by Lulzim Osmanaj. Translation Petrit Latifi

Summary:

The question of Illyrian–Albanian continuity remains central to research on the ethnogenesis of Albanians. Among the most convincing ways to support this continuity is the study of toponymy, as place names tend to preserve ancient linguistic layers and often survive even when populations change.

Beyond cultural elements preserved among Albanians—such as the ancient tradition of painting eyes on ships—toponymic evidence is particularly significant. In former Illyrian regions now inhabited by Slavic populations, many settlement names of Albanian origin have survived, especially in Dalmatia, where the pre-Slavic Albanian presence is indirectly documented through place names.

A comparative study compiling over a thousand toponyms from the Vilayet of Shkodra and historical maps of Dalmatia reveals numerous parallels. Many Dalmatian toponyms, although phonetically transformed, clearly derive from Albanian roots: Brušku/Vrušku, Berišiće/Berisha, Bartok/Bardhok, Dedić/Deda, Dajna/Denja, Gelsa/Çelza, as well as Gasul/Gasol, Garma/Karma, Gumena/Gumina, Kukusi/Kukës, among others.

The case of Lombarda illustrates the complexity of such analysis. Though it may appear related to Lumibardh (“White Stream”), the absence of a river suggests a more plausible link to Albanian roots Lam and Bardha, with lam meaning “stone cliff” in Albanian.

Other examples—such as Lug (“valley”), Milna/Mila, Marašović from Maraš, Peraice/Peraj, and Plana linked to ancient “Castrum Plana/Planius” and the Albanian form Pedhana—demonstrate a deeper prehistoric linguistic layer.

Overall, the persistence of these place names shows that despite periods of migration, conflict, and long Slavic domination, many Albanian linguistic and cultural elements endured in the toponymy of former Illyrian territory. Therefore, toponymic analysis stands as one of the most reliable methods for tracing the ancient cultural and ethnic space of Albanians and understanding Illyrian-Albanian continuity in the Adriatic-Balkan region.

The issue of Illyrian-Albanian continuity remains one of the most enduring themes of studies on the ethnogenesis of Albanians. Although this identity has been frequently mentioned in historical and anthropological literature, one of the clearest ways to argue for it lies in the analysis of toponymy. Place names, as elements with great longevity and resistance to external influences, often remain direct evidence of an old population, even when that population has been replaced later by others.

Leaving aside other elements of the material or spiritual culture of Albanians — such as the eyes painted on the front of ships, known since ancient Greece, but still widespread in the city of Dulcigno — a special value is the fact that in the regions of former Illyria, today inhabited by Slavic populations, names of settlements of Albanian origin are still found. These traces are found especially in Dalmatia, an area where the Albanian presence in the pre-Slavic period is indirectly documented through toponymy.

A list of more than a thousand place names, compiled from the territory of the Vilayet of Shkodra and compared with the names recorded on historical maps of Dalmatia, provides ample material for analyzing these similarities. Numerous examples show that many Dalmatian toponyms, although phonetically transformed over the centuries, retain their Albanian basis.

Thus, Brušku in Dalmatia corresponds to Vrušku in Albania;
Berišiće with Berisha; Bartok with the Albanian proper name Bardhok;
Dedić with Deda; Dajna with Denja; Gelsa with the Albanian and Dalmatian form Çelza, although the possibility of derivation from a Croatian root Jelša has also been pointed out.

Other examples such as Gasul/Gasol, Garma/Karma, Gumena/Gumina or
Kukusi/Kukës show a clear toponymic continuity.

An interesting case is that of the Dalmatian name Lombarda. At first glance, it could be related to the Albanian form Lumibardh (“White Stream”), but since no stream exists in the relevant Dalmatian area, the most convincing interpretation remains the one that connects this name to the roots Lam and Bardha. These forms, although not directly documented in Albania in this combination, find analogies in cases such as Lam Selme. The word lam in Albanian refers to a stone cliff and has no connection with the Lombard population of Italy.

In the same vein, toponyms such as Lug — which in Albanian means hollow or valley — Milna/Mila, or Marašović as a derivative of the Albanian name Maraš, testify to a deeper prehistoric layer. Even the name Peraice, although it can be interpreted as Croatian, finds correspondence with the Albanian toponym Peraj, related to the proper name Pera. While Plana, documented in its early form “Castrum Plana” and “Planius”, appears as clear evidence of the pre-Slavic era, in accordance with the Albanian form Pedhana.

This comparative approach shows that during periods of great historical turmoil — such as the storms of the Migrations and the long Slavic rule in the Balkans — many elements of Albanian culture and language have survived in the toponymy of regions once inhabited by the Illyrian population.

Consequently, the analysis of place names remains one of the most stable and reliable ways to trace the cultural and ethnic territory of Albanians before later influences, shedding light on the Illyrian-Albanian continuity in the Adriatic and Balkan space.
Some classical and contemporary references that address the issue of Albanian toponymy in Dalmatia, Illyrian-Albanian continuity and historical contacts in the Adriatic.

All are widely used sources in Albanological, Illyrian-Albanian and Balkanological studies:

Direct references on toponymy and Dalmatia

1. Patsch, Carl. Archäologisch-epigraphische Untersuchungen in der römischen Provinz Dalmatien. Bd. III, 1899.
   – One of the main sources for the old toponymy of Dalmatia (including cases compatible with Albanian).
2. Jireček, Konstantin. Die Romanen in den Städten Dalmatiens während des Mittelalters. Vienna, 1899.
   – Analyzes linguistic and ethnic stratifications in the Adriatic, including Albanian-Dalmatian contacts.
3. Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut (Kaiserlich-Deutsches Archäologisches Institut).
   – Especially the writings of Lolling (1880) on symbols of the maritime traditions of Albania and Dalmatia.
4. Çabej, Eqrem. Etymological Studies in the Albanian Field. 7 volumes.
   – Contains detailed analyses of Illyrian toponymy, anthroponymy and linguistic stratifications in the Albanian language.
5. Hahn, Johann Georg von. Albanesische Studien. Jena, 1854.
   – One of the first studies to systematically link the Albanian language and population with the Illyrians.
6. Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians. Blackwell, 1992.
   – Is the standard modern study on the Illyrians
7. Skënder Anamali (ed.). History of the Albanian People, vol. I–II. Albanian Academy of Sciences.
   – Includes analyses of the Illyrian populations, moves