Die Ortsnamen Stainz / Stanz in der Steiermark und Steinz(en) in Oberösterreich

Abstract

There are two similar toponyms: some villages called Stainz in Styria and some farms called Steinz(en) in Upper Austria. Their etymology was explained in the same way, that is of slavic origin, although only Stainz is to be found in the former slavic area, whereas Steinz(en) is in the german area. They have also different dialectal pronunciations with the vowel [a] and the diphthong [ai] and differt etymologies. Stainz is really based on slavic *Ščavьnica meaning „sour mineral water“. For the agronym Steinz(en) an OHG word *Stūnitza can be reconstructed. In combination with dialectical words it refers to sprigs growing up in meadows.