The name ''Estonia'' has been connected to ''Aesti'', first mentioned by Roman historian Tacitus around 98 AD. Some historians believe he was directly referring to Balts (i.e., not Finnic-speaking Estonians), while others have proposed that the name applied to the entire Eastern Baltic region. The Scandinavian sagas referring to ''Eistland'' were the earliest sources to use the name in its modern meaning. The toponym ''Estland/Eistland'' has been linked to Old Norse ''aust'', ''austr'' meaning "the east". In Finnish, Estonia is known as ''Viro'', originating from the historic independent county Virumaa. In a similar vein, the corresponding Latvian word ''Igaunija'' derives from Ugandi County.