Borysaw

Borysaw is a toponym used for several settlements in Eastern Europe. The name is derived from the Slavic given name Boris and commonly signifies “the place of Boris” or “belonging to Boris.” Spelling and pronunciation vary by language, with Belarusian forms such as Baryśaw/Bарысаў, and related forms appearing in Polish and Ukrainian as Borysów or Borysław, among others. The toponym reflects a historical practice of naming places after a person or family.

The best-known locality associated with the name is the city of Barysaw (also rendered Borisov) in Minsk Region, Belarus. It is an urban center in central Belarus and serves as a regional transport node. The city has historical roots dating back to medieval times and today hosts a range of cultural and economic activities within the Minsk Region.

Beyond Belarus, the name appears in other Slavic-speaking areas, where variants such as Borysław or Борислав designate different towns or villages. Because these places share a common etymology, they are often distinguished in maps and reference works by including regional identifiers in parentheses or by using the local form of the name.

In summary, Borysaw is a shared Slavic toponym linked to multiple settlements, with the Belarusian city of Barysaw being the most prominent example. The name’s origin in the given name Boris links all instances, while local spellings reflect each country’s language.