Legend
Kaersoo, the gift for a gallant lie
Kaersoo ehk Kärsu küla
Kaersoo was an old village of the Bishop of Tallinn from 1249, later part of Jägala and Paasiku manors, and in 1977 it was merged into Salumäe and Sambu villages. Its name puzzled scholars, who saw neither oats, 'kaer', nor bog in it. Villagers in 1949 had a ruder answer: at a banquet of the Jägala lords, a young lady accidentally broke wind and a gentleman gallantly took the blame. In gratitude her father gave him a village, which was called Kärsu, from the noise, and later renamed more politely Kaersoo. The same tale was told about Kärsa manor in Virumaa.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Kaersoo oli 1249. aastast Tallinna piiskopi küla, hiljem Jägala ja Paasiku mõisa all ning see liideti 1977. aastal Salumäe ja Sambu külaga. Nimi on keeleteadlasi kaua vaevanud. Külarahval oli 1949. aastal krobedam vastus: Jägala mõisnike pidulauas pieretanud üks preili kogemata ja üks härra võttis viisakalt süü enda peale. Tänuks kinkinud preili isa talle küla, mida hakati hüüdma Kärsu külaks ja hiljem nimetati viisakamalt Kaersooks. Sama lugu räägiti ka Virumaa Kärsa mõisa kohta.
Source: After Eesti kohanimeraamat (EKI), tale recorded 1949 ↗