Происхождения названия города Рязань

The origin of the name of the city of Ryazan

As for the etymology of the word "Ryazan" there are many versions.

1. Finno-Ugric. Previously, this city was called Erzan’ – named after the Erzya tribe (Arisa). Later the tribe was driven out by the Slavs to the east (in the Arzamas area - this toponym also comes from the word "Erzya"). "Erzan" (Arisan) was transformed into slavonic "Ryazan" (in the annals we can also meet "Rezan’", "Razan’", "Razyan’", "Rzan’").

2. Slavonic. From the word "rezan’" - a cut slice. The Principality was "cut off" from other Russian principalities by forests, swamps and the enemy.

3. From the name of the founder of the city - Razan (Ruzan).

Less convincing versions.

4. From the word " duckweed" (RYASKA), a little water grass, which cover the surfaces of ponds, as there were a lot of swamp places.

5. From the word "Rezan’" ("Ryazan") - small wild apples for the beverage called kvass; frozen apples transported along the winter path.

6. From the name of the coin in ancient Russia - "rezany". "cut." It was cut from Arab dirhams. The coins were taken on weight. It is possible that in Ryazan people practiced that business.

7. Ryazan - "city of the sun" or "road to Ra", "road to the sun" or to the Volga (the Volga in ancient times was called "Ra").

8. The name Ryazan was brought by immigrants from the Middle East (from Syria), there is its own "Ryazan" - Deir ez-Zor - on the bank of the Euphrates. According to this version, words Moscow, Tver, Novgorod are also from Syrian.

9. The etymological root of the word "Ryazan" is in the architectural term "ryazh" (log house of a wooden fortress).