Use of Gothic language in Spain (baurgs, Burgos, burgus)

[Rydwlf]

Dear all,
   
  There are currently two main theories about the origin of the Burgos toponyme. Both of them, though, take the name "Burgos" as coming from Germanic burgs through Latin.burgus. The first theory sees "Burgos" as evolving directly from burgus (with the final -s). The second theory assumes that the word descending from burgus was burgo, not burgos. In that case, the name "Burgos" would be a plural and would be a reference to an agglomeration of fortresses or castles.
   
  The word burgo in Medieval Spanish meant "fortress" or "small village". It may be interesting to remember that it is still a word used in Spanish today, although its usage is not very common. The last edition of the "Diccionario de la Lengua Española" (by the Royal Spanish Academy) lists burgo as the following:
   
    burgo.
   
  (Del b. lat. burgus, y este del germ. *bŭrgs).
  
   
  1. m. p. us. En la Edad Media, fortaleza construida por los nobles feudales para vigilar los territorios de su jurisdicción, donde se asentaban grupos de comerciantes, artesanos, etc.
   
  2. m. p. us. Aldea o población muy pequeña, dependiente de otra principal.

   
  Translation:
  (from Low Latin burgus and this from Germanic *bŭrgs).
  1. (Masculine. Rarely used). In the Middle Ages, fortress built by feudal nobles (lords) to watch territories under their jurisdiction, where groups of merchants, craftsmen, etc, settled down.
  2. (Masculine. Rarely used). Hamlet or very small village, depending on other principal.
   
  In Spain there is a significative number of place names with the "burg" component. I've found 66 place names with it, roughly 90% of which are located in the north half of Spain.
   
  About the Latin word burgus, an article that may be interesting is ""Burgus": Versteking of Nederzetting? Avec un resume francais: Burgus: Fortification ou agglomeration? by H. van Werveke", although I haven't had the chance to read that work thoroughly; only from references in other works. Do you have access to it / already read it, and if so, can you comment it (if it's worth, which I suppose)?
   
  Cheers,
  Rydwlf.
   
  PS. Included below is the list I've made of place names containing the string "burg", with the name of the province to which they belong.
   
                  Province  ;  Village Name    Álava  ;  BURGELU    Álava  ;  ELBURGO    Asturias  ;  BURGAZAL    Asturias  ;  BURGANEO    Ávila  ;  BURGOHONDO    Ávila  ;  BURGUILLO, EL    Ávila  ;  PUENTE BURGUILLO    Badajoz  ;  BURGUILLOS DEL CERRO    Badajoz  ;  VALVERDE DE BURGUILLOS    Burgos  ;  QUINTANILLAS DE BURGOS, LAS    Burgos  ;  VILLAFRIA DE BURGOS    Burgos  ;  CARCEDO DE BURGOS    Burgos  ;  VILLALBILLA DE BURGOS    Burgos  ;  SAN MAMES DE BURGOS    Burgos  ;  BURGUETA    Burgos  ;  MELGOSA DE BURGOS    Burgos  ;  SALDAÑA DE BURGOS    Coruña  ;  BURGO (CESULLAS)    Coruña  ;  BURGO, O (CUIÑA)    Coruña  ;  BARCALA (BURGO, O)    Coruña  ;  BURGO, O (BURGO)    Coruña  ;  CASTRO, O (BURGO)    Coruña  ;  ESTACION (BURGO, O)    Coruña  ;  TAPIA (BURGO, O)    Coruña  ;  BURGAN    Coruña  ;  BURGAO DE ABAIXO    Coruña  ;  BURGAO DE ARRIBA    Coruña  ;  BURGAO (TRASMONTE)    Coruña  ;  BURGO (PINO)    Coruña  ;  BURGO (PEREIRAS, AS)    Coruña  ;  BURGUEIROS   
 Coruña  ;  BURGO (RIAL)    Coruña  ;  BURGO (SERGUDE)    Coruña  ;  BURGO (VEDRA)    Guadalajara  ;  TORRE DEL BURGO    León  ;  BURGO RANERO, EL    Lleida  ;  BURGUET, EL    Lleida  ;  BURGO    Lleida  ;  BURG    Lugo  ;  BURGO (SAN VICENTE) (LUGO)    Lugo  ;  BURGAS    Lugo  ;  BURGO, O (SANTA MARIA) (MURAS)    Málaga  ;  BURGO, EL    Málaga  ;  BURGOS, LOS    Navarra  ;  BURGUI    Navarra  ;  AURITZ/BURGUETE    Navarra  ;  BURGUETE    Ourense  ;  BURGUETE, O    Ourense  ;  BURGO, O (CASTRO CALDELAS)    Ourense  ;  BURGO, O (CELANOVA)    Ourense  ;  BURGO, O (OURENSE)    Pontevedra  ;  MALBURGO    Pontevedra  ;  BURGUEIRA (SAN PEDRO)    Santa Cruz de Tenerife  ;  BURGADO, EL    Segovia  ;  BURGOMILLODO    Sevilla  ;  BURGUILLOS    Soria  ;  FUENCALIENTE DEL BURGO    Soria  ;  SANTERVAS DEL BURGO    Soria  ;  TORRALBA DEL BURGO    Soria  ;  BURGO DE OSMA, EL    Soria  ;  SOTOS DEL BURGO    Toledo  ;  BURGUILLOS DE TOLEDO    Zamora  ;  BURGANES DE VALVERDE    Zaragoza  ; 
 BURGO DE EBRO, EL



Rydwlf 
  
"It is not people who break ethical standards who are regarded as aliens. It is people like me who are isolated." - Grigori Perelman.

       
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