The Albanians in North Macedonia (, ) are the second largest ethnic group in North Macedonia, forming 446,245 individuals or 24.3% of the resident population. Of the 2,097,319 total population in the 2021 census (including self-enumerated diaspora), 414,073 or 21.52% are Albanians. Geography The Albanian minority is concentrated mostly in the western, north-western and partially middle area of the country with small communities located in the south-west. The largest Albanian communities are in the municipalities of Tetovo (71.3% of the total population), Gostivar (55.3%), Debar (54.8%), Struga (50.6%), Kičevo (41.3%), Kumanovo (26.0%), and Skopje (22.9%). Toponymy A number of placenames in North Macedonia have been considered as being ultimately derived through Albanian. Some cases include: Štip (Shtip in Albanian) is a city in eastern North Macedonia. It was known in antiquity as Astibo-s. About the date of settlement of Proto-Albanians in eastern North Macedonia similar arguments as in the case of Nish have emerged. Ohrid (Ohër in Albanian) is a city in southwestern North Macedonia. It has been proposed that the modern name is a modified version of the ancient Greek name, where the transition of "Lychnidus" to "Ohrid". Skopje (Shkupi in Albanian) is the capital of North Macedonia. Scupi as it was known in Classical Antiuquity. Drin is a river in western North Macedonia. It is recorded in Ancient Greek as Drilon (Δρίλων) and in Latin as Drinus. The form Drin- has been evidenced by Pliny the Elder ( 1st century AD) and is most likely primary. The ancient name Drinus has undergone sound changes reaching the current Albanian form Drin through the evolution of Albanian sound changes. Veles (Qyprill in Albanian) was renamed during Ottoman rule as Köprülü, named after the noble Köprülü family. Malesia (Malësia in Albanian) is a small region north of Struga. The toponym Malesija is of Albanian origin from the word Malësi meaning a mountainous area or region. Šar (Sharr in Albanian) is a mountain range in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. History Antiquity The first certain attestation of the Albanians as an ethnic group is in medieval Byzantine historiography in the work of Michael Attaleiates (1022-1080), although the multi-layered Albanian dialects in western Macedonia demonstrate that they have, at different stages, immigrated into an area that was inhabited by Albanians since antiquity. The name development of 'Shtip' and 'Shkupi' may indicate that Proto-Albanian was spoken in the region in pre-Slavic antiquity. Mihaescu argues