Geographical names

A place-name or a toponym is a word used to indicate, denote or identify a geographic locality. Place-names are formed in the course of history of a region and are affected by various linguistic, social, political and cultural events. Toponymy is the taxonomic study of place-names, based on etymological, historical and geographical information. This paper first defines toponym and topnymy and illustrates typology of toponyms. The paper then looks at the relationship between toponymy and etymology and shows how etymology enlightens the origin and historical development of toponyms. Finally, the paper offers a methodology for studying toponymys of Iran from a historical linguistics point of view and remarks original sources for Iran’s toponyms studying.