Kalamaja (Kalamaja)

Fisherman’s hut, name of a one-time fishing village, along with the three ages of man: Uus-Kalamaja (new, but let’s say ‘young’ for poetic license), Kesk-Kalamaja (Middle-aged), and Vana-Kalamaja (Old). The word maja, probably first meant a temporary shelter, hut or stopover, as suggested by its neighboring Izhorian, Karelian, Ludian and, to a lesser extent Finnish, Livonian and Votic. Records date back to 1374 and known as Suddenpe in 1421, prob. MLG+Old Est. for “On the marsh/swamp” (südde/sudde = morass or swamp) + pe>pea (see Narva). Note, too the old ‑n genitive.