Olza (river) - Name

Name

The first historical mention dates back to 1290, when the river is mentioned as Olza. The river was then mentioned in a written document in 1611 as Oldza. At the end of the 19th century, together with the rise of mass nationalism both Polish and Czech activists claimed the name Olza is too little Polish and Czech, respectively. Some Polish activists proposed the name Olsza, Czech activists Olše. Czech linguist and writer Vincenc Prasek found out in 1900 that the name Olza is not Polish, nor Czech but has Old Slavic origin. This revelation was confirmed by various etymological studies in the 20th century. The form Olza used on this territory is derived from the ancient Oldza. German Olsa is derived from Olza. Local people always used the Olza form, regardless of their national or ethnic origin. Even the Germanized form Olsa reads as Olza. However, central administration in Prague saw Olza as a Polish name and when most of the river became a part of Czechoslovakia in 1920 it tried to change its name to the Czech form of Olše. However, till the 1960s still some dualism in the naming existed which was eventually suppressed by the Central State Administration of Geodesy and Cartography. Since then, the only official form in the Czech Republic is Olše, however locals from both sides of the border, from both nationalities, still call it Olza.