ьc-ь
 HN Begunje na Gorenjskem 31: Pri Kovačíjovcu [pər kovačíːjoc], ♂ Kovačíjovc [kovačíːjoc -a], ♀
Kovačíjovka [kovačíːjoka -e], adj. Kovačíjev [kovačíːjo -ova -o] ❖ SA 1750–1859 Kovashijouz, SA
1750–1873 Kovashijouz
Na Kovačnici < *na »on« + *kov-a-č-ьn-ic-a »smithy«
 HN Bohinjska Češnjica 95: Na Kováčnici [na kováːčənce], ♂ /, ♀ /, adj. / ❖ /
 HN Jereka 34: Na Kováčnici [na kováːčənc], ♂ Kovačíčən [kovačìːčən] ♀ /, adj. / (s Kováčənce) ❖ /
Many of the oeconyms in the Upper Carniola dialect have their origin in male proper names (1030/5450
or 18.9%), whereas the percentage of oeconyms originating in female proper names is much lower (87/5450
or 1.6%); the most common female proper names are Katra (9), Jera (6), Majda/Magdalena (7), Alenka/Lenka (5),
and Johana (5).
The most common male proper names from which Upper Carniolan oeconyms are derived are Jurij (59),
Janez (52), Anton (43), Matija (41), Jakob (40), Miha (40), Peter (40), Martin (37), Marko (35), Tomaž (32),
Andrej (30), Urban (30), Gregor (30), Blaž (31), Jožef (29), Simon (28), Klemen (27), Luka (24), Jernej (22),
Štefan (20), Lovrenc (18), Franc (17), Matevž (16), Pavel (15), and Valentin (14, plus Tine with 10), and the
rarest are Adolf, Karl, Maks, Mohor, Metod (all only once), and Ciril (twice).
The most frequent suffixes in oeconyms derived from male proper names are: -Ø (e.g., Pri Alešu, Filipu,
Luku), -ač (e.g., Pri Mrtnaču, Vožbaču, Jernaču, Milaču), -ak (e.g., Pri Klemenaku), -ček (e.g., Pri Andrejčku,
Štefančku, Jančku, Martinčku, Petrčku, Tinčku), -e (e.g., Pri Bvažetu, Anžetu), -ec (e.g., Pri Jakcu, Lukcu,
Markcu, Šmoncu, Toncu, Rbancu), -ečman (e.g., Pri Anžečmanu), -ej (e.g., Pri Toneju, Jurčeju, Miheju,
Tineju), -ejček (e.g., Pri Tonejčku), -ejovec (e.g., Pri Tonejovcu), -ek (e.g., Pri Pavleku, Anžku, Francku), -elj
(e.g., Pri Franceljnu, Gusteljnu, Lojzeljnu, Miheljnu, Vrbanceljnu), -eljc (e.g., Pri Anzeljcu), -eljič (e.g., Pri
Acta geographica Slovenica, 57-1, 2017
147
Legend
*-ač-ь
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Figure 3: The suffix -ač in oeconyms derived from male proper names.
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Jožica Škofic, Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
Markoteljču), -ež (e.g., Pri Matiježu, Pavležu, Tinežu, Vertežu, Učežu), -ežek (e.g., Pri Učešku), -i (e.g., Pri
Pepiju, Poldiju; Pri Žanitu), -ic (e.g., Pri Petricu), -ič (e.g., Pri Uriču, Jakobču, Jožefču, Lenarču, Petrču), -iček
(e.g., Pri Anžičku), -in (e.g., Pri Gregorinu, Tomažinu), -ko (e.g., Pri Andrejkotu), -kulež (e.g., Pri Anžkuležu), -lin
(e.g., Pri Anžlinu, Marklinu), -man (e.g., Pri Jožmanu, Jurmanu, Lešmanu), -nik [-nek] (e.g., Pri Tomažneku,
Bvažneku, Jožneku), -ovček (e.g., Pri Udamovčku), -ovec (e.g., Pri Grogorjovcu, Matevžovcu, Mihovcu,
Petrovcu), -ovi (e.g., Pri Jakupovih, Jurjovih, Petrovih), -uc (e.g., Pri Štefucu), -uč (e.g., Pri Mrkuču), -ulič
(e.g., Pri Bažulču), -un (e.g., Pri Bvažunu, Martunu), and -uš (e.g., Pri Markušu).
Some examples of the lexicographic and cartographic presentation of oeconyms derived from male and
female proper names:
Vid- ➩ Bid, Bidec, Bisc, Vidic, (Videc) ← Lat. Vitus (+ Germ. Wido, Witto, Wito)
Pri Bidu < *pri »at« + (Vid)-ъ
 HN Črnivec 26: Pri Bídu [pər bìːt], ♂ Bídovc [bìːdo -ga], ♀/, adj. Bídov [bìːdo bìːdova bìːdo] ❖ /
Pri Bidcu < *pri »at« + (Vid)-ьc-ь
 HN Zgornje Gorje 39: Pri Bídcu [pər bìːsco], ♂ Bídec/Bísc [bìːdəc/bìːsc bìːsca], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka -e],
adj. Bíščev [bìːščo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Widitz, SA 1759–1877 Vidiz, SA 1790–1905 Vidic (Bisc),
Kunstelj 1954 Bidac
 HN Bled, Zagoriška cesta 13: Pri Bídcu/Pri Bíscu [pər bìːsc], ♂ Bídec [bìːdəc bìːsca], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka -e],
adj. Bíščev [bìːščo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Widitz, SA 1769–1869 Vidiz
 HN Bled, Partizanska cesta 1: Pri Bídcu [pər bìːsco], ♂ Bídec [bìːdəc bìːsca], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka -e], adj.
Bíščev [bìːščo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Widetz, SA 1771–1869 Vidiz, SA 1799–1869 Vidic
 HN Podhom 20: Pri Bíscu [pər bìːsc], ♂ Bídec [bìːdec bìːsca], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka -e], adj. Bíščev
[Bìːščo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Widitz, SA 1790–1905 and SA 1900 Vidic, Zupan 1995 Bisc
148
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Legend
*-ov-i
Figure 4: The suffix -ovi in oeconyms derived from male proper names.
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Pri Biscu < *pri »at« + (Vid)-ьc-ь
 HN Kamnje 15a: Pri Bíscu [pər bìːsc], ♂ Bísc [bìːsc ‑a], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka ‑e], adj. Bíščev [Bìːščo ‑ova
‑o] ❖ FK 1827 Widtz, SA 1891 Bisz, SA 1910
 HN Ravne v  Bohinju 5: Pri Bíscu [pər bìːsc], ♂ Bísc [bìːsc -a], ♀ Bíhka [bìːxka -e], adj. Bíščev
[Bìːščo -ova -o] ❖ SA 1910 Bisc
Pri Vidicu < *pri »at« + surname Vidic < (Vid)-ьc-ь
 HN Srednji Vrh 11: Pri Vídicu [pər vìːdic], ♂ Vídic [viːdic -a], ♀ /, adj. / ❖ SA 1903 Vidic
 HN Slovenski Javornik, Terenska ulica 10: Pri Vídicu [pər vìːdic], ♂ ♂ Vídic [viːdic -a], ♀ /, adj. / ❖ /
Katr- ➩ Katra, Katrnek, Katrnjek, Katerinc, Katračnek, Katrjačnek, Katričnek ← Katarina ← (Germ.
Catarina) ← Lat. Caterina (← Gr. Aikateríne)
Pri Katri < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-a
 HN Bistrica pri Tržiču 43: Pri Kátri [pər kàːtrə], ♂ Kátərən [kàːtərən -ga], ♀ Kátra [kàːtra -e], adj. Kátrən
[kàːtrən kàːtərna kàːtrən] ❖ /
Pri Katrnek < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-ьn-ik-ъ
 HN Spodnje Gorje 56: Pri Kátrneku [pər kàːtərnek], ♂ Kátrnek [kàːtərnek -a], ♀ /, adj. Kátrnekov
[kàːtərneko -ova -o] ❖ Kunstelj 1954 Katrnek
 HN Zgoša 45: Pri Kátrneku [pər kàːtərnek], ♂ Kátrnek [kàːtərnek -a], ♀ Kátrnca [kàːtərənca -e], adj.
Kátrnekov [kàːtərneko -ova -o] ❖ SA 1750–1859 and 1750–1873 Katernjek, Sinobad 1998 Katernek
 HN Zvirče 12: Pri Kátrneku [pər kàːtərnek], ♂ Kátrnek [kàːtərnek -a], ♀ /, adj. Kátrnekov [kàːtərneko
‑ova ‑o] ❖ SA 1767–1856 (1846) Katernik, SA 1792–1912 (1869) Katernek
Pri Katrnjek < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-ń-ak-ъ
Acta geographica Slovenica, 57-1, 2017
149
Legend
Pri Vidicu (< *Vid-ьc-ъ)
Pri Bidcu (< *Vid-ьc-ь)
Pri Biscu (< *Vid-ьc-ь)
Pri Bidu (< *Vid-ь)
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Figure 5: Spatial distribution of the oeconym Pri Vidicu/Pri Vidu/Pri Bidcu/Pri Biscu in Upper Carniola. Phonological variants of oeconyms motivated
by the male proper name Vid.
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Jožica Škofic, Microtoponyms as an important part of Slovenian cultural heritage
 HN Studor 38: Pri Kátrnjeku [pər kàːtərnjeko], ♂ Kátrnjek [kàːtərnjek -a], ♀ /, adj. Kátrnjekov [kàːtərnjeko
‑ova ‑o] ❖ FK 1827 Katerneg, SA 1821 Katernek
Pri Katerincu < *pri »at« + *(Kater)-in-ьc-ь
 HN Rateče 66: Pri Kateríncu [pər katerìːnc], ♂ Katerínčnjak [katerìːnčnjak -a], ♀ Katerínca [katerìːnca -e],
adj. Katerínčən [katerìːnčən -čna -čən] ❖ FK 1827 Cartarinz, SA 1846 Katarinz
Pri Katračneku < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-ač-ьn-ik-ъ (← surname Katrašnik (SA 1900–1910))
 HN Bodešče 7: Pri Katráčneku [pər katràːčnek], ♂ Katráčnek [katràːčnek -a], ♀ Katráčnica [katràːčənca -e],
adj. Katráčnekov [katràːčneko -ova -o] ❖ SA 1900–1910 Katračnik
Pri Katrjačneku < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-j-ač-ьn-ik-ъ (maybe adjectival derivation, like Martin-j-i)
 HN Velesovo 42: Pri Katrjáčneku [pər kətərjàːčnek], ♂ Katrjáčnek [kətərjàːčnek -a], ♀ Katrjáča
[kətərjàːča -e], adj. Katrjáčnekov [kətərjàːčneko -ova -o] ❖ FA 1827 Katerjazhnek, SA 1789–1816
Katriazhnek, SA 1785–1887 (1879) Katerjačnik
Pri Katričneku < *pri »at« + *(Katr)-i-ьn-ik-ъ
 HN Bohinjska Bela 70: Pri Katríčneku [pər katrìːčnek], ♂ Katríčnek [katrìːčnek -a], ♀ Katríčnca/Katríška
[katrìːčənca ‑e/katrìːška ‑e], adj. Katríčnekov [katrìːčneko -ova -o] ❖ SA 1900–1910 Katričnjek
Jer- ➩ Jera, Jerca, Jerčnek, Jerčini ← Gera ← OHG Gertrud (← Lat. Gertrudis)
Pri Jeri < *pri »at« + *(Jer)-a
 HN Praše 5: Pri Jéri [pər jːr], ♂ Jérnik [jːrnək -a], ♀ Jérnica [jːrənca -e], adj. Jérin [jːrən -rna -rən]
❖ SA 1907 Stari Zlekar (Pri Jeri)
 HN Rateče 74: Pri Jêri [pər jèːr], ♂ Jêrin [jèːrən -ga], ♀ Jéra [jèːra -e], adj. Jêrin [jèːrən -rna -rən] ❖ /
 HN Trstenik 6: Pri Jéri [pər jːr], ♂ Jérnik [jːrnek -a], ♀ Jéra [jːra -e], adj. Jérin [jːrən -rna -rən] ❖ /
Pri Jerci < *pri »at« + *(Jer)-ic-a
 HN Prihodi 1: Pri Jérci [pər jːrc], ♂ Jércən [jːrcən -ga], ♀ /, adj. Jércin [jːrcən -cna -cən] ❖ /
150
Legend
Katr-a (< *Katr-a)
Katr-nek (< *Katr-ьn-ik-ъ), *Katr-njek (< *Katr-ñ-ak-ъ)
Katr-ačnek (< *Katr-ač-ьn-ik-ъ)
Katr-ičnek (< *Katr-i-ьn-ik-ъ)
Katr-jačnek (< *Katr-j-ač-ьn-ik-ъ)
Kater-inc (< *Kater-in-ьc-ь)
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Figure 6: Suffixes of oeconyms derived from the female proper name Katr-a: -a, -nek (< -ьn-ik-ъ), -njek (< -ń-ak-ъ), -ačnek (< -ač-
ьn-ik-ъ), -ičnek (< -i-ьn-ik-ъ), -jačnek (< -j-ač-ьn-ik-ъ), -inec (‑in-ьc-ь)
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Pri Jerčnih < *pri »at« + *(Jer)-ič-in-ъ (< Jer-ic-a)
 HN Podreča 2: Pri Jérčnih [pər jːrčnəx], ♂ Jérčenk [jːrčənk -a], ♀ Jérčna [jːrčna -e], adj. Jérčin
[jːrčən -čna -čən] ❖ /
Pri Jerčneku < *pri »at« + *Jer-ič-ьn-ik-ъ (< Jer-ic-a)
 HN Poljšica pri Gorjah 31: Pri Jérčneku [pər jːrčneko], ♂ Jérčnek [jːrčnek -a], ♀ /, adj. Jérčnekov
[jːrčneko -ova -o] ❖ SA 1900 Pri Jeri, Kunstelj 1954 Jernek
Pri Jeriču < *pri »at« + *Jer-i-ь
 HN Bašelj 5: Pri Jeríču [pər jeríːč], ♂ Jerìč [jeˈrəč jeríːča], ♀ Jeríčka [jerìːška -e], adj. Jeríčov
[jeríːčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Jeretsch, SA 1771 Jerezh, SA 1880 Jerič
 HN Spodnje Gorje 11: Pri Jeríču [pər jeríːčo], ♂ Jerìč [jeˈrəč jeríːča], ♀ Jeríčka [jerìːška -e], adj. Jeríčov
[jeríːčo -ova -o] ❖ FK 1827 Jerizh, SA 1771 1759–1877 (1836) Jerizh, SA 1790–1905 Jerič
4 Conclusion
Microtoponyms, and especially oeconyms, are an important part of national cultural heritage and are inter-
esting not only to their local users but also to various disciplines: geography, history, ethnology, and linguistics.
One can study various connections between the linguistic viewpoints on the toponyms presented in this
article and the geographical locations in a specific area. Geographical and historical data about named places
can help linguists understand naming motivations and, vice versa, linguistic information can help geog-
raphers understand how toponyms have developed through time. From the linguistic point of view, the
recorded dialect form of oeconyms and microtoponyms is especially valuable because it provides infor-
mation about the pronunciation, inflection, and historical development of a language and its local dialects.
Proper names can be compared to common nouns (synchronically and diachronically) and presented in
a specially designed dictionary of toponyms as well as geolinguistically on maps. This article offers some
solutions for such presentations of these toponyms.
Acta geographica Slovenica, 57-1, 2017
151
Legend
Jer-a (< *Jer-a)
Jer-ca (<*Jer-ic-a)
Jer-čini (<*Jer-ič-in-ъ)
Jer-čnek (<*Jer-ič-ьn-ik-ъ)
Jer-ič (<*Jer i-ь)
Author of content: Jožica Škoc
Author of map: Matjaž Geršič
Source: Državna pregledna karta 1 : 500.000
             Geodetska uprava republike Slovenije 
© ZRC SAZU
Figure 7: Suffixes of oeconyms derived from the female proper name Jer-a: -a, -ca (< -ic-a), -č-in-i (< -ič-in-ъ), -č-nek (< -ič-ьn-
ik-ъ), -ič (< -i-ь)
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