Manchuria

Origin

Probably originally a backformation from Manchurian (“of or relating to the Manchus”), from Dutch Mansiourische, from Mansiouwer (“a Manchu”) + -isch (“-ish: forming adjectives”), possibly as a calque of Japanese 満州 (まんしゅう, Manshū, “Manchuria; Manchurian”). Equivalent to New Latin and English Manchu + -ia, with the r added for ease of pronunciation under the influence of names like Etruria, Liguria, &c. Cf. French Mandchourie, German Mandschurei, &c. Further popularized by Philipp von Siebold's early-19th-century Dutch translations of Japanese maps employing the term, replacing the earlier and vaguer Tartary, Eastern Tartary, Chinese Tartary, &c.