Historical Country Names

Historical country Names

Introduction

They are alternative names (or alternative spellings of names) for several countries. This information is often useful for legal and political researchers working with historical sources, because these sources used to refer to countries by different names than of current use.

Table of Historical country Names

Name Alternative Spellings / Names
United States of America US/U.S./United States; USA/U.S.A.
Canada British possessions: British North America
French possessions: New France
Bahamas Bahama Islands; Lucayos
Cuba (None)
Haiti Ayiti (native); Hayti; Saint-Domingue
Dominican Republic Republica Dominicana; Saint Domingo; San Domingo; Santo Domingo
Jamaica St. Jago; Santiago; Xaymaca
Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad: Bella Forma; Trinity
Tobago: Tapuago (native)
Barbados Barbadoes
Dominica Isla Dominga
Grenada Concepcion; Granada; La Grenade
Saint Lucia Hewanorra (native); Sainte Lucie; Santa Lucia
Saint Vincent & Grenadines St. Vincent: Hairoun (native)
Grenadines: Grenadilles
Antigua & Barbuda Santa Maria de Antigua
Saint Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts-Nevis
St. Kitts: Liamuiga (native); St. Christopher; San Cristobal
Mexico Estados Unidos Mexicanos; Mejico; Mexican Empire; Mexican Republic; United Mexican States
Belize Balize; Belice; British Bay Settlement; British Honduras
Guatemala (none)
Honduras (none)
El Salvador Saint Salvador; Salvador; San Salvador
Nicaragua Nicarahua
Costa Rica Rich Coast
Panama Castilla de Oro/Castilla del Oro; State of the Isthmus
Colombia Columbia; Gran Colombia; Granadine Confederation; Great Colombia; Greater Colombia; Grenadine Confedaration; New Granada; Nueva Granada
Venezuela Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Guyana British Guiana; Guayana
Included Berbice, Demerara, Essequibo
Suriname Dutch Guiana; Netherlands Guiana; Surinam; Willoughbyland
Ecuador Estado del Ecuator; State of the Equator
Peru Perou; Peruvian Republic
Part of Peru-Bolivia Confederation 1839-1839
Brazil Brasil
Bolivia Charcas; Upper Peru
Part of Peru-Bolivia Confederation (1836-1839)
Paraguay Guaira; Paraguai
Chile Chili, Chilli
Argentina Argentine Confederation; Argentine Nation; Argentine Republic; Platine Republic; United Provinces of La Plata; United Provinces of Rio de la Plata; United Provinces of South America
Uruguay Banda Oriental; Estado Oriental del Uruguay; Province of Montevideo; Provincia Oriental del Rio de la Plata; República Oriental del Uruguay
United Kingdom Albion; Britain; Britannia; England; Great Britain (1707+); UK/U.K.; United Kingdom of Great Britain (1707-1801); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801-1927); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927+)
Ireland Eire (1937-1948); Erin; Hibernia; Irish Free State; Irish Republic; Saorstat Eireann
Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801-1922)
Netherlands Batavian Republic / Batavian Comonwealth (1795-1806); Holland; Nederland; Republic of the United Provinces; United Netherlands (1813-1815)
Part of the Low Countries or Nether Lands
Belgium Belgie; Belgien; Belgique
Part of the Low Countries or Nether Lands
Luxembourg Letzebuerg; Luxemburg
France French Empire; French Republic; L’Hexagone; Republique Francaise
Monaco Fort-Hecule/Fort Hecule
Included Menton and Roquebrone
Liechtenstein (none)
Switzerland Helvetia; Helvetica; Helvetic Republic or Helvetian Republic (under Napoleon); Schweiz; Suisse; Svizzera; Svizra; Swiss Confederation
Spain Espainia; Espana; Espanya
Andorra (none)
Portugal (none)
Hanover Hannover
Bavaria Bayern
Germany Deutsches Reich; Deutschland; German Empire
The COW project and many scholars consider Prussia (Preussen) to be the predecessor of Germany before unification.
German Federal Republic Federal Republic of Germany (FRG); West Germany
German Democratic Republic Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR); East Germany; German Democratic Republic (GDR)
Baden Aquae Panoniae; Baden bei Wien
Saxony Sachsen
Wuerttemburg Wurttemburg
Hesse Electoral Electoral Hesse; Hesse/Hessen – Kassel/Cassel; Kurhessen
Hesse Grand Ducal Ducal Hesse; Hesse/Hessen – Darmstadt
Mecklenburg Schwerin (none)
Poland Polska; Rceczypospolita Polska
Austria-Hungary Dual Monarchy; Hapsburg/Habsburg Empire
Austria Osterreich
Hungary Magyar Nepkoxtarsasag; Magyar Republic; Magyarorszag; Ungarn
Czechoslovakia Ceskoslovensko; Czecho-Slovakia
Czech Republic Bohemia and Moravia; Ceska Republika; Czechia
Slovakia Slovak Republic; Slovenska Republika; Slovensko
Italy Italia
The COW project and many scholars consider Piedmont-Sardinia (Savoy/Savoie/Savoia, Sardinia/Sardegna, Piedmont/Piemonte, or Piedmont-Sardinia/Sardinia-Piedmont) to be the predecessor of Italy before unification.
Papal States Lo Stato della Chiesa; Roman Republic; States of the Church; Stati Pontificii
Two Sicilies Included Sicily and Naples
San Marino (none)
Modena (none)
Parma (none)
Tuscany Toscana
Malta (none)
Albania Shqiperi; Shqipni; Shqipri
Montenegro Crno Gora; Tsernagora
Macedonia Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM); Makedonija
Croatia Hrvatska
Yugoslavia Serbia (pre-1919 and 2006+); Serbia & Montenegro (1990s); Srbija i Crna Gora
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosna i Hercegovina / BiH; Bosnia and Hercegovina
Kosovo Kosova; Kossovo
Slovenia Slovenija
Greece Ellada; Ellas; Hellas
Cyprus Kibris; Kypros
Bulgaria Balgarija; Republika Bulgariya
Moldova Bessarabia; Moldau; Moldavia; Moldavian Republic
Romania Dacia (ancient); Roumania; Rumania
Russia Rossija; Rossiya; Rus; Russian Federation; Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/USSR/CCCP
Estonia Eesti; Esthonia
Latvia Latvija; Lettland
Lithuania Lietuva
Ukraine Ukrajina; Ukrayina
Belarus Belarus; Belarusia; Bielarus; Bielorussia; Byelorussia; White Russia
Armenia Hayasdan; Hayastan
Georgia Gruziya; Sakartvelo
Azerbaijan Azerbaidjan; Azerbaycan
Finland Suome Tasavalta; Suomi
Sweden Sverige
Norway Noreg; Norge
Denmark Danmark
Iceland Island
Cape Verde Cabo Verde; Ilhas do Cabo Verde
Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome e Principe
Guinea-Bissau Guine-Bissau; Portuguese Guinea
Equatorial Guinea Guinea Ecuatorial; Spanish Guinea
Gambia Part of Senegambia confederation (1982-89)
Mali French Sudan; Haut Senegal; Sudanese Republic (1958-60); Upper Senegal; Upper Senegal & Niger (through 1920)
Senegal Saint Louis
Part of Senegambia confederation (1982-89)
Benin Dahomey
Mauritania Mauretania; Mauritanie; Muritaniyyah
Niger (none)
Ivory Coast Cote d’Ivoire; Ivory Coast
Guinea French Guinea; Guine; Guinea-Conacri/Conakri/Conakry; Guinee; Rivieres du Sud
Burkina Faso Bourkina-Fasso/Bourkina Fasso; Haute-Volta/Haute Volta; Upper Volta (through 1984); Voltaic Republic
Liberia Cape Mesurado Colony; Grain Coast
Sierra Leone Freedom Province
Ghana Gold Coast (includes British Togoland)
Togo French Togo/French Togoland (British Togoland became part of Ghana); Togoland; Togolese Republic
Cameroon British Cameroons / French Cameroons; Cameroons; Cameroun; Kamerun
Nigeria Federation of Nigeria; Niger Coast Protectorate; Oil Rivers Protectorate
Gabon Gabonese Republic; Gaboon; Gabun; Republique Gabonaise
Central African Republic Central African Empire/CAE/C.A.E.; CAR/C.A.R.; Kodorosese ti Beafrika; Oubangi-Chari; Republique Centrafricaine; Ubangi-Shari
Chad Bornu (pre-colonial); Tasad; Tchad
Congo Congo-Brazzaville; French Congo; Middle Congo; Moyen Congo; Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo Belgian Congo; Congo-Kinshasa; DRC; Zaire (1971-97)
Uganda (none)
Kenya British East Africa Protectorate; Kenia
Tanzania German East Africa; Tanganyika (1920-64)
Zanzibar (none)
Burundi Uburundi; Urundi
Rwanda Ruanda
Somalia British Somaliland/Somaliland Protectorate; Italian Somaliland (Somalia Italiana)/Somaliland Trust Territory; Soomalia
Djibouti French Somaliland; French Territory of the Afars & Issas; Jibuti
Ethiopia Abyssinia; Ityop’iya/Ityopiya
Eritrea Erithrea; Ertra; Iritriya
Angola Portuguese West Africa
Mozambique Mocambique; Portuguese East Africa
Zambia Northern Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia (through 1980); Southern Rhodesia
Malawi British Central Africa Protectorate; Nyasaland
South Africa Mzantsi Afrika; Ningizimu Africa; Republiek van Suid-Afrika; Suid-Afrika/Suid Afrika
Namibia German West Africa; South-West Africa
Lesotho Basutoland
Botswana Bechuanaland
Swaziland eSwatini
Madagascar Madagasikara; Malagasy Republic; Malgache Republic
Comoros Comores; Comoro Islands; Iles Comores; Komori; Qumur
Mauritius Ile de France; Maurice
Seychelles Sesel
Morocco al Magrib; Al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyah; French Morocco; Maroc; Marruecos
Algeria Algerie; Al-Jazair/Al-Jaza’ir
Tunisia Tunis; Tunisie
Libya Libia; Libiyah; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Included Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Fezzan
Sudan Anglo-Egyptian Sudan; As-Sudan; Jumhuriyat as-Sudan; Soudan
Iran Persia
Turkey Osmanli Empire; Ottoman Empire; Turkiye
Iraq Al-?Iraq; Irak; Mesopotamia
Egypt Misr; United Arab Republic/UAR/U.A.R. (1958-1971)
Syria Ash Sham / Esh Sham; Syrie / La Syrie; Suriyyah
Part of United Arab Republic 1958-1961
Lebanon Grand Liban; Great Lebanon Liban; Lubnan; Mount Lebanon
Part of Levant States with Syria
Jordan Al-Urdunn; Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Transjordan; Transjordania
Israel Israil; Palestine (until 1948); Yisra’el
Saudi Arabia Al-Mamlakah al-Arabiyah as-Saudiyah; Hejaz and Nejd/Hijaz and Nejd; Saudia; Wahabbid Empire
Included Hejaz/Hedjaz/Hijaz/Al-Hijaz and Nejd/Nejed/Najd
Yemen Arab Republic North Yemen; Sanaa/Sana’a/Sana
Yemen Al-Yaman
Yemen People’s Republic Aden; Aden Colony; Federation of South Arabia; People’s Democratic Rep. of Yemen; People’s Rep. of Southern Yemen; South Yemen
Kuwait al-Kuwayt; Koweit; Kuweit; Kuwayt
Bahrain al-Ba?rayn; Bahrein
Qatar Katar
United Arab Emirates Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahidah; Trucial Coast; Trucial Oman; Trucial States
Oman Muscat/Musqat/Masqat; Muscat and Oman; ‘Umman
Afghanistan Afganestan; Afganistan
Turkmenistan Turkmen; Turkmenia; Turkoman Republic
Part of Russian Turkestan
Tajikistan Tadjikistan; Tadzhikistan; Tajik Tojokiston; Tojokistan
Kyrgyzstan Kirgizia; Kirghizstan; Kirgizstan; Kyrgyz Republic; Kyrgyzstan
Uzbekistan Ozbekistan; Uzbek Republic; Uzbekiston
Kazakhstan Kazachstan; Kazakh Republic; Kazakstan; Qazakstan
China Chungkuo; “Communist China”; Jhongguo; “Mainland China”; People’s Republic of China (PRC); “Red China”; Zhongguo
Mongolia Mongol Uls; Mongolian People’s Republic; Outer Mongolia
Taiwan Chinese Taipei; Formosa; “Free China”; “Nationalist China”; Republic of China (ROC); Taipei; T’aiwan
Korea Chosen; Choson; Tae Han
North Korea Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK); Choson
South Korea Republic of Korea (ROK); Hanguk
Japan Nihon; Niphon; Nippon
India Bharat; Bharata; British India; Intiy
Bhutan Druk yul/Druk-yul
Pakistan West Pakistan
Bangladesh Bangla Desh; Banglades; East Bengal (1947-1955); East Pakistan (1955-1971)
Myanmar Burma (through 1989); Myanmar (1989+); Myanma
Sri Lanka Ceylon (through 1972); Llankai
Maldive Islands Divehi Rajje; Maldives
Nepal (none)
Thailand Muang Thai; Prathe?t Thai/Prathet Thai
Cambodia Cambodge; Camboja; Kampuchea; Khmer Republic (1970-75)
Laos Lao
Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)/North Vietnam (until 1975); Viet Nam
Republic of Vietnam Republic of Vietnam (RVN); South Vietnam
Malaysia Federated Malay States; Federation of Malaya; Malaya; Malayan Union
Singapore Cinkappur; Singapura; Xinjiapo
Brunei Brunei Darussalam
Philippines Filipinas; Islas Filipinas; Pilipinas; Republica de Filipinas; Republika ng Pilipinas
Indonesia Dutch East Indies; Netherlands East Indies; Netherlands Indies
East Timor Portuguese Timor; Timor L’este/Timor Leste; Timor Lorosa’e
Australia (none)
Papua New Guinea Included Papua (British New Guinea) and Trust Territory of New Guinea (German New Guinea)
New Zealand Aotearoa
Vanuatu New Hebrides (through 1980)
Solomon Islands (none)
Kiribati (none)
Tuvalu (none)
Fiji Fiji Islands
Tonga Friendly Islands
Nauru Naoero
Marshall Islands (none)
Palau Belau; Pelew
Federated States of Micronesia (none)
Samoa Western Samoa
Part of Navigators Islands (included both Western and American Samoa)

References and Further Reading

Gideon Biger (1995), Encyclopedia of World Boundaries
CIA World Factbook
Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer of the World (1962)
Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopedia (1953)
International Geographic Encyclopedia and Atlas (1979)
Lippincott’s Pronouncing Gazetteer of the World (1880)
Merriam Webster’s Geographical Dictionary, 3rd edition (1997)
Rulers.org
Victor Showers (1979), World Facts and Figures
UN FAO (1978/1984), Systematic Index of International Water Resources Treaties

Conclusion

Notes

See Also

References and Further Reading

About the Author/s and Reviewer/s

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Treaties, country.


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