On the Finno-Ugric toponymy of the Murom-Oka region

The Finno-Ugric toponymy of the Murom-Oka region has not been sufficiently studied. The researchers who worked at this topic were uncertain in defining geography of the Murom region and didn`t use all available data. The author was the first to define the borders of the Murom region and points out 33 hydronyms and oikonyms on the left bank of the Oka River, which are certainly of Finno-Ugric origin. Some specific features of these toponyms indicate that the tribe Muroma (VI - XI c. AD) which was mentioned in the Primary Chronicle (by the monk Nestor) had its own language, which was different from languages of neighbouring Finno-Ugric tribes. The author`s conclusion confirms the information in the preface of the Primary Chronicle. Taking into account the absence of ancient Merya, Mordvin, Mari toponyms on the left bank of the Oka River in the Murom region and according to the archaeological data the author comes to the conclusion that this territory was inhabited only by the tribe Muroma.