What the names mean, A to Z
44 villages with an origin on file, in our words, each with its source and the source's own caution. Where sources differ, both are given.
A · B · C · D · G · M · P · Q · R · S
A
- Adcolna, Ponda. Ad (upper) and colna (settlement or waterway) (likely).
- Agonda, Canacona. Perhaps Aghanda, hills and water (possibly).
- Aldona, Bardez. Haldona, from hal (plough) or haldi (turmeric) (two options).
- Amone, Bicholim. A peaceful riverside settlement.
- Angediva, Canacona. Ange (near) and diva (island). Adyadvipa, Ajyadvip, Anjidipa or Ajdvipa (doubtful).
- Anjuna, Bardez. Arabic anjuman, a merchants' guild.
- Arambol, Pernem. From "Hari Mall", a cry of the Pandavas (legend).
- Arpora, Bardez. Haripur, Vishnu's village, or ar (channel) and pora (settlement) (some historians suggest).
- Assagao, Bardez. Ashram-gaon, village of hermitages (one common theory).
- Assonora, Bardez. Asan tree and ora (locality), or a clan name (theories).
B
- Bambolim, Tiswadi. Bamboo groves (likely).
- Bandora, Ponda. Formerly Bandhavatika; an inscription gives Bandawada, later Bandiwade.
- Batim, Tiswadi. Bat (road) and -im (place), a village on a route.
- Benaulim, Salcete. Banahalli, village of the arrow, from Parashurama's legend (legend).
- Betalbatim, Salcete. After its former deity Betal.
- Bicholim, Bicholim. From Divchali; perhaps visolm (snakes) or two streams (believed).
- Borim, Ponda. Formerly Badrigrama.
C
- Calangute, Bardez. Koli-gutti, land of fishermen, or Konvallo-Ghott, coconut trees (two options). Kalyanagudi.
- Camurlim, Bardez. Camara-halli, village of blacksmiths.
- Carambolim- Brama, Sattari. Reported to have been Chandiwade (reported).
- Chandor, Salcete. The ancient capital Chandrapura.
- Chicalim, Mormugao. Chikal (clay), from marshy land (believed).
- Chimbel, Tiswadi. Chimb (soaked), low-lying land (believed).
- Chinchinim, Salcete. Chinch (tamarind), or the deity Chinchinath (two theories).
- Chorao, Tiswadi. Chudamani, a precious jewel.
- Colem, Dharbandora. Originally Kulem; spelt Colem, then Collem after 1961.
- Colva, Salcete. Khol (bay) and va (village) (believed).
- Cortalim, Mormugao. Formerly Kushastali.
- Cumbarjua, Tiswadi. Cumbhar (potter) and jua (stream or place) (believed).
- Cunchelim, Bardez. Cunche (corner) and lim (place) (believed).
- Cuncolim, Salcete. Kumkumahalli, where vermilion was made.
D
- Davorlim, Salcete. A Davor community, or dav (herbs) and -lim (debated).
G
M
- Maem, Bicholim. Deity Mahamaya, mhov (honey) or Mayurvan (peafowl forest) (three traditions).
- Malar, Tiswadi. From the church of St Mathias (believed).
- Mandrem, Pernem. Arabic mudras (teacher) (traditionally believed).
- Mandur, Tiswadi. Recorded as Mandura; no meaning given.
- Margao, Salcete. Mahargao or Maravile; earlier Mathagrama, nine mathas (debated).
- Moira, Bardez. Moriya, a Mauryan settlement (one interpretation).
P
- Paroda, Salcete. Anciently Parvat.
Q
- Queula, Ponda. Formerly Kapilgrama.
R
- Rivona, Sanguem. Rishivan (according to local tradition).
S
- Sanguem, Sanguem. Samgampur.