Deva

A hydronym, attested in Medieval Latin as Deva. From a pre-Roman substrate of Iberia, from Proto-Celtic *deiwā (“goddess”), from Proto-Celtic *deiwos (“god”), from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god”). Cognate of English Dee.

A river in Ourense, Galicia, flowing some 20 km to the river Minho at Arbo

A river in Pontevedra, Galicia, flowing some 20 km to the river Minho at Pontedeva


Ulla

Attested as Ulla in Classical Latin (Pomponius Mela) and as Ulia during the Middle Ages. From a substrate language, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *u̥lHyeh₂, from the zero-grade of Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind”).

der

A village in Maceda parish, Palas de Rei, Lugo, Galicia

A village in Berres parish, A Estrada, Pontevedra, Galicia


Eo

Attested as Euue during the Middle Ages. As most Galician river names, from a substrate language. Doublet of Ove, a riverside parish.

A river in Galicia, Spain. Its estuary marks part of the border between Galicia and Asturias


Mera

Unknown. From a substrate language. Compare also Spanish Miera and Italian Mera.
It is registered also as the ancient name of a number of other rivers and rivulets throughout Galicia.

A river in Ortigueira, A Coruña, Galicia


Sar

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Sar, from Medieval Latin Saris, from Sars, from a pre-Roman substrate of Iberia; a root noun from the Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to flow”).


Tambre

A hydronym, from an older Tamar, attested in Medieval Latin as Tamare and Tamara, attested in Classical Latin as Tamaris, and in Ancient Greek as Ταμάρα (Tamára). From a substrate language, probably from Celtic, from Proto-Indo-European *tm̥Hrós, from *temH- (“dark”); or alternatively from Proto-Celtic *tamo- (compare Welsh tawdd (“melts”)) or Proto-Celtic *tā-, *tāyo- (“to melt, flow”), from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt”), or from Proto-Indo-European *tm̥h₁-ró-, from the zero-grade of Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- (“to cut”). See also English Thames, Tamar and German Zembs.

A river in Galicia, Spain. It flows some 125 km to the Atlantic Ocean near Noia


Camba

From a local Celtic substrate language: from Proto-Celtic *kambos (“twisted, crooked”), from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- (“to curve”). Compare German Chamb, a river in Germany and Czechia.

der

A river in Ourense, Galicia, which flows for some 56 km before draining into the Bibei, a subaffluent of the Minho river


Arteixo

Attested as Artasio in 942; from a pre-Roman substrate of Iberia, perhaps from Celtic.


Nantón

From Proto-Celtic *nanto- (“stream, valley”); attested since the ninth century, as toponym and as hydronym.


Almofrei

From Late Latin Ermefredi, genitive of the personal name Ermefredus, from a Suevic or Gothic personal name, from Proto-Germanic *Ermunafriþuz, from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz (“strong; whole”) and *friþuz (“peace”).

A river in Pontevedra, Galicia; formerly river Bora


Asma

From a substrate language, from a hydronym *Apsma, from Proto-Celtic *apsa (“brook”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep- (“water”).

Santa Cristina de Asma
Santa Cristina de Asma#English

Santa Cristina de Asma (a parish of Carballedo, Lugo, Galicia)

San Fiz de Asma (a parish of Chantada, Lugo, Galicia)

San Salvador de Asma
San Salvador de Asma#English

San Salvador de Asma (a parish of Chantada, Lugo, Galicia)

San Xurxo de Asma
San Xurxo de Asma#English

San Xurxo de Asma (a parish of Chantada, Lugo, Galicia)

Santa Uxía de Asma
Santa Uxía de Asma#English

Santa Uxía de Asma (a parish of Chantada, Lugo, Galicia)

Nogueira de Asma
Nogueira de Asma#English

Nogueira de Asma (a village in Cicillón parish, Taboada, Lugo, Galicia)


Avia

From a substrate language, from a hydronym *Awya, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewh₁- (“run”). Compare Welsh awel (“wind”), from Proto-Celtic *awelā, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewh₁eleh₂.

A river in Ourense, Galicia. A tributary to the Minho


Barbanza

From a substrate language, from a Celtic hydronym *Barvantia, "boiling", from Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥u̯n̥ti̯ah₂, from *bʰerw- (“to boil”). Compare Galician fervenza (“cascade, waterfall”), which could be a Romance calque of a pre-Latin noun.

A river in A Coruña, Galicia
A comarca in A Coruña, Galicia

A Pobra do Caramiñal
A Pobra do Caramiñal#English

Ponte Barbanza (a village in Posmarcos parish, A Pobra do Caramiñal, A Coruña, Galicia)


Berbia

From a substrate language, probably from Proto-Celtic *berwyā (compare Welsh berw (“to boil”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerwyeh₂, from *bʰerw- (“to boil”). Berbia is also the name of other rivulets in Galicia.

Santo Adrián de Castro
Santo Adrián de Castro#English

A village in Santo Adrián de Castro parish, Zas, A Coruña, Galicia


Chamoso

A river in Lugo, Galicia. A tributary to the Minho

an ancient county comprising most of its basin

San Bartolomeu de Chamoso
San Bartolomeu de Chamoso#English

San Bartolomeu de Chamoso (a parish of O Corgo, Lugo, Galicia)

Santo André de Chamoso
Santo André de Chamoso#English

Santo André de Chamoso (a parish of O Corgo, Lugo, Galicia)

A village in Paradela parish, O Corgo, Lugo, Galicia