Toplana (region)

The other and more plausible theory argues that the toponym is a compound of Albanian të or tu (both roughly meaning "to" or "at") + planë which is derived from Latin planus ("flat" or "plain") and is found across northern Albania (e.g., the nearby region of Plani).

[2] Toplana is situated on the northern banks of the River Drin in the easternmost section of the former Shkodër District and its main settlements are Serme and Toplane.

It borders the historical tribal territories of the Shoshi to the west, Mërturi to the north-east, Berisha to the south-east on the other side of the Drin, and the Dushmani to the south-west.

[3] In 1907, Franz Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás recorded an oral tradition of the Toplana which maintained that they were descended from the younger brother of Can Gabeti who was the forefather of the nearby Shllaku.

As such they were also related to a part of the Gashi tribe from the Gjakova Highlands (Albanian: Malësia e Gjakovës), who were descended from another unnamed brother of Can Gabeti.

Nopcsa also reported that, during the eighteenth century, a branch of the Toplana under a certain Pep Marku migrated from their native homeland to the village of Iballë and expelled the local Gruda fis to Koprat.

[12] Among the brotherhoods and families of the Toplana are the: Ndrepepaj, Lekaj, Geraj, Bicaj, Malutaj, Gjoklekaj, Gjomicaj, Mertiaj, Kolicaj, and Prezhmeshaj.