Most place names in El Salvador are Ch'orti' in origin, rather than Nawat or Pipil, as is commonly thought. This guide provides the meaning and the time frame of the names, starting from east to west. Names will be by municipality in alphabetical order in each department.
La Union
Anamoros - ahn nam hor os - "fitting in head of diminishing current" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder in place where river was partially damned.
Tizate - ti' sat' te' - "disappearance of trees at opening" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Tulima - tul im ha' - "condition of explosions in river" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Bolivar
Albornos - ahl bor nox - "the time of beads at a height." (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Talpetates creek - tal pet aht ehtz - "observe the pouring arrival of the bath (pond or creek)." (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Concepción de Oriente
Güeripe - wehr ri per - "beside collapsed rip." (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Conchagua - kon cha' wa' - "plan for two beings" (1800 BCE). Plan for separating into two groups: Lencas who stayed and Olmeka who left for Mexico.
Laguna Makigüe - mak ik' wehr - "rip the above-surface plugging up" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Laguna Managuara - mah ahn na’k’ wa’ar ha' - "onlookers of the pellets in the poorly circulating current pond" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder, first pond to be created with blasting.
El Carmen - k'ar men - "retained spirit" or kar men - "greens in the shade".
Olomega - hol om mek' ha' - froth of those that wrestled the crested ones over water (8200 BCE). Froth refers to the froth of Lake Olomega. "Crested ones" refers to the Xibalba. The founder of the Olmec / Lenca lineage was the one to wrestle the Xibalba leader at Chinameca. The Olmec / Lenca ancestors settled on islands in the lake when they left Isla Tigre.
Tihuilotal - ti’ wih lo’ tal – "arrive to slack spring source" 8650 BCE.
El Espino
El Sauce
Canaire - k'an ha' ir lehb - "tapping the water to examine for yellow." Seems to be panning for gold.
San Juan Gualaire - wa'al ha' ir lehb - "standing up to pat water and examine." Squatting and standing to pan for gold.
Intipuca - in tih buhk k'a - "first desirable clinging clothing" 8000-7000 BCE. Place of discovery of cotton.
Chichipate - ch'i' chih bah te' - "growing body fiber plant" 8000-7000 BCE. This is likely the first place of planting the wild cotton.
Playa Icacal - ik' ak' ahr - "time of the breathable coverings" 8000-7000 BCE. Cotton clothing.
Jocoro - hok' kor lo - exposed long hole?
La Union
Lislique - li ix li ker - beside the movement, beside the dividing. (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Amatal River - ah mah tal - "arrival to the bad one" (7650 BCE).
Guayzungue - way tzun k'er - "divide open sleeping foreigner" (7650 BCE). Maya killed a sleeping Xibalba-person.
Higueras - ji' k'er as - "practice splitting sandbar" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Meanguera del Golfo: mah ahn k'er ha' - "dividing the weak current water" - Menanguera would be "dark spot dividing the fatigued current." (The Gulf of Fonseca is the "fatigued current".)
Nueva Esparta
Pasaquina - bahs sak kin ha' - "bundle of white sticks in the water" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Goascoran - k'o as kor ahn - "practice freeing up tooth in current" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Poloros - por hor os - "bead fitting in the crest" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Guajiniqil - wa' ji' in ik' il - "first time seeing cast off sand in air" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Upire - uh pir leb - "good beating water-course." Unknown time. Refers to the Torola River.
San Alejo
Queiquin - ker ik' kin - dividing sticks in the air (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Tizate - ti' sat te' - "disappearance of trees at opening." (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
San Jose
Chagüitillo - ch'a' wih te' - "source of the horizontal plant" (8000-7000 BCE). Wild squash.
Santa Rosa de Lima
Yayantique - Tejar de Yayantique - te' har yah yan ti' ker - "altering and breaking open the swollen mouth of woven trees." (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Yucuaiquin - yuk wa' ik' kin - "being convulsed from sticks in air" (7650 BCE). Testing gunpowder.
Morazan
Arambala - ahr am bal ha' - "time of fatigued spider bodies" (1600-1000 BCE). Refers to when the Ch'orti' taught the Lenca north of the Torola River to do yoga.
Cacaopera - cacao per ha' - "planting cacao by the river" (6000-2000 BCE). Cacaopera (Miskito-related) people migrated from Matagalpa, Nicaragua, region.
Rio Los Achiotes - ah ch'i'ih ot ehtz - "observe shelter of giants" (~8680 BCE). The Maya ancestors saw the rock shelters used by the taller Xibalba on the path from Cacaopera to Corinto.
Ocotillo - ok koht ti' - "on all fours, mouth by the legs" (~8680 BCE). Another description of the jaguar attack that took place near Ocotillo or Hualindo.
Sunsulaca - tzun sur ak' kah - "foreigners begin peel off skin" (~8680 BCE). The Xibalba peeled the skin off either a jaguar or the Maya victim of the jaguar. In either case this likely was the origin point for the practice of flaying of the skin.
Chilanga - chil ahn k'ah - "desirable netting for the current."
Corinto - kor in toh - "first naked sacrifice" (~8680 BCE). Maya person injured or killed by a jaguar, then may have had skin flailed by the Xibalba who were based at Corinto cave.
Rio Tepemechin - teb ehm mech in - "first descent to the hard shell" (~8680 BCE). The captive Maya ancestors made their first journey to the Corinto Cave, controlled by Xibalba.
Suncuyo - sun kur yo'r - "foreigner points in hole" (8000 - 7700 BCE). This refers to the hole on the roof of the dome at Corinto cave. The Xibalba would push enemies through the hole, killing them on the pointed rocks on the way down.
Delicias de Concepcion
El Divisadero
El Rosario
Gualococti - wa'ar lok' ok ti' - "leg escapes jaguar mouth" ~8680 BCE. While Maya were fleeing Xibalba at Corinto.
Cacahuatique - k'ahk' k'ah wa' te' - "desirable plant being roasted" unknown date. Based on the Ch'orti' name for peanut, cacawate.
Guatajiagua - wat ah yah wa' - "being of infected one returns home" ~8680 BCE. This refers to the death of the infected Xibalba person among the group of Xibalba holding the Maya ancestors captive.
Joateca - wat te' k'ah - "return home with desirable trees" (6000-2000 BCE). The Cacaopera people returned to El Salvador with cacoa tree from Nicaragua after several thousand years away.
Guachipilin - wa' ch'ih pil in - "first time being on pathway of giants" (8200-7500 BCE). First time for the Maya to be on this path of the Xibalba. This is one of the most common names in El Salvador and may have come to mean "first time being on this pathway."
Jocoaitique - Might be a Lenca name. In Ch'orti' would be hok' wiht ti' ker - "divide the crack in mouth of valley."
Jocoro
Lolotiquillo - loh lot' ti' - "hit slacker mouth" ~8680 BCE. A Xibalba warrior hits one of the captive Maya ancestors in the mouth for lagging behind the group.
Hualindo - wa'ar in toh - "first jaguar sacrifice" ~8680 BCE. A jaguar killed a Maya ancestor.
Rio Yubulba - yuh pur bah - "cluster moving up and down (over) body" ~8680 BCE. Apparently a family of jaguars killed the Maya ancestor.
Meanguera - mah ahn k'er ha' - "dividing those of the weak current water" 1700-1600 BCE. Lenca banished from the Gulf of Fonseca area due to pellagra.
Osicala - ox sihk kar ha' - "search water (for) handful (of) greens" ~8680 BCE. The hungry Maya ancestors searched the Rio Osicala for greens while they fled their Xibalba captors.
Guiligüiste - wihr ri wis te' - "flying guardian beside tree" ~8680 BCE. Bird spirit protector as the Maya ancestors fled their Xibalba captors.
Perquin - per kin - "collapsed limbs" 1600-1000 BCE. The Ch'orti' visited to teach the Lenca yoga. (See Arambala.)
San Fernando
San Francisco Gotera - k'ot ter ha' - "Arrive river edge" ~8680 BCE.
Cacahuatalejo - k'ahk' k'ah wa' te' - "desirable plant being roasted" unknown date. Based on the Ch'orti' name for peanut, cacawate.
El Chaparral - ch'a' bar ahr - "heavy sleep time" ~8680 BCE. The fourth night since the Xibalba had captured the Maya ancestors.
San Isidro
San Simon
Sensembra - xe'en tzem pura - "Vomiting, stomach moving up and down" ~8680 BCE. A sick Xibalba warrior.
Sociedad
Torola - tor hol ha' - "river of the crested bruisers" - ~8680 BCE. Name refers to the Torola River in the territory of the Xibalba.
Yamabal - yah mah par - "carry a sick bad one" ~8680 BCE. The Maya captives were forced to carry a sick Xibalba warrior.
Yoloaiquin - yor loh way kin - "stick hits slacker sleeper" ~8680 BCE. One or more Maya ancestors slept late and were hit by a Xibalba warrior. "Stick" seems to refer to the tall ones (Xibalba) rather than a stick. This occurred on 5th night that the Maya ancestors had been captured.
San Miguel
Carolina - kar lor in ha' - "first greens (from) dark spot (in) water" ~8680 BCE. Escaping Maya ancestors find greens to eat in river.
Miracapa - nir ak' kahp bah - "scratch of skin of body heals" ~8680 BCE. This probably refers to a scratch from the jaguar at Gualococti. Note: Seems that "nir" was changed to a more Spanish sounding "mir" in colonial times.
Rosas Nacaspilo - lox as nak kas b'i'r lo' - "practice hitting stomach (with) fist, slackers breaking away (from) path" ~8680 BCE. The first self-defense training of the Maya ancestors.
Rio Riachuelo - ri ach we'h lo' - "turtle food beside slack (water)" ~8680 BCE. The escaping Maya ancestors grabbed a turtle to eat.
Chapeltique - ch'a' per ti' ker - lying down rasping gashed opening ~8680 BCE. The infected Xibalba could barely breathe. Third night captured Maya were captured.
Los Amates - ah mah te' ehtz - "study the bad trunk" ~8680 BCE. The Maya ancestors study the injury of the Xibalba.
Rio Censo - xe'en soy - "doubled over vomiting" ~8680 BCE. Injured Xibalba.
Chinameca - ch'i'ih nam mek ha' - "wrestle with a large one over disappeared water" ~8680 BCE. The youngest Maya leader (Olmeka lineage) wrestled a Xibalba warrior because he had greedily drank most or all of the water.
Boqueron - pok ker on - "opened up from previous rinsing" ~8680 BCE. Injury of Xibalba warrior opened up.
Copinol - k'op in hor - first time lifting up crested one ~8680 BCE. Refers to the wrestling match at Chinameca and Maya ancestor lifting up larger Xibalba warrior.
Oromontique - hor ohom on ti' ker - crested one foaming at opening from previous slash ~8680 BCE. Injured Xibalba warrior.
Zaragoza - xar ak' os ha' - scratched skin opened fitting (himself) in water ~8680 BCE. Injured Xibalba warrior.
Chirilagua - chir ir ak' wa' - "see covering being woven" 8200-7000 BCE. A Maya visiting from elsewhere watched as the local Maya wove with the newly discovered cotton.
Quebrada Icaco - ik' ak' ho(y) - "pleasurable breathable covering" 8200-7000 BCE. Cotton.
Ciudad Barrios
Comacaran - k'om ak' ahr ahn - "time of running due to spliced skin" ~1800 BCE. The Olmeka had to leave due to pellagra.
El Transito
Lolotique - loh lot' ti' ker - "hit slacker slashed opening" ~8680 BCE. One Xibalba hits the wounded Xibalba who was falling behind.
Amaya - ah mah ya - "the bad poisoned one" ~8680 BCE. The scratch of Xibalba warrior was infected.
Moncagua - mo on ka wa' - "beginning of being restricted from the previous" ~1800 BCE. Half the Olmeka (who became Lenca) were forced to live apart from the Olmeka who had pellagra.
Nueva Guadalupe - wa'at ahr lup - "the occasion of returning to re-submerge" ~8680 BCE. Injured Xibalba warrior goes back to scummy water to wash his injury.
Nuevo Eden de San Juan - eht ten te' san wa' ahn - "current being swollen, challenging clearing (of) trees" ~8680 BCE. The swollen current is the Lempa.
Cucurucho - kukur uch choh - "tumbling (with) pleasure love" ~8680 BCE.
Rio Jalala - har ahr ha' - "time of woven water" ~8680 BCE. Curvy, marshy river.
Jardin - har tihin - "clinging to a weaving" ~8680 BCE. A woven or latticed structure was created to carry the children and babies when the Maya ancestors sought refuge in the Lempa River to escape the Xibalba. Called Auilix (ahwilix) in the Popol Vuh.
Quelepa - ker leb pa' - "divided by the patted masa" ~1800 BCE. The pre-nixtamal corn divided the Lenca from the Olmeka.
San Antonio
Rio Riachuelo - ri ach we'h lo' - "turtle food beside slack (water)" ~8680 BCE. The escaping Maya ancestors grabbed a turtle to eat.
San Gerardo
San Jorge
San Luis de la Reina
San Miguel
Laguna Jocotal - hok' ot ahl - "time of shelter in the hollow" ~8670 BCE. Maya ancestors lived here for a while after Tecapa.
Lago Olomega - hol om mek' ha' - "foam of those who wrestled the crested one over water." The home of the Olmeka ancestors.
San Rafael Oriente
Sesori - tze' tzori - "squatted in rows" (8200-7000 BCE). This refers to the squash plant, first discovered and grown in Sesori.
Caulote - k'a ur lo' te' - "explain the desirable dangling plant (8200-7000 BCE). Those who found and started growing the squash explained it to the other Maya.
Chagüite - ch'a' wih te' - "source of the horizontal plant" (8200-7000 BCE). Squash.
Charlaca - ch'a'ar lahch kah - "start of the horizontal striped one" (8200-7000 BCE). First discovered squash plant, which was striped.
Chequere - tze' kere - "open up the squat one" (8200-7000 BCE). Squash plant.
Uluazapa - ur was sahb pa' - "explain about patted masa tortillas" (~1800 BCE). Explaining about the damaging effects of tortillas prior to nixtamal.
Usulutan
Alegria - not Ch'orti' but based on Hakawitz, "beginning of happiness mountain" (8680-8600 BCE).
Berlin - ber li in - "beside the first harvesting" (8650-8500 BCE). First harvest of tobacco at Alegria.
California - k'al li bor ni ha' - "storing the beads that go beside the jutting into water" (7700-7600 BCE). Storing gunpowder to be used in California (U.S.).
Concepcion Batres - Maybe - pat tur ehtz - "observe condition of the pods." Pods used for gundpowder charges.
El Triunfo
Ereguayquin - here way kin - "equal to sleeping sticks." Not a clear meaning, but may refer to gunpowder sticks.
Estanzuelas - ehtz tahn suh weh latz - "observe the narrow tear in the interior of the foundation." Most likely refers to a waterfall.
Jiquilisco - Might be Nawat. Ch'orti' would be ji' ik' il ix k'o - "observe moving bird in air (above) sandbar."
Nancuchiname - nab k'uch in nam mer - "failure to forget about our's carried and disappeared." Like Tecoluca, this refers to the Otomi-Zapotec ancestors leaving in about 7000 BCE for Puebla.
Zamoran - sam mor ahn - "pile is from current." A reference to sedimentation from the previous current of the Lempa River.
Jucuaran - huhk' wa'ar ahn - "sharp-edged jaguar in the current" (2000-1000 BCE). This refers to a shark, probably a shark attack, off the Jucuaran shore.
Jucuapa - huk' wa' bah - "is scraping body" ~8680 BCE. Infected Xibalba warrior scratched himself.
Chagüite - ch'a' wit te' - "lying down at opened up tree" ~8680 BCE. Second night of Maya being captured by Xibalba. Or, ch'a' wih te' - "source of horizontal plant" (8200-7500 BCE) - location of wild squash.
El Amate - ah mah te' - "the bad trunk" ~8680 BCE. Infected mid-section of Xibalba warrior.
El Amaton - ah mah aht ohn - "bad one in previous (old) bath" ~8680 BCE. To clean his scratch the Xibalba warrior cleaned himself in dirty water.
Mercedes Umana
Nueva Granada
Ozatlan (Nawat)
Los Chapetones - ch'a' bet ohn ehtz - "duty to watch previous lying down" ~8680 BCE. After the Maya ancestors were captured, they took turns watching through the night. First night of being captured.
Puerto el Triunfo
San Agustin
Galingagua - k'ar in k'ah wa' - "remembering being first retained" ~8680 BCE. Location where the Maya were first captured by the Xibalba.
Quebrada Roldan - lor tahn - "dark spot in the interior" ~8680 BCE. Upon crossing the Lempa River, the Maya ancestors walked up Roldan Creek, seeing the darkness of Taburete Hill and the mountains of Usulután.
San Buenaventura
San Dionisio - san ti' on ix si - "previous opening, series of swollen movements." The old mouth of the Lempa River.
San Francisco Javier
El Zúngano - tzun k'an noh - "the greedy yellow large ones" ~8680 BCE. Tzun can mean greedy or foreigner. This description explains that the Xibalba were lighter complected and taller - foreigners compared to the Maya.
Los Horcones - hor kon ehtz - "observe the intention of the crested ones" ~8680 BCE. The observed their Xibalba captors with headdresses.
Santa Elena
Santa Maria
Santiago de Maria
El Tigre - ti' k'ere' - "slicing mouth" ~8680 BCE. The jaguar. A Xibalba warrior was scratched. This is the first encounter of the Maya ancestors with the jaguar.
Tecapan - te' kap ban - "brown leaves held by the teeth" ~8680 BCE. Xibalba warriors stopped here to get some tobacco, while Maya ancestors captive.
El Paso de Gualache - wa'ar lahch che - "handle grooved cliffs" 8000-7600 BCE. Climbed Usulután volcano.
Usulutan - us sul ut tan - "useful powder cast off from small opening" (7730-7600 BCE). Discovery of sulfur on top of volcano; used in gunpowder formula.
San Vicente
Apastepeque - ap as te' pek - "practice swinging in trees by hill" (1500-1000 BCE)
San Cayetano Istepeque - ix tep pek ker - "movement from the slashing of the hard hill". Eruption of either Ilopango or Chichontepeq.
San Vicente
Chanmico - chan mi k'o - "cat's bird serpent" (1600-500 BCE). Meditation and gymnastics of the pre-Classic Maya.
Copinol - k'op bin noh hol - "ponder picking up large amount of crest" (535-600 CE). Ash from Ilopango eruption.
Santo Domingo
Izcanales - ix k'an ahl ehtz - "time of observing yellow movement" (535 CE). Ilopango eruption.
Tecoluca - te' k'ol uh kah - "beginning of sacred log transport" (7700-7400 BCE). Balsam logs floated down the Lempa were assembled here for ocean voyages. Later, a second meaning was added: te' k'ol uk' ha' - "sad log transport over the water" (~7000 BCE). The exodus of the Otomi-Zapotec from the lower Lempa to Puebla, Mexico.
(Rio) Guayabo - wa' yah po' - "being deep and swollen" (~8680 BCE). First few days of Maya ancestors in the country.
(Rio) Guajoyo - wa' hoy yo'r - "pleasure in our beings from perforation" (~8680 BCE). First few days of Maya ancestors in the country - most likely refers to Laguna Talquezal.
(Rio) Ojushte - hoy uhutz' te' - "trees with pleasant scent" (~8680 BCE). First few days of Maya ancestors in the country.
Pacun - pak un - "cultivating avocado" (7000-5000 BCE). The avocado was brought back from Mexico to the lower Lempa.
(Laguna) Talquezal - tal k'ech tz'ah - "arrival of Carry Bright Colors" (~8680 BCE). First few days of Maya ancestors in the country and fiirst time viewing the quetzal.
Tehuacan - te' wa' kan - "be learning about plants" (~8200 BCE). A place to learn about corn and other initial plants.
Tepetitan - tep eht ti' tan - "challenge of powder from the hard opening" (535-600 CE). This refers to the ash from the Ilopango eruption.
Verapaz - ber ap as - "practice planting the swinging". This might be Spanish but if Ch'orti', this could refer to avocados or cacao.
Cabañas
Cinquera - sin ker ha' - "series of slices in rivers". Waterfalls.
Dolores - toh lor ehtz - "observe offering in the shade." Might be Ch'orti' rather than Spanish.
Guacotecti - wa' k'o tech ti' - "bird is expanding its mouth."
Ilobasco - il lo' bas k'o - "see long-wrapped bird."
Jutiapa - juh ti' ap bah - "iguana with swinging food in mouth."
San Isidro
Copinolapa - k'op in noh lab pa' - "gathering the first large rubbing masa (corn)" (1700-1400 BCE). The first large ears of corn were grown here.
Sensuntepeque - tzen tzun te' - "laughing non-native in tree". Migratory bird.
Tejutepeque - te' juh tep ker - "iguana in hardwood tree."
Cuscatlán
Cojutepeque - k'o hut te' - "bird face in a tree" (1500-500 BCE).
San Barolome Perulapia - pehr ul ap pi ha' - "explain to companions how to plant swinging by river" (800-1000 CE). The Ch'orti' explained how to growth cacao to the Pipil.
San Jose Guayabal - way ap bal - "sleep while in swinging lattice". Hammock.
San Pedro Perulapan - pehr ul ap ban - "explain planting the beautiful swinging fruit" (800-1000 CE). The Ch'orti' explained how to growth cacao to the Pipil.
San Rafael Cedros
Copinol - k'op bin noh hol - "ponder picking up large amount of crest" (535-600 CE). Consider how to pick up ash from Ilopango eruption.
Santa Cruz Analquito - ahn ahl k'it' tob - "time of pressing pod into current" (550-700 CE). Gunpowder charge was placed into Ilopango egress river to create an outlet.
Santa Cruz Michapa - mi ch'a' bah - "cat bodies horizontal" (535 CE). Dead bodies due to the Ilopango eruption.
Cujuapa - k'ur wahp ha' - "point of water continuing" (550-700 CE).
Gulushapa - k'ur lux cha' bah - "two points swimming bodies" (550-700 CE). Swimming spot in Lake Ilopango.
Suchitoto - sutz' ch'i' toto - "growth of bats and Toto" (900 CE). Arrival of the Toltec (Cakchiquel "bats" and Totonac "toto"), who arrived up the Lempa and then walked from Suchitoto to Cihuatan.
La Paz
Cuyultitan - k'o yul ti' tan - "ash coming from stinky mouth" (535 CE). Ilopango eruption.
Olocuilta - is hor lok' wil t'a' and means "escape flying material from crest" (535 CE). Escaping from Ilopango eruption.
Cupinco - k'ur bin k'o - "worry about points of the peak" (535 CE). Danger of Ilopango eruption.
Paraiso de Osorio - os sor ri - "beside the scraping fittings" (550-700 CE). Gunpowder fitting to open the egress of Jiboa to the ocean.
Jiboa (River) - jihp po' ha' - "lightning in water from deep hole" (550-700 CE). Gunpowder blast in Ilopango Lake to open up egress river (Jiboa).
San Antonio Masahuat - masa wat - "return of the deer" (800-1000 CE). Return of Quiche (part of Pipil).
San Emigdio - san ehm ik' ti' - "descent after swelling air at mouth" (535 CE). Ilopango eruption.
Copinol - k'op bin noh hol - "ponder picking up large amount of crest" (535-550 CE). Ash from Ilopango eruption.
San Francisco Chinameca - named after Chinameca, San Miguel. Perhaps a Pipil settlement of Mejica people who identified with Chinameca.
Panchimilama - pan ch'i'h mi lah mah - "big one breaking open, cats tired, bad condition" (535 CE). "Cats" (Maya) injured from Ilopango eruption.
San Juan Nonualco
(Rio) Chalagua - ch'a ahr ak' wa' - "time to lay down being with skins (covers)" (8680 BCE). Third night from Playa Toluca of first Maya ancestors in the country.
San Juan Tepezontes - tep ehtz on tech - "observe the previous hard opening" (535 CE). Observing where Ilopango volcano used to be.
San Luis
(Rio) Comalapa - ko' mar lap pa' - "preparation of gourds for food brought from ocean" (8680 BCE). First days of Maya ancestors in Central America with food carried with them on the rafts.
Nueve Eden - eht ten - "challenge to clear" (8680 BCE). Night stop of Maya ancestors in their first days.
San Miguel Tepezontes - tep ehtz on tech - "observe the previous hard opening" (535 CE). Observing where Ilopango volcano used to be.
San Pedro Masahuat - masa wat - "return of the deer" (800-1000 CE). Return of Quiche (part of Pipil).
San Rafael Obrajuelo
(Rio) Huiscoyolapa - wis koy hor lahp ha' - "water-poultice payment to the lead guardian" (8680 BCE).
Rio Jalponga - ch'a ahr bon k'a - "time of lying down abundant and satisfying" (8680 BCE). Apparently the 2nd night from Toluca Beach.
Longaniza - lo'on k'an ix ha' - "extended yellow moving water (8680 BCE). Refers to Rio Huiscoyolapa.
Santa Maria Ostuma - os tuh mak - "stink from inside of enclosure" (535 CE). Ilopango eruption.
Tapalhuaca - t'ab pal wak ka - "beginning of the braided tump-line string."
Zacatecoluca - sahk ka tecoluca - "beginning of the search for tecoluca" (7100-6800 BCE). The search for the Otomi-Zapotec after they left for Mexico.
(Rio) Acomunca - ah ko' mun kah - "beginning of stuffing (ourselves) with gourd" (8680 BCE). Meal of the first Maya ancestors.
(Rio) Sapuyo - tz'ah pur yo'b - "arrive to up and down wetness" (8680 BCE).
San Salvador
Aguilares - ak' il ahr ehtz' - "the time of seeing the flag raised" (~900 CE). Ch'orti' watching the Toltec raise the flag upon building Cihuatan.
Cihuatan - si wat ahn - "return home to the series of currents" (~900 CE). Toltec (Totonac and Cakchiquel) returning to El Salvador.
Pishishapa - pitz' ix cha bah - "pinching movement, horizontal bodies" (~1030 CE). Ch'orti' defeat of Cihuatan.
Apopa - ah pohp bah - "the body on woven mat". May be a Pipil name.
Ayutuxtepeque - ah yu tuch te' -"the necklace tail in tree". Iguana.
Guazapa - wa' ch'a bah - "horizontal body being". Guazapa volcano forms the silohuette of a lying person.
Ilopango - il lo'ob pan k'o - "see the slackness from breaking open of peak" (535 CE). Dead (slack) bodies found from Ilopango volcanic eruption.
Amatitan - ah mat ti' tan - "the wrapping around of the ash mouth" (550-700 CE). The new lake in the Ilopango crater.
Apulo - ah pul lo' - "the up-and-down of the slack (water)" (535-700 CE). The rising and falling level of Lake Ilopango before the egress river was created.
Nejapa - neh ha'p pa' - "broken from corn tassels" (2400-1700 BCE). Onset of pellagra.
Paisnal - pa' ix nal - "runs from corn masa" (2000 BCE). This name may be of Spanish origin but if Ch'orti' it would refer to the onset of pellagra.
Panchimalco - ban ch'i'h mal k'o - "beautiful large bird in open space" (1600-500 BCE).
(Rio) Chichikalapa - ch'i'h chihk' kal lab pa' - "pinch of lime with the large patting masa" (1700-1400 BCE). After nixtamal was discovered, along with long-eared corn.
Santiago Texacuangos - tech' sak wa'an k'o os - "rising white from opening up of filling inside peak" (535 CE). Ash and debris from Ilopango eruption.
Shaltipa - ch'a'ar ti' bah - "horizontal bodies from mouth" (535 CE). Dead bodies found from Ilopango eruption.
Santa Tomas
Chaltepe - ch'a'al te' pehr - "drag horizontal trees" (535-550 CE). Cleaning up after Ilopango eruption.
San Salvador
Chanmico - chan mi k'o - "cat's bird serpent" (1600-500 BCE). Meditation and gymnastics of the pre-Classic Maya.
Zacamil - sahk k'am mi' il - "kittens' useful searching and examining" (1600-500 BCE). Maya school.
Soyapango - soy yah pan k'o - "bent and in pain from breaking open of peak" (535 CE). Injured people found from Ilopango eruption.
Tonacatepeque - toh na'k ka te' pek ker - "offering for the beginning of ears of corn". Most likely this was named by the Pipil upon their first harvest in El Salvador.
Malacoff - mar ak' k'op - "picking up covering from open space" (535-600 CE). Not clear if Ch'orti', but if it is, refers to Ilopango ash.
Chalatenango
Arcatao - ahr kah tahu - "beginning of the meeting times" (8207 BCE). The four lineages met, likely once per year, at a central place, near the confluence of the Sumpul and Lempa rivers, later changed to current location of Arcatao.
(Rio) Gualsinga - wa'al sin k'a - "desirable rows standing" (8207-8200 BCE). Planting rows of teosinte.
(Rio) Guayampoke - wa' yam bohk ker - "pull wild vegetation from circle being broken open" (8207-8200 BCE). Preparing a circle of land to plant teosinte.
Sicahuite - si k'a wih te' - "origin of the desirable row plant" (8207-8170 BCE). Teosinte was likely first found here.
Teosinte - teo sin te' - "plants in a row on an island" (8207-8170 BCE). The teosinte plant was found here, later planted on Teotipa island.
Zazalapa (Honduras) - tzatz ahl lab pa' - "time of pounding hardness to masa" (8207-8200 BCE). Pounding teosinte kernels.
Azacualpa - as ak' wa'al bah - "practice the jaguar skin body." Place where a jaguar was killed and the skin was worn.
Cancasque - kan k'as ker - "learn to break off and separate" (7730-7500 BCE). Practicing with gunpowder.
Chalatenango (Cakchiquel)
Guarjila - wa'ar jir lah - "tired jaguar resting".
Citalá - si tal ha' - "arrival of series of rivers".
Talquezalar - tal quetzal ahr - "time of the arrival of the quetzal".
Comalapa - k'om ahl lahp pa' - "the time of grafting corn".
(Rio) Azambo - as am bohp - "practice spider on woven mat" (1500-500 BCE). Yoga practice.
Las Vueltas
Sicahuite - si k'a wih te' - "origin of the desirable row plant" (8200-8000 BCE). Another source of teosinte, in addition to Arcatao.
Nueva Concepcion
Sunapa - sun ap ha' - "greedy swinging river" (1500 BCE -1500 CE). On a white-water kayaking river.
Nueva Trinidad
Carasque - k'ar ha' as ker - "practice breaking open retained water" (7730-7600 BCE). Practicing with gunpowder.
Jagualaya - ah wa'al lah yah - "tired and sore jaguar(s)" or "tired and in pain from a jaguar."
Nombre de Jesus
Quipure - ki' pur rehb - "heart beating up and down".
Potonico - pot toh nihk k'o - "offering to force out shaking from smoking" (900-1030 CE). Most likely this corresponds to the Toltec/Cakchiquel presence during the Cihuatan/Guazapa phase.
San Antonio de la Cruz
Eramon (Iramon) - ir lah mo' on - "view the lazy old large birds".
San Francisco Morazan
Higueral - jihb k'er ahl - "the time of lightning slicing open".
Teosinte - source of teosinte, in addition to Arcatao (8206-8100 BCE).
(Rio) Tilapa - ti' lap pa' - "mouth of patting masa" (8206-8100 BCE). Mouth of river that led to teosinte (patting masa).
San Ignacio
(Rio) Jupula - juh pul ha' - "iguana up and down in water" (1500-500 BCE).
San Jose las Flores
(Rio) Guancora - wa' ahn kor ha' - "being exposed in current of water".
Tejutla - te' hut lah - "tired face in tree." Owl?
La Libertad
Chiltiupan - chil ti' up pan - "hearing the weaving come apart at the mouth" (1500-500 BCE). The weaving of a kayak came apart near entry of the river.
(Rio) Sunzacuapa - tzun sak k'ur ap ha' - "greedy swinging white point river" (1500-500 BCE). Kayaking river. Name borrowed from Ahuachapan.
Colon (might be Spanish) - kol lo'on - "transport the long ones" (7700-2000 BCE). Transporting balsam logs downstream.
Chanmico - chan mi k'o - "cat's bird serpent" (1500-500 BCE). Refers to meditation (serpent) and gliding and gymnastics (bird). A precursor to Quetzalcoatl.
(Rio) Sucio - sus si' ho' - "paring down numbers of the desireable ones" (7700-2000 BCE). Trimming the balsam logs before they are sent to the ocean.
Tecpan (San Andres) - tek (tech') pan - "expansion of the sprouting" (7600-7000 BCE). Pan refers to Teopan: the expansion of the Teopan (Quiche) lineage from Coatepeque. Double meaning "expansion of the good one" - opening of the Sucio valley.
Comasagua - k'om as tza wa'ar - "practice joining standing wetnesses" (7700-7400 BCE). Practice joining two watersheds with gunpowder.
Huizucar - wih suk kar - "origin of lime while cutting" (~1600 BCE). First lime used in nixtamal. The lime was from cutting limestone with gunpowder. Second meaning: wis uh kar - "sacred lime protector."
Tilapa - tihr lab pa' - "breaking down the patting masa (corn)" (~1600 BCE). This is likely the specific location where lime was first discovered for nixtamal.
Jayaque - ha' yar k'er - "put in slash in water" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass downstream.
(Rio) Apalata - ap ahl la'ht ha' - "time of swinging load in water" (7700-7400 BCE). Balsam logs passing downstream.
(Quebrada) Cashal - kach ahl - "time of the netting" (7730-7600 BCE). Nets were used to climb down the cliffs to harvest guano for gunpowder.
(Cliffs) Chantekwan - ch'ahn tek (tech') wa'an - "spread out twines over cliff" (7730-7600 BCE). Nets were used to climb down the cliffs to harvest guano for gunpowder.
(Mount) Meuan - men wa'an - "shadow of cliff" (7730-7600 BCE).
Jicalapa - hix kal lab pa' - "lime to loosen patted masa (corn)" (~1600 BCE). Nixtamal process was invented here with lime from Huizucar.
(Rio) Sensipa - xe'en sib pa' - "producing the swollen corn" (~1600 BCE). First nixtamalized corn which puffs up.
Puerto La Libertad
(Playa) Amatal - ah mah tal - "arrival to the bad ones" (~8680 BCE). Arriving to the land of Xibalba.
Chilama - ch'i' lab ma - "grow the bad patting (corn)" (2400-1600 BCE). Place of pellagra outbreak prior to nixtamal.
(Rio) Guiza - wih tzah - "source of wetness" (~8680 BCE). Source of fresh water for first Maya ancestors when they arrived.
Majahual - mah h'a wa'ar - "bad water jaguar". Shark.
El Sunzal - sun tzal - "bright colored non-native" (1500-500 BCE). Migratory bird.
(Playa) Toluca - tol uk' kah - "beginning of sadness due to the bruisers" (~8680 BCE). First days of being in land of the Xibalba."
Quetzaltepeque - quetzal te' pek - "quetzal in a tree on a hill" (1500-500 BCE).
Sacacoyo - tza kah k'o yo'r - "beginning of stone perforations in the wetness" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass.
San Juan Opico - ohob bik' k'o - "little coughing bird" (1500-500 BCE).
San Pablo Tacachico - tah kach ch'i'h k'o - "large bird in tangle in the forest (1500-500 BCE).
Talnique - tah ahl nihk k'er - "time of shaking and slashing in forest" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass.
Tamanique - tam ahn nihk k'er - "shake and slash in the deep current" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass.
Teotepeque - teo te' pek ker - "from the teo where hills and trees opened up" (~7800 BCE). Ch'orti' lineage survivors of the landslide and flood of Teotipa eventually moved here.
Sihuapilapa - si wa' pi lab pa' - "number of companions are patting masa" (~1600 BCE). Visiting Ch'orti' leaders saw people making tortillas from some of the first nixtamalized corn.
Tepecoyo - te' pek k'o yo'r - "perforating stones so trees (down) hill" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass downstream.
(Rio) Shutia - xut' ti' ha' - "ripping opening in water" (7700-7400 BCE). Gunpowder used to open up rivers so that balsam logs could pass downstream.
Zacamil - sahk k'am mi' il - "kittens useful searching and examining" (1500-500 BCE). Maya school.
Santa Ana
Candelaria de la Frontera
Zacamil - sahk k'am mi' il - "kittens useful searching and examining" (1500-500 BCE). Maya educational activity (school).
Chalchuapa - ch'aal ch'u ap bah - "hanging, swinging, horizontal bodies" (1500-500 BCE). The time of gliding, gymnastics, and meditation, respectively.
Amulunga - am ul un k'a - "explain desired spider to children" (1500-500 BCE). Perhaps a Maya school. Either explaining about desirable spiders or explaining about spider bodies (yoga).
Cuje - k'ux che' - "handle soreness" (1500-500 BCE). Practice massage.
(Laguna) Cuscachapa - k'ux kach ap ha' - "sore from tied swing over water" (1500-500 BCE). Swinging from ropes in the trees.
(Rio) Güeveapa - weh per ap bah - "swinging bodies, drawn in flesh" (1500-500 BCE). Practice of gymnastics and Maya yoga.
Pampe - bah am per - "drawn in spider bodies" (1500-500 BCE). Practice of Maya yoga.
Tazumal - tas uh mar - "sacred cutting of open space" (2300-1500 BCE). Referring to the Ch'orti' clearing the land when they first arrived.
Trapiche - t'a' lahb pi che' - "handle rubbing companion's flesh" (1500-500 BCE). The Maya were practicing massage.
Zacamil - sahk k'am mi' il - "kittens useful searching and examining" (1500-500 BCE). Maya educational activity (school).
Coatepeque - k'o aht tep pek k'er - "hard cliff hills lake" (8200-7600 BCE). Named after the lake. The original name was likely Coat or "cliff lake" but once the tepeque ending came in vogue it was added. Town of Coatepeque was named for arrival of remnant Quiche population in ~2300 BCE, while main group migrated from Lago Coatepeque to Mexico.
El Congo - kon k'o - "plan for the cliffs" (2300 BCE). Meeting between Ch'orti' and Quiche to plan for the Quiche communities at Lago Coatepeque who suffered from pellagra.
Teopan - te' ho pan - "desirable plant sprouting" (8200 BCE). This refers to teosinte grown here soon after Teotipa.
El Porvenir -
Santa Rosa Senca - tzen kah - "beginning of laughter" or tzen k'ah "happy laughter" (2500-1000 BCE). Laughter from the hang gliding practiced at Cerro Singuil.
(Cerro) Singuil - sin wihl - "series of wings" (2500-1000 BCE). A place where the Maya came to practice their gliding.
Masahuat - masa wat - "return of the deer" (800-1200 CE). Return of Maya (Pipil), most likely Quiche, from central Mexico.
Metapan - met ap ahn - "swinging current to the lying down." Fast mountain streams arriving to the plain.
(Rio) Anguiatu - ahn k'ib aht tuh - "current to the stinky landslide lake" (7930-7700 BCE). Named after a landslide blocked egress to Lago Güija causing it to begin smelling.
Belen Guijat - bel ehm wih ha' aht - "collapse of the descent of the lake source to the river" (7900 BCE). The location of the land-slide debris that blocked the egress river of Lago Güija.
Camulian - k'am mul li ahn - "useful mound beside the current." Hill next to Lempa River.
(Rio) Chimalapa - ch'i' mah ahl lab pa' - "the time of growing the bad patting corn" (2400-1700 BCE). Onset of the pellagra crisis.
(Lago) Güija - wih ha' - "source of river" (8200 BCE). One of the sources of the Lempa River.
(Rio) Guajoyo - wa' ho yo'r - "being a desireable perforation" (7700 BCE). A perforation was blasted through the blockage of the egress river of Lago Güija following the landslide. The perforation was near where Rio Guajoyo meets the egress river.
Igualtepeque - ik' wa'al te' pek k'er - "split open hill and trees standing up in air" (7900 BCE). The island is a product of the landslide from Cerro San Diego which left trees standing in all directions, including up-side-down.
Matalapa - mah ta' ahl lapa - "the time of the excrement from the bad patting corn" (2400-1700 BCE). Onset of the pellagra crisis.
(Rio) Ostua - os tuh ha' - "river to the stinky fitting" (7930-7700 BCE). Named after a landslide blocked egress (a fitting) to Lago Güija causing it to begin smelling.
Shiste - chis te' - "avoid the plant" (2300-1600 BCE). Avoiding corn after a pellagra onset.
Teotipa - te' ho ti' pa' - "desirable plant, mouth food" (8200 BCE). This refers to teosinte first grown here, then hybridized into corn. Teo most likely came to mean "sacred place" and was reserved for only a few places.
San Antonio Pajonal - bah jon ahl - "the time of the stinky bodies" (7900 BCE). Survivors of the Lago Güija flood left behind the stinky bodies of the deceased and fled here.
(Rio) Cusmapa - k'ux mah bah - "badly sore body" (7900 BCE). Survivors of the Lago Güija flood were sore.
Santa Ana
Comecayo - k'om mek ha' yo'p - "arrival and joining of wrestle for water" (7600-7400 BCE). Before the Ch'orti' repopulated Lago Güija (Igualtepeque) after the flood, they were joined by families of other lineages included the Olmeca, the "wrestle for water."
Cutumay Camones - kut tum mah k'am on ehtz - "observe previous useful thin pounding of the bad ones" (8200-7800 BCE). The Maya found a previous work space of the Xibalba that included thin pounding stones.
Matepec - mat tep pek - "hard rounded tip wrapping around." The Santa Ana volcano.
Ochupse - ox ch'uup tze' - "hanging with arms and legs squating" (2500-1000 BCE). Hang gliding off the slopes of Coatepeque.
Sihuatehuacan - sih wa' Tehuacan - "Number of beings from Tehuacan" (7600-7400 BCE). A twin name with Comecayo. When Lago Güija (Igualtepeque) was repopulated, families from Tehuacan (Otomi-Zapotec) lineage joined them.
(Rio) Suquiapa - suk kihb ap ha' - "trim, raise, and swing on river." Somewhat ambiguous but probably refers to trimming large stones, raising them onto rafts and moving the swinging rafts to the desired location, such as to Lago Güija.
Santa Rosa Guachipilin - wa' ch'i'h pil in - "first time being on large waterway" (8200-8000 BCE). First time canoeing up the Rio Lempa.
Cuyuiscat - kur witz k'at - "crossing the pointed mountain."
Tahuilapa - ta' wih lab pa' - "source of substance for corn" (1700-1400 BCE). Source of lime for nixtamal.
Santiago de la Frontera
Chilamates - chil ha mat ehtz - "observe weaving the wrap around by the river" (2500-1000 BCE). (May be Spanish.) Making the gliding bird-man suit.
Guacamayas - wa' k'am ha' yax - "being useful clean fresh water" (7900 BCE). Fresh water source for the survivors of the Lago Guija flood.
Texistepeque - tech' ix te' pek k'er - "movement here after spreading out of the hills and trees" (7900 BCE). From Pajonal the Guija flood and landslide survivors settled here.
Cujucuyo -kur huk' uh yo'r - "good scraping piece in perforation" (8200-7800 BCE). Source of stones for early vertical pounding stones for teosinte and first corn.
Sonsonate
Acajutla - ak' kah huht lab - "beginning of the patting blowing out the skin" (2500-2300 BCE). Patting refers to corn. The first place that pellagra started prior to nixtamal.
(Rio) Chimalapa - ch'i' mah lab pa' - "growing the bad patting masa (corn)" 2400-1600 BCE. Pre-nixtamal corn that led to pellagra.
El Salamo - sal h'a mo' - boastful parrot by the river (1500-500 BCE).
Armenia
Caluco - kal uh k'o - "walls of useful limestone" (1700-1400 BCE). Source of limestone used to make lime for nixtamal.
Suquiat - suh ki' at - "bath of those that trimmed hearts" (1000-1200 CE). Toltec returned here, most likely Totonac in lineage.
Cuisnahuat - kur ix nawat - "movement of Nawat from the points" (800-1100 CE). Nawat fleeing repression (points) in Mexico.
Izalco - ix ahl k'o - "time of the movement of the cone" (1000-1600 CE). Growth of Izalco volcano (or what came before).
Atecozol - at tech' k'o os hol - "opening up of the hot bath in the fitting at the crest of the cliff" (800-1500 CE). Izalco volcano.
Cuyagualo - kur yah wa'al lor - "pain from the points of dark jaguar." Attack of black jaguar (panther).
Shon Shon - choh on chon - "growth replaces the prior" (800-1500 CE). New volcanic growth replaces previous volcano.
Talcomunca - tal k'o mun kah - "beginning of the arrival of the gourging of the cone" (800-1200 CE). Beginning of Izalco volcano growth.
Tapalshucut - t'ap ahl ch'uk ut - "the time of observing the swelling opening" (800-1500 CE). Growth of Izalco volcano.
Teshcal - tech' k'al - "opening up of the retained" (800-1500 CE). Eruption of Izalco volcano.
Tunalmiles - tun ahl mi letz - "the time of cats climbing the stone." Climbing expedition of Izalco volcano.
Juayua - way uh ha' - "dream of useful water" (1500-500 BCE). The inspiration for the whirlpool bath built at Atiquizaya.
Los Anisales - ahn ix ahl ehtz - "time of observing the racing movement" (1500-500 BCE). Watch runners climb Cerro Cachio.
Nahuizalco - nam witz ahl k'o - "the time of disappearance of the mountain cone" (1000-1500 CE). The first cone of Izalco volcano disappeared when the second one rose.
Nahulingo - nam ul in k'o - "explain the disappearance of the first cone" (1000-1500 CE). Explain how the first cone of Izalco volcano disappeared when the second one rose.
Salcoatitan - sa'r k'o aht ti' tan - boastful bird-beak dust-bathing its heart (breast) (1500-500 BCE).
San Antonio del Monte
San Julian
Chilata - ch'i'h la't' tah - "forest of large timber to carry loads." Balsam forests; balsam used in rafts.
(Rio) Chiquihuat - chik' ki' wat - "return home of those that crush hearts" (1000-1200 CE). Toltec returned here, most likely Totonac in background.
Santa Catarina Masahuat - masa wat - "return home of the deer" (800-1100 CE). Nawat, likely of Quiche background, return to El Salvador.
Santa Isabel Ishuatan - ix wat ahn - "return home in running movement" (800-1100 CE). Nawat fleeing Mexico to return home to El Salvador.
Santo Domingo de Guzman
Sonsonate - sun tzo naht te’ - distant non-native nesting (resting) in tree (1500-500 BCE). Migratory bird from a long distance.
(Rio) Sensunapan - tzen sun ap pan - laughing non-native fruit parakeet (1500-500 BCE). Parakeets or parrots are generally not migratory so this may refer to one on the edge of their range, like the Red-lored Amazon Parrot.
Sonzacate - sun sak k'at te' - "white non-native crossing the trees" (1500-500 BCE). Migratory bird identified - perhaps an osprey or Swainson's Hawk.
Ahuachapan
Ahuachapan - ah wa' ch'a' ban - "the one being in a good horizontal (position)" or "the good horizontal being" (1500-500 BCE). Maya yoga practitioners.
Ashapuco - ha' ch'a' puk ho - "horizontal in the desirable heated water" (1500-500 BCE). The heated swirly bath also described by Atiquizaya.
Chipilapa - ch'i'h pil lahb bah - "rubbing bodies on path from big one" (1500-500 BCE). Massage of the runners returning from the Cerro Cachio climb.
El Guayacan - wa' yah ak' k'an - being with painful and discolored skin" (2200-1700 BCE). Pellagra outbreak.
Los Huatales - wat ahl ehtz - "time of observing the return." This could be the return of migratory birds, but more likely refers to return of the Pipil.
Suntecumat - sun te' k'um aht - "non-native washing itself in bath by trees" (1500-500 BCE). Migratory bird.
Rio Tahuapa - ta' wahp pa' - "continuing residue from the corn" (2200-1700 BCE). Pellagra outbreak.
Apaneca - ap bah neh kah - "beginning of the swinging bodies with tails" (1900-500 BCE). Likely beginning of swinging from a tower like the Totonacs still do.
Atiquizaya- aht ti' ik' ix ha' yah - "air in opening of bath, water movement for soreness" (1500-500 BCE). Invention of the swirly bath for sore muscles.
El Chayal - ch'a' yah ahl - "time of horizontal sore ones" (1500-500 BCE). People lying down in the swirly bath.
Izcaquilio - ix kahk il li ho - "examine the fire next to the desirable movement" (1500-500 BCE). Description of the hot-water swirly bath.
(Cerro) Las Ranas - lah ahn as - "practice the tiring race." Running up Cerro Las Ranas.
Tapacun - t'ab bah k'un - "flabby bodies climbing." People not used to climbing, going up Cerro Las Ranas.
Concepcion de Ataco - aht ha' ak' k'op - "bath in river while catching with covering" (1500-500 BCE). Getting wet from kayaking down the river.
El Arco - ha' ahr k'op - "the time of catching the river" (1500-500 BCE). Catching the river with a kayak.
El Refugio
Comapa - k'om ap bah - "swinging joined bodies" (1500-500 BCE). Two people swinging together - gymnastics.
Guaymango - way mango - "dream of mango" (2100-1000 BCE). The mango pit was the inspiration for the design of the kayak.
(Rio) Copinula - k'op pi in ul ha' - "first time explaining to companions about grabbing the river" (2100-1000 BCE). Explaining how to kayak down the rapids.
Istagapan - ix ta' ak' ap ahn - "movement of the remains of a skin in the swinging current" (2100-1000 BCE). Downstream, it seems one of the kayaks came apart on the way down.
El Zarzal - tz'a' ahr sal - "the time of the wet wall" (2100-1000 BCE). Kayak down falls and rapids.
Jujutla - jur huht lah - "respiration closed with fabric" (2000-1000 BCE). The inside of the kayak was made air tight with some type of fabric.
(Rio) Cauta - k'a ut ha' - "satisfactory opening in the river" (2000-1000 BCE). An opening for the newly invented kayak.
Zapua - sahb pur ha' - "stroking in the up and down river" (2000-1000 BCE). Stroking in the newly invented kayak. Zapua may have been the starting point.
San Francisco Menendez
(Laguna) Bijagual - pi ha' wa'ar -"companion water jaguar" (1500-500 BCE). Salt-water lagoon created by the Maya to study and befriend the shark.
Cara Sucia - k'ar rah sus si ha' - "number of cutters in the retained slack water"(1500-500 BCE). Sharks kept in the Laguna Bijagual.
Faya - bah yah - "infected body" (1500-500 BCE). This probably refers to someone bit by the sharks at Laguna Bijagual.
Garita Palmera - k'ar ri t'ab - "beside the going up to the retention" (1500-500 BCE). Next to the river up the Bijagual Lagoon.
Guayapa Arriba and Abajo - wa' yah ap ha' - "being in pain from the swinging river" (1500-500 BCE). Kayaking.
El Gulsnay - k'ul sin neh - "series of flaps and tails" (1500-500 BCE). "Flaps" seem to be a reference to shark dorsal fins.
Hachadura - hach aht tur ha' - "raised water condition of the bath (lagoon)" (1500-500 BCE). Seems to refer to filling the Bijagual lagoon with ocean water.
Irayol - ir ha' yol - "see placement in water" (1500-500 BCE). Seems to indicate people who saw the first sharks placed in nearby Laguna Bijagual.
(Rio) Maishtapula - mah ix t'ab pul ha' - "ascending motion of the bad one in the up and down river" (1500-500 BCE). Moving the shark upstream in the estuary to Bijagual Lagoon.
(Rio) Mistepe - mi ix tep behr - "cats' dragging motion of the hard one" (1500-500 BCE). Description of moving the shark up river to the Bijagual Lagoon.
(Rio) Quequeishque - ker ker ix ker - "dividing, slashing movements that cut" (1500-500 BCE). Reference to the violent capacity of the sharks kept at nearby Laguna Bijagual.
San Lorenzo
Conacaste - kon ak' k'as te' - "plan for the skin breaking away from the plant" (2200-1800 BCE). Meeting under the guanacaste tree to plan how to deal with the pellagra outbreak.
Guascota - was k'ot ta' - "arrival of the residue from tortillas" (2200-1800 BCE). Pellagra crisis for the Ch'orti', probably the Totonac ancestors.
San Pedro Puxtla - buch tul lahp - "fabric flappy condition" (2100-1000 BCE). Describes the flap on the kayak to seal the inside.
Pululapa - pur ul ap ha' - "explain the up and down in the swinging water" (2100-1000 BCE). Explaining how to kayak down the rapids.
(Rio) Sunzacuapa - tzun sak k'ur ap ha' - "greedy swinging white point river" (2100-1000 BCE). Kayaking river.
Texispulco - te' ehtz ix pul k'op - "observe the wood catching the up and down motion" (2100-1000 BCE). The Maya watched wood going down the rapids before coming up with the idea for a kayak.
Texuzin Chirizo - te' suhs in chir ri soh - "first pointed, arched wood with woven sides" (2100-1000 BCE). The place of invention of the kayak.
Tacuba - ta' ak' kum pa' - "rinsing the residue on the skin from corn" (2200-1800 BCE). Outbreak of pellagra before nixtamal.
(Rio) Sunza - sun tz'a - "greedy wetness" (1500-500 BCE). Kayaking river.
Turin - tur in - "first condition" (1500-500 BCE). First place to do Maya yoga.
Anonal - ahn noh on ahl - "the time of racing up the old big one." Racing up Cerro Cachio.
(Cerro) Cachio - kah ch'i'h ho - "beginning of pleasure on the big ones." Beginning of trail running up hills and peaks.
Cuyanausul - kur yan nab us ul - "explain changes from useful collapsing of points" (1500-500 BCE). The first practitioner(s) of yoga explained it to the Maya leaders from Chalchuapa.
