AZTEC PLACE-NAMES

THEIR MEANING AND MODE OF COMPOSITION

SELECTED FROM THE SPANISH OF AGUSTIN DE LA ROSA, ANTONIO PEÑAFIEL AND CECILIO A. ROBELO

BY FREDERICK STARR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

SECOND EDITION; REVISED

CHICAGO Privately printed by the author 1920

[Pg 2]

PREFACE

Before trying to understand Aztec hieroglyphic writing the student should gain some ideas as to how Mexican words are constructed and what changes word elements suffer in being compounded. No words are more interesting or suggestive in this direction than geographical names. This is particularly true because the hieroglyphic material most conveniently accessible to the student chances to be a list of place-names. The method of study we borrow from de la Rosa’s little work Explicacion de algunos de los Nombres de la Lengua Mexicana. His mode of analysis and presentation is direct and simple. De la Rosa’s arrangement has been followed in detail. The name is first presented in full; the meaning is then given in bracketed print; the elements are then presented, parts which are dropped in the compound being italicized; the meaning of each element is given in parenthesis; suggestions or explanation of special points are added in some cases. The list of Rules of Composition is taken from Dr. Antonio Peñafiel. Robelo is generally followed in questions of meaning.

The student is expected to learn the rules, to learn the meanings of the place-names, and to study the analyses sufficiently to be able to explain the construction of any name given in the list. After this material has been mastered additional exercises in sight-reading and analysis of new place-names should be undertaken.

Frederick Starr

Chicago, June 21, 1920

RULES OF COMPOSITION FOLLOWED IN THE MAKING OF AZTEC PLACE-NAMES—(After A. Peñafiel.)

1. Geographic names commonly end in some special particle indicative of place, as co, e. g.—Anal-co.

2. When a particle indicative of place is added to a noun, the singular form of the noun only is used, even when it carries a plural force.

3. When a particle indicative of place is added to a noun, the noun is usually modified—generally dropping its terminal letters or syllable, e. g.—Anahuac from atl, nahuac.

4. When more than one noun are compounded before the particle indicative of place, each commonly drops its final letters or syllable, e. g.—Coacalco from Coatl, calli, co.

5. For sake of euphony some nouns in composition may remain entire, e. g.—Tzinacanoztoc from tzinacan, oztotl, c.

6. Not more than three elements or words besides the postposition occur in geographic names.

7. When two nouns only are compounded into a place-name, the first loses its final letters or last syllable, while the second remains entire. The first is a qualifier of the second and follows it in translation, e. g.—Tecalli from tetl, calli = “house (calli) of stone (tetl).”

8. In place-names compounded of an adjective and a noun, the adjective precedes, e. g.—Iztacuauhtli from iztac, cuauhtli = “the white (iztac) eagle (cuauhtli).”

9. In place-names compounded of a noun and a verb, the noun precedes, e. g.—Cacalomacan from cacalotl, ma, can = “where they hunt (ma) crows (cacalotl).”

10. In place-names compounded of a numeral and a noun, the numeral precedes, e. g.—Macuilxochic from macuilli, xochitl, c. Macuilli (five).

[Pg 4]

LIST OF AZTEC PLACE-NAMES

Acalhuacan. [Place of those who have canoes.] Compounded of acalli (canoe); hua, which is a possessive particle; can (place).

Acamilixtlahuacan. [Where are level fields of rushes.] Compounded of acatl (reed); milli (field); ixtlahuaca (level expanse); can (place).

Acamiltzinco. [Place of small fields of rushes.] Compounded of acatl (rush); milli (field); tzintli, diminutive particle; co (place).

Acapan. [Place of rushes.] Compounded of acatl (reed, rush); pan (place).

Acapetlatlan. [Place of rush mats.] Compounded of acatl (rush, reed); petlatl (mat); tlan (place of abundance).

Acapolco. [Where the rushes were destroyed.] Compounded of acatl (rush); poloa (to destroy, to lose); co (place).

Acatepec. [In the mountain of reeds.] Compounded of acatl (reed); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Acaticpac. [Over (or above) the canes.] Compounded of acatl (cane); icpac (above).

Acatzinco. [Place of small rushes.] Compounded of acatl (rush); tzintli, diminutive particle; co (place).

Acatzochic. [In the flowers of the cane.] Compounded of acatl (cane); xochitl (flower); c (in).

Acatzochitlan. [Among the flowers of the cane.] Compounded of acatl (cane); xochitl (flower); tlan (among).

Acayocan. [Place full of canes, or rushes.] Compounded of acayutl (full of canes); can (place). Acayutl = acatl (cane) and yutl (full of).

Acazacatla. [Where is abundance of rushes and straw.] Compounded of acatl (rush); zacatl (grass, straw); tla (abundance).

Acocozpan. [In the very yellow water.] Compounded of atl (water); cocoztic (very yellow); pan (in, place).

Acolhuacan. [Place of the Acolhuas.] Compounded of Acolhua, a tribal name; can (place). Acolhua = acolli (shoulder) and hua, a possessive particle.

Acolnahuac. [Near the Acolhuas.] Compounded of Acolhua, a tribal name; nahua (near).

Acozpa. [In the yellow water.] Compounded of atl (water); coztic (yellow); pa (in).

Acuitlapan. [In the water of the filth.] Compounded of atl (water); cuitlatl (excrement); pan (place, in).

Ahuacatlan. [Place of many ahuacates.] Compounded of ahuacatl (ahuacate, alligator pear); tlan (abundance).

Ahuatepec. [In the mountain of live-oaks.] Compounded of ahuatl (live-oak); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

[Pg 5]

Ahuatzitzinco. [Place of the very small live-oaks.] Compounded of ahuatl (live-oak); tzitzintl, emphatic of diminutive particle; co (place).

Ahuehuepan. [In the cypresses.] Compounded of ahuehuetl (cypress); pan (in).

Ahuexoyocan. [Place of groves of water-willows.] Compounded of ahuexotl (water-willow); yocan (place full of).

Ahuilizapan.=(Ahauializapan.) [In the river of joy.] Compounded of ahauializtli (joy); atl (water, river); pan (in). Through forms perhaps like Ahulizapa, Ulizaba, Olizaba, it has come to be the present Orizaba.

Amacoztitlan. [Where is abundance of yellow paper.] Compounded of amatl (paper); coztic (yellow); ti, a euphonic particle; tlan (abundance).

Amatlan. [Where there is abundant paper.] Compounded of amatl (paper); tlan (where abounds).

Amaxtlan. [Where the water divides.] Compounded of atl (water); maxactli (split, crotch); tlan (place).

Ameyalco. [Where are springs of water.] Compounded of atl (water); meyali (a spring, from meya, to issue); co (where).

Apancalecan. [Place of owners of houses with water troughs.] Compounded of apanatl (water trough); cale (house-owner); can (place).

Atenanco. [Place of the wall of water.] Composed of atl (water); tenamitl (wall); co (place).

Atenco. [Place on the river bank.] Compounded of atl (water); tentli (lip, bank); co (place).

Atlan. [Where water abounds.] Compounded of atl (water); tlan (abundance).

Atlatlauhcan. [In the place of red water.] Compounded of atl (water); tlatlauhqui (red); can (place).

Atlhuelic. [In the good tasting water.] Compounded of atl (water); huelic (good tasting); c (in).

Atlicholoayan. [Where the water falls.] Compounded of atl (water); choloa (to fall, as in a cascade); yan, a verbal termination.

Atotonilco. [Where is hot water.] Compounded of atl (water); totonilli (hot); co (place).

Atzacan. [Place of confined water.] Composed of atl (water); tzacua (to confine); can (place).

Auchpanco. [In the acqueduct—i.e., road of water.] Compounded of atl (water); ochpantli (highroad); co (place, in).

Axocopan. [In the sour water.] Compounded of atl (water); xococ (something sour); pan (place, in).

Ayotlan. [Where turtles abound.] Compounded of ayotl (turtle); tlan (place of abundance).

Ayotochco. [Place of armadillos.] Compounded of ayotochtl (armadillo); co (place).

Ayotochcuitlatla. [Where armadillo excrement abounds.] Compounded of ayotochtl (armadillo); cuitlatl (excrement); tla (place of abundance).

Ayotzintepec. [Place of the little calabashes.] Compounded of ayotli (calabash); tzin, a diminutive particle; tepetl (mountain); c (in, where). Tepec may[Pg 6] often be rendered place. Some authors make this name, “place of little turtles,” from ayotl (turtle).

Ayoxochiapan. [At the river of calabash flowers.] Compounded of ayotli (calabash); xochitl (flower); atl (water, river); pan (place).

Azcaputzalco. [In the ant-hill.] Compounded of azcatl (ant); potzalli (earth heaped up); co (in, place).

Aztaquemecan. [Place of capes of white heron feathers.] Compounded of aztatl (white heron); quemitl (feather cape); can (place).

Aztoapan. [In the water of the white herons.] Compounded of aztatl (white heron); atl (water); pan (in).

Cacalomacan. [Where they take crows.] Compounded of cacalotl (crow); maitl (hand); can (where).

Calimayan. [Place where they make houses.] Compounded of calli (house); maitl (hand); ayan (where something is made), a verbal in yan of the verb ay, to make. The a of ma and the initial of ayan are reduced to one.

Caltepec. [In the mountain of houses.] Compounded of calli (house); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Calyahualco. [Place surrounded by houses.] Compounded of calli (house); yahualli (a circular object); co (place, in).

Camotlan. [Where there is abundance of sweet potatoes.] Compounded of camotl (sweet potato); tlan (where is abundance).

Capulapan. [In the irrigated place where capulins grow.] Compounded of capulin, a kind of fruit tree; atl (water); pan (place).

Centzontepec. [In the four hundred mountains.] Compounded of centzontli (four hundred, many); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Cihuateopan. [In the temple of Cihuacoatl.] Compounded of cihuatl (woman), here by antonomasia used for the goddess Cihuacoatl; teopan (temple).

Cihuatlan. [Where are many women.] Compounded of cihuatl (woman); tlan (where is abundance).

Cilla. [Where are many snail shells.] Compounded of cilin (a snail shell); tla (abundance). The t is dropped, when coming between ll.

Citlaltepec. [In the mountain of the star.] Compounded of citlalin (star); tepetl (mountain); c (in). The volcano Citlaltepec is now known as Orizaba.

Coacalco. [Place of the house of the snake.] Compounded of coatl (snake); calli (house); co (place).

Coaixtlahuacan. [In the plain of snakes.] Compounded of coatl (snake); ixtlahuaca (plain, level expanse); can (place).

Coatepec. [In the mountain of snakes.] Compounded of coatl (snake); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Coatlan. [Where is abundance of snakes.] Compounded of coatl (snake); tlan (where is abundance).

Cocotlan. [Place of doves.] Compounded of cocotli (dove); tlan (place).

Colhuacan. [Place of the Colhuas.] Compounded of Colhua, a tribal name; can (place). Place of those who adore Coltzin (the bent, curved, or twisted god); coltic (twisted); tzin, reverential particle; hua, holding or possessing; can (place). Robelo, Dist. Fed. pp. 56-73 gives long discussion.

[Pg 7]

Coliman. [Place where Colhuas were captured.] Compounded of Colhua, a tribal name; maitl (hand); n (place).

Comaltepec. [In the mountain of griddles.] Compounded of comalli (earthen griddle); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Comitlan. [Place of making pots.] Compounded of comitl (pot); tlan (place, abundance).

Coyohuacan. [Place where are coyotes.] Compounded of coyotl (coyote); hua, possessive particle; can (where). Robelo suggests—Coyohuacca [Place of the lean coyote.] Compounded of coyotl (coyote); huacqui (lean); can (place).

Coyolapan. [In the water which tinkles.] Compounded of coyolli (=coyulli, bell); atl (water); pan (in, place).

Cozamaloapan. [In the water of the cuzamatl.] Compounded of cuzamatl (=cuzatli, a species of mustela); atl (water, river); pan (place, in).

Cozohuipilecan. [Place of owners of protective tunics.] Compounded of cozo (from cozauhqui, a yellow thing); huipile (owner of a hiupil or skirt); can (place).

Cuahuacan. [Place where they have trees.] Compounded of cuauhuitl (tree); hua, a possessive particle; can (place).

Cuahuitlixco. [Place at the edge of the woods.] Better Cuauhtlixco. Composed of cuauhtla (wood, groved); ixco (before, in front of, at the edge or on the surface).

Cualac. [Where there is good water.] Compounded of qualli (good); atl (water); c (in, where). Better Qualac.

Cuatzontepec. [In the mountain of the tresses.] Compounded of cuatzontli (=quautzuntli, a tress of hair); tepetl (mountain); c (in). The hieroglyph is double. Cuatzontepec of Cuatzontlan.

Cuauhnahuac. [Near the grove.] Compounded of cuauhtla (grove); nahuac (near). This name has become Cuernavaca.

Cuauhquecholan. [Where there are eagles of rich plumage.] Compounded of cuauhtli (eagle); quecholli (rich); tlan (in, where, abundance).

Cuauhquemecan. [Where they have capes of eagle feathers.] Compounded of cuauhtli (eagle); quemitl (feather cape); e, a possessive particle; can (in, where).

Cuauhtecomatlan. [Place of cuauhtecomates.] Compounded of cuauhtecomatl (the crescentia, a tree the gourdlike fruits of which are made into vessels); tlan (place).

Cuauhtecomatzinco. [Where are the little cuauhtecomates.] (See preceding.)

Cuauhtitlan. [Among the trees.] Compounded of cuauhtl (tree); titlan (among).

Cuauhtlan. [Where eagles abound.] Compounded of cuauhtli (eagle); tlan (abundance, where). Might be where trees abound from cuauhtl (tree); tlan—but the hieroglyph gives preference to the first.

Cuauhtochco. [In the place of the mountain cats.] Compounded of cuauhtl (tree); ocotochtli (lynx); co (place, in).

Cuauhxayacatitlan. [Where are many wooden masks.] Compounded of cuauhtl (tree, wood); xayacatl (mask); ti, a euphonic particle; tlan (place of abundance).

[Pg 8]

Cuauhxilotitlan. [Place of cuauhxilotl.] Composed of cuauhxilotl (=cuajilote, an edible plant, species of Parminteria); ti, a euphonic particle; tlan (place).

Cuauhximalpan. [Among the chips.] Compounded of cuauhximalli (chip); pan (in, where).

Cuezcomahuacan. [Where there are granaries.] Compounded of cuezcomatl (granary); ti, a euphonic particle; can (place).

Cuezcomatitlan. [Where are many granaries.] Compounded of cuezcomatl (granary); ti, a euphonic particle; tlan (place of).

Cuicatlan. [Place of song.] Compounded of cuicatl (song); tlan (place of).

Cuitlapan. [Place of excrement.] Compounded of cuitlatl (excrement); pan (in, place).

Chalco. [Place of the Chalcas.] Compounded of Chalca, a tribal name; co (place). This etymology is doubtful.

Chalco-Atenco. Compound name. See Chalco and Atenco.

Chichicuauhtla. [Where are many chichicuauhtl.] Compounded of chichic (bitter); cuahuitl (tree); tla (abundance). The “bitter-tree,” chichiquauhuitl, is described by Hernandez.

Chiconquiauchco. [Place of seven rains.] Compounded of chicome (seven); quiahuitl (rain); co (place). Probably chiconquiauhuitl should here be considered as a date. Robelo says only twenty (cempoalli) and four hundred (centzontli) are used in Aztec as hyperbolic numerals.

Chilapan. [In the water of the peppers.] Compounded of chilli (pepper); atl (water); pan (in).

Chiltecpintla. [Where are many of the little red peppers.] Compounded of chiltecpintli (small and very sharp red pepper); tla (abundance).

Chimalpan. [Place of shields.] Compounded of chimalli (shield); pan (place, in).

Chipetlan. [Place of Xipe.] Compounded of Xipe (=Totec, “frightful and terrible Lord”); tlan (place).

Ehecatepec. [In the mountain of Ehecatl.] Compounded of Ehecatl (god of the winds); tepetl (mountain); c (in, place).

Ehecatlapechco. [Place of the altar of Ehecatl.] Compounded of Ehecatl (god of the wind); tlapechtli (altar, stretcher); co (place).

Ehuacalco. [In the furrier’s shop.] Compounded of ehuayotl (skin, fur); calli (house); co (place).

Epatlan. [Where there are fox whelps.] Compounded of epatl (fox whelp); tlan (place).

Etlan. [Place of frijoles.] Compounded of etl (frijol, bean); tlan (place).

Huaxtepec. [Where there is huaxin.] Compounded of huaxin (a tree of the family Leguminosae); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Huaxyacac. [In the promontory where is huaxin.] Compounded of huaxin (as above); yacatl (nose, projection, promontory); c (in).

Huehuetlan. [Place of the old god.] Compounded of huehue (old man); tlan (place). Because in the hieroglyphs heads are constantly deities, Peñafiel assumes huehue stands for Huehueteotl.

[Pg 9]

Hueipochtla. [Place of the great Opochtli.] Compounded of huey (great); Opochtli (god of fishing); tlan (place).

Hueyapan. [Seaport.] Compounded of hueiatl (the great water, sea); pan (in, place).

Huilotepec. [In the place where are doves.] Compounded of huilotl (dove); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Huitzannaola. [Where are many spiny pineapples.] Compounds of huiztli (spine, thorn); annona (pineapple); tla, (abundance).

Huitzilapan. [Place of humming birds.] Compounded of huitzitzilin (humming bird); atl (water); pan (place).

Huitzilopuchco. [Place of Huitzilopochtli.] Compounded of Huitzilopochtli (the great god of the Aztecs); co (place).

Huitznahuac. [The thing surrounded by thorns.] Compounded of huitztli (thorn); nahuac (around). The hieroglyph shows double use of this word, which in Spanish is biznaga, a kind of cactus. Huitznahuac-teopan and Huitznahuac-calli = Huitzcalco.

Huitztlan. [Place of thorns.] Compounded of huitztli (thorn); tlan (place of).

Huixachtitlan. [Place of huizaches.] Compounded of huixachin (a species of acacia or mimosa); ti, a euphonic particle; tlan (place).

Icpatepec. [Above the mountain.] Compounded of icpac (above); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Itzamatitlan. [Place of writers.] Compounded of itztli (obsidian splinter); amatl (paper); ti, euphonic particle; tlan (place).

Itzcuintepec. [In the place of the dog.] Compounded of ixtcuintl (dog); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Itzihuquilyocan. [Place where plants of indigo abound.] Compounded of itztli (obsidian); xihuquilitl (indigo); yocan (place of abundance). Has this indigo leaves shaped like flint knives?

Itzocan. [Place where they paint or stain the face.] Compounded of itzoca (to have the face dirty); n (place).

Itztlan. [Place of obsidian.] Compounded of itztli (obsidian); tlan (place).

Ixcoyamec. [In the plain of the peccaries.] Compounded of ixco (surface, edge, level); coyametl (wild pig); c (in).

Iztacalco. [In the house of salt.] Compounded of iztatl (salt); calli (house); co (place, in). Where salt is made.

Iztatlan. [Place of salt.] Compounded of iztatl (salt); tlan (place).

Macuilxochic. [In the five flowers.] Compounded of macuilli (five); xochitl (flower); c (in, place).

Malinalco. [Place of malinalli.] Compounded of malinalli (a fibre-plant); co (place). Robelo suggests Malinalxochoco, where they adore Malinalxochitl. She was the sister of Huitzilopochtl.

Mamalhuaztepec. [In the mountain of the fire sticks.] Compounded of mamalhuaztli (fire-stick); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Mapachtepec. [Where there are mapachi.] Compounded of mapachi (a sort of raccoon); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

[Pg 10]

Matlatlan. [Place of nets.] Compounded of matlatl (net); tlan (place).

Mazatlan. [Place of deer.] Compounded of mazatl (deer); tlan (place).

Metepec. [In the mountain of magueys.] Compounded of metl (maguey); tepetl (mountain); c (in).

Miacatla. [Where there are canes for arrows.] Compounded of mitl (arrow); acatl (cane); tla (abundance).

Mictlan. [Place of the dead.] Mictlan (dead).

Michapan. [In the river of fishes.] Compounded of michin (fish); atl (water, river); pan (in, place).

Michmaloyan. [Place where they fish.] Compounded of michin (fish); malli (captured); yan, a verbal ending.

Mixcoac. [Place of the cloud snake.] Compounded of mixtli (cloud); coatl (snake); c (in, place).

Mizquitlan. [Place of mesquites.] Compounded of mizquitl (mesquite); tlan (place).

Molotla. [Where sparrows abound.] Compounded of molotl (sparrow); tla (abundance).

Nacochtlan. [Where are ear ornaments.] Compounded of nacochtli (an ear ornament); tlan (place).

Nochtepec. [In the mountain of cactus.] Compounded of nochtli (cactus); tepetl (mountains); c (in).

Nopalla. [Where nopals abound.] Compounded of nopalli (a cactus); tla (abundance). The t is dropped between ll.