Zum Ortsnamen Merseburg

Abstract

The place name Merseburg has been debated vigorously in academic research. On the basis of a larger number of comparable names, the authors suggest a derivation of the name which differs from previous explanations. Besides the root - burg one has to assume a basic approach *Mars~ in the determiner which can be interpreted as an -s-extension of -mar “swamp, bog, pond”, to be found in numerous names.