The Book

All author earnings of A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names to be donated to the foundation or donate here.

If anyone could help or advise as to the legal mechanism, it would be appreciated, thanks!

The Website

Not intended at the beginning, the present website is taking on a life of its own, with plans for relevant discussion forums, picture galleries and, over time, more non-streetname entries.

In theory, it will be funded by advertising relevant to people in Tallinn, to be determined.

A percentage of profits (also to be determined) to be donated to the foundation.

Harku järv (Harku)

Lake in the SE of Pikaliiva in W Tallinn, referred to as Verschen zee in 1371, commonly translated as ‘fresh’ lake, it can also mean ‘unsalted‘ or ‘brackish‘, testament to the city’s changing topographical fortunes over time, see Liiva.

A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names

Simon Hamilton (1954-still alive, apparently)

Cover image of the book entitled A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names

As its name suggests, the dictionary gives the meaning, origin, sometimes etymology, history and changing fortunes of Tallinn street names under diverse rulers – and Estonia has seen a lot, from the Danes and Teutonic Knights, through Swedes, Baltic Germans, Russians, to Nazis and Soviets… – as well as anecdotes, snippets of history and much trivia.

All author proceeds go to Tallinn Children’s Hospital Foundation (Tallinna Lastehaigla Toetusfond) so just buy and give it away, you must have a cantankerous old relative to annoy somewhere ;o)

For the cover, we have gone for the lexicologically logical.

The book should have been published a few years ago, but “complications” arose. The website contentis essentiallly finished and now looking for a publisher (suggestions, recommendations, testimonials, etc., all welcome! Watch this space.

Tarabella (0)

Not the obscure mythological deity it has been assumed to represent, but the name of city councilor and arbitrageur Albert Koba’s dog. Born 1878, Koba was also a busy real-estate developer, creating and naming streets in Lilleküla (see Endla), Pelgulinn (this one, see below) and Sikupilli (Asunduse), many named after the more bipedal members of his family. Despite the rumors, there seem to be only five (maybe six) ‘Kobaesque’ street names attributed to him in all: the present one, renamed Timuti in 1939; his own: Alberti, now Roo; Olga, his blameless better half (divorced 1927), now Pebre (another Olga once existed, now Vainu, but perhaps a bit far from his usual haunts); Oskari, now Ristiku, and Grigori, now Õie, both after after local alderman Oskar Gregory (friend? business partner? in-law? bear or seal?...). Another street, poss. the sixth, Sambla, now Nabra, named on the same date as Olga, can be seen on the 1922 map of Tallinn, but no information on this found so far. Koba’s name seems to have once been spelled Kooba, a word related to (from?) the Võro* (his parents were from Tartu) kooba, an outdoor, semi-underground cellar for storing potatoes. That’s growth.

* For spelling, see Kõivu.

1922 Tallinna Linna Plaan Koba Pelgulinn

Kõrgepea nukk (0)

High-head knoll. Not a street, a hill (or hilly area) some 60 m above sea level, one of the highest points in Tallinn, First mentioned in 1371 as a border marker of the city called variously Hohenhäubte (MHG) and hoghe houed or hoge höuet (MLG), translating as ‘high head’, the ‘u’ being understood as ‘v’, otherwise known as Kallapehe, meaning ‘bank-head’ or ‘on top of a klint escarpment’. See Lossi, The blue dot on the topographical map of Tallinn below marks the spot.

Korgepea Nukk