Neuter

Bielefeld

Meaning

an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈbiːləfɛlt]

Unknown. There has been published a multitude about the etymology and it depends on whether early occurrences of resembling toponyms refer to this location, the oldest a Bylanuelde farmland conveyed to Corvey in the mid 9th century, next a Biliuelde in the Vita Meinwerci from the 1160s relating occurrences between 1015 and 1036, then a 12th century Bylivelt; only in the 13th century the name of the town occurs clearly and oftener, following which the foundation year is conventionally reckoned the year 1214. A recent overview of the theories is given by Meineke 2013. The areal extent of the city to which the term refers derives from incorporations in 1900, 1907, 1930, and 1973.