Estudo do léxico toponímico mineiro: os topônimos relativos aos membros de associações religiosas

Abstract

Adopting the theoretical-methodological assumptions of Onomastic and linked to the ATEMIG Project – Toponymic Atlas of Minas Gerais State -, a project under development since 2005, at Faculdade de Letras of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (FALE/UFMG), this work aims to present a toponymic study, focusing on toponyms related to members of religious associations throughout the territory of Minas Gerais, such as bishop, canon, don, friar, monk, monsignor, priest and pope. Brought by the Portuguese to Brazil at the beginning of the 16th century, the Christian faith gained territorial extension, as the settlement of newly discovered lands took place and, in this context, the presence of members of different brotherhoods and religious associations must be highlighted. Under this perspective, it was found that the importance of these religious can be perceived in Minas Gerais toponymy, both diachronic - from the observation of historical maps - and synchronously, when observing the current organization of the state's toponymic lexicon.