As many of you probably know, the Latvian word for hill, “kalns”, is a fairly common Latvian surname, particularly in its diminutive form Kalniņš.

But there are many different kind of “kalns” as well, as evidenced by my journeys through old church records. These names are particularly common in western Latvia, especially in communities such as Tukums and Skrunda. Tukums is located on a series of hills, so many “kalns” names being associated with the town and its environs would not seem unusual. I have not been to Skrunda, so I can’t speak to the hilliness of that region.

Some of the “kalns” names that I have seen: Baltkalns (white hill; Skrunda), BÄ“rzkalns (birch hill; Skrunda, Mazsalaca), BrÄ«vkalns (free hill; RÄ«ga), Kaļķukalns (lime hill [the mineral, not the fruit]; Skundra), Kroņakalns (crown hill; Tukums, Skrunda), LeiÅ¡kalns (Lithuanian hill; RÄ«ga), Liepkalns (linden hill; Skrunda, Suntaži, Kastrāne), Mālkalns (clay hill; Vecgulbene, Anna), Mierkalns (peace hill; Nurmuiža, JÅ«rmala, Tume), Ozolkalns (oak hill; Tukums), Pilskalns (castle hill; Aizpute, Rudbārži), PuÄ·ukalns (flower hill; Tukums), Sauleskalns (sun hill; Padure), Viduskalns (middle hill; RÄ«ga), VÄ«nakalns (wine hill; Skrunda, Smārde), Zvaigznekalns (star hill; RÄ«ga, Tukums).

It is quite possible that many of the ones I’ve seen in RÄ«ga had their origins in western Latvian parishes that I have yet to explore. There are all sorts of interesting names to explore all over the country!

Do you have any “kalns” names to add? Share in comments!