-up

Summary

-up /ʌp/ is a suffix commonly found in place names in south western Western Australia.

Porongurup is an example of a Western Australian place with a name that includes the "-up" suffix.

The suffix originated in a dialect of Noongar, an Australian Aboriginal language, in which "-up" means "place of". The suffix "-in" or "-ing" has a similar meaning in a related dialect of Noongar.[1] Places tended to be named after their distinctive features, whereby the place names could be used to create a "mental map" allowing Indigenous Australians to determine where water, food and other raw materials could be found. These sites were often located near sources of fresh water, leading to the common misconception that "up" and "in" mean "near water".[1]

The meanings and the pronunciations of many of these names has been lost over time.[1]

A number of these places were at one stage named with a suffix "-upp". This was as a result of the Western Australian Lands and Surveys Department adopting a system of spelling Indigenous Australian names devised by the Royal Geographical Society. In simple terms, the system set the pronunciation of consonants as in English and vowels as in Italian. Using this system meant that "up" would be pronounced /p/ oop, whereas the names were meant to be pronounced /ʌp/ up.[2] The solution was deemed to be that doubling the following consonant would shorten the preceding vowel, thus "upp". This spelling convention was rescinded for towns in south west Western Australia in 1915 as the Australian pronunciation of "u" was almost always short.[2]

The usage of some terms are for the name of Noongar groups as well as places Pinjarup is one of a number of names for one group – and it has been utilised and changed to the place name of Pinjarra.

List of places edit

The following is a list of locations in Western Australia which end in "-up".

Name Location Place name meaning (where known)
Amelup 34°14′18″S 118°13′16″E / 34.23833°S 118.22111°E / -34.23833; 118.22111 (Amelup)
Badgebup 33°36′07″S 117°53′02″E / 33.602°S 117.884°E / -33.602; 117.884 (Badgebup) "place of wild rushes"[3]
Bailup 31°44′24″S 116°18′40″E / 31.740°S 116.311°E / -31.740; 116.311 (Bailup) Aboriginal unknown origin.[4]
Balgarup "place of the black boy trees" (Xanthorrhoea preissii).[1]
Balingup 33°47′13″S 115°58′55″E / 33.787°S 115.982°E / -33.787; 115.982 (Balingup) Derived from the name of an Aboriginal warrior, Balingan.[3]
Banjup 32°07′26″S 115°52′34″E / 32.124°S 115.876°E / -32.124; 115.876 (Banjup) Named for Banjupp Lake.[4]
Barragup 32°32′38″S 115°47′38″E / 32.544°S 115.794°E / -32.544; 115.794 (Barragup) Not known.[4]
Beenup 32°13′19″S 116°00′04″E / 32.222°S 116.001°E / -32.222; 116.001 (Beenup) A corruption of the Aboriginal name of nearby Beenyup Brook. Now known as Byford.[4]
Binningup 33°08′56″S 115°41′20″E / 33.149°S 115.689°E / -33.149; 115.689 (Binningup) Apparently an Aboriginal name, but not necessarily traditional.[3]
Boranup 34°08′42″S 115°03′29″E / 34.145°S 115.058°E / -34.145; 115.058 (Boranup)
Boyanup 33°29′10″S 115°43′48″E / 33.486°S 115.73°E / -33.486; 115.73 (Boyanup) "a place of quartz"[3]
Boyup Brook 33°50′02″S 116°23′17″E / 33.834°S 116.388°E / -33.834; 116.388 (Boyup Brook) "place of smoke"[3]
Burekup 33°19′0″S 115°48′0″E / 33.31667°S 115.80000°E / -33.31667; 115.80000 (Burekup) The Aboriginal name of a wildflower that grows profusely in the locality.[3]
Carbunup River 33°42′0″S 115°11′0″E / 33.70000°S 115.18333°E / -33.70000; 115.18333 (Carbunup River) " Variously "place of a kindly stream", "place of cormorants", and "place of the stinkwood thicket.[5]
Cardup 32°15′25″S 115°59′46″E / 32.257°S 115.996°E / -32.257; 115.996 (Cardup) "place of the racehorse goanna".[6]
Chinocup 33°32′0″S 118°23′0″E / 33.53333°S 118.38333°E / -33.53333; 118.38333 (Chinocup) an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning.[5]
Condingup 33°45′S 122°32′E / 33.750°S 122.533°E / -33.750; 122.533 (Condingup) an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning.[5]
Coodanup 32°33′14″S 115°44′38″E / 32.554°S 115.744°E / -32.554; 115.744 (Coodanup) Unknown.[6]
Cookernup 32°59′38″S 115°53′35″E / 32.994°S 115.893°E / -32.994; 115.893 (Cookernup) "the place of the swamp hen".[5]
Coolbellup 32°04′55″S 115°49′05″E / 32.082°S 115.818°E / -32.082; 115.818 (Coolbellup) The Aboriginal name of a lake in the area.[6]
Cooloongup 32°17′46″S 115°46′48″E / 32.296°S 115.780°E / -32.296; 115.780 (Cooloongup) "place of children".[7]
Coolup 32°44′0″S 115°52′0″E / 32.73333°S 115.86667°E / -32.73333; 115.86667 (Coolup) "place of the wild turkey".[5]
Coomalbidgup 33°38′0″S 121°22′0″E / 33.63333°S 121.36667°E / -33.63333; 121.36667 (Coomalbidgup) "Possum scratches up a tree & there is water there".[5]
Cowaramup 33°51′05″S 115°06′21″E / 33.8514°S 115.1059°E / -33.8514; 115.1059 (Cowaramup) believed to be derived from cowara, the Aboriginal name for the purple-crowned lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala).[5]
Culeenup (Cooleenup) 33°34′34″S 115°46′23″E / 33.576°S 115.773°E / -33.576; 115.773 (Cowaramup)
Dalyellup 33°24′07″S 115°37′30″E / 33.402°S 115.625°E / -33.402; 115.625 (Dalyellup) still, frothy water
Dalyup 33°43′0″S 121°36′0″E / 33.71667°S 121.60000°E / -33.71667; 121.60000 (Dalyup) Possibly the Noongar word for the king parrot or Hookbill.[2]
Dandalup 32°31′08″S 115°58′05″E / 32.519°S 115.968°E / -32.519; 115.968 (Dandalup) Not known.[8]
Dardanup 33°24′0″S 115°45′0″E / 33.40000°S 115.75000°E / -33.40000; 115.75000 (Dardanup) Believed to be a variation of the Aboriginal word "Dudingup" the meaning of which is not known.[2]
Dinninup 33°49′0″S 116°32′0″E / 33.81667°S 116.53333°E / -33.81667; 116.53333 (Dinninup) An Aboriginal name of unknown meaning.[2]
Dwellingup 32°42′54″S 116°03′50″E / 32.715°S 116.064°E / -32.715; 116.064 (Dwellingup) "place of nearby water".[2]
Gelorup 33°24′36″S 115°38′28″E / 33.410°S 115.641°E / -33.410; 115.641 (Gelorup)
Gidgegannup 31°47′31″S 116°11′53″E / 31.792°S 116.198°E / -31.792; 116.198 (Gidgegannup) "place where spears are made". "Gidgie" is the word for spear.[9]
Gnowangerup 33°56′17″S 118°00′29″E / 33.938°S 118.008°E / -33.938; 118.008 (Gnowangerup) "place where the mallee hen nests" (Leipoa ocellata).[10]
Gwelup 31°52′34″S 115°47′56″E / 31.8762°S 115.7989°E / -31.8762; 115.7989 (Gwelup) "the lake that shifted position", derived from "Gwelgannow" which means to "shift the position" and "step aside".[9]
Gwindinup 33°31′0″S 115°44′0″E / 33.51667°S 115.73333°E / -33.51667; 115.73333 (Gwindinup) May be a local spelling of the nearby Gynudup Brook.[10]
Jacup 33°46′48″S 119°09′04″E / 33.78°S 119.151°E / -33.78; 119.151 (Jacup)
Jandabup 31°44′28″S 115°51′04″E / 31.741°S 115.851°E / -31.741; 115.851 (Jandabup) "place of little eagle".[11]
Jerdacuttup 33°43′0″S 120°28′0″E / 33.71667°S 120.46667°E / -33.71667; 120.46667 (Jerdacuttup) Named for the Jerdacuttup River.[12]
Jerramungup 33°56′31″S 118°54′58″E / 33.942°S 118.916°E / -33.942; 118.916 (Jerramungup) "place of upstanding yate trees" (Eucalyptus cornuta).[12]
Jingalup 33°58′0″S 117°02′0″E / 33.96667°S 117.03333°E / -33.96667; 117.03333 (Jingalup) A contraction of nearby Kodjingalup Well.[12]
Joondalup 31°44′42″S 115°45′58″E / 31.745°S 115.766°E / -31.745; 115.766 (Joondalup) "place of whiteness or glistening".[11]
Joweelingup 32°35′31″S 115°49′55″E / 32.592°S 115.832°E / -32.592; 115.832 (Joweelingup)
Karnup 32°22′05″S 115°49′37″E / 32.368°S 115.827°E / -32.368; 115.827 (Karnup) A local Aboriginal name, the meaning of the name is not known.[13]
Karrakup 32°15′22″S 116°04′12″E / 32.256°S 116.07°E / -32.256; 116.07 (Karrakup) From "Karrak", the Nyoongar word for the red-tailed black cockatoo which is prevalent in the area.[13]
Karrinyup 31°52′12″S 115°46′41″E / 31.87°S 115.778°E / -31.87; 115.778 (Karrinyup) Originally Careniup, of unknown meaning.[13]
Kebaringup 34°02′0″S 118°09′0″E / 34.03333°S 118.15000°E / -34.03333; 118.15000 (Kebaringup) A local Aboriginal name, the meaning of the name is not known.[14]
Kendenup 34°29′10″S 117°37′44″E / 34.486°S 117.629°E / -34.486; 117.629 (Kendenup) Of Aboriginal origin, of unknown meaning.
Kirup 33°42′25″S 115°53′31″E / 33.707°S 115.892°E / -33.707; 115.892 (Kirup) "the place of summer flies".[14]
Kojonup 33°50′17″S 117°09′07″E / 33.838°S 117.152°E / -33.838; 117.152 (Kojonup) "place of the stone axe".[14]
Kudardup 34°15′47″S 115°07′26″E / 34.263°S 115.124°E / -34.263; 115.124 (Kudardup) Named for Coodardup Mill.[14]
Kulikup 33°50′0″S 116°41′0″E / 33.83333°S 116.68333°E / -33.83333; 116.68333 (Kulikup) Not known.[14]
Kundip 33°41′0″S 120°11′0″E / 33.68333°S 120.18333°E / -33.68333; 120.18333 (Kundip) Not known.[14]
Kuringup 33°31′S 118°19′E / 33.51°S 118.31°E / -33.51; 118.31 (Kuringup) "place of wattle gum".[1]
Kwobrup 33°36′S 117°58′E / 33.600°S 117.967°E / -33.600; 117.967 (Kwobrup) "good place".[14]
Mandogalup 32°12′18″S 115°48′54″E / 32.205°S 115.815°E / -32.205; 115.815 (Mandogalup) An Aboriginal name, the meaning of which is unknown.[15]
Manjimup 34°14′17″S 116°08′31″E / 34.238°S 116.142°E / -34.238; 116.142 (Manjimup) An Aboriginal name said to be derived from "Manjin", a broad leafed marsh flag with an edible root.[16]
Marbelup 34°59′0″S 117°44′0″E / 34.98333°S 117.73333°E / -34.98333; 117.73333 (Marbelup) Not known.[16]
Marrinup 32°40′08″S 116°01′23″E / 32.669°S 116.023°E / -32.669; 116.023 (Marrinup)
Mariginiup 31°43′19″S 115°49′37″E / 31.722°S 115.827°E / -31.722; 115.827 (Mariginiup) "to pull out flag leaved flax".[15]
Mayanup 33°56′0″S 116°27′0″E / 33.93333°S 116.45000°E / -33.93333; 116.45000 (Mayanup) No meaning or source for the name given.[16]
Metricup 33°46′41″S 115°07′59″E / 33.778°S 115.133°E / -33.778; 115.133 (Metricup)
Monjebup 34°17′35″S 118°32′49″E / 34.293°S 118.547°E / -34.293; 118.547 (Monjebup)
Moodiarrup 33°37′0″S 116°48′0″E / 33.61667°S 116.80000°E / -33.61667; 116.80000 (Moodiarrup) Not known.[16]
Morangup 31°37′3″S 116°19′20″E / 31.61750°S 116.32222°E / -31.61750; 116.32222 (Morangup)
Mullalyup 33°44′42″S 115°56′53″E / 33.745°S 115.948°E / -33.745; 115.948 (Mullalyup) "the place where the young men had their noses pierced".[16]
Mumballup 33°31′41″S 116°06′47″E / 33.528°S 116.113°E / -33.528; 116.113 (Mumballup)
Mungalup 33°24′0″S 116°06′0″E / 33.40000°S 116.10000°E / -33.40000; 116.10000 (Mungalup) Not known.[16]
Munglinup 33°43′0″S 120°52′0″E / 33.71667°S 120.86667°E / -33.71667; 120.86667 (Munglinup) A local Aboriginal word.[16]
Muradup 33°51′0″S 116°59′0″E / 33.85000°S 116.98333°E / -33.85000; 116.98333 (Muradup) An Aboriginal name.[16]
Myalup 33°06′07″S 115°41′38″E / 33.102°S 115.694°E / -33.102; 115.694 (Myalup) An Aboriginal name derived from a nearby swamp.[16]
Nambeelup 32°31′55″S 115°49′55″E / 32.532°S 115.832°E / -32.532; 115.832 (Nambeelup)
Nannup 33°58′55″S 115°45′54″E / 33.982°S 115.765°E / -33.982; 115.765 (Nannup) "stopping place" or "place of parrots".[8]
Narrikup 34°46′26″S 117°42′07″E / 34.774°S 117.702°E / -34.774; 117.702 (Narrikup) "place of abundance"[8]
Needilup 33°57′0″S 118°46′0″E / 33.95000°S 118.76667°E / -33.95000; 118.76667 (Needilup) Not known.[8]
Neerabup 31°41′28″S 115°46′37″E / 31.691°S 115.777°E / -31.691; 115.777 (Neerabup) Possibly "swampy place" or "small basin or lake".[17]
Noggerup 33°35′0″S 116°10′0″E / 33.58333°S 116.16667°E / -33.58333; 116.16667 (Noggerup) Not known.[8]
Nornalup 34°59′28″S 116°49′19″E / 34.991°S 116.822°E / -34.991; 116.822 (Nornalup) "place of black snake" (Norn, a name of a Pseudechis species).[1]
Nowergup 31°38′13″S 115°44′46″E / 31.637°S 115.746°E / -31.637; 115.746 (Nowergup) "place of sweet water".[17]
Ongerup 33°57′58″S 118°29′10″E / 33.966°S 118.486°E / -33.966; 118.486 (Ongerup) "place of the male kangaroo".[18]
Palgarup 34°10′26″S 116°10′30″E / 34.174°S 116.175°E / -34.174; 116.175 (Palgarup)
Peringillup 33°56′0″S 117°38′0″E / 33.93333°S 117.63333°E / -33.93333; 117.63333 (Peringillup) Not known.[19]
Pingrup 33°32′0″S 118°30′0″E / 33.53333°S 118.50000°E / -33.53333; 118.50000 (Pingrup) Believed to mean "grassy place".[1]
Pootenup 34°14′0″S 117°38′0″E / 34.23333°S 117.63333°E / -34.23333; 117.63333 (Pootenup) "place of the native hybrid mallee tree".[1]
Porongurup 34°39′50″S 117°52′26″E / 34.664°S 117.874°E / -34.664; 117.874 (Porongurup)
Qualeup 33°50′0″S 116°48′0″E / 33.83333°S 116.80000°E / -33.83333; 116.80000 (Qualeup) The Aboriginal name of a nearby lake.[20]
Quigup 33°58′0″S 115°42′0″E / 33.96667°S 115.70000°E / -33.96667; 115.70000 (Quigup) Not known.[20]
Quindalup 33°32′0″S 116°00′0″E / 33.53333°S 116.00000°E / -33.53333; 116.00000 (Quindalup) "place of quendas" (Isoodon obesulus).[20]
Takalarup 34°36′S 118°2′E / 34.600°S 118.033°E / -34.600; 118.033 (Takalarup)
Tambellup 34°02′28″S 117°38′31″E / 34.041°S 117.642°E / -34.041; 117.642 (Tambellup) possibly "place of thunder".[21]
Wadjemup 31°59′53″S 115°32′46″E / 31.998°S 115.546°E / -31.998; 115.546 (Wadjemup) Noongar name for Rottnest Island, meaning "place across the water".[22]
Wagerup 32°56′53″S 115°54′18″E / 32.948°S 115.905°E / -32.948; 115.905 (Wagerup) "Place of emus".[23]
Wannanup 32°35′53″S 115°38′38″E / 32.598°S 115.644°E / -32.598; 115.644 (Wannanup)
Warawarrup 33°02′53″S 115°54′43″E / 33.048°S 115.912°E / -33.048; 115.912 (Wannanup)
Wattleup 32°10′12″S 115°49′26″E / 32.170°S 115.824°E / -32.170; 115.824 (Wattleup) Named for Wattleup Road.[24]
Wilyabrup 33°47′0″S 115°2′0″E / 33.78333°S 115.03333°E / -33.78333; 115.03333 (Wilyabrup)
Wokalup 33°06′36″S 115°52′52″E / 33.11°S 115.881°E / -33.11; 115.881 (Wokalup) Not known. Humorously said to mean "the confusion experienced by nocturnal animals during an eclipse".[23]
Wonnerup 33°37′26″S 115°25′12″E / 33.624°S 115.42°E / -33.624; 115.42 (Wonnerup) "place of the Aboriginal woman's digging or fighting stick".[23]
Woogenellup 34°31′48″S 117°49′41″E / 34.530°S 117.828°E / -34.530; 117.828 (Woogenellup)
Yallingup 33°38′24″S 115°01′41″E / 33.640°S 115.028°E / -33.640; 115.028 (Yallingup) Place of caves
Yalup Brook 32°54′0″S 115°54′0″E / 32.90000°S 115.90000°E / -32.90000; 115.90000 (Yalup Brook)
Yangebup 32°07′44″S 115°49′08″E / 32.129°S 115.819°E / -32.129; 115.819 (Yangebup) Derived from the Aboriginal word "yanget", the name of a native flax or bullrush.[25]
Yoongarillup 33°42′0″S 115°25′0″E / 33.70000°S 115.41667°E / -33.70000; 115.41667 (Yoongarillup)
Yornup 34°03′22″S 116°10′12″E / 34.056°S 116.17°E / -34.056; 116.17 (Yornup)
Yunderup 32°34′34″S 115°47′28″E / 32.576°S 115.791°E / -32.576; 115.791 (Yunderup) Derived from "Yoondooroop", the original spelling of one of the islands in the Murray River delta.[25]

See also edit

  • Noongar for a map of the Noongar linguistic regions

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Noongar Town Names and their Meanings". Aboriginal Perspectives Across the Curriculum. Department of Education and Training (Western Australia). Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "History of country town names – D". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "History of country town names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "History of metropolitan suburb names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "History of country town names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "History of metropolitan suburb names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. ^ Overman, Jacinta; Dooley, Brendan; Bowra, Tim; Strano, Paddy (2010). Rockingham Lakes Regional Park – Management Plan 2010 (PDF) (Report). p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e "History of country town names – N". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  9. ^ a b "History of metropolitan suburb names – G". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  10. ^ a b "History of country town names – G". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  11. ^ a b "> "History of metropolitan suburb names – J". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  12. ^ a b c "History of country town names – J". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  13. ^ a b c "History of metropolitan suburb names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "History of country town names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  15. ^ a b "History of metropolitan suburb names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of country town names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  17. ^ a b "History of metropolitan suburb names – N". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  18. ^ "History of country town names – O". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  19. ^ "History of country town names – P". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  20. ^ a b c "History of country town names – Q". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  21. ^ "History of country town names – T". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Wadjemup (Rottnest Island)". CreativeSpirits.info. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  23. ^ a b c "History of country town names – W". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  24. ^ "History of metropolitan suburb names – W". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  25. ^ a b "History of metropolitan suburb names – Y". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.

Further reading edit

  • Milne, Rod. (1992) Ups and ings : Aboriginal place names of south western W.A Perth, W.A.: R. Milne

External links edit

  • http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/guides/wa_history/place_names State Library of Western Australia guide to researching Western Australian place names