Landname

Landname is a term used in geography and historical land studies to describe the name assigned to a particular parcel of land. It functions as a proper noun that helps identify and distinguish parcels in maps, documents, and archival registries. Although not a universal legal term in modern property law, landnames appear in historical records and cartography to label areas that may not have a current official title or to provide a simple label alongside formal descriptors.

Etymology and scope: The word combines the English elements land and name and is employed primarily by researchers and archivists. In other languages, similar concepts may be expressed as toponyms or cadastral names, reflecting the broader practice of naming places and parcels for reference.

Usage and purpose: Landnames aid in tracking ownership history, land use, and landscape change within archival collections and historical maps. They often derive from geographic features, the names of early owners, nearby landmarks, or notable events, and they may change over time as ownership shifts or as official registries are updated.

Examples and limitations: On a historical map, a tract might be labeled as “Landname: Green Hollow Farm” to provide a recognizable label. In contemporary records, the same area would typically have a cadastral parcel number and a legally defined name.

See also: Toponymy, toponym, cadastral system, land registry, estate.