Overview
Cheshmeh Now (Persian: چشمه نو, also Romanized as Cheshmeh‑e Now or Cheshmeh‑ye Now) is a Persian toponym meaning “new spring.” The name is applied to several settlements throughout Iran, most commonly villages. These locations are generally small rural communities whose names reflect the presence of a newly discovered or newly prominent water source.
Geographical Distribution
Documented villages bearing the name Cheshmeh Now are found in multiple Iranian provinces, including but not limited to:
| Province | County / District | Administrative Status |
|---|---|---|
| Kermanshah | Ravansar County | Village |
| West Azerbaijan | Khoy County | Village |
| Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad | Gachsaran County | Village |
| Lorestan | Dorud County | Village |
| Fars | Marvdasht County | Village |
| Ilam | Dehloran County | Village |
(The above list reflects places identified in national geographic databases and census records; it may not be exhaustive.)
Demographics
The villages named Cheshmeh Now are typically modest in size. Census data collected by the Statistical Center of Iran in the 2000s report populations ranging from under one hundred residents to several hundred inhabitants for individual settlements. Detailed demographic figures for each specific village are maintained in provincial statistical yearbooks.
Etymology
The Persian word cheshme (چشمه) translates to “spring” (a natural water source), while now (نو) means “new.” The compound therefore denotes a newly formed or recently discovered spring, a common descriptive element in place‑naming practices across the Iranian plateau.
Cultural and Historical Context
Naming settlements after local water features is a longstanding tradition in Iran, reflecting the central importance of water for agriculture, livestock, and daily life in arid and semi‑arid regions. Villages called Cheshmeh Now often originated around a spring that facilitated the establishment of the community.
Administrative Recognition
Each Cheshmeh Now village is recognized as an official administrative unit within its respective rural district (dehestan) and county (shahrestan). They are subject to the governance structures of Iran’s provincial and local government systems.
See Also
- Spring (hydrology) – the natural source of water from which the name derives.
- List of villages in Iran – for broader context on settlement naming conventions.
References
- Statistical Center of Iran, national census data (2006, 2011, 2016).
- Iranian National Committee for Standardization of Geographical Names, place‑name database.
Note: Specific population figures and additional details for each individual village can be obtained from the cited statistical publications.
