Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The history of
the village reflects the fate of the near-by Sofia city. It is believed
that there has been a settlement on the site since ancient eras. The
first known inhabitants of the area were thracian tribes. The settlement
was part of numerous kingdoms and empires - Thracian, Macedon, Roman
empire, Byzantine empire, Ottoman empire and Bulgaria. Over the
centuries, different tribes and peoples invaded the area - Macedonians,
Romans, Slavs, Goths, Bulgarians, Turks and many others. There are two
legends about the name of the village. According to the first legend the
village is named after a princess called Vladaya. Her sisters' names -
Boyana and Yana (¿¿¿) gave name to other settlements in the area. The
second theory is that the name is derived from the slavic word "¿¿¿¿¿¿"
[vladeya] which literary means to own. The name of Vladaya was first
attested in 1576 as Viladay or Vladay. Etymological studies derive it
from the genitive and accusative form of the Bulgarian personal name
Vladay.
