Johannesburg, South Africa – Source: and beyond.com
By far the longest and most geographically diverse list to date identifies cities and towns of 10,000 residents or more whose name contains the suffix of “burg,” “burgh,” or “bourg.” Cities/towns for four (4) continents are represented – Europe, North America, Africa, and Yekaterinburg, Russia, which is located east of the Ural Mountains and therefore is considered to be situated in Asia.
Yekaterinburg, Russia – Source: youtube.com
Given the number of places represented, it is somewhat surprising that variations of Middle(el)burg and New(Neu)burg lead the list with but four (4) examples each, followed by Petersburg and Pittsburg(h) with three (3) cities/towns each. This means that places named Middle(le) are amongst the leader on this list, the list for places with the suffix of “boro(ugh),” as well as the list for cities/towns with the suffix of “town.”
I guess that means folks with European ancestry must like being “stuck in the middle” or tend to take the middle of the road approach to decision making (at least with place naming). Probably a good chance that either “middle” or “center” will be popular when places with the suffix of “ville” are tabulated, as well.
Similarly, “new(neu)” has been a leader for both this list and the “stadt” suffix list previously published.
Lastly, it is rather fun to note that the nearby town often referred to throughout the television series Hogan’s Heroes is on this list – Hammelburg, Germany. Even more interesting is the fact that there was a POW Camp near Hammelburg during World War II and it was in reality designated, Stalag 13!
- Johannesburg, South Africa = 5,635,127 (2019)
- St. Petersburg, Russia = 5,351,935 (2018 est.)
- Hamburg, Germany = 1,822,445 (2018)
- Yekaterinburg, Russia = 1,468,833 (2018 est.)
- Rustenburg (Town of Rest), South Africa = 626,522 (2016) – added 7/15/20
- Gothenburg, Sweden = 575,597 (2018)
- Orenburg, Russia = 564,773 (2018 est.)
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK = 518,500 (2018)
- Duisburg, Germany = 498,590 (2018)
- Randburg, South Africa = 337,053 (2011)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania = 301,048 (2018 est.)
- Augsburg, Germany = 295,135 (2018)
- Strasbourg, France = 279,284 (2016)
- St. Petersburg, Florida = 265,098 (2018 est.)
- Boksburg, South Africa = 260,321 (2011)- added 7/15/20
- Magdeburg, Germany = 238,697 (2018)
- Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany = 230,241 (2018)
- Pietermaritzburg, South Africa = 223,448 (2011)
- Oldenburg, Germany = 163,210 (2018)
- Salzburg, Austria = 153,377 (2018)
- Sasolburg, South Africa = 153,038 (011)
- Regensburg, Germany = 152,610 (2018)
- Würzburg, Germany = 127,880 (2018)
- Wolfsburg, Germany = 124,151 (2018)
- Luxembourg City, Luxembourg = 116,323 (2018)
- Rustenburg, Souht Africa = 104,612 (2011)
- Edinburg, Texas = 98,665 (2018 est.)
- Ludwigsburg, Germany = 93,499 (2018)
- Flensburg, Germany = 89,504 (2018)
- Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa = 87,348 (2011)
- Lynchburg, Virginia = 82,126 (2018 est.)
- Marburg, Germany = 76,851 (2018)
- Schaumburg, Illinois = 73,509 (2018 est.)
- Pittsburg, California = 72,437 (2018 est.)
- Aschaffenburg, Germany = 70,527 (2018)
- Gaithersburg, Maryland = 68,289 (2018 est.)
- Neubrandenburg, Germany = 64,086 (2018)
- Offenburg, Germany = 59,646 (2018)
- Queensburgh, South Africa = 53,846 (2011)
- Harrisonburg, Virginia = 54,033 (2018 est.)
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania = 49,229 (2018 est.)
- Middelburg, Netherlands = 48,265 (2017)
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi = 45,951 (2018 est.)
- Blacksburg, Virginia = 44,678 (2018 est.)
- Oranienburg, Germany = 44,512 (2018)
- Siegburg, Germany = 41,463 (2018)
- Coburg, Germany = 41,249 (2018)
- Ficksburg, South Africa = 41,248 (2011)
- Fitchburg, Massachusetts = 40,882 (2018 est.)
- Fribourg, Switzerland = 38,358 (2018)
- Reynoldsburg, Ohio = 38,278 (2018 est.)
- Neu-Isenburg, Germany = 37,668 (2018)
- Papenburg, Germany = 37,579 (2018)
- Lydenburg, South Africa = 37,258 (2011)
- Spartanburg, South Carolina = 37,013 (2010)
- Cloppenburg,Germany = 34,913 (2018)
- Merseburg, Germany = 34,080 (2018)
- Ahrensburg, Germany = 33,472 (2018)
- Bernburg, Germany = 32,674 (2018)
- Naumburg, Germany = 32,402 (2018)
- Petersburg, Virginia = 31,567 (2018 est.)
- Nienburg, Lower Saxony, Germany = 31,550 (2018)
- Fitchburg, Wisconsin = 30,170 (2018 est.)
- Parkersburg, West Virginia = 29,675 (2018 est.)
- Fredericksburg, Virginia = 29,144 (2018 est.)
- Rexburg, Idaho = 28,687 (2018 est.)
- Rendsburg, Germany = 28,470 (2018)
- Newburgh, New York = 28,164 (2018 est.)
- Klosterneuburg, Austria = 26,466 (2015)
- Brownsburg, Indiana = 26,367 (2018 est.)
- Lichtenburg, South Africa = 26,338 (2011)
- Quedlinburg, Germany = 23,989 (2018)
- Bedburg, Germany = 23,531 (2018)
- Waldkraiburg, Germany = 23,442 (2018)
- Roseburg, Oregon = 23,379 (2018 est.)
- Dillenburg, Germany = 23,365 (2018)
- Warburg, Germany = 23,079 (2018)
- Christiansburg, Virginia = 22,505 (2018 est.)
- Vicksburg, Mississippi = 22,136 (2018 est.)
- Bad Harzburg, Germany = 21,945 (2018)
- Amherstburg, Ontario = 21,936 (2016)
- Rotenburg an der Wümme, Germany = 21,798 (2018)
- Vryburg, South Africa = 21,182 (2011)
- Chambersburg, Pennsylvania = 21,029 (2018 est.)
- Ellensburg, Washington = 20,977 (2018 est.)
- Günzburg, Germany = 20,707 (2018)
- Pittsburg, Kansas = 20,178 (2018 est.)
- Miamisburg, Ohio = 19,941 (2018 est.)
- Blankenburg, Germany = 19,817 (2018)
- Plattsburgh, New York = 19,438 (2018 est.)
- Bückeburg, Germany = 19,245 (2018)
- Bad Driburg, Germany = 19,002 (2018)
- Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa = 18,861 (2011)
- Moosburg, Germany = 18,510 (2018)
- Martinsburg, West Virginia = 17,465 (2018 est.)
- Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands =16,416 (2017)
- Tilsonburg, Ontario = 15,872 (2016)
- Steffisburg, Switzerland = 15,709 (2018)
- Dieburg, Germany = 15,679 (2018)
- Dillenburg, Germany = 15,583 (2018)
- Middleburg Heights, Ohio = 15,540 (2018 est.)
- Clarksburg, West Virginia = 15,480 (2018 est.)
- Neustadt bei Coburg, Germany = 15,257 (2018)
- Mainburg, Germany = 15,241 (2018)
- Laurinburg, North Carolina = 15,033 (2018 est.)
- Williamsburg, Virginia = 14,896 (2018 est.)
- Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany = 14,676 (2018)
- Ratzeburg, Germany = 14,652 (2018)
- Shlisselburg, Russia = 14,425 (2018 est.)
- Phillipsburg, New Jersey = 14,303 (2018 est.)
- Greensburg, Pennsylvania = 14,192 (2018 est.)
- Orangeburg, South Carolina = 13,964 (2010)
- Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania = 13,919 (2018 est.)
- Philippsburg, Germany = 13,615 (2018)
- Weilburg, Germany = 12,990 (2018)
- Fouriesburg, South Africa = 12,974 (2011)
- Wasserburg am Inn, Germany = 12,691 (2018)
- Korneuburg, Austria = 12,552 (2015)
- Frohburg, Germany= 12,470 (2018)
- Vilsbiburg, Germany = 12,074 (2018)
- Greensburg, Indiana = 11,916 (2018 est.)
- Ladenburg, Germany = 11,537 (2018)
- Lauenburg, Germany = 11,444 (2018)
- Scottburgh, South Africa = 11,403 (2011)
- Fredericksburg, Texas = 11,369 (2017 est.)
- Ventersburg, South Africa = 11,260 (2011)
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany = 11,243 (2018)
- Hammelburg, Germany = 11,037 (2018)
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee = 10,838 (2018 est.)
- Boizenburg, Germany = 10,724 (2018)
- Bad Iburg, Germany = 10,661 (2018)
- Lenzburg, Switzerland = 10,569 (2018)
- Ogdensburg, New York = 10,551 (2018 est.)
- East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania = 10,384 (2018 est.)
- Wallaceburg, Ontario = 10,098 (2016)
For those who are interested in place name history here in the USA, this book available through Amazon* might interest you.
*A small commission is earned from purchases that are made using these links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you are a fan of the old TV series, Hogan’s Heroes, this book (see link below) about the show may interest you.(*see note above)
SOURCES:
- en.wikipedia.org for each country, state, province, and city
- maps.google.com
- 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas
- personal knowledge
- https://www.uncommon-travel-germany.com/hogans-heroes.html
problogic
Panethos 