Yunus ARİFOĞLU

Naming began with people putting an explanation on something. Human knows something by name. At the same time, man has removed his spiritual void by naming. Because the man was a stranger to the world. Place names are being investigated by Toponomy. While studying the naming, this branch of science makes use of both other disciplines and its own sub-disciplines. In this sense, it investigates the reason for the naming of a place and how it occurs. The richness of the ancient heritage can be explained and interpreted by toponomy.

Although it was not known which impulse the naming was given, the naming factors can be known. One of the most important factors when giving place names is nature. Naming is the beginning of the taming of geography. Thus, geography became a cultural basin instead of an ordinary part. Geography was the main factor in naming. The other factor in naming is human. Socialization, colors and other similar factors were also effective in naming.

Every tribe has named the place in its own way. Nations have benefited from the accumulation in the geographies where they migrated. During the Middle Ages, the Turkish population came to Anatolia intensively. Thus, Anatolia has become Muslim Turkish geography. The Turks who came to Anatolia were the descendants of Oguz. Oguz gave the color to Anatolia. When Anatolia became a Turkish homeland, the Turks adapted or renamed the names in the Anatolian geography to the Turkish language.

In this study, toponomy examining place names was explained and the story of names was examined. The source of the nomenclature and the factors affecting it were discussed. Then, the naming methods of Turks in Anatolia. In this study, modern literature in the context of place names was used.

Keyword: Naming, Toponomy, Anatolia, Turks, Method, Tradition