On the Waters of Jassa – in the West

We’ve already brought up some strange rivers in the East that some claim to be of “Alanic” origin here.

However, similar rivers exist in Germany too (and in between but we will get to that).  Take for example, the Jossa.  It is one of the few German river names that ends with an -a suffix.  But, you might say a Jossa is no Jassa.  True, but we have the following recorded names for the same river:

• year 1358  – Iozza
• 1359 – Iazza
• 1376 – Iazza
• 1391 – Iosza (!)

A town nearby is also called Jossa.  Its recorded history is as follows:

• year 850 – Jazaha
• 1167 – Jazaha
• 1213 – Jazzaha
• 1239 – Iazahe
• 1240 – Jaza
• 1326 – Jaaza

The Jat is as the below citation from the source (Deutsches Gewaessernamenbuch by Albrecht Greule) an “unclear Bestimmungswort.”

Perhaps, as the author muses, Celtic.  He also relates it to Jahr and to the OCSlavonic word jado (I ride) and to the ON Jabbeke/Jatbeka (a town in Westflanders!).  Then, of course, there are the Jatvingi…

and what’s with the ash?

In any event, there is also a nearby stream Josbach which – just as the Jossa – originally had an “a” in place of the “o”.  Thus, its names are recorded as:

• year 1196 – Jazbach
• 1280 – Jazpach
• 1350 – Jaspach

There was also the Joessnitz (now Kaltenbach) previously Iezniz (“Eschenbach” or Ash stream).

And so on.  And in the North we have the river Leda which, it seems, originally, was also spoken with an -a”: see Lathamuthon (the mouth of Latha).

and again what’s with the ash? not to mention Veendam

So now we have Jassa and Leda in West Germany.  Remains of the Celts?  Of passing Alans?  Or of Suevi vel Suavi?

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