Franconia
/fræŋˈkoʊniə/noun
A historical region of central Germany, now mainly comprising parts of Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.
Did you know?Franconia preserves the name of the early medieval Franks, the Germanic people whose expanding kingdom helped shape both France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Etymological Timeline
Late Antiquity
Germanic
*Frankōn
“The Franks, an early Germanic tribal confederation; the deeper origin of the name is uncertain.”
4th–5th Century
Late Latin
Francī
“The Franks, recorded as a major Germanic people in Roman sources.”
6th Century
Latin
Francia
“The territory or kingdom of the Franks.”
9th–10th Century
Medieval Latin
Franconia
“The land associated with the eastern or German Franks.”
11th–13th Century
Middle High German
Franken
“Franconia or the Franks’ region in the German-speaking world.”
Modern English
English
Franconia
“A historical region of central Germany, especially associated with northern Bavaria.”