Naming and Renaming of Watercourses. The Schwappach Case. An Addendum to the German Water Name Book

Abstract

The origins of hydronyms when, by whom, and why the flowing waters were first named as they are today often remain beyond our full understanding. We can only speculate, relying on etymological hypotheses. For instance, why was the Rhine called *Reinos, or the Danube *Dānewjos? Such questions are deeply tied to the antiquity of these names and the significance or size of the waterways they denote. The situation, however, changes when it comes to renaming a body of water. As the case examined in this article demonstrates, we can precisely trace the individuals and factors involved in a modern renaming or the obstacles preventing it. A telling example from Bavaria illustrates this dynamic: Schwappach, though a relatively short tributary of the Main, became the focus of a renaming effort. Notably, it took the dedicated involvement of two local historians to initiate the process. Their efforts highlight broader issues related to geogeography, settlement history, and name transmission. Additionally, the etymology of the hydronym Schwappach plays a crucial role and is reexamined in light of these developments.