The region is named after Cham Albanians, by adding the suffix -eria, which in Albanian language denotes "land of the Chams". Chameria was mostly used as a term for the region of modern Thesprotia, during the Ottoman rule[3][4] and in modern times when speaking about the Cham Albanians. It is of uncertain etymology and it derives from the ancient Greek name of the Thyamis river, which in Albanian language is called Cham (Çam)