Village Names in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This study aims to explore village naming in Ubon Ratchathani province and to explore cultural reflection through village names.The officially recorded village names from 1999 to the present had been collected and studied. Research results show that there are 9 ways of village naming based on the following findings: 1) geographical areas, which was the most frequently found, 2) plants or animals, which was the second most frequently found 3) important figures, 4) religion and legends, 5) constructions materials, locations or buildings, 6) community culture forming methods,7) directions or location of the village, 8) specific descriptive characteristics, and 9) sacred names. In addition, the following four aspects of cultural reflections through names were found: 1) a culture of selecting villages locations near water sources, on highland, and near forest areas, 2) a culture of earning a living from inland fisheries and farming, 3) kinship related culture, and 4) belief and religion related culture.