The appearance of the lexeme apát ‘abbot’ in the names of the possessions of Garamszentbenedek Abbey

Abstract

The appearance of the lexeme apát ‘abbot’ in the names of the possessions of Garamszentbenedek Abbey  

This paper presents the changes of names for possessions of Garamszentbenedek Abbey. The author examines toponyms that reflect ecclesiastical possession: the observed names were either derived from the lexeme apát ‘abbot’, or their changes involved the appearance of the same lexeme in the name forms. Collecting and analysing place names that indicated territories owned by the same proprietor has thrown light on so far hidden connections among toponyms: the names of the possessions that belonged to Garamszentbenedek Abbey raise the possibility that the distinctive additions also ‘lower’ and felső ‘upper’, for instance, were used not only to identify the two ends of a formerly single settlement after these parts became independent habitations, but also to eliminate homonymy.