Whereas in Sachsen, Brandenburg or Schleswig-Holstein all place names are worked on, the examination of the meaning of many place names in Sachsen-Anhalt is still a desideratum. This article surveys the meaning of the older place names in the former Landkreis Sangerhausen (southern Sachsen-Anhalt) – current and deserted place names – in the territorial boarders of the period 1990 –2007, as well as their level of research based on the author\'s Master\'s degree thesis of the winter semester 2007/08. The author gathered all documentary evidences that could be found in the written sources of regionally specific source books from the first naming in the sources to the 15th / 16th century. The reseach revealed that the oldest names were to be found near the rivers and on most fertile grounds. These place names were mostly derivatives, but one can find also some very old compounds.

Whereas in Sachsen, Brandenburg or Schleswig-Holstein all place names are worked on, the examination of the meaning of many place names in Sachsen-Anhalt is still a desideratum. This article surveys the meaning of the older place names in the former Landkreis Sangerhausen (southern Sachsen-Anhalt) – current and deserted place names – in the territorial boarders of the period 1990 –2007, as well as their level of research based on the author\''s Master\''s degree thesis of the winter semester 2007/08. The author gathered all documentary evidences that could be found in the written sources of regionally specific source books from the first naming in the sources to the 15th / 16th century. The reseach revealed that the oldest names were to be found near the rivers and on most fertile grounds. These place names were mostly derivatives, but one can find also some very old compounds.