Turnišče was first mentioned in written sources as Thoronhel in 1379, then as Turnicha in 1389, Tornischa in 1403, Tornisa in 1405, Thornisca in 1411, Tornissa in 1428, Thurnissa in 1481, Tornysthya in 1524. Until the second half the 19th century, Turnicsa, Turnisa or Turnische was used, when it was changed to Bántornya. The name is derived from the common noun turen 'tower' and thus refers to a town in which a tower stood. The word turen itself ultimately goes back to Greek τύρσις 'fortified settlement' (via Latin turris 'tower, castle' and Middle High Germanturn 'tower').[3]