False anthroponyms in Spanish toponymy. Fuente de Mariguantes, Alto de Maripez, Managua

This paper aims to show the depth of the relationship between place names and personal names in Spanish Onomastics. In Spanish place names the female name Maria or Mari (hypocoristic form) is frequently found. Among some of those names a second element is also present, a somewhat surprising surname of Mari or Maria which occurs in examples such as Mariguantes, Maripez, Managua. In our view there seems to have in fact been a first element Mira-, with vowel metathesis favored by folk etymology. Other Spanish place names also offer Paco and Juan as false anthroponyms. Adapted from the source document