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Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part Х):  Tsyhan’ (Цыгань). The now-run-down village of Tsyhan’ (Gypsy) lies at the end of a country road on the western bank of the River Shchara.  The presence of a German World War I… Continue reading Photos of the Day for July 3, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part ІХ):  Mazurki (Мазуркі). In the evening light Aljena and S’tsjepan talked to me about their village and its Polish-origin name, associated with the former, long destroyed estate of the Krahel’ski family. They noted… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 2, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part VIII):  Zhomajdz’ (Жомайдзь, Клецкі раён). Zhomajdz’ in Kljetsk District is one of two so-named villages in Belarus; there is also a Zhomajdzi.  The modern-day descendants of the Baltic tribe of the Zhamojty (Zhemajty,… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 1, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part VII):  Rusinavichy (Русінавічы). Rusyns (Ruthenes, Ruthenians) were Slavic inhabitants of Rus’ (Kievian Rus’), territory later incorporated into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and now lying in Ukraine and Belarus.  The train station in Rusinavichy is… Continue reading Photo of the Day for June 30, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part VI):  Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы). Ljakhavichy, a district center of 11,000 people in Brest Region, derives its name from the word Ljakh (Лях), meaning Pole:  Lech was the name of the legendary founder of the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for June 29, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part V):  Sakuny (Сакуны).  The village of Sakuny lies right across the road from Turki and just two-and-a-half miles (four kilometers) from Ljakhavichy. The Sakuny were a sub-group of the Dryhavichy  — one of… Continue reading Photo of the Day for June 28, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part IV-b):  Turki (Туркі). Place-names derived from the word Turk or Tatar are spread widely across Belarus; evidence suggests that Tatars and other Turkic peoples first settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania early… Continue reading Photos of the Day for June 27, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part IV-a):  Turki (Туркі).  Place-names derived from the word Turk or Tatar are spread widely across Belarus; evidence suggests that Tatars and other Turkic peoples first settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL)… Continue reading Photos of the Day for June 26, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part III):  Litva (Літва).  More than a score of villages in Belarus carry the Baltic name, or are derived from the name of, Litva.  What eventually became the Grand Duchy of Lithuania arose in… Continue reading Photos of the Day for June 25, 2014

Expedition to the concentration of ethnotoponyms (ethnically-, tribally- or geographically-related toponyms) around the district center of Ljakhavichy (Ляхавічы) in western Belarus (part II):  Vjalikaja Lotva (Вялікая Лотва). Вандроўка па этнатапонімах вакол Ляхавічаў (частка ІІ):  Ятвезь, Вялікая Лотва, Літва, Туркі, Сакуны, Ляхавічы, Русінавічы, Жомайдзь (Клецкі р.), Мазуркі, Цыгань, Літоўка, Русіно. Examples of the variety of gable… Continue reading Photos of the Day for June 24, 2014