Rianxo

Rianjo

Camino de Barbanza

A Coruña · La CoruñaGalicia

From the Latin rivum angulum 'the bend of the river', after the angle the coast of the ría de Arousa makes on passing. The reading is probable and widespread, though no onomastic study has sealed it.

The name seems to speak of water, and probably it does. The most accepted reading derives it from the Latin rivum angulum, 'the bend, the angle of the river', after the curve the coast of the ría de Arousa traces on passing: rivum angulum > *Riv'ang'lo > Rianxo. It is worth marking it as probable and not as certain: it is the explanation found everywhere, but we have not found an onomastic study that seals it, and it coexists with the direct popular association to 'ría'. The Castilian form Rianjo is the same word with another spelling. The town, seafaring and set on a bend, was the birthplace of Castelao and Rafael Dieste.

Evolution of the name

  1. rivum angulum Latin etymon
  2. *Riv'ang'lo Galician evolution
  3. Rianxo / Rianjo Galician / Castilian modern

Reflections, to the letter

Rianxo sits on a bend of the ría, and its name probably says so: from the Latin rivum angulum, 'the angle of the river'. Look at the coastline from the port and you will see the elbow that gives the etymon its sense. It is a widespread reading, though not entirely sealed; we give it to you as probable. Castelao and Dieste were from here, and it shows: Rianxo is a town of sea and of words.

Languages of origin

Themes

Origin status

probable

Sources

  • Cabeza Quiles, F. — Toponimia de Galicia (Vigo: Galaxia, 2008)
  • Nomenclátor de Galicia (Xunta de Galicia)

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Camino de Barbanza

  1. Padrón
  2. Dodro
  3. Rianxo
  4. Boiro
  5. A Pobra do Caramiñal
  6. Ribeira