-up

Not to be confused with Eup (administrative division).

-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][2][3]

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".^[3] The meanings and the pronunciations of many of these names has been lost over time.^[3]

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.

The system set the pronunciation of consonants as in English and vowels as in Italian. Using this system meant that "up" would be pronounced /uːp/ oop, whereas the names were meant to be pronounced /ʌp/ up.^[4] 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 This spelling convention was rescinded for towns in south west Western Australia in 1915 as the Australian pronunciation of "u" was almost always short.^[4] The usage of some terms are for the name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.

Earlier attempts had been published in the 1900s and 1920s exploring and explaining place names in the south west of Western Australia.^[2][5]

List of places

The following is a selected 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
Badgebup	33°36′07″S 117°53′02″E	"place of wild rushes"[6]
Bailup	31°44′24″S 116°18′40″E	Aboriginal unknown origin.[7]
Balgarup		"place of the black boy trees" (Xanthorrhoea preissii).[3]
Balingup	33°47′13″S 115°58′55″E	Derived from the name of an Aboriginal warrior, Balingan.[6]
Banjup	32°07′26″S 115°52′34″E	Named for Banjupp Lake.[7]
Barragup	32°32′38″S 115°47′38″E	Not known.[7]
Beenup	32°13′19″S 116°00′04″E	A corruption of the Aboriginal name of nearby Beenyup Brook. Now known as Byford.[7]
Binningup	33°08′56″S 115°41′20″E	Apparently an Aboriginal name, but not necessarily traditional.[6]
Boranup	34°08′42″S 115°03′29″E
Boyanup	33°29′10″S 115°43′48″E	"a place of quartz"[6]
Boyup Brook	33°50′02″S 116°23′17″E	"place of smoke"[6]
Burekup	33°19′0″S 115°48′0″E	The Aboriginal name of a wildflower that grows profusely in the locality.[6]
Carbunup River	33°42′0″S 115°11′0″E	" Variously "place of a kindly stream", "place of cormorants", and "place of the stinkwood thicket.[8]
Cardup	32°15′25″S 115°59′46″E	"place of the racehorse goanna".[9]
Chinocup	33°32′0″S 118°23′0″E	an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning.[8]
Condingup	33°45′S 122°32′E	an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning.[8]
Coodanup	32°33′14″S 115°44′38″E	Unknown.[9]
Cookernup	32°59′38″S 115°53′35″E	"the place of the swamp hen".[8]
Coolbellup	32°04′55″S 115°49′05″E	The Aboriginal name of a lake in the area.[9]
Cooloongup	32°17′46″S 115°46′48″E	"place of children".[10]
Coolup	32°44′0″S 115°52′0″E	"place of the wild turkey".[8]
Coomalbidgup	33°38′0″S 121°22′0″E	"Possum scratches up a tree & there is water there".[8]
Cowaramup	33°51′05″S 115°06′21″E	believed to be derived from cowara, the Aboriginal name for the purple-crowned lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala).[8]
Culeenup (Cooleenup)	33°34′34″S 115°46′23″E
Cundinup	33.849°S 115.804°E / -33.849; 115.804 (Cundinup)
Dalyellup	33°24′07″S 115°37′30″E	still, frothy water
Dalyup	33°43′0″S 121°36′0″E	Possibly the Noongar word for the king parrot or Hookbill.[4]
Dandalup	32.519°S 115.968°E / -32.519; 115.968 (Dandalup)	Not known.[11]
Dardanup	33°24′0″S 115°45′0″E	Believed to be a variation of the Aboriginal word "Dudingup" the meaning of which is not known.[4]
Dinninup	33°49′0″S 116°32′0″E	An Aboriginal name of unknown meaning.[4]
Dwellingup	32°42′54″S 116°03′50″E	"place of nearby water".[4]
Gelorup	33°24′36″S 115°38′28″E
Gidgegannup	31°47′31″S 116°11′53″E	"place where spears are made". "Gidgie" is the word for spear.[12]
Gnowangerup	33°56′17″S 118°00′29″E	"place where the mallee hen nests" (Leipoa ocellata).[13]
Gwelup	31°52′34″S 115°47′56″E	"the lake that shifted position", derived from "Gwelgannow" which means to "shift the position" and "step aside".[12]
Gwindinup	33°31′0″S 115°44′0″E	May be a local spelling of the nearby Gynudup Brook.[13]
Jacup	33°46′48″S 119°09′04″E
Jandabup	31°44′28″S 115°51′04″E	"place of little eagle".[14]
Jerdacuttup	33°43′0″S 120°28′0″E	Named for the Jerdacuttup River.[15]
Jerramungup	33°56′31″S 118°54′58″E	"place of upstanding yate trees" (Eucalyptus cornuta).[15]
Jingalup	33°58′0″S 117°02′0″E	A contraction of nearby Kodjingalup Well.[15]
Joondalup	31°44′42″S 115°45′58″E	"place of whiteness or glistening".[14]
Joweelingup	32°35′31″S 115°49′55″E
Karnup	32°22′05″S 115°49′37″E	A local Aboriginal name, the meaning of the name is not known.[16]
Karrakup	32°15′22″S 116°04′12″E	From "Karrak", the Nyoongar word for the red-tailed black cockatoo which is prevalent in the area.[16]
Karrinyup	31°52′12″S 115°46′41″E	Originally Careniup, of unknown meaning.[16]
Kebaringup	34°02′0″S 118°09′0″E	A local Aboriginal name, the meaning of the name is not known.[17]
Kendenup	34°29′10″S 117°37′44″E	Of Aboriginal origin, of unknown meaning.
Kirup	33°42′25″S 115°53′31″E	"the place of summer flies".[17]
Kojonup	33°50′17″S 117°09′07″E	"place of the stone axe".[17]
Kudardup	34°15′47″S 115°07′26″E	Named for Coodardup Mill.[17]
Kulikup	33°50′0″S 116°41′0″E	Not known.[17]
Kundip	33°41′0″S 120°11′0″E	Not known.[17]
Kuringup	33°31′S 118°19′E	"place of wattle gum".[3]
Kwobrup	33°36′S 117°58′E	"good place".[17]
Mandogalup	32°12′18″S 115°48′54″E	An Aboriginal name, the meaning of which is unknown.[18]
Manjimup	34°14′17″S 116°08′31″E	An Aboriginal name said to be derived from "Manjin", a broad leafed marsh flag with an edible root.[19]
Marbelup	34°59′0″S 117°44′0″E	Not known.[19]
Marrinup	32°40′08″S 116°01′23″E
Mariginiup	31°43′19″S 115°49′37″E	"to pull out flag leaved flax".[18]
Mayanup	33°56′0″S 116°27′0″E	No meaning or source for the name given.[19]
Metricup	33°46′41″S 115°07′59″E
Monjebup	34°17′35″S 118°32′49″E
Moodiarrup	33°37′0″S 116°48′0″E	Not known.[19]
Morangup	31°37′3″S 116°19′20″E
Mullalyup	33°44′42″S 115°56′53″E	"the place where the young men had their noses pierced".[19]
Mumballup	33°31′41″S 116°06′47″E
Mungalup	33°24′0″S 116°06′0″E	Not known.[19]
Munglinup	33°43′0″S 120°52′0″E	A local Aboriginal word.[19]
Muradup	33°51′0″S 116°59′0″E	An Aboriginal name.[19]
Myalup	33°06′07″S 115°41′38″E	An Aboriginal name derived from a nearby swamp.[19]
Nambeelup	32°31′55″S 115°49′55″E
Nannup	33°58′55″S 115°45′54″E	"stopping place" or "place of parrots".[11]
Narrikup	34°46′26″S 117°42′07″E	"place of abundance"[11]
Needilup	33°57′0″S 118°46′0″E	Not known.[11]
Neerabup	31°41′28″S 115°46′37″E	Possibly "swampy place" or "small basin or lake".[20]
Noggerup	33°35′0″S 116°10′0″E	Not known.[11]
Nornalup	34°59′28″S 116°49′19″E	"place of black snake" (Norn, a name of a Pseudechis species).[3]
Nowergup	31°38′13″S 115°44′46″E	"place of sweet water".[20]
Ongerup	33°57′58″S 118°29′10″E	"place of the male kangaroo".[21]
Palgarup	34°10′26″S 116°10′30″E
Peringillup	33°56′0″S 117°38′0″E	Not known.[22]
Pingrup	33°32′0″S 118°30′0″E	Believed to mean "grassy place".[3]
Pootenup	34°14′0″S 117°38′0″E	"place of the native hybrid mallee tree".[3]
Porongurup	34°39′50″S 117°52′26″E
Qualeup	33°50′0″S 116°48′0″E	The Aboriginal name of a nearby lake.[23]
Quedjinup	33.63°S 115.08°E / -33.63; 115.08 (Quedjinup)
Quigup	33°58′0″S 115°42′0″E	Not known.[23]
Quindalup	33°32′0″S 116°00′0″E	"place of quendas" (Isoodon obesulus).[23]
Takalarup	34°36′S 118°2′E
Tambellup	34°02′28″S 117°38′31″E	possibly "place of thunder".[24]
Wadjemup	31°59′53″S 115°32′46″E	Noongar name for Rottnest Island, meaning "place across the water".[25]
Wagerup	32°56′53″S 115°54′18″E	"Place of emus".[26]
Wannanup	32°35′53″S 115°38′38″E
Warawarrup	33°02′53″S 115°54′43″E
Wattleup	32°10′12″S 115°49′26″E	Named for Wattleup Road.[27]
Wilyabrup	33°47′0″S 115°2′0″E
Wokalup	33°06′36″S 115°52′52″E	Not known. Humorously said to mean "the confusion experienced by nocturnal animals during an eclipse".[26]
Wonnerup	33°37′26″S 115°25′12″E	"place of the Aboriginal woman's digging or fighting stick".[26]
Woogenellup	34°31′48″S 117°49′41″E
Yallingup	33°38′24″S 115°01′41″E	Place of caves
Yalup Brook	32°54′0″S 115°54′0″E
Yangebup	32°07′44″S 115°49′08″E	Derived from the Aboriginal word "yanget", the name of a native flax or bullrush.[28]
Yoongarillup	33°42′0″S 115°25′0″E
Yornup	34°03′22″S 116°10′12″E
Yunderup	32°34′34″S 115°47′28″E	Derived from "Yoondooroop", the original spelling of one of the islands in the Murray River delta.[28]

See also

• Noongar for a map of the Noongar linguistic regions

Notes

1. Milne, Rod (1992), Ups and ings : Aboriginal place names of south western W.A., R. Milne, retrieved 16 July 2024
2. "PLACE-NAMES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA". The West Australian. Vol. XLI, no. 7, 302. Western Australia. 23 October 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 16 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "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.
4. "History of country town names – D". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
5. Page 10 for items with 'up' - Royal Anthropological Society of Australasia. 50372 9b150c85-36ca-543a-8cbb-7cecf30b7821 (22 February 1904), "Western Australian Aboriginal Place Names. (22 February 1904)", Science of Man and Journal of the Royal Anthropological Society of Australasia, 7 (1), G. Watson: 11, retrieved 16 July 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. "History of country town names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
7. "History of metropolitan suburb names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
8. "History of country town names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
9. "History of metropolitan suburb names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
10. Overman, Jacinta; Dooley, Brendan; Bowra, Tim; Strano, Paddy (2010). Rockingham Lakes Regional Park – Management Plan 2010 (PDF) (Report). p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
11. "History of country town names – N". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
12. "History of metropolitan suburb names – G". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
13. "History of country town names – G". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
14. "> "History of metropolitan suburb names – J". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
15. "History of country town names – J". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
16. "History of metropolitan suburb names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
17. "History of country town names – K". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
18. "History of metropolitan suburb names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
19. "History of country town names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
20. "History of metropolitan suburb names – N". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
21. "History of country town names – O". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
22. "History of country town names – P". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
23. "History of country town names – Q". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
24. "History of country town names – T". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
25. "Wadjemup (Rottnest Island)". CreativeSpirits.info. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
26. "History of country town names – W". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
27. "History of metropolitan suburb names – W". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
28. "History of metropolitan suburb names – Y". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2009.

External links

• Nyungar Placenames in the South-West of Western Australia