Antioch

Origin

Inherited from Middle English Antioche, from Old French Antioche, from Latin Antiochīa, from Ancient Greek Ἀντιόχεια (Antiókheia), from Ἀντίοχος (Antíokhos) + -εια (-eia, “-ia: forming place names”), originally from the father of Seleucus I Nicator, the general of Alexander the Great who founded the Seleucid Empire. The name was then borne by other Seleucid emperors, who named various cities after themselves. Later cities in the United States, etc., were subsequently named for the earlier ones, particularly the Syrian Antioch which was an important center of early Christianity. Compare Alexandria, Laodicea, Apamea, Ptolemais, and Seleucia.