From Pavement to Politics: Rethinking Urban Naming in Enschede

 On March 14, 2025, the city of Enschede, Netherlands, hosted the "Symposium Naamgeving Openbare Ruimte," a thought-provoking event that delved into the significance of street naming in shaping urban identity and public memory. Organized by the municipality of Enschede, the symposium brought together experts, municipal workers, and residents to explore how the names assigned to public spaces reflect cultural values, historical narratives, and societal changes.
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Keynote Address: The Power of Street Names

The symposium commenced with an inspiring keynote by Lonneke Groen, former member of the Amsterdam Street Name Committee. Groen emphasized that street names serve as concise stories, capable of inspiring and deepening residents' connections to their surroundings. She advocated for thoughtful selection processes that honor local history and cultural significance, citing examples like Enschede's textile-related street names and Kerkrade's homage to its coal mining heritage.​

Challenges and Community Engagement

A significant portion of the discussion addressed the challenges in street naming, particularly the avoidance of repetitive or generic names. Groen highlighted the importance of innovative thinking and community involvement in the naming process. Engaging residents not only fosters a sense of ownership but also ensures that the names resonate with the community's identity and values. The municipality of Franekeradeel's initiative to solicit public input for unique street names was presented as a successful model.​

Reflecting Societal Changes

The symposium also tackled the evolving nature of societal values and how they influence the perception of existing street names. Discussions centered on reassessing names associated with colonial figures or controversial historical events, emphasizing the need for names that align with contemporary values and promote inclusivity.​

Workshop Sessions: Deepening the Dialogue

Participants engaged in various workshops that delved deeper into specific aspects of street naming:​

• The Path to Overcoming Plant Blindness: Led by botanist Marco Roos, this session explored integrating urban biodiversity into street naming, advocating for names that reflect local flora and promote environmental awareness.​

• Inclusive Naming: Angélique Duijndam discussed addressing colonial history through street names, emphasizing the emotional and historical significance of such names and the importance of public understanding.​

• Women’s Names in Public Spaces: Onessa Kovak highlighted the underrepresentation of women in street naming and provided strategies for incorporating notable women from various fields into the urban landscape.​

• Citizen Participation in 2025: Willemijn Zwart facilitated discussions on effective methods for involving citizens in the street naming process, emphasizing transparency and efficiency.​

Embracing Linguistic Diversity

Adrie Hemmink from Museumfabriek in Enschede shared insights on incorporating regional languages and dialects into street naming. Utilizing local dialects not only preserves linguistic heritage but also strengthens community identity and ties residents to their cultural roots.​

Looking Ahead: Balancing Tradition and Innovation

The symposium concluded with reflections on the future of street naming. Speakers advocated for a balance between honoring historical significance and embracing contemporary values. Innovative and creative naming conventions were encouraged to make public spaces more engaging and reflective of the community's evolving identity.​

The "Naming the Streets, Shaping the City" symposium underscored the profound impact of street names beyond mere navigation aids. They are narratives woven into the urban fabric, telling stories of the past, reflecting present values, and shaping the identity of cities for future generations.​

Westmeath Field Name Project Update

 

An update on the Westmeath Field Names Recording Project and some of the interesting names recorded is available at link .

The project began in the summer of 2018 with two community groups, Taghmon Women’s Group and Drumraney Heritage Society. Over 700 field names were collected in that first year, some of which have been discussed in our first project booklet (available on line: http://aengusfinnegan.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ Westmeath-Field-Names-Recording-Project-Booklet.pdf). Since 2019 we have worked with a further eleven groups, from all over the county: Fore, Collinstown, Kinnegad, Mount Temple, Rochfortbridge, Rosemount, Ballymore, Loughnavalley, Multyfarnham, Tang, and Coole. 20 meetings with community groups were held in 2019 and a further fourteen have taken place to date in 2020. In total, over 100 volunteers have been involved in the project in 2019-20, and 1400 field names have been collected from 70 townlands. Additionally, a further 80 field names have been transcribed from historic estate maps (18th-19th centuries), the Registry of Deeds, local newspapers and other sources. Unfortunately, all group meetings had to cease in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus Outbreak but collection of names from individuals in various parts of the county has resumed, as circumstances allow.

Westmeath Field Names Recording Project

A project is being undertaken to record field names in Westmeath. This project is being funded by The Heritage Council and Westmeath County Council.

For more information, contact Aengus Finnegan: fieldnames@aengusfinnegan.ieor Melanie McQuade, heritage officer: heritage@westmeathcoco.ie

Project website: aengusfinnegan.ie/field-names/

Какие улицы в Москве названы в честь убийц

ссылка с объяснениями

The Village и «Мемориал» создали карту с топонимикой террора

 

Любая успешная революция стремится закрепить победу в символическом поле. Французы, например, в 1793 году создали новый календарь, где первый день республики стал началом новой эры. В России с календарем произошли менее радикальные перемены, однако тысячи объектов и населенных пунктов стали называть в честь тех, кого советское правительство из идеологических соображений отнесло к героям. В названия попали в том числе люди, занимавшиеся убийством мирных людей. The Village и историко-просветительское общество «Международный мемориал» исследовали карту современной Москвы, чтобы понять, кто из канонизированных большевиками убийц до сих пор присутствует в нашей жизни.

Minor Placenames Workshop 2018

link

Ceardlann Mionlogainmneacha 2018

Thu, 17 May 2018, 09:00 – Fri, 18 May 2018, 17:00 IST

ardlann Mionlogainmneacha 2018

Thu, 17 May 2018, 09:00 – Fri, 18 May 2018, 17:00 IST

Ceardlann Mionlogainmneacha 2018

Thu, 17 May 2018, 09:00 – Fri, 18 May 2018, 17:00 IST

Ceardlann Mionlogainmneacha 2018

Thu, 17 May 2018, 09:00 – Fri, 18 May 2018, 17:00 IST

'Aithním an chré agus an chloch...'

Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU, is organising a workshop on the topic of minor placenames (placenames other than administrative placenames and population centres). This workshop will be of interest to placenames researchers, to local history and heritage groups and to current or potential contributors to Meitheal Logainm.ie. Talks will be in either Irish or English. The workshop will include a dinner, a practical session on using Meitheal Logainm.ie, and a historical walking tour of the local area (Drumcondra), led by Séamas Ó Maitiú.

17-18 May 2018
Register here (early bird rate until 13.04.18)

Confirmed speakers and organisations:

Simon Taylor (University of Glasgow)
Rebecca Gregory (English Place-Name Survey)
Patrick Duffy (Maynooth University)
Seán Ó Cualáin and Seosamh Ó Súilleabháin (Loughconeera Heritage)
Máire Seó Breathnach (Irish Officer, Waterford City & County Council)
Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (University of Limerick)
Mícheál Ó Dónaill (Tionscadal Béaloidis Ghaeltacht Thír Chonaill)
Paul Tempan and Simon Stewart (Mountainviews.ie)
Dearbhala Ledwidge and Alan Counihan (Kilkenny Field Names Project)
Eve Campbell (Louth Field Names Project)
Jerome Lordan
Máire Feiritéir
Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig
Éamonn Ó hÓgáin
The Placenames Branch

Contact: Úna Bhreathnach (una.bhreathnach@dcu.ie)

Postgraduate meeting: This workshop will give postgraduate students involved in placenames research an opportunity to present their research to other students, and to exchange ideas in an informal setting. Participants will be able to show their research in a short presentation, and to discuss it with other students. Presentations can be done through Irish or English. Contact: Justin Ó Gliasáin (justin.ogliasain@dcu.ie)

Leagan Gaeilge anseo

FAQs

Are meals included in the price of my ticket?

A light lunch is included on both days.

An informal dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening at a cost of €30, please select appropriate ticket type if you wish to attend the dinner.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Send an email to logainm@dcu.ie

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

A printed ticket or a screenshot on an electronic device is sufficient.

'Aithním an chré agus an chloch...'

Tá ceardlann á reáchtáil ag Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU, chun cúrsaí mionlogainmneacha (logainmneacha nach ainmneacha riaracháin ná ionaid daonra iad) a phlé. Beidh an cheardlann seo suimiúil do thaighdeoirí logainmníochta, do chumainn áitiúla oidhreachta agus staire agus do dhuine ar bith a bhíonn ag cur le Meitheal Logainm.ie. Beidh an cheardlann á reáchtáil trí Ghaeilge agus trí Bhéarla. I measc imeachtaí na ceardlainne beidh seisiún praiticiúil faoi úsáid Mheitheal Logainm.ie, dinnéar, agus turas treoraithe thart ar cheantar Dhroim Conrach le Séamas Ó Maitiú.

Tá gach eolas ar fáil anseo.

Clár sealadach ar fáil anseo.

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Ceisteanna Coitianta

An bhfuil béilte san áireamh mar chuid den ticéad?

Cuirfear lón éadrom ar fáil ar an dá lá.

Reáchtálfar dinnéar neamhfhoirimiúil tráthnóna Déardaoin ar chostas €30. Roghnaigh an ticéad cuí más spéis leat freastal ar an dinnéar seo.

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Conas a dhéanfaidh mé teagmháil leis an lucht eagraithe má tá ceist agam?

Seol ríomhphost chuig logainm@dcu.ie le do thoil.

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An gá dom an ticéad clóite a thabhairt liom ar an lá?

Glacfar le cóip chrua nó le cóip leictreonach den ticéad ar an lá.

Microtoponymie de la commune de Vebret

http://www.onomastique.asso.fr/news.php?lng=fr&pg=227&tconfig=0

http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=47941

Microtoponymie de la commune de Vebret (Cantal)

Jean-Claude Rivière

Éditions L'Harmattan - Collection « Nomino Ergo Sum »
Août 2015
ISBN : 9782343063591
314 pages
32 €

La microtoponymie est l’étude des lieux-dits d’une région bien délimitée. Elle concerne non seulement les lieux habités (villages, hameaux, fermes isolées) mais aussi les noms de parcelles cultivées ou non, et les points remarquables (bois, cours d’eau, marécages, hauteurs, landes, etc.). Jusqu’à la seconde guerre mondiale, le moindre de ces lieux avait, ou avait eu, un nom comme en témoignent les terriers d’Ancien Régime et les plus anciens cadastres. La présente étude de la microtoponymie de la commune de Vebret, dans le nord-ouest du Cantal, basée sur les documents d’archives, notamment le cadastre dit «napoléonien» de 1827, et sur les témoignages oraux en auvergnat, s’attache à élucider l’origine et la signification de plusieurs centaines de ces lieux-dits, ainsi que leur répartition et leur survie actuelles. Jusqu’à présent peu de publications avaient été consacrées à l’étude exhaustive de la microtoponymie d’une commune française.

L’AUTEUR

L’auteur est philologue universitaire à la retraite. Une partie de sa famille est originaire de la commune de Vebret (Cantal) qu’il connaît parfaitement grâce à de longues promenades dans les différents secteurs de cette vaste commune. Ses premiers travaux avaient concerné le provençal rhodanien, celui du grand poète Frédéric Mistral. Puis, avec Ph. Olivier, et à son instigation, il a participé à l’édition d’un certain nombre de textes en auvergnat médiéval. Ce travail sur la microtoponymie de Vebret est un témoignage de fi délité de l’auteur à ses racines auvergnates..

PRÉSENTATION DE L'OUVRAGE

Cadre géographique et géologique : cadre climatique, sources et puits, marécages et tourbières, rivières et ruisseaux. Philippe Olivier

Cadre linguistique : adoption d’une graphie inspirée de la graphie mistralienne. Le parler du Vebret appartient à la langue d’Oc –ou Occitan- c’est un passage qui intéressera tous les romanistes (pp 16 à 20). La documentation et la méthode d’études part du cadastre napoléonien (CN) en fait daté de 1828 soit plus de 5070 parcelles cadastrées et 609 entrées principales. La défectuosité des graphies due au fait que les rédacteurs du cadastre ne comprenaient pas le parler de Vebret a conduit l’auteur à procéder à une vaste enquête orale commencée il y a plus de 30 ans – démarche aujourd’hui impossible à cause de la disparition de 80% des témoins.

Cette enquête a été obligatoirement complétée par une reconnaissance sur le terrain indispensable pour éviter certaines confusions. Les archives permettent d’identifier un certain nombre de lieux-dits. Les manuels permettent aussi un nombre non négligeable d’identifications. Nous présentons enfin brièvement les notices et leur organisation.

Après cette introduction suit le corps de l’oeuvre. D’abord les villages et lieux habités, puis les villages abandonnés, ensuite les bâtiments d’exploitation agricole, puis les agronymes, les oronymes, les anthroponymes et quelques autres rubriques de moindre importance. Ensuite un important chapitre est consacré aux hydronymes (pp 149 à 197) : on est surpris de l’abondance des termes ayant trait à l’eau. Mais cela s’explique facilement : Vebret est traversé par 3 cours d’eau permanents qui alimentaient de nombreux moulins. Dans une civilisation rurale, l’eau était importante pour le bétail, d’où de nombreux aménagements.

Au total quelle conclusion pouvons-nous en tirer ? La microtoponymie de Vebret nous offre le tableau d’une société rurale, étonnement stable jusqu’à l’orée du XXe siècle et qui a été bouleversée par les Deux Guerres Mondiales. Et sur le plan linguistique nous avons pu dresser la description d’un parler en voie d’extinction.