List of Muisca toponyms
This list contains the toponyms in Muisca, the language of the Muisca who inhabited the Colombian Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca in the 1530s. The name of the language of the Muisca is called Chibcha, Muisca or, in its own language, Muysccubun. Muisca means "man", "person" or "people".
Most names of the Muisca have been kept by the Spanish colonists, though some are slightly altered through time. A number of names refer to the farmfields or other geographical features of the region. The name of the department of Cundinamarca is an exception, it is inferred the name comes not from Chibcha, yet from Quechua, meaning condor's nest.
Chibcha language toponyms outside the Muisca Confederation territories, such as the Guane, Lache, U'wa or Sutagao and Spanish language toponyms within the Muisca Confederation are not included.
Muisca toponyms
| name bold is capital | Department bold is capital | Ruler bold is seat | Meaning in Muysccubun bold is personal name | Notes | Map |
| Bogotá Bogotá Formation Bogotá River Bogotá savanna Bacatá Muequetá | Cundinamarca, Capital District | zipa | outside the farm fields | ||
| Tunja Hunza | Boyacá | zaque | Proud lord | ||
| Duitama Tundama Tundama Province | Boyacá | Tundama | Named after cacique Tundama | ||
| Sogamoso Suamox Sugamuxi Province | Boyacá | iraca | Dwelling of the Sun | ||
| Arcabuco Arcabuco Formation | Boyacá | cacique | Place of the intricate scrublands Place enclosed by the hills | ||
| Betéitiva | Boyacá | cacique | Chief of the mouth Named after cacique Betacín | ||
| Boavita | Boyacá | cacique | Point on the hill worshipping the Sun Gate of the Sun | ||
| Boyacá Boyacá Department | Boyacá | zaque | Region of the blankets Enclosure of the cacique | ||
| Busbanzá | Boyacá | iraca | Named after cacique Boazá | ||
| Cerinza | Boyacá | Tundama | My throat Named after cacique Cerinza | ||
| Chinavita | Boyacá | zaque | Our point or illuminated hill top | ||
| Chiquinquirá Chiquinquirá Sandstone Chiquinquirá Valley | Boyacá | cacique | Place of swamps covered with fog Also: Holy people, because of the Fúquene Lake ceremonies | ||
| Chíquiza | Boyacá | zaque | Only or alone, Chiqui means priest Hairy field | ||
| Chitagoto part of Paz de Río | Boyacá | Tundama | From cacique Chitagoto | ||
| Chitaraque | Boyacá | zaque | Our vigorous farmfields from before | ||
| Chivatá | Boyacá | zaque | Our outside farmfields | ||
| Chivor Chivor Mine | Boyacá | cacique | Our farmfields - our mother Green and rich land | ||
| Ciénega | Boyacá | zaque | Place of water | ||
| Cómbita | Boyacá | cacique | Force of the summit Hand of the jaguar and wheel of life | ||
| Covarachía | Boyacá | cacique | Land of the Sun and the Moon Cave of the Moon | ||
| Cucaita | Boyacá | zaque | Seminary enclosure Shade of the farming fields | ||
| Cuítiva | Boyacá | iraca | Similarity to the chief | ||
| Firavitoba | Boyacá | iraca | Air of clouds | ||
| Gachantivá | Boyacá | zaque | Chief of the Gacha | ||
| Gámeza | Boyacá | iraca | Serf of the Sun | ||
| Garagoa | Boyacá | zaque | Behind the hill On the other side of the hill | ||
| Guateque Guatoc | Boyacá | cacique | Stream of the ravine Lord of the winds | ||
| Guayatá | Boyacá | cacique | Domain of the female cacique From Guaya and "tá" | ||
| Iza Iza—Paipa volcanic complex | Boyacá | iraca | Place of healing | ||
| Lengupá Province Lengupá River | Boyacá | zaque | "Len": site; "Gua": of the river; "Paba": father or chief | ||
| Macanal Macanal Formation | Boyacá | zaque | From: Macana: palm tree or garrote | ||
| Mongua | Boyacá | iraca | Bath on the hill Sunrise | ||
| Moniquirá Moniquirá River | Boyacá | cacique | Place of bath | ||
| Motavita | Boyacá | zaque | Washing place to prepare for growing crops | ||
| Nobsa | Boyacá | Tundama | Decent bath of today | ||
| Oicatá | Boyacá | zaque | Domain of the priests Hailstoned farmlands | ||
| Pachavita | Boyacá | zaque | Peak of the man Proud chief | ||
| Paipa Iza—Paipa volcanic complex | Boyacá | Tundama | Named after the cacique of the Paipa people | ||
| Paya | Boyacá | cacique | People of hope | ||
| Pesca | Boyacá | iraca | Strong enclosure Domain of the fortress | ||
| Pisba PNN Pisba | Boyacá | cacique | Honourable domain from before | ||
| Ramiriquí Ramaraquí | Boyacá | zaque | White earth Ca-Mi-Quiqui | ||
| Ráquira | Boyacá | cacique | Village of the pans | ||
| Saboyá | Boyacá | cacique | Taste for the blankets Named after cacique Saboyá | ||
| Sáchica | Boyacá | zaque | our present domain fortress or mansion of the sovereign | ||
| San Miguel de Sema | Boyacá | zaque | Named after the Sema tribe, part of the Muisca | ||
| Sativanorte | Boyacá | Tundama | Named after the cacique Sátiva | ||
| Sativasur | Boyacá | Tundama | Named after the cacique Sátiva | ||
| Siachoque | Boyacá | zaque | Land of the vigorous taste Place of good smells and strong and vigorous cultures | ||
| Soatá Soatá Formation | Boyacá | Tundama | Farmfields of the Sun | ||
| Socotá Socotá Formation | Boyacá | iraca Tundama | Good harvest Land of the Sun and farmfields | ||
| Somondoco | Boyacá | zaque | So = stone, Mon = bath, Co = support Named after cacique Somendoco or Sumindoco | ||
| Sora | Boyacá | zaque | Devil worshipper | ||
| Soracá | Boyacá | zaque | Ruling mansion of the sovereign | ||
| Sotaquirá | Boyacá | zaque | Town of the sovereign | ||
| Susacón | Boyacá | Tundama | Ally of the cacique Susa | ||
| Sutamarchán | Boyacá | zaque | Merchant of the sovereign Suta Marchán refers to 18th century encomendero Pedro Merchan de Velasco | ||
| Sutatenza | Boyacá | zaque | Cloud behind the mouth Descending to the house of the cacique | ||
| Tenza Tenza Valley Tanazuca | Boyacá | cacique | Behind the mouth Going down at night | ||
| Tibaná | Boyacá | zaque | Named after Tibanaes "Tiba" means chief | ||
| Tibasosa Tibasosa Formation | Boyacá | Tundama iraca | Chief of the domain | ||
| Tinjacá | Boyacá | zaque | Enclosure of the powerful lord | ||
| Tipacoque | Boyacá | zaque | Name of the hacienda of the Augustines Dependency of the zaque | ||
| Toca | Boyacá | iraca | Domain of the river | ||
| Togüí | Boyacá | zaque | River of the wife or house of the dog | ||
| Tópaga | Boyacá | cacique | Behind father river | ||
| Tota Lake Tota | Boyacá | iraca | Farmfields of the river | ||
| Turmequé | Boyacá | zaque | Vigorous chief | ||
| Tuta | Boyacá | zaque | Borrowed farmlands or Property of the Sun Named after the Tuta tribe | ||
| Tutazá | Boyacá | cacique | Named after cacique Tutazúa; son of the Sun | ||
| Úmbita | Boyacá | cacique | Your point, your summit, summit of the farmlands | ||
| Viracachá | Boyacá | zaque | Air of the lake or lord of the enclosure of the wind | ||
| Zetaquira | Boyacá | zaque | Land of the snake or City of the snake | ||
| Bojacá Bojacá River | Cundinamarca | zipa | Purple enclosure | ||
| Cajicá | Cundinamarca | zipa | From ca and jica; "stone fortress" From the cacique Cajic | ||
| Cáqueza Cáqueza Group | Cundinamarca | zipa | Region or enclosure without forest | ||
| Chía Chía Formation | Cundinamarca | zipa | Named after Chía, Moon goddess | ||
| Chipaque Chipaque Formation | Cundinamarca | cacique | Derived from Chipapabacue; Forest of our ancestors | ||
| Choachí | Cundinamarca | zipa | Derived from Chi-gua-chí; our mountain of the Moon | ||
| Chocontá | Cundinamarca | zipa | Farmlands of the good ally | ||
| Cogua | Cundinamarca | zipa | Support of the hill | ||
| Cota | Cundinamarca | zipa | From personal name Gota or cota; "curl" | ||
| Cucunubá | Cundinamarca | zipa | Similarity to a face | ||
| Facatativá | Cundinamarca | zipa | Strong enclosure at the end of the plains | ||
| Fómeque Fómeque Formation | Cundinamarca | zipa | Your forest of the foxes | ||
| Funza Funza River | Cundinamarca | zipa | Powerful lord | ||
| Fúquene Lake Fúquene | Cundinamarca | zipa zaque | From fú and quyny; bed of the fox Named after the god Fu; bed of Fu | ||
| Gachancipá | Cundinamarca | zipa | Pottery of the zipa | ||
| Gachalá | Cundinamarca | cacique | Clay vessel or defeat of the night | ||
| Gachetá Gachetá Formation | Cundinamarca | cacique | Behind our farmfields | ||
| Gama | Cundinamarca | cacique | Our back | ||
| Guachetá | Cundinamarca | cacique | Farmlands of the hill | ||
| Guasca | Cundinamarca | zipa | From guâ and shucâ; skirt of the mountain range | ||
| Guatavita Lake Guatavita | Cundinamarca | cacique | End of the farmlands | ||
| Lenguazaque | Cundinamarca | zaque | End of the reign of the zaque | ||
| Machetá | Cundinamarca | zaque | Your honourable farmfields | ||
| Manta | Cundinamarca | cacique | Your farmfields | ||
| Nemocón | Cundinamarca | zipa | From Enemocón; sadness of the warrior Named after Nemequene | ||
| Pacho Guataque or Gotaque | Cundinamarca | zipa | Good father "Gua" = mountain, "tha"; strong and "que"; elevated; strong elevated mountain | ||
| Pasca | Cundinamarca | zipa | Father's enclosure | ||
| Quetame Quetame Group | Cundinamarca | cacique | Our farmfields of the mountain | ||
| Sesquilé | Cundinamarca | zipa | Hot water | ||
| Sibaté | Cundinamarca | zipa | Leak of the lake | ||
| Simijaca Simijaca Formation | Cundinamarca | zaque zipa | Blue circle or nose of the white owl | ||
| Soacha Soacha Province Soacha River | Cundinamarca | zipa | Súa; Sun god Sué and chá; Man of the Sun | ||
| Sopó | Cundinamarca | zipa | Rock or strong hill | ||
| Subachoque Subachoque River Subachoque Formation | Cundinamarca | zipa | Work of the Sun Farmfields of the front | ||
| Suesca Lake Suesca | Cundinamarca | zipa | Rock of the birds or Tail of the macaw | ||
| Susa | Cundinamarca | zaque zipa | White reed or soft reed | ||
| Sutatausa | Cundinamarca | zipa | Small tribute | ||
| Tabio | Cundinamarca | zipa | Mouth | ||
| Tausa | Cundinamarca | zipa | Tribute | ||
| Tena Zuca | Cundinamarca | zipa | Place of rest for the zipa | ||
| Tenjo | Cundinamarca | zipa | In the mouth | ||
| Tequendama Tequendama Falls Tequendama Province | Cundinamarca | zipa | He who precipitates downward | ||
| Tibacuy | Cundinamarca | zipa Panche | Official chief | ||
| Tibiritá | Cundinamarca | zaque | |||
| Tocancipá | Cundinamarca | zipa | Valley of the joys of the zipa | ||
| Ubalá | Cundinamarca | cacique | Place on the hillside or At the foot of the hillside | ||
| Ubaque | Cundinamarca | cacique | From Ybaque; blooding Eucalyptus tree or from Ebaque | ||
| Ubaté Ubaté Province Ubaté River Ubaté Valley | Cundinamarca | zaque zipa | Sower of the mouth or blooded land | ||
| Une Une Formation | Cundinamarca | cacique | Drop it or mud | ||
| Zipacón | Cundinamarca | zipa | Crying of the zipa | ||
| Zipaquirá | Cundinamarca | zipa | City of our father | ||
| Charalá | Santander | cacique | Named after the Guane cacique Chalala | ||
| Chipatá | Santander | cacique | "chi" = our, "pa" = father, "tá" = farmland Named after cacique Chipatá | ||
| Onzaga | Santander | Tundama | From cacique Hunzaá | ||
| Bosa | Cundinamarca | zipa | Enclosure of the one who guards and defends the cornfields | ||
| Engativá | Cundinamarca | zipa | From Ingativá; Cacique of the land of the Sun Engue-tivá; captain of the delicious | ||
| Fontibón | Cundinamarca | zipa | Powerful chief | ||
| Suba Suba Hills | Cundinamarca | zipa | From "sua"; Sun and "sie"; water From "uba"; fruit or flower and "sua"; Sun; Flower of the Sun | ||
| Teusaquillo | Cundinamarca | zipa | From Teusacá; borrowed enclosure | ||
| Tunjuelito Tunjuelo Formation Tunjuelo River | Cundinamarca | zipa | Diminutive form of tunjo; anthropomorph made of gold | ||
| Usaquén | Cundinamarca | zipa | From cacique Usaque; Usaque means "under the pole" | ||
| Usme Usme Fault Usme Formation | Cundinamarca | zipa | Nest of love | ||
| El Chicó | Cundinamarca | zipa | Chicó comes from chicú; "our ally" | ||
| Techo Techo wetland | Cundinamarca | zipa | From cacique Techitina | ||
| Chingaza | Cundinamarca | zipa Guayupe | Middle of the width | ||
| Siecha Lakes | Cundinamarca | zipa | House of the Lord | ||
| Tibabuyes | Cundinamarca | zipa | Land of the farmers | ||
| Maiporé | Cundinamarca | zipa | Welcome |