Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

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Throughout our entire lives, from the moment of birth until the very end, various geographical names accompany us. Geographical names do not arise out of "thin air": by noticing certain features of the terrain and nature, the people living nearby named them, emphasizing their distinctive characteristics. Over time, the peoples living in a particular region changed, but the names remained and were used by those who came to replace them. Any toponym for historical science is not simply the name of a geographical object, but a historical trace on the map, which has its own origin story, linguistic roots, and semantic meaning.

Is the area around Lake Dolgoe a new development or a historic district?

Park, Lake, Dolgoe, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197371

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

At the beginning of the 20th century, the area near Lake Dolgoye almost became the site of a large-scale urban development project. It was planned to build a satellite city of Petersburg on the vacant lands here. In the press, the future satellite city was referred to as "American."

History of the Komendantsky Aerodrome District

Bogatyrsky Ave., 7, bldg. 5, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197348

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The name of this new development district traces its roots back to the times of Peter the Great, when the right to use this piece of land was granted by the order of Peter I to the commandants of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It began to be called the Commandant’s Dacha, and later – the Commandant’s Field. For a long time, the Commandant’s Field was located on the "outskirts" of the summer cottage areas closest to the capital. In the 19th century, it was a remote and sparsely built-up area: on the 1831 map, it is marked with gardens and fields interspersed with shrubs and groves. The only building was the Commandant’s Dacha, whose owner rented out the surrounding lands.

Konnyaya Lakhta or Kontu Lakhta — "courtyard by the bay"

Lakhtinsky Ave., 100A, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197229

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The village of Konnaya Lakhta was first mentioned in the 1573 Inspection Book of the Spassko-Gorodensky Pogost under the name "Kovduya" ("Konduya") as part of the village of Lakhta. The name "Konnaya" is a distortion of the Finnish word "kontu," which means "yard" or "farmstead." Literally translated, Kontu Lakhta means "yard by the bay." The city name Kandalaksha has a similar etymology.

Kolomyagi or Kelomyaki, another trace of Swedish presence

3rd Line Street, 2nd Half, 19, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197375

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The division of streets with the same name into "1st" and "2nd" (or "1st half" and "2nd half") in Kolomyagi is the last evidence of the hereditary division of the former village. In Kolomyagi, there were parallel lines of the 1st and 2nd halves: the 1st (now 1st and 2nd Nikitinsky Streets); the 2nd (now 1st and 2nd Alekseevsky Streets). Currently, only the third lines of the 1st and 2nd halves have retained their original names.

The History of the Name of Vasilievsky Island

Unnamed Road, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199178

Petersburg: Stories, Legends, and Myths

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Petersburg: A Walk on Vasilievsky Island

Vasilyev Island had three names at once — Russian, Finno-Ugric, and Swedish. The Russian name remained the same: Vasilyev Island (in the Swedish cadastre book — Wassilie Ostroff); the Finnish name Hirvisaari — Moose Island (in the Swedish cadastre book — Hirfwisari); the Swedish name Dammarholm, meaning Pond Island, because fish traps were located there.

The Origin of the Name. Karpovka River

nab. r. Karpovki, d. 5, korp. 16, of.201-202, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197101

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Four little huts stood by the Kuopri-Yoki river (what we call Karpovka).

Kozhevennaya Line - a new hangout spot replacing the creepy industrial zone

Kozhevennaya Line, 25, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199106

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Petersburg: A Walk on Vasilievsky Island

The Kozhevennaya Line in the southwestern part of Vasilievsky Island was laid out in the 1780s. Its creation is connected with the relocation of all the leather factories of St. Petersburg to this area. These industries were characterized by unpleasant odors, which led to their displacement to the outskirts of the city. In the 18th century, the new route was called the "road to the leather factories." Its even-numbered side sometimes bordered the bay, so in the 1830s it had another name — Beregovaya Line (Coastal Line). However, the official name that stuck was the current one — Kozhevennaya Line. This place is becoming trendy and a popular hangout spot.

Old Kalinkin Bridge

Staro-Kalinkin Bridge, Staro-Petergofsky Ave., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190121

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Petersburg: Bridges, Their Stories and Legends

The Staro-Kalinkin Bridge in Petersburg is one of the 7 standard stone three-span bridges over the Fontanka River, built in the 18th century and preserved to this day. In 2033, the bridge will turn 300 years old. The bridge is located in the Admiralteysky District of Saint Petersburg, with Staro-Petergofsky Avenue approaching it from the left bank. The central span is covered by a gentle circular arch, while the side spans are covered by stone vaults of box-shaped outlines.

Kirochnaya Street

Saint Petersburg, Kirochnaya 8 lit V, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191028

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Between 1775 and 1779, the Lutheran Church of Saint Anne (Annenkirche), building 8, was constructed according to the design of Y. M. Felten. The name Kirочная Street appeared in 1780 and originated precisely from this Lutheran church (the building was severely damaged in the 2002 fire). Until the mid-19th century, other names for the street were also in use: Vasilievskaya and 2nd Furshatskaya.

Furshtatskaya Street

Furshtatskaya St., 21, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191028

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The modern name Furshatskaya Street was given in 1780. It is connected to the fact that on the territory of the current house No. 21 and its inner courtyard there was the Furshatsky yard of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment.

Austrian Square

7 Mira St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197101

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Petersburg: Stories of Kamennoostrovsky Prospect

The name of the square is not historical. The square at the intersection of Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt and Mira Street (formerly Ruzheynaya) existed without a name for many years. Initially, it was intended to be called Viennese Square, but this name was too "waltzing," so in 1992 it was given the name Austrian Square.

Bestuzhevskaya Street

Zamshina St., 33a, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 195271

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Many people think that the name of this street comes from the surname of the Decembrist brothers Bestuzhev. This is not entirely true; the street was named in 1912 in honor of their relative, General Field Marshal Count Alexey Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1693–1766). At that time, shortly after the bicentennial celebration of Petersburg, several passages in Piskarevka were named after the associates of Peter I.

Osinovetsky Redoubt, Osinovaya Roshcha Fortress

Golitsynskaya St., 1x, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 194362

Petersburg: Stories, Legends, and Myths

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Petersburg and Ingria: Swedish Influence and Legacy

Osinovetsky Redoubt, Osinovaya Roshcha Fortress, 18th century — an earthen fortress (sternschanze — a fortification in the shape of a pentagonal star), a characteristic example of late 18th-century earthworks, built on the southern side of the fork in the roads to Yukki and Kexholm (Priozersk). It is located in the historic Osinovaya Roshcha district in the north of Saint Petersburg. It had stone entrance gates and ranger barracks.

Moon Cats Street

Kamennoostrovsky Avenue, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197376

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

A few years ago, another cat-themed and at the same time the most mysterious and romantic spot appeared on the "people's map" of the city – Moon Cats Street, the popular name for the passage between house No. 77 on Kamennoostrovsky Prospect and house No. 3 on the embankment of the Malaya Nevka.

Avtovo (historical district)

Zaitseva St., 6-1, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198096

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Even before the time of Peter the Great, there were several villages in this area — Laurola, Niprola, Lakhta by the Sea, Vallakyulya, and others. On pre-Petrine maps, at the site of present-day Avtovo, the village of Autova (Аутова) is visible (a plan from 1699), or Autovo (Аутово) (on Bergengheim’s map, compiled by him in the 19th century based on archival data from 1676). Referring to these data, many researchers derive the modern name of the area from the Finnish word “autio,” which means “deserted,” “abandoned.” There is also a theory that Avtovo comes from one of the Finnish terms for bear (Ovto) or from the name of a net (Otava).

Okhta (historical district)

Helipad, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 195027

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

There is a popular legend that during a visit to a shipbuilding yard on the right bank of the Neva, Peter I, walking along one of the streets of Matrosskaya Sloboda, suddenly sank almost waist-deep into the mud. Returning to Petersburg and telling about it among his close circle, he half-jokingly, half-seriously exclaimed: "Oh, I'm tired of that side!" The phrase caught on, and part of it turned into the very name of an entire district.

Tuchkov Buyan - the legendary Biron’s palace or hemp warehouses?

Bolshoy Prospekt P.S., 1A, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Great Architects: Antonio Rinaldi

Tuchkov Buyan (from the archaic *buyan* — a river pier; a place for unloading goods from ships), was mistakenly called the "Biron Palace" in the 19th century — a former building of hemp warehouses, constructed between 1763 and 1772 on the eponymous islet in the channel of the Malaya Neva, a monument of early classical St. Petersburg architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century, the channels between Buyan, neighboring unnamed islets, and Petrogradsky Island were filled in, and the name "Tuchkov Buyan" was transferred to a new urban area bounded by the modern Dobrolyubov Avenue to the north, Tuchkova Dam Street and Tuchkov Bridge to the west, Academician Likhachyov Square and Birzhevoy Bridge to the east, and the Malaya Neva to the south. The extensive block, which was planned to include Vatny Island as well, was intended to become a museum and exhibition complex; this project did not materialize due to the outbreak of World War I. In the 21st century, in the western part of Tuchkov Buyan, near the historic hemp warehouses, are located the Yubileyny sports complex and the Sportivnaya metro station.

Are the streets called Zeleinye or Zelenina? (Bolshaya Zelenina, Malaya Zelenina, and Glukhaya Zelenina)

Lodeynopolsky Square, Bolshaya Zelenina St., 23, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197110

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Bolshaya Zelenina Street runs from Maly Prospekt of the Petrograd Side to Admirala Lazareva Embankment. It is one of the oldest streets on the Petrograd Side. Originally, a road passed here from the Peter and Paul Fortress to the gunpowder factory, which was relocated here from Moscow at the beginning of the 18th century. Both the factory and the road were called "zeleinye" (in old times, gunpowder was called "zelye"). The name of the main street, Zeleinaya, gradually changed to Zelenina. The gunpowder factory on the Petrograd Side existed until 1801. The names of the nearby Malaya Zelenina and Glukhaya Zelenina streets are connected with the name of Bolshaya Zelenina Street.

Bolshaya and Malaya Monetnye Streets

Bolshaya Monetnaya St., 16b, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197101

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Since the 18th century, there has been a settlement of "working people" of the Mint here.

History of the Moyka River

Moika River Embankment, 89, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190000

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Moyka (historical name until 1797: Mya) is a right branch of the Fontanka River flowing into the Bolshaya Neva. It flows out from the Fontanka along the southern border of the Summer Garden and the Field of Mars.

History of the Fontanka River

Fontanka River Embankment, 115, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190068

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The small swampy river Golodusha, later called Nameless Yerik, then the Fountain River. The idea is connected with the fountains of the nearby Summer Garden — that is why the river is called Fontanka. In 1737, it received its current name, and by 1952, a wooden embankment had appeared. Later, the river was cleared and deepened again, and the embankments became granite.

Chapaev Street

Chapaeva St., 17k2, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197046

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

There is a Chapaev Street in Saint Petersburg. It is located in the Petrogradsky District and stretches from Kuibyshev Street to the embankment of the Karpovka River. It received its name in 1952 by the decision of the Leningrad City Executive Committee. Note that in Leningrad, at the beginning of Tikhoretsky Avenue, a monument to Vasily Chapaev was erected. Paradoxically, but true. Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev was never in the city of Petersburg. But it was in Leningrad that he became a cinematic hero.

Malaya Posadskaya Street (Bratyev Vasilyevykh)

Malaya Posadskaya St., 22-24, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197046

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Brothers Vasilyev Street appeared in the city on the Neva at the end of autumn 1964. It was an old street that previously bore the name Malaya Posadskaya (Petrograd Side). The street has now been restored to its historical name.

The Legendary Vvedensky Canal: History of Its Origin and Loss (Vvedensky Canal Street)

Vvedensky Canal, 10, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190013

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

The history of the Vvedensky Canal in Saint Petersburg, which appeared and disappeared, is quite interesting; it has long become an urban legend of Petersburg.

Income Houses of the Joint-Stock Company "New Petersburg"

Zheleznovodskaya St., 19, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199155

Petersburg: Interesting Toponyms

Great Architects: Fyodor Ivanovich Lidval

Income house of the joint-stock company "New Petersburg," part of the project for the development of the territory in the western part of Goloday Island (Decembrists' Island). Designed in 1911-13 by architect I. A. Fomin with the participation of architect F. I. Lidval. The project for the large residential area is based on the characteristic radial-ring system typical for St. Petersburg.