This list contains the toponyms (place names) in Muisca, the language of the Muisca who inhabited the Colombian Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca in the 1530s. The name of the language of the Muisca is called Chibcha, Muisca or, in its own language, Muysccubun. Muisca means "man", "person" or "people".

Most names of the Muisca have been kept by the Spanish colonists, though some are slightly altered through time. A number of names refer to the farmfields (tá) or other geographical features of the region.[1][2] The name of the department of Cundinamarca is an exception, it is inferred the name comes not from Chibcha, yet from Quechua, meaning condor's nest.[3]

Chibcha language toponyms outside the Muisca Confederation territories, such as the Guane, Lache, U'wa or Sutagao and Spanish language toponyms within the Muisca Confederation are not included.

Muisca toponyms

(Modern) name
bold is capital		Department
bold is capital		Ruler(s)
bold is seat		Meaning(s) in Muysccubun
bold is personal name		NotesMap
Bogotá
Bogotá Formation
Bogotá River
Bogotá savanna
Bacatá
Muequetá		Cundinamarca, Capital Districtzipa(Enclosure) outside the farm fields[2][4][5][6]
Tunja
Hunza		BoyacázaqueProud lord[1]
Duitama
Tundama
Tundama Province		BoyacáTundamaNamed after cacique Tundama[1]
Sogamoso
Suamox
Sugamuxi Province		BoyacáiracaDwelling of the Sun (Sué)[1]
Arcabuco
Arcabuco Formation		BoyacácaciquePlace of the intricate scrublands
Place enclosed by the hills		[1]
BetéitivaBoyacácaciqueChief of the mouth
Named after cacique Betacín		[1][7]
BoavitaBoyacácaciquePoint on the hill worshipping the Sun
Gate of the Sun		[1][8]
Boyacá
Boyacá Department		BoyacázaqueRegion of the blankets
Enclosure of the cacique		[1][9]
BusbanzáBoyacáiracaNamed after cacique Boazá[1]
CerinzaBoyacáTundamaMy throat
Named after cacique Cerinza		[1]
ChinavitaBoyacázaqueOur point or illuminated hill top[1][10]
Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá Sandstone
Chiquinquirá Valley		BoyacácaciquePlace of swamps covered with fog
Also: Holy people, because of the
Fúquene Lake ceremonies		[1]
ChíquizaBoyacázaqueOnly or alone, Chiqui means priest
Hairy field		[1][11]
Chitagoto
part of Paz de Río		BoyacáTundamaFrom cacique Chitagoto[12]
ChitaraqueBoyacázaqueOur vigorous farmfields from before[1][13]
ChivatáBoyacázaqueOur outside farmfields[1][14]
Chivor
Chivor Mine		BoyacácaciqueOur farmfields - our mother
Green and rich land		[1]
CiénegaBoyacázaquePlace of water[1]
CómbitaBoyacácaciqueForce of the summit
Hand of the jaguar and wheel of life		[1][15]
CovarachíaBoyacácaciqueLand of the Sun and the Moon
Cave of the Moon		[1][16]
CucaitaBoyacázaqueSeminary enclosure
Shade of the farming fields		[1][17]
CuítivaBoyacáiracaSimilarity to the chief[1]
FiravitobaBoyacáiracaAir of clouds[1]
GachantiváBoyacázaqueChief of the Gacha[1][18]
GámezaBoyacáiracaSerf of the Sun[1]
GaragoaBoyacázaqueBehind the hill
On the other side of the hill		[1]
Guateque
Guatoc		BoyacácaciqueStream of the ravine
Lord of the winds		[1][19]
GuayatáBoyacácaciqueDomain of the female cacique
From Guaya (creek in Tenza) and "tá" (farmfields or land over there)		[1][20]
Iza
Iza—Paipa volcanic complex		BoyacáiracaPlace of healing[1]
Lengupá Province
Lengupá River		Boyacázaque"Len": site; "Gua": of the river; "Paba": father or chief[21]
Macanal
Macanal Formation		BoyacázaqueFrom: Macana: palm tree or garrote[1][22]
MonguaBoyacáiracaBath on the hill
Sunrise		[1]
Moniquirá
Moniquirá River		BoyacácaciquePlace of bath[1]
MotavitaBoyacázaqueWashing place to prepare for growing crops[23]
NobsaBoyacáTundamaDecent bath of today[1]
OicatáBoyacázaqueDomain of the priests
Hailstoned farmlands		[1]
PachavitaBoyacázaquePeak of the man
Proud chief		[1][24]
Paipa
Iza—Paipa volcanic complex		BoyacáTundamaNamed after the cacique of the Paipa people[1]
PayaBoyacácaciquePeople of hope[1]
PescaBoyacáiracaStrong enclosure
Domain of the fortress		[1]
Pisba
PNN Pisba		BoyacácaciqueHonourable domain from before[1]
Ramiriquí
Ramaraquí		BoyacázaqueWhite earth
Ca-Mi-Quiqui		[1]
RáquiraBoyacácaciqueVillage of the pans[1]
SaboyáBoyacácaciqueTaste for the blankets
Named after cacique Saboyá		[1]
SáchicaBoyacázaqueour present domain
fortress or mansion of the sovereign		[1][25]
San Miguel de SemaBoyacázaqueNamed after the Sema tribe, part of the Muisca[1][26]
SativanorteBoyacáTundamaNamed after the cacique Sátiva[1]
SativasurBoyacáTundamaNamed after the cacique Sátiva[1]
SiachoqueBoyacázaqueLand of the vigorous taste
Place of good smells and strong and vigorous cultures		[1][27]
Soatá
Soatá Formation		BoyacáTundamaFarmfields of the Sun[1]
Socotá
Socotá Formation		Boyacáiraca
Tundama		Good harvest
Land of the Sun and farmfields		[1][28]
SomondocoBoyacázaqueSo = stone, Mon = bath, Co = support
Named after cacique Somendoco or Sumindoco		[1][29]
SoraBoyacázaqueDevil worshipper[1]
SoracáBoyacázaqueRuling mansion of the sovereign[1]
SotaquiráBoyacázaqueTown of the sovereign[1]
SusacónBoyacáTundamaAlly of the cacique Susa[1]
SutamarchánBoyacázaqueMerchant of the sovereign Suta
Marchán refers to 18th century encomendero Pedro Merchan de Velasco		[1][30]
SutatenzaBoyacázaqueCloud behind the mouth
Descending to the house of the cacique		[1][31]
Tenza
Tenza Valley
Tanazuca		BoyacácaciqueBehind the mouth
Going down at night		[1]
TibanáBoyacázaqueNamed after Tibanaes
"Tiba" means chief		[1][32]
Tibasosa
Tibasosa Formation		BoyacáTundama
iraca		Chief of the domain[1]
TinjacáBoyacázaqueEnclosure of the powerful lord[1][33]
TipacoqueBoyacázaqueName of the hacienda of the Augustines
Dependency of the zaque		[1][34]
TocaBoyacáiracaDomain of the river[1]
TogüíBoyacázaqueRiver of the wife or house of the dog[1][35]
TópagaBoyacácaciqueBehind father river[1]
Tota
Lake Tota		BoyacáiracaFarmfields of the river[1]
TurmequéBoyacázaqueVigorous chief[1]
TutaBoyacázaqueBorrowed farmlands or Property of the Sun
Named after the Tuta tribe		[1][36]
TutazáBoyacácaciqueNamed after cacique Tutazúa; son of the Sun[1]
ÚmbitaBoyacácaciqueYour point, your summit, summit of the farmlands[1]
ViracacháBoyacázaqueAir of the lake or lord of the enclosure of the wind[1][37]
ZetaquiraBoyacázaqueLand of the snake or City of the snake[1][38]
Bojacá
Bojacá River		CundinamarcazipaPurple enclosure[3][39]
CajicáCundinamarcazipaFrom ca and jica; "stone fortress"
From the cacique Cajic		[40][41]
[40]
Cáqueza
Cáqueza Group		CundinamarcazipaRegion or enclosure without forest[42]
Chía
Chía Formation		CundinamarcazipaNamed after Chía, Moon goddess[43]
Chipaque
Chipaque Formation		CundinamarcacaciqueDerived from Chipapabacue; Forest of our ancestors[44]
ChoachíCundinamarcazipaDerived from Chi-gua-chí; our mountain of the Moon[45]
ChocontáCundinamarcazipaFarmlands of the good ally[46]
CoguaCundinamarcazipaSupport of the hill[47]
CotaCundinamarcazipaFrom personal name Gota or cota; "curl"[48]
CucunubáCundinamarcazipaSimilarity to a face[3][49]
FacatativáCundinamarcazipaStrong enclosure at the end of the plains[50]
Fómeque
Fómeque Formation		CundinamarcazipaYour forest of the foxes[51]
Funza
Funza River		CundinamarcazipaPowerful lord[52]
Fúquene
Lake Fúquene		Cundinamarcazipa
zaque		From fú and quyny; bed of the fox
Named after the god Fu; bed of Fu		[53]
GachancipáCundinamarcazipaPottery of the zipa[54]
GachaláCundinamarcacaciqueClay vessel or defeat of the night[55]
Gachetá
Gachetá Formation		CundinamarcacaciqueBehind our farmfields[56]
GamaCundinamarcacaciqueOur back[57]
GuachetáCundinamarcacaciqueFarmlands of the hill[58]
GuascaCundinamarcazipaFrom guâ and shucâ; skirt of the mountain range[59]
Guatavita
Lake Guatavita		CundinamarcacaciqueEnd of the farmlands[60]
LenguazaqueCundinamarcazaqueEnd of the reign of the zaque[61]
MachetáCundinamarcazaqueYour honourable farmfields[62][63]
MantaCundinamarcacaciqueYour farmfields[64]
NemocónCundinamarcazipaFrom Enemocón; sadness of the warrior
Named after Nemequene		[64][65]
Pacho
Guataque or Gotaque		CundinamarcazipaGood father
"Gua" = mountain, "tha"; strong and "que"; elevated; strong elevated mountain		[64][66]
PascaCundinamarcazipaFather's enclosure[67]
Quetame
Quetame Group		CundinamarcacaciqueOur farmfields of the mountain[68]
SesquiléCundinamarcazipaHot water[69]
SibatéCundinamarcazipaLeak of the lake[70]
Simijaca
Simijaca Formation		Cundinamarcazaque (<1490)
zipa (1490–1537)		Blue circle or nose of the white owl[71]
Soacha
Soacha Province
Soacha River		CundinamarcazipaSúa; Sun god Sué and chá; Man of the Sun[72]
SopóCundinamarcazipaRock or strong hill[73]
Subachoque
Subachoque River
Subachoque Formation		CundinamarcazipaWork of the Sun
Farmfields of the front		[74]
Suesca
Lake Suesca		CundinamarcazipaRock of the birds or Tail of the macaw[75][76]
SusaCundinamarcazaque (<1490)
zipa (1490–1537)		White reed or soft reed[77]
SutatausaCundinamarcazipaSmall tribute[78]
TabioCundinamarcazipaMouth [of the river][79]
TausaCundinamarcazipaTribute[80]
Tena
Zuca		CundinamarcazipaPlace of rest for the zipa[81]
TenjoCundinamarcazipaIn the mouth[82]
Tequendama
Tequendama Falls
Tequendama Province		CundinamarcazipaHe who precipitates downward[83]
TibacuyCundinamarcazipa
Panche		Official chief[84]
TibiritáCundinamarcazaque[citation needed]
TocancipáCundinamarcazipaValley of the joys of the zipa[85]
UbaláCundinamarcacaciquePlace on the hillside or At the foot of the hillside[86]
UbaqueCundinamarcacaciqueFrom Ybaque; blooding Eucalyptus tree or from Ebaque[87]
Ubaté
Ubaté Province
Ubaté River
Ubaté Valley		Cundinamarcazaque (<1490)
zipa (1490–1537)		Sower of the mouth or blooded land[88]
Une
Une Formation		CundinamarcacaciqueDrop it or mud[89][90]
ZipacónCundinamarcazipaCrying of the zipa[91]
ZipaquiráCundinamarcazipaCity of our father[37]
CharaláSantandercaciqueNamed after the Guane cacique Chalala[92]
ChipatáSantandercacique"chi" = our, "pa" = father, "tá" = farmland
Named after cacique Chipatá		[93][94]
OnzagaSantanderTundamaFrom cacique Hunzaá[95]
BosaCundinamarcazipaEnclosure of the one who guards and defends the cornfields[96]
EngativáCundinamarcazipaFrom Ingativá; Cacique of the land of the Sun
Engue-tivá; captain of the delicious [people]		[96]
FontibónCundinamarcazipaPowerful chief[96][51]
Suba
Suba Hills		CundinamarcazipaFrom "sua"; Sun and "sie"; water
From "uba"; fruit or flower and "sua"; Sun; Flower of the Sun		[96][97]
TeusaquilloCundinamarcazipaFrom Teusacá; borrowed enclosure[96]
Tunjuelito
Tunjuelo Formation
Tunjuelo River		CundinamarcazipaDiminutive form of tunjo; anthropomorph made of gold[98]
UsaquénCundinamarcazipaFrom cacique Usaque; Usaque means "under the pole"[99]
Usme
Usme Fault
Usme Formation		CundinamarcazipaNest of love[100]
El ChicóCundinamarcazipaChicó comes from chicú; "our ally"[101]
Techo
Techo wetland		CundinamarcazipaFrom cacique Techitina[102]
ChingazaCundinamarcazipa
Guayupe		Middle of the width[103]
Siecha LakesCundinamarcazipaHouse of the Lord[104]
TibabuyesCundinamarcazipaLand of the farmers[105]
MaiporéCundinamarcazipaWelcome[106]

See also

References

  1. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Municipalities Boyacá - Excelsio.net
  2. ^ (in Spanish) ta - Muysccubun Dictionary
  3. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology municipalities Cundinamarca - El Tiempo
  4. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Bacatá Archived 2016-10-07 at the Wayback Machine - Banco de la República
  5. ^ (in Spanish) bac - Muysccubun Dictionary
  6. ^ BD Bacatá at Emporis.com
  7. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Betéitiva[dead link]
  8. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Boavita Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
  9. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Boyacá Archived 2015-05-30 at archive.today
  10. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chinavita Archived 2015-05-31 at archive.today
  11. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chíquiza Archived 2015-05-29 at archive.today
  12. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Chitagoto
  13. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chitaraque Archived 2015-06-03 at archive.today
  14. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chivatá Archived 2015-05-29 at archive.today
  15. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cómbita Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Covarachía Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
  17. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cucaita Archived 2015-05-29 at archive.today
  18. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gachantivá Archived 2015-06-03 at archive.today
  19. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Guateque Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
  20. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Guayatá[dead link]
  21. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Lengupá
  22. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Macanal
  23. ^ Ocampo López, 2001, p.84
  24. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Pachavita
  25. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sáchica Archived 2018-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ (in Spanish) Official website San Miguel de Sema
  27. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Siachoque
  28. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Socotá
  29. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Somondoco
  30. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sutamarchán
  31. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sutatenza Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tibaná
  33. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tinjacá
  34. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tipacoque
  35. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Togüí
  36. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tuta Archived 2015-05-29 at archive.today
  37. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1126
  38. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Zetaquirá Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
  39. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Bojacá Archived 2017-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ Román, 2008, p.288
  41. ^ (in Spanish) History and etymology of Cajicá Archived 2016-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cáqueza
  43. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Chía
  44. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chipaque Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
  45. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Choachí Archived 2017-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chocontá Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
  47. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cogua Archived 2015-05-20 at archive.today
  48. ^ (in Spanish) Article Muiscuismos on es:wiki
  49. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cucunubá Archived 2015-05-22 at archive.today
  50. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Facatativá Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1119
  52. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Funza Archived 2015-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Fúquene Archived 2019-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gachancipá Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
  55. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gachalá Archived 2017-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gachetá Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
  57. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gama Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Guachetá Archived 2017-07-09 at the Wayback Machine
  59. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Guasca Archived 2017-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Guatavita Archived 2016-01-30 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Lenguazaque Archived 2015-05-22 at archive.today
  62. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Machetá Archived 2017-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
  63. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1120
  64. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1121
  65. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Nemocón Archived 2015-05-20 at archive.today
  66. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Pacho Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1122
  68. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Quetame
  69. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sesquilé
  70. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sibaté Archived 2015-05-20 at archive.today
  71. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1123
  72. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Soacha Archived 2016-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
  73. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sopó Archived 2016-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  74. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Subachoque
  75. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Suesca Archived 2015-05-15 at archive.today
  76. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Suesca Archived 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine - Banco de la República
  77. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Susa
  78. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Sutatausa Archived 2016-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  79. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tabio Archived 2015-05-20 at archive.today
  80. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1124
  81. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tena
  82. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tenjo
  83. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Tequendama Archived 2017-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  84. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tibacuy
  85. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Tocancipá
  86. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Ubalá Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
  87. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Ubaque Archived 2017-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  88. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1125
  89. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Une Archived 2015-05-17 at archive.today
  90. ^ (in Spanish) une - Muysccubun Dictionary
  91. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Zipacón
  92. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Charalá Archived 2015-06-05 at archive.today
  93. ^ Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1118
  94. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Chipatá Archived 2015-06-07 at archive.today
  95. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Onzaga Archived 2017-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  96. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology localities of Bogotá
  97. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Suba
  98. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Tunjuelito
  99. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Usaquén
  100. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Usme - El Tiempo
  101. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology El Chicó
  102. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Techo[dead link]
  103. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Chingaza[dead link]
  104. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology of the Siecha Lakes[dead link]
  105. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Tibabuyes
  106. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Maiporé Archived 2016-07-01 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography