endonym

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥dóm Proto-Hellenic *éndon Ancient Greek ἔνδον (éndon)der. English endo- Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Hellenic *ónomə Ancient Greek ὄνῠμᾰ (ónŭmă)der. New Latinder. English -onym English endonym From endo- (“inside”) + -onym (“name”).

1. A name used by a group or category of people (an ingroup) to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups (outgroups).

   “The endonym is the basic toponymic exemplar and as such it needs to be understood properly. To do so we need to appreciate the context of space and place that produces it. Most endonyms arise from the elemental human relationship with space and place, and possess an intrinsic and enduring value which cannot normally be either bestowed or removed by political arbitrariness.”