It's true that many openings are named after places, but there are at least as many named after people, and even a few named after neither (Dragon Variation, Giuoco Piano, Fried Liver Attack, etc.) There is a book describing the origins of opening names called, appropriately enough, "Chess Opening Names: The Fascinating & Entertaining History Behind the First Few Moves". I've only seen the table of contents, but am thinking of buying it. Sounds like good fun.
Why Are Openings Named After Places?
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I think it's funny that openings are named after places. I always imagine that in the old days traveling chess players would visit distant lands and find that everyone there played the same opening, so they would name them like that... but I suspect this is not the case xD
Anyone have any insight on where the tradition of naming openings after places comes from? Did the Sicilians really all play 1... c5 and the French all play 1... e6??