Bleiche

Bleiche is a German noun meaning bleach or bleaching, and it is also a toponym used in several German-speaking regions. The term derives from the verb bleichen (to bleach, whiten) and refers to places historically associated with whitening textiles or with pale, whitish landscapes near water. In medieval Europe, bleaching involved whitening linen with lye, sun, or water, and bleaching works were often situated along rivers to access water and to dispose of wash waste, giving rise to place names such as Bleiche.

As a toponym, Bleiche appears in the names of towns, districts, or streets in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In these contexts, the name typically reflects a historical bleaching site or a landscape feature suggesting whiteness or brightness, rather than indicating a present industrial facility. In modern administration, the term survives mainly in historic references and geographic names.

In linguistic and genealogical contexts, Bleiche can also occur as a surname derived from a toponym, signaling origin from a place named Bleiche. The usage illustrates how industrial-era terms became embedded in geography and family names, even when explicit bleaching activities may no longer be present.