ESCH

Esch is a toponym of Germanic origin and a surname. The name appears in several place names in Luxembourg, France and Germany, and is also used as a family name among German-speaking populations. A common and prominent use is in Esch-sur-Alzette, a city in Luxembourg.

Esch-sur-Alzette is located in the south-west of Luxembourg, along the Alzette river near the border with France. It is the second-largest city by population in the country and serves as an economic and cultural hub for the south. The city developed around iron and steel production in the 19th and 20th centuries, and in recent decades has undergone substantial urban redevelopment, notably in the Belval district, which hosts university facilities, research institutes, housing and commercial spaces.

The toponym Esch has broader use in European place names and typically denotes a site associated with ash trees, derived from the old Germanic word for ash (Esche). As a surname, Esch is found in German-speaking areas and among communities with German heritage.

In Luxembourgish and French contexts, Esch appears in compound names and as shorthand for Esch-sur-Alzette. The term is also encountered in historical documents referring to places named Esch in neighboring regions.