T. Vennemann: Origin of selected European toponyms

Zürich, Basel, the Ardennes: Origin and meaning of selected European toponyms 
 

Abstract: Numerous toponyms of Central and Western Europe have no native etymologies, i.e. cannot be explained within German or Germanic or even within Indo-European. For some of them, interpretations can be found in Basque. Every one of these provides support for the Vasconic Theory, which says that the Basque-speaking territory extended to Central Europe in prehistoric times. Examples to be discussed will be the names of Zürich, Basel, and the Ardennes, together with related names.