GEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES OF TOPONYM OF KHMELNYTSKYI REGION
Authors: LISOVSKY Andrii , HARBAR Vladyslav , PRYDETKEVICH Stanislav 
Published: November 2022

The study and research of geographical names, a separate administrative region, makes it possible to analyze how the influence and role of natural resources, the history of settlement and development of the territory have affected the life of the population. Geographical nomenclature of a certain territory is called toponymy of this region. Toponymy is especially important for such disciplines as physical geography, topography, local history, historical geography, cartography, economic and social geography.

In this article the concept of toponyms is considered, their classification is given. The toponymic zoning of Khmelnytskyi region is proposed.  The influence of geographical, historical, cultural conditions on the emergence of toponyms of Khmelnytskyi region is investigated. The process of decommunization and derussification of geographical names of the studied territory is highlighted.

The analysis of the source base shows that the toponymy of Khmelnytskyi region is closely connected with the history of the region, especially with its settlement. The toponymic system of Khmelnytskyi region under the influence of different epochs underwent constant changes that influenced the process of toponym formation.

After analyzing the formation of the names of 131 rivers in Khmelnytskyi region, the length of which is more than 10 km, we obtained the following results: the largest number of names are formed by the characteristic properties (features) of water bodies, namely 23.3%. Also, a large number of names are related to the location of the water body - 20%. The smallest number of names are related to soil features - 1.5%.  Of the 18 analyzed names of lakes in Khmelnytskyi region, the largest number of names are associated with the location of the water body, namely 6 names (Lake Krugle, Lake Ezerske, Lake Novostavske, Lake Terebizh, Lake Lisova Pisnya, Lake Lisove).

Comonyms and astionyms of Khmelnytskyi region are divided into thirteen groups.   The largest number of names of rural settlements are derived from a person's own name or surname (37.3%).  Out of 37 analyzed astionyms 16 belong to anthroponyms. The largest number of settlements whose names are derived from a person's own name or surname. The smallest number oikonyms are of memorial origin (1.5%)

On the basis of spatial localization of types of settlements similar in topoformant and uniqueness of their correlation, objectively existing hierarchical units of zoning were distinguished. The calculation of morphometric, as well as spatial toponymic characteristics of oikonyms of Khmelnytsky region, allowed to allocate: Volyn macro-region (1 rayon and 2 sub-rayons); Podil macro-region (3 rayons and 9 sub-rayons); Pivdenopodilskyi macro-region (2 rayons and 4 sub-rayons).

Within the framework of decommunization and de-Russification in the Khmelnytskyi region during 2022, more than 800 streets and lanes were renamed, and about 1300 more objects should be renamed.

Prospects for using the results of the study. The materials of this publication can be used for further decommunization and de-Russification of geographical names in Khmelnytskyi region. The developed scheme of toponymic zoning of Khmelnytskyi region can be taken into account in the toponymic zoning of the territory of Ukraine.

Key words: toponyms, homonyms, hydronyms, oikonyms, decommunization, de-Russification.