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LIBRIS  WILLIAM  JOHN  ROBERTSON 


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Presented  to  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 
LIBRARY 

by  the 

ONTARIO  LEGISLATIVE 
LIBRARY 

1980 


PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND 


Printed  by  Ne'dl  &  Company 

FOB 
DAVID    DOUGLAS. 

LONDON     .      .      SIMPKIN,  MARSHALL,  HAMILTON,   KENT,  AND  CO.,  LIM. 
CAMBRIDGE  .      MACMILLAN  AND  BOWES. 
GLASGOW  .      .     JAMES  MACLEHOSE  AND  SONS. 


PLACE-NAMES    OF 


BY 


JAMES  B.  JOHNSTON,  B.fr?  ri'° 

MINISTER   OF   THE   FREE   CHURCH,   FALKIRK 


EDINBURGH:   DAVID  DOUGLAS 

1892 


[All  rights  reserved.] 


PREFACE. 


THAT  this  book  is  an  attempt,  only  an  attempt,  with 
many  deficiencies,  the  writer  of  it  is  well  aware.  The 
would-be  severest  critic  could  not  criticise  it  more 
severely  than  he.  But  a  pioneer  may  surely  at  all 
times  claim  a  certain  measure  of  grace  and  indulgence. 
And  if  the  critic  find  here  anything  that  is  truly  useful 
at  all,  he  is  courteously  entreated  to  lend  his  much- 
needed  aid  to  make  the  book  better,  instead  of  picking 
out  the  many  shortcomings  which  a  first  attempt  in 
this  philological  field  cannot  but  display.  The  book 
has  been  long  a-gathering,  and  has  been  compiled  in 
the  mere  shreds  and  fragments  of  time  which  could  be 
spared  from  the  conscientious  discharge  of  exception- 
ally heavy  ministerial  work.  It  has  been  composed 
away  from  all  large  libraries,  to  which  the  writer  was 
only  able  to  make  occasional  reference  ;  and  both  in 
the  writing  and  in  the  passing  through  the  press — 
though  he  has  done  his  best — he  has  been  subject  to 
incessant  interruption.  But  nobody  else  had  hitherto 
attempted  a  task,  whose  accomplishment  not  a  few 
seemed  to  desire ;  hence  this  book. 


11  PREFACE. 

Some  may  be  disappointed  with  the  large  use  of 
conjecture.  The  words  '  perhaps '  and  '  probably '  may 
occur  oftener  than  they  would  like.  But,  from  the 
nature  of  the  case,  this  was  unavoidable.  And  indeed 
all  science  is  daily  being  advanced  by  the  hypotheses 
of  trained  workers.  The  writer  has  endeavoured  to 
keep  all  his  conjectures  within  the  bounds  of  scientific 
sobriety. 

It  must  not  be  expected  that  so  satisfactory  a  guide 
to  the  Place-Names  of  Scotland  can  ever  be  produced 
as  the  public  already  has  for  the  names  of  England  and 
Ireland,  and  for  this  simple  reason,  that  the  materials 
to  form  its  foundation,  to  a  large  extent,  no  longer 
exist.  This  is  sufficiently  explained  in  the  body  of 
the  work.  As  will  soon  be  seen,  the  majority  of  the 
names  dealt  with  are  Celtic,  and  the  writer  would  at 
once  frankly  confess  that  he  has  only  an  amateur's 
knowledge  of  Gaelic ;  but  he  has  tried  what  he  could, 
with  the  aid  of  dictionary  and  grammar,  and  also 
with  the  kind  aid,  to  some  extent,  of  a  few  Gaelic 
friends.  The  dictionary  used  is  M'Leod  and  Dewar's, 
to  whose  standard  the  Gaelic  spelling  is  usually  con- 
formed. But  a  scholarly  Gaelic  dictionary,  such  as  a 
philologist  would  like  to  be  able  to  consult,  is  still  sadly 
to  seek. 

The  book  owes  much  to  the  work  of  others.  Special 
mention  must  be  made  of  the  valuable  contribution  of 
the  writer's  only  real  predecessor,  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell, 
in  his  Studies  in  the  Topography  of  Galloway,  1885, 
of  which  considerable  use  has  been  made,  and  for  which 


PREFACE.  Ill 

most  grateful  thanks  are  now  tendered  to  the  author. 
The  historical  substratum  has,  of  course,  been  taken 
chiefly  from  Dr  W.  F.  Skene's  classic  history  of  Celtic 
Scotland,  3  vols.,  edition  1886.  Would  that  the 
learned  historian  had  condescended  to  explain  some 
more  of  those  difficult  early  names,  about  which  he 
has  given  us  a  few  most  useful  hints.  The  writer 
has  to  express  his  personal  indebtedness  to  Dr  Skene 
for  more  than  one  communication  with  which  he 
has  been  favoured.  For  things  Celtic  and  things 
Norse,  too,  this  book  owes  not  a  little  both  to  the 
published  writings  and  to  private  letters  of  the  Edin- 
burgh Professor  of  Celtic,  Professor  M'Kinnon.  His 
article  Gaelic,  in  the  new  edition  of  Chambers's  Ency- 
clopedia, has  been  very  helpful;  but,  above  all,  his 
scholarly  series  of  letters  on  the  Place-Names  of 
Argyle,  which  unfortunately  lie  buried  in  the  ephemeral 
columns  of  the  Scotsman,  October  1887  to  January 
1888.  These  letters  are  the  most  competent  contribu- 
tion to  the  subject  which  have  yet  appeared.  To  a 
much  smaller  extent  the  writer  is  under  obligation  to 
various  publications  of  Professor  Rhys,  by  whom  he 
has  been  favoured  with  at  least  occasional  private  help. 
Hearty  acknowledgment  is,  furthermore,  due  to  the 
ready  assistance  of  Dr  J.  A.  H.  Murray,  the  laborious 
editor  of  the  great  New  English  Dictionary,  who  can 
always  spare  ten  minutes  to  help  a  friend ;  and  through 
the  writer's  connection  with  the  great  Oxford  dictionary 
he  has  more  than  once  been  privileged  to  draw  upon 
its  unpublished  as  well  as  published  stores.  Topo- 


IV  PREFACE. 

graphical  books  and  articles  innumerable  have  been 
ransacked.  Special  mention  needs  to  be  made  of  the 
interesting  first  chapter  of  Professor  Veitch's  History 
and  Poetry  of  ike  Scottish  Border,  1878,  and  Bishop 
Forbes'  Calendars  of  Scottish  Saints.  For  more 
reasons  than  one  no  material  has  been  borrowed  from 
Isaac  Taylor's  well-known  Words  and  Places.  But 
both,  series  of  Dr  P.  W.  Joyce's  most  scholarly  and 
most  entertaining  Irish  Names  and  Places  have  been 
freely  used. 

A  few  things  hitherto  unpublished  will  be  found  in 
the  Introduction ;  but  the  chief  contribution  to  know- 
ledge will  be  found  in  the  Alphabetical  List  of  Names 
which  follows,  of  which  by  far  the  most  is  original. 
No  such  collection  of  early  name-forms  (on  which  all 
scientific  study  must  be  based)  has  ever  appeared 
hitherto.  Many  have  been  taken  from  various  books, 
but  most  of  them  have  been  laboriously  picked  out  by 
the  writer  from  the  valuable,  but,  as  a  rule,  by  no  means 
easy  to  consult,  publications  of  the  Bannatyne  and 
Spalding  Clubs.  The  early  charters  have,  to  some 
extent,  been  systematised  in  Cosmo  Innes'  great  but 
unfinished  Origines  Parochiales,  1851-55,  which  have 
been  our  chief  quarry.  Volume  I.  contains  the  parishes 
in  Dumbarton,  Renfrew,  Lanark,  Peebles,  Selkirk, 
Roxburgh  ;  Volume  II.  Part  I.,  Argyle,  all  the  Western 
Isles,  Lochaber,  Bute,  and  Arran ;  Part  II.,  Ross  and 
Cromarty,  Sutherland,  Caithness.  The  name-forms 
have  each  been  dated  as  accurately  as  possible ;  but 
detailed  references  have  very  rarely  been  given,  as  this 


PREFACE.  V 

would  have  added  very  greatly  to  the  bulk  and  labour 
of  the  work,  with  but  little  corresponding  advan- 
tage. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  make  the  List 
exhaustive.  Its  size  might  with  ease  be  trebled ; 
and  F.  H.  Groome's  excellent  Ordnance  Gazetteer  of 
Scotland,  1885,  contains  many  more  names  than  are 
to  be  found  here.  Nevertheless  the  writer  ventures 
to  hope  that  he  has  omitted  few  names  known 
beyond  a  ten-mile  radius,  and  few  names  likely  to 
interest  the  ordinary  traveller  by  road,  rail,  or  sea. 
Comparisons  with  places  in  England  are  chiefly  based 
on  the  Postal  Guide  (July  1890),  whose  list  is  the  most 
complete  with  which  the  writer  is  acquainted.  Of 
course  it  is  impossible  for  one  man  to  know  every  site 
even  in  little  Scotland;  and  thus  some  few  of  the 
explanations  conjectured  may  turn  out  inapplicable. 
But  it  is  hoped  that  the  critic  will  believe  that,  in 
several  cases,  this  is  not  due  to  lack  of  effort,  but  to 
the  fact  that  a  reply  post-card  addressed  to  the  writer 
is  still  lying  unused  in  some  spot  not  far  away  from  the 
site  in  question.  Valuable  hints  for  the  compilation  of 
this  list  have  been  received  from  many  friends.  Speci- 
ally deserving  of  mention  are  the  Rev.  J.  M'Lean, 
Pitilie,  Aberfeldy ;  Mr  A.  J.  Stewart,  Schoolhouse, 
Moneydie,  Perth ;  Dr  Joass,  Golspie  ;  Dr  Laing,  New- 
burgh  ;  Dr  Joseph  Anderson ;  Rev.  John  S.  Mackay, 
Fort  Augustus,  and  probably  others.  To  all  those 
mentioned  in  this  Preface  the  writer 'won  Id  again 
express  his  grateful  indebtedness,  but  he  Avould  have 


VI  PREFACE. 

it  distinctly  understood  that  for  all  errors  and  short- 
comings he  alone  is  responsible. 

Last,  but  by  no  means  least,  he  must  very  warmly 
thank  his  publisher  for  not  a  few  additions  and  much 
help  most  liberally  rendered  while  the  sheets  were 
passing  through  the  press.  This  only  he  would  add, 
that  all  communications,  corrections,  and  additions  will 
be  gladly  welcomed  by  the  reader's  fellow-student, 

JAMES  B.  JOHNSTON. 


FREE  CHURCH  MANSE,  FALKIRK, 
December  1891. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGK 

INTRODUCTION, ix 


CHAPTER  I. 
CELTIC  NAMES, xvii 

CHAPTER  IT. 
NOESE  NAMES, 1 

CHAPTER  III. 
ENGLISH  NAMES, Ixviii 

CHAPTER  IV. 
ROMAN,  NORMAN,  AND  PURELY  MODERN  NAMES,     .        .        Ixxxi 

CHAPTER  V. 
ECCLESIASTICAL  NAMES, r  Ixxxvii 


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND,  1-250 
ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  PLACE-NAMES  IN  ENGLAND,  .  .  251 
ADDENDA, 254 


PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND. 


INTRODUCTION. 

EVERY  science  has  its  byways  as  well  as  its  highways. 
It  is  along  an  interesting  byway  that  this  book  invites 
the  student  to  walk.  The  study  of  place-names  may  be 
said  to  stand  to  -History  and  Ethnology  in  somewhat  the 
same  relation  as  the  study  of  fossils  stands  to  Geology. 
Each  group  or  set  of  fossils  represents,  with  more  or  less 
strictness,  a  distinct  age  of  geologic  time ;  so,  roughly 
speaking,  does  each  group  of  place-names  represent  a 
period  of  historic  or  prehistoric  time.  All  the  place- 
names  worth  studying  are  fossils ;  no  man  now  living 
was  present  at  their  birth.  Sometimes  the  geologist 
who  wishes  to  map  out  his  territory  finds  his  task  the 
simplest  possible;  e.g.,  for  hundreds  of  monotonous 
miles  over  the  steppes  of  Russia  he  finds  the  same 
strata,  the  same  soft  Permian  sandstones,  lying  hori- 
zontal and  unaltered  as  on  the  day,  or  rather  age,  when 
first  they  hardened  on  the  old  sea-bottom.  At  other 
times,  though  he  may  have  only  fifty,  or  even  twenty, 
square  miles  to  map  out,  the  geologist  finds  his  task 
one  of  extreme  difficulty  and  complexity.  Half  a  dozen 
different  systems  crop  up  in  that  little  space,  and 

A 


X  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

igneous  rocks  rise  here  and  there  among  the  aqueous, 
crumpling,  distorting,  and  altering  all  things  around ; 
such  a  region  is  the  Isle  of  Arran,  or  the  English 
counties  along  the  Welsh  border.  Again,  the  eager 
fossil-hunter  is  sometimes  delighted  on  splitting  open 
a  nodule,  or  in  cleaving  the  thin  laminse  of  the  shale,  to 
discover  an  exquisitely  symmetrical  ammonite,  or  a  yet 
more  delicate  fern,  in  shape  as  perfect  as  the  day  it 
died.  But,  just  as  often,  the  only  specimens  he  can 
find  are  fragments  crushed  and  broken,  which  require 
the  highly-trained  eye  of  the  expert  to  tell  what  once 
they  were. 

Now,  if  the  devotee  of  such  a  physical  science  as 
geology  will  but  lay  aside  his  hammer  and  his  pocket- 
microscope  for  a  little  while,  he  will  find  somewhat 
similar  problems  to  study  when  he  grapples  with 
(Scottish)  place-names.  Sometimes  his  task  will  be  all 
plain  sailing,  if  only  he  have  learnt  the  rudiments 
of  the  craft;  e.g.,  for  miles  and  miles  in  the  central 
Highlands  he  will  find  himself  in  a  purely  Gaelic 
region,  where  all  the  names  are  as  unmistakably 
Gaelic  as  they  were  on  the  far-off,  unknown  day  when 
they  were  born.  In  sound  and  shape  these  names  are  as 
they  have  ever  been  since  history  began.  But  in  other 
districts,  more  especially  in  those  where  English  has 
long  been  spoken,  the  old  names  have  often  come  down 
to  us  in  much-corrupted  and  truncated  forms,  some- 
times in  a  ludicrously-altered  form,  which  it  requires 
the  greatest  skill  and  care  and  patience  to  decipher — 
if,  indeed,  the  name  can  now  be  deciphered  at  all. 

The  subject  which  is  here  to  be  treated,  the  Place- 
Names  of  Scotland,  is  one  which  has  never  yet  been 
grappled  with  as  a  whole;  and  even  when  we  have 
done  our  best  it  will  be  found  that  there  is  much,  and 


INTEODUCTION.  XI 

that  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  work,  yet  to  be 
done.  Too  many  of  those  who  have  tried  their  'prentice 
hands  at  the  task  have  proceeded  in  the  most  reck- 
less fashion,  in  giving  way  to  unscientific  guess-work 
which,  like  the  obstructive  undergrowths  in  the 
virgin  j.orest,  must  first  be  cleared  away  before  we 
can  begin  to  make  our  road  at  all.  But  much 
foundation  work,  much  pioneering,  has  already  been 
done,  and  done  well.  And  now,  thanks  to  the  labours 
of  Skene,  and  Rhys,  and  Joyce,  and  many  true  men 
more,  it  should  be  impossible  that,  e.g.,  Poma  Dei 
should  ever  again  be  put  forward  as  the  likely  etymology 
of  that  place  which  Glasgow  railwaymen  know  so 
well — Polmadie.1  Nor  do  we  think  that  any  grown-up 
person  will  ever  believe  any  more  that  the  name  of 
Dr  Chalmers'  well-known  first  charge,  Kilmeny,  can 
have  any  reference  to  a  command  to  slaughter  a 
multitude ! 

Our  treatment  of  the  subject  will  be  historic,  pro- 
ceeding strictly  in  order  of  time.  The  first  chapter 
will  refer  to  all  we  know  of  the  aborigines  of 
Britain — call  them  Iberians,  Ivernians,  Silurians,  or 
what  you  please — and  then  will  rapidly  discuss  the 
largest  and  most  complicated  portion  of  our  task — the 
Celtic  names.  Then  purely  English  or  Anglo-Saxon, 
Scandinavian,  and  Norman  names  will  each  receive  a 
chapter ;  and  with  the  Norman  we  will  treat  the  Roman 
names,  a  group  too  insignificant  to  call  for  separate 
handling.  Purely  modern  names  will  be  dealt  with 
last  of  all ;  and,  as  ecclesiastical  names  form  so  large 
and  important  a  group,  they  will  receive  a  chapter  to 
themselves.  The  study  will  be  no  mere  dilettante 
trifling.  The  historian,  the  philologist,  the  antiquarian, 
1  Gaelic,  poll  madaidh,  '  pool  of  the  wolf  or  '  wild  dog.' 


Xll  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

the  anthropologist  will,  each  and  all,  find  for  them- 
selves side-lights  both  helpful  and  interesting ;  and  Dr 
Murray's  great  English  Dictionary  will  sometimes 
be  supplemented  by  earlier  instances  of  words  than 
any  which  its  learned  columns  now  record — see  List, 
s.v.  BEN,  CARSE,  MOREBATTLE,  &c. 

What  further  seems  needful  to  be  said  in  introduc- 
tion, by  way  of  rule,  caution,  or  useful  hint,  we  shall 
now  throw  into  a  series  of  numbered  paragraphs  : — 

(1)  It  will  be  found  in  Scotland,1  as  in  any  other 
country,  that  the  oldest  place-names,  the  names  which, 
like  the  hard  granite,  best  resist  weathering,  are  those 
of  large  rivers,  mountains,  and  promontories,  and  of  all 
islands.     The  names  of  rivers  and  islands  especially  are, 
as  a  rule,  root-words,  and  therefore  archaic,  and  difficult 
to  explain.     In  a  few  cases  we  cannot  explain  them  at 
all,  because  we  know  practically  nothing  of  the  ancient 
language  to  which  they  probably  belong.     The  names 
of  man's  dwellings  change  pretty  often  ;  but  the  name 
of  a  big  ben  or  a  steady-flowing  river  has  hardly  ever 
been  known  to  change. 

(2)  Every  place-name  means  something,  or  at  least 
once  meant  something.     Only  in  this  degenerate  19th 
century  have  men   begun   to   coin  silly,  meaningless 
names.     Only  within  late  years  could  a  Dickens  or  a 
Thackeray  have  had  the  chance  of  satirising  his  neigh- 
bour for  calling  No.  153  in  a  dingy  back  street,  full 
20  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  Mount  Pleasant,  or 
for  christening  an  ugly  brick  house,  in  full  sight  of  a 
gaswork,  Belle  Vue.     But  Brother  Jonathan  does  even 
worse.      In   the   newly-erected  State   of   Washington 

ome  of  the  county  names  are — Snohomish,  Klickitat, 

1  Of.  Skene,  Celtic  Scotland,  vol.  i.  bk.  i.  chap,  iv.,  a  very  valuable 
chapter. 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

Yakima,  Wahkikum,  Chehalis.  These  monstrosities 
are  not  the  vocables  of  the  fast-dying  Red  Indian. 
They  were  made  by  the  simple  process  of  shaking  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet  in  a  sack,  and  then  emptying 
them  out,  by  instalments,  on  the  floor ! 

(3)  It  may  be  taken  as  a  general  rule  that  every 
name   was  once    fairly  appropriate.     Therefore  try,  if 
possible,   to    study   names,   as   every    honest   student 
studies  his  quotations,  in  situ,  on  the  spot.     But  one 
must  not  always  expect  to  find  the  name  appropriate 
to-day.     The  cause   or  circumstance  which  gave  rise 
to  the  name  may  have  utterly  passed   away.     What 
was  '  Kingsbarns '  once  need  not  be  so  now.     Or  the 
physical  aspect  of  the  site  may  have  become  entirely 
altered ;  e.g.,  many  think  that  CALTON  l  means  '  bald, 
bare  hill,'  G.  calbh  dun,  which  may  well  be ;  and  the 
'  bald  hill '  is  still  to  be  seen  plain  enough  in  Edinburgh  ; 
but  little  trace  of  it  can  be  found  among  the  wynds  and 
courts  which  now  cover  '  the  Calton '  in  Glasgow. 

(4)  Though  every  name  has  a  real  meaning,  never 
prophesy  unless  you  know.     It  is  quite  likely  that  a 
name  does  not  mean  what  it  says,  or  seems  to  say; 
and  a  name  which  looks  like  English  pure  and  simple 
may    possibly    not    be     English   at    all.      Abundant 
illustration  of  this  will  be  found  further  on.     Mean- 
time,  take  one  illustration.     There  is  a  spot  in  the 
Stewartry  in  the  parish  of  New  Abbey  which  at  present 
goes  by  the  sadly  vulgar  and  thoroughly  English-look- 
ing name  of  SHAMBELLY.     On  examination  this  turns 
out  to  be  pure  Gaelic,  sean  baile  (shanbally),  which  has 
the  very  innocent  meaning  of  '  old  house '  or  '  hamlet.' 2 

1  The  printing  of  a  name  in  capitals  means— See  further  information 
in  the  List. 

2  See  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell's  Studies  in  the  Topography  of  Gallcnvay, 
1887  p.  283. 


XIV  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

(5)  It  is  thus  of  the  highest  consequence,  wherever 
possible,  to  secure  not  only  an  old  but  the  very  oldest 
extant  form  or  spelling  of  a  name.  For,  though  a 
name  may  be  spelt  so-and-so  to-day,  it  by  no  means 
follows  that  it  was  always  spelt  thus.  And  frequently 
it  is  only  when  one  sees  the  old  form  that  any  idea 
of  the  name's  true  meaning  can  be  reached.  This  also 
will  find  copious  illustration  as  we  proceed.  For  the 
present,  take  just  one  instructive  instance  from  the 
writer's  own  experience.  TESTER,  the  name  of  a  parish 
at  the  foot  of  the  Lammermuirs,  was  long  a  puzzle. 
The  writer  communicated  with  the  courteous  Professor 
of  Celtic  in  Edinburgh  University,  giving  a  somewhat 
foolish  conjecture,  which  need  not  be  repeated.  The 
conjecture  Professor  M'Kinnon  repudiated,  but  said  he 
could  throw  no  light  upon  the  name.  Then  his  con- 
frere at  Oxford,  Professor  Rhys,  was  applied  to,  with 
the  suggestion  that  Yester  might  be  the  same  name  as 
the  hill  Yes  Tor  in  Dartmoor,  and  was  asked  for  the 
latter 's  meaning.  We  then  learnt  that  Yes  is  a  Cornish 
superlative,  and  Yes  Tor  means  '  highest  hill ; '  but 
Professor  Rhys  would  not  venture  to  identify  it  with 
Yester,  and  declared  himself  puzzled.  But  one  day 
we  discovered  that  the  oldest  charters  call  the  place 
Ystrad,  and  the  meaning  appeared  with  a  flash.  For 
this  is  just  the  ordinary  Welsh  word  for  'a  valley/ 
Thus  were  we  supplied  with  a  plain  warning  against  rash 
guesses,  and  at  the  same  time  found  a  clear  footstep  of 
the  Brython  among  the  Lammermuirs.  The  joy  of 
the  palaeontologist  when  he  cracks  open  a  limestone 
nodule  and  finds  therein  a  magnificent  Productus, 
every  curve  and  line  of  the  shell  perfect,  is  hardly 
greater  than  the  satisfaction  of  the  historical  philolo- 
gist when  he  first  discovers  that  a  puzzling  and  prosaic 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

name  like  CARSTAIRS  originally  was  '  Casteltarres '  (sic, 
c.  1170),  Terras  being  a  familiar  Scotch  surname  to 
this  day.  Even  yet  all  will  not  be  well  unless  the 
student  also  knows  that  the  oldest  usage  of  the  word 
'  castle '  in  English  was  as  a  translation  of  the  Vulgate's 
castellum,  where  castellum  means  always,  not  a  fortress 
but  a  village.  Thus  Carstairs,  if  dressed  in  Saxon 
garb,  would  be  Tarreston,  in  Norman  garb,  Tarresville. 
It  may  be  taken  as  a  rough  rule,  with  many  exceptions, 
that  if  we  can  find  a  name  on  record  before  the  year 
1200,  we  have  a  fair  chance  of  correctly  surmising  its 
meaning ;  whereas  if  no  record  of  it  be  found  till  after 
1500,  that  record  may  be  of  small  scientific  value. 

(6)  If  it  be  highly  desirable  to  ascertain  the  old 
spelling  of  a  name,  it  is  almost  equally  desirable  that 
we  should  know  its  local,  native  pronunciation.  Celtic 
scholars  are  so  thoroughly  agreed  as  to  the  need  for 
this,  if  Celtic  names  are  to  be  rightly  interpreted,  that 
we  hardly  need  to  emphasize  the  rule — wherever  you 
can  get  a  native  Gael  to  pronounce  a  name  listen  care- 
fully to  him.  Such  a  proceeding  will  save  many  a 
time  from  writing  or  talking  nonsense.  But  the  rule 
holds  good,  to  a  less  extent,  about  all  Scotch  place- 
names,  and  about  Celtic  names  even  when  the  pro- 
nouncer  himself  no  longer  speaks  Gaelic.  The  writer 
does  not  need  to  go  far  from  his  own  Lowland  door  to 
find  very  pertinent  examples  of  this.  If  the  reader 
will  consult  the  List  of  this  book  he  will  find  that,  in 
the  case  of  two  of  our  local  Celtic  and  two  of  our  local 
English  names,  the  present  native  pronunciation  comes 
much  nearer  the  true  etymology  than  the  present  spell- 
ing. The  four  names  are  the  Celtic  CAMELON  (kamlon) 
and  POLMONT  (p6mon),  and  the  English  FALKIRK 
(fawkirk)  and  SHIELDHILL  (sheelhill).  The  liquids 


r:XVl  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

I,  m,  r  always  need  special  watching ;  and,  when  the 
whole  truth  is  known,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Celt 
makes  far  sadder  havoc  with  his  hs  than  the  Cockney 
(see  p.  xxxv). 

(7)  It  should  not  be  thought  that  a  given  name 
must  of  necessity  be  all  Celtic,  all  English,  or  all  Norse. 
Hybrid  names  occur  by  the  score,  e.g.,  the  Celtic  and 
English  CAMBUSLANG,  the  English  and  Celtic  NEWTON- 
MORE,  the  Celtic  and  Norse  GARRABOST,  &c.  Nor 
must  it  be  supposed  that  the  names  in  any  given  dis- 
trict ought  all  to  belong  to  one  language — all  Gaelic  in 
the  Highlands  and  all  English  in  the  Lowlands.  This 
is  far  from  being  the  case ;  though  it  is  true  that  some 
districts  are  nearly  unmixed  in  this  respect,  e.g.,  Orkney 
and  Shetland  names  are  practically  all  Norse;  the  main- 
land of  Argyle  names  practically  all  Celtic,  pure  Gaelic 
too,  with  no  Brythonic  or  Welsh  admixture ;  whilst  in 
Berwickshire  there  is  scarcely  a  name  left  which  is  not 
English. 

When  all  these  seven  caveats  have  been  surely  learnt 
and  gripped,  then,  and  only  then,  is  the  amateur  in- 
vestigator fit  to  advance  a  single  step  in  safety. 


CHAPTER   I. 

CELTIC   NAMES. 

IT  is  impossible  to  speak  with  strict  accuracy  on  the 
point,  but  Celtic  names  in  Scotland  must  outnumber  all 
the  rest  by  nearly  ten  to  one.  And  their  importance  may 
be  measured  well  by  the  one  fact  that,  up  to  so  late  a  date 
as  the  death  of  Malcolm  II.  in  1056,  all  Scotland  was 
purely  Celtic.  Wide  and  difficult  though  the  Celtic 
problem  still  is,  answers  can  be  found  far  more  surely 
and  accurately  than  was  at  all  possible  fifty  years  ago. 
Here,  as  in  every  other  field,  the  last  half-century  has 
seen  science  advancing  with  swift,  sure  foot.  Fifty 
years  ago  the  subject  of  Celtic  place-names  spread  out 
like  a  vast  morass  with  a  little  solid  footing  round 
the  edges  alone — a  vast  morass,  with  no  thorough- 
fares and  no  beacons,  and  with  many  a  Will  o'  the 
Wisp  dancing  deceitfully  about,  to  lead  the  luckless 
follower  to  confusion.  Some  solid  footing  there  has 
always  been;  e.g.,  nobody  who  knew  Gaelic  at  all 
would  ever  be  at  a  loss  to  say  that  Achnacloich 
meant  '  field  of  the  stone.'  But  whenever  any  name 
a  little  less  simple  than  this  was  met  with,  or 
when  men  began  to  argue,  Was  this  stone  a  Druid 
relic,  or  a "  mere  boundary  mark  ?  Is  cloich  a  true 
•Gaelic,  or  a  Pictish,  or  a  Brythonic  (Welsh)  form  ? — 


XV111  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

then  at  once  arose  a  hopelessly  bewildering  Babel  of 
tongues.  But  now  the  morass  has  been  largely  drained, 
and  everywhere  good  footpaths  run. 

During  the  early  part  of  our  century  all  was  wildest 
conjecture  as  to  Britain's  aborigines,  and  most  of  what 
had  then  been  written  was  purest  nonsense.  Almost 
everybody  was  satisfied  that  our  aborigines  were  Aryans1 
and  Celts,  and  that  in  Scotland  the  eldest  race  was 
most  likely  the  Picts.  Learned  old  Pinkerton  laboured 
hard  with  the  names  (many  probably  spurious)  of  the 
Pictish  kings,  to  prove  the  Picts  Gothic,  while  indus- 
trious Dr  Jamieson  plied  a  lusty  cudgel  in  favour  of 
a  Teutonic  origin.  Mais  nous  avons  change  tout  cela. 
That  new  science  called  Anthropology,  born  c.  1862, 
but  now  in  a  vigorous  youth,  has  supplanted  the  shifty, 
precarious  methods  of  mere  root-guessing.  Those  who 
say  they  know  now  tell  us,  that  what  survives  longest  of 
a  race  is  its  type  of  skull  and  face,  next  longest  its  place- 
names  ;  whilst  that  which  most  readily  changes  is  its 
language.  Anthropology  has  proved  beyond  question 
that  the  primeval  inhabitants  of  our  isles,  down  to  the 
very  close  of  the  Stone  Age,  were  those  non-Aryan 
cave-dwellers  of  dark  complexion,  black  hair,  long  skull, 
and  short,  feeble  build,  whose  remains  are  found  in  the 
long  barrows,  a  people  typically  represented  by  the 
tribe  Silures,  whom  Julius  Caesar  describes  to  us  as 
dwelling  on  what  is  now  the  Welsh  border.  Their 
marks  may  still  be  recognised  by  the  skilled  observer 
almost  all  over  Scotland  from  Galloway  northwards, 
and  very  specially  in  such  a  Hebridean  isle  as  Barra. 
Curious  to  relate,  if  we  want  to  find  the  one  living 
race  which  is  a  tolerably  pure  representative  of  these 

1  The  name  Aryan  was  not  actually  applied  to  this  great  family  of 
languages  till  about  1846. 


CELTIC  NAMES.  XIX 

'Iberians'1  of  old,  both  in  build  and  speech,  we  must 
journey  to  the  south  shore  of  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and 
see  the  Spanish  Basques,  the  folk  whose  uncouth 
speech,  'tis  said,  the  Devil  gave  up  learning  in  despair. 
In  sooth,  the  Basque  tongue  is  but  a  poor  specimen  at 
the  best. 

Naturally  these  old  '  Iberians '  would  give  a  name  to 
every  prominent  physical  feature  in  the  land ;  but  what 
these  names  were  we  can  hardly  in  any  instance  tell. 
Their  tongue  is  dead,  drowned  by  the  many  later 
comers  in  almost  utter  forgottenness.  Written  monu- 
ments of  any  kind  the  British  'Iberian'  has  none. 
However,  Professor  M'Kinnon  thinks  a  pre- Celtic 
element  may  still  be  dimly  recognised  in  the  modern 
Gael's  vocabulary ;  and  there  are  a  very  few  Scottish 
place-names  wThich  may  with  some  confidence  be 
identified  with  Basque  roots,  e.g.,  URR,  name  of  the 
river  which  runs  by  Dalbeattie,  which  is  almost 
certainly  the  Basque  ur,  '  water,'  and  ISLA,  a  river  in 
Eorfar  and  Banff,  il-  being  very  common  in  Basque 
place-names.  Besides  these,  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell 
offers  to  us  a  handful  of  Galloway  names  of  which 
he  can  make  nothing,  and  which  he  thinks  may  be 
Iberian.  This  is  only  conjecture  ;  and,  to  take  just  one 
of  the  names  he  mentions,  Gutcloy  may  quite  possibly 
be  Celtic  for  '  hut  of  stone' — cf.  W.  cut,  '  a  cot,'  and  G. 
clack,  cloich, '  a  stone.'  Professor  Rhys  has  done  his  best 
to  discover  for  us  some  more  of  our  aboriginal,  or  '  Iver- 
nian '  names,  as  he  prefers  to  call  them.  His  method 
(Rhind  Lectures,  1890,  No.  3)  is,  if  he  can  find  Scottish 
names  not  readily  explainable  from  Gaelic,  which 
resemble  the  names  of  some  princesses,  heroes,  or 

1  So  called  from  Iberia,  an  ancient  name  of  Spain,  though  it  is  only 
a  careful  guess  to  say  that  Britain's  aborigines  came  from  Spain. 


XX  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

divinities,  mentioned  in  the  earliest  Welsh  and  Irish 
legends,  then  he  conjectures  that  these  Scottish  place- 
names  must  be  pre-Celtic,  because  all  three  countries 
have  them  in  common.  Such  a  method  is  precarious, 
and  in  no  given  case  has  he  reached  demonstration. 
See  List,  s.v.  ATHOLE,  BANFF,  CLYDE,  DUNFERMLINE, 
EARN,  ELGIN. 

After  these  dim  aborigines  came  the  Celts,  most 
westerly  band  of  the  Aryans.  Till  about  ten  years  ago 
it  was  considered  a  settled  commonplace  of  philology 
that  the  Aryan's  home  was  somewhere  in  Western  Asia, 
among  the  sources  of  the  Oxus,  to  the  north  of  Persia. 
Here,  again,  all  is  changed.  Max  Muller  almost  alone 
remains  by  the  old  flag;  and  now  the  suggestion, 
perhaps  first  made  to  Europe  by  our  own  Dr  Latham, 
and  developed  by  the  acute  erudition  of  Schrader, 
Penka,  and  others,  has  been  almost  universally 
adopted,1  viz.,  that  the  Aryan's  cradle  and  nursery 
must  have  been  among  the  wide,  swampy  plains  of 
Central  Germany.  The  skull-men,  with  their  measur- 
ing tapes,  have  fairly  routed  the  men  who  clave 
to  the  dictionary  alone.  Among  the  first  of  the  many 
wandering  sons  to  leave  the  old  Aryan  home  was  the 
Celt,  who  went  West  with  the  sun,  filling  what  is  now 
France  and  Belgium,  and  the  lands  fringing  thereon. 
It  is  thought  he  must  first  have  entered  Britain  by  way 
of  Essex  and  Kent ;  when,  we  cannot  say  in  years  B.C., 
but  it  was  at  the  end  of  the  great  Neolithic  Age,  for 
he  brought  bronze  tools  and  weapons  with  him.  What 
we  have  here  to  say  about  the  Celt  can  lay  no  claim  to 
original  research ;  and  now  that  reliable  information  is 
so  easily  obtained,  e.g.,  take  Professor  M'Kinnon  on 
Gaelic  and  Professor  Rhys  on  Celts  in  the  admirable 

1  See  Isaac  Taylor,  Origin  of  the  Aryans,  1889,  chap.  i. 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XXI 

new  edition  of  Chambers's  Encyclopaedia,  we  need  say 
but  little.  However,  a  few  remarks  are  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  intelligent  appreciation  of  our  subject. 
Tis  pleasant  to  be  able  to  state  that,  after  long  dispute, 
the  main  facts  about  the  Celtic  race  and  languages  in 
Britain  are  now  practically  agreed  on  by  all  scholars. 
And  though  there  must  be  a  good  deal  of  conjecture 
still — we  cannot  help  it — yet  whatever  is  said  about 
Scottish  Celtic  place-names  by  Drs  Skene  and  Keeves, 
or  Professor  M'Kinnon,  may  be  accepted  as  in  all 
probability  correct ;  moreover,  though  Joyce  deals  with 
Irish  names  only,  he  gives  us  much  sure  and  valuable 
guiding. 

It  is  likely  the  first  disturbers  of  the  swarthy  'Iberian' 
were  the  Goidels,  then,  after  a  time,  the  stronger 
Brythons.  The  physical  characteristics  of  the  'Iberian' 
and  the  newer  race  are  somewhat  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish ;  but  we  all  think  we  know  the  Celt  when  we 
see  him — a  big-boned,  short-skulled  man  of  fair  com- 
plexion, with  red  or  tawny  yellow  hair,  strong,  often 
somewhat  fierce  in  look.  The  Goidels,  or  better  Gadhels 
— Gadhel  is  just  Gael,  dh  being  quiescent — and  the 
Brythons — same  root,  indeed  same  word,  as  Briton — 
these  are  the  names  by  which  the  two  great  branches 
of  the  Celtic  race  in  Britain  are  now  commonly  known. 
It  is  only  in  popular  parlance  that  '  Gaelic'  is  confined 
to  the  tongue  of  the  Scottish  Celt.  The  Gadhelic  race 
comprehends  the  Irishman,  the  Manxman,  and  even  the 
Cornishman.  Perhaps  we  should  explain,  however, 
that,  like  good  patriots,  the  Scottish  Dr  Skene  calls  the 
Cornish  Gadhels,  while  Welsh  Professor  Rhys  tends  to 
class  them  with  the  Brythons.  From  the  few  inscrip- 
tions which  have  come  down  to  us,  and  from  the  many 
proper  names  recorded  by  Caesar,  it  is  now  considered 


XX11  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

certain  that  the  most  of  the  ancient  Gauls  spake  a 
Brythonic  speech,  practically  identical  with  Welsh ; 
points  of  contact  with  Gadhelic  tongues  are  harder  to 
find,  but  they  do  exist  too.  In  both  Gaul  and  Britain 
Brython  was  stronger  than  Gael,  and  largely  supplanted 
him  all  over  England  and  Wales,  and  southern  Scotland 
too,  leaving  to  the  Gael  only  Ireland  and  Man,  and 
remoter  Scotland. 

Thus,  when  we  come  to  examine  the  Celtic  place- 
names  of  Scotland,  we  must  expect  to  find  two  types 
or  groups  of  names.  Yet  the  stronger  Brython  has 
made  but  little  permanent  mark  among  us,  and  the 
names  indisputably  his  are  few;  north  of  the  Grampians, 
almost  none.  The  Gael  and  the  later-inflowing  Saxon 
very  nearly  killed  him  out.  The  Gael  or  Gadhel  again 
includes,  in  Scotland,  both  an  invader  and  an  invaded. 
Before  the  Brython  entered  the  whole  land  seems  to  have 
been  peopled  by  the  wild,  woad-stained  Caledonians, 
those  Pictij  f  painted  men/  of  whom  so  many  early 
historians  have  to  tell.  The  name  first  occurs  in 
Ammianus  Marcellinus,  c.  378  A.D.  Our  earliest  native 
writers,  Gildas,  c.  550,  and  Nennius,  of  the  7th  century, 
thought  them  a  foreign  people,  who  first  landed  in 
Orkney.  Until  the  beginning  of  the  6th  century  the 
northern  two-thirds  of  Scotland  was  all  Pictish,  there 
being  both  a  northern  and  a  southern  kingdom  of  the 
Picts.  The  boundary  between  the  two  was  the  massive 
backbone  of  the  Grampians  and  that  ridge  which  is 
now  the  eastern  frontier  of  Argyle,  Drumalban,  c  ridge, 
backbone  of  Alban,'  the  Celt's  name  for  Scotland.  The 
Niduari  who  occupied  Galloway  were  Picts  too.  In  the 
year  498  the  true  Scots,1  the  men  of  Ulster,  came  over 
in  their  wicker  boats,  conquered  all  Argyle  and  the 
1  'Scots'  never  meant  anytbingibut  Ulstermen  till  the  llth  century. 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XX111 

Isles,  south  of  Ardnamurchan,  founded  the  kingdom  of 
Dalriad  Scots,  and  imposed  their  speech  there  too. 
Even  as  the  Jute  and  Angle,  whose  prows  were  fast 
turning  towards  England  at  this  same  time,  imposed 
their  speech  on  all  England,  and  have  left  very  few 
Brython  names  in  any  thoroughly  English  shire,  so 
those  Scoto-Irish,  in  course  of  time,  imposed  their 
tongue  on  all  Scottish  Celts,  and  largely,  though  not 
so  universally,  stamped  their  impress  on  the  nomencla- 
ture too.  But  from  the  first  the  difference  between 
Erse  and  Pictish  must  have  been  small.  Were  there 
no  other  evidence,  the  names  in  the  Pictish  region  of 
the  mountains,  lochs,  and  rivers,  names  which  so  rarely 
change,  would  amply  prove  this. 

A  run  through  Joyce's  Irish  Names  and  Places  will 
soon  convince  any  Scotsman  that  his  names  and  the 
Irishman's  are  largely  alike ;  e.g.,  all  the  Bals-  or  Ballys-, 
all  the  Carricks-,  so  common  in  those  parts  of  Scotland 
nearest  Ireland,  as  Carrickaboys,  Carrickcow,  Carrick- 
glassen,  &c.,  and  all  the  Kils-  and  Knocks-,  of  which 
there  are  scores  in  either  land.  The  Pict  had  his  own 
distinctive  marks,  it  is  true.  In  the  Postal  Guide  list 
for  Wales  and  for  Ireland  there  is  not  a  single  Fetter-, 
For-,  or  Pit-,  all  sure  sign-manuals  of  the  Pict.  But  to 
argue,  like  Professor  Rhys,  from  the  pronunciation  in 
Aberdeenshire  (once  Pictish)  of  /  for  w,  fat  for  what, 
&c.,  and  on  almost  no  other  evidence,  that  Pictish  was 
not  an  Aryan  speech  at  all,  is  surely  precarious  indeed.1 
But  this  branch  of  our  subject  can  never  be  thoroughly 
expiscated,  owing  to  almost  total  lack  of  material. 
Scottish  education  practically  began,  and  almost  wholly 

1  But  see  too  pp.  xix,  xx.  Near  Cullen  is  a  cave  called  by  the 
natives  'Fal's  mou,'  i.e.,  whale's  mouth.  This  the  Ordnance  Survey, 
in  their  ignorance,  have  marked  in  the  map  as  Falmouth  ! 


XXIV  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

spread,  through  the  Donegalman  Columba  and  his  far- 
travelling  monks,  of  whom  the  earliest  were  all  Irish- 
bred;  and  down  to  the  middle  of  the  16th  century  all 
Gaelic  put  into  writing  in  Scotland  was  practically 
identical  with  Erse.  The  Book  of  the  Dean  of  Lis- 
more,  which  dates  so  late  as  1512-40,  is  the  first  known 
MS.  of  any  consequence  in  Scottish  Gaelic. 

To  draw  the  dividing  line  between  names  Brythonic 
and  names  Gadhelic  is  a  more  needful  matter.  Here 
is  a  problem,  interesting  but  delicate,  which  has  caused, 
and  perhaps  still  causes,  not  a  little  debate.  Here  two 
of  our  greatest  living  authorities  are  not  yet  quite 
agreed.  Professor  Rhys  of  Oxford  has  elaborated  his 
theory  about  the  Picts  being  non- Aryans  in  his  recent 
Rhind  Lectures.  In  his  former  work  on  Celtic  Britain, 
he  was  inclined  to  think  the  Picts  Brythons,  but  said  that 
some  of  them  in  Lothian  may  possibly  not  have  been 
Celts  at  all,  quoting  in  support  of  this  such  unCeltic 
names  as  Inchkeith,  Penco/i£land,  &c.  But  Dr  Skene's 
verdict  is  generally  held  the  true  one.  In  his  early 
work,  The  Highlanders  of  Scotland  (1837),  he  tells  us 
Pictish  was  '  a  sort  of  low  Gaelic  dialect  partaking 
largely  of  Welsh  forms.'  But  when  we  quote  another 
sentence  from  his  mature  work,  Celtic  Scotland,  i.  225, 
edit.  1886,  '  The  generic  terms  do  not  show  the  existence 
of  a  Cymric  [Welsh]  language  in  the  districts  occupied 
by  the  Picts,'  it  will  be  seen  that  for  Welsh  in  the 
earlier  sentence  he  would  now  write  British.  In  Celtic 
Scotland  (i.  211)  Dr  Skene  examines  the  list  of  Pictish 
kings  handed  down  to  us,  and  shows  that  the  earlier 
part  is  made  up  of  purely  Irish  or  Gaelic  names,  all 
belonging  to  the  Northern  Picts,  but  that  the  later 
part  shows  more  connection  with  the  Southern  kingdom, 
and  more  largely  partakes  of  British,  especially  Cornish, 


CELTIC    NAMES.  XXV 

forms.  The  southern  kingdom  stretched  over  Perth- 
shire south  to  the  Forth.  This  was  the  region  inhabited 
by  the  tribe  whom  the  Romans  called  Damnonii,  prob- 
ably the  same  men  as  the  Damnonii  of  Cornwall. 
And  probably  this  same  Pictish  race,  in  Ireland  called 
Cruithnigh  (descendants  of  Cruithne),  the  Firbolg  of 
Ireland's  legendary  history,  once  occupied  all  Ulster. 

So  much  for  the  region  north  of  the  Forth.  The 
student  will  find  it  worth  while  to  try  and  understand 
how  things  lay  in  the  south  too.  To  begin  with,  in  the 
far  south-west,  or  Galloway,  as  in  neighbouring  Ulster, 
there  were  Picts,  the  Romans  calling  the  tribe  here 
Niduari  (see  NITH).  Then  all  Dumfries,  Berwick,  and 
most  of  Roxburgh  and  Haddington  were  early  tenanted 
by  the  same  great  tribe  which  peopled  most  of  Northern 
England,  the  Brigantes,  a  Brythonic  or  Cymric  race. 
For,  of  course,  all  the  old  kingdom  of  Cumbria  or 
Strathclyde,  stretching  from  Clyde  to  Ribble,  was  Bry- 
thonic. Even  after  the  northern  part  of  this  kingdom 
was  incorporated  with  Scotland,  c.  950,  we  find  the 
people  called  in  12th-century  charters,  '  Strathclwyd 
Wealas  '  or  '  Walenses,'  i.e.,  Welsh  or  foreigners.  But 
from  the  testimony  of  charters  also  of  David  I.'s  reign 
(1124-53)  we  learn  that  by  his  time  the  spoken  Cymric 
must  have  practically  disappeared  from  Strathclyde. 
Even  by  the  days  of  Kenneth  M' Alpine,  first  king 
of  the  Scots,  c.  850,  the  Brythons  of  Scotland  had  been 
overrun  and  largely  eclipsed  by  the  Gaels.  Next,  the 
Damnonii  once  spread  from  Tweeddale  away  through 
Lanark  to  Ayr,  Renfrew,  and  Dumbarton,  and  south  to 
the  Lowther  Hills,  and  north,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the 
Tay,  perhaps  a  little  further.  In  Tweeddale,  probably 
in  West  Lothian  too,  the  tribe  went  by  name  of  Gadeni. 
Here  the  place-names  have  a  strong  Cornish  cast,  whilst 

B 


XXVI  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

both  Gaelic  and  Pictish  forms  are  scanty.  The  typical 
Gaelic  auchen-,  bal-,  craigen-,  and  mack-,  and  the 
Pictish  auchter-,  for-,  and  pit-,  are  here  few  and  far 
between.1  Wherever  we  find  the  letter  /  and  the 
familiar  auchter-  and  pit-,  there  the  Gael  or  Pict  must 
have  been.  They  are  never  found  in  Wales.  But.  wher- 
ever we  meet  the  letter  p,  there  probably  the  Brython 
pitched  his  camp.2  That  letter  seldom  occurs  in  true 
Gaelic ;  it  is  chiefly  found  in  a  few  imported  words 
like  pibroch,  from  piobair,  which  is  just  our  English 
'  piper.'  At  a  very  early  stage  p  vanished  from  true 
Gaelic;  witness  that  word  which  must  be  one  of  the 
oldest  in  every  tongue,  athair,  the  L.  pater,  T^ng.  father ; 
also  ore,  a  pig  or  sea-pig,  i.e.t  whale,  the  L.porcus,  found  in 
ORKNEY,  which  is,  curiously  enough,  perhaps  the  earliest 
Scottish  name  on  record.  Strabo  (bk.  ii.),  who  preserves 
for  us  the  narrative  of  the  great  voyager  Pytheas,  c. 
330  B.C.,  gives  it  in  the  form  '0/o/ca? ;  even  then  the  p 
was  gone.  A  modern  Gael,  even  when  he  sees  p  printed 
before  him,  will  often  read  it  b — iompachadh  (conver- 
sion) he  will  pronounce  imbacha,  &c. ;  thus,  too,  he  will 
make  poll,  a  pool,  into  bol,  as  in  BOLESKIN,  &c.  But, 
curiously  enough,  in  some  quarters  the  reverse  process 
is  found,  and  that  even  where  Brythonic  influence  is 
hardly  possible,  e.g.,  in  the  Hebrides  the  Norse  bol  not 
seldom  becomes  pol,  see  p.  Ixv ;  BONSKIED,  Pitlochry, 
is  pronounced  by  some  natives  Pownsktitch ;  a.  1300  we 
find  '  Palgoueny '  as  the  spelling  of  BALGONIE  ;  and 
c.  1320,  Prenbowgal  for  BARNBOGLE. 

As  p  is  not  found  in  pure  Gaelic,  all  the  pens  or 
pins  must  be  Brythonic,  the  Gaelic  being  ben.  There 
are  only  two  pens  north  of  Stirling — PENDRICH,  just 

1  Cf.  Professor  Veitch,  History  of  the  Scottish  Border,  1878,  chap.  i. 

2  Pit-  itself  is  an  almost  unique  exception. 


CELTIC    NAMES. 

beyond  the  Forth,  and  PENNAN,  near  Fraserburgh,' 
the  latter's  origin  is  unknown.  A  common  prefix,  neV$$  Fi  tj 
found  in  pure  Gaelic  or  in  Irish,  is  pit-,  pitte-,  petti-, 
first  met  with  in  the  Pictish  Gaelic  entries  of  the  Book 
of  Deer ;  e.g., '  pette  mac  Garnait,'  homestead  of  Gar- 
nait's  son,  &c.  Neither  Brython  nor  Gael  ever  use  pit- ; 
e.g.,  Gaels  call  PITLOCHRY  Bailechlochre,  and  this  is  the 
general  rule,  the  G.  baile,  'house,  hamlet,'  being  the 
equivalent  of  the  Pictish  pit-.  But  names  in  tra-  or  tre- 
are  pure  Brythonic ;  for  this  is  the  W.  tref,  Cornish,  tre, 
also  Ir.  treb,  house,  home. 

A  fierce  battle  has  been  waged  over  the  question,  '  Is 
the  common  prefix  aber-,  "  at  the  mouth"  or  "  confluence 
of,"  a  purely  Brythonic  form  or  no  ? '  Welshmen  have 
always  been  eager  to  assert  that,  'aber-  is  Welsh,  pure 
and  simple,  the  Gael  always  uses  inver-.'  The  ber 
or  ver  is  the  same  root  in  both,  the  scholastic  spellings 
being  abhir  and  iribhir,  and  this  bhir  is  evidently  cog- 
nate with  the  Eng.  bear,  Li.ferre,  Gk.  fapeiv.  The  oldest 
extant  spelling  is  abbor  (see  ABERDOUR)  ;  but  in  old 
charters  we  often  find  the  Brythonic  p  for  b  (see  ABER- 
ARGIE,  ABERDEEN,  &c.).  The  a  in  aber-  is  thought  to  be 
ath,  pron.  ah,  a  ford ;  for  aber-  is  sometimes  found  in  a 
name  where  there  is  no  river-junction  or  mouth,  but 
where  there  is  or  was  a  ford,  e.g.,  ABERNETHY,  near  Perth, 
and  ARBIRLOT,  the  old  Aberelloch.  Down  the  river 
Nethy  from  Abernethy  we  find  Invernethy,  where  Nethy 
and  Earn  actually  meet.  This  much  is  certain  about 
aber-  and  inver-,  that  in  Wales  there  are  scores  of  abers-, 
but  of  invers-  not  a  solitary  one.  But  if  aber-  be  a  sure 
sign  of  the  Brython,  which  is  not  quite  certain,  we  may 
from  it  alone  gain  a  pretty  fair  idea  how  far  he  ever 
spread  himself  in  Scotland.  He  must  have  travelled 
all  along  the  east  coast  from  St  Abb's  to  Inverness — 


XXV111  PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND. 

witness  Aberlady,  Aberdour  (Fife),  Abernyte,  Aberdeen, 
and  Aberdour  (Aberdeen).  He  must  also  have  travelled 
inland  from  the  east  coast  in  every  direction  for  a  con- 
siderable distance ;  see  Aberfoyle,  Aberfeldy,  Abergeldie 
(Braemar),  Aberchirder  (Banff) ;  and  as  far  west  as 
Aberchalder  on  the  Caledonian  Canal.  But  on  the 
west  coast,  and  north  of  Inverness,  aber-  barely  exists. 
There  is  none  in  Argyle,  land  of  the  Dalriad  Scots; 
none  in  Selkirk,  Peebles,  Lanark,  Stirling,  Dumbarton, 
Renfrew,  Ayr,  land  of  the  Damnonii ;  none  in  Galloway, 
land  of  the  Picts;  and  none  in  Cornwall,  which  is 
Damnonian  too.  Speaking  generally,  if  aber-  is  to  be 
our  clue,  the  Brython  hardly  touched  the  land  of  the 
northern  Picts  at  all.  Then,  in  Aberdeen,  Kincardine, 
Forfar,  Perth,  and  Fife,  land  of  the  southern  Picts, 
there  are  said  to  be  seventy-eight  invers-  and  only 
twenty-four  abers-,  which  proportion  probably  indicates 
that  here  the  Brythons  were  the  later  comers,  because 
no  place-names  readily  change.  In  Forfar  the  abhir 
gets  hardened  into  ar,  as  in  ARBROATH,  the  famous  old 
Aberbrothick,  and  ARBUTHNOT,  at  first  spelt  Abir- 
buthenoth;  just  as  fothir,  later  fetter,  becomes  in  this 
region  hardened  into  for.  Thus  we  have  FETTER- 
ANGUS  and  FETTERNEAR  in  Aberdeen,  but  FORDOUN 
and  FORTEVIOT,  the  old  Fothuirtabaicht,  further  south. 
Dr  Skene  would  like  to  lay  it  down,  as  a  rule,  that  ar 
and  for  belong  to  the  southern,  aber  and  fetter  to  the 
northern  part  of  this  north-east  corner  of  Scotland, 
making  the  Mounth  or  Grampians  the  boundary.  But 
this  rule  has  many  exceptions;  e.g.,  FORGLEN  and 
FORDYCE  stand  north  of  the  line,  and  FETTERCAIRN 
and  FETTERESSO  south  of  it.  But,  to  return  from  this 
digression,  and  to  complete  the  discussion  of  aber-,  it 
may  be  remarked  that,  on  the  whole  west  coast,  the  soli- 


CELTIC    NAMES.  XXIX 

tary  instance  is  one  which  would  not  easily  be  guessed 
under  its  cheating  mask,  viz.,  APPLECROSS  in  West  Ross, 
which  is  a  modification  of  Abercrosan  or  '  Apurcrossan/ 
the  Crosan  being  a  little  burn  there.  The  initial  a  does, 
very  rarely,  get  rubbed  off,  and  BERVIE  may  be,  though 
certainly  BERWICK  is  not,  a  case  in  point. 

To  sum  up  then — in  the  study  of  the  Celtic  names  the 
aid  of  the  Welsh  dictionary  will  occasionally  be  required 
for  the  district  south  of  the  Grampians,  particularly 
Tweeddale  ;  but  by  far  the  largest  number  of  our  place- 
names  are  to  be  interpreted  from  the  dictionary,  and  by 
the  laws,  especially  the  pronouncing  laws,  of  Scottish 
Gaelic.  True,  more  names  may  have  had  a  Brythonic 
origin  than  at  first  sight  appear ;  for  Zeuss  in  his  great 
Grammatica  Celtica  (1853)  gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that 
the  divergence  between  Gaelic,  in  its  broadest  sense, 
and  Welsh  began  only  a  few  centuries  B.C.,  and  in  the 
days  of  Julius  Ca3sar  must  have  been  very  small. 

By  far  the  best  known  form  of  Gaelic  is  Irish ;  and 
Scottish  Gaelic  is  as  much  a  variety  or  dialect  of  Irish 
as  Broad  Scots  is  of  Anglic  or  Old  English — being 
nearer  Connaught  Irish  than  any  other.  Perhaps  the 
most  distinctive  note  of  the  Scottish  tongue  is,  that  the 
primary  accent  is  always  on  the  first  syllable.  In  some 
grammatic  peculiarities  Scottish  Gaelic  is  more  like 
Manx  than  Irish,  which  means,  in  other  words,  that 
Gaelic  and  Manx  have  ceased  to  develop  at  a  further 
or  later  stage  of  disintegration  than  Irish ;  and  to  this 
day  a  Manxman  can  understand  a  Gael  better  than  a 
man  from  Erin's  isle. 

Already  have  we  heard  that  scores  of  Scottish  names 
are  identical  with  names  in  Ireland.  But  let  it  be 
clearly  understood  that,  more  than  this,  the  assistance 
in  our  study  to  be  gained  from  names  in  Ireland  is 


XXX  PLACE-NAMES   OF    SCOTLAND. 

immense,  assistance  splendidly  systematised  and  clari- 
fied for  us  by  Dr  Joyce  in  his  two  handy  volumes. 
The  aid  from  Ireland  is  all  the  more  precious  to  the 
scientific  student,  because  we  possess  copious  remains 
of  early  Irish  literature,  annals,  historic  poems,  and  the 
like,  which  give  us  the  early  forms  of  many  of  the  Irish 
names.  Abbot  Tighernac,  c.  1080,  and  the  Annals  of 
Ulster  have  quite  a  number  of  Scottish  names  too  ;  and 
sometimes  we  get  forms  as  old  as  the  5th  or  6th  cen- 
tury A.D.  From  these  early,  uncorrupted  forms  scholars 
can  usually  tell  with  certainty  the  meanings  of  the 
names.  Irish  names  are  much  easier  to  interpret 
because  they  have  never,  to  the  same  extent,  been  so 
mangled  and  corrupted  as  in  Scotland,  either  by  Dane 
or  Englishman.  Again,  the  Scottish  student  is  not 
nearly  so  fortunate  as  his  Irish  neighbour,  because 
early  Gaelic  literature  is  sadly  wanting.  Not  that 
early  Scotsmen  could  not  handle  a  pen,  and  handle 
it  well;  but  their  writings  have  not  been  allowed  to 
survive.  For  this  we  have  to  thank  the  kindly  atten- 
tions of  our  invaders ;  not  so  much  the  armies  of 
England's  two  Edwards',  though  they  did  their  share 
but  rather  the  rough  hands  of  pagan  Vikings  from 
Norroway,  who  hated  anything  which  seemed  to  smell 
of  the  mass,  and  who  consigned  hundreds  of  precious 
Scottish  MSS.  to  the  sea  or  to  the  flames.  These  same 
rude  pirates  have  made  early  Celtic  MSS.  very  scarce 
all  over  Britain.  This  country  contains  only  about  six 
MSS.  which  date  before  1000  A.D.  ;  but  the  Celtic 
clergy  fled  from  their  native  cells  to  the  Continent, 
bearing  their  books  with  them ;  and  the  libraries  of 

1  Cf.  Calendar  of  Documents  relating  to  Scotland,  1881,  vol.  i.  pref. 
pp.  vi.  sq.,  where  the  gross  neglect  of  our  own  public  record-keepers 
in  early  days  is  much  commented  on,  and  Edward  I.  vindicated. 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XXXI 

Central  and  South-West  Europe  have  now  rich  store  of 
early  Celtic  MSS.,  not  less  than  200  in  all.  However, 
the  subjects  of  these  continental  MSS.  make  them  to 
be  seldom  of  much  service  for  place-names.  Nor  do 
the  many  later  bundles  of  Scottish  Gaelic  MSS.  in  the 
Edinburgh  Advocates'  Library  and  elsewhere  yield  us 
much  fruit  either.  Of  annals  or  topographic  works 
they  are  said  to  contain  hardly  any,  though  there  are 
rare  exceptions,  like  the  Islay  charter  of  1408. 

Of  two  other  precious  survivals  every  student   of 
Scottish  history  has  at  least  heard : — 

(1)  The  Book  of  Deer  in    Aberdeenshire ;   for  the 
touching  origin  of  the  name  DEER,  or  '  tear,'  see  the 
List.      This  manuscript  contains  the  gospel  of  John, 
and  parts  of  the  three  other  gospels,  in  Latin;   and 
then,  what  is  important  for  us,  in  the  blank  spaces  of 
the  MS. — parchment  was  costly  in  those  days — there 
are  written  in  Scottish  (or  Pictish)  Gaelic,  grants  of  land 
and  privileges  to  the  church  of  Deer,  containing  several 
place-names.    The  MS.  is  all  written  in  one  hand,  which 
some  say  is  of  the  9th  century,  though  others  make  it 
as  late  as  the  reign  of  David  I.,  c.  1150. 

(2)  The  Pictish  Chronicle  of  the  monks  of  Brechin, 
a  brief  work  writ  in  Latin,  but  clearly  a  translation 
from  the  Gaelic,  and  containing  a  good  many  examples 
of  place-names,  which  will  all  or  very  nearly  all  be 
found   embodied  in   our  List.      It   breaks  off  at   the 
year  966,  and  its  date  cannot  be  much  later.     Besides, 
we    have   several    instructive    name-forms    in    Abbot 
Adawinan's  well-known  life  of  his  great  predecessor, 
Columba,  of  which  one  MS.  dates  from  710  A.D.    Then, 
from   the   days  of  King   Alexander   I.,   'the   Fierce/ 
onwards,   we   have   the    copious   Abbey   Chartularies, 
whose  stores  of  names  of  hill  and  dale,  of  town  and 


XXX11  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

hamlet,  have  largely  been  made  available  by  the  zeal 
of  the  Bannatyne  Club.  Specially  have  we  to  thank 
the  huge  industry  of  Cosmo  Innes  and  Brichan  in  the 
Origines  Parochiales,  which,  alas !  cover  only  half  of 
Scotland  (see  Preface).  The  famous  Inquisitio  de 
Terris  Ecclesice  Glasguensis,  made  by  Prince  David, 
afterwards  David  I.,  and  now  printed  in  the  Chartulary 
of  Glasgow,  is  perhaps  the  oldest  authentic  example  of 
such  documents.  The  Chartularies  of  Glasgow,  Pais- 
ley, St  Andrews,  Holyrood,  and  Melrose  are  perhaps 
those  most  deserving  of  note.  But  when,  as  is  often 
the  case,  the  chartularies  have  been  written  by  scribes 
wholly  ignorant  of  Gaelic,  their  phonetic  attempts  at 
the  spelling  of  a  place-name  often  sadly  disfigure  the 
real  word  (see  AUCHTERMUCHTY,  &c.).  Sometimes  they 
get  a  little  more  blame  than  perhaps  they  really 
deserve,  e.g.,  we  are  commonly  told  that  the  far-famed 
name  IONA  is  just  a  scribe's  error  for  loua,  the  Latin- 
ised form  of  Hy,  Hii,  as  the  name  is  in  Bede.  Hy,  of 
course,  is  the  English  Bede's  way  of  representing  the 
G.  aoi  (ui),  '  isthmus/  lona  being  so  called  because  it 
and  its  near  neighbour,  Mull,  once  joined.  But  the 
whole  truth  seems  to  be,  that  the  isle's  Gaelic  name 
was  aoi  uain,  '  green  isthmus ; '  for  both  Cuminus,  or 
St  Cummian,  c.  657,  first  man  to  mention  the  place, 
and  also  Columba's  second  biographer,  Adamnan,  name 
it  Hyona  ;  cf.  the  List,  s.v. 

As  an  example  of  what  we  may  find  in  a  charter,  and 
of  how  little  after  all  place-names  change,  even  in  750 
years,  take  the  following  list,  being  all  the  names  men- 
tioned in  the  charter  (in  the  Paisley  Chartulary) 
granted  by  King  Malcolm  IV.  to  Walter,  Stewart  or 
Seneschal  of  Scotland,  in  1158: — 'Francis  (i.e., 
Normans)  et  Anglis,  Scotis  et  Galovidiensibus 


CELTIC    NAMES.  XXX111 

de  terris  de  Keinfrew,  Paisleth,  Pullock,  Tulloch, 
Kerkert  (i.e.,  CATHCART),  Le  Drip,  Egilsham,  Lochynoc, 
et  Inerwick,  Inchenan,  Hastendeii  (i.e.,  HASSENDEAN), 

Legerwood,    et    Birchensyde, Roxburgh, 

St  Andrae,  Glasgow,  Kelcow,  Melross.'     Among 

others,  there  are  the  following  noteworthy  personal 
names: — 'Colvill,  Sumervilla,  et  Macus;'  the  latter 
has  not  yet  the  appended  -mil  to  make  him  Maxwell. 

The  Celt  gave  names  to  all  Scotland,  so  we  must  be 
prepared  to  find  thousands  of  Celtic  names  to  study ; 
but,  unfortunately  for  those  who  wish  to  make  sure  of  the 
true  pronunciation  of  a  puzzling  name,  Gaelic  is  now 
spoken  over  less  than  half  its  old  area.  It  has  been 
retreating  up  the  glens  ever  since  the  days  of  foreign, 
Saxon  Queen  Margaret,  and  is  destined  to  retreat 
further  still,  till  finally,  at  no  distant  future — elteu 
fugaces ! — it  must  give  up  the  ghost  altogether,  even  as 
Cornish  has  already  done.  Take  the  region  north  of 
a  line  drawn  from  Forres  to  Campbelton,  and  throw  in 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Dee,  and  there,  roughly  speak- 
ing, is  the  area  in  which  Gaelic  is  still  a  living  speech. 
But  Gaelic  lived  on  in  most  parts  of  Scotland  much 
longer  than  is  commonly  thought.  We  have  the 
evidence  of  George  Buchanan  that  it  was  spoken  in 
Galloway  down  to  the  days  of  Queen  Mary.  It  lingered 
in  Glenapp  (south  of  Ballantrae)  a  full  century  later ; 
and  it  probably  continued  to  be  the  vernacular  of  some 
in  Fife  till  quite  1700.  Little  wonder  then  that 
Galloway  and  Fife,  though  now  English  in  speech,  are 
crammed  with  Celtic  names.  South  of  the  above- 
mentioned  line  we  cannot  be  so  sure  about  the  real 
pronunciation,  and  consequently,  the  real  meaning  of 
many  of  the  names.  But,  nota  bene,  it  will  not  always 
do  to  trust  local  pronunciations  and  interpretations, 


XXXIV  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

even  when  given  by  a  true  Gael.  Loch  MAREE,  so 
universally  and  wrongly  thought  to  be  '  Mary's  Loch,' 
is  a  good  case  in  point. 

No  sure  progress  can  be  made  until  at  least  some- 
thing is  known  of  the  difficult  laws  of  Gaelic  inflection 
and  pronunciation;  and,  of  course,  Scottish  Gaelic  shares 
its  chief  difficulties  with  all  the  other  Celtic  tongues. 
The  inflections  are  sometimes  a  little  difficult,  because 
they  largely  take  place  within  the  word,  e.g.,  nom.  cu, 
<  a  dog ;'  gen.,  the  very  different-looking  coin, '  of  a  dog,' 
earn, ' a  cairn,'  cuirn,  'of  a  cairn,'  &c.  Then  it  is  the  rule 
— and  this  is  of  great  moment  for  our  study — that  when- 
ever certain  consonants  come  between  two  vowels  they 
aspirate  or  add  an  h ;  these  aspirating  (and  the  tyro  may 
well  call  them  also  exasperating)  letters  are  b,  c,  d,  f,  g, 
in,  s,  t ;  e.g.,  Adam  in  Gaelic  is  A.dh&mli,  and  Adamnan, 
more  correctly  Adhamnan,  is  the  diminutive,  '  little 
Adam,'  'Adie.'  For  the  extraordinary  results  produced 
on  the  name  Adamnan  by  these  aspirations,  see  p.  xcv. 

The  laws  of  pronunciation  are  yet  more  difficult. 
Many  must  heartily  re-echo  the  wish  that  Gaelic,  like 
Manx,  had  been  written  phonetically,  according  to 
sound,  and  not  according  to  what  Professor  M'Kinnon 
calls  '  the  strict  and  highly  artificial  rules  of  the 
schools.'1  As  things  now  stand,  there  is  probably  no 
language  in  the  world  in  which  the  eye  can  give  less 
help  to  the  tongue.  Of  course,  there  is  method  in  the 
seeming  madness ;  but,  to  an  untrained  eye,  the  spelling 
gives  almost  no  clue  to  the  sound,  and  is  usually 
altogether  misleading.  Thus,  an  ordinary  English- 

1  Dr  Stewart  in  his  Grammar  (pp.  29-35,  3rd  edit),  and  we  could 
have  no  higher  authority,  points  out  many  ways  in  which  Gaelic  spell- 
ing ought  to  be  simplified.  This  could  so  easily  have  been  done  a 
century  ago,  before  the  Bible  was  printed  ;  and  those  who  love  the 
old  speech  cannot  but  feel  that  it  is  a  pity  it  was  not. 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XXXV 

man  consulting  a  Gaelic  dictionary  will  find  himself 
altogether  at  sea.  The  majority  of  the  numerous 
diphthongs  could,  with  advantage,  be  spelt  with  a  single 
vowel,1  and  the  uncouth-looking  triphthongs,  aoi,iai,iui, 
are  really  unneeded.  But  it  is  the  '  aspiration'  which 
causes  the  chief  troubles.  When  h  gets  next  any  letter  in 
the  middle  or  end  of  a  word  it  has  always  a  tendency  to 
eclipse  its  neighbour,  and  to  make  both  it  and  the  h  silent 
altogether.  Thus,  many  of  those  strange  mh's  and  dh's, 
with  which  Gaelic  is  so  thickly  peppered,  have  no  sound 
ab  all ;  e.g.,  Anihalgliaidli,  which  looks  such  a  mon- 
strous mouthful,  subsides  into  Owlay,  so  well  known  to 
us  in  the  name  Macaulay.  Hence,  too,  such  pronuncia- 
tions as  Strabungo  for  STRATHBUNGO,  Stracathro  for 
STRATHCATHRO  ;  and,  as  we  have  already  seen,  Gael 
for  Gadhel — here  dh  is  called  evanescent.  The  usual 
sound  of  mh  and  bh  is  v,  as  in  damh  an  ox,  hence 
DAVA,  and  in  da  bharr,  'two  heights/  or  DAVARR. 
Sometimes  it  is  nearer  w,  as  in  Craigwhinnie,  the  G. 
creag  mhuine,  '  crag  of  the  thicket;'  sometimes  the 
v-sound  goes  all  the  way  to  b,  though  not  in  good 
Gaelic,  as  STRATHBUNGO  =  'Mungo's  vale;'  and  then 
often,  as  we  have  seen  above,  the  aspirate  and  its 
neighbour  have  no  sound  at  all.  Yet  more  puzzling  is 
it  when  the  original  consonant  falls  away  altogether, 
leaving  only  the  h,  or  else  leaving  no  trace  at  all ;  thus 
G.  fada,  '  long,'  unaspirated,  gives  us  the  name  Loch 
FAD  in  Bute,  but  aspirated  it  gives  us  the  names  of 
Ben  ATTOW  and  HADDO  House. 

Another  matter  of  crucial  importance  is  the  accent. 
In  Gaelic,  which  here  differs  from  Irish,  the  accent 

1  The  vowel  sounds  in  Gaelic  are  so  varied  that  they  can  only  be 
learned  by  considerable  experience.  They  also  differ  a  good  deal  in 
different  localities,  and  in  different  centuries  (cf.  KYLE,  MULL,  &c. ). 


XXXVI  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

tends  to  fall  on  the  first  syllable.  Thus,  in  many  names, 
the  second  or  unstressed  syllable  is  corrupted  by 
indistinct  pronunciation,  e.g.,  Damhach  becomes  DAVA, 
or  oftener  falls  away  altogether ;  e.g.,  achadh,  '  field,' 
has  in  hundreds  of  names  become  ach  or  auch.  Almost 
never  has  the  final  syllable  survived  in  a  name.  But 
there  is  one  interesting  example  at  least.  In  a  charter 
of  Malcolm  the  Maiden,  c.  1160,  in  Cosmo  Innes'  Col- 
lections for  the  History  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff '(p.  172), 
we  read  of  a  place  in  the  Don  Valley,  'Brecachath 
quod  interpretatur  campus  distinctis  coloribus ;'  and 
there  is  still  a  Breakachy,  or  '  speckled  field,'  near 
Beauly,  and  in  Caithness.  Similarly,  tulach,  '  a  hill, 
mound,'  usually  appears  in  names  as  Tully-  or  Tillie-, 
as  in  TULLYMET  and  TILLIECHEWAN,  though  we  have 
the  whole  word  in  TULLOCH,  and  the  second  syllable 
intact  in  MoRTLACH.  According  to  Professor  M'Kinnon 
it  is  a  firm  rule  in  Gaelic  phonology,  in  compound 
names,  which  Gaelic  place-names  usually  are,  that  the 
accent  falls  on  the  qualifying  word  or  attributive. 
Attention  to  the  accent  in  the  native  pronunciation 
will  thus  save  many  an  incorrect  guess  at  a  name's 
meaning;  thus  Knockan  Avould  mean  'little  hill,' 
(dimin.  of  G.  cnoc],  but  Knockan,  '  hill  by  the  river ' 
(abhuinn),  an  being  here  the  qualifying  word ;  thus, 
too,  TYRIE,  the  name  of  a  farm  near  Kirkcaldy,  might 
from  its  look  mean  'king's  house'  (tigli  righe),  but 
when  we  know  it  is  accented  Tyrie,  it  can  only  be  the 
G.  tir,  tire,  '  land,  a  bit  of  land.' 

English  speakers  often  put  '  The  '  before  a  name,  as 
'  The  Methil,'  '  The  Lochies'  (see  p.  Ixxx);  in  Gaelic  the 
article  is  almost  never  prefixed  to  a  place-name,  except 
in  the  form  t' ;  ANSTRUTHER,  '  the  river,'  is  a  rare  excep- 
tion. The  nominative  of  the  article,  an,  is  then  rarely 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XXXV11 

met  with ;  but  the  genitive  na,  in  plur.  nan,  before 
labials  nam,  is  very  often  met  with  ;  e.g.,  Babiabruaich, 
'  village  on  the  bank,'  Coimcmuriskin,  '  ravine  of  the 
goblins/  Bealach--n.am-bo,  '  pass  of  the  cattle.'  The 
na  of  the  article  is  very  liable  to  abrasion  or  corrup- 
tion ;  e.g.,  it  may  become  simple  a  as  in  Dalarossie,  or 
simple  n  as  in  Kibiinver,  or  may  even  slip  down  into 
i,  as  in  Cullicudden  (cf.  the  Welsh  y,  as  in  Bettws-y- 
Coed,  '  house  in  the  wood  ').  It  is  worth  remembering 
that,  except  in  feminine  polysyllables,  the  gen.  plural 
of  a  noun  is  always  just  the  same  as  the  nom.  singular. 
With  masculine  nouns  beginning  with  a  vowel  the  article 
is  an  t\  or  t\  as  in  TOB,  '  the  bay.'  The  same  is  true 
of  feminine  nouns  beginning  with  s,  here  the  t  eclipses 
the  s;  as  in  the  names  COLINTRAIVE  and  KINTAIL, 
which  are  in  G.  coil  an  t'snaimh,  and  cinn  t'saile. 

The  mediae  b,  d,  y  approach  in  sound  much  nearer  to 
our  English  tenues  p,  t,  c,  and  are  often  found  inter- 
changing in  names.  Final  dh  often  sounds  like  k  or 
ch.  (cf.  ARDVERIKIE).  The  letter  d  seems  often  to  insert 
itself,  as  in  the  Galloway  names,  Cullendeugh,  Cullen- 
doch,  and  Ciillenoch,  all,  as  the  accent  shows,  from  G. 
cuileanach,  'place  of  hollies';  also,  as  in  DRUMMOND, 
G.  dromainn,  and  in  LOMOND,  Old  G.,  Lomne.  The  s 
of  the  English  plural  in  scores  of  cases  affixes  itself  to 
Gaelic  names,  as  in  CRATHES,  LINDORES,  WEMYSS.  The 
Eng.  diminutive  -ie  is  also  very  freely  found,  generally 
representing  all  that  is  left  of  some  ending  in  -ach,  as 
in  BRODIE,  CAMLACHIE,  &c.,  but  also  representing 
sometimes  no  Gaelic  syllable,  as  in  BANAVIE  and 

LOGIE,  from  G.  ban  abh  and  lag,  respectively. 

****** 

Of  all  Scottish  place-names  those  sprung  from  Celtic 
lips  show  by  far  the  most  sympathy  with  nature.  The 


XXXVlll  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Celt's   warm,  emotional  heart   loved  to  seek  out  the 
poetry  and  colour  in  the  world  around,  and  many  of  his 
place-names   show  that   ( stern   nature  was  his  daily 
companion  and  friend.'     Indeed,  the  majority  of  Celtic 
names,  be  it  noted,  give  either  the  simplest  possible 
description  of  the  site  named,  or  describe  some  promi- 
nent  feature,   or   else  the   colouring  or  appearance 
of  it  as  it  strikes  the  eye.     A  very  large  number  of 
Gaelic  names  mean  simply,  '  house  on  the  bank,'  'village 
by  the  straits/  '  field  of  stones,'  or  the  like.     The  first 
two  of  these  are  represented  in  Gaelic  by  those  Cockney 
terrors  TIGH-NA-BRUAICH  and  BALL-A-CHULISH;  whilst 
that    mouth-filling  name,  which  awes  even   a  Scots- 
man, MACHRAHANISH,  Kintyre,  just  means  'thin  plain' 
or  '  links,'  plus  the  Norse  nish,  i.e.,  ness.     Thus  we  may 
almost  venture  to  lay  it  down  as  a  general  rule  thab 
the  simpler  the  meaning  conjectured,  the  more  likely 
is  it  to  be  correct,  e.g.,  take   the  somewhat  puzzling- 
looking  name,  MENSTRIE,  near  Alloa.     This  we  could 
never  explicate   without   the  aid  of  its  old  spelling, 
Mestreth  (sic  1263).     This  is  most  likely  just  the  G. 
magli  sratha,  '  plain  of  the  valley '  (at  the  foot  of  the 
Ochils),  the  final  gh  and  th  having  now  both  vanished ; 
though  we  suppose  it  is  at  least  possible  that  the  mes- 
represents  G.  mias, '  fruit.'     From  what  has  been  said 
the  reader  will  not  be  surprised  to  find  that  the  words 
for  '  water,'  '  river,'  '  stream,'  occur  very  often  in  names 
— dobhar  or  dor  (see  ABERDOUR,  &c.) ;  abhuinn  or  an 
or  AVON;  dbh,  found  in  AWE  and  AVIE-MORE,  and  in 
A-RY,  the  bh  here  being  quiescent;  also  uisg,  uisge, 
painfully  familiar  in  the  shape  and  sound  of  that  'strong 
water,'  commonly  called  'whisky;'  this  word  we  see  in 
COR-UISK  and  in  ESK.     In  England  the  same  root  rings 
the  changes  on  almost  all  the  vowels,  as  in  Ax,  Ex, 


CELTIC   NAMES.  XXXIX 

Isis,  Usk,  and  Ux  (in  Uxbridge)  ;  whilst  Ox-  in  Oxford, 
and  Ouse,  are  probably  brothers  of  the  same  family. 

Whether  the  last  rule  be  accepted  or  not,  there  -is 
no  question  that  personal  acquaintance  with  a  spot  is 
highly  desirable  before  making  any  attempt  to  solve 
its  name.  One  sight  of  a  place  may  prevent  ludicrous 
mistakes,  and  may  also  suggest  with  a  flash  the  real 
meaning.  BOLESKINE,  from  the  look  of  the  word, 
might  well  be  =  Pollanaskin,  Mayo,  i.e.,  'pool  of  the  eels;' 
but,  from  the  look  of  the  place,  it  must  be  boll  (or  poll) 
eas  cumhan  (pron.  cuan), '  pool  of  the  narrow  waterfall.' 
It  was  personal  inspection,  too,  which  brought  that 
happy  inspiration  which  translated  COLINTRAIVE,  on 
the  quiet  Kyles  of  Bute,  as  coil  an  t'snaimJi  (pron. 
traive,  for  t  eclipses  s,  and  n  changes  to  its  kindred  liquid 
T),  '  corner  at  the  swimming-place,'  where  the  cattle 
for  market  were  made  to  swim  over.  ARDENTRYVE,. 
opposite  to  Oban,  has,  of  course,  a  similar  origin. 

Where  Gaelic  names  now  survive  in  an  English- 
speaking  region,  and  to  some  extent  in  Gaelic-speaking 
regions  too  (for  few  Gaels  can  spell  their  own  tongue),  the 
place-names  are  apt  to  get  so  corrupted  by  generations 
of  illiterate  speakers  that  one  requires  to  know,  not 
only  the  look  of  a  place  and  the  true  pronunciation 
of  its  name,  but  also  something  of  the  lines  on  which 
these  corruptions  or  alterations  usually  run.  We 
already  know  how  apt  b  and  p  are  to  interchange,  so 
too  are  d  and  t ;  e.g.,  take  AULDEARN,  near  Nairn.  It 
has  nothing  to  do  with  auld  or  earn,  but  is  the  G.  edit 
fhedrna  (fh  mute),  'river  of  the  alders.'  Again,  take  that 
kirk  whose  name  Burns  has  made  undying,  ALLOWAY, 
near  Ayr.  This  is  probably  a  corruption  of  G.  allt-na- 
bheath  (vay), '  river  of  the  birches,'  and  so  identical  with 
AULTBEA,  away  up  in  West  Ross-shire.  This  word  allt 


xl  PLACE-NAMES   OF    SCOTLAND. 

is  a  very  remarkable  one,  for  it  means  both  '  river/ 
'  glen/  and  '  heights  on  either  side  a  glen/  thus  being 
plainly  akin  to  the  L.  altus,  high.  It  recurs  again  and 
again  in  Gaelic  names,  in  the  guises  of  All-,  Alt-,  Auld, 
Ault-  (see  List).  As  showing  the  length  to  which  the 
Gael  can  go  in  flinging  away  his  alphabet,  we  may  cite 
the  name  BEALLACHANTUIE,  on  the  Atlantic  side  of 
Kintyre,  meaning  '  pass  of  the  seat/  G.  suidhe;  but  the 
name  is  now  pronounced  Ballochantee,  which  means 
that  all  that  is  now  left  of  the  six  letters  su-idhe  is  the 
final  long  e ! 

The  commonest  names  are  those  giving  a  bare,  brief 
description  of  the  site  named ;  next  in  frequency  are 
those  which  give  the  general  appearance  of  the  place 
as  it  strikes  the  eye — rough  (garbh)  or  smooth  (mm, 
also  '  level,  gentle-looking '),  straight  (deas)  or  crooked 
(cam),  black  or  dark  (dubh),  speckled  or  spotted  (breac), 
long  (fada)  or  short  (gearr),  little  (beg)  or  big  (mbr) ; 
such  names  as  GARVOCK,  'rough  field/  MINARD,  'smooth 
height/  MORVEN,  '  big  ben/  are  legion.  Almost  all  of 
Nature's  common  colours  figure  largely  in  the  sym- 
pathetic speech  and  nomenclature  of  the  nature-loving 
Gael.  Specially  common  are  dubh,  black,  which  every 
one  knows  in  the  guise  of  Duff,  but  often  also  sounded 
dhu,  as  in  DOUGLAS,  DHU  HEARTACH,  ROSSDHU  ;  and 
ban  smdfionn,  white,  light-coloured,  clear  to  the  view, 
as  in  BANAVIE,  BANNOCKBURN,  CARFIN,  FINDON. 
Names  denoting  red  or  reddish  are  also  plentiful. 
Here  we  have  two  words,  dearg,  '  red/  also,  '  the  colour 
of  newly-ploughed  land/  as  in  Ben  Dearg ;  when  the 
d  is  aspirated  it  sounds  almost  like  j,  as  in  Barrjarg, 
•  red  height/  near  Closeburn.  The  other  word  is  ruadh, 
familiar  to  us  all  in  the  name  of  Rob  Roy,  '  red  Robert/ 
with  his  ruddy  tartan  plaid ;  but  also  pronounced  rew, 


CELTIC    NAMES.  xli 

and  something  very  like  roch,  as  in  TANNIEROACH, 
'  reddish  meadow.'  The  dh  is  preserved  in  the  spelling 
of  the  name  RUTHVEN,  though  the  name  itself  is  now 
often  pronounced  Rivven.  Green,  chief  colour  in 
Nature's  paint-box,  is  gorrti.  Every  one  is  familiar 
with  CAIRNGORM,  and  every  lover  of  Scottish  song 
has  heard  of  ' Tullochgorum,'  i.e.,  'green  hillock.' 
Then  there  is  glas,  grey,  pale,  wan,  as  in  Strathglass, 
GLASSFORD,  and  probably  also  in  the  name  of  the  great 
Western  Metropolis.  On  that  much-controverted  sub- 
ject, the  etymology  of  GLASGOW,  see  the  List. 

Few  objects  make  a  more  striking  feature  in  a  land- 
scape than  a  clump  or  forest  of  trees ;  thus  we  are  pre- 
pared to  find  tree-names  bulking  largely  in  Gaelic 
topography.  Common  as  any,  perhaps,  is  beath  (bay), 
the  birch,  one  of  the  few  natural  or  indigenous  trees  of 
Scotland.  This  we  find  pure  and  simple  in  Beath  and 
Beith,  where  the  th  retains  its  sound ;  often  the  th  is 
mute  as  in  AULT-BEA,  West  Ross-shire,  and  CARNBEE, 
near  Anstruther.  Through  aspiration  of  the  b  such 
forms  arise  as  ALLOW  AY,  just  referred  to,  and  DARNA- 
WAY  (G.  dobhar-na-bheath),  near  Forres.  The  word 
dair,  gen.  dara,  an  oak,  its  derivative  darach,  an  oak- 
wood,  and  its  cognate  doire,  a  grove,  have  also  many 
representatives.  We  have  the  simple  Darroch  at  Fal- 
kirk,&c.,  and  we  have  a  Scottish  as  well  as  an  Irish  Derry, 
close  to  Crathie.  Then  there  are  DAR-VEL,  AUCHTER- 
DERRAN,  and  DAL-JARROCH,  near  Girvan,  &c.  The 
Gaelic  for  an  elm  is  leamhan  (louan),  which  appears 
in  many  a  dress.  One  of  these  is  the  very  common 
name  LEVEN.  The  Vale  of  Leven  was  once  called 
Levenax  or  LENNOX,  whilst  the  old  form  of  Loch 
LOMOND  was  Lomne,  which  must  just  be  leamhan; 
and  its  sea-neighbour  Loch  LONG  is  perhaps  the  Loch 

c 


xlii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Lemannonius  of  Ptolemy.  He,  by  the  way,  wrote 
c.  120  A.D.,  but  he  is  supposed  to  have  taken  his  names 
from  an  old  Tyrian  atlas,  and  so  the  forms  he  gives  are 
probably  a  good  deal  older  than  this  date.  Leman- 
nonius must  be  from  leamhan;  but  INNER-LEITHEN 
is  probably  not,  as  some  think,  from  this  root.  Humbler 
plants  have  also  contributed  their  quota,  like  the  sedge, 
siosg,  as  in  DERNA-CISSOCK,  Wigton,  and  the  rush, 
luachair,  as  in  LEUCHARS. 

If  trees  and  plants  give  feature  to  a  landscape, 
animals  have  their  own  prominence  too.  And  the  Celt 
was  very  fond  of  raising  a  monument  to  his  dumb 
cattle  by  means  of  a  place-name ;  e.g.,  the  Gaelic  for  a 
cow  is  bo,  =  L.  bos ;  this  we  find  in  the  name  which 
Scott  has  made  all  the  world  know  by  the  Lady  of  the 
Lake,  Bealach-nam-bo,  i.e.,  'pass  of  the  cattle/  bealach 
being  better  known  to  most  of  us  in  the  shape  01 
BALLOCH  ;  then  there  is  BOCHASTLE,  and  BOWLAND, 
near  Galashiels,  which  has  no  connection  with  archery, 
but  is  just '  cattle-land.'  Madadh,  the  wild  dog  or  wolf, 
is  commemorated  in  LOCHMADDY  and  POLMADIE.  The 
ordinary  dog  is  cu,  gen.  coin,  as  in  Loch  Con,  and 
probably  also  in  its  neighbour,  Ben  CHONZIE.  The 
unsavoury  pig,  muc,  has  left  many  a  sign  of  his  former 
abundance,  as  in  AUCHTERMUCHTY,  DRUMMUCKLOCH, 
and  MUCKHART,  all  of  which  imply  the  site  of  a  swine- 
field  or  pen.  Even  the  swift-gliding,  shy  otter,  doran, 
gives  name  to  Ben  Doran ;  and  so  forth. 

Not  only  did  the  Gael  give  the  names  of  animals  to 
many  spots  associated  with  them,  he  was  also  con- 
stantly seeing  in  some  landmark  a  resemblance  to  some 
part  of  an  animal.  Most  common  of  all  do  we  find 
druim,  =  L  dorsum,  the  back,  especially  a  long  back  like- 
that  of  a  horse,  hence  a  long  hill-ridge.  Sir  H.  Maxwell 


CELTIC   NAMES.  xliii 

names  198  instances  in  Galloway  alone,  and  we  find 
them  everywhere — DRUMCLOG,  DRUMLANRIG,  DRUM- 
SHEUGH,  DROMORE,  &c.  DRUMMOND  and  DRYMEN  are 
just  the  G.  dromainn  with  the  same  meaning.  Then 
there  is  crubka,  a  haunch  or  shoulder,  hence  the 
shoulder  of  a  hill,  as  in  CRIEFF,  whose  name  just 
describes  its  site;  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill  is 
CULCRIEFF,  'the  back  of  the  haunch;'  see,  too,  DUM- 
CRIEFF  and  DUNCRUB.  Sron,  the  nose,  the  equivalent 
of  the  Norse  ness,  and  of  the  English  name  Naze,  is 
found  in  a  good  many  names  of  headlands,  where  it  is 
always  spelt  stron,  but  the  t  is  like  the  t  in  strath,  a 
mere  Sassenach  intrusion  to  enable  the  poor  Lowlander 
to  pronounce  the  word.  Examples  are  STRONE  itself, 
Stronbuy,  and  that  little  cape  on  Loch  Katrine 
which  is  unpronounceable  by  English  lips,  STRONACH- 
LACHAR,  'cape  of  the  mason.'  CAMERON,  too,  is  just 
cam  sron,  '  crooked  nose.'  Besides,  there  is  the  widely 
scattered  ceann,  a  head,  and  so,  a  promontory,  usually 
found  as  ken-,  or  in  its  old  dative  form  of  cinn  or  kin- 
(see  KINALDIE)  ;  instances  are  too  numerous  to  require 
mention. 

The  Gael  has  always  been  a  more  modest  man  than 
his  English  supplanter.  John  Bull  always  dearly  loves 
to  perpetuate  his  own  or  his  own  kith's  name,  be  it  in 
a  town,  a  castle,  an  hospital,  or  even  by  surreptitious 
carving  on  his  bench  at  school.  There  are  scores  of 
towns  and  villages  in  England,  and  Scotland  too,  called 
by  the  names  of  Saxonmen  (cf.  p.  Ixx  and  foil.).  The  Celt 
adopted  this  fashion  much  more  rarely.  But  a  good 
many  of  the  heroes  of  Ossian  and  other  early  legends 
are  commemorated  in  this  way,  e.g.,  CORRIEVRECKAN, 
off  Jura,  is '  the  cauldron'  or '  whirlpool  of  Brecan,'  grand- 
son of  the  famous  Niall  of  the  nine  hostages.  COWAL 


xliv  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

is  called  after  Coill,  the  '  old  king  Cole/  of  the  well- 
known  rhyme ;  LORN,  after  Loarn,  first  king  of  Scots  in 
Dalriada  or  Argyle.  The  seven  sons  of  that  legendary 
eponymous  personage,  Gruithne  or  Cruidne,  reputed 
father  of  the  Cruithnig  or  Pictish  race,  both  in  Scot- 
land and  Ireland,  are  always  cropping  up.  According 
to  the  Pictish  Chronicle,  the  seven  were  Fib,  Fidach, 
Floclaw,  Ce,  Fortrenn,  Got,  Circinn.  Fortrenn  was  the 
old  name  of  Strathearn  and  its  vicinity ;  for  the  others 
see  ATHOLE,  CAITHNESS,  FIDDICH,  FIFE,  MEARNS,  &c. 
The  old  man's  own  name  we  find  in  Cruithneachan, 
Lochaber.  But  Celtic  names  of  the  type  of  BALMA- 
CLELLAN,  '  M'Lellan's  village,'  New  Galloway,  and  of 
PORT  BANNATYNE,  Bute,  are  quite  rare.  The  Celt  did 
little  in  the  way  of  handing  down  his  own  or  his  own 
folk's  name ;  but,  having  always  been  a  pious  man, 
there  was  nothing  he  liked  better  than  to  call  a  village 
or  a  church  or  a  well  after  some  favourite  saint.  This, 
however,  is  so  wide  a  subject  as  to  deserve  separate 
treatment  (see  Chap.  V.). 

It  is  often  said  that  several  place-names  preserve  the 
memory  of  the  ancient  Druidic  or  Pagan  sun  and  fire 
worship.  This  is  conceivable,  though  it  is  absolutely 
certain  that  no  Bal-  in  Scotland  represents  or  preserves 
the  name  of  Baal,  the  Phoenician  sun-god ;  and  one  is 
surprised  to  find  this  unscholarly  superstition  repeated 
in  a  bulky  history  of  Scotland  published  within  the 
last  three  or  four  years.  And  even  though  GREENOCK 
be  the  G.  grian-aig,  'sun-bay,'  that  will  just  mean 
'sunny  bay;'  and  ARDENTINNY,  'height  of  the  fire,' 
on  the  west  shore  of  Loch  Long,  probably  just  refers 
to  some  beacon  or  signal  fire,  whilst  AUCHENDINNY 
probably  does  not  mean  'field  of  the  fire'  at  all,  but 
comes  like  DENNY,  from  the  old  G.  dinat,  a  woody  glen. 


CELTIC   NAMES.  xlv 

The  inquisitive  amateur,  somewhat  dismayed  by  the 
many  difficulties  in  the  study  of  Celtic  names  detailed 
in  the  early  part  of  this  chapter,  will  now,  we  hope,  be 
beginning  to  take  heart  again.  He  ought  to  be 
further  reassured  when  he  hears  that  acquaintance 
with  about  a  dozen  Gaelic  words  will  enable  any 
one  to  interpret  nearly  half  the  real  Gaelic  names  in 
Scotland.  As  fitting  close  to  the  section,  let  us  en- 
umerate these  : — 

(1)  Aber  or  abhir,  already  discussed. 

(2)  Achadh,  a  field,  also  already  discussed  in  part. 
From  achadh,  with  its  unaccented  second  syllable,  comes 
the  common  prefix  and  suffix  ach,  as  in  ACHNACARRY, 
CABRACH,  DORNOCH  (c.  1230,  Durnach),  &c.     As  a 
prefix  the  form  is  as  commonly  auch-,  as  in  AUCHIN- 
LEYS,  AUCHMITHIE,  &c.;    and   ach-  and   auch-  often 
interchange,  as  in  Ach-  or  AUCH-NASHEEN,  Ach-   or 
Auch-engean,  &c. 

(3)  Auchter,  in  the  spelling  of  the  schools  uachdar, 
Welsh  uchder ;  but  even  the  oldest  charters   spell  it 
auchter  or  ochter,  or  octre;  au  and  o  are  here  found 
freely  interchanging,  as  in  Auchtertyre  or  OCHTERTYRE, 
AUCHTERNEED,  in  1619  Ochterneid,  &c.     This  uachdar 
is  literally  the  summit  or  upper   part,  hence,  a  high 
field ;   then,   seemingly,   any   field,    as    in    AUCHTER- 

MUCHTY. 

(4)  Bail,  baile,  a  hamlet,  or  simply  a  house.     We  all 
have  heard  of  the  multitudinous  Irish  Sallys;    and 
ball-  or  balla-  is  a  common  prefix  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 
But  it   is   as   common  in   Scotland — BALNABRUAICH, 
BALLATER,  BALLINLUIG,  and  so  almost  ad  infinitum. 
In  the  lowlands  of  Aberdeen  alone  there  are  said  to  be 
no  less  than  fifty  instances.      Occasionally  the  b  has 
become  p,  as  in  BALGONIE,  a.  1300,  Palgoveny. 


xlvi  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

(5)  Barr,  a   height   or    hill,   as   in   BARE,  BARRA, 
BARRASSIE,  &c. ;   the  aspiration   of  the  b  appears  in 
CRAIGIEVAR,  and  in  the  name  of  '  young  LOCHINVAR  * 
(G.  lockan-a-bharra).     But  the  second  part  of  DUNBAR 
probably  refers  to  an  Irish  St  Barr. 

(6)  BlaT,  a    plain,  as  in  Blair,  BLAIRGOWRIE,  BAL- 
BLAIR,  &c. 

(7)  CM,  or  cuil,  a  corner,  a  nook,  as  in  COILANTOGLE, 
COLFIN,  CULROSS,  &c.      This  word  is  always  apt,  in 
names,  to  be  confused  with  coill,  'a  wood'  (see  the  List 
passim*).     The  island  of  COLL  itself  probably  means  a 
'  hazel.' 

(8)  Daily   a   field   or   meadow;    the   prefix   dal-  is 
always  Gaelic,  and  has  this  meaning,  as  in  DALAROSSIE, 
DALNASPIDAL;   but  the  suffix  -dale  is  always  either 
Norse  (see  p.  Iv)  or  English,  in  Scotland  usually  the 
former,  and  always  means  '  valley.' 

(9)  Grarradh,  an  enclosure,  garden,  akin  to  the  Mid. 
Eng.  garth,  and  the  ordinary  Eng.  yard,  usually  found 
as  Gart-,  as  in  GARTCOSH,  GARTNAVEL  ( =  APPLEGARTH)  ; 
sometimes  as  Garry-,  as  in  GARRYNAHINE,  '  garden  on 
the  river,'  in  Lewis ;  but  garry  in  names  usually  repre- 
sents garbh,  rough,  as  in  Glengarry.     In  GARRABOST, 
another  Lewis  name,  we  have  a  compound  of  Gaelic 
and  Norse,   ={  garden-place.'     Just  as  in  the  case  of 
dal  or  dale,  the  prefix  gart-  is  Gaelic,  but  the  suffix 
-garth  must  be  English  or  Norse. 

(10)  Inver  or  inbhir,  already  referred  to  (pp.  xxvii- 
xxviii).     Unlike  aber,  and  contrary  to  Isaac  Taylor's 
idea,  inver  is  found  practically  all  over  Scotland,  save 
in  those  northern  isles  where  the  Norseman  has  clean 
swept  the  board ;  but  it  is  much  commoner  north  than 
south  of  the  old  Roman  Wall.     Aber  alone  does  not 
occur  as  a  Scottish  name,,  though  the  railway  traveller 


CELTIC    NAMES.  xlvii 

in  North  Wales  knows  it  well.  But  simple  INVER 
occurs  again  and  again — on  the  south  shore  of  the 
Dornoch  Firth,  as  name  of  a  little  village,  formerly 
Inverlochslin,  and  near  Crathie,  and  where  Bran  joins 
Tay ;  and  then  there  is  Loch  Inver,  so  well  known  to 
the  Sutherland  salmon-fisher.  Inver  always  tends  to 
slide  into  inner-,  as  both  old  charters  and  modern 
pronunciations  amply  testify,  e.g.,  Inver-  or  INNER- 
ARITY,  Inner-  or  INVER-KIP,  &c.  Inver  does  not  exist 
in  Brythonic  Wales,  and  it  is  rare  in  Ireland;  these 
facts,  coupled  with  its  comparative  rarity  south  of 
Forth  and  Clyde,  point  to  its  being,  in  all  likelihood,  a 
Pictish  word.  Sometimes  it  helps  to  form  a  hybrid 
name,  as  in  INNERWICK,  south  of  Dunbar. 

(11)  Magh,  a  plain,  probably  akin  to  mag, '  the  palm 
of  the   hand/   as   in   MACHRAHANISH  ;    but  the  final 
guttural  usually  vanishes.     Thus  we  get  MAMBEG  and 
MAMORE,   'little'   and   'big    plain/  and   also   such  a 
curious-looking  name  as  C AMBUS  o'  MAY,  which  just 
means  'crook  of  the  plain;'  whilst  magh  appears  in 
two  Inverness-shire  names  as  MOY.     MEARNS,  the  old 
name  for  Kincardine,  as  Dr  Skene  is  never  weary  of 
telling  us,  is  probably  magh  Girginn,  to  which  the  only 
existing  early  form,  Moerne,  seems  to  point. 

(12)  The  Pictish  pette,  found  in  names  as  Pit-,  Pitte-, 
Petti-  (see  p.  xxvii.);  also,  in  1211,  we  find  the  form 
Put-mullin  ( '  land  of  the  mill '  ).     After  the  common 
fashion  of   such  words — cf.  the  Eng.  ham  and  ton— 
pette  or  pit  first  means  an  enclosed  bit  of  land,  then  a 
farm,  then   the   cottages   round    the  farm,  and  so,  a 
village.      In   Gaelic,  i.e.,  the  tongue   of  the   Dalriad 
Scots,  which  afterwards  overspread  the  whole  land,  pit 
is  commonly  rendered  by  baile ;  it  is  doubtful  if  it  is 
ever  rendered  by  both,  '  a  hut '  (see  PITGAVENY).     The 


xlviii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

region  of  pit-  is  the  east  centre  of  Scotland  from  the 
Firth  of  Forth  to  Tarbat  Ness.  There  is,  perhaps,  none 
north  of  Pitkerry,  Fearn ;  and  there  seem  to  be  none 
at  all  in  the  west. 

(13)  Tulach,  a  hillock  or  hill :  the  unstressed  second 
syllable  usually  drops  into  y  or  % ;  but  we  have  the  full 
word  standing  by  itself  in  TULLOCH,  near  Dingwall, 
already  so  spelt  in  1158.  Tulach  occurs  both  as  prefix 
and  suffix,  as  in  TILLYFOUR,  TULLYMET,  GRANDTULLY, 
KIRKINTILLOCH.  It  has  somewhat  more  disguised 
itself  in  MORTLACH,  and  yet  more  in  MURTHLY,  both 
of  which  represent  the  G.  mbr  t(h)ulach,  '  big  hill.' 

To  these,  the  amateur  can,  of  course,  at  once 
add  all  those  Gaelic  words  entering  into  place- 
names  which  have  already  become  part  of  ordinary 
English  speech.  Such  a  word  is  ben,  or  in  its 
Brythonic  form  pen,  as  a  suffix,  usually  aspirated  into 
-ven,  as  in  MORVEN,  SUILVEN,  more  rarely  thus  as  a 
prefix,  e.g.,  VENLAW  and  VENNACHAR  ;  penny  or  penni 
has  nothing  to  do  with  pen  (see  p.  Ivii).  Then  there 
are  brae,  G.  braigh,  the  upper  part  of  anything,  hence 
BRAEMAR,  the  Braes  of  Balquhidder,  &c.,  but  also  quite 
common  in  Lowland  names,  as  in  Cobble  Brae  (Fal- 
kirk),  Whale  Brae  (Newhaven) ;  cairn ;  corrie,  G. 
coire,  lit.  a  cauldron  or  kettle ;  craig  or  crag,  and  its 
diminutive  craigan ;  glen;  inch,  G.  innis,  an  island 
or  links ;  knock,  G.  cnoc,  a  hill ;  loch,  and  its  diminu- 
tive lochan;  and  strath.  Most  of  these  words  have 
only  been  used  by  Southron  tongues  for  a  century,  or  a 
little  more  or  less.  Sibbald  in  his  well-known  History 
of  Fife  (edition  1710)  does  not  speak  of  Ben  Lomond, 
but  uses  the  cumbrous  phrase  '  Lomundian  mountain.' 
The  earliest  quotation  for  ben  which  the  writer  can 
find  is  for  the  year  1771,  when  a  T.  Russell  in  Den- 


CELTIC   NAMES.  xlix 

holm's  Tour  Through  Scotland  (1804,  p.  49),  writes  :— 
'  Prompt  thee  Ben  Lomond's  fearful  height  to  climb.' 
Dr  Murray's  earliest  instance  is  for  1788;  and  the 
earliest  example  in  his  great  dictionary  for  the  use  of 
the  word  cairn  as  a  landmark  is  from  John  Wesley  in 
1770. 


CHAPTER  II. 

NORSE  NAMES.1 

WHEN  we  come  to  deal  with  the  Norse  names  in  Scot- 
land,— perhaps  to  say  Scandinavian  names  would  be 
more  correct, — we  find  ourselves  amongst  a  group  most 
interesting,  and  far  more  numerous  than  the  outsider 
would  think.  The  story  of  the  Norseman's  deeds  in 
Scotland  has  been  skimmed  over  but  lightly  by  most 
historians,  and  therefore  it  may  be  useful  to  set  at  least 
the  bones  of  that  history  before  the  reader.  Dr  Skene 
thinks  there  is  proof  of  Frisians,  i.e.,  men  from  Holstein, 
in  Dumfriesshire  even  before  the  year  400  A.D.  How- 
ever that  may  be  we  have  certain  evidence  that,  before 
the  8th  century  passed  away,  bold  Vikings  from  Den- 
mark and  Norway  had  already  begun  to  beach  their 
galleys  on  our  long-suffering  coasts.  In  793  we  find 
their  rude  feet  on  holy  Lindisfarne,  close  to  the  modern 
Scottish  border ;  and  in  794  they  swooped  down  among 
the  Hebrides,  being  forced  forth  from  their  homes 
because  their  own  barren  rocks  could  not  sustain  the 
growing  population.  A  field  the  size  of  a  large  pocket- 
handkerchief  cannot  feed  many  extra  mouths.  This 
quest  for  resting-place  and  sustenance  drove  some  as 
far  away  as  the  Volga ;  it  urged  others  over  the  cold 

1  Their  importance  and  greater  difficulty  incline  us  to  put  this 
chapter  before  the  English  names,  of  which  some  are  earlier  in  historic 
time. 


NORSE   NAMES.  li 

seas,  to  Iceland  and  Greenland,  and  some  rested  not 
till  they  had  coasted  down  to  where  mighty  New  York 
now  spreads  and  grows.  The  uprise  in  the  next  century 
of  ambitious  Harold  of  the  Fair  Hair  (Haarfagr),  who 
at  length  made  himself  absolute  king  of  Norway,  drove 
out  many  more  of  his  most  active  opposers,  who  found 
in.  the  numerous  rocky  bays  and  friths  of  Western 
Scotland  the  quarters  most  suited  for  the  plunder- 
ing forays  of  their  long-oared  ships.  King  Harold 
followed  after  them,  conquered  all  the  isles  away 
as  far  south  as  Man  (875  A.D.),  and  made  his  brother 
Sigurd  their  first  Jarl.  Even  before  this  the  Orkneys 
had  been  a  station  of  call  for  the  Vikings ;  while 
by  the  10th  century  Norse  rule  had  spread  over  all 
the  Hebrides,  Caithness,  and  all  but  the  south-west  of 
Sutherland.  It  has  little  affected  Scottish  topography 
south  of  the  river  Oykel ;  though  latterly  it  included 
the  west  of  Inverness,  Argyle,  and  all  Arran,  and  even 
reached  as  far  as  old  Dumbarton. 

In  Orkney  and  Shetland  the  Viking  completely 
superseded  the  Pictish  Celt,  who,  so  far  as  place- 
names  are  concerned,  has — strange  to  tell — left  scarcely 
a  trace  behind.  Almost  the  only  exception,  and 
it  is  just  half  a  one,  is  the  name  ORKNEY  itself; 
and  one  other  partial  instance  is  the  Moulhead  of 
Deerness,  Orkney,  the  Mtili  of  the  Saga,  which  is  just 
the  G.  maol,  'brow  of  a  rock,  cape.'  It  must  be 
remembered  that  here  the  Norseman  had  600  years 
and  more  in  which  to  do  his  obliterating  work.  The 
Nordreyar,  'northern  isles,'  as  they  were  called  in 
contrast  with  the  Sudreyar,  'southern  isles'  or  Hebrides, 
did  not  escape  from  his  dominion  till  1469,  when 
James  III.  of  Scotland  married  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Christian  I.  of  Denmark,  and  received  these  northern 


lit  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

isles  as  her  dowry.  But  the  Hebrides  only  remained 
an  appanage  to  the  Norwegian  crown  for  a  scant 
three  years  after  King  Haco  was  so  sorely  smitten,  and 
his  fleet  shattered,  at  the  brave  battle  of  Largs  in 
1264. 

In  these  parts  of  northern  and  western  Scotland, 
Scandinavian  names  are  found  in  more  or  less  abund- 
ance.1 They  also  form  quite  a  notable  colony  in  Dum- 
friesshire, especially  between  the  rivers  Esk  and  Nith ; 
but  the  distinctive  gill,  beck,  and  rig  spread  a  good  deal 
further  than  that — away  into  Kirkcudbright,  and  up 
Moffat  Water,  and  not  a  few  have  even  flowed  over 
into  Peebles ;  though  on  all  Tweedside  there  is  not  a 
single  representative  of  the  characteristic  Norse  suffixes 
beck,  force,  garth,  thorpe,  thwaite,  and  wald.  The 
Dumfries  colony  of  names,  like  the  Scandinavian  names 
in  the  Isle  of  Man,  bear  a  more  strongly  Danish  cast 
than  the  others.  This  points  to  the  now  generally- 
admitted  fact  that  this  special  group  of  names  is  due 
to  an  irruption  of  Danes,  coming  north  from  England 
via  Carlisle,  and  not  to  any  landing  of  fair-haired  pirates 
direct  from  the  sea.  The  native  Gaels  called  the 
Norsemen  '  the  fair  strangers,'  and  the  Danes  '  the 
dark  strangers '  or  gaill.  The  most  hurried  comparison 
will  show  how  like  the  Dumfries  Danish  names  are  to 
the  kindred  names  across  the  Border  in  Cumberland — 
fell  and  beck  and  bie  arid  thwaite  are  alike  common  to 
both. 

In  other  parts  of  Scotland,  especially  those  at  some 
distance  from  the  sea,  Norse  footprints  are  few  and 
far  between.  Even  on  the  east  coast  itself,  south  of 
Dingwall,  undoubtedly  Norse  names  are  very  rare. 

1  Though  we  can  remember  none  in  Dumbarton. 


NORSE    NAMES.  liii 

( 

Mr  W.  J.  Liddell1  has  drawn  attention  to  a  series  of 
interesting  names  connected,  he  thinks,  with  the  doings 
of  one  of  these  pirate  Northmen  called  Buthar,  cor- 
rupted into  Butter,  the  man  after  whom,  he  thinks> 
bonnie  Buttermere  is  named.  He,  it  is  said,  has  also 
given  his  name  to  Butterstone  or  Butterstown,  near 
Dunkeld,  and  his  path  from  thence  to  the  sea  is 
marked  by  an  old  road  over  the  Ochils,  still  called  the 
Butter  Road,  and  past  a  Kinross-shire  farm  called 
Butterwell,  on  to  Largo  Bay.  However,  Mr  A.  J. 
Stewart  of  Moneydie,  a  careful  student,  says  Butters- 
town  is  from  the  G.  bothar,  a  road  or  lane,  its  name 
having  once  been  Bailebothar.  There  is  another 
'Buter  mere'  away  down  in  Wilts,  mentioned  in  a 
charter  of  King  Athelstan's,  931,  and  there  are  several 
spots  in  Galloway  called  Butter  Hole ;  all  probably 
refer  to  the  bittern  and  its  haunts,  the  Scotch  name 
for  that  bird  being  butter,  the  Mid.  Eng.  bitoure,  Old 
Fr.  butor.  It  ought  to  be  noted,  en  passant,  that 
here  we  have  several  instances  of  names  which  seem  to 
say  '  butter,'  and  yet  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with 
that  useful  commodity. 

It  is  usually  said  that  Icelandic  is  the  nearest  modern 
representative  of  the  tongue  which  these  Viking-invaders 
spake ;  it  would  be  more  correct  to  say  it  was  Icelandic 
itself.2  Before  the  year  1300  all  the  lands  peopled  by 
the  Northmen — Norway,  Sweden,  Denmark,  Iceland, 
the  Faroes,  Orkney,  Shetland,  and  the  Hebrides — used 
the  same  speech,  and  so  did  the  Norse  or  Danish  settlers 
in  England,  Ireland,  and  the  mainland  of  Scotland. 
And  this  northern  tongue,  the  language  of  the  old 

1  See  Scottish  Geograph.  Mag.  for  July  1885. 

2  In   our  List  will  be   found  both  'O.N.,'  i.e.,  Old   Norse,  and 
1  Icel.,'  but  these  mean  almost  the  same  thing. 


Hv  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

Eddas  and  Sagas,  differed  as  little  from  modern  Ice- 
landic as  Shakspere's  English  from  Browning's.  The 
remote  Arctic  isle  has  preserved  the  mother-tongue 
with  little  change.  Thus  in  studying  the  Scandinavian 
place-names  of  Scotland  it  is  chiefty  the  Icelandic 
dictionary  on  which  we  must  rely;  though  the 
amateur  must  again  be  warned  that  unless  he  have 
some  little  knowledge  of  Norse  speech,  knowing  to  seek 
the  origin  of  a  name  in  wh-  under  hv-,  and  the  like,  he 
will  find  himself  unable,  even  with  his  dictionary,  to 
explicate  many  unquestionably  Norse  forms.  Modern 
Swedish  and  Danish  are  to  Icelandic  as  Italian  and 
Spanish  to  Latin.  They  did  not  begin  palpably  to 
diverge  from  the  parent  stem  till  the  13th  century. 
Yet  scholars  are  pretty  well  agreed  that  in  the  Scottish 
names  which  we  are  now  dealing  with,  all  of  which 
probably  existed  before  1300,  there  are  some  which 
have  a  decidedly  Danish  cast,  whilst  the  majority  are 
rather  Norse.  The  Norsemen  seem  to  have  loved 
mountainous  regions  like  their  own  stern,  craggy 
fatherland ;  hence  it  is  chiefly  Norse  forms  which  we 
find  in  the  names  among  the  uplands  of  Southern 
Scotland  and  North- West  England,  and  chiefly  Danish 
forms  on  the  flat  and  fertile  stretches  of  Dumfries,  a 
district  so  like  the  Dane's  own  flat  homeland,  where 
hills  are  a  rarity  even  greater  than  trees  in 
Caithness. 

It  is  also  pretty  generally  understood  that  the  old 
Norse  speech  was  near  of  kin  to  our  own  Old  English, 
which,  of  course,  came  from  the  flat  coast-region  imme- 
diately south-west  of  modem  Denmark;  and  the 
Norsemen  themselves  emphatically  recognised  this 
near  kinship.  The  best  living  representative  of  Old 
English  is  Lowland  or  Broad  Scots,  that  most  ex- 


NOKSE   NAMES.  Iv 

pressive  of  tongues,  so  rich  in  vivid  adjectives,  whose 
rapid  decay  is  almost  as  much  to  be  regretted  as  that 
of  Gaelic.  Broad  Scots  is  just  the  survival  of 
Anglian  or  Northern  English,  giving  to  us  still,  in  its 
pronunciations,  the  same  sounds  as  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  old  kings  and  warriors  of  Bernicia  and  Deira. 
And  Broad  Scots,  both  in  vocabulary  and  pronuncia- 
tion, approximates,  in  scores  of  cases,  far  more  closely 
to  Danish  and  Icelandic  than  modern  English  does.1 
In  consequence  of  this,  when  we  have  no  external 
evidence  to  guide  us,  it  is  sometimes  impossible  to  say 
whether  a  given  name  is  of  Anglo-Saxon  or  of  Norse 
birth.  So  far  as  history  has  to  tell,  some  few  names 
in  South-East  Scotland  might  be  either,  to  wit,  names 
containing  forms  common  to  both,  such  as  dale  and 
shaw,  garth  and  holm. 

In  quite  another  direction  there  are  proofs  that  the 
West  Highland  Gaels  borrowed  a  few  words  from  the 
Northmen,  who  settled  so  plentifully  upon  their  bays 
and  lochs,  without  leave  asked.  There  is  the  Icel. 
gja  or  '  goe,'  a  chasm,  which  the  Gael  has  made  into 
Geodha.  In  Colonsay  there  is  a  Rudha  Oheadha  or 
'  red  cleft,'  where  the  Old  Norse  a  is  still  preserved. 
The  word  firth  or  frith,  the  Icel.  fjorftr,  and  N.  fjord, 
is,  of  itself,  sufficient  proof  that  the  Norse  galleys  sailed 
round  every  angle  of  our  coasts,  north  and  south, 
east  and  west.  There  are  firths  everywhere  from 
Pentland  to  Solway,  and  from  Dornoch  to  Clyde.  The 
Gael  has  copiously  adopted  this  word  fjord,  but  in  his 
mouth  the  /  gets  aspirated,  and,  therefore,  soon  dis- 
appears. Thus  on  the  west  coast  we  have  few  '  friths,' 
but  plenty  of  names  ending  in  -ord,  -ort,  -ard,  -art ;  the 

1  See  Worsase,   The  Danes  atid   Norwegians  in  England,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland;  and  J.  Veitch,  History  of  Scot.  Border,  pp.  31-36. 


Ivi  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

usual  pronunciation  in  modern  Gaelic  is  arst.  Such 
is  the  origin  of  KNOYDART,  '  Cnud's '  or  '  Canute's 
fjord/  ENARD,  Mo  YD  ART,  SNIZORT.  The  /  remains  in 
BROADFORD,  ( broad  fjord,'  and  MELFORT.  And  if  the 
Gael  borrowed  from  the  Norsemen,  we  are  told  there 
are  traces  in  modern  Norse  of  vice  versa  borrowing 
from  the  Gael. 

The  student  is  well  served  with  early  forms  of  our 
Scandinavian  place-names.  For  all  the  '  Norse  region,' 
except  Dumfries,  Orkney,  and  Shetland,  the  Origines 
Parochiales  liberally  supply  us  with  old  name-forms, 
and  the  Dunrobin  charters  cited  there  often  take  us 
back  to  c.  1220.  For  Orkney  itself  we  have  the  curious 
early  rental-books  of  the  Bishops  of  Orkney,  which 
have  all  been  printed,  the  oldest  dating  from  1497. 
For  the  northern  counties  we  also  have  Torfseus'  His- 
tory of  Norway,  dating  c.  1266 ;  but  here,  far  above 
all  else  in  value,  is  the  famous  Orkney  inga  Saga,  so 
well  edited  for  English  readers  by  Dr  Joseph  Anderson. 
Its  date  seems  c.  1225,  but  it  embodies  songs  from 
several  earlier  skalds.  Of  course  the  Norse  names 
have  not  altered  nearly  so  much  as  have  Celtic  names 
in  a  now  English  region,  and  thus  early  forms  are  not 
so  often  of  crucial  importance ;  but  the  names  NORTH 
and  SOUTH  RONALDSAY  (q.v.)  are  pertinent  examples  to 
the  contrary. 

No  one  in  Scotland  now  speaks  a  Scandinavian  tongue, 
but  it  seems  to  have  lingered  on  in  far  sequestered  Foula, 
away  to  the  west  of  the  Shetlands,  till  c.  1775  ;  and  the 
local  speech  of  Shetland  and  Orkney  is  still  full  .of 
Scandinavian  words.  This  is  little  to  be  wondered  at 
seeing  that,  for  centuries,  Norwegian  kings  were  wont 
not  seldom  there  to  live,  and  even  there  to  die.  And 
though  the  speech  be  gone  the  physiognomist  can  still 


NOKSE   NAMES.  Ivii 

pick  out  the  Old  Norse  face,  with  the  blue  eyes  and  fair 
hair,  almost  all  over  Scotland.  One  usage  borrowed 
from  a  Norse  source  has  had  large  influence  in  Scottish 
place-names,  viz.,  the  measuring  of  land  by  rental,  the 
unit  being  the  oimceland — Old  G.  unga,  Mod.  G.  unnsa, 
L.  uncia,  as  in  UNGANAB  in  North  Uist,  the  land  for 
which  the  abbot  (ab)  was  paid  an  ounce  of  silver  as 
rental.  'Ounceland'  rarely  is  met  with;  but  the  smaller 
amounts  are  quite  common.  In  an  ounce  of  silver  there 
were  held  to  be  18  or  20  dwts.,  and  '  penny '  lands 
(O^R.penig^ening.IcQl.penning-r,  Dan.penge)  abound, 
e.g.,  PENNYGHAEL,  Pennymuir,  &c. ;  so  do  all  the  lesser 
sums  down  to  the  farthing  or  feorling — there  is  a  place 
of  this  name  in  Skye — and  even  to  the  half-farthing. 
In  the  Orkney  early  rentals  we  read  of  a  '  cowsworth ' 
of  land,  which  was  =  J,  J,  or  -J  of  a  mark  of  land.  In 
the  same  rentals  (c.  1500)  we  find  a  'Cowbuster'  or 
'cow-place '  in  Firth,  and  a  Noltland  or  'cattle-land'  in 
Westray. 

Though  the  Danes  visited  Ireland  too,  and  were  there 
in  power  all  along  the  east  coast  for  at  least  a  century, 
having  Dublin  for  a  time  as  their  chief  seat,  there  are 
now  barely  twenty  names  of  Danish  origin  in  all  Ireland. 
This  is  rather  remarkable  when  we  find  their  print  so 
plain  and  oft  in  Scotland.  The  leading  place-names  in 
several  Scottish  counties  are  all  Norse — in  Shetland, 
LERWICK  and  SCALLOWAY  ;  in  Orkney,  KIRKWALL  and 
STROMNESS  ;  in  Caithness,  WICK  and  THURSO  ;  in 
Sutherland,  GOLSPIE,  HELMSDALE,  and  TONGUE  ;  in 
Ross,  DINGWALL  and  TAIN  ;  in  Bute,  ROTHESAY  and 
BRODICK.  It  has  been  already  stated  that  in  Orkney 
and  Shetland  Norse  names  have  a  complete  monopoly  ; 
in  the  Outer  Hebrides,  where  now  every  man  speaks 
Gaelic,  the  Norse  monopoly  is  nearly  as  complete. 

D 


Iviii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Captain  Thomas,  R.N.,  who  very  carefully  investigated 
the  subject  some  forty  years  ago,  reports  that  in  the 
Lews  Norse  names  outnumber  the  Gaelic  ones  by  four  to 
one,  and  that  in  all  Harris  there  are  only  two  pre-Norse 
or  Celtic  names.  No  place-name  of  any  consequence 
in  the  whole  Long  Island  is  of  Celtic  origin,  unless  we 
call  that  queer  name  BENBECULA  an  exception.  The 
marks  of  the  Viking  grow  rarer  in  the  isles  south  of 
Ardnamurchan,  for  here  he  dwelt  about  a  century  less. 
Jura  has  very  few,  Islay  has  a  good  many — Conisby, 
Lanay,  Nerby,  Oversay,  Scaraboll,  &c.;  Captain  Thomas 
says,  here  Norse  names  are  to  Gaelic  as  three 
to  one.  But,  though  both  JURA  and  ISLAY  are 
words  with  a  Norse  look,  and  commonly  reputed  of 
Norse  origin,  they  are  not  so  (q.v.*).  Islay 's  real  spelling 
is  He,  which  Dr  Skene  thinks  an  Iberian  or  pre-Celtic 
word  ;  but  lie  has  been  '  improved'  by  some  would-be 
clever  moderns  into  Islay,  which  would  literally  mean 
'  island-island.' 

Norse  and  Saxon  names  sometimes  give  us  a  little 
glimpse  of  mythology,  sometimes  of  natural,  and  yet  more 
frequently  of  family,  history.  The  Teuton  was  much 
fonder  of  leaving  the  stamp  of  his  name  behind  him 
than  the  Celt.  The  Saxon  was  even  prouder  of  his  own 
name  than  the  Northman ;  and  Norse  names  of  the 
common  Saxon  type  of  DOLPHINTON  and  SYMINGTON 
are  rare.  HELMSDALE  may  be  called  after  some  Viking 
of  the  name  of  Hjalmund ;  '  Hjalmundal '  is  the  form 
we  find  in  the  Orkney  inga  Saga  ;  and  GOLSPIE  may  be 
from  some  man  Gold  or  Goa.  And  from  Scottish  place- 
names  we  can  pick  out  a  good  many  of  the  gods  and 
men  oft  sung  in  the  grand  Old  Norse  epics.  Take,  e.g., 
THURSO,  O.N.  Thorsa,  Thor,  the  thunder-god's  river. 
This  is  one  of  the  cases  where  the  river  has  given  its 


NORSE   NAMES.  lix 

name  to  the  later  town  upon  it.  It  is  almost  always 
so ;  even  '  Water  of  Leith  '  is  only  a  deceptive  modern 
instance  of  the  reverse,  for  as  early  as  c.  1145  we  find 
'  Inverlet '  or  INVER-LEITH.  The  mighty  Thor  is  also 
commemorated  in  THURSTON,  and  in  many  English 
names,  Thurleigh,  Thurlow,  &c.  Ran,  the  giant  goddess, 
queen  of  the  sea,  much  feared  by  the  Icelanders,  has 
her  name  preserved  in  Loch  RANZA,  in  Arran;  in  1433 
Ransay,  i.e.,  '  Ran's  isle.'  Hero-names  are  seen  in 
HAROLDSWICK,  Shetland;  CARLOWAY  or  Carl's  bay, 
Lewis ;  and  SUN  ART  or  '  Sweyn's  fjord/  Morven.  Then 
there  are  those  two  Orkney  isles,  North  and  South 
Ronaldsay,  which  everyone  would  naturally  think  must 
both  be  called  after  the  same  man,  Ronald,  Rognvald, 
or  Reginald — these  names  are  all  one.  But  it  is  not 
so.  SOUTH  RONALDSAY  was  formerly  Rognvalsey  or 
'  Rognvald's  isle;'  but  NORTH  RONALDSAY  was  origi- 
nally Rinansey,  in  which  name  we,  following  Professor 
Munch  of  Christiania,  may  safely  recognise  the  much- 
commemorated  St  Ringan  or  Ninian  of  Whithorn.  It 
is  popular  corruption  and  ignorance  which  have  assimi- 
lated the  two.  We  have  been  giving  only  northern 
examples  of  places  called  after  gods  or  men  ;  but  they 
occur,  more  sparsely,  in  the  south  also,  e.g.,  PERCEBIE, 
'  Percy's  town,'  in  Dumfriesshire. 

Unlike  Celtic,  Norse  yields  us  few  prefixes  for  the 
making-up  of  our  place-names.     They  are  chiefly  two : — 

(1)  Fors,  which  is  just  the  Icelandic  for  '  water-fall/ 
familiar  to  every  tourist  in  the  English  lakes  as  force, 
Stockgill  Force,  and  all  the  rest.     FORSE,  pure  and 
simple,  is  the  name  of  a  Caithness  hamlet,  and  FORRES 
is  probably  the  self-same  word.     As  prefix  we  find  it 
in   FORSINARD  and   FORSINAIN   in   East    Sutherland. 

(2)  Toft,  Icelandic  and  Danish  for  'an  inclosed  field 


Ix  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

near  a  house/  as  in  TOFTCOMBS,  near  Biggar ;  but  it  is 
commoner  as  a  suffix,  as  in  Aschantofb  and  Thurdis- 
toft.  But,  if  the  prefixes  be  few,  Norse  has  yielded  us 
suffixes  in  abundance.  To  garth  (Icel.  gar$r)  and  to 
dale  (Icel.,  &c.,  dal)  we  have  already  referred  (p.  xlvi.) ; 
examples  of  the  latter  are  easily  found,  as  in  BERRIE- 
DALE  and  HELMSDALE  ;  very  often  it  is  suffixed  to  some 
Celtic  word,  as  in  ATTADALE  and  CARRADALE.  Some- 
times the  Gael  has  forgotten  the  meaning  of  the  dale, 
and  so  has  added  his  own  prefix  strath- ;  hence  that 
tautology '  Strathhalladale.'  An  interesting  set  of  names 
is  connected  with  the  suffix  -shiel,  -shiels,  -shield, 
-shields;  all  these  forms  appear.  This,  like  the  Scottish 
shieling  or  shealing,  a  hut  or  bothy,  comes  from  the  Icel. 
skjdl,  a  shelter.  The  O.N.  skali  is  still  used  in  Nor- 
way for  a  temporary  or  shepherd's  hut.  The  shel-  in 
1  shelter '  is  in  root  the  same,  being  connected  with  the 
O.E.  scild,  Icel.  sJcjold-r,  a  shield.  A  shiel  is,  therefore, 
'  any  place  which  gives  shelter,'  and  so,  '  a  house.'  The 
suffix  is  seen  in  GALASHIELS,  POLLOKSHIELDS,  &c.  The 
word  is  seen  in  SHIELDHILL,  in  1745  Shielhill,  and  so 
often  pronounced  still ;  also  in  a  more  disguised  form  in 
SELKIRK,  the  old  Sele-  or  Seles-chirche.  Shiels  enters 
into  many  names  of  Lowland  farms — Biggar  Shiels, 
Legholm  Shiels,  &c. 

Another  very  common  suffix  is  -fell,  Icel.  fjall,  fell, 
"N.fjeld,  a  mountain  or  hill,  as  in  the  Dovrefjeld  of  the 
Romsdal.  In  the  Outer  Hebrides  this  aspirates  into 
-bhal  or  -val,  as  in  Trelavall.  Fells  are  very  common 
in  Northern  England,  but  almost  equally  so  in  Southern 
Scotland,  e.g.,  Coulter  Fell,  Goat  Fell,  Hart  Fell,  &c. 
Noteworthy  also  are :  -holm,  the  Dan.  and  O.E.  holm, 
a  small  island  in  a  river,  an  islet,  Icel.  holm-r,  an 
island,  also  a  meadow  near  river  or  sea.  Those  in  the 


NORSE   NAMES.  Ixi 

far  north,  like  HOLM  itself,  one  of  the  Orkneys,  and 
like  GLOUPHOLM,  are,  without  doubt,  Norse ;  while 
those  in  the  south,  like  BRANXHOLM  and  MIDHOLM, 
are  probably  English  in  their  origin,  and  they  are  per- 
petually interchanging  with  the  purely  English  ham 
(see  YETHOLM  and  HODDOM):  -hope  is  not  the  O.E. 
hopa,  hope,  but  the  Icel.  hop,  '  a  haven  of  refuge,'  as  in 
the  two  ST  MARGARET'S  HOPES  ;  the  Lowland  -hope,  as 
in  SOONHOPE,  Peebles,  is  the  same  word  (see  HOBKIRK). 
Soonhope  means  '  pen,  shelter-place,  for  swine  ; '  there 
are  both  a  Chapelhope  and  a  Kirkhope  near  St  Mary's 
Loch :  -thwaite,  Icel.  ]>veit,  a  place,  is  common  enough 
in  England,  but  rare  north  of  the  border,  MURRAY- 
THWAITE,  Ecclefechan,  being  one  of  the  very  few  Scotch 
examples,  but  the  original  form  of  the  name  of  the 
MOORFOOT  Hills  was  '  Morthwaite.' 

Beck  and  gill  are  pure  Scandinavian,  and  common  to 
both  Northern  England  and  Southern  Scotland.  The 
former,  Icel.  bekk-r,  Dan.  baek,  Sw.  back,  a  brook,  is 
seen  in  Bodsbeck  and  WATERBECK  ;  but  it  is  rarer 
in  Scotland  than  gill,  Icel.  gil,  a  ravine  or  gully.  Quite 
a  cluster  of  gills  are  found  far  inland,  to  the  west  of  the 
sources  of  the  Tweed — Duncan,  Ram,  Snow,  Wind 
Gills,  &c. :  -rigg,  Icel.  hrygg-r,  Dan.  ryg,  Sw.  rygg,  also 
O.E.  hrycg,  a  ridge  of  land,  literally  the  back,  the 
equivalent  of  the  common  G.  drum-  (p.  xlii.),  is  a  fre- 
quent suffix,  chiefly  in  the  south,as  ROUGHRIGG,  TODRIG, 
&c.  But  these  '  riggs '  are  seldom  of  pure  Norse 
descent ;  BONNYRIGG  and  DRUMLANRIG,  for  example, 
cannot  be.  A  curious  popular  corruption  is  seen  in 
BISHOPBRIGGS,  which  most  Scottish  folk  would  naturally 
think  denoted  the  presence  of  a  bridge ;  but  the  name 
really  tells  of  the  '  riggs '  or  fields  of  the  Bishop  of 
Glasgow  :  -voe,  Icel.  vor,  a  little  bay  or  inlet,  is  common 


Ixii  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

in  the  far  north,  as  in  AITHSVOE,  Caithness,  and  CUL- 
LIVOE,  Shetland:  -goe,  Icel.  gjd,  already  referred  to 
(p.  lv.),  is  of  similar  meaning,  literally  it  is  a  cleft  or 
gap,  as  in  GIRNIGO  and  Whaligoe  in  Caithness. 

A  very  large  group  of  words  end  in  ey,  ay,  a,  the 
O.N.  and  Icel.  ey,  Dan.  oe,  cognate  with  O.E.  {g,  an 
island.  The  ending  is  found  all  over  the  north  and 
west,  as  in  PAPA  WESTRAY,  a  double  instance,  RAASAY, 
ULVA,  and  that  very  curious  name  COLONSAY  (q.v.). 
Almost  in  no  case  has  the  original  -ey  been  retained. 
PLADDA,  off  Arran,  is  the  old  Flada  or  '  flat  isle,'  another 
instance  of  the  Celt's  very  shifty  use  of  the  letter  p. 
The  name  remains  uncorrupted  in  Fladay,  off  Barra. 
An  almost  equally  important  group  are  the  wicks,  O.N. 
and  Icel.  wik,  a  (little)  bay ;  hence  vik-ing  or  '  bayman.' 
Wick  we  have  still  in  English  in  the  expression  '  the 
wicks '  or  corners  of  the  mouth.  LERWICK  arid  BRODICK, 
or  '  broad  bay,'  are-  certainly  Norse ;  but  this  suffix  is, 
in  the  south,  apt  to  be  confused  with  the  O.E.  ivic,  a 
dwelling,  village,  as  in  Alnwick,  and  probably  BERWICK. 
Another  Old  Norse  word  for  a  bay  or  cove  is  vdg-r ; 
but  the  r  of  the  nominative  generally  falls  away,  and 
we  get  -ivay,  as  in  SCALLOWAY,  STORNOWAY,  &c.,  which 
-ivay  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  the  similar 
Celtic  ending,  as  in  DARN  AW  AY,  G.  dor  na  bheath.  In 
other  cases  the  r  in  vag-r  changes  into  its  brother  liquid 
I,  as  in  Osmundwall,  PIEROWALL,  and  especially  KIRK- 
WALL.  This  last  town  first  appears  in  the  Orkneyinga 
Saga,  under  the  spelling  Kirkiuvag ;  before  1400  it 
has  become  Kirkvaw,  and  already  by  1497  it  is  Kirk- 
mf^,  and  Kirkwall,  to  many  a  one's  puzzlement  and 
misleading,  it  is  to  this  day.  In  Harris  and  Benbecula 
vagr  appears  as  -vagh,  as  in  FLODAVAGH  and  Uskevagh. 
Of  somewhat  similar  meaning  is  the  suffix  -vat  (Icel. 


NORSE   NAMES.  Ixiii 

vatn,  N.  vand,  water,  a  lake),  as  in  Loch  LANGAVAT, 
Lewis,  &c. 

The  Norsemen  have  not  only  named  many  of  our 
inlets  with  their  own  names  of  firth  and  voe  and  goe, 
they  have  named  many  of  our  'outlets'  too.  Every 
'  ness '  is  Norse,  this  being  the  Icel.  nes,  Dan.  naes,  a 
nose ;  hence  a  cape  or  f  Naze,'  a  transfer  of  meaning 
precisely  parallel  to  that  of  the  G.  sron  (p.  xliii.).  But 
though  names  like  STROMNESS  and  DEERNESS  are  pure 
Norse,  it  does  not  follow  that  names  like  BUCHAN  Ness 
and  BUDDON  Ness  are  all  Norse  too;  what  Buddon 
actually  does  mean  no  one  seems  sure.  Ness  often 
becomes  in  Gaelic  mouths  wish,  for  the  Gael  almost 
always  aspirates  his  s,  and  loves  to  speak  of  the 
'  Shawms  of  David '  (cf.  ARDALANISH,  MACHRAHANISH, 
&c.).  The  Viking  has  largely  determined  the  nomen- 
clature of  our  stormy  northern  and  western  shores. 
All  the  '  stacks,'  O.N.  stak. — these  wild-looking,  lonely 
juts  or  columns  of  rock,  in  Caithness,  are  Norse ;  so  are 
all  the  '  skerries/  N.  and  Dan.  skjaer,  a  cliff  or  rock,  of 
which  there  are  numerous  examples  around  the  wild 
Pentland  Firth — SCARFSKERRY,  SULESKERRY,  &c. ;  and 
such  names  as  SUMBURGH  ROOST  are  from  the  N.  rost, 
a  whirlpool. 

Two  remarkable  suffixes  remain,  and  demand  special 
attention.  The  first  is  -by  or  -bie,  so  useful  in  detecting 
the  foot  of  the  Dane  rather  than  the  Norwegian.  This 
is  the  north.  O.E.  by,  Mid.  Eng.  bi,  Dan.  and  Sw.  by, 
almost  certainly  all  derived  from  the  O.N.  boer  or  byr, 
and  all  meaning  a  dwelling,  a  hamlet  or  town.  The 
root  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  good  old  Scottish  word 
big,  to  build,  but  not  the  same  as  that  of  '  bury '  or 
'  borough,'  which  is  from  the  O.E.  byrig  or  burh,  a 
fortified  enclosure.  The  suffix  -by  is  frequent  in  the 


Ixiv  PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND. 

north  of  England,,  and  almost  as  frequent  in  South- 
West  Scotland — CANONBIE,  MIDDLEBIE,  PERCEBIE, 
SORBIE,  &c.  There  are  nine  examples  in  the  Dumfries 
district,  three  in  Ayr  (Crosby,  Magby,  and  Sterby),  and 
only  four  in  the  south-east.  There  is  one  near  Glasgow, 
BUSBY,  and  just  one  north  of  the  Forth,  HUMBIE,  near 
Aberdour,  Fife.  In  the  extreme  north  by  reappears  in 
the  misleading  guise  of  -bay,  as  in  CANISBAY  and 
DUNCANSBAY.  But  perhaps  the  most  remarkable 
group  of  suffixes  in  the  whole  study  of  Scottish  names 
is  that  evolved  out  of  one  compound  O.N.  word 
bolstaftr,  a  dwelling-place,  which  has  been  chopped 
and  changed  into  almost  every  conceivable  shape. 
It  occurs  alone,  as  a  place-name,  again  and  again, 
and  in  many  shapes,  as  in  Bosta,  Lewis,  Boust, 
Coll,  and  Busta,  Shetland.  Perhaps  nearest  to  the 
original  are  the  forms  -bolsy,  found  in  '  Scarrabolsy/ 
mentioned  in  Islay  in  1562,  and  -bustar,  -buster,  and 
-bister,  as  in  '  Skelebustar,'  '  Swanbuster,'  in  Orphir, 
mentioned  in  the  early  Orkney  rental  books,  c.  1500, 
Cowbuster  (Firth,  Orkney),  and  Fimbuster,  and  Libister, 
old  form  of  LYBSTER.  This  last  shows  us  the  first 
vowel  dropped  out,  as  is  also  seen  in  BIL-BSTER  and 
SCRA-BSTER  (in  1201  Skara-bolstad).  As  common  as 
any  is  the  form  -host,  as  in  Colbost,  GARRABOST,  Shaw- 
bost,  all  in  Long  Island ;  there  are  thirteen  names  in 
-host  in  Lewis  alone.  In  Islay  poor  bolstafir  is  squeezed 
down  into  -bus,  as  in  Eorabus,  '  beach-house,'  Persebus, 
'  priest's  farm,'  &c.  Then  -bol  often  occurs  alone,  and, 
indeed,  bol  is  itself  the  O.N.  for  a  dwelling,  thus  we 
have  BORROBOL  and  ERIBOL  in  Sutherland ;  and  then 
that  shifty  liquid  I  drops  away,  and  so  we  get  EMBO 
and  SKIBO,  near  Dornoch.  In  Islay,  Coll,  Tyree,  and 
Mull  the  b  may  become  p,  and  so  for  bol  we  get  pol  or 


NORSE   NAMES.  Ixv 

pool,  as  in  CROSSAPOL,  GRISAPOLL.  In  Caithness  it  is 
the  second  or  staftr  half  which  has  been  chiefly  used, 
staftr  being  the  Norse  equivalent  of  the  O.E.  stede  or 
'  stead/  a  place,  as  in  '  homestead.'  Staftr  gives  us  in 
Caithness  scores  of  -sters — OCCUMSTER,  STEMSTER, 
THRUMSTER,  &c.  Instead  of  -ster  we  usually  find,  in 
the  Long  Island,  -'stra,  as  in  SCARRI-STRA,  or  even 
-sta,  as  in  TOLSTA.  Further,  metamorphosis  could 
hardly  go.1 

An  interesting  little  group  is  formed  by  the  three 
names,  DINGWALL,  TINGWALL  (Shetland),  and  TINWALD 
(Dumfries),  which  are  all  shapes  of  the  same  word, 
tyingavollr,  (  meeting-place  of  the  Thing,  diet,  or  local 
parliament.'  In  Norse  th  is  sounded  t,  hence  the  latter 
two  forms ;  and  every  one  who  knows  Grimm's  law, 
knows  how  naturally  th  becomes  d,  hence  Dingwall.  or, 
as  it  first  occurs  in  1263,  Dignewall.  The  Icel.  "ping, 
and  the  Dan.  and  Sw.  ting  mean,  properly,  a  court  or 
assembly,  but  in  our  own  O.E.  the  thing  is  originally 
the  cause  or  matter  which  the  Thing  met  to  discuss. 
The  ancient  little  burgh  of  TAIN  is  commonly  supposed 
to  come  from  tying  or  ting  too.  Its  earliest  spelling, 
in  1227,  is  Tene,  which  makes  this  likely.  The  second 
syllable  of  Dingwall,  &c.,  is  the  O.N.  voll-r  or  void, 
Sw.  falla,  O.E.  fold,  Dan.  and  Mod.  Eng.  fold,  an 
enclosure,  or  what  is  enclosed,  hence  '  an  assembly.' 

Several  Scottish  counties  have  a  Norse  element  in 
their  names,  e.g.,  CAITHNESS,  a  name  never  used  by  any 
Gael.  He  always  speaks  of  Gallaibh,  'land  of  the 
Galls '  or  '  strangers,'  these,  of  course,  being  the 

1  In  all  matters  regarding  West  Coast  names  this  chapter  is  largely 
indebted  to  Professor  M'Kinnon's  valuable  series  of  articles  on  the 
Place-Names  of  Argyle,  published  in  the  Scotsman  in  the  winter  of 

1887-88. 


Ixvi  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

marauding  Northmen ;  -aibh  is  the  old  locative  case- 
ending.  The  name  Caithness  is  the  O.N.  Calcines, 
*  ness '  or  '  projecting  land  of  the  tribe  Cat.'  Cat  is  the 
name  actually  given  to  the  district  by  the  man  who 
first  mentions  it,  the  Irish  Nennius  (?  of  8th  century). 
This  tribe  of  Cat  or  Caith  took  their  name  from  Cat, 
Gatt,  or  Got,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  legendary  Cruithne 
(see  p.  xliv).  The  next  neighbour  of  Caithness,  SUTHER- 
LAND, which,  curiously  enough,  contains  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  extreme  north  of  Scotland,  is  the  O.N. 
Sudrland,  so  named  because  it  lay  to  the  south  of  the 
Norse  settlements  in  Orkney  and  Caithness;  just  as 
the  Hebrides  were  termed  Sudreyar,  as  contrasted 
with  the  more  northerly  Orkney  and  Shetland  Isles. 
Already  in  a  Latin  document  of  date  1300  we  find 
the  name  as  Sutherlandia.  The  ending  of  the  name 
ORKNEY,  at  least,  is  Norse  (see  List).  SHETLAND  or 
Zetland  is  the  O.N.  Hjcdtland  or  Hetland,  but  what 
that  means  Dr  Vigfusson  in  his  Icelandic  dictionary 
makes  no  attempt  to  explain. 

Just  one  or  two  noteworthy  scraps  in  conclusion  :  be 
it  noted  that  the  PENTLAND  Frith  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  word  pent,  which  would  be  singularly  inappro- 
priate as  applied  to  this  swift-running  sea-channel, 
which  is  no  true  frith  at  all.  Pentland  frith,  like 
Pentland  hills,  is  the  O.N.  word  Petland,  the  Norse 
for  '  Picts'  land,'  which  conveys  to  us  some  useful 
information  as  to  the  settlements  and  migrations  of 
the  Picts.  Cape  WRATH,  standing  in  its  stormy  soli- 
tude at  the  far  north-west  corner  of  Scotland,  has 
doubtless  been  thought  to  bear  a  very  appropriate 
name.  So  it  does ;  but  what  it  means  is,  not  rage  and 
fury,  but  '  corner,  turning  point,'  or  '  shelter/  Icel. 
hvarf,  and  Sw.  hwarf,  the  same  word  as  our  Eng. 


NORSE   NAMES.  Ixvii 

wharf.  And  that  far  northern  isle  in  Shetland,  YELL, 
seems  to  bear  a  very  startling  name.  But  Yell  is 
the  O.N.  Jali,  Icel.  gelid  or  gall,  which  means  nothing 
more  than  '  barren.3  This  last  is  also  the  root  of  that 
ugly  name  JAWCRAIG,  near  Slamannan,  spelt  in  a  1745 
map,  Jallcraig.  The  present  form  is  one  among  many 
hundreds  of  examples  of  'popular  etymology/  or,  as 
likely,  of  popular  carelessness. 


CHAPTER   III. 

ENGLISH   NAMES. 

To  the  student  who  has  fairly  tackled  the  Celtic,  or 
even  the  Norse,  names  of  Scotland,  the  purely  English 
names  are  mere  child's  play.  Considering  that  English 
is  now  the  vernacular  of  sixteen  out  of  every  seventeen 
persons  in  the  land,  the  number  of  our  English  or 
Anglo-Saxon  place-names  is  surprisingly  small.  We 
are  not  aware,  however,  if  the  proportion  of  English  to 
Celtic  and  to  Norse  names  in  Scotland  has  ever  been 
exactly  ascertained  or  even  estimated.  The  calculation 
would  be  rather  a  difficult  one,  but  full  of  interest. 
English  has  for  some  time  been  the  language  of  all  the 
most  populous  districts ;  but  over  a  very  wide  area  in 
the  Highlands  English  influence  had  scarcely  any 
existence  before  the  Rebellion  in  1745  ;  and  very  few 
place-names  of  any  interest  to  us  have  originated 
since  that  date.  The  place-names  of  yesterday  are  of 
small  account. 

Both  the  contemporary  historian  Ammianus  Mar- 
cellinus  and  the  contemporary  poet  Claudian  prove, 
that  as  early  as  360  A.D.,  Saxons  had  invaded  the 
Roman  province  of  Britain.  How  soon  they  entered 
Scotland  we  are  hardly  able  to  tell ;  but  we  have 
already  alluded  to  the  possible  presence  of  Frisians  in 
the  flats  of  Dumfriesshire  before  the  year  400.  Octa 
and  Ebissa,  leaders  of  the  Frisians,  were  probably 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixix 

established  in  East  and  Mid  Lothian  c.  500  A.D. ;  and, 
at  any  rate,  by  547  Angles  and  Frisians,  i.e.,  men  from 
the  swamps  arid  plains  around  the  mouths  of  the  Weser, 
Scheldt,  and  Rhine,  had  spread  from  Tees  to  Forth. 
A  district  on  the  south  of  the  Frith  of  Forth  was  early 
known  as  the  'Frisian  Shore;'  and  probably  the 
earliest  recorded  appellation  of  the  frith  itself  is  that 
used  by  Nennius,  Mare  Frenessicum  or  '  Frisian  Sea.' 
The  true  modern  representatives  of  these  Frisians  are, 
of  course,  the  Dutch  or  Low  Germans  of  Holland  and 
Hanover.  Though  the  Angle  and  the  Saxon  were  thus 
early  on  the  ground,  very  few  English  names  indeed 
can  be  proved  to  have  been  in  use  in  Scotland  before 
the  days  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  c.  1060 ;  therefore  is  it 
that  we  have  made  this  Chapter  III.  when  strictly  it 
should  have  been  Chapter  II.  Almost  the  only  excep- 
tions which  occur  to  us  are  these — that  Simeon  of 
Durham  (d.  1130),  when  writing  of  the  year  756, 
mentions  a  Niwanbyrig,  which  may  be  NEWBURGH  in 
Fife,  and  Eddi  and  the  venerable  Bede  (both  c.  720) 
mention '  Coludesburg,'  or,  in  Bede's  Latin  Urbs  Goludi, 
which  is  the  modern  COLDINGHAM.  Of  course,  probably 
many  more  English  names  than  these  actually  existed 
at  as  early  a  date ;  but  our  extant  information  is  very 
scanty. 

Professor  Freeman  informs  us  that  exiles  were  wel- 
comed from  England  as  early  as  the  days  of  Macbeth, 
who, '  as  every  schoolboy  knows/  was  slain  at  Lumphanan 
in  1057.  But  the  chief  inflow  of  English  blood  came 
not  till  Macbeth's  equally  famous  successor,  Malcolm 
Canmore,  had  been  seated  for  fully  half  a  score  of 
years  upon  his  throne.  By  that  time  the  Norman 
Conquest  was  a  sad  reality  to  Saxon  and  to  Angle ;  and 
King  Malcolm  now  gladly  welcomed  the  exiled  Saxon 


Ixx  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

royal  family  to  his  palace  at  Dunfermline.  Nor  was 
he  long  in  espousing  the  devout  Saxon  princess, 
Margaret,  who  has  left  her  trace  in  North  and  South 
QUEENSFERRY,  hard  by  Dunfermline.  From  the 
marriage  of  Malcolm  with  Margaret  (1070),  and  from 
the  incoming  of  the  English  exiles  about  the  same 
time,  we  may  safely  date  the  decay,  not  only  of  the 
old  Celtic  Church,  but  also  of  the  Celtic  speech. 
Henceforth  Gaelic  was  a  courtly  language  no  more. 
But  just  after  the  Norman  Conquest  many  of  our 
English  town  and  village  names  must  have  sprung 
up.  By  the  aid  of  the  old  charters,  of  which  we  have 
a  rich  abundance  after  1116,  we  can  see  many  of  these 
names  coming  in  and  taking  shape  before  our  very 
eyes.  And  to  the  student  of  history  the  process 
is  quite  as  interesting  as  the  embryologist  finds  it 
to  watch  the  slowly  beautiful  growth  of  the  ascidian 
or  the  tadpole  under  the  microscope.  Here,  too,  is 
evolution. 

The  English  ending  denoting  '  town,'  '  village,'  is  ton 
or  ham.  We  might,  for  illustration,  select  almost  any 
Scottish  name  ending  thus.  Let  us  take  SYMINGTON, 
which  occurs  twice,  in  Lanark  and  in  Ayr.  Both  take 
their  name  from  the  same  man,  Simon  Lockhart,  a 
local  knight,  about  whom  we  read  a  good  deal  in  the 
records  of  the  middle  part  of  the  12th  century,  and 
whose  surname  is  still  preserved  in  Milton  Lockhart, 
near  Carluke.  In  1160,  in  one  of  the  oldest  charters 
of  Paisley  Abbey,  we  read,  'Inter  terram  Simonis 
Loccardi  &  Prestwick,'  which  shows  us  Knight  Simon 
already  in  Ayrshire,  and  prepares  us  for  the  entry  in 
1293,  '  Symondstona  in  Kyi.'  Again,  c.  1189,  we  find 
'  Villa  Symonis  Lockard '  in  Lanarkshire,  which,  before 
1300,  has  become  '  Symondstone;'  in  either  case 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixxi 

the  further  advance  to  '  Symington '  is  easy.  Take 
one  other  very  similar  case,  COVINGTON,  near  Lanark. 
About  1120  we  find  among  the  followers  of  David 
Prince  of  Cumbria  a  certain  Colban.  About  1190 
we  find  mention  of  a  'Villa  Colbani,'  villa,  by  the 
way,  being  just  the  Latin  form  of  the  Norman- French 
ville,  literally,  a  countryhouse,  then  a  town.  In  1212 
we  find  '  Colbaynistun ;'  in  1434  this  has  become 
'  Cowantoun/  showing  how  the  surname  Cowan  has 
arisen;  but  c.  1480  it  has  slipped  into  its  modern 
shape  of  '  Covingtoun ;'  for  toun  is  still  the  good 
Scottish  way  of  pronouncing  town  or  ton. 

As  might  be  expected,  genuine  English  names  are 
to  be  found  more  or  less  all  over  the  Lowlands ;  but  as 
all  the  hills  and  streams  had,  long  ere  his  coming, 
received  Celtic  names,  the  Angle  has  named  for  us 
very  few  of  these ;  though  sometimes  he  managed  to 
add  an  adjective,  as  in  the  Black  and  White  ADDER. 
Perforce  he  adopted  the  names  he  found,  though 
seldom  had  he  much  inkling  of  their  meaning. 
English  names  for  Scottish  natural  features  are  rarely 
found.  As  for  hills,  neither  MOORFOOTS  nor  PENT- 
LANDS  are  true  cases  in  point,  and  a  name  like 
Norman's  Law  or  North  Berwick  Law  cannot  be  called 
a  very  serious  exception ;  and  as  for  rivers,  if  few  even 
of  England's  rivers  bear  English  names,  there  are 
positively  none  at  all,  of  any  consequence,  in  Scotland. 
But  there  are  several  hows  (O.E.  holy,  holh)  or  hollows 
or  valleys,  as  'the  How  o'  the  Mearns,'  famous 
HABBIE'S  How  at  Carlops. 

The  region1  for  true  English  names  is  that  which 

1  Readers  of  Armstrong's  sumptuous  History  of  Liddesdale,  &c.,  will 
see  that  English  farm  and  manor  names  are  very  plentiful  here 
too. 


Ixxii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

lies  between  Edinburgh  and  Berwick,  whose  original 
population  were  the  Celtic  Ottadeni,  a  branch  of  the 
great  tribe  of  the  Brigantes.  But  1400  years  of 
Anglian  settlement  have  largely  obliterated  the  traces 
of  the  old  Celt  here,  especially  as  regards  the  names  of 
the  towns  or  villages.  Almost  the  only  notable  excep- 
tion is  DUNBAR,  mentioned  as  early  as  the  days  of 
Eddi  (c.  720),  certainly  a  Celtic  name,  and  perhaps 
commemorating  St  Bar  or  Finnbarr,  an  ancient  bishop 
of  Cork.  In  the  Highlands,  English  names,  unless 
they  be  quite  modern,  are  very  rare.  Wherever  an 
English  or  partly  English  name  occurs,  the  Gael  is 
sure  to  have  a  name  of  his  own,  e.g.,  he  calls  Taymouth 
BALLOCH,  and  so  forth.  And  the  Gael  deals  precisely 
so  with  Norse  names  also ;  he  speaks  not  of  Tain,  but 
of  Baile  Dhuthaic,  or  '  the  town  of  St  Duthac.'  Some- 
times an  English  name  is  just  a  translation  of  an  older 
Gaelic  one,  as  in  the  town  now  erroneously  spelt  and 
called  by  outsiders  FALKIRK,  but  which  is  really  Fahkirk 
(1382,  Fawkirc),  and  is  so  pronounced  by  the  natives  to 
this  day.  This  is  Simeon  of  Durham's  Egglesbreth, 
and  the  modern  Highland  drover's  An  Eaglais  bhreac, 
'  the  spotted  church/  referring  to  the  mottled  colour  of 
its  stone. 

Place-names  of  English  origin  are  a  faithful  reflection 
of  the  typical  Englishman — stolid,  unemotional,  full  of 
blunt  common-sense.  They  almost  all  spell  plain 
*  John  Bull  his  mark,'  '  John  Bull  his  house.'  Anglo- 
Saxon  names  are,  as  a  rule,  abrupt,  matter-of-fact, 
devoid  of  aught  poetic,  having  of  music  none.  How 
different  is  Birmingham  or  '  Brummagem,'  or  Wolver- 
harnpton,  from  '  Be-a-la-nam-bo,'  or  COILANTOGLE  !  and 
even  Balla-chd-lish  has  something  pathetically  Celtic 
about  it,  if  pronounced  by  understanding  lips.  For 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixxiii 

pure  expressiveness.,  however,  few  names  can  beat  the 
name  (it  cannot  be  very  ancient)  given  to  a  conspicuous, 
monument-capped  hill  nearLinlithgow,  'Glower-o'er-ern' 
or  Glowr(5rum.  To  translate  glower  into  '  English ' 
would  be  to  make  the  name  feeble  indeed.  A  little  to 
the  south,  near  Drumshoreland,  is  found  the  feebler 
name,  '  Lookabootye.'  The  pure  Englishman  shows  in 
his  names  almost  none  of  the  Celt's  inner  sympathy 
with  nature  either  in  her  sterner  or  in  her  softer 
moods.  And  the  modern  Socialist  will  not  be  too  well 
pleased  to  find  that  most  of  our  O.E.  town  names 
give  strong  expression  to  the  idea  of  individual  rights, 
and  to  the  sanctity  of  private  property.  Many  of  them 
are  the  very  embodiment  of  the  adage  that  every 
Englishman's  house  is  his  castle ;  so  many  of  the  com- 
monest O.E.  place-endings  imply  '  enclosure,  fencing-off.' 
This  is  the  root-idea  in  burgh,  ham,  and  ton,  in  seat 
and  worth. 

And  the  English  thane,  as  well  as  the  Norman  baron, 
invariably  called  the  little  village,  which  grew  up  under 
the  shadow  and  shelter  of  his  castle  walls,  after  his  own 
noble  self.  Places  ending  in  -mile,  or,  as  it  is  some- 
times found  in  Scotland,  -well,  are  Norman ;  but  the 
burghs,  tons,  and  hams  are  all  English.  Burgh,  or 
more  fully  borough,  is  the  O.E.  burg,  burh,  gen.  by  rig, 
dat.  buri,  biri,  hence  its  other  form  '  Bury '  or  -bury, 
common  in  England  but  not  in  Scotland,  though  on 
the  Ayrshire  coast  stands  TURNBERRY  (in  1286  Turne- 
byry).  The  root  of  burgh  is  probably  the  Old  Ger. 
bergan,  to  shelter ;  and  its  earliest  meaning,  as  given 
in  a  Kentish  glossary  dating  c.  820  A.D.,  is  arx,  i.e., 
'citadel,  castle,'  then  it  comes  to  mean,  'a  fortified 
town  ; '  but  the  idea  of  '  civic  community '  or  *  town ' 
arises  very  early  also.  In  names  the  word  occurs 

E 


Ixxiv  PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND. 

chiefly  as  a  suffix,  -burgh,  but  occasionally  as  a  prefix, 
as  in  Borrowstoun-ness  or  BO'NESS,  and  in  BURGHEAD, 
where  the  O.E.  word  burg  with  its  hard  g  is  still  pre- 
served intact.  The  Old  Norse  form  borg  (used  by 
Charles  Kingsley  in  his  Hereward)  also  occurs,  on  the 
west  coast  of  Lewis,  as  Borgh,  as  every  reader  of  the 
Princess  of  Thule  knows. 

The  O.E.  tun(e)  or  ton(e)  never  originally  meant  a 
large  town ;  and  we  still  have  the  common  Scots 
phrase,  'the  farm  toun/  which  means  a  collection  of 
houses  very  different  in  size  from  Leeds  or  Bradford. 
In  O.E.  the  word  occurs  both  with  and  without  the 
final  e  ;  thus  JoHNSTONE  means  not  '  John's  stone/  but 
*  John's  town.'  Ton  seems  also  to  have  implied  a  village 
belonging  to  a  certain  class,  as  FULLERTON  or  '  fowler's 
town/  HALKERSTON  or  '  settlement  of  the  hawkers/  i.e., 
falconers.  Genuine  cases  of  Scottish  names  in  -burgh, 
called  after  some  man,  are  hard  to  discover ;  but  COLD- 
INGHAM  was  originally  Coludesburg  or  '  Colud's  town/ 
and  WINCHBURGH  may  be  another  case  in  point.  The 
peculiar  case  of  EDINBURGH  is  fully  dealt  with  in  the 
List  where  it  is  shown  that  the  name  of  Scotia's  capital 
is  most  likely  of  Brythonic  origin — W.  din  eiddyn,  or 
Dunedin,  '  fort  on  the  hill-slope/  i.e.,  what  is  now  the 
backbone  of  Edinburgh,  its  High  Street,  from  the 
Castle  to  Holyrood.  The  name  was  merely  remodelled, 
though  it  certainly  was  remodelled,  in  honour  of  King 
Edwin  of  Northumbria.  But  if  burghs  called  after 
Saxon  thanes  or  knights  are  rare,  tons  are  found  in  a 
rich  plenty,  e.g.,  DOLPHINTON,  DUDDINGSTON,  EDDLES- 
TON  or  *  Edulf  s  ton/  STEVENSTON,  &c.  Wherever  this 
suffix  -ton  is  still,  even  occasionally,  spelt  -town,  the 
name  is  pretty  sure  to  be  modern,  of  which  we  see 
examples  in  the  two  CAMPBELLTOWNS,  Hutchesontown, 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixxv 

PULTNEYTOWN,  SiNCLAiRTON,  &c.  Moreover,  the 
amateur  must  always  walk  warily  in  dealing  with 
English-looking  tons  in  the  north,  aye,  and  in  the 
south  too,  for  ton  is  not  seldom  a  corruption  of  the 
G.  dun,  a  hill  or  fort,  e.g.,  EDDERTON,  near  Tain,  is  just 
eadar  duin, '  between  the  hillocks ; '  and  away  in  the 
south,  near  to  the  boundary-line  of  the  Tweed,  stands 
EARLSTON,  a  simple  name  enough,  one  would  think; 
but  Earlston  is  just  the  result  of  careless  tongues.  In 
1144  the  name  was  Ercheldon,  which  at  once  shows 
that  here  is  the  '  Ercildune '  famed  as  the  birthplace 
of  Thomas  the  Rymer.  To  return  for  a  moment  to 
burgh,  it  may  be  noted  that,  with  the  partial  excep- 
tions already  mentioned,  all  other  Scottish  -burghs  are 
comparatively  modern,  except  perhaps  three — SUM- 
BURGH,  south  most  point  of  distant  Zetland,  the  Svin- 
borg  of  the  Sagas;  ROXBURGH,  which  we  find  away 
back  as  early  as  1134,  '  Rokesburch,'  presumably  mean- 
ing '  castle  on  the  rock ; '  and  thirdly,  and  most  curious 
of  all,  NEWBURGH  in  Fife,  which,  as  we  saw  a  few  pages 
back,  is  possibly  the  very  oldest  extant  English  name 
in  Scotland.  Of  recent  burghs  we  may  mention 
COLINSBURGH,  built  c.  1696 ;  MARYBURGH,  near  Ding- 
wall,  c.  1690 ;  and  HELENSBURGH,  which  only  dates 
from  1776. 

Ham,  O.E.  hdm,  is  just  our  winsome  English  word 
*  home/  the  original  a  being  preserved  in  the  Sc. 
hame.  A  typical  example  is  COLDINGHAM  or  WHIT- 
TINGHAM,  though  hams,  called  after  Saxon  men,  are 
much  rarer  north  than  south  of  the  Tweed.  Instances 
not  connected  with  any  man's  name  are  BIRGHAM  in 
Berwick  and  KiRKPATRiCK-DuRHAM,  near  Dumfries. 
EAGLESHAM,  the  only  ham  near  Glasgow,  is  a  deceptive 
hybrid,  meaning  '  church-place '  (W.  eglioys,  G.  eaglais, 


Ixxvi  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

a  church).  Ham  often  gets  clipped  down,  for  h  easily 
vanishes  in  an  Englishman's  mouth,  and  in  a  Scotsman's 
too,  if  only  he  were  aware  of  it.  Almost  no  Scotsman, 
e.g.,  will  pronounce  the  h  in  such  a  sentence  as  '  John 
told  me  that  &e  said,'  &c.  Thus  ham  becomes  am,  as 
in  BIRNAM,  and  EDNAM,  '  home  on  the  R.  Eden,'  or  yet 
more  disguised,  as  in  MIDDLEM,  or  EDROM,  '  home  011 
the  K.  Adder.'  There  is  one  lonely  but  very  interesting 
ham  away  up  near  Forse  in  Caithness,  '  Notingham/ 
which  is  so  spelt  in  the  Bk.  of  Scone  in  1272. 

It  is  generally  said  that  -ing-  in  O.E.  place-names 
implies  '  descendants  of,'  e.g.,  SYMINGTON  was  thought 
to  be  the  ton  or  village  of  Sym's  sons.  But  in  every 
case  of  -ing-  occurring  in  a  Scottish  place-name,  so  far 
as  we  have  been  able  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  names, 
the  -ing-  is  a  later  corruption,  generally  of  an,  in,  or 
O7i.  See  ABINGTON,  COLDINGHAM,  COVINGTON,  DUD- 
DINGSTON,  LAMINGTON,  UDDINGSTON,  &C.1 

As  with  names  Norse  so  with  names  English,  of 
English  prefixes  there  are  but  few  (burgh  has  been  already 
referred  to),  but  English  suffixes  are  almost  innumer- 
able, the  most  of  them  requiring  little  or  no  elucidation. 
There  is,  e.g.,  the  little  cluster  signifying  some  kind  of 
height  or  eminence — hill  itself,  as  in  Maryhill,  Town- 
hill ;  knoive,  the  softened  Scottish  form  of  knoll,  O.E. 
cnoll  (cf.  the  Dan.  knold  and  W.  cnol,  a  (rounded) 
hillock),  just  as  How  is  the  Scottish  form  of  the  O.E. 
holg,  and  Pow  the  Scottish  form  of  the  G.  poll,  a  stream 
or  pool;  this  we  find  in  BROOMIEKNOWE,  COWDEN- 
KNOWES,  &c.;  law,  the  Scottish  form  of  the  O.E.  hldew, 
a  hill,  a  mound,  a  barrow,  as  in  GREENLAW,  HARLAW, 
LARGO  LAW,  and  also  in  many  hybrids  like  the  LAM- 

1  No  doubt  such  English  names  as  Barking  and  Woking  are  real 
patronymics,  and  do  denote  the  abode  of  a  family  or  clan. 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixxvii 

MERLAWS,  the  well-known  cliffs  at  Burntisland,  and  like 
MINTLAW.  The  English  form  low;  as  in  Ludlow  and 
Taplow,  plentiful  though  it  be  south  of  the  Border,  does 
not  seem  to  occur  in  Scotland.  To  this  little  group  of 
suffixes  mount  can  hardly  be  added,  for  the  Scottish 
-mounts  or  -monts  almost  all  represent  the  G.  monadh, 
a  mountain  or  moor,  as  in  ESSLEMONT,  GLASMONT,  &c. 

In  many  cases  it  would  be  more  correct  to  say  that 
a  given  suffix  or  word  is  Scots  rather  than  English,  which 
just  means  that  the  word,  or  often  simply  the  form, 
though  once  used  in  northern  literary  English,  is  now 
preserved  only  in  Lowland  Scots.  Neither  Jmowe, 
e.g.,  nor  law  is  to  be  found  at  all  in  Annandale's  most 
reliable  Concise  English  Dictionary ;  another  instance 
is  that  very  interesting  word  kirk  or  '  church,'  fully 
dealt  with  in  our  Index.  It  may  just  be  added  that  a 
charter  dating  a.  1124,  which  mentions  '  Selechirche ' 
or  SELKIRK,  is  earlier  than  any  document  quoted  by 
Dr  Murray  for  the  soft  or  ch  form  of  the  O.E.  cyrc,  our 
modern  church.  An  interesting  instance  is  -gate,  which 
in  Scottish  place-names  like  CROSSGATES,  TRONGATE, 
WINDYGATES,  always  has  its  Scottish  meaning  of '  way,' 
'  road.'  '  I  gae'd  a  weary  gate  yestreen,  a  gate  I  fear 
I'll  dearly  rue.'  In  Scots,  unlike  both  O.E.  and 
Mod.  Eng.,  it  never  means  a  door  or  entrance;  but 
the  well-known  Border  pronunciation  'yet,'  which  is 
the  English  not  the  Scottish  gate,  is  to  be  found  in 
YETHOLM,  that  Roxburgh  hamlet  at  the  '  gate '  between 
Scotland  and  England.  Similar  is  -woder,  still  on  the 
Scottish  borders  pronounced  like  the  O.E.  waeter, 
which  means  riot  only  the  brook  or  burn  itself,  but  also 
the  valley  through  which  it  flows,  as  in  Galawater, 
Jedwater,  Kulewater :  '  Nor  Yarrow  braes  nor  Ettrick 
shaws  can  match  the  lads  o'  Galawater.'  A  curious  and 


Ixxviii  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

deceiving  suffix  is  -battle.  MOREBATTLE,  near  Kelso, 
looks  very  like  some  bloodthirsty  borderer's  cry.  But 
when  we  find  the  name  on  record  in  1170  as  Merebotle, 
we  see  that  the  true  meaning  is  the  '  dwelling  (O.E. 
boil)  by  the  mere'  or  lake.  By  1575  it  had  become 
Morbottle ;  it  is  only  within  the  present  century  that 
the  o,  through  ignorance,  has  become  permanently 
changed  to  a ;  and  the  same  is  true  of  fair  NEWBATTLE 
Abbey,  near  Dalkeith.  The  Northumbrians  still  retain 
the  o,  as  in  Harbottle ;  and  there  is  a  Newbottle  near 
Durham.  The  O.E.  botl  is  also  found  smothered  up  in. 
the  name  BOLTON,  which  c.  1200  was  spelt  Botel-  or 
Bothel-tune. 

So  far  as  sound  goes,  the  ending  -haven  might  indi- 
cate either  an  English  (O.E.  haeferi)  or  a  Norse  (Icel. 
hofn,  Dan.  havri)  name ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  most 
of  the  '  havens '  are  demon strably  English,  and  late  in 
origin ;  e.g.,  both  BUCKHAVEN  and  NEWHAVEN,  on  the 
Frith  of  Forth,  date  only  from  the  16th  century.  And 
some  '  havens '  do  not  mean  a  haven  at  all ;  such  an 
one  is  that  tautological-looking  name  belonging  to  an 
Islay  village,  spelt  PORTNAHAVEN,  but  pronounced 
portnahaVn,  which  at  once  shows  that  this  is  really  the 
G.  port  na  h'abhuinn,  '  harbour  on  the  river.' 

In  looking  for  truly  English  names  two  of  our  pre- 
liminary cautions  must  always  be  kept  well  in  view : — 
(1)  Many  names  may  be  partly  English  and  partly 
something  else ;  e.g.,  that  name  dear  to  every  Scottish 
heart,  BANNOCKBURN.  '  Burn '  is  good  Scottish  or  O.E., 
but  'bannock'  is  neither  Scots  nor  English,  and  has 
nothing  to  do  with  flour  or  pease-meal  scones;  it  is  just 
the  G.  ban  cnoc,  '  white '  or  '  gleaming  knoll.'  BARR- 
HEAD  has  nothing  to  do  with  toll-bars  or  any  other  bars, 
the 'head'  simply  repeating  what  has  already  been  said  in 


ENGLISH   NAMES.  Ixxix 

the  G.  barr  (a  head  or  height).  In  GOREBRIDGE,  near 
Dalkeith,  the  '  bridge '  is  English  without  doubt ;  but 
the  gore  has  nothing  to  do  either  with  blood  or  bulls, 
being  the  innocent  Gaelic  word  gobhar,  a  goat.  An- 
other well-known  name  is  GLASSFORD,  near  Hamilton, 
a  name  which  pictures  to  the  mind's  eye  some  shallow 
spot  in  a  river  of  glassy  smoothness.  '  Ford,'  indeed,  is 
English,  but  the  '  glass '  is  just  the  common  G.  glais  or 
glas,  grey  or  dark,  as  in  DUNGLASS,  GLASMONT,  and 
many  more ;  or  else  it  is  the  Old  G.  glas,  a  river,  as  in 
DOUGLAS  and  great  GLASGOW  itself. 

All  the  examples  given  for  our  first  caveat  would  serve 
well  for  the  second,  viz. : — (2)  An  English-looking  name 
may  not  be  English  at  all.  Look  well  before  you  leap. 
We  shall  just  point  out  one  or  two  more  conspicuous 
instances  of  the  need  of  this.  There  are  several  glens 
with  deceptively  English-like  names,  e.g.,  mighty  Glen 
LYON,  which  is  probably  the  G.  lithe  amhuinn  (the  h 
has  silenced  both  the  t  and  the  m),  '  spatey  river/  A 
little  to  the  south  is  Glen  ALMOND  ;  both  the  Scottish 
rivers  called  Almond  were  formerly  spelt  Awmon, 
showing  that  here  we  have  simply  one  of  the  many 
guises  of  the  G.  amhuinn,  a  river.  Glen  Howl,  in  the 
Stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright,  has  no  connection  with 
cries  or  roars ;  it  is  but  the  G.  gleann-a-ghabail, '  glen 
of  the  fork,'  where  two  streams  join.  And  again,  in  the 
Highlands,  as  in  Ireland,  we  meet  with  many  a  Letter-. 
But  they  were  all  there  long  before  the  days  of  the  Post 
Office.  The  first  syllable  in  LETTERFEARN  or  LETTER- 
FINLAY  is  just  the  G.  leitir  (leth-tir),  '  land  on  the  slope 
of  a  glen.' 

It  is  both  curious  and  interesting  to  know  that  the 
1  Cockney '  very  early  began  to  prefix  his  hs  to  Scottish 
names.  The  hand  of  an  English  scribe  is  clearly  seen 


Ixxx  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

in  such  forms  as  Habberden,  Haberbervi,  Hinernairn, 
and  Hecles,  all  found  in  MSS.  of  about  the  year  1290.1 
Though  the  definite  article  is  so  rare  at  the  beginning 
of  Celtic  names  it  is  common  enough  before  English 
ones ;  but,  for  euphony's  sake,  it  seems  only  to  be  used 
with  words  accented  on  the  first  syllable,  as  The 
Lochies  (Burntisland),  the  Methil  (Lev en),  and  the 
Redding  (Polmont). 

Many  types  of  names  very  common  in  England  seem 
wholly  wanting  in  Scotland.  In  England  'Great' 
abounds  as  an  appellation — Great  Malvern,  and  the 
like;  but  in  Scotland  there  are  none.  The  same 
remark  holds  true  about  '  Little,'  unless  we  count '  The 
Little  Ferry/  near  Dornoch,  as  an  exception.  Again, 
'  Market '  and  '  Stoke '  (i.e.,  place)  are  very  common 
Anglican  prefixes  and  suffixes,  as  in  Market  Drayton, 
and  Bishopstoke,  and  many  more ;  but  in  Scotland 
they  are  never  used  at  all. 

1  See  Rev.  Joseph  Stevenson's  very  interesting  collection  of  Docu- 
ments Illustrative  of  the  History  of  Scotland,  vol.  i. ,  under  the  years 
1289-92,  and  the  itineraries  and  accounts  of  expenditure  of  English- 
men quoted  there. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ROMAN,  NORMAN,  AND  PURELY  MODERN  NAMES. 

IN  strict  propriety  the  Roman  names  should  have  been 
dealt  with  before  either  the  English  or  the  Norse  ones  ; 
but  they  form  a  group  so  small  and  so  unimportant, 
that  little  harm  can  be  done  by  treating  them  along 
with  those  names  which  stand  last  in  historic  sequence, 
the  little  handful  from  the  Norman-French,  which  is, 
of  course,  one  of  Latin's  many  daughters.  The  Roman 
left  a  deep  mark  on  Southern  Britain,  and  his  memory 
is  preserved  in  many  a  name  there.  But  even  though 
Rome's  legions,  from  the  days  of  Agricola  onwards  for 
more  than  300  years,  may  have  marched  many  a  league 
and  thrown  up  many  a  camp  in  North  Britain,  they 
never  could  make  much  dint  upon  the  hardy  savage  of 
Caledonia  in  his  bogs  and  woods  ;  and  traces  of  Roman 
influence  north  of  the  Roman  Wall  'twixt  Forth  and 
Clyde  are  but  trifling.  England  is  literally  covered 
with  -casters,  -cesters,  and  -cheaters,  all  denoting  the 
site  of  a  camp  of  the  invaders,  L.  castrum  or  castra ; 
but,  surprising  to  relate,  there  is  not  one  such  com- 
pound name  in  Scotland,  unless  it  be  BONCHESTER 
Bridge,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hawick.  Close  by  is 
n  place  called  the  Chesters ;  and  any  large  map  of  the 
Border  district  will  show  a  good  many  names  like 
Chester  Knowes  (Chirnside),  Chester  Hill  and  Rig 
(Traquair),  Chester  Lees  (Tweedsmuir) ;  and  at  most 


Ixxxii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

of  these  spots  there  are  remains  of  circular  or  oval 
hill  forts.  It  is  quite  certain  that  the  Romans  were  in 
Berwick  and  Peeblesshire ;  but  it  is  not  quite  certain 
that  these  names  are  of  Roman  origin.  Of  course,  in 
no  case  is  their  second  part  Roman;  and  Professor 
Veitch  thinks  that  these  Peeblesshire  '  Chesters '  were 
the  last  retreats  of  the  Cymri  or  Brythons  of  Forth 
and  Clyde,  the  forts  where  they  made  their  final  but 
unsuccessful  stand  against  Pict,  and  Scot,  and  Angle. 
Of  any  other  real  Roman  names  there  seems  no  trace. 
Verily  '  Stat  nominis  umbra.' 

Many  a  broad  acre  of  Scotland's  best  land  was  gifted 
into  Norman  hands.  But  Dr  Skene  (Celtic  Scotl.,  i.  430) 
thinks  that  the  Normans,  who  are  just  our  old  friends 
the  Norsemen  back  again  with  an  infusion  of  new  blood 
and  with  a  new  tongue,  had  no  perceptible  influence  on 
Scottish  affairs  till  the  reign  of  David  I.  (1124-53),  a 
date  too  late  to  allow  of  much  result  in  the  way  of  place- 
names.  And  the  later  frequent  intercourse  between 
the  courts  of  France  and  Scotland  had  practically 
no  influence  on  our  topography  at  all.  Even  as  the 
Gael's  common  name  for  his  village  was  bal  or  baile,  and 
as  the  Saxon's  regular  name  for  the  hamlet  round  his 
thane's  castle  was  ham  or  ton,  so  the  Norman's  regular 
name  for  the  castle-village  was  ville,  from  the  L. 
villa,  a  country-house  or  farm.  Ville,  in  Scotland, 
has  seldom  survived  un corrupted,  though  we  have  both 
a  MELVILLE  and  a  MOUNT  MELVILLE  in  Fife.  Now,  in 
Fife  charters  of  the  days  of  Alexander  II.  (1214-49), 
we  find  notice  of  a  Norman  knight  called  '  Philippus  de 
Malavilla;'  and  so  Melville  has  the  strange  meaning  of 
'  the  bad  (?  unhealthy)  town.'  A  '  Gralfred  de  Melville ' 
is  found  in  the  Lothians  in  1153;  in  all  probability, 
therefore,  '  the  bad  town  '  was  no  place  in  Scotland,  but 


ROMAN,   NORMAN,   AND  MODERN   NAMES.     Ixxxiii 

some  spot  in  Normandy,  from  which  Galfred  or  his 
forefathers  took  their  name.  The  writer  does  not 
know  of  any  other  miles  in  Scotland  ;  for,  of  course,  such 
a  vile  compound  as  JEMIMAVILLE  (Cromarty)  is  not  a 
case  in  point.1  But  we  have  still  among  us  such  com- 
mon surnames  as  Bonville,  Colvill  (sic  1158),  and 
Somerville  (1158,  Sumervilla). 

Moreover,  mile  was  not  unfrequently  Anglicised  into 
-well,  as  in  Maxwell,  already  thus  c.  1190,  which  is 
just  '  Maccus'  ville.'  The  man  Maccus  or  Macus  we 
find  mentioned  in  the  Melrose  charters  c.  1144.  There 
is  no  Scottish  place  now  called  Maxwell ;  but  there  is  a 
MAXWELLTON,  which  is  just  a  part  of  Dumfries,  and  also 
a  MAXTON,  near  St  Boswell's.  It  is  evidently  the  influ- 
ence of  this  Norman  ending  -ville  which  has  changed  St 
Boisil's  name  into  ST  BOSWELL'S;  and  we  venture  to  think 
that  the  final  syllable  both  in  BoTHWELL2  and  MANUEL 
(Linlithgow)  is  due  to  the  same  influence  (see  List). 

A  Norman  noble,  De  Belassize,  has  given  his  name 
to  one  of  the  North  British  Railway  stations  on  the 
Waverley  route,  BELSES;  and  LUNDIN  LINKS  in  Fife 
owe  their  title  to  the  family  of  De  Lundin,  who  are  found 
in  Fife  in  the  12th  century,  and  who  were  at  that  time 
the  Scottish  king's  hereditary  hostiarii,  doorkeepers,  or 
'  door-wards/  hence  the  modern  surname,  Durward. 
One  of  the  most  famous  Norman  families  in  Scotland 
was  the  Lindsays,  whose  name  we  see  in  Lindsaylands, 
near  Biggar.  In  an  appendix  to  the  Lives  of  the 
Lindsays  (vol.  i.)  we  find  a  curious  list  of  no  less  than 
eighty-eight  spellings  of  this  name,  which  have  all 
actually  been  found  in  some  old  charter  or  letter, 

1  The  place  called  Coshieville  at  the  mouth  of  Glen   Lyon   is   an 
ill-formed  attempt  to  render  the  G.  cois-a-m7iill,  '  the  foot  of  the  hill.' 

2  Bothwell  is  spelt  Botheuill  a.  1242,  and  Both  vile  a.  1300.  . 

'' 


Ixxxiv  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

varying  in  length  from  the  ten  letters  of  Lyndyssaye 
to  the  five  of  Lynse,  which  last,  if  the  final  e  be 
sounded,  gives  the  exact  modern  pronunciation.  BED- 
RULE,  near  Jedburgh,  does  not  come  from  the  W.  bedw, 
a  birch,  as  Professor  Veitch  supposes.  In  1280  its 
name  was  Rulebethok,  and  Bethoc  was  wife  of  the 
Norman  Radulph,  the  earliest  known  lord  of  the 
manor  here  (c.  1150).  The  name  Bedrule  is  still  locally 
pronounced  bethorule,  or  was  so  quite  recently,  as  Dr 
J.  A.  H.  Murray  informed  the  writer  ;  though,  of  course, 
his  old  schoolmaster  at  Denholm,  near  by,  was  wont  to 
teach  that  such  a  pronunciation  was  ignorant  and  vulgar! 
Bethoc,  however,  is  hardly  a  Norman  name ;  we  find  it 
again,  a.  1300,  in  the  Registrum  Aberdonense,  in  a 
'  Kynbethok.'  RULE  is,  of  course,  the  name  of  a  river. 

On  a  beautiful  spot  at  the  head  of  what  is  now  the 
BEAULY  Frith  the  monks  Vallis  umbrosce  founded  a 
priory  (c.  1220),  which  we,  in  1230,  find  styled  Prioratus 
de  Bello  Loco.  The  pure  French  spelling  Beau  lieu, 
'  beautiful  spot/  also  occurs  ;  and  in  1497  we  meet  with 
'  Beulie/  the  present  pronunciation.  Beaulieu,  as  most 
are  aware,  is  also  the  name  of  a  village  in  Hants,  formerly 
seat  of  a  Cistercian  monastery  ;  which  name  is  also  pro- 
nounced bewly.  Well  did  the  old  monks  know  how  to 
choose  out  the  fairest  sites.  BELMONT,  '  fine  hill/  is  a 
common  name  for  modern  residences  ;  but  we  also  find 
it  attached  to  hills,  not  only  in  the  Sidlaw  range,  but 
even  away  up  in  Unst.  But  perhaps  the  naming  has 
been  quite  recent.  MONTROSE  is  very  French-looking, 
but  we  already  know  that  it  is  just  the  G-.  moine  t'rois, 
'  moss '  or  '  bog  on  the  promontory.'  Such  names  as 
BONNYBRIDGE  and  BONNYRIGG  are  usually  thought  to 
be  at  least  half  French  ;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  the 
Sc.  bonny  has  really  anything  directly  to  do  with  the 


ROMAN,   NORMAN,   AND  MODERN  NAMES.       Ixxxv 

Fr.  bon,  bonne,  good.  BURDIEHOUSE,  near  Edinburgh, 
is,  according  to  the  common  tradition,  a  corruption  of 
'  Bordeaux-house.'  Grant  in  Old  and  Neiv  Edinburgh 
(iii.  342),  thinks  that  it  was  probably  so  called  from 
being  the  residence  of  some  of  the  exiled  French  silk- 
weavers,  the  same  exiled  Huguenots  who  settled  so 
largely  in  Spitalfields,  London.  They  also  founded  the 
now  vanished  village  of  Picardy,  between  Edinburgh 
and  Leith,  whose  name  is  still  preserved  on  the  old  site 
by  '  Picardy  Place.' 

Gape,  a  headland,  is  just  the  Fr.  cap,  head  or  cape  ; 
thus  we  have  few  '  capes '  in  Scotland,  and  those  few, 
such  as  Cape  Wrath,  of  quite  modern  application, 
Gulf,  the  Fr.  golfe,  is  not  represented  at  all,  either  in 
Scotland  or  England. 

A  few  quite  recent  names  still  remain,  calling  for  a 
passing  word.  And,  be  it  remarked,  even  though  a 
name  has  sprung  up  within  the  last  couple  of  centuries, 
its  origin  is  by  no  means  invariably  easy  to  trace ;  e.g., 
the  writer  has  not  yet  been  able  to  trace  the  exact 
origin  of  ALEXANDRIA  in  the  Vale  of  Leven,  or  of  that 
German-sounding  village  near  Arbroath,  called  FRIOCK- 
HEIM,  but  on  local  tongues  Freakem,  although  the 
former  is  only  a  little  more  than  a  century  old,  and 
the  latter  very  much  less.  Nor  does  he  know  why  a 
certain  spot  in  Ayrshire  has  been  called  PATNA  ;  nor 
why  a  little  railway  station  near  Holytown  has  been 
dubbed  with  the  Honduras  name  of  OMOA.  But  he 
presumes  it  must  have  been  some  Bible  lover  (?)  who 
christened  JOPPA,  near  Edinburgh,  about  the  beginning 
of  this  century,  and  who  planted  both  a  Jordan  and  a 
Canaan  Lane  on  the  south  side  of  that  same  city. 
There  is  also  a  Jordanhill  to  the  west  of  Glasgow,  and 
a  PADANARAM  near  Forfar. 


Ixxxvi  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

Some  recent  names  are,  of  course,  very  easily  solved ; 
as,  for  instance,  the  three  well-known  forts  planted 
along  the  Caledonian  valley  to  overawe  the  Highlanders 
at  different  periods  from  1655  to  1748,  and  called  after 
scions  of  the  reigning  house,  FORT  WILLIAM,  FORT 
AUGUSTUS,  and  FORT  GEORGE.  Battles  have  pretty 
frequently  been  commended  to  the  memory  of  posterity 
by  a  place-name ;  e.g.,  we  have  a  farm  on  the  south 
shore  of  the  Dornoch  Frith  called  BALACLAVA,  its 
former  name  having  been  Balnuig  ('  farm  town  on  the 
bay').  PORTOBELLO,  near  Edinburgh,  like  Portobello, 
near  Wolverhampton,  takes  its  name  from  a  seaport  on 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  where  Admiral  Vernon  won  a 
great  victory  for  Britain  in  1739.  The  name  means 
'beautiful  harbour;'  but,  as  most  people  know,  the 
Edinburgh  watering-place  is  not  itself  specially 
beautiful,  and  it  certainly  has  no  harbour. 

The  suburbs  of  the  large  cities  have,  of  course,  modern, 
and  often  purely  fancy,  names ;  such  are  TRINITY, 
near  Edinburgh,  MAGDALEN  GREEN,  Dundee,  and 
MOUNT  FLORIDA  and  MOUNT  VERNON  on  the  outskirts 
of  Glasgow.  The  latter  name  occurs  in  the  Glasgow 
Directory  of  1787.  Probably  all  the  place-names 
north  of  Inverness,  which  are  neither  Gaelic  nor  Norse, 
are  quite  recent;  e.g.,  THE  MOUND  and  THE  POLES, 
near  Dornoch,  and  BETTYHILL,  between  Thurso  and 
Tongue,  the  market  knoll  or  stance  of  the  district, 
so  called  after  Elizabeth,  Marchioness  of  Stafford 
(c.  1820). 


CHAPTER    V. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES. 

FROM  the  earliest  times  a  distinguishing  and  far  from 
unpraiseworthy  feature  of  the  Scot  has  always  been 
his  warm  attachment  to  the  church.  The  Norseman,  a 
pagan  born,  drinking  to  Thor  and  Wodin,  dreaming  of 
Asgard  and  Valhalla,  and,  long  after  his  nominal  conver- 
sion to  Christ,  a  pagan  at  heart,  has  left  little  mark  on 
the  ecclesiastical  nomenclature  of  Scotland ;  the  Angle, 
whose  conversion,  thanks  largely  to  lona  missionaries, 
was  more  real,  has  left  considerable  impress  here.  But 
the  warm-hearted,  pious,  and  always  somewhat  super- 
stitious Celt  has  left  far  more.  His  personal  names, 
too,  have  often  a  churchly  flavour ;  e.g.,  Macnab, '  abbot's 
son,'  Mackellar,  'the  superior's  son,'  MacBrair,  'the 
friar's  son/  Gilchrist,  *  servant  of  Christ/  Gillespie, 
'  servant  of  the  bishop/  &c. 

Till  1469  Orkney  and  Shetland  had  the  Bishop  of 
Trondhjem  as  their  ecclesiastical  superior;  but  for  all 
that  the  Norse  churchly  names  may  be  dismissed  in  a 
few  sentences.  All  northern  'kirks'  have  received 
their  name  from  Norse  lips,  as  HALKIRK,  KIRKWALL, 
and  KIRKABY;  but  these  are  not  many.  Near  Kirkwall, 
seat  of  the  Bishop  of  Orkney,  stands  QUANTERNESS, 
and  quanter-  is  the  Icel.  kantari,  which  enters  as  an 
element  into  a  good  many  Icelandic  words  ;  it  is  an 
adaptation  of  the  Canter-  in  holy  Canterbury  (O.E. 


Ixxxviii  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Cantwaraburh),  being  used  in  Icel.  for  '  bishop.'  Then 
we  have  the  oft-recurring  PAPA,  and  its  derivatives 
PAPILL  and  PAPLAY,  as  local  names  in  Orkney 
and  Shetland.  Papa  is  a  Latin  name  for  '  a  bishop/ 
in  use  as  early  as  Tertullian ;  the  Norsemen  at  first 
gave  the  name  to  any  Christian,  but  soon  it  came  to 
be  applied  only  to  '  a  priest.'  We  have  already 
explained  North  RONALDSAY  as  — '  St  Ringan's '  or 
'  Ninian's  isle,'  and  that  same  saint's  name  reappears 
in  St  Ninian's  Isle  in  Shetland.  We  do  not  remember 
any  other  Orcadian  or  Zetland  isle  bearing  the  name 
of  a  saint.1  A  curiously  corrupted  name,  half  Celtic, 
half  Danish,  is  CLOSEBURN,  in  Dumfriesshire.  It  has 
nothing  in  the  world  to  do  with  either  a  close  or  a  burn. 
In  the  12th  century  the  name  appears  as  Kylosbern, 
though  already  in  1278  it  has  donned  its  present  guise. 
The  early  form  shows  that  here  we  have  another  of 
the  superabundant  Celtic  kits ;  only  this  was  the  '  cell ' 
or  '  church '  of  a  Norse  saint ;  for  Osborne  is  the  N. 
Asen-bjom, '  the  bear  of  the  Asen '  or  '  gods.' 

Over  the  true  English  church-names  we  must  linger 
a  little  longer.  Seeing  that  English-speaking  monks 
were  at  one  time  owners  of  a  large  proportion  of  the 
whole  area  of  Scotland,  it  is  not  strange  that  we 
should  find  not  a  few  English  ecclesiastical  place- 
names.  We  have  both  a  MONKTON  and  a  NUNTON,  the 
one  near  Troon,  the  other  away  beside  Lochmaddy,  but 
both  pronounced  almost  alike,  i.e.,  the  local  habitants 
always  talk  of  l  the  Munton.'  '  Abbey '  and  '  Abbot ' 
occur  again  and  again  in  places — ABBEY  CRAIG,  ABBEY 
HILL,  ABBOTSFORD,  ABBOTSGRANGE,  ABBOTSHALL,  as 
well  as  ABBEY  ST  BATHAN'S.  The  'bishop'  has  left 
his  name  too,  though  he  has  long  since  lost  the  lands, 
1  Except  DAMSEY,  for  which  see  p.  xcv. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  NAMES.  Ixxxix 

as  in  BISHOPBRIGGS  (see  p.  Ixi)  and  BISHOPTON  :  even 
the  humble  priest  (O.E.,  preost)  has  come  in  for  his 
share  of  mention.  There  are  at  least  fifteen  Prestons  in 
England,  and  at  least  two  in  Scotland,  besides  PRESTON- 
KIRK,  PRESTONPANS,  and  PRESTWICK. 

Probably  all  the  many  'kirks'  south  of  Caithness 
are  of  English  origin.  '  Kirk '  is  the  O.E.  cyrc ;  but 
already  by  the  12th  century,  in  Scotland  (e.g.,  a.  1124, 
Selechirche  or  SELKIRK)  as  well  as  in  England,  the 
hard  c  often  became  the  soft  cli ;  and  perhaps  it  may  be 
useful  here  to  inform  the  benighted  Southron  that 
educated  Scottish  people  do  not  now,  as  a  rule,  speak 
about  their  'kirk.'  Kirk  occurs  both  »as  prefix, 
suffix,  and  alone,  as  in  KIRKMAIDEN  or  Maidenkirk, 
Wigtown,  KlRKBUDDO,  KlRKCOLM,  CHANNELKIRK,  FAL- 

KIRK,  LAURENCEKIRK,  and  I£irk  o'  Shotts.  There  are 
many  Kirktons  in  Scotland,  corresponding  to  the 
Kirtons  of  England,  just  as  the  Scotch  KIRKABY  (O.N. 
kirkia-bi)  corresponds  to  the  English  Kirby,  in  West 
Kirby,  Kirby  Stephen,  &c.  The  old,  full  name  of 
Golspie  was  '  Golspiekirktoun,'  and  there  is  a  farm 
called  Kirkton  there  still.  KIRKCALDY  is  English  only 
so  far  as  the  kirk  is  concerned.  Popular  etymology 
long  explained  the  name  as  'church  of  the  Culdees.' 
But  in  the  St  Andrews  charters,  c.  1150,  the  name  is 
'  Kircaladinit,'  i.e.,  '  church  by  the  wood  of  the  den '  or 
glen,  (in  G.  coille  dinait,)  which  bonny  wooded  '  Den ' 
stands  there  to  this  day. 

All  place-names  in  the  form  of  St 's  are  also,  of 

course,  to  a  certain  extent,  English  ;  but  only  a  few  are 
called  after  really  English  saints.  Take  the  first  two 
examples  which  would  occur  alphabetically — ABBEY 
ST  BATHAN'S,  Berwick,  and  ST  ANDREWS  ;  Bathan,  or 
rather  Baithen,  was  a  Scot,  i.e.,  an  Irish  Celt,  and  was 

F 


XC  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

the  man  who  succeeded  Columba  in  the  abbacy  of 
lona,  597  A.D.  His  name  is  also  commemorated  in 
the  north  in  the  hill  called  Torr  Beathan,  near  Inver- 
ness. St  Andrew,  Scotland's  present  patron  saint,  is 
of  course  the  apostle  of  that  name,  whose  bones,  as 
a  dubious  tradition  declares,  were  brought  to  the 
east  of  Fife  by  St  Regulus.  But  the  church  built  by 
this  last  saint  (?  400  A.D.)  was  called  by  his  own  name, 
till  rechristened  in  the  middle  of  the  9th  century  as 
'  St  Andrews/  by  King  Kenneth  Macalpine.  For  long, 
whenever  this  ancient  bishop's  see  is  referred  to  in  any 
document  it  is  in  its  Latin  form,  e.g.,  in  1158,  '  St 
Andrae ;'  but  as  early  at  least  as  1434  we  find  '  Sanct- 
androwis,'  and  in  1497  '  Sanctandris.'  The  old  Celtic 
name  of  the  place  was  Kilrymont,  or,  as  Abbot 
Tighernac  has  it,  Cindrighmonaigh,  'the  church/ 
or  else  'the  head,  the  promontory  of  the  king's 
mount.' 

Among  real  English  or  Anglian  saints  who  have 
given  their  names  to  places  in  Scotland  are  the  Abbess 
^Ebba,  sister  of  Oswald  of  Northumbria,  commemorated 
in  ST  ABB'S  HEAD,  and  St  Boisil,  contemporary  of 
^Ebba,  and  Prior  of  Melrose,  while  the  great  Cuthbert 
was  being  educated  there,  whose  name  is  preserved  in 
the  well-known  railway  junction,  ST  BOSWELL'S  ;  how- 
ever, the  old  name  of  the  parish  here,  until  the  17th 
century,  was  Lessuden.  Then,  of  course,  there  is  St 
Cudberct,  better  known  as  St  Cuthbert,  great  pastor 
and  bishop,  missionary  too  all  over  Northumbria,  most 
lovable  of  all  the  Saxon  saints.  By  far  the  most 
populous  parish  in  Scotland,  '  St  Cuthbert's/  Mid- 
lothian, embracing  a  large  portion  of  Edinburgh  itself,  is 
called  after  him.  His  name  appears  in  a  slightly 
altered  spelling  in  KIRKCUDBRIGHT,  whose  present 


ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES.  XC1 

pronunciation,  Kircdobry,  must  have  been  in  vogue 
as  early  as  c.  1450,  when  the  town's  name  stands 
recorded  as  '  Kirkubrigh.'  The  Gael  has  made  the 
saint's  name  into  Cudachan  (see  CLACHNACUDDAN). 
The  name  of  Canm ore's  saintly  Saxon  queen  is  still 
preserved  in  '  St  Margaret's/  Queen's  Park,  Edinburgh, 
and  in  the  two  ST  MARGARET'S  HOPES,  or  ship-refuges, 
one  at  Queensferry,  the  other  at  South  Ronaldsay.1 

The  Celtic  ecclesiastical  names  form,  perhaps,  the 
most  puzzling  and  complex  portion  of  our  subject,  a 
portion  which  it  needs  much  care  and  skill  to  unravel. 
One  can  hardly  say  that  the  whole  subject  has  been 
set  in  clear  daylight  yet,  notwithstanding  all  that 
members  of  the  Scottish  Society  of  Antiquaries  have 
done.  Many  of  the  old  Celtic  saints  and  saintesses 
are  to  us  very  dim  and  hazy  personages,  almost  lost  in 
the  clouds  of  legend  and  the  mists  of  antiquity ;  and 
their  identity  is  often  very  difficult  to  establish, 
especially  when,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  two  or  three 
bear  the  same  name. 

Once  more  let  it  be  pointed  out,  that  though  the  Celt 
never  showed  any  great  anxiety  to  hand  down  the  name 
of  his  own  humble  self  attached  to  some  village  or  glen, 
he  never  wearied  of  thus  commemorating  his  favourite 
or  patron  saints.  The  majority  of  the  saints  brought 
before  us  in  Scottish  place-names  were  either  friends 
and  contemporaries  of  St  Columba,  or  belong  to  the 
century  immediately  thereafter,  the  7th.  After  700  the 
Celtic  Church  began  to  wax  rich  and  slothful,  and 
its  priests  were  embalmed  in  grateful  memory  no 
more.  Foreign  saints  are  rarely  met  with.  KILMARTIN 
(Lochgilphead),  called  after  good  St  Martin  of  Tours, 

1  Some  think  the  latter  place  was  called  after  Margaret,  the  Maid  of 
Norway,  who  died  not  far  from  here  on  her  voyage  to  Scotland. 


XC11  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

the  preceptor  of  St  Ninian,  is  an  easily  under- 
stood exception.  Why  the  French  St  Maurus  should 
appear  in  KILMAURS  is  not  quite  so  plain.  The  first  in 
all  the  Scottish  calendar,  and,  presumably,  the  first 
bringer  of  Christianity  to  Scotland,  was  St  Ninian  of 
Whithorn,  born  c.  360  A.D.,  whose  name  also  appears  as 
Ringan  and  Rinan.  He  is  commemorated  in  twenty- 
five  churches  or  chapels,  extending  from  Ultima  Thule 
to  the  Mull  of  Galloway.  MAIDENKIRK,  near  that 
Mull,  is  now  believed  to  be  the  kirk  of  St  Medana,  a 
friend  of  Ninian.  Some  have  thought  that  the  Nen- 
in  NENTHORN,  near  Kelso,  is  a  contraction  of  his  name, 
but  the  original  form  is  '  Nathan's  thorn.' 

If  Ninian,  first  of  Scottish  saints  and  missionaries, 
has  received  twenty-five  commemorations,  it  is  no 
marvel  that  Columba  of  lona  (521-597),  greatest  of 
them  all,  has  had  fifty-five  Scottish  places  called  after 
him,  either  places  of  worship,  or  spots  or  wells  sacred 
to  him;  and  there  are  forty-one  others  in  his  native 
Ireland.  Of  course  the  saint's  name  is  seldom  or  never 
now  found  as  Columba,  'dove,'  its  Latin  shape,  but 
rather  in  its  Celtic  form,  Colum;  e.g.,  on  the  west 
coast  there  are  six  isles  called  Eilean  Colum  or  '  Colm's 
isle,'  in  Loch  Erisort,  Loch  Arkeg,  the  Minch,  &c. 
Then  there  is  lona  itself,  often  called  alternatively 
Icolmkill,  'island  of  Colum-cille '  or  'Colm  of  the 
churches.'  For,  in  sooth,  if  men  called  John  Henry 
Newman  '  father  of  many  souls,'  other  men  might  well 
call  earnest,  much-travelling  Columba,  founder  or 
'  father  of  many  churches.'  Sometimes  his  name  is 
clipped  down  into  Comb,  as  in  Eilean  Comb,  Tongue ; 
or  even  into  Com,  as  in  GILCOMSTON,  Aberdeen,  '  the 
place  of  the  gillie '  or  '  servant  of  Columba.' 

With  the  exception  of  two  about  to  be  mentioned, 


ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES.  XC111 

the  saint  most  frequently  honoured,  next  to  Columba 
and  Ninian,  has  been  Donan,  the  former's  contem- 
porary and  friend,  and,  to  their  honour  be  it  said,  the 
only  martyr  who  died  by  pagan  hands  in  Scotland; 
and  even  his  death  at  Eigg,  by  order  of  the  Pictish 
queen,  is  said  to  have  been  rather  for  political 
reasons.  Donan's  name  lies  sprinkled  all  over  the  map 
of  Scotland  from  the  north  of  Sutherland  to  the  south 
of  Arran.  These  things  being  so,  it  is  somewhat 
strange  that  the  great  Kentigern  or  Mungo,  bringer 
of  the  glad  tidings  to  Glasgow  and  Strathclyde,  should 
have  received  such  very  scanty  remembrance.  No 
place-name  seems  to  embody  '  Kentigern ; '  there  is  a 
BALMUNGO,  but  quite  likely  it  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  saint. 

Bishop  Reeves,  the  valued  editor  of  Adamnan,  has 
drawn  attention  to  the  marked  contrast  between  the 
names  of  the  parishes  on  the  east  and  those  on  the 
west  of  Scotland.  On  the  east  the  names  are  chiefly 
secular,  even  though  chiefly  Celtic,  and  probably  date 
from  remote  pagan  times.  But  on  the  west  the  parochial 
names,  in  a  large  number  of  cases,  are  found  to  combine 
with  the  prefix  Kil-  (G.  cill,  ceall,  a  monk's  cell,  then  a 
church,  also  a  grave ;  see  KILARROW),  the  name  of  some 
venerated  Scoto-Irish  saint.  Undoubted  instances  of 
this  on  the  east  coast  are  rare.  We  have,  near  Beauly, 
KILMORACK,  'church  of  St  Moroc/  and  KILTARLITY, 
from  St  Talargain,  and  KILKENNY  (Anstruther),  prob- 
ably from  St  Ringan,  or,  perhaps,  St  Irenseus,  but  not 
many  more.  There  are  many  other  names  in  Kil-,  as 
KILDRUMMY  (Aberdeen),  KILLEN  (Avoch),  KILMENY 
(Fife),  and  Kilmore  (Loth) ;  but  in  these  the  kil-  may 
be  G.  coil,  SL  wood;  and,  in  any  case,  their  second  halves 
do  not  stand  for  any  saint.  KILCONQUHAR  (Elie)  and 


XC1V  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

KILSPINDIE  (Errol)  are  two  very  curious  names,  which 
can  hardly  commemorate  any  saint  either  (q.v.).  I)r 
Reeves'  contrast  is  true  not  only  of  the  parish  names,  but 
the  names  generally;  e.g.,  take  the  case  of  St  Columba. 
All  along  the  east  coast  we  find  but  one  INCHCOLM, 
while,  as  we  have  just  mentioned,  there  are  six 
instances  of  an  Eilean  Colum  ('Colrn's  isle')  on  the 
west.  Yet  the  monasteries  of  Deer  (Aberdeen)  and 
St  Serf  (Kinross)  are,  to  say  no  more,  sufficient 
proof  that  the  Columban  missionaries  did  not  neglect 
the  east. 

Students  of  the  Origines  Parochiales  know  that 
there  were  many  more  '  Kils- '  among  the  names  of  the 
ancient  parishes  than  among  the  modern  ones.  And, 
just  as  we  still  have  churches  called  '  Christchurch '  or 
'  Trinity  Church,'  so  do  we  find  that  the  old  name  of 
the  parish  of  Strathy  in  Skye,  and  the  old  name  of  the 
parish  where  Muir  of  Ord  now  stands,  was  KILCHRIST, 
the  variants  Kirkchrist  and  Crisfciskirk  also  occurring. 
The  first  Norse  church  in  Orkney,  built  a.  1064,  was 
known  as  '  Christ's  Kirk  in  Birsay,'  such  a  name 
being  given  by  the  Norse  only  to  a  cathedral  church. 
There  was  also  at  least  one  Kil  losa,  'church  of 
Jesus/  and  near  Beauly  is  KILTEARN,  in  1269  Kel- 
tyern,  the  G.  ceall  Tighearn,  '  church  of  the  Lord ; ' 
whilst  on  Blaeu's  map  of  North  Uist  we  find  a  KIL- 
TRINIDAD,  now  called  Teampul-na-Trianaide,  '  church 
of  the  Trinity.' 

Many  of  these  ancient  Celtic  saints  have  had  their 
names  so  twisted  and  distorted  by  centuries  of  tongues, 
ignorant  alike  of  spelling  and  hagiology,  that  now  the 
personages  themselves  are  hardly  recognisable.  It  needs 
clever  eyes  to  see  St  Comgan  in  KILCHOAN,  and  yet 
cleverer  to  recognise  Talargyn  (d.  616)  in  KILTARLITY, 


ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES.  XCV 

or  Begha  in  KILBUCHO.  St  Beglia,  disciple  of  St  Aidan 
and  Abbess  Hilda,  is  the  well-known  English  St  Bees. 
Recognition  is  made  all  the  more  difficult  from  the 
warm-hearted  Celt's  frequent  habit  of  prefixing  to  the 
saint's  name  mo  or  ma,  'my  own/  which  signifies  endear- 
ment, and  of  affixing  an  -oc,  -og,  or  -aig  (cf.  G.  bg, 
'  young '),  which  is  a  kind  of  pet  diminutive.  Thus  KIL- 
MARONOCK,  near  Alexandria,  like  Kilmaronog  on  Loch 
Etive,  really  means  '  church  of  my  dear  little  Ronan.' 
But  KILMARNOCK  is  really  Kilmaernanog,  from  St 
Ernan,  of  the  7th  century.  This  unaccented  ma  explains 
the  true  and  still  largely-preserved  pronunciation  of  that 
pretty  Renfrewshire  village,  KILMALCOLM,  pronounced 
Kilrnacom,  '  church  of  my  own  Columba ; '  and  Robert 
of  Gloucester  (371,  edit.  1724)  in  1297  writes  of  our 
Scottish  monarch  as  '  Kyng  Macolom.' 

The  two  names  which,  above  all  the  rest,  have  gone 
through  the  most  extraordinary  and  varied  vicissitudes, 
almost  rivalling  the  fate  of  the  Norse  bolstaftr  (pp.  Ixiv- 
Ixv),  are  Adamnan  and  Maolrubha.  Adamnan,  a  man 
of  royal  Irish  blood,  and  Abbot  of  lona  (679-704),  is  far 
famed  as  Columba's  biographer.  His  name  means 
'  little  Adam,'  and  in  Lowland  Scots  it  would  be 
'  Adie.'  The  unaccented  initial  A  easily  goes ;  and  we 
find  that,  through  aspiration,  the  two  aspirable  con- 
sonants here,  d  and  m,  in  many  cases  go  too.  Thus  all 
that  is  left  of  '  Adamnan '  is  sometimes  no  more  than 
eon,  as  in  ARDEONAIG,  pronounced  arj6naig,  on  Loch 
Tay, '  height  of  my  own  Adamnan/  or  than  eun  as  in 
Ben  Eunaich  (Eunog),  Dalmally.  In  Orkney  all  that 
is  left  is  dam,  as  in  DAMSEY,  the  old  Daminsey, 
'Adamnan's  isle.'  The  saint's  name  appears  as  veon 
(v  =  dh)  in  KILMA  VEON  AIG  (Blair- Athole),  as  ennan 
in  Kirkennan  (Galloway),  as  innan  in  INCHINNAN, 


XCV1  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Paisley ;  whilst  in  Aberdeenshire  his  name  is  pro- 
nounced Teunan  or  Theunan. 

Maolrubha  is  a  saint  who  hailed  from  the  Irish  Bangor. 
In  671  he  came  over  and  founded  the  monastery  of 
Applecross  in  West  Ross ;  and  in  that  district  his  name 
is  still  preserved  in  Loch  MAREE,  which,  contrary  to 
popular  tradition,  does  not  mean  '  Mary's  Loch.'  The 
Modern  Gaelic  for  Mary  is  Maire,  but  the  older  form, 
and  that  which  is  always  applied  to  the  Virgin  Mother, 
is  More;  thus  we  have  in  Scotland,  as  in  Ireland, 
several '  Kilmorys ;'  hence,  too,  is  TOBERMORY,  '  Mary's 
well/  whose  Lowland  equivalent  is  MOTHERWELL.  But 
the  name  of  St  Maolrubha  has  had  to  endure  far  more 
than  this.  In  the  older  forms  of  the  place-names  his 
name  is  sometimes  preserved  with  tolerable  plainness, 
e.g.,  the  old  name  of  Ashig  in  Strath  (Skye)  was 
Askimilruby ;  and  in  1500  the  name  of  KILARROW 
(Islay)  was  Kilmolrow,  in  1511  it  was  spelt  Kilmorow, 
in  1548  Kilmarrow,  whilst  to-day  the  m  has,  through 
aspiration,  clean  vanished  away.  The  old  saint's  name 
appears  in  another  shape  in  AMULREE  (Dunkeld),  which 
is  just  ath  Maolrubha,  'Maolrubha's  ford;'  and  Dr 
Reeves  mentions  Sammareve's  Fair,  held  in  Keith  o' 
Forres,  as  also  embodying  his  name. 

Maolrubha  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  St 
Moluag  of  Lismore,  patron  saint  of  Argyle  and  friend 
of  Columba,  who  died  in  592.  His  name  is  to  be  found 
unaltered  in  Kilmoluag  (Tiree,  Mull,  and  Skye),  and 
almost  so  in  Kilmolowok  (Raasay).  The  change  is 
more  violent  in  Knockmilauk,  'Moluag's  hill,'  near 
Whithorn.  KILMALLOW  (Lismore)  has  sometimes  been 
thought  to  come  from  the  saint  of  Applecross  ;  but  the 
form  Kilmaluog,  also  preserved,  shows  that  this  cannot 
be.  The  parishes  of  Raasay  and  Kilmuir,  in  Skye, 


ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES.  XCV11 

both  once  bore  this  same  name,  Kilmaluog ;  and  Kil- 
malew  was  the  old  name  of  the  parish  of  Inveraray. 
Moluag's  original  name  was  Leu  or  Lua,  perhaps  the 
L.  lupus,  a  wolf;  the  Gaelic  spelling  was  Lugaidh. 
The  final  syllable  has  been  dropped,  and  the  endearing 
mo  and  the  pet  suffix  -oc  have  been  added,  hence  the 
forms  Moluoc,  Moluag,  or  Molua ;  the  curious  spellings 
Malogue,  Mulvay,  and  Molingus  also  occur.  Somewhat 
similar  in  composition  is  the  name  of  St  Modoc,  a  saint 
of  the  Welsh  calendar — a  rare  thing  to  find  in  Scotland. 
The  basal  name  is  Aidan  =  Aedh-an,  'little  Hugh,' 
then  Mo-aedh-oc,  Moedoc,  Modoc.  His  name  we  see 
in  KILMADOCK,  Doune.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  a 
few  pseudo-saints,  like  St  Brycedale,  long  the  residence 
of  good  old  Patrick  Swan  of  Kirkcaldy.  Of  course 
there  never  was  such  a  being;  the  name  is  really  St 
Bryce's  dale,  Bryce  being  a  corruption,  less  common 
than  Bride,  of  that  worthy  woman  St  Brigid  of  Kildare, 
whose  name  is  so  dear  to  Irish  tongues  as  Bridget 
(cf.  KILBRIDE).  A  worse  fraud  is  ST  FORT,  near  Dundee, 
a  silly  modern  corruption  of  Sandford,  the  old  name  of 
the  estate  there. 

In  Scotland  by  far  the  commonest  prefix  to  denote 
'church'  or  'chapel'  is  Jcil.  But  the  Brythonic  llan, 
than,  or  Ian  is  also  found.  This  word  means  (1)  a 
fertile,  level  spot,  (2)  an  enclosure,  (3)  a  church, 
with  which  three  meanings  the  student  may  find  it 
interesting  to  compare  the  similar  meanings  which 
appertain  to  the  L.  templum,  itself  also  often  adopted 
into  Gaelic  as  teamptdl,  a  church  or  holy  cell.  Scottish 
lans  are  rare ;  the  chief  is  LHANBRYDE,  Elgin,  '  St 
Bridget's  church  ;'  but  LANARK,  c.  1188  Lanriarc,  must 
contain  the  word  also,  though  the  second  syllable  is 
hard  to  expound  with  certainty.  In  Wales  llan-  super- 


XCV111  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

abounds.  Professor  Veitch,  in  his  most  interesting 
History  of  the  Scottish  Border,  says  there  are  97  there ; 
but  there  are  actually  187  given  in  the  Postal  Guide 
alone. 

Besides  Jcil  and  Ian,  the  Scotch  Celt  also  occasionally 
adapted  for  himself  the  Latin  (or  Greek)  ecclesia,  a 
church ;  thus  we  have  ECCLES,  near  Coldstream,  as 
well  as  three  others  south  of  the  Tweed ;  thus,  too, 
comes  ECCLEFECHAN,  'church  of  St  Fechan,'  that 
saint's  name  having  the  pretty  meaning  of  '  little 
raven ; '  also  ECCLESMACHAN  (Linlithgow)  and  ECCLE- 
SIAMAGIRDLE  (S.E.  Perthshire),  which  queer-sounding 
appellation  means  '  church  of  my  own  Griselda '  or 
'  Grizel ; '  and,  strangest  of  all,  LESMAHAGOW,  '  church 
of  St  Machute.'  In  a  charter  of  1195  we  find  St 
Ninian's,  Stirling,  called  '  the  church  of  Egglis/  which 
approximates  to  the  G.  eaglais,  a  church  ;  itself,  of 
course,  like  the  W.  eglwys,  a  mere  adaptation  of  ecclesia. 
M'Dowell  (History  of  Dumfries,  p.  37)  mentions  an 
estate  of  Eccles,  Penpont,  which  he  says  was  called 
after  a  certain  Elsi  or  Eklis,  a  knight-templar  of  the 
reign  of  David  I. 

That  same  modesty  and  retiringness  which  kept 
back  the  Celt  from  giving  his  own  name  to  his  hamlet 
or  farm  led  him,  when  he  became  a  devout  Christian, 
to  dwell  much  in  seclusion.  Hence  the  very  name 
Culdee  or  Cwilteach,  'man  of  the  recess'  or  'nook.' 
The  Roman  missionaries  sought  busy,  wealthy  Canter- 
bury or  York  ;  but  the  men  of  lona,  like  the  hermits  of 
Egypt  and  Syria  long  before,  chose  rather  some  dwelling- 
place  like  wild  Tiree,  as  did  Baithean,  or  wilder 
Rona  as  did  Ronan.  Their  retreats  or  cells  or  caves 
were  wont  to  be  called  deserta,  adapted  into  Gaelic  as 
diseart,  where  it  also  has  the  meaning  of  a  place  for 


ECCLESIASTICAL   NAMES.  xcix 

the  reception  of  pilgrims.  Hence  we  have  DYSART, 
in  Fife,  still  called  by  George  Buchanan  Diserta,  and 
Dysart,  near  Montrose ;  and  hence,  e.g.,  the  old  name 
of  the  parish  of  Glenorchy,  Dysart  or  Clachandysert. 
These  Diserts  or  Dyserts  are  still  more  common  in 
Erin's  isle. 


ALPHABETICAL   LIST 

OF   ALL   THE    IMPORTANT 

DMace=1Rame6  of  Scotland 


WITH 


EXPLANATIONS  OF  THEIR  ORIGIN 


N.B. — All  prefixes  are  dealt  with  fully  only  under  the  first 
name  in  which  they  occur :  e.g.,  for  auchter-,  see  AUCHTERARDER  ; 
for  kil-,  see  KILARROW,  &c.  Any  name  printed  in  small  capitals 
is  meant  to  be  consulted  as  giving  some  confirmation  to,  or 
throwing  some  side-light  on,  the  explanation  offered. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


Dan.   Danish. 

Fr.      French. 

G.        Gaelic. 

Icel     Icelandic. 

Ir.        Irish. 

L.        Latin. 

M.E.  Middle  English  (1100- 
1500). 

N.       Norse. 

O.E.  Old  English  or  Anglo- 
Saxon. 

O.N.   Old  Norse,  of  the  Sagas. 


Sc.       Lowland  Scots. 
Sw.     Swedish. 
W.      Welsh. 
a.        ante,  i.e.,  before. 
ann.    anno,  i.e.,  in  the  year. 
c.         circa,  i.e.t  about. 
cf.       compare. 
fr.       from. 
perh.   perhaps. 
prob.   probably. 
pron.  pronounced    or    pronun- 
ciation. 


ALPHABETICAL    LIST. 


ABBEY  CRAIG.    It  overlooks  Cambuskenneth  Abbey,  Stirling. 
ABBEY  HILL.     Close  by  Holyrood  Abbey,  Edinburgli. 

ABBEY  ST  BATHAN'S  (Berwickshire).  1250,  Ecca.  sci.  boy- 
thani  ('  church  of  St  Boy  than  J) ;  Baithen  of  Tiree  was 
Columba's  successor  as  Abbot  of  lona,  597  A. D.  'Abbey,' 
O.Fr.  abate,  is  so  spelt  in  Eng.  as  early  as  1250. 

ABBOTRULE  (Roxburgh).  a.  1153,  Kula  Herevei ;  1220, 
Ecclesia  de  Rule  Abbatis  (gen.  of  L.  abbas,  abbot) ; 
1275,  Abotrowl.  The  RULE  is  a  river;  cf.  BEDRULE, 
and,  as  to  Hereveus,  HALLRULE.  The  name  prob. 
means  the  lands  in  Rulewater  belonging  to  the  Abbot 
of  Jedburgh.  '  Abbot,'  fr.  L.  abbas,  abba-tis  or  -dis,  is 
so  spelt  in  Eng.  as  early  as  c.  1123. 

ABBOTSFORD.     That  used  by  the  monks  of  Melrose  Abbey. 

ABBOTSGRANGE  and  ABBOTSHAUGH  (Grangemouth).  The  land 
here  formerly  belonged  to  Newbattle  Abbey.  '  Grange/ 
in  the  L.  charters  granagium  (fr.  granum,  '  grain J),  now 
often  = '  a  farm,'  was  the  place  where  the  rents  and 
tithes  of  a  religious  house  used  to  be  delivered  and 
deposited.  '  Haugh '  is  common  Sc.  for  meadow-land 
by  a  river ;  prob.  fr.  Icel.  liagi,  a  pasture. 

ABBOTSHALL  (Kirkcaldy).  Now  a  parish;  once  connected 
with  Dunfermline  Abbey.  '  Hall '  is  O.E.  heal,  Jieall. 

ABB'S  HEAD  (ST).  1461,  Sanct  Abbis  Heid.  Fr.  ^Ebba, 
sister  of  King  Oswald  of  Northumbria,  and  first  Abbess 
of  Coldingham,  close  by,  c.  650  A.D.  'Head,'  O.E. 
heafod,  is  precisely  similar  in  use  to  G.  ceann  or  ken-, 
Icel.  hofuth,  and  Fr.  cap,  which  all  mean  both  the  head 
and  a  cape. 


4  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

ABDEN  (Kinghorn).  Old,  Abthen,  Abthania,  lands  of  Dun- 
fermline  Abbey.  The  word  is  an  adoption  of  G. 
abdhai?ie,  abbacy  or  abbotric,  fr.  G.  abaid,  abbey.  In 
Chartul.  Arbroath,  a.  1200,  is  'Ecclesia  Sancta  Marise 

de  veteri  Munros  (Montrose) qua3  Scotice  (i.e.,  in 

Gaelic)  Abthen  vocatur.'    In  the  Exchequer  Rolls  occurs 
'  Abden  of  Kettins,'  Forfar. 

ABDIE  (Newburgh).  a.  1300,  Ebedyn.  Prob.  same  as  above, 
only  with  reference  here  to  Lindores,  close  by.  Less 
probably  G.  aba  dun  ("W.  dm),  '  abbot's  hill.' 

ABERABDER  (Inverness  and  Aberdeen).  For  aber,  see  p.  xxvii. 
G.  abhir-dird-dur  (Old  G.  dobhar),  'confluence  at  the 
height  over  the  water.' 

ABERARGIE  (Perth).  Old,  Apurfeirt  =  Aber-farg ;  R,.  Farg  is 
fr.  G.  fsargaehf  fierce,  f r.  fearg,  anger ;  the  /  has  dis- 
appeared through  aspiration.  Thus  the  name  means 
'confluence  of  the  fierce  river.' 

ABERCAIRNEY  (CriefT).  G.  carnach,  '  rocky  place,'  fr.  earn,  a 
cairn,  rock.  Aber-  seems  sometimes  to  occur  where 
now  we  see  110  confluence  or  ford. 

ABERCHALDER  (Inverness).  Old,  Aberchalladour.  G.  dbliir- 
c(Jt)oille-dur,  'confluence  of  the  water  by  the  wood' 
(coill).  Cf.  E.  DOUR. 

ABERCHIRDER  (Banff),  c.  1212,  Aberkerdouer ;  1492, -dor. 
'  Confluence  of  the  dark-grey  or  brown  water,'  G.  abhir- 
a-cJnar-dobhair  (dur).  The  name  is  now  pron.  Aber- 
hfrder. 

ABERCORN  (S.  Queensferry).  Bede,  'Monasterium  Aebber- 
curnig;7  a.  1130,  Sim.  Durham,  Eoriercorn.  The  burn, 
formerly  called  the  Comae,  is  now  the  Cornar,  a  name 
of  doubtful  meaning. 

ABERCROMBIE  (Fife).  1250,  Abircrumbyn ;  1461,  Abir- 
cumby;  omcial  name  of  the  parish  of  St  Monan's. 
Crumlyn  is  prob.  G.  crom  abhuinn,  'crooked  stream;' 
cf.  ANCRUM. 

ABERDALGIE  (Perth).  1150,  Abirdalgyn.  Prob.  'confluence 
in  the  field  of  the  height '  or  '  head,'  G.  dail-cinn 
(gen.  of  ceann,  head). 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  D 

ABERDEEN.  1153,  Snorro,  Apardion;  1178,  Aberdeen;  1297, 
Abberden ;  in  Latin  charters,  Aberdonia,  '  confluence  of 
DEE  '  and  *  DON  ; '  the  early  forms  represent,  seemingly, 
either  or  both.  The  Southerner  had  given  the  name 
an  h  before  1300.  See  Wardrobe  Molls,  Edw.  I.,  23rd 
Sept.  1293,  Haberdene. 

ABERDOUR  (Fife  and  Aberdeen).  Abdn.  A.  in  Bk.  Deer, 
Abbordoboir.  Fife  A.,  1126,  Abirdaur  ;  also  Aberdovar, 
'confluence  or  mouth  of  the  stream.'  See  R.  DOUR. 

ABERFELDY.  After  Pheallaidh,  i.e.,  St  Palladius,  Romish 
missionary  to  Scotland  in  5th  century.  Cf.  Cast  ail 
Pheallaidh,  in  the  Den  of  Moness,  close  by.  In  the 
village  of  Fordoun  is  found  '  Paldy's  well.' 

ABERFOYLE  (S.  of  Perthshire).  G.  abhir-phuill,  gen.  of  G. 
and  Ir.  poll,  a  pool  or  bog  or  hole.  Cf.  Ballinfoyle, 
Ireland. 

ABERGELDIE  (Braemar).  '  Confluence  of  the  Gelder ;'  G.  geal 
dobhar  or  dor,  'clear,  fair  water.'  Near  by  is  Inver- 
gelly,  where  the  Gelder  joins  the  Dee.  In  map  1654, 
Galdy. 

ABERLADY  (Haddiiigton).  1185,  Jocelyn,  Aberlessic ;  but 
thought  to  be  Aber-lefdi  =  G.  liobli-aite,  '  smooth  place.' 

ABERLEMNO  (Forfar).  1250,  Aberlevinach ;  c.  1320,  Abber- 
lennoche;  1322,  Aberlemenach ;  1533,  Abirlemnon ; 
prob.  fr.  G.  leamhanach,  adj.,  'of  the  elm  wood,'  fr. 
leamhan,  an  elm.  Cf.  LENNOX. 

ABERLOUR  (Banff1).  Lour  is  G.  luath  ir,  '  strong  water.'  Ir 
is  the  Old  G.  bior  ;  the  connection  of  this  word  with 
Eng.  beer  is  uncertain. 

ABERMILK  (Dumfries).  1116,  Abermelc.  R.  Milk  is  G. 
milleach,  '  flowery  or  sweet  grass,'  fr.  mil,  L.  mel,  honey. 
This  is  one  of  the  only  four  '  abers '  in  Dumfriesshire. 

ABERNETHY  (Perth  and  Inverness).  Perth  A.,  c.  970,  Pict. 
Chron.,  Apurnethige;  c.  1150,  Ailred,  Abernith;  c. 
1220,  Abyrnythy;  1292,  Abernethyn.  Inv.  A.,  1461, 
Abirnethi.  Here  aber  means  the  ford  near  the  Nethy's 
mouth.  Cf.  ARBIRLOT.  Invernethy  stands  at  the  actual 
junction  with  R.  Earn.  Nethy  is  usually  thought  to  be 

G 


6  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

fr.  Nechtan,  king  of  Picts,  c.  700,  who  founded  a 
church  here.  Inverness  A.  stands  at  the  confluence 
of  Nethy  and  Spey. 

ABERNYTE  (Forfar).  Old,  Abernate ;  prob.  G.  abhir  n'aite, 
'  confluence  at  the  place.' 

ABERTARPF  (Lochaber).  c,  1240,  Aberterth ;  c.  1 400,  Bk.  Clan- 
ranald,  Obuirthairbh,  in  which  the  latter  syllable  is 
gen.  of  G.  tarbh,  a  bull. 

ABERUCHIL  and  ABERUTHVEN  (Perth).  1200,  Abirruotheven ; 
in  Aberuchil  e  is  mute.  See  EUCHIL  and  RUTHVEN. 

ABINGTON  (S.  Lanarkshire).  1459,  Albintoune,  *  Albin's 
village.'  Of.  Albyn  Place,  Edinburgh,  and  Abington, 
Cambridge.  Abingdon,  Berks,  is  not  the  same  word. 

ABOYNE  (Deeside).  c.  1260,  Obyne ;  1328,  Obeyn  ;  forms 
apt  to  be  confused  with  OYNE.  A-  or  O-  will  repre- 
sent Old  G.  abh,  water,  river,  cf.  AWE;  and  -boyne  is 
perh.  G.  boine,  gen.  of  bo,  a  cow ;  hence  '  cow's  river ' 
or  '  watering-place.' 

ABRIACHAN  (L.  Ness).  G.  abh-riabhach,  pron.  reeagh,  '  grey 
water.' 

ACHALEVEN  (Argyle).  G.  acliadh-na-leamhain,  l  field  of  the 
elm.'  Cf.  LEVEN.  There  is  an  Auchlevyn  in  Registr. 
Aberdonense,  a.  1500.  In  Ir.  names  we  have  Agh-,  not 
Ach-. 

ACHANAULT  (Ross-sh.).  G.  acliadh-an-uillt,  'field  by  the 
river '  or  '  river-glen,'  G.  allt. 

ACHARACLE  (Strontian).  G.  racail,  l  a  noise  such  as  is  made 
by  geese  or  ducks.' 

ACHARN  (Kenmore).  G.  acli-clidirn,  '  field  of  the  cairn,'  G. 
earn,  or  '  of  the  booty,'  charna. 

ACHBRECK  (Ballendalloch).  'Spotted  field;'  G.  breac, 
speckled,  spotted. 

ACHILTY,  L.  (Strathpeffer).  Also  Torachilty  (G.  torr,  a 
hill).  The  accent  is  on  the  ach.  Achil  is  =  OcniLS, 
meaning  'height,'  cognate  with  G.  uachdar,  the  summit, 
and  W.  ucJiel,  high;  -ty  is  prob.  G.  tir,  land.  Cf.  Achil 
in  Co.  Mayo,  and  Achiltibuie,  Ullapool,  fr.  G.  buidhe, 
yellow. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  7 

AcHLtf  ACHRACH  (Fort  "William).  *  Rushy  field; '  G.  luachrach, 
fr.  luachair,  rushes. 

ACHNACARRY  (Fort  William).     1505,  Auchnacarre  ;  '  field  of 

the  conflict,'  G.  carraid,  or  perh.  *  of  the  cliff,'  G.  car- 

raig. 
ACHNASHELLACH   (W.    Ross-sh.).      1543,    AuchnashelHcht ; 

1584,  Achnasellache ;  fr.  G.  seileach,  a  willow,  or  fr, 

sealg,  seilg,  stalking,  hunting. 

ACHNASTANK  (Ben  Rinnes).  a.  1500,  Auchynstink;  'field 
of  the  pool ;'  G.  stang,  gen.  staing,  a  pool,  ditch. 

ACHNOSNICH  (Strontian).  'Field  of  sighing;'  G.  osnaicfi^ 
sighing,  groaning ;  in  pi.,  blasts  of  wind. 

ACHRAY,  L.  (Perth).  '  Smooth  field ;'  G.  reidh,  smooth, 
level.  Cf.  REAY. 

ACKERGILL  (Wick).  1547,  Akirgill;  also  Acrigill.  O.TsT. 
akr,  O.E.  cecer,  acer,  cognate  with  L.  ager,  lit.  '  open 
country,  untilled  land ;'  hence  Mod.  Eng.  acre,  which 
is  literally  '  tilled  land.'  Gill  is  Icel.  gil,  a  ravine  (see 
p.  Ixi). 

ADD,  R.  (Crinan).  In  G.  abliuinn  fhada,  '  long  river/ 
Ptolemifs  Longus  Fluvius.  The  /  has  disappeared 
through  aspiration.  Cf.  ATTOW,  and  Drumad,  Ireland. 

ADDER,  Black  and  White  (Berwicksh.).  a.  1130,  Sim. 
Durham,  Fluvius  Edre;  prob.  G.  fad  dur,  '  long  water ;' 
cf.  above,  and  W.  dwr,  water,  a  stream.  The  second 
river's  name  is  pron.  Whitadder. 

ADDIEWELL  (W.  Calder).  Adie  is  dimin.  of  Adam;  for 
absence  of  sign  of  possessive,  cf.  MOTHERWELL. 

ADVIE  (Ballendalloch).  Prob.  G.  /had  abh,  'long  river,' 
Cf.  ADD  and  AVIEMORE. 

AFFRIC,  L.  and  Glen  (Inverness).  Prob.  G.  abh  b(h}reac, 
'  mottled,  spotted  water.'  Cf.  W.  a/on  for  AVON. 

AIKET  HILL  (Urr).     1550,  Aikhead.     Sc.  aik,  O.E.  ac,  Icel. 

eik,  an  oak  ;   -head  may  only  be  a  corruption  of  the 

common   suffix   -et,    as   in   thicket,    BLACKET,    and    in 

BIRKET'S  Hill,  near  by. 
AILSA  CRAIG  (Fr.  of  Clyde).     G.  aillse,  a  fairy ;  but  c/.,  too, 

Old  G.  al,  aill,  a  rock,  rocky  steep. 


8  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

AIRD  DHAIL  (W.  Butt  of  Lewis).  'Height'  or  'cape  of 
the  meadow.'  G.  aird-d(li)ail.  Cf.  '  the  Aird  of  Sleet.' 

AIRDS  Moss  (Ayr).  Prob.  fr.  G.  dird,  a  height,  hill,  as  s 
often  adds  itself  to  Gaelic  names,  cf.  WEMYSS.  Might 
be  fr.  a  man,  Aird. 

AIRDRIE.  As  accent  is  on  first  syll.,  prob.  G.  airidh,  '  hill- 
pasture/  the  N.  'saeter'  or  summer  hill-farm.  In  1570 
an  '  Airdrie,'  near  Cromarty. 

AIRLIE  (Forfar).     Perh.  G.  dird  liath,  '  grey  height.' 

AIRTH  (Larbert).     1296,  Erth.     G.  airidh,  meaning  here  '  a 

level  green  among  hills.' 
AIRTHRIE  (Stirling).    More  correctly  Aithrie ;  a.  1 200,  Athran, 

also  Atheran  ;  prob.  G.  ath-raon,  '  water  in  the  field '  or 

'  green.' 

AITHSVOE  (Cunningsburgh,  Shetl.).  Seems  to  be  'inlet  of 
the  oath,'  in  Sc.  aith,  Icel.  eithr ;  voe  is  Icel.  vor,  a 
little  bay  or  inlet. 

AKIN  (Broadford).  Generally  Kyle  Akin;  'straits  of  King 
Haco'  or  Akon,  of  Norway,  who  is  said  to  have  sailed 
through  here  on  returning  from  his  defeat  at  Largs, 
1263  ;  and  see  KYLE. 

ALCAIG  (Dingwall).  Prob.  Icel.  elgr,  L.  alces,  an  elk,  +  aig, 
bay,  as  in  ARISAIG,  ASCAIG,  &c. 

ALDCLUNE  (Blair  Athole).  G.  allt-duain,  'glen  of  the 
meadow.' 

ALDER,  or  AULER  BEN  (Perthsh).  Prob.  G.  allt-dur  (dobliar\ 
'  valley  of  the  water,'  with  form  Auler,  cf.  AULTBEA,  &c. 

ALDIE  (Buchan,  also  name  of  part  of  Water  of  Tain).  Prob. 
G.  alltan,  'little  stream.'  There  is  a  Balaldie,  in  Fearn 
parish,  near  Tain. 

ALDNAVALLOCH  (L.  Lomond).  G.  allt-na-bhealaich  ( =  BAL- 
LOCH),  '  water  of  the  pass.' 

ALDOURIE  (L.  Ness).  Either  =  ALDER,  or  with  second  syll. 
fr.  pre-Celtic  root,  meaning  'water.'  See  URR. 

ALE,  E.  (Roxburgh),  c.  1116,  Alne;  might  be  connected 
with  G.  dhunn  or  dilne,  exceedingly  fair,  lovely.  Cf. 
ALLAN  and  ANCRUM. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  9 

ALEXANDRIA.     Dates  from  c.  1760. 

ALFORD.  c.  1200,  Afford;  1654,  Afurd.  Looks  like  a 
tautology;  G.  ath  +  Eng.  or  O.E.  ford,  both  with  same 
meaning.  Ford  here  formerly,  over  R.  Leochel.  Perh. 
the  first  syllable  is  G.  abh,  water,  and  the  second,  G. 
brd,  gen.  uird,  a  hill,  or  lord,  gen.  biiird,  a  board,  plank ; 
hence  '  water  by  the  hill '  or  '  ford  with  the  plank.' 

ALGUISH  (Ullapool).    Perh.  G.  allt-giusaich  or  giuthas,  '  river 

of  the  pine-wood.' 
ALINE,  L.  (N.  Argyle).    G.  aluinn,  exceeding  fair  or  beautiful. 

ALLAN,  K.  (Stirling),  and  ALLEN  (Fearn).  1187,  Strath- 
alun ;  might  be  as  above,  or  more  prob.  G.  ailean,  a 
green  plain ;  but,  on  Allan  Water,  Melrose,  also  called 
Elwand,  see  ELVAN.  None  of  these  is,  as  some  have 
thought,  Ptolemy's  Alauna,  which  is  the  R.  Lune. 

ALLANTON  (Berwicksh.).  Prob.  G.  ailean,  a  green  plain, 
+  Eng.  -ton ;  but  quite  possibly  '  Allan's  village.' 

ALLOA.  Prob.  Old  G.  al,  dill,  a  rock  or  height,  referring  to 
Ochils,  +  abh,  water  (the  R.  Forth) ;  '  water  beneath 
the  hills.' 

ALLOWAY  (Ayr).  Prob.  G.  attt-na-bheath  (pron.  vay),  '  river 
of  the  birches.'  Cf.  DARN  A  WAY. 

ALMANACK  HILL  (Kirkcudbright).     G.  allt-manacli,  '  monks' 

glen.' 
ALMOND,  R.  (Perth  and  Edinburgh).      Edinburgh  A.,  1178, 

Amonth,  in  Caramonth  ( =  CRAMOND),  also  Awmon.  Perth 

A.,  1 46 1 ,  Almond ;  1640,  Amond ;  prob.  G.  abhuinn,  river ; 

and  so  =  AVON.    For  suffixing  of  d,  cf.  Drummond,  fr.  G. 

droman,  a  ridge.    Near  Huddersfield  is  an  Almondbury. 

ALNESS  (Invergordon).  Prob.  '  cape  at  mouth  of  the  river  ' 
Rusdale,  fr.  G.  allt  +  Icel.  nes,  Dan.  nces,  a  cape  or 
ness,  lit.  a  nose. 

ALTASS  (Bonar  Bridge).  G.  alH-eas,  '  burn '  or  '  stream 
with  the  waterfall.' 

ALTNABREAC  (Caithness).  G.  allt-na-bric,  'burn  with  the 
trout,'  G.  breac.  Cf.  Troutbeck. 

ALTNAHARRA  (Sutherland).  G.  allt-na-charraigli,  'stream 
with  the  pillar  or  rock.' 


10  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND. 

ALTRIVE  BURN  (Selkirk).  Prob.  G.  allt-fsnaimli,  'stream 
with  the  swimming-place.'  Cf.  ARDENTRYVE. 

ALTVENGAN  BURN  (Aberfoyle).     G.  allt-mliengain  or  math- 

yhamhuinn,  a  bear. 
ALTYRE  (Elgin).     1492,  Altre ;   1573,   Alter.      G.  allt-tir, 

river  land ;  and  cf.  TRAQUAIR. 
ALVA  (Alloa).     1195,  Alveth;   prob.  G.  ailWieach,  rocky,  fr. 

ailbhe,  rock,  flint. 

ALVAH  (Banff),     a.  1300,  Alueth;  as  above. 
ALVES    (Moraysh.).      Perh.    as    ALVAH,  with  Eng.  s.     Cf. 

DORES. 

ALVIE  (Aviemore).     Prob.  =  ALVA. 
ALWHAT  HILL  (E.  Ayrsh.).       G.  aill-chatt,  hill,    'rock   of 

the  wild  cat.' 
ALYTH  (Forfar).     Prob. \\  ALVA  (1195,  Alueth).     Perh.  G. 

al  bheith,  '  rock  of  t  e  birches/  bh  lost  by  aspiration. 

AMISFIELD  (Dumfries  and  Haddington).  Dumfries  A.,  a. 
1175,  Hempisfield;  looks  as  if  fr.  Dan.  liamp,  Icel. 
hampr,  hemp.  But  the  Haddington  name  is  prob.  fr. 
the  personal  name  Ames. 

AMPLE  GLEN  (Balquhidder).  Cf.  Ampleforth,  Yorkshire  ; 
near  by  the  glen  is  Edinample.  Can  it  be  fr.  G.  team- 
put,  a  cell,  church,  '  temple  V  For  loss  of  t,  cf. 

KlLLEARNAN. 

AMULREE  (Perthsh.).  G.  ath-MaolruWia,  '  ford  of  St  Maol- 
rubha,'  the  patron  saint  of  the  district.  Cf.  MAREE,  and 
see  p.  xcvi. 

ANCRUM  (Roxburgh).  c.  1116,  Alnecrumba;  a.  1300, 
Alnecrom  ;  1275,  Ankrom, '  the  crook  or  bend  on  the  R. 
Alne  or  ALE  ;'  fr.  Old  G.  crumbadh,  Mod.  G.  cromadh, 
a  bending,  fr.  crom,  crooked.  Cf.  ABERCROMBIE  and 
Alnwick. 

ANDAIL,  L.  (Islay).  Perh.  G.  aWiuinn  (pron.  avn,  an) 
dail,  '  river  of  the  meadow.' 

ANDREWS,  St  (Fife,  Elgin,  Orkney).  Fife  St  A.,  1158,  St 
Andrae;  c.  1160,  'apud  Sanctumandream ;'  1272,  '  Epis- 
copatus  Sancti  Andree  ;'  1434,  Sanctandrowis.  It  was 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  11 

prob.  King  Kenneth  M 'Alpine,  c.  850,  who  first  named 
St  Regulus'  church  here  '  St  Andrew's.'  Its  old  name 
was  KILRIMONT.  The  patron  saint  of  Scotland  also 
gives  his  name  to  the  parish  church  of  Lhanbryd,  Elgin. 
N.B.  Before  800  the  Saint  of  Scotland  was  St  Peter. 

ANGUS,  or  FORFAR.  a.  1200,  Enegus;  a.  1300,  Anegus. 
Said  to  be  fr.  Anegus,  Aengus  or  Ungust,  son  of  Fergus, 
and  King  of  Picts,  729  A.D. 

ANNAN,  E.  and  Town.  Sic  1300,  but  on  coin  a.  1249, 
'  Thomas  on  An.'  The  article  is  very  rare  in  G.  names, 
but  see  AN-STRUTHER.  This  looks  like  an  abhuinn, 
'the  river;'  but  the  accent  should  then  be  on  second 
syllable.  See  also  next. 

ANNANDALE.  c.  1124,  Estrahannent ;  a.  1152,  Stratanant ; 
c.  1295,  Anandresdale.  Estra-,  c.  1124,  is  W.  ystrad 
=  G.  strath,  valley;  cf.  YESTER.  The  -dre  in  c.  1295 
looks  like  dur  or  dobhar,  Old  G.  for  water  ;  cf.  ADDER. 
The  -hannent  or  anant  might  have  some  connection 
with  G.  ceanann  (cean-Jionnj,  *  white  headed,  bald.'  But 
evidently  there  has  been  early  confusion  as  to  the  real 
word. 

ANNAT  (Inverness  and  Appin)  and  ANNAIT  (Dunvegan).  G. 
anait,  'a  parent  church.3  There  is  a  well  of  Annat  or 
tobar-na-h'-annait  at  Strath,  Skye,  and  Calligray,  Harris. 
Cf.  also  Balnahanait  in  Glen  Lyon. 

ANNBANK  (Ayr). 

ANNICK  WATER  (Irvine).  Might  be  G.  abhuinn,  river, 
+  O.E.  wic,  bay  (cf.  WICK),  referring  to  the  bay  at 
Irvine.  There  is  Prestwick  not  far  off.  Of.  Alnwick. 
Or  the  -ick  may  represent  G.  achadh,  a  field. 

ANSTRUTHER.  1231,  Anstrother;  1362,  -oythir.  G.  an 
sruthair,  'the  stream.'  jtfow  often  pron.  Anster, 
Ainster. 

ANWOTH  (Kirkcudbright).  1575,  Anuecht ;  doubtful,  but  cf. 
CARNWATH. 

AONACH,  MHOR,  and  BEAG  (hills  near  Ben  Xevis).  Big  and 
Little  Aonach,  which  in  G.  means  '  a  height?  a  heath, 
a  desert  place.'  Cf.  ONICH. 


12  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

AONAIN,  Port  (Mull,  lona,  Lismore).  Harbour  of  St 
Adamnan  (see  p.  xcv). 

APPIN  (Argyle ;  also  a  burn  in  KW.  Dumfries).  Spelt  in 
G.  Apuinn.  Old,  Apthania  or  Apthane,  *  the  abbey- 
lands  '  of  Lismore.  See  ABDEN. 

APPLEBIE  (Wigton).  As  in  Westmoreland  (1131,  Aplebi),  fr. 
O.JS".  cepU  or  apU,  Q.J£.'ceppel,  apple,  H- Dan.  or  North. 
O.E.  bi,  by,  town.  Cf.  Appleton  (five  in  England). 

APPLECROSS  (W.  Ross-sh.).  c.  1080,  Tighernac,  aim.  673, 
Aporcrosan ;  ann.  737,  Apuorcrossan ;  1510,  Appill- 
croce;  1515,  Abilcros.  This  is  just  aber-crossan,  '  the 
confluence  of  the  Crosan '  (  =  little  cross),  a  burn  there. 
All  who  have  seen  Appledore,  K".  Devon  (in  893, 
Apulder),  will  recognise  it  to  be  aber-dor,  place  at  the 
confluence  of  R.  Taw  and  R.  Torridge.  Similar  is 
Appul-dur-combe,  near  Ventnor,  pron.  Appledic6mbe. 
See  aber,  p.  xxvii. 

APPLEGARTH  (Dumfries).  Old,  Apilgirth ;  1578,  Aplegirth, 
'  apple  garden '  or  orchard.  Icel.  garSr,  O.E.  geard 
(a.  1300,  garth),  a  yard,  court,  enclosure.  In  the 
Catliolicon  Anglicanum,  1483,  is  '  Appelle  garth 
pometmn.' 

AQUHORTIES  (Kintore).  1390,  Athquhorthy ;  a.  1500, 
Auchquhorty.  There  is  old  mention  of  an  Achorthi  in 
the  barony  of  Troup,  prob.  same  name.  Might  be  G. 
acliadli-na-mliortaidh,  *  field  of  the  murdering.'  But,  of 
course,  G.  edit  is  a  ford,  or  fordable  river. 

ARAY,  R.  (Inveraray).  G.  abh-reid/i,  '  smooth  river,'  same  as 
AYR. 

ARBIRLOT  (Forfar).  1250,  Aberelloch,  'ford  on  R.  ELLIOT.' 
See  aber,  p.  xxvii. 

ARBOLL  (Fearn).  Sic  1507  ;  but  1463,  Arkboll.  G.  earbil, 
point  or  extremity  of  land  (here  the  Tarbat  peninsula). 
Cf.  Urbal,  common  in  N.  Ireland,  and  Darnarbil,  Kirk- 
cudbright ;  boll,  of  course,  has  been  influenced  by  the 
common  X.  ending  -bol,  fr.  bolsta&r  (see  p.  Ixiv). 

ARBROATH.  c.  1272,  Aberbrothoc;  a.  1300,  Abbirbroth. 
G.  aber-lrothach,  *  filthy,  muddy  confluence;'  Old  G. 
broth,  a  ditch.  See  aber,  p.  xxvii. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  13 

ARBUTHNOTT  (Fordoun).  1202,  Abirbuthenot(h) ;  ?  con- 
nected with  G.  buthainnich,  to  thump,  beat;  and  see 
aber,  p.  xxvii. 

ARCHERFIELD  HOUSE  (N.  Berwick). 

ARCHIESTON  (Moray).  Founded  1760.  Archie  is  short  for 
Archibald. 

ARD,  L.  (Aberfoyle).  G.  aird,  drd,  a  height,  head,  pro- 
montory. 

ARDALANISH  (Mull).  G.  dird-gheal,  white  cape,  +  JSTorse 
ness ;  thus  tautological ;  for  a  G.  name  ending  with 
nis/ij  cf.  MACHRAHANISH. 

ARDALLIE  (Aberdeen).  G.  aird-aitte,  '  height '  or  '  head  of 
the  cliff.' 

ARDARGIE  (Perth).     G.  aird  ;  and  see  ABERARGIE. 
ARDBEG  (Rothesay).     G.  clird-beag,  '  little  height '  or  '  cape.' 

ARDCHALZIE  (Breadalbane).  G.  aird-clwille,  'height  of  the 
wood.' 

ARDCHATTAN  (Argyle).  1296,  Ercattan,  'height  of  Cattail' 
or  Chattan,  an  abbot,  and  friend  of  Columba.  Ard chat- 
tan's  other  name  was  Balmhaodan  or  'St  Modan's  village.' 

ARDCHULLERIE  (Ben  Ledi).  G.  aird-clwille-airidli,  '  high 
shoaling  or  hut  in  the  wood '  (coill). 

ARDCLACH  (Nairn).     G.  aird-dachach,  'rocky  height.' 
ARDEER  (Ayr).     G.  aird-iar,  'west  cape'  or  'height.' 

ARDELVE  (Lochalsh).  G.  dird-ailbhe,  'height,  cape  of  the 
rock  or  flint.' 

ARDENTINNY  (L.  Long).  G.  aird-an-teine,  'cape,  height  of 
the  (beacon-)  fire  ; '  perh.  some  reference  to  fire-worship. 
Cf.  Achateny,  KW.  Argyle. 

ARDENTRYVE  (Kerrera,  Oban).  G.  aird-an-fsnaimli,  'height 
or  point  of  the  swimming-place.'  Cattle  used  to  be 
swum  over  here  (cf.  COLINTRAIVE).  The  t  eclipses  the 
s,  and  n  changes  into  its  kindred  liquid  r ;  thus  is 
fsnaimh  pron.  tryve. 

ARDEONAIG  (L.  Tay).  Pron.  Arjonaig.  'Height  of  little  St 
Adamnan '  (see  p.  xcv) ;  -aig  is  a  G.  diminutive. 


14  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

ARDEONAN  (on  R.  Tay).  As  above,  without  diminutive, 
Eonan  being  a  contraction  fr.  Adamnan.  Cf.  Balvouliii 
Eonan,  or  'mill-village  of  Eonan,'  in  Glenlyon. 

ARDERSIER  (Nairn).  This,  or  its  like,  was  also  the  old  name 
of  Cromarty;  1227,  Ardrosser ;  1570,  Ardorsier;  1661, 
Ardnasier.  G.  dird-rois-iar,  'high  western  promon- 
tory '  (ros). 

ARDFIN  (Jura).     '  White  cape  ; '  G.  fionn,  white. 
ARDFERN  (Argyle).     '  Height  of  the  alders ; '  G.  /earn. 

ARDGAY,  or  BONAR  BRIDGE.  1642,  Ardgye  (so  now  pron.). 
'  Windy  height ; '  G.  gaoith,  wind.  Cf.  MILNGAVIE. 

ARDGOUR  (L.  Linnhe).  1479,  Ardgovre;  1483,  -gour. 
'  Goats'  height ; '  G.  gobhar,  a  goat. 

ARDKINGLAS  (Inveraray).  According  to  Prof.  M'Kinnon, 
G.  dird-a-choin-ghlais,  'point'  or  'height  of  the  grey 
dog '  (cu,  gen.  con  or  clwiri). 

ARDLAMONT  (Firth  of  Clyde).  1550,  Ardlawmonth,  'La- 
mont's  height.'  A  Lauman  is  found  at  Kilmun,  c. 
1240.  Cf.  Kerry  lament,  Bute. 

ARDLER  (Forfar).  1384,  Ardillar;  prob.  G.  dird-chuill- 
Idrach,  '  farm  or  house  or  ruin  in  the  high  wood  '  (coill). 
Cf.  ARDCHULLERIE.  Ardlair,  Perthsh.,  is  just  dird-lar 
or  Idracli. 

ARDLUI  (L.  Lomond).  Prob.  G.  aird-luil,  'height  of  the 
creek '  or  '  bend  of  the  shore  ; '  or  f r.  luibli  or  Imdh,  a 
plant,  herb. 

ARDMADDY  (L.  Etive).  'Height  of  the  dog  or  wolf;'  G. 
madadh. 

ARDMILLAN  HOUSE  (Girvan).  '  Height  of  the  mill ; '  G. 
muileain. 

ARDMORE  PT.  (Islay  ;  also  in  N".  W.  Mull,  &c.).  G.  dird  mor, 
'  big  cape '  or  '  height.' 

ARDNACROSS  BAY  (Campbelton).     '  Height '  or  '  cape  of  the 

cross ; '  G.  crois. 
ARDNADAM  (Kilmun).     '  Adam's  height.' 

ARDNAMURCHAN  (N.W.  Argyle).  Adamnan,  Ardnamuirchol ; 
a.  800,  Ardalbmurcol ;  1292,  Ardenmurich;  1309, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  15 

Ardnamurchin.     Name  evidently  changed;  now  prob. 
G.    dird-na-mor-chinn   (gen.    of    ceann),   'height   over\v-- 
the  great  headland,'  rather  than   'of  the  huge  seas.*,   4 
(clman) ;  but  the  -chol  or  -col  of  Adamnan,  &c.,  is  pro$T' 
G.  coill,  a  wood. 

ARDOCH  (Perth  and  Kirkcudbright).  '  Height  of  the  field ; ' 
G.  acliadh  or  auch.  Cf.  Auchter-  and  Ochter-. 

ARDOW  (Mull).  'Height  over  the  water;'  Old  G.  abh. 
Cf.  AWE. 

ARDPATRICK  (Kiiapdale).  'Height  of  St  Patrick;'  in  G. 
Padruig. 

ARDRISHATG.  '  Height  of  the  briers ; '  G.  driseag,  dimin.  of 
dris,  a  thorn. 

ARDROSS  (Invergordon).  'High  land'  or  'moor.'  The 
whole  mountainous  centre  of  Koss  used  to  be  called 
Ardross;  G.  aird-rois.  Cf.  ARDERSIER. 

ARDROSSAN.  Sic  1461.  'Height  of  the  little  cape;'  G. 
rosan. 

ARDTORNISH  (Sound  of  Mull).  1390,  Ardthoranis;  1461, 
-tornys.  G.  dird-t(h)orr,  'cape  of  the  hill, '  + Norse  ness, 
nose  or  cape.  Cf.  ARDALANISH. 

ARDTUN  (Mull).  Pron.  in  G.  aird-tunna,  'height  or  cape 
like  a  tun  or  cask.' 

ARDVASAR  (Ornsay,  Inverness).  Prob.  G.  dird-bhdsar  or 
basmhor,  '  fatal  headland.' 

ARDVERIKIE  (L.  Laggan).  Said  to  be  'height  of  the  roar- 
ing ; '  G.  bhuirfdh.  Final  dli  often  is  almost  =  k. 

ARDWELL  (Wigton).  Prob.  'stranger's  height;'  G.  gall, 
foreigner,  Lowlander.  Cornwall  is  just  'horn'  or 
'peninsula  of  the  foreigners'  or  'Welsh.'  Cf.  WAL- 

LACETOWN. 

ARGYLE.  Pict.  Chron.,  Arregaithel;  Old  Ir.  MS.,  Erregaithle; 
in  L.  chrons.,  Ergadia;  1147,  Errogeil;  1292,  Argail ; 
Wyntoun,  c.  1425,  Argyle.  'District  of  the  Gaels,' 
i.e.,  Scots  fr.  Ireland.  Skene  says  Sc.  form  is  Earr- 
gaoidheal,  fr.  earr,  limit,  boundary  ;  in  Ir.  Airer-Gaedliil 
(pron.  arrer  gale).  Before  this  it  was  called,  in  the 
Albanic  Duan,  Oirir  Alban,  or  '  coast  lands  of  Alban,' 


16  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

fr.  oirthir,  coast,  border.  Albainn  is  now  the  regular 
G.  name  for  Scotland,  but  was  till  c.  1100  the  name  of 
Pictavia  or  kingdom  of  Scone.  Of.  '  Duke  of  Albany.' 

ARISATG  (KW.  Argyle).  1250,  Arasech;  1309,  Aryssayk ; 
1506,  Arrisak.  Either  all  K  and  =  AROS  +  aig,  a  bay, 
or  G.  aros,  house,  mansion,  +  aig. 

ARKAIG,  L.  (Fort  William),  c.  1310,  Logharkech  ;  1516, 
Locharcag.  1  G.  aird-caoch,  '  blasted  height.'  With 
c.  1310,  logli,  cf.  Ir.  lough. 

ARKLET,  L.  (L.  Katrine).  Skene  thinks  Loirgeclat  (i.e., 
L.  Irgeclat),  scene  of  battle  mentioned  by  Tighernac, 
ann.  711,  is  L.  Arklet.  AT-  will  be  G.  dird,  height, 
and  dat  or  Idet  prob.  is  death,  a  prince  or  chieftain. 

ARLARY  (Kinross).  Old  diart.  Magh-erderrly ;  prob.  G. 
dird-ldraiche,  '  height  of  the  site,  ruin,  or  farm.' 

ARMADALE  (Bathgate,  Skye,  and  Farr).  Evidently  K".  ; 
prob.  O.N.  armr,  O.E.  arm,  arm,  which  can  mean  not 
only  'arm  of  the  sea,'  but  also  'arm  of  the  land,'  i.e., 
spur  or  branch,  as  of  a  dale  or  valley,  Icel.  and  Sw.  dal. 

ARNAGOUR  (Coll).  '  Height  of  the  goat ;'  G.  dird-na-gobhair. 
Cf.  ARDGOUR. 

ARNCROACH  (Elie).  '  Height  of  the  stack-like  hill ;'  G.  cruadi. 
Cf.  CRUACHAN,  and  Croach,  in  Galloway. 

ARNGASK  (Kinross),  c.  1147,  Arringrosk  ;  1250,  Ardgrosc. 
G.  dird-na-croisg,  'height  of  the  pass'  or  'crossing.'  Cf. 
Ardingrask  or  -grosk,  near  Inverness. 

ARNHALL  (S.  Kincardine).  Pron.  Arnha ;  so  prob.  G.  dird- 
na-h'abh,  '  height  over  the  water  ; '  cf.  BALMAHA,  and 
for  a  similar  corruption,  HALLRULE. 

ARNISDALE  (Lochalsh).    Prob.  after  some  Viking  named  Ami. 

ARNISORT  (Skye).  As  above ;  -ort  or  -art  or  -worth  are  all 
corruptions  of  N.  fjord,  a  firth,  sea-loch.  Cf.  SNIZORT, 
&c. 

ARNOTHILL  (Falkirk).  Prob.  fr.  G.  ornacht,  barley.  Cf. 
Knockharnot,  Leswalt ;  also  1541,  '  Arnothil,'  in  Liddes- 
dale. 

ARNPRIOR   (Kippen).     '  Height  of   the   prior,'  referring  to 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  17 

Inchmahome  on  L.  of  Monteith.    Just  to  W.  is  the  curi- 
ous name  Arngibon,  fr.  G.  gibean,  a  hunch  on  the  back. 

ARNSHEEN  (Ayr).  '  Height  of  the  foxgloves ;'  G.  sion  (pron. 
sheen).  Cf.  AUCHNASHEEN. 

AROS  (Mull).  Said  to  be  =  Dan.  Aarlius,  '  mouth  of  the 
rivulet,'  aa  ;  but  spelt  Aros,  1449,  which  means  in  G.  a 
house,  mansion. 

ARPAFEELIE  (Cromarty). 

ARRAN  (Island,  also  loch  in  Kirkcudbright).  1154,  Four 
Masters,  Arann ;  c.  1294,  Aran;  1326,  Arram.  Mod.  G. 
Arrain,  which  some  think  '  lofty  isle.'  Dr  Cameron  of 
Brodick,  a  high  authority,  said  prob.  fr.  G.  ara,  gen. 
aran,  a  kidney,  which  exactly  gives  Arran's  shape. 
The  proper  spelling  of  the  Irish  group  is  'Arann  Isles.' 

ARROCHAR  (L.  Long).  Old,  Arachor,  Arathor,  which  is  G. 
and  Ir.  corruption  of  L.  aratru?n,  a  plough,  *  a  carrucate,' 
used  as  a  land-measure  =  104  or  160  acres.  We  also  find 
a  Letharathor,  i.e.,  a  half  carrucate. 

ARTAFALLIE  (Munlochy,  Inverness).  1526,  Ardirfalie ;  c. 
1590,  Arthirfairthlie ;  1599,  Ardafailie;  prob.  G.  aird- 
a-thir pheallach  (fr.  peall,  a  hide,  'fell'),  'height  of  the 
rough  or  shaggy  land '  (tir). 

ARTFIELD  FELL  (Wigton).  Font's  map,  Artfell;  prob.  G. 
aird,  a  height,  to  which  is  tautologically  added  Icel. 
fell,  a  hill,  Dan.  field,  a  mountain.  Thus  Artfield  Fell 
is  a  triple  repetition  of  a  word  for  '  hill  ! ' 

ARTHURLEE  (Barrhead).  'Arthur's  meadow,'  O.E.  leuli, 
pasture,  Dan.  dial,  lei,  fallow. 

ARTHUR'S  OON  (formerly  at  Carron  and  in  Tweeddale).  1 293, 
Furnum  Arthuri;  1727,  A. 's  Oon  ;  lit.  'Arthur's  Oven' 
(O.E.  of  en,  Icel.  ofn),  popularly  thought  to  be  mounds 
or  cairns  in  memory  of  King  Arthur's  battles.  His 
battle  of  Bassas  was  prob.  fought  at  DUNIPACE,  near 
Carron ;  the  mound  perh.  referred  to  by  the  Geographer 
of  Ravenna  (7th  century)  as  Medio  Nemeton,  nemed 
being  Ir.  for  'sanctuary.'  Cf.  BESSIE  YON. 

ARTHUR'S  SEAT  (Edinburgh)  and  BEN  ARTHUR  (Arrochar). 
No  real  reason  to  doubt  named  fr.  the  famous  King 


18  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Arthur  of  6th  century.  Skene  thinks  four  of  his  battles 
fought  near  L.  Lomond.  At  Arthur et,  K".  of  Carlisle, 
the  battle  of  Ardderyd  was  fought,  573. 

ARTNEY  GLEN  (S.  Perthsh.).  In  G.  always  pron.  Arter  = 
Arthur  (see  above). 

ASCAIG,  L.  (Sutherland),  ASCOG  (Bute),  and  PORT  ASKAIG 
(Islay).  Bute  A.,  1503,  Ascok ;  'ash-tree  bay;'  O.N. 
askr,  O.E.  cesce,  an  ash,  +  N.  aig  (or  -ocj  or  -ok),  a 
bay. 

ASHANESS,  or  ESHA  NESS  (Shetland).  'Ash-cape,'  might 
either  be  fr.  O.N.  aska,  Dan.  aske,  ashes,  or  O.N.  askr, 
O.E.  cesce,  the  ash-tree ;  ness,  see  p.  Ixiii. 

ASHDALE  (S.  Arran),  ASHKIRK  (Roxb.),  ASHTON  (Greenock). 
All  Eng.  and  fr.  O.E.  cesce,  the  ash-tree;  prob.  all 
three  somewhat  recent. 

ASHIESTEEL  (Melrose).  Prob.  '  place  of  the  ash-trees,'  fr. 
O.E.  steall,  steel,  a  place,  then  the  '  stall '  of  a  stable ; 
and  cf.  STEELE. 

ASLOON  (Alford).  1654,  Asloun.  Eirst  syllable  either  G. 
eas,  waterfall,  or  atli  (tli  mute),  water  or  ford ;  and 
second,  either  leamlian  (pron.  louan),  the  elm,  or 
sleamlminn,  slippery ;  cf.  Craigslouan,  '  the  elm  rock,' 
New  Luce.  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  if  there 
be  any  waterfall  here. 

Ass  OP  THE  GILL  (ravine  on  R.  Cree,  Kirkcudbright).  G. 
eas,  a  waterfall,  and  Icel.  and  1ST.  gil,  a  ravine.  Curious 
name,  yet  so  simply  explained  ! 

ASSYNT  (Sutherland).  1343,  Asseynkt,  Askynkte ;  1455, 
Assend;  1502,  Assent;  1584,  -schin.  Very  difficult 
word.  Possibly  fr.  man  named  Eas-aonta,  i.e.,  Discord, 
lit.  '  without  license ;'  but  that  tradition  does  not 
square  with  the  earliest  forms.  In  Icel.  and  N.  place- 
names  ass  often  means  a  rocky  ridge ;  but  the  second 
syllable  is  puzzling.  In  1632  we  read  of  '  the  chapel  of 
Assind  in  Brakadaill,'  in  Skye. 

ATHELSTANEFORD  (Haddington).  c.  1200,  Alstanesford ; 
1250,  Elstan-;  1461,  Athilstanfurd.  Said  to  be  the  place 
where  Atlielstane,  general  of  Eadbert  of  Northumbria, 
was  defeated  by  Angus,  king  of  the  Picts,  c.  750. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  19 

ATHOLE.  Bk.Deer,  Athotla;  Tighernac,  ann.  739,  Athfhotla; 
c.  1140,  Norse  Atjoklis;  a.  1200,  Adtheodle ;  c.  1320, 
Atholie.  G.  ath-Fhotla  or  Fodla  (but  in  Pict.  Chron. 
called  Floclaic),  '  ford  of  Fodla/  one  of  the  seven  sons 
of  the  famous  legendary  Cruithne.  The  name  is  more 
perfect  in  the  place-name  Badfothel,  found  a.  1300  in 
Registr.  Aberdon.  Another  version  is  that  F.  was  wife 
of  an  early  Welsh  prince ;  certainly  Fodla  was  an  old 
poetic  name  for  Ireland.  Of.  BANFF. 

ATTADALE  (Ross).  1584,  Attadill.  G.  fhada,  long,  /  dis- 
appearing through  aspiration,  +  Icel.  and  N.  dal,  a  dale ; 
with  -dill,  rf.  dell. 

ATTOW  BEN  (Ross).  As  above ;  final  a  in  fliada  taking 
common  sound  of  aw. 

AUCHELCHANZIE  (Crieff).  Prob.  'height  of  Kenneth,' fr.  W. 
uchel,  high,  +  aspirated  form  of  Kenneth,  in  O.Ir.  Canice. 
Of.  CHONZIE  and  OCHILS. 

AUCHEN  CASTLE  (Moffat).  Prob.  pi.  of  G.  ach,  a  bank,  or 
of  achadh,  a  field,  pi.  achanna. 

AUCHENAIRN  (Glasgow).  G.  achadh-an-iaruinn  (O.Ir.  iarnt 
W.  haiarri),  '  field  of  the  iron.' 

AUCHENCAIRN  (Kirkcudbright).  1305,  Aghencarne.  G. 
achadh-na-cairn,  nom.  earn,  '  field  of  the  cairn '  or 
1  barrow.' 

AUCHENCLOICH  (Kilmarnock)  and  AUCHENCLOY  (Stoneykirk). 
'  Field  of  the  stone  ; '  G.  cloiche,  nom.  clack. 

AUCHENCROW  or  -CRAW  (Ayton).  c.  1230,  Hauchincrew, 
'  field  of  the  sheep  pen '  or  fold  or  hut ;  G.  cro,  lit.  a 
circle.  Note  how  Anglian  influence  has  identified 
the  G.  achadh  with  the  Eng.  or  Lowl.  Sc.  haugh ; 
-crew  might  quite  prob.  be  G.  crubha,  haunch,  shoulder 
of  a  hill. 

AUCHENDINNY  (Penicuik).  Prob.  'field  with  the  woody 
glen  ;'  Old  G.  dinat  (cf.  DENNY)  ;  though  often  said  to 
be  '  field  of  fire,'  G.  teine.  Cf.  ARDENTINNY. 

AUCHENGRAY  (near  Qarstairs  and  Kirkcudbright).  Perh. 
'  field  of  the  level  moor  or  high  flat ;'  G.  greaich  (pron. 
graigh).  Cf.  IRONGRAY. 


20  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

AUCHENHEATH  (Lanark).  Second  syllable  only  perhaps  the 
O.E.  haeth,  Icel.  heithi,  a  heath. 

AUCHENMALG  BAY  (Wigton).  -mdlg  might  be  =  G.  milleacli, 
flowery  (see  ABERMILK)  ;  but  mealy  in  G.  is  the  milt  of 
a  fish,  so  the  name  might  refer  to  the  manuring  of  the 
field. 

AUCHINBLAE  (Kincardine).  Prob.  'field  of  the  flowers  or 
blooms,'  G.  Uath;  G.  bldith,  is  'smooth,  level.'  Auchm- 
and  Auchew-  constantly  interchange ;  both,  of  course, 
represent  the  article  na  or  an. 

AUCHINCREOCH  (Kinross).  '  March  '  or  '  boundary  field  ;'  G. 
crioch.  Cf.  CRIECH. 

AUCHINCRUVE  (Ayr  and  Kirkcudbright).    '  Field  of  the  trees,' 

G.  craoiblie,  or  '  of  the  shoulder  or  haunch,'  G.  crubha. 

Of.  Dalcruive,  Perthshire. 
AUCHINDACHY    (? Aberdeen).     ?' Field  of  the  meeting;'  G. 

dail,    gen.    dalach,    also,   a  fastness.     DALLACHY,  near 

Aberdour,  is  called  Dachy. 

AUCHINDOIR  (Aberdeen).  Prob.  '  field  of  the  chase  or  dili- 
'  gent  search ;'  G.  toir. 

AUCHINGILL  (Caithness).  Now  pron.  Oukingill.  '  Field  of 
the  gap  or  opening  ;'  Icel.  gil,  a  gap  ;  cf.  Sw.  gal  ot  fish- 
gel,  fish-gill.  '  Gill '  is  either  a  ravine  or  a  little  bay. 

AUCHINLECK  (Ayrshire  and  Newton  Stewart).  '  Field  of  the 
stone ;'  G.  lee,  properly  a  tombstone  or  flat  stone. 
Same  as  the  name  Affleck,  in  1306,  Aghelek. 

AUCHINLEYS  (Ayr  and  Perth).  '  Field  of  the  glimmering 
light '  or  torch  ;  G.  leus. 

AUCHINLOCH  (Lanark).     'Field  with  the  loch.' 

ATJCHINTORLIE  (Dumbarton).  '  Field  of  Sorlie '  or  Somerled, 
in  G.  t'shomhairle  ;  the  t  has  eclipsed  the  s. 

AUCHLECKS   ( Blair- Athole).      'Field   of   the   flat   stone'   or 

tomb ;  G.  lee,  with  Eng.  pi.  s. 
AUCHLEVEN  (Aberdeen).     'Field  with  the  elms;'  G.  leam- 

han. 
AUCHMACOY  (Ellon).    Perh.  G.  achadh-na-choille,  '  field  by  the 

wood.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  21 

AUCHMEDDEN  (Aberdeen).  Prob.  'middle  field,'  fr.  G. 
miadhon,  the  middle.  Cf.  '  Middlefield '  and  PITMEDDEN. 

AUCHMITHIE  (Arbroath).  1434,  Achmuthy.  Prob.  G.  acliadh 
muthaidh,  'field  of  the  herd.'  But  Meath  in  Ireland, 
old  Mide,  was  so  called  because  '  mid '  or  centre  pro- 
vince. 

AUCHMULL  CASTLE  (Forfar).  'Bare  field;'  G.  maol,  bald, 
bare. 

AUCHNACRAIG  (Mull).     '  Field  with  or  under  the  crag.' 

AUCHNAGATT  (Aberdeen).  Prob.  'field  with  the  gate,'  G. 
geata ;  or  'of  the  wild-cat,'  G.  cat,  as  in  Carnagat, 
Ulster. 

AUCHNASHEEN  (Ross).  1548, -schene.  Prob.  'field  of  the 
foxgloves ;'  G.  sion  (pron.  sheen).  There  is  an  Auchen- 
sheen,  near  Dalbeattie. 

AUCHTARSIN  (L.  Rannoch).  G.  acltadli  tarsuinn,  'oblique 
field.' 

AUCHTERARDER.  1330,  Huchtirardor ;  1597,  Ochterardour. 
G.  uachdar-dird-tir,  'upper  highland,'  lit.  G.  uachdar,  W. 
uchdar,  is  the  top,  summit,  and  tiird  is  a  height,  peak, 
or  cape.  But  Rhys  thinks  in  -arder  may  be  a  trace  of 
Ammianus'  (c.  360)  '  Vertur-iones,'  and  Sim.  Durham's 
(c.  1130)  '  Wertermorum.'  Certainly  A.  is  in  the  old 
land  of  Fortrenn,  which  name  is  =  Vertur-iones. 

AUCHTERDERRAN  (Kirkcaldy).  G.  uaclidar-doirean,  'high 
land  with  the  thickets  or  groves.' 

AUCHTERGAVEN  (Perth).  G.  uaclidar-cjamliainn,  'highland 
(or,  simply,  'field,'  as  auchter  often  means)  of  the 
yearling  cattle.' 

AUCHTERHOUSE  (Forfar).  a.  1300,  Hutyrhuse;  1461,  Uchtir- 
house ;  -house  (here  pron.  hoos)  may  be  a  corruption, 
perh.  fr.  G.  fuathas,  a  spectre  or  apparition. 

AUCHTERLESS  (Aberdeen),  a.  1300,  Octhrelyss;  c.  1280, 
TJchterless ;  1364,  Othyrles.  Prob.  G.  uachdar-lios, 
'  high  land  with  the  garden  on  it.' 

AUCHTERMUCHTY  (Fife).  1250,  Hucdirdmukedi ;  1293, 
Utermokerdy;  1294,  Utremukerty.  '  Field  of  the  swine- 
pen.'  The  G.  uacliter  or  uachdar  must  here  mean 

H 


22  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

simply  'field;'  and  '-mukerdy'  is  muc-garadh  'pig- 
enclosure'  (cf.  BALMUCHY).  Forms  1293-94  give  the 
1  Sassenach's '  pron.  of  auckter-  to  this  day. 

AUCHTERNEED  (Strathpeffer).  1447,  Wethirnyde ;  1619, 
Ochterneid.  '  High  field  with  the  nests  ;'  G.  made,  L. 
nidus.  With  form  1447  rf.  Bally  water,  'upper  town,' 
Wexford. 

AUCHTERSTRUTHER  (Largo),  c.  1150,  Ocliterstruther.  But 
temp.  Robert  III.,  c.  1400,  we  find  a  curious  form, 
Auchterutherstruther.  '  High  field  by  the  stream ; '  G. 
srutliair. 

AUCHTERTOOL  (Kirkcaldy).  1 178,  Ochtertule ;  a.  1200,  Octre- 
tul.  '  Field  upon  the  hill;'  G.  tulach. 

AUGUSTUS,  Fort.  So  called  in  1716,  after  William  Augustus 
Duke  of  Cumberland. 

AULDBAR  (Forfar).  1250,  Aldebar.  Prob.  G.  allt-a-barra, 
'  glen  by  the  height '  (edit). 

AULDEARN  (Nairn),  c.  1340,  Aldyriie  (see  EARN).  As  it 
stands,  looks  like  G.  allt-fhearna,  '  glen  with  the  alders ;' 
but  in  Registr.  St  Andrews,  re  ami.  954,  Ulurn,  which 
might  be  allt-chuirn,  'glen  of  the  cairn;'  G.  earn. 

AULDGIRTH  (Dumfries).  Prob.  G.  allt,  glen,  +N.  garth, 
garden.  Cf.  APPLEGARTH,  in  1578,  Aplegirth. 

AULISTON  PT.  (Sound  of  Mull).  Doubtful ;  the  -ton  is  prob. 
'hill  or  castle,'  G.  dun;  cf.  EDDERTON. 

AULTBEA  (Poolewe).  G.  allt-beath  (pron.  bay),  'glen  with 
the  birches.' 

AULTMORE  (Banff).     '  Big  glen ; '   G.  mor,  big. 

AVEN  WATER  (Kincardine),  R.  (Lanark),  L.  and  Ben  (Banff). 
See  AVON. 

AVICH  (Lorn)  and  AVOCH  (Cromarty).  Crom.  A.,  c.  1333, 
Auauch;  1481,  Avauch;  1493,  Alvach ;  1580,  Awach, 
now  pron.  Auch.  G.  alh-achaidh,  '  water  in  the 
field.'  But  forms  1481-93  are  -  ALVA. 

AVIEMORE  (Inverness).    G.  dbli  mor,  'big  river,'  i.e.,  the  Spey. 

AVON,  R.  (Linlithgow  and  Banff)  and  L.  (Ben  Macdhui). 
The  Loch  is  pron.  A'an ;  the  R.  is  prob.  the  Haefe  in 


PLACE-NAMES  OF    SCOTLAND.  23 

O.E.  Chron.,  aim.  710.  Strathaven  in  Sim.  Durham 
(a.  1130),  re  aim.  756,  is  Ovania.  G.  abkuinn,  water, 
river;  W.  afon  (for  Antona,  now  Avon,  trib.  of  R. 
Severn,  in  Tacitus,  Ann.,  xii.  31,  should  be  read 
Aufona).  Same  root  is  seen  in  Guadi-awa  in  Spain,  in 
Dan-w&e,  and  in  Punj-aub  ('five  rivers') ;  and  prob.  in 
Aa,  name  of  several  European  rivers.  Evan  in  Tweed- 
dale  is  the  same  word ;  see  also  AVEN.  Five  Avons  in 
S.  Britain. 

AVONBRIDGE  (Slamannan),  AVONDALE  (Lanark). 

AWE,  L.  and  R.  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Aba;  1461,  Lochqwaw; 
also  Ow.  G.  abk,  water. 

AYR  (town  and  county  take  name  fr.  the  river).  1197,  Are  ; 
c.  1230,  Air;  c.  1400,  Aare;  prob.  G.  abh-reidh, 
'smooth  river,'  same  as  ARAY. 

AYTON  (Berwick),  c.  970,  Athan ;  1250,  Aytun.  G.  ath- 
abhuinn,  'ford  on  the  river'  (Eye).  Old  form  Eitun 
occurs,  which  shows  it  was  then  thought  = '  town  on 
the  Eye.'  There  are  also  Aytons  in  Yorks.  Of.  YTHAN. 

B 

BACK  (Lewis,  bum  S.  of  Ha  wick).  N.  bac,  '  a  bank  ; '  but 
same  root  as  O.E.  Ixjec,  O.N.  bak,  back,  O.  Icel.  bakki, 
a  ridge,  Dan.  bakke,  Sw.  backe,  a  hill,  hillock.  Cf. 
Backford  and  Backworth  in  England. 

BACKIES  (Golspie).  As  above,  with  diminutive  and  Eng. 
pi.  s.  Cf.  '  The  Lochies,'  &c. 

BADDINSGILL  (Peebles).  'Baldwin's  gill5  (cf.  baldric  and 
baudric).  '  Baldewinus  the  Fleming '  occurs  in  a  local 
deed  c.  1150  ;  Icel.  gil  is  a  mountain  recess,  dale. 

BADENOCH  (Inverness).  1290,  Badenaghe;  c.  1300,  -nau; 
1379,  -nach;  1522,  Badzenoch.  Prob.  G.  badanach, 
bushy,  abounding  in  groves. 

BADEXSCOTH  (Aberdeen).  G.  badh  an  sgotha,  '  creek,  harbour 
of  the  boat.' 

BAILLIESTON  (Lanark). 

BAINSFORD    (Falkirk).      Old.,    Brainsford.     Here   Brianjay, 


24  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Knight-Templar,  stuck  fast  while  trying  to  cross  Mungal 
Bog,  and  was  slain  in  the  Battle  of  Falkirk,  1298.  The 
story  is  found  in  the  contemporary  chronicler  Trivet. 
Xo  real  ford  ever  here. 

BAINSHOLE  (Insch).     From  some  man  Bain. 

BALACLAVA  (Johnstone  and  Portmahomack).  The  former  is 
a  village  founded  in  1856,  two  years  after  the  famous 
Charge ;  latter's  old  name  was  Balnuig. 

BALADO  (Kinross).  G.  bail,  baile,  a  hamlet,  village,  house, 
farm  (cf.  Sc.  use  of  '  toun');  ball-  and  balla-  are  common 
in  Manx  names,  arid  bal-  and  bally-  in  Irish ;  not  in 
Welsh ;  ado  is  prob.  G.  fhada,  long.  Cf.  ADVIE  and 
HADDO. 

BALAGIECH  (S.  of  Renfrew).  Might  be  G.  baile-na-geadaig, 
'village  with  small  spot  of  arable  ground.' 

BALALLAN  (Stornoway).     See  ALLAN. 

BALBEGGIE  (Perth).  'Little  village;'  G.  beag,  with  Eng. 
dimin.  -ie. 

BALBIRNIE  (Markinch).  Sic  1517.  Prob.  G.  baile-Brendon 
or  Brandon.  See  BIBNIE  ;  and  cf.  KILBIRNIE. 

BALBLAIB  (Eoss-sh.).     '  Village  of  the  plain ; '    G.  blar. 

BALCAITHLY  (Denino,  Fife).  Prob.  G.  baile-cliathach,  'farm 
on  the  side  of  the  hill,5  fr.  cliath,  breast,  chest.  Cf. 
BALELIE. 

BALCAREES  (Colinsburgh).  'Village  of  the  contest;'  G, 
carraid  or  carraix. 

BALCARY  PT.  (Kirkcudbright).  Perh.  '  village  of  the  stand- 
ing-stones;' G.  caithre  (pron.  carey). 

BALCASKIE  (Anstruther).  1296,  Balcaski.  ?' Village  of  the 
stopping  or  checking ; '  G.  casgadh. 

BALCOMIE  (Crail).  1297,  Balcolmy.  Prob.  'village  of  St 
ColmanJ  perh.  he  of  Northumbria,  7th  century  ;  just  as 

BALCONY  (Kiltearn),  1333,  Balkenny,  is  fr.  St  Cainnecli  or 
Kenneth,  friend  of  Columba. 

BALDERNOCK  (Dumbarton),  c.  1200,  Buthirnok;  c.  1400, 
Buthernock;  1745,  Badernock.  Perh.  '  Buthar'* 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  25 

knoll,'  G.  cnoc  (cf.  BUTTERSTONE)  ;  more  likely,  '  the 
road  or  lane  in  the  field,'  G.  bothar  an  acliaidh  ;  cf. 
DORNOCK. 

BALDOVIE  (Broughty  Ferry).  1  '  Village  of  the  deep  pool ; ' 
G.  dubhagan.  Cf.  PARDOVAN. 

BALDRAGON  (Broughty  Ferry).     'Village  of  the  dragon,'  a 

word  adopted  in  Gaelic. 
BALELIE  (Denino).     '  Other  farm ; '    G.   eile,  as  contrasted 

with  BALCAITHLY. 
BALERNO  (Midcalder).      Perh.    'village  at  the  end  of  the 

field ; '    G.  earr-an-acliaidh.     Of.  EARNOCK. 

BALFOUR  (Kirkwall  and  Markinch).  '  Cold  village;'  G.  fuar. 
In  first  case  prob.  modern.  No  G.  names  now  in  Orkney. 

BALFRON  (Stirling).  a.  1300,  Bafrone.  G.  baile-bhron, 
'  house  of  mourning.' 

BALFUNNING  (L.  Lomond),  a.  1300,  Buchmonyn.  Perh. 
'  village  of  the  heathy  expanses ;'  G.  monadhean.  For 
Buch-,  see  BUCHANAN. 

BALGEDIE  (Kinross).  See  BALAGIECH,  only  here  d,  being 
unaspirated,  remains. 

BALGONIE  (Markinch  and  Aberdeen).  Markinch  B.,  1163, 
-gone.  Aberdeen  A.,  prob.  a.  1300,  Palgoveny,  'village 
of  the  smith.'  G.  and  Ir.  gobfia,  gobhann,  or  '  Gow.' 
Of.  Ballygow  and  -gowan,  Ireland. 

BALGOWAN  (Perth,  Kirkcudbright,  &c.).     Prob.  as  above. 
BALHARVIE  (Kinross).     G.  baile-thairbh,  village  of  the  bull 
(tarbh)  ;   Eng.  dimin.  -ie. 

BALINTORE  (Fearn).  Prob.  same  as  Ballindore  (Muckairn, 
Argyle) ;  G.  baile-an-Dearaidk  ( =  Dewar),  '  village  of 
the  stranger ; '  surname  of  St  Maelrubha  (cf.  KINTORE). 
But  Ballitore  and  Tintore,  Ireland,  are  fr.  Ir.  tuair, 
bleaching-green. 

BALISHARE  (Lochmaddy).  ?  G.  baile-na-shearraidh,  '  village 
of  the  slaughtering  or  reaping.' 

BALLACHULISH  (Argyle).  1522,  Ballecheles.  G.  bail-na- 
chaolais,  '  village  on  the  straits.'  Cf.  EDDRACHILIS  and 
KYLE. 


26  -PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

BALLANTRAE  (S.  Ayr).  *  Village  on  the  shore  ; '  G.  and  Ir. 
bail-an-traigli.  Cf.  Ballintrae,  Antrim. 

BALLATER  (Aberdeen).  'Village  on  the  hill-slope  ;'  G.  leitir 
(fr.  letJi,  a  half  or  part,  and  tir,  land),  Ir.  leitar,  as  in 
Letterfrack,  &c.  Cf.  LETTERFEARN. 

BALLINDALLOCH  (Moray),  c.  1300,  Balinodalach.  'Village 
in  the  field;'  G.  dalacli. 

BALLINGALL  (Kinross).  1294,  Balnegal.  G.  bail-na-gaill, 
'  village  of  the  stranger  or  Lowlander.' 

BALLINGRY  (Lochgelly).  a.  1400,  -yngry.  Pron.  Bingry ; 
prob.  =  Irish  Ballingarry,  '  house  with  the  garden ; '  G. 
garradh.  Might  be  '  house  of  the  flock ; '  G.  greigli. 

BALLINLUIG  (Pitlochry).  '  Village  in  the  hollow ; '  G.  lag, 
gen.  luig  ;  also  in  Ireland. 

BALLINTUIM  (Blairgowrie).  '  House  by  the  grave  ; '  G.  and 
Ir.  hiaimm.  Cf.  Knockiedim  (Galloway)  and  Tuam. 

BALLOCH  (L.  Lomond,  lochlet  near  Muthil,  and  old  name  of 
Taymouth,  sic  1570).  G.  bealach,  a  pass.  Cf.  W. 
bwlch,  a  gap.  a  pass. 

BALLOCHINRAIN  (Killearn).  1745,  Balackinrain.  'Passat 
the  division ; '  G.  rann,  gen.  rainn,  a  part  or  division. 

BALLOCHMYLE  (Ayr).  '  Bare  pass  ; '  G.  manl.  Cf.  Craigmyle 
House,  Glassel. 

BALLYGRANT  (Islay).  =  GRANTSHOUSE  ;  G.  bails.  Bally-  is 
very  common  in  Ireland ;  and  in  Arran,  as  Ballykine, 
-menach  ( '  middle-house ' ),  -michael,  &c. 

BALLYNAVIN  (Perthsh.).  'Village  on  the  river;'  G.  na 
li'amlminn. 

BALLYOUKAN  (Pitlochry).  Prob.  '  village  with  the  graves  ; ' 
G.  uaghaichean,  pi.  of  uagli. 

BALMACARRA  (Lochalsh).  Prob.  'village  of  the  erect  rock 
or  pillar;'  G.  carragli. 

BALMACLELLAN  (New  Galloway).  '  Village  of  John  M'Lellan,' 
whose  charter  is  of  date  1466. 

BALMAGHIE  (Castle-Douglas).  (Cf.  1420,  'Balmaceth'  or 
'Balmagye,'  Fife.)  Prob.  G.  bail  magach,  'house, 
village  with  many  arable  fields.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  27 

BALMAHA  (L.  Lomond).  1806,  Bealmacha.  Prob.  G.  bail- 
magh-abh,  '  village  on  the  plain  by  the  water ; '  or  na 
h'ab/i,  'village  on  the  water.' 

BALMERINO  (N.  Fife).  Pron.  now  Bamernie ;  c.  1200,  Bal- 
merinach  ;  1227,  -morinach  ;  1629,  -merinoch.  G.  bail- 
mor-an-acliadh,  '  large  farm  in  the  field.' 

BALMORAL  (Braemar).    Prob.  '  house  by  the  big  cliff  or  rock;' 

G.  mor-al  or  aill. 
BALMUCHIE  (Fearn).     1529,  Balmochi.      'House  or  farm  of 

swine ; '  G.  muc,  gen.  muic. 

BALMUNGO  (St  Andrews).     '  Mungo's  house  or  farm.' 

BALNAB  (twice  in  Galloway,  and  Islay).  'House  of  the 
abbot ; '  G.  ab,  aba.  The  two  first  are,  or  were,  near 
Whithorn  and  Saulseat  Priories  respectively.  Cf. 
Lochanabb,  Kildonan. 

BALNABRUAICH  (Tarbat,  &c.).  'Village  on  the  bank  or  shore ; ' 
G.  bruach.  Cf.  TIGHNABRUAICH. 

BALNAGOWAN  (Invergordon  and  Appin).  Invergordon  B., 
1475,  Balnagovin;  1490,  -gown.  'The  smith's  village.' 
See  BALGONIE. 

BALNAKILL  (Kintyre).  '  House  in  the  wood ; '  G.  coill,  or 
'  church,'  rill.  Cf.  Ballinakill,  Ireland. 

BALQUHIDDER  (Callander).  G.  baile-chuil-tir,  'farm  on  the 
backlying  land,'  cut,  the  back.  But  formerly  it  was 
called  Buchfudder,  cf.  BUCHANAN  and  ORDIQUHILL. 

BALRUDDERY  (Forfar).  '  Place  of  the  fitter  or  knight ; '  G. 
ridire.  Cf.  Kilruddery,  Bray. 

BALTA  SOUND  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Baltey ;  'belt-isle,'  O.N. 
balti,  Dan.  baelt  +  ey  or  ay  or  a,  island. 

BALTHAYOCK  (Kinfauns).  Prob.  G.  baile-thathach,  'house 
of  the  guest  or  visitor,'  an  inn.  Cf.  Tayock,  Montrose. 

BALVENIE  (Dufftown).  c.  1200,  Balbegno.  G.  baile-Bhaine, 
'  house  of  St  Beyne,'  first  bishop  of  Mortlach. 

BALWEARIE  (Fife).  Prob.  G.  baile-iaracli,  '  west  house.'  Cf. 
Blaw  Weary  (west  plain)  and  Castle  Weary,  in  Galloway. 

BAMFLAT  (Biggar).  Old,  Bowflat ;  'flat  or  field  for  cattle'  (see 
BOWLAND).  Bam- is  a  curious  and  unexplained  corruption. 


28  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

BANAVIE  (Fort  William).  1606,  Banvy.  G.  ~ban  abh,  'white 
or  clear  water'  (cf.  AVIEMORE).  Prob.  this  is  not 
'  Vicus  Bannavem,'  c.  450  A.D.,  in  Patrick's  Confessions. 

BANCHORY  DEVENICK  and  BANCHORY  TERNAN  (W.  from 
Aberdeen),  a.  1300,  Banchery  defnyk;  1361,  Ban- 
chory  deveny :  a.  1300,  Bancheri-tarny ;  1489,  Ban- 
quhori-terne ;  also  c.  1300,  Benchorin.  Banchory  is  G. 
heinn  y(h)eur,  '  sharp,  pointed  ben  or  hill,'  same  name  as 
Bangor  in  Wales  and  Ireland  (Ir.  Beannchor,  peaked  hill 
or  pinnacle  ;  W.  bangor,  upper  row,  high  circle),  for 
which  the  Lat.  adj.  is  Benchorensis,  as  in  Ulst.  Ann., 
ann.  671,  'Maelrubha  Benchorensis.'  Devenick  is  fr. 
St  Devinicus,  said  to  be  contemporary  of  St  Columba, 
who  laboured  in  Caithness.  Perh.  same  name  as  is 
seen  in  Lan-dewednack,  near  Lizard  Point.  St  Ternan's 
date  was  c.  500 ;  he  was  prob.  a  disciple  of  Palladius. 

BANFF.  1290,  Bamphe;  1291,  Banffe.  Banba,  according  to 
Irish  Xennius,  was  a  Welsh  or  Irish  Queen,  reported  to 
have  come  fr.  Scotland.  Banba  is  also  an  early  poetic 
name  for  Ireland;  connection  with  Banff  cannot  be 
proved.  Prof.  M'Kinnon  thinks,  possibly  fr.  Ir.  banbh, 
a  sucking-pig,  as  in  Bannow,  Wexford.  Cf.  Bamff 
Well,  Coupar-Angus,  and  Bamff  House,  Perthshire. 

BANKEND  (Dumfries),  BANKFOOT  (Perth),  BANKHEAD  (Lanark, 
&c.).  O.E.  bane,  a  bank,  hillock,  cognate  with  bench. 

BANNOCKBURN  (Stirling).  Sic  1314;  1494,  Bannockys- 
borne.  G.  ban  cnoc  (also  Ir.  cnoc),  'white  hill;'  same 
as  Banknock,  The  Haggs,  not  far  off.  Cf.  KNOCKBAIN, 
and  Whitehill,  Aberdour. 

BANTASKIN  (Falkirk).  1617,  Pantaskon;  1745,  Pentaskin; 
1774,  Bantaskine.  Perh.  G.  bun  t'easgan,  'low  place 
with  the  eels'  (cf.  Pollanaskin,  Mayo,  and  Pantaskel, 
Farnell).  Pen-,  of  course,  refers  to  the  hill  to  the  south. 
Quite  possibly  the  second  half  is  the  same  as  in  BOL- 

ESKIN. 

BANTON  (Denny).  Prob.  G.  ban  dun,  'white  hill,' =  Bank- 
nock  not  far  away.  For  ton  =  dun,  cf.  Edderton. 

BARCALDINE  CASTLE  (L.  Crerar).  Prob.  G.  barr  calltuinn, 
'height  of  the  hazel.'  Cf.  CALTON. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  29 

BARDOWIE  (Baldernock).    G.  barr  dubh, '  dark  or  black  height ' 

(barr).     Cf.  DOWALLY. 
BAREMMAN  (Roseneath).     Prob.  G.  barr-Adamnan,  'height 

of  A.'     See  p.  xcv. 
BARGEDDIE  (Coatbridge).    '  Height  with  the  little  field.'   See 

BALGEDIE  and  BALAGIECH. 

BARGRENNAN  (Newton  Stewart).  'Height  of  the  castle,'  or 
chief's  residence ;  G.  c/rianain.  Cf.  Arngrennan,  Tung- 
land. 

BARJARG  (Closeburn).     'Red  height;'  G.  dhearg,  red. 

BARLINNIE  (Glasgow).  'Height  by  the  pool;'  G.  linne,  a 
pool.  Cf.  LINNHE. 

BARMEKIN,  THE,  OF  ECHT  (S.E.  Aberdeen).  Here  was  an 
old  British  hill-fort.  B.  means  the  outer  fortification 
or  barbican  of  a  castle,  also  a  turret;  found  c.  1340  in 
the  romance  of  Alexander,  'barmeken.'  Dr  J.  A.  H. 
Murray  thinks  perh.  fr.  O.N.  barmr,  brim,  border,  wing 
of  a  castle,  but  cannot  explain  -Itin;  perh.  the  diminutive. 

BARNAICH  (Alva).  G.  bairneach,  a  limpet,  name  of  a  house 
clinging  to  the  hillside. 

BARNBOGLE  CASTLE  (Dalmeny).  c.  1320,  Prenbowgal;  1481, 
Bernbougale.  G.  barr-an-baoghail,  'height  or  cape  of 
danger'  (cf.  Barnbauchle,  in  Galloway),  or  -an-boglain, 
'in  the  marsh.'  Pren  is  W.  for  a  tree  (cf.  PRINLAWS). 
First  syll.  possibly  G.  beam,  a  gap. 

BARNHILL  (Glasgow  and  Forfar).  May  be  plain  English. 
Perh.  G.  barr-na-choille,  'height  with  the  wood'  (coill). 
Cf.  Barnhillie,  formerly  Barnkylie,  in  Kirkcudbright. 

BARNSMUIR  (Crail).     Cf.  KINGSBARNS,  near  by. 

BARNTON    (Edinburgh),      c.  1400,    Berntoun,    'barn   town/ 

toun  here  in  its  Sc.  usage.     O.E.  bere-ern,  '  barley  place,5 

M.E.  beren,  mod.  barn. 
BARNYARD  (Irongray).     Popular  corrup.  of  G.  bearnach  aird, 

'  height  with  the  gaps  or  fissures '  (G.  beam,  Ir.  bearna, 

a  gap,  a  notch).     Of.  Craigbernoch  and  CRAIGIEBARNS. 
BARR  (Ayr).     G.  barr,  the  top,  '  a  height.' 
BARRASSIE  (Troon).     'Height  of  the  waterfall;'  G.  easa. 
BARRA(Y)  (Hebrides).      llth  century,    Gaelic   MS.    Barm, 


30  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

Sagas  Barey;    1292,  Barrich.      In  1549  the  parish  is 
called  Kilbarr.    '  St  Ban's  isle  '  (Icel.  ey).    See  D UNBAR, 

BARRHEAD  and  BARRHILL  (Ayr,  &c.).  Both  tautologies, 
formed  by  English  speakers  who  did  not  know  that  G. 
barr  means  head  or  hill. 

BARROCK  (Thurso).  Prob.  G.  barr-acliaiclli,  'height  in  tho 
field.'  Of.  ARDOCH. 

BARROGILL  CASTLE  (Caithness).  '  Height  on  the  gill ; '  Icel. 
gil,  a  ravine. 

BARRSHAW  (Paisley).  Hybrid,  '  height  with  the  wood  ; ' 
O.E.  scaga.  See  SHAW. 

BARRY  (Forfar).  Sic  1234.  1  G.  barrack,  brushwood,  birch, 
or  =  BARROCK  ;  also  in  S.  Wales. 

BARSKIMMING  (Mauchline).  1639, Barskinning.  Perh.  'grace- 
ful height,'  fr.  G.  sgeimheach,  handsome,  fr.  syeimJi, 
beauty.  Of.  Craigskimming,  Sorbie. 

BARTHOL  (Old  Meldrum).  '  Head  of  the  hollow ; '  G.  barr 
thuill,  fr.  toll,  a  hole,  hollow,  crevice. 

BARVAS  (Lewis).  1536,  Barwas.  Might  be  'streaked  height ;' 
G.  barr  bhasach. 

BASS  EOCK  (Firth  of  Forth).  Perh.  G.  latliais,  '  forehead, 
front,'  fr.  the  curious  shape  of  the  rock  (cf.  PAISLEY). 
G.  bais  or  bass  also  means  a  mound  which  looks  artificial, 
but  is  really  natural  (cf.  DUNIPACE).  A  man  Bass  is 
mentioned  in  Bk.  of  Lecain  (Chron.  of  Picts  and  Scots, 
p.  48). 

BATHGATE.  c.  1160,  Bathchet;  1250,  -ket;  1316,  -getum. 
Prob.  G.  both  diet,  '  house  of  Chet,'  Ce  or  Got,  one  of 
the  seven  sons  of  Cruitlme.  Cf.  CAITHNESS  and  DAL- 
KEITH.  The  Eng.  bath  was  so  spelt  fr.  earliest  times. 

BATTOCK,  Mt  (Kincardine).  Doubtful ;  G.  bdthach  is  a  cow- 
house ;  but  cf.  BEATTOCK. 

BAVELAW  (Currie).  c.  1240,  Baueley.  First  syllable  perh. 
same  as  Bavan,  common  name  in  Ireland,  =  Ir.  badhun,  a 
strongly-fenced  enclosure  for  cows.  Law  is  Sc.  for  hill 
(see  p.  Ixxvi) ;  ley  is  lea,  a  meadow. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  31 

BAYBLE  (Lewis).  Prob.  corruption  of  ]^.  papuley,  'little 
priest's  isle.'  See  PAPLAY. 

BAYHEAD  (Lochmaddy).  Might  be  fr.  G.  beatli,  a  birch 
(pron.  bay). 

BEALACH-NAM-BO  (Aberfoyle).  G.  'pass  for  the  cattle.'  On 
the  article  nam,  see  p.  xxxvii. ;  and  cf.  BALLOCH. 

BEALLACHANTUIE  (Kintyre).  G.  bealach-an-fsuidlie,  '  pass  of 
the  seat.'  Cf.  p.  xl. 

BEAM,  The  (farm,  Bonnybridge).  Prob.  fr.  O.E.  beam,  a 
tree.  Cf.  the  '  hornbeam.' 

BEANCROSS  (Falkirk).  Pron.  bean-corse,  prob.  =  -carse.  It 
stands  in  the  CARSE  of  Falkirk,  where  beans  are  largely 
grown.  Cf.  board,  Sc.  brod. 

BEARSDEN  (Glasgow).  O.E.  denu,  '  a  den,'  is  closely  akin  to 
dene,  Eng.  dean,  Sc.  den,  a  valley. 

BEATH  (Dunfermline)  and  BEITH  (Ayr).  Ayr  B.,  1178, 
Beth.  G.  beath  or  beith,  a  '  birch  ; '  final  tli  here  pre- 
served, lost  in  AULTBEA. 

BEATTOCK.     Prob.  G.  beath-achadh,  'birchfield.' 

BEAULY.  1230,  Prioratus  de  Bello  Loco ;  a.  1300,  Beaulieu; 
1497,  Beulie;  1639,  Beawly  (so  now  pron.).  Fr.  beau 
lieu,  'beautiful  spot'  (cf.  Beaulieu,  pron.  Bewly,  in 
Hants).  Monasteries  in  both ;  that  in  Beauly  founded 
by  the  monks  Vallis  umbrosce,  c.  1220. 

BEDRULE  (Jedburgh).  1275,  Badrowll ;  1280,  Rulebethok; 
1310,  Bethocrulle;  a.  1600,  Bethrowll ;  still  sometimes 
pron.  Bethorule ;  'lands  of  Betlwc  on  the  river  RULE.' 
B.  was  wife  of  Radulph,  earliest  known  lord  of  the  manor 
here,  c.  1150.  A  Kynbethok  is  found  in  Begistr. 
Aberdon.,  a.  1300. 

BEESWING  (Dumfries). 

BEGBIE  (Kirkcudbright).  Prob.  G.  beag,  little,  +  Dan.  bae, 
by,  town,  village. 

BELHAVEN  (Dunbar).  Fr.  bel,  beau,  +  O.E  .  haefen,  Dan. 
havn.  '  fine  haven.' 

BELHELVIE  (New  Machar).     1292,  Balheluy;  1293,  -helwy; 


32-  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

1450,  Balhelfy.     Prob.  G.  baile-eJiailbhe,  l  village  by  the 
headland.'     G.  calbh  is  lit.  a  bald  pate. 

BBLIVAT  (^airn).  Perh.  G.  baile-liobh-aite,  'hamlet  in  the 
smooth  place.'  Cf.  Belclare,  Belfast,  &c.,  in  Ireland, 
and  GLENLIVAT. 

BELLAHOUSTON    (Eenfrew).       1818,    Billy honston    House ; 

?  baile-na-Houston,  '  HOUSTON'S  village.' 
BELLIE  (Fochabers).     Perh.  G.  baile,  a  village,  house. 

BELL  KOCK  (off  Arbroath).  Fr.  the  warning  bell  formerly 
hung  on  the  '  Inchcape  '  reef. 

BELLSHILL  and  BELLSIDE  (Lanark). 
BELLSQUARRY  (Edinburgh). 

BBLMONT  (one  of  the  Sidlaw  Hills,  and  in  Unst).  Fr.  bel 
mont,  fine  hill. 

BELSES  (Hawick).  1541,  Belsis ;  fr.  De  Bel  Assize,  a 
Gorman  knight. 

BENABTY  HILL  (Kinross).  Chartul.  St  Andr.,  Cabennartye, 
perh.  first  part  =  Caesar's  Gehenna,  the  Cevennes,  W. 
cefn,  a  ridge ;  second  part  perh.  =  Arthur.  Cf.  ARTNEY. 

BENBECULA  (Outer  Hebrides).  1449,  Beanbeacla;  1495, 
Bendbagle;  1549,  Benvalgha,  Buchagla;  c.  1660,  Ben- 
bicula;  also,  1535,  Beandmoyll,  and  1542,  Beanweall 
(prob.  G.  maol,  bare).  Might  be  G.  beinn-na-faoghail, 
'mountain  of  the  fords,'  or  better,  bemn-na-faogMacJt, 
'hill  by  the  strand,'  an  appropriate  name ;  but,  as  Prof. 
M'Kinnon  says,  how  comes  its  modern  shape  ? 

BENDERLOCH  (L.  Etive).  Old  Bendraloch,  'hill  between 
(G.  eadar)  the  lochs'  (i.e.,  L.  Etive  and  L.  Creran). 
Cf.  DORNOCH  and  EDDRACHILIS. 

BENDOCHY  (Coupar- Angus).  c.  1130,  Bendacthin.  1  Fr. 
Old  G.  daochan,  anger,  horror. 

BENDOURAN  (Tyndrum).  More  correctly  doireann,  'mount 
of  storms.' 

BENHAR  (Lanarksh.).     Prob.  fr.  G.  ghar,  'near  hill.' 

BENHOLM  (Kincardine).  Perh.  St  Cliolum  or  'Columba's 
hill.'  See  p.  xcii. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  33 

BENJOCK  (Stobo).  ?  *  Hill  of  the  drink ; '  G.  d(h)eoch  (cf. 
BARRJARG).  Prof.  Yeitch  says,  this  with  Eenrig  (Rox- 
burgh) and  Mt.  Bengerlaw  (to  which  add  Benhar)  are 
the  only  Lowland  'bens.' 

BENNACARRAIGAN  (Kilmory,  Arran).  G.  =  '  hill  of  the  cliffs.' 
Cf.  CARRICK. 

BENNACHIE  (Insch)  and  BENNOCHY  (Kirkcaldy).  Insch  B., 

c.    1170,    Benychie.       Perh.    'hill    in    the  field'    (G. 

achadh) ;    or,    G.    beannachadh,    blessing.  Cf.   Tigh 
Beannachadh  on  Gallon  Head,  Lewis. 

BENTPATH  (Langholm). 

BENVIE  (Dundee).  ?  =  Ben-avie  (G.  abh),  'hill  over  the 
water.' 

BERNERA  (Inverness).  Sayas,  Bjarnar-ey,  'Bjorn's  (lit. 
'bear's')  isle.' 

BERRIEDALE  (Caithness).  Sagas,  Berudal;  1340.  Beridale ; 
and  most  prob.,  says  Dr  Jos.  Anderson,  the  Beruvik  in 
Orkney.  Sag.,  v.  and  xciv.  Bern-  is  doubtful ;  Icel. 
and  O.N.  dal,  is  a  dale  ;  peril.  Berriedale,  like  Birgidale, 
S.  Bute,  =  BORRODALE. 

BERVIE  (Kincardine,  town  and  river).  Sic  1199;  c.  1212, 
Bervyn ;  1290,  Haberberui.  G.  bear  or  bior  is  a  spit  or 
pin ;  but  this  is  prob.  abhir  abh  (cf.  AVIEMORE,  &c.)  or 
abhuinn,  '  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.'  Cf.  '  Bergeveny,' 
in  1291,  for  Abergaveny,  and  METHVEN. 

BERWICK,  also  NORTH  BERWICK,  a.  1150,  Berewic,  Ber- 
wich;  1187,  Suthberwyc ;  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Say.,  cli. 
xcii.,  Beruvik;  1303,  Berwik :  1250,  Northberwyk  (cf. 
too,  700-15,  Chart.  Wihtred,  'Bereueg'  in  Kent;  1060, 
Chart.  Educ.  Confessor,  'Uppwude  cum  Eavelega  bere- 
wico  suo').  O.E.  bereivic,  a  demesne  farm,  fr.  O.E. 
bere,  barley,  bere,  +  wic,  a  dwelling,  village ;  so  same  in 
meaning  as  the  Eng.  place-name  Barton.  Cf.  Berwick 
St  James  and  St  John,  both  near  Salisbury. 

BESSIE  YON  (Glasserton,  Wigton).  'Bessie's  Oven;'  in 
Yorks.  yoon,  O.E.  of  en.  Cf.  8c.  yin  =  one. 

BETTYHILL  (Farr).  Market  knoll,  called  after  Elizabeth, 
Marchioness  of  Stafford,  c.  1820. 


34  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

BIEL  (Drem).  Prob.  = '  bield ; '  in  sense  of  shelter,  refuge  it 
is  fr.  O.E.  beldo,  boldness,  but  this  sense  is  not  found  till 
c.  1450.  So  prob.  fr.  M.E.  bylde,  a  building,  fr.  verb 
build ;  old  past  tense,  Held',  O.E.  byldan.  For  lost  d, 
cf.  kin  and  kind.  Also  in  Northumberland. 

BIELD,  The  (Tweedsmuir).  Perh.  fr.  O.E.  beldo,  bieldo,  bold- 
ness ;  though  in  Sc.  a  bield  always  means  '  a  shelter, 
refuge,'  and  is  found  so  c.  1450. 

BIGGAR.  c.  1170,  Bigir;  1229,  Bygris;  1524,  Begart.  G. 
beag  tir,  '  little  land ;'  in  1524  confused  with  garth  (see 
APPLEGARTH). 

BILBSTER  (Caithness).  Old  Bilbuster.  Perh.  *  sword- 
place;'  fr.  O.Sw.  and  O.E.  bil,  a  sword  or  'bill,' and 
N.  bolstafti',  see  p.  Ixiv. 

BINDLE  (Portmahomack). 

BINNEND  (Burntisland).     In  O.E.  binn  was  a  manger,  then  a 

'  bin  ;'  but  this  is  prob.  =  next. 
BINNY  (Uphall).     1250,  Binin.     G.  beinnan,  a  little  hill. 

BIRGHAM  (Coldstream).  Pron. -jam ;  prob.  1250,  '  Capella 
Brigham  Letham.'  O.E.  beorg,  shelter,  same  root  as 
borough,  +hdm,  home,  house,  village;  'shelter- village.' 
It  stands  just  on  the  Borders. 

BIRKET'S  Hill  (Urr,  Kirkcudbright).  O.E.  beorc,  Sc.  and 
Dan.  b-irk,  a  birch.  On-  et,  cf.  AIKET. 

BIRKHALL  (Ballater).     As  above. 

BIRNAM  (Dunkeld).  O.E.  biorn,  beorn,  warrior,  in  M.E. 
berne,  birn,  +  ham,  home,  'hero's house.'  Cf.  BIRGHAM. 

BIRNESS  (Ellon).     May  be  same  as  BURXESS,  in  Orkney. 

BIRNIE  (Elgin),  a.  1200,  Brennach.  Prob.  '  Brendan's  Field ' 
(G.  achadli).  Very  old  church  of  St  B.  here.  He  it 
was  who  made  the  famous  seven  years'  voyage ;  friend 
of  St  Columba. 

BIRNIEKNOWE  (?Ayrsh.).  As  above,  or  perh.  N.  bjorn,  a 
bear,  +  tcnoiue,  Sc.  form  of  O.E.  cnoll,  K  Jinoll,  a  knoll 
or  hillock. 

BIRRENSWARK  HILL  (Annandale).  First  part  doubtful,  cf. 
the  Broch  of  Burrian,  Orkney;  work  (O.E.  ivorc),  as  in 
'  outwork,'  often  means  a  fortification. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  35 

BIRSAY  (Orkney),  c.  1050,  Birgisherad;  c.  1225,  Orlmey. 
Sag.,  ditto.  This  is  O.N".  for  'hunting  territory;'  cf. 
HARRAY.  Here  the  Jaiis  of  Orkney  lived. 

BIRSE  (Aboyne).  1170,  Brass.  G.  bras,  rash,  impetuous  as 
of  a  torrent.  For  transposed  r,  cf.  Sc.  Kirsty,  and  Eng. 
Christie,  &c. 

BIRTHWOOD  (Biggar).  Peril,  fr.  Icel.  byrSi,  a  board,  '  wood 
fr.  which  planks  were  got.'  Berth  is  quite  a  recent 
word,  and  purely  nautical.  Of.,  too,  Tusser's  Husbandry, 
of  date  1573,  p.  62,  ed.  1878,  'In  tempest  .  .  . 
warm  barth  under  hedge  is  a  sucker  to  beast.'  But 
the  origin  of  barth  is  unknown  to  Dr  Murray. 

BISHOPBRIGGS  (Glasgow).  '  Lands  or  rigs  of  the  bishop '  of 
Glasgow.  Rig  is  Sc.  for  ridge  (or  furrow),  O.E.  hnjey, 
hrick,  Icel.  hryf/gr,  Dan.  ryg,  a  ridge,  lit.  the  back.  The 
b  has  crept  in  through  confusion  with  Sc.  brig,  a  bridge. 

BISHOPTON  (Renfrew).  Also  referring  to  the  Bishop  of  Glas- 
gow. In  England  usually  Bishopston. 

BIXTER  (Walls,  Shetland).  Might  be  '  brook-place,'  fr.  O.N. 
bekkr,  Sw.  back,  a  beck  or  brook,  +-ster,  fr.  bolstaftr. 
See  p.  Ixiv. 

BLACKBURN  (Bathgate,  Liddesdale,  Aberdeen).  Liddes.  B., 
c.  1160,  Blachaburne.  Its  Celtic  equivalent  is  DOUGLAS. 

BLACKFORD  (Edinburgh  and  Perthsh.).  Also  c.  1240,  in 
Chartul.  Moray,  Blakeford. 

BLACKBALL  (Midlothian),  BLACKHILLS  (Aberdeen),  BLACKNESS 
(Linlithgow,  c.  1200,  Blackenis),  BLACKRIDGE  (Bath- 
gate). 

BLACKSBOAT  (Craigellachie).  '  Boat'  enters  into  many  names  of 
ferries  in  this  region.  'Boat  of  Forbes,  Garten,  Inch,'  &c. 

BLACKSHIELS  (Edinburgh).  On  Sc.  shiels,  'group  of  huts  or 
houses,'  see  p.  Ix. 

BLACKWATERFOOT  (Arran).     Three  Blackwaters  in  England. 
BLACKWOOD  (Lesmahagow  and  Mthsdale). 

BLADNOCH  (Wigtown).  1563,  Blaidroo.  G.  lladh  (or  blaidh) 
-an-achaidh,  'bit  of  the  field.'  In  Ir.  bladh,  blod,  bla<j 
is  a  division,  partition. 


>  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

BLAIKET  (Wigtown).  'Black  place  ;'  O.E.  blaec,  blac;  -et  is 
prob.  just  suffix  as  in  thick-et  (cf.  AIKET).  There  is. a 
Blacket  Place  in  Edinburgh.  Of.  'Ecclesiam  Sce.Brigide 
de  blacket,'  temp.  Alexander  II. 

BLAIRADAM  (Kinross)  '  Plain  of  Adam '  (the  proprietor) ; 
G.  blur,  means  a  field  or  plain,  and  also  a  battlefield. 

BLAIR  ATHOLE.     Often   simply    Blair;   as   above,    and   se.e 

ATHOLE. 

BLAIR  DRUMMOND  (Perthsh.). 
BLAIRGOWRIE.     G.  lilar-goiblire,  plain  of  the  goat  (gobhar). 

BLAIRHILL  (Coatbridge)  and  BLAIR  LODGE  (Polmont). 
Hybrids. 

BLAIRINGONE  (Clackmannan).  G.  blar-na-gobhamn,  'field  of 
the  smith '  or  '  Smithfield.' 

BLAIR  LOGIE  (Stirling).     'Field  in  the  hollow;'  G.  lay  or 

ledge. 

BLAIRMORE  (Firth  of  Clyde).      'Big  plain;'  G.  mdr,  big. 
BLAIR'S  SMITHY  (Aberdeen). 

BLAIRVADDICK  (Dumbarton),  c.  1240,  Blarvotych.  Prob. 
'plain full  of  cottages;'  G.  b(li)othach,  adjective  fr.  botliy 
a  hut,  cottage;  or  else  'bushy  plain,' fr.  G.  b(h)adach3 
fr.  bad,  a  bunch,  thicket,  grove. 

BLALOWAN  (Cupar-Fife).    G.  laile-na-leamJtan,  'house  among 

the  elms.' 
BLANEFIELD  (Lanark).     Prob.   'flowery  field'  (see  STRATH- 

BLANE)  ;  but  W.  blaen  is  'source.' 

BLANTYRE  (Lanark).  1290,  Blantire.  Perh.  'land  at  the 
source ;'  W.  blaen  +  G.  tirt  land. 

BLEBO  (Fife).  Prob.  1144,  Bladebolg;  but  sic  1570.  ?  G. 
blad-a-bolg,  '  the  mouth  of  the  bag '  or  '  womb.' 

BLINGERY  (Wick),  -cry  is  corrup.  of  G.  airidh,  shealing, 
hill-hut,  as  in  Assary,  Shurrery ;  and  perh.  Bling-  (g 
soft)  is  fr.  O.N".  llekkja,  blenkja,  to  cheat,  deceive, 
referring  to  the  appearance  or  site  of  the  place. 

BLINKBONNY  (Falkirk,  Gladsmuir,  &c.).  Prob.  =  ' Belle 
Yue ;'  but  Auchnabony,  Galloway,  is  fr.  G.  banbh,  a 
young  pig. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  37 

BLOCHAIRN  (Glasgow).  Perh.  G.  Uot-cliairn,  'the  cave  or 
den  of  the  cairn/ 

BLYTHEBRIDGE  (Dolphinton).  Near  to  Blyth  Hill ;  presum- 
ably O.E.  blifte,  O.N.  blifir,  mild,  gentle ;  hence  joyous, 
'  blithe  ;'  but  Dr  Murray's  dictionary  has  no  quotations 
referring  to  a  hill  or  the  like. 

BOARHILLS  (St  Andrews),  c.  1120,  Alexander  I.  gave  Cursus 
Apri,  or  'boar  chase,'  to  the  See  of  St  Andrews; 
curious  proof  of  the  former  existence  of  the  wild  boar  in 
Scotland. 

BOAT  OF  FORBES  (on  Don),  BOAT  OF  GARTEN  (Grantown), 
BOAT  OF  INCH  (Kingussie).  Names  of  old  ferries  ;  see 
FORBES  and  INCH.  Garten  is  usually  thought  fr.  G. 
garradh,  garden  ;  but  might  be  fr.  gart,  standing  corn, 
or  the  old  word  gartan,  a  bonnet. 

BOATH  (Forres).  Prob.  the  llth  century,  Bothguanan;  but 
see  PITGAVENY.  Dr  M'Lauchlan  says,  later  syllables 
are  often  dropped,  leaving  Both  (G.  for  '  house ')  alone. 
Cf.  INVER.  Same  word  as  bothy. 

BOCHASTLE  (S.  Perthsh.).  G.  bo-chaisteal,  'cow  castle'  or 
fort. 

BODDAM  (Peterhead  and  S.  of  Shetland).  Prob.  'booth- 
home,'  temporary  abode,  fr.  M.E.  bode,  Mod.  Eng.  booth, 
0.  Icel.  bui$,  Dan.  and  Sw.  bod,  a  dwelling  or  stall, 
+  O.E.  ham,  home,  house.  There  is  a  Bodham  and  a 
Bodiam  in  England.  Cf.  'bother'  and  'bodder.' 

BOGIE  (river  and  strath,  Aberdeen).  1187,  Strabolgin; 
1335,  -bolgy;  1594,  Strathbolgie.  Same  root  as  the 
Irish  legendary  Firbolg(' bag-men'),  fr.  Ir.  bole/,  a  bag  or 
sack.  A  '  Bolgyne  '  is  mentioned  in  grant  of  land  by 
Macbeth.  Cf.  Cairnbulg,  in  Aberdeenshire. 

BOGLILY  (Fife).  Perh.  just  as  it  stands ;  G.  and  Ir.  bog, 
which  lit.  means  '  soft,'  +  O.E.  lilie,  L.  lilium,  a  lily. 

BOGROY  (Inverness-sh.).  G.  bog-ruadh,  'red  bog'  or  clayey 
ground. 

BOGSIDE  (near  Alloa,  and  near  Fintry).  Also  BogTON  (Cath- 
cart),  sic  1384. 

BOGUE  FELL  (Kirkcudbright).     G.  bog,  soft ;  fell  (see  p.  Ix). 

I 


38  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

EOHALLY  (L.  Eannoch).  Prob.  G.  bo-cliallaid,  '  cow  fence ' 
or  hedge;  and  cf.  CALLY. 

BOHARM  (Banff),  c.  1220,  Boharme  ;  also  Bucharin.  Perh. 
G.  bogh-cliarn  or  cairn,  (  foot  of  the  cairn.'  The  liquids 
m  and  n  often  interchange.  Cf.  Duni-  and  Dimbarton, 
Dum-  and  Dunfermline,  and  L.  BROOM. 

BOISDALE  (loch  and  parish,  Outer  Hebrides),  c.  1400,  Boys- 
dale  ;  1427,  Baegastallis ;  1549,  Baghastill.  Prob.  K 
l>ui  (pron.  boy),  'a  goblin,  tenant  of  a  tomb,'  +  dal, 
dale,  of  which  tall  is  a  corruption.  Can  Baega  be 
8t  Begha?  See  KILBUCHO. 

BOLD  (Peeblessh.).  Old,  Boild;  G.  bo  allt,  'cow  river.' 
Cf.  Oxford. 

BOLESKINE  (Foyers).  G.  poll  eas  clmmlian  (pron.  kuin), 
'pool  of  the  narrow  waterfall,'  i.e.,  Fall  of  Foyers. 

BOLTON  (Haddingtonsh.).  c.  1200,  Botheltune,  Boteltune, 
Boweltun;  1250,  Boultun;  1297,  Boltone.  O.E.  botl- 
tun,  'dwelling,  enclosure,'  i.e.,  a  collection  of  houses,  a 
village ;  influenced  by  O.N.  bol,  a  house,  dwelling-place 
(see  p.  Ixiv).  At  least  nine  Boltons  in  England.  Cf. 

MOREBATTLE,  BoDDAM,  and  BOTHWELL. 

BONALLY  (Edinburgh).  G.  bonn-aill  or  all,  'foot  of  the 
rock '  or  cliff. 

BONAR  BRIDGE  (Sutherland).  1275,  Bunnach  ('foot  of  the 
field').  G.  bonn  aird,  'foot  of  the  height.' 

BONCHESTER  BRIDGE  (Hawick)  and  BOXCHESTER  HILL 
(Abbotrule).  Early  history  unknown.  L.  bonus,  Fr. 
bon,  good,  +  O.E.  caester,  adapted  fr.  L.  castra,  a  camp. 
Though  England  is  full  of  -chesters  and  -casters,  this  is 
perh.  the  only  Scottish  instance. 

BO'NESS,  or  BORROWSTOUNNESS.  1783,  Boness;  in  1745  is 
found  Borroustoun,  N.W.  of  Kirkintilloch,  and  in  1538, 
ibid.,  Reay  ;  fine  example  of  contraction.  The  original 
village  of  Borrowstoun  is  a  mile  inland  fr.  the  ness  and 
seaport.  The  full  form  was  a  common  name  for  a  Sc. 
municipal  borough  (O.E.  burg,  fort,  '  shelter-place  '),  and 
Borough-town  is  still  used  in  Ireland.  Burrows-toun 
(in  Ormin,  c.  1 200,  '  burrghess  tun ')  is  used  as  an 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  39 

ordinary  Sc.  word  by  Henryson,    Allan   Kamsay,   and 
even  Scott  (Antiquary,  ch.  xxvi.). 

BONHILL  (Alexandria),  c.  1270,  Buthelulle ;  c.  1320,  Buch- 
nwl;  c.  1350,  Bullul.  Good  example  of  corruption. 
Difficult  to  explain;  first  part  either  O.E.  botl,  M.E. 
bothelj  a  dwelling,  see  BOLTON  ;  or  G.  both,  cottage,  or 
bogh,  bonn,  bun,  the  foot  or  bottom ;  and  latter  part 
prob.  fr.  G.  edit,  gen.  milt,  a  river.  If  so,  Bonhill 
may  mean  '  the  low  ground  by  the  stream.' 

BONKLE  (Lanarksh.).  1290,  Bonkil.  G.  bun  or  bonn-choill, 
'  the  foot  of  the  wood '  (cf.  BUNKLE).  There  is  a  place 
near  Falkirk  always  called  '  The  Foot  of  the  Wood.' 

BONNINGTON  (Leith,  Ratho,  Lanark,  Peebles,  and  Renfrew). 
(1296,  Bonigtone,  England).  Peebles  B.,  c.  1380,  Bon- 
nestoun.  Leith  B.,  old,  Bonny toun.  Lanark  B.,  1776, 
Boniton.  'Bonny'  or  'pretty  place '  (cf.  Beaulieu) ;  bonie 
is  found  in  Eng.  c.  1300,  doubtful  if  fr.  Er.  bon,  bonne, 
good.  On  -ing  bef.  ton,  cf.  p.  Ixxvi. 

BONNYBRIDGE  (Falkirk)  and  BONNYRIGG  (Dalkeith).  See 
above  ;  on  -rigg,  cf.  BISHOPBRIGGS  and  L.  dorsum. 

BONSKIED  (Pitlochry).  Local  pron.  Baunskiid,  also  Pown- 
sku'tch.  G.  bun,  or  bonn  sgaoid,  'low  place  with  the 
blackthorns,'  or  fr.  sgeod,  and  so,  'the  foot  or  lower 
part  of  the  triangular  bit  of  ground '  (between  R. 
Tummel  and  Glenfincastle  Burn).  Former  is  favoured 
by  Rev.  R.  W.  Barbour,  the  late  proprietor,  and  by  the 
parallel  Baunskeha  (Ir.  sceach,  haw  or  thorn),  Kilkenny; 
the  latter  by  Mr  A.  J.  Stewart  of  Moneydie.  The  great 
local  authority,  Mr  M'Lean  of  Pitilie,  expresses  himself 
doubtful. 

BORELAND,  or  BORLAND  (Perth  and  Biggar,  and  often  in 
Galloway).  '  Board  or  mensal  land,'  land  held  on  the 
rental  of  a  food-supply ;  O.E.,  Sw.,  and  Dan.  bord,  a 
board,  shelf,  table ;  O.N.  bof§,  plank,  table,  maintenance 
at  table,  'board.' 

BORGUE  (Kirkcudbright  and  Caithness).  O.K,  Sw.,  and 
Dan.  borg,  O.E.  burg,  burh,  a  fort,  '  shelter-place/  a 
'  burgh.'  The  diminutive  Borgan  is  found  in  Minigaff 
parish. 


40  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

BORLICK  (Perthshire).  Prob.  G.  mlwr  lag,  '  big  hollow ; '  cf. 
VOIRLICH. 

BORLUM  (Urquhart).  Corruption  of  BORELAND  ;  so  says 
Professor  M'Kinnon. 

BORNISH  (S.  Uist).  K  borg-nis,  '  ness  or  cape  with  the  fort ' 
(see  BORGUE)  ;  nis  is  common  West  Coast  form  of  Icel. 
nes,  Dan.  nces,  lit.  a  nose. 

BOROUGHMUIRHEAD  (Edinburgh).  See  BO'NESS  and  BORGUE  ; 
muir  =  moor,  O.E.  and  Dan.  mor. 

BORRERAIG  (Dunvegan).  Prob.  N.  borgar-aig,  castle-bay  (cf. 
BURRA).  On  aig,  see  ASCAIG. 

BORROBOL  (Sutherland).  Prob.  ]S".  borg-bol,  '  fort  place,' 
fortress.  On  bol,  see  p.  Ixiv. 

BORRODALE  (Ardnamurchan).  As  above,  +  X.  dal,  dale, 
glen.  Cf.  Birgidale,  Bute. 

BORTHWICK  (Midlothian  arid  Roxburgh).  Midi.  B.,  sic 
1430.  Prob.  O.E.  burh,  burg,  M.E.  borli,  fort,  +  wic, 
place,  village ;  thus  B.  =  Castleton.  Cf.  Berwick,  near 
Carnforth. 

BORVA,  or  BORVE  (Lewis).  Another  corruption  of  JST.  borg, 
a  fort.  Cf.  BORGUE. 

BOSWELLS,  St  (Melrose).  1296,  'William  de  Boseville.'  Fr. 
Boisil,  Prior  of  Melrose,  G.  650,  and  preceptor  of  the 
great  Cuthbert ;  -well  arises  through  influence  of  ]S"orm. 
suffix  ville,  or  vil,  'town'  (cf.  MAXWELLTON).  The 
name  of  the  parish  till  17th  century  was  Lessuden 
(Lessedwyn). 

BOTHKENNAR  (Grangemouth).  1291, -ner.  G.  both-ceann-iar, 
'hut  or  house  on  the  western  promontory'  (ccann,  a 
head). 

BOTHWELL.  a.  1242,  Botheuill ;  a.  1300,  Bothvile,  -wile; 
c.  1340,  -euyle.  Prob.  G.  both,  hut,  house,  +  Norm.  Fr. 
wile  (L.  villa),  village  or  farm.  Cf.  Maxwell  =  Maccus'- 
ville;  and  for  similar  formations,  cf.  BODDAM,  and 
BOLTON. 

BOTRIPHNIE  (Keith).  Possibly  G.  bot  ribhinne,  '  house  of 
the  beautiful  woman.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  41 

BOURD,  BEN-Y-  (Ben  Macdhui).     G.  beinn  na  buird,  *  table 

mountain  ; '  G.  bord,  a  '  board '  or  table. 
BOURTIE  (Aberdeen).     Old,  Bourdyn.     G.  buar  dun,   '  cattle 

hill.' 
BOURTRIEBUSH     (Aberdeen).     Sc.    for    'elder-bush;'  M.E. 

burtre,  further  origin  unknown. 
BOUST  (Coll).    N.  l)dlsta&rt  place  (see  p.  Ixiv).     Cf.  Colbost 

Ske&bost,  &c. 

BOWDEN  (Melrose  and  Torphichen).  Tor.  B.  may  be  Mons 
Badonis,  scene  of  one  of  King  Arthur's  battles  ;  at  least 
Dr  Guest  has  proved  it  cannot  be  Bath.  But  early  forms 
of  Melr.  B.  hardly  countenance  this — 1124,  Bothendene  ; 
c.  1150,  Bouldene;  c.  1250,  Bowelden;  with  these  cf. 
forms  of  BOLTON  and  BONHILL.  Prob.  G.  both-an-duin 
(W.  din),  'house  on  the  hill;'  if  so,  not  the  same  word 
as  Great  Bowden  Market  Harborough. 

BOWER  (Wick),  c.  1230,  Bouer.  O.K  Mr,  Dan.  brnir,  O.E. 
bur,  'house;'  same  root  as  our  '  bower'  and  'byre.' 

BOWHILL  (Selkirk,  and  Colvend,  Galloway).  Sir  H.  Maxwell 
thinks,  G.  buacliaill  (pron.  boghel),  boy,  lit.  cowherd, 
name  often  given  in  Ir.  to  standing  stones.  But  as 
likely  fr.  Sc.  bow,  the  O.N.  1m,  farm,  farm  stock,  cattle. 
Bu  is  found  in  Eng.  a.  1300  in  the  Cursor  Mundi, 
6744. 

BOWHOUSE  (Polmont).     '  Cattle  house.'     See  above. 

BOWLAXD  (Galashiels).  Prob.  '  cattle-land,'  but  some  think 
corruption  of  BOR(E)LAND. 

BOWLING  (Dumbarton).  Uncertain ;  possibly  bowling  or 
boiling  (fr.  bole,  trunk),  old  word  for  '  a  pollard '  (tree). 
Cf.  Bowling  Bank,  Wrexham,  and  Bowling  Old  Lane, 
Bradford,  and  BUTT  OF  LEWIS. 

BOWMORE  (Islay).     Prob.  G.  but  mor,  'big  mound  or  house.' 

Bow  OF  FIFE.  So  called  fr.  its  shape;  fr.  O.E.  boga,  Dan. 
hue,  a  bow. 

BOWPRIE  (Aberdour,  Fife).  1320,  Beaupre,  which  is  Fr 
for  'fine  meadow.'  Cf.  BEAULY. 

BOYNAG,  or  BYNACK,  BURN  (Crathie).     Prob.  G.  bonnag,  'a 
jump,  a  spring.' 


42  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

BOYNDIE  (Banff),  c.  1170,  charter,  church  of  luver-bondin. 
Prob.  G.  bonn  duin,  'the  foot  of  the  hill.' 

BOYNE  (Banff).     G.  bo,  gen.  boine,  a  cow.     Of.  ABOYNE. 

BRACADALE  (Skye).  1498,  Bracadoll.  Prob.  G.  breacachadh, 
'  spotted  field,'  +  ^J".  dal,  dale,  valley. 

BRACARA  (Arisaig).  Perh.  G.  breac  car  a,  l  spotted,  mottled 
haunch '  (of  the  hill). 

BRACKLINN  FALLS  (Callander).  G.  breac  linne,  'speckled, 
foamy  pool,'  "W.  lynn. 

BRACO  (Dunblane  and  Cruden).  The  a  pron.  as  in  fate ; 
prob.  G.  breac  achadh,  'spotted,  speckled  field.'  Cf. 
ARDOCH  ;  here  the  ch  is  lost  by  aspiration. 

BRAEHEAD  (Lanark,  &c.).  O.N.  brd  =  O.E.  brdeiv,  brcaiv, 
the  eyelid ;  a  brae  is  properly  the  steep  bank  of  a  river 
('  banks  and  braes  o'  bonnie  Doon ');  +  head,  O.E.  heafod. 

BRAEMAR.  1560,  The  Bray  of  Marre ;  map,  1654,  Brae  of 
MAR.  See  above ;  but  in  Highland  names  rather 
through  the  G.  form,  brdigh,  'the  upper  part,'  then  a 
'  brae '  or  slope. 

BRAES,  The  (Skye),  also  BRAE  (Lerwick).  See  above ;  latter 
certainly  fr.  O.X.  bra,  former  either  through  JSL  or  G. 

BRAID  (Edinburgh).  1165,  Brade.  G.  and  Ir.  brdghaid  or 
brdghad,  neck,  gulley;  or  fr.  G.  brdghad,  gen.  of  brdigJi, 
the  upper  part,  a  brae.  In  the  former  case  referring  to 
glen  where  Hermitage  of  Braid  now  is,  and  =  Braid  K., 
Antrim,  in  the  latter  to  the  Braid  Hills. 

BRAIDWOOD  (Lanark).     Braid  is  Sc.  for  broad ;  O.E.  brad. 

BRAIGO  (Islay).  Prob.  the  '  brae  goe '  or  inlet  (cf.  BRAE- 
HEAD).  Goe  is  the  Icel.  gja. 

BRAN,  Falls  of  (Dunkeld).  a.  1200,  Strathbranen.  Prob. 
G.  braon,  drizzling  rain,  a  shower.  Bran  was  the  name 
of  Fingal's  dog ;  and  O.Ir.  bran  is  a  raven,  as  in 
Brankill. 

BRANDER  (L.  Awe).  G.  Bran  dobhar  or  dw\  'the  dog 
Bran's  water.' 

BRANDERBURGH  (part  of  Lossiemouth).  See  above  ;  and  cf. 
BORGUE. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  43 

BRANXHOLM  (Ha wick),  a.  1400,  Branch eshelm.  Brariks  is 
prob.  a  man's  name  (cf.  next).  The  Eng.  branch,  Fr. 
branch e,  is  found  in  Kobert  of  Gloucester,  1299  ;-<-  O.E. 
and  Dan.  holm,  small  island  in  a  river,  Icel.  holmr, 
island ;  also  applied  to  rich  land  by  a  river's  side.  Cf. 
Branksome,  Bournemouth. 

BRANXTON  (Coldstream).  1291,  Brankistone.  Prob.  as 
above,  +  ton,  O.E.  tun,  place,  village. 

BRAWL  (Strathy,  Thurso).  c.  1375,  Brathwell.  G.  brath  is 
information,  betraying,  treason,  and  broth  is  a  quern, 
handmill ;  -well  is  hardly  O.E.  ivell,  icetta,  a  well ;  perh. 
G.  mheall,  a  bare,  round  hill. 

BREADALBANE  (Perthsh.).  G.  Bragad  or  Braget  Albainn, 
upper  part  or  '  hill  district  of  Alban '  or  Scotland  (cf. 
BRAEMAR).  This  is  prob.  the  Brunalban  of  Pict.  Chron., 
c.  970,  the  east  slope  or  brae  of  Drumalban  (the  great 
dividing  ridge  of  Scotland) ;  while  in  same  Chron. 
Brunhere  or  Bruneire  (G.  iar,  west)  is  probably  the 
west  side.  Brun  is  an  old  word  for  a  bank  or  slope  or 
brae  (cf.  BRUAN).  Alban  did  not  include  Argyle. 

BREAKACHY  (Beauly,  Kincraig,  and  Caithness).  Cf.  Charter 
re  Don  Valley,  c.  1170,  *  Brecacliath  quod  interpretatur 
campus  distinctis  coloribus.'  G.  breac  achadh,  'spotted 
or  mottled  field ; '  one  of  the  very  few  cases  where  the 
second  syllable  of  achadh  is  still  represented  in  a  place- 
name  ;  cf.  1297,  Garviagha  or  GARIOCH. 

BREAKISH    (Broadford).      Perh.    G.    breac    innis,    'spotted 

island  or  meadow.' 
BRECHIN.  Pron.  Breehin.  Pict.  Chron.,  ann.  966,Magnacivitas 

Brechne  (gen.  case) ;  c.  1375,  Breachyn.     Perh.  G.  breac 

abhuinn,    'spotted   or   foamy  river'  (the   S.   Esk ;  cf. 

METHVEN)  ;  or  possibly  fr.  a  man,  Brachan  or  Brychan. 

Cf.  Skene,  Celtic  Scotl,  ii.  36,  ed.  1887. 

BREICH  (Holytown).  G.  breac,  speckled,  or  perh.  brebcJi, 
the  brim,  brink. 

BRERACHAN  GLEN  (Pitlochry).  Also  spelt  Briarachan;  c. 
1392,  Glenbrerith.  Prob.  G.  brathair  achanna,  'friar's 
(lit.  brother's)  fields ; '  -itli  may  be  G.  ath,  a  ford. 

BRESSAY  (Shetland).     Perh.  O.N.  brestr-ay,   'island  of  the 


44  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

crack'  or  'burst;'  or  fr.  O.N.  brjost,  Sw.  brost,  and  so, 
'island  like  a  breast.' 

BRIDGENESS  (Bo'ness).  Pron.  Brignes,  no  bridge  here ;  prob. 
G.  breac,  spotted,  +  ness. 

BRIDGE  OF  ALLAN,  DEE,  DUN,  EARN,  ROY,  TURK,  WEIR,  q.v. 

BRIMS  or  BRINS  NESS  (Thurso).  1559,  Brymmis.  O.N.  and 
O.E.  brim,  surf,  or  the  sea;  s  is  the  Mod.  Eng.  pi. 

BROADFORD  (Skye).  '  Broad  frith '  or  fjord  ;  Sw.  and  Dan. 
bred  fiord.  Of.  Strangford  Lough. 

BRODICK  (Arran).  c.  1306,  Brathwik ;  1488,  Bradewik. 
O.N.  breiftr  vik,  'broad  bay;'  broad  in  13th  and  14th 
century  Eng.  was  brad(e). 

BRODIE  (Nairn).  Sic  1311;  1380,  Brothie.  Prob.  G. 
brothach,  muddy.  Cf.  ARBROATH;  and  on  d  and  th,  cf. 

BODDAM. 

BROGAR  (Stennis).  Perh.  M.E.  brod  garth,  'broad  yard'  or 
garden;  or  fr.  O.N.  bra,  the  eyelid,  a  brae. 

BROOKLANDS  (Kirkcudbright).  Also  near  Manchester.  O.E. 
broct  a  brook. 

BROOM  (loch  in  west  of  Ross,  and  Pitlochry).  Loch  B.,  1227, 
Braon;  1569,  Breyne ;  1573,  Brune ;  1586,  Brume. 
G.  braon,  'drizzling  rain,  dew.'  M  and  n  often  inter- 
change. 

BROOMHILL  (Lenzie  and  Inverness),  BROOMHOUSE  (Lanark), 
BROOMLEE  (Dolphinton).  Er.  O.E.  bruin,  broom,  same 
root  as  bramble;  lee  is  O.E.  leah,  pasture,  fallow-land. 

BROOMIEKNOWE  (Lasswade),  and  BROOMIELAW  (Glasgow). 
'Broom-clad  hill'  (see  KNOWE)  ;  Sc.  law  is  O.E. 
hldew,  a  hill.  1325,  Bromilaw.  Dr  Murray  gives  no 
quotation  for  'broomy'  a.  1649. 

BRORA  (Golspie).  1542,  Broray.  'Bridge  river;'  O.N.  bni, 
Dan.  and  Sw.  bro,  gen.  broer,  a  bridge,  and  act,  a  river. 
Once  the  only  important  bridge  in  Sutherland  was  here. 

BROUGH  (Thurso,  also  Brough  Ness,  S.  Ronaldsay,  andBrough 
of  Birsay,  an  islet).  Thurso  B.,  1506,  Brucht.  By 
common  transposition  of  r  fr.  O.N.  and  Dan.  borg  =  O.E. 
burh,  a  castle,  fort,  a  'broch'  (cf.  BORGUE  and  BURG- 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  45 

HEAD).      There   is   a   Brongh   in   Yorks.,    near   Kirby 
Stephen. 

BROUGHTON  (village  now  part  of  Edinburgh,  and  near  Biggar). 
Edinb.  B.,  c.  1145,  Broctuna  ;  c.  1200,  Brouhtune ;  then 
Bruchton,  which  is  still  the  vulgar  pron.  Prob.  as 
above,  +  O.E.  tun,  village.  Of  course,  O.E.  broc  is  a 
badger. 

BROUGHT Y  (Dundee).  1629,  Bruchtie.  Prob.  G.  bruach-taibh, 
'bank  of  the  Tay,'  or  possibly  'brink  of  the  ocean.'  G. 
Tabh  means  either,  and  the  site  well  admits  of  either 
meaning.  Perh.  =  BROUGH  TAY. 

BROXBURN  (Bath gate)  and  BROXMOUTH  (Dunbar).  c.  1100, 
Broccesmuthe.  'Brock's  burn'  and  'mouth;'  O.E., 
G.,  and  Ir.  broc,  a  badger.  Of.  Brockly,  Kinross,  and 
Broxbourne,  Herts. 

BRUAN  (Wick).     Old  G.  for  '  a  bank.'     See  BREADALBANE. 

BRUAR,  Falls  of  (Blair  Athole).  Mr  M'Lean,  Pitilie,  recog- 
nises here  no  G.  root,  and  Prof.  Rhys  nothing  Brythonic. 
Possibly  there  is  some  connection  with  W.  brwtli,  stir, 
tumult,  or  W.  friu,  flow,  as  in  RENFREW.  But  B.  is 
hardly  in  a  Brythonic  region. 

BRUCKLAY  (New  Deer),  c.  1220,  Brachlie;  1654,  Bruclaw. 
Perh.  fr.  G.  brack,  a  bear,  afterwards  confused  with  G. 
and  O.E./; roc,  a  badger;  hence  G.  brodach  and  broduidh, 
a  warren,  'badger's  den,' cavern.  Cf.  Brockly,  Kinross, 
and  Brockley,  Cavan. 

BRUICHLADDICH  (Argyle).  G.  bruacli  cliladaicli,  'bank  on 
the  shore '  or  stony  beach. 

BRUNTON  (Cupar).     Old,  Bryantoun,  after  some  Norman. 

BRYDEKIRK  (Annan).  Same  as  KILBRIDE  and  LHANBRYDE, 
'  Church  of  St  Brigida '  or  Bridget,  contemporary  of  St 
Patrick. 

BUACHAILL  (Staffa)  and  BUACHAILL  EITE  (L.  Etive).  G., 
'  The  Shepherd  of  Etive,'  fr.  bo-ghille,  cow-herd. 

BUCCLEUCH  (St  Mary's  Loch),  a.  1600,  Bockcleugh,  Buck- 
cleuch.  'Buck's  glen,'  fr.  O.E.  line,  O.K  bukkr,  Dan. 
buk,  male  of  the  he-goat  or  fallow-deer,  -f  Sc.  deugh  = 


46  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Eng.  dough,  O.E.  deofa,  a  cleft,  ravine,  gorge.      Cf. 
Walter  Scott's  Gandercleuch. 

BUCHAN  (Aberdeen  and  Minigaff).  Abdn  B.,  sic  in  Bit.  Deer, 
a.  1000;  c.  1295,  Bouwan ;  1601,  Baugham.  Peril.  G. 
baoghan,  a  calf;  but  Minig.  B.,  like  Bohaun,  Galway, 
is  fr.  G.  liotlian  (pron.  bohan),  'a  little  hut.' 

BUCHANAN  (S.  of  L.  Lomond).  c.  1240,  Buchquhanane ; 
1296,  Boughcanian.  Prob.  G.  boghchanan,  'low ground 
(lit.  foot)  belonging  to  the  canon.' 

BUCHANTY  (on  R.  Almond).  Possibly  Ptolemy's  Banatia ; 
as  it  stands  looks  like  G.  bogh  an  fir,  '  low  part  of  the 
land.' 

BUCHLYVIE  (Aberfoyle),  also  EASTER  and  WESTER  BUCHLYVIE 
(Aberdour,  Eife).  Aberd.  B.,  old,  Boclavies ;  possibly 
G.  boyk  Idmhaidi,  'low  place  of  gleaning.' 

BUCKET  (trib.  of  E.  Don).  1654,  Buchet.  1  G.  bucaid,  a 
bucket,  pimple,  knob. 

BUCKHAVEN  (Leven).  Founded  c.  1555;  said  to  be  fr.  G. 
betic,  a  roar,  '  roaring,  stormy  haven ; '  O.E.  lice/en,  Dan. 
havn. 

BUCKHOLMSIDE  (Galashiels).  £  Buck's  pasture.'  See  Buc- 
CLEUCH  and  BRANXHOLM. 

BUCKIE  (Banff).  G.  beucach,  noisy,  roaring,,  fr.  beuc,  a  roar, 
especially  of  the  sea ;  here,  too,  is  Buckpool. 

BUDDON  NESS  (Barry).  Prob.  same  as  Bodden  Point,  near 
Montrose,  which  is  prob.  G.  both  dun,  '  hut  hill ; '  for 
hardening  of  th,  cf.  BODDAM. 

BUITTLE  (Castle-Douglas).  1296,  Botel  (perh.  not  this  B.) ; 
1572,  Butill.  Prob.  O.E.  botl=O.X.  lol  (for  botil),  a 
dwelling,  spelt  a.  1200  buttle,  found  in  NEWBATTLE,  old 
Kewbotil,  &c.  Cf.  Bootle,  Liverpool. 

BULLERS  OF  BUCHAN  (Peterhead).  A  raging,  rocky  recess,  in 
which  the  sea  boils  as  in  a  cauldron.  Sw.  bidler,  noise, 
roar,  Dan.  bulder,  tumbling  noise.  G.  Douglas  in  1513 
uses  this  as  a  Sc.  word,  bullyer. 

BUNAVEN  (Islay).  G.  bun  na-h'abhuinn,  'foot  or  mouth  of 
the  river.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  47 

BUNAVOULIN  (Morven).     '  At  the  foot  or  end  of  the  mill ;'  G. 

Lun-na-inhuileain. 
BUNA  WE  (Argyle),  or  BONAWE.     'Mouth  (G.  bun,  bonn)  of 

the  R.  AWE.' 
BUNCHREW   (Inverness).      '  Low   place  with    the   garlic  or 

leeks ; '  G.  and  Ir.  creamh  (cf.  Cloncrew,  Limerick),  or 

fr.  G.  craebh  (pron.  crew),  a  tree. 
BUNESSAN  (Mull).     '  At  the  foot  of  the  little  waterfall ; '  G. 

easan.     Of.  Moressan,  Aberfoyle. 

BUNKLE  (Berwickshire)  =  BONKLE. 

BUNRANNOCH.  *  Lower  part'  or  'reaches  (G.  bun)  of  Ran- 
noch.' 

BUNROY.     '  Red  end  ; '  G.  ruadli.     Gf.  Bogroy. 

BURDIEHOUSE  (Edinburgh).  Always  said  to  be  'Bordeaux 
house,'  fr.  some  Fr.  settlers  ;  but  who  these  were  history 
does  not  record. 

BURGHEAD  (Elgin).  G  pron.  hard  ;  site  of  a  borg  (see  BORGUE) 
built  by  the  2sorse  c.  880.  They  called  the  cape 
Torfnses. 

BURGIE  (Moraysh.).  c.  1240,  Burgyn.  Perh.  O.E.  byrgen  ; 
later  burien,  a  tomb.  In  Sc.  burian  is  now  a  tumulus 
or  hill-fort. 

BURN  OF  C  AMBUS.  O.E.  burna,  O.JS".  brunnr,  a  burn  or  brook, 
lit.  a  spring  or  fountain;  also  in  Med.  L.,  e.g.,  c.  1160, 
Mel  rose  Chart.,  'ad  burnam  de  fauhope.'  See  CAMBUS. 

BURNBANK  (Lanarksh.)  and  BURNBRAE  (Methven  and  Fal- 
kirk).  See  above,  and  BRAEHEAD. 

BURNESS  (X.  of  Orkney).  Prob.  N".  borg-naes,  'castle  point.' 
See  BORGUE,  and  cf.  BURWICK. 

BURNHERVIE  (Kemnay,  Aberdeen).  Perh.  '  Harvey's  burn.' 
Cf.  HALLRULE. 

BURNMOUTH  (Berwick). 

BURNSWARK,  Hill  of  (Lockerbie).  See  BIRRENSWORK. 
Roman  camp  here. 

BURNTISLAND  (Fife).  1538-1710,  Bruntisland.  Said  to  be 
fr.  the  burning  (burnt,  in  Sc.  brunt,  O.E.  and  O.X. 


48  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

brinnan,  to  burn)  of  a  few  fishermen's  huts  on  islet  to 
west  of  present  harbour,  leading  them  to  settle  on  the 
mainland.  Name  a.  1 500,  Wester  Kingorne. 

BURRA  (Shetland).  1299,  Borgarfiord,  K".  for  'castle  frith' 
or  bay,  fr.  borg,  fort. 

BURRAVOE  (Shetland).  As  above,  +  Icel.  vor,  a  little  bay  or 
inlet. 

BURRAY  (Orkney),  c.  1260,  Borgar;  1529,  'vulgo  Burge 
and  Burray  '  =  BURRA.  Cf.  Burradon,  Northumber- 
land. 

BURRELTON  (Coupar-Angus).  1 '  Birrell's  town/  possibly  fr. 
O.Fr.  burel  (now  bureau),  coarse,  woollen  cloth,  baize, 
frieze;  found  in  Eng.  fr.  c.  1300  till  last  century,  e.g., 
1600  in  Xichol's  Progress  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  iii.  511, 
'  To  we  remnants  of  blacke  burrell.' 

BUR(S)WICK  (S.  of  Orkney),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Bardvik. 
Prob.  X.  bar®  vik,  '  the  edge  or  brim  of  the  bay. 

BUSBY  (Glasgow).  1542,  Busbie ;  1787,  Bushby.  'Bush 
town;'  O.jST.  buskr,  Dan.  busk,  Sc.  bues,  a  bush,  +  Dan. 
by,  place,  village.  See  p.  Ixiii. 

BUSTA  (Shetland).  Corruption  of  X.  bolslatir,  place.  Cf. 
Bosta,  Lewis,  and  BOUST. 

BUTE.  Xorse  chron.,  c.  1093,  Bot ;  1204,  Bote  ;  1292,  Boot ; 
in  G.  Boite.  Some  think  G.  bot,  the  hut  or  bothy  (of 
St  Brendan) ;  but  Dr  M'Lauchlan  says  fr.  Boete  of 
Bute,  son  of  Kenneth  III.,  who  lived  early  in  llth 
century. 

BUTT  OF  LEWIS.  (1716,  Bowling-head.)  Dr  Murray  says 
fr.  verb  butt,  'to  jut  out'  (O.Fr.  buter).  The  only 
quot.  fr.  butt=  cape,  which  he  gives,  is  fr.  Florio's  Hal. 

Dictionary,  1598,  'capo ,  a  cape  or  but  of  any 

lands  end.'  More  likely  to  be  fr.  Dan.  tut,  short,  blunt, 
stumpy.  Butt  occurs  in  Eng.  =  buttock  as  early  as  c. 
1450. 

BUTTERGASK  (Dunkeld).  Sic  1461.  Prob.  G.  botliar  crasg, 
'  causeway-pass '  (cf.  ARNGASK)  ;  fr.  Ir.  buthar  come  four 
Batterstowns.  On  Mr  "W.  J.  Liddell's  probably  wrong 
theory,  see  p.  liii. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  49 

BUTTERSTONE  (Dunkeld).  Perh.  'Buthar's  town 'or  village; 
but  see  p.  liii,  and  cf.  BALDERNOCK. 

BUXBURN  (Old  Machar).     *  Buck's  burn.'     See  BTJCCLETJCH. 

BYRECLEUGH  (Lammermuirs).  '  Cowhouse  glen  ; '  O.E.  and 
Sc.  byre,  cowhouse,  shed,  lit.  dwelling;  same  root  as 
BOWER,  +  cleugh.  See  BUCCLETJCH. 

BYRES  (on  Borders).     1294,  Byrys.     See  above. 

BYTH  (Turriff).  Sic  1654;  y  pron.  as  in  by;  ?Icel.  vithja, 
viih,  a  withy,  willow,  osier.  Cf.  bytlucind,  spelling  of 
the  plant  with  wind,  in  Lilly,  1647. 


CABRACH  (Jura),  and  Buck  of  (Khynie,  Aberdeen).  The 
latter  a  tautology ;  G.  cabar-achadh,  deer-field.  Cf. 

BUCCLEUCH. 

CADBOLL  (E.  Koss-sh.).  1281,  Kattepoll ;  1478,  Catbollis  ; 
1529,  Cathabul ;  c.  1560,  Catboll.  Prob.  'battle-place ;' 
G.  cath,  gen.  catha,  W.  cad,  cat,  a  battle,  +  K  poll  or 
bol,  place  (see  bolstafir,  p.  Ixiv).  Might  be  'place  of 
the  Cat  or  Cataibh ; '  see  CAITHNESS. 

CADDER  (Glasgow),  a.  1300,  Chaders,  Kader.  Prob.  = 
CALDER  and  CAWDOR. 

CADDONFOOT  (Selkirk).  Prob.  G.  cath  or  W.  cad,  battle,  + 
G.  dan,  hill.  Cf.  Cadden  Castle,  Kinneff. 

CADELAW  and  -MUIR,  and  CADEMUIR  WHAUM  or  WHYM 
(Peebles).  Old,  Cadmore,  '  big  battle  ; '  W.  cad,  G.  cathy 
a  battle.  On  laic,  see  p.  Ixxvi.  Wliaum  is  Icel.  hvammr, 
grassy  slope,  vale. 

CADESLEA  (Earls ton),  c.  1150,  Cadesley.  As  above,  +  O.E. 
leah,  fallow  land,  pasture. 

CADZOW  (Hamilton),  c.  1150,  Cadihou,  Cadyhow;  c.  1360, 
Cadyow.  Looks  as  if  =  cad-y-hoice, '  battle  of  the  hollow ' 
or  valley,  but  this  would  be  an  abnormal  combination 
of  the  W.  cad,  G.  cath  +  O.E.  liolh,  holy,  a  hollow, 
Sc.  how. 


50  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CAERDON  (Tweeddale).  'Fort  on  the  hill;'  "W.  caer,  Ir. 
caher,  G.  cathair  (pron.  car),  a  fort,  +  W.  din,  G.  and  Ir. 
dun,  a  hill,  cognate  with  'Downs'  and  dune.  The 
Brythonic  form  caer,  Armor,  cear,  her,  predominates  in 
this  region ;  prob.  origin  of  names  Carr  and  Kerr. 

CAILLEACH  HEAD  (W.  Ross-sh.).     G.  'old  wife's  head.' 

CAIPLIB  COVES  (Crail).  Wyntoun,  c.  1420,  Caplawchy. 
Perh.  'horse-field;'  G.  capall  (L.  caballus)  achadh, 
which  last  so  often  occurs  as  auch  or  achy. 

CAIRNAQUHEEN  (Balmoral).  'Cairn  of  memory  or  recol- 
lection;' G.  carn-na-cuimlme.  It  was  the  rendezvous  of 
the  countryside. 

CAIRNBAWN,  L.  (W.  Sutherland).  G.  earn  bd?i,  '  white  cairn 
or  heap.'  Cf.  Ir.  'colleen  bawn.' 

CAIRNBEDDIE  (Perthsh.).  G.  'cairn  of  Beth'  or  Macbeth. 
For  interchange  of  th  and  d,  cf.  BRODIE  and  BUDDON  ; 
-ie  is  Eng.  diniin.  Tradition  points  to  the  ruins  of 
M.'s  fort  (now  ploughed  over)  between  Birnam  and 
Dunsinane. 

CAIRNESS  (Lonmay,  Aberdeen).  G.  earn  eas,  '  cairn  at  the 
waterfall.' 

CAIRNGORM   MOUNTAIN.      'Green  cairn  or  hill;'    G.   gor/n, 

green,  as  grass,  or  blue. 
CAIRNGRASSIE  (Stonehaven).      'Cairn  of  the  blessing;'    G. 

yraise,  gen.  of  gras,  grace,  prosperity,  a  divine  blessing. 

CAIRNIE  or  -EY  (Huntly).     G.  caimeach,   'stony  ground,'  fr. 

earn,  a  loose  heap  of  stones. 
CAIRNIEBRIDGE  (Kinross).     See  above. 

CAIRNNORRIE  (Methlie,  Aberdeen).  Prob.  'east  cairn  or 
hill;'  G.  noir,  the  east. 

CAIRNRYAN  (Wigton).     See  RYAN. 

CAIRNTABLE  (Muirkirk).  Prob.  G.  earn  tabhail,  '  cairn  of  the 
sling.' 

CAIRN  TotfrL  (Aberdeen).  G.  cam  tuatlieal  (pron.  tooal), 
'northern  cairn,'  fr.  tuath,  north  (cf.  CAIRNNORRIE);  but 
Carrantual,  Killarney,  is  fr.  Ir.  tuathail,  left-handed, 
meaning  '  hill  like  a  reverted  sickle '  (carran). 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  51 

CAITHNESS.  Irish  Nennius,  Cat ;  also  Old  Ir.  Caith ;  c.  970, 
Pict.  Chron.,  Kathenessia;  c.  1205,  Lai/amon,  Catenes; 
1232,  Kataness;  1329,  Cathanesia.  In  O.K  Catanes, 
but  in  Orkney.  Sag.  simply  Ness ;  Naze,  nose  or  *  ness  of 
the  Cataibh,'  Old  G.  locative  of  Cat,  also  called  Gait, 
Gatt,  Got,  legendary  son  of  the  eponymous  Cruithne, 
'father of  the  Picts.'  Rhys  thinks  Gait  or  Gatt  may  be 
connected  with  Bede's  Urbs  Giudi  or  INCHKEITH.  Gaels 
call  it  Gallaibh,  'strangers'  land.' 

CALDALE  (Kirkwall).  Prob.  fr.  Icel.  and  Sw.  kol,  coal; 
abundance  of  peat  found  there.  Otherwise,  fr.  Icel. 
kaldr,  Sw.  hall,  cold. 

CALDER  (loch,  &c.,  near  Thurso ;  East,  Mid,  and  West 
Calder,  Midlothian  ;  and  Water,  near  Airdrie).  Thurso 
C.,  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Kalfadal  (?' calf's  glen,'  fr. 
Icel.  kdlfr,  Sw.  half);  but  Midi.  C.,  1250,  Kaldor,  and 
some  Southern  C.  is  spelt  in  Chartal.  Paisley,  Kaledour  ; 
also  1293,  Caldovere;  1294,  Calder.  G.  coille  dobhar 
or  dur,  'wood  by  the  water  or  stream'  (coiU}.  Of. 
GADDER,  CAWDOR,  SCOTSCALDER.  Coil,  a  wood,  in  place- 
names,  seems  generally  to  become  cal.  See  below. 

CALDERBANK  (Airdrie). 

CALDERCRUIX  (Bathgate).  Pron.  -crooks;  1561,  -cruikis. 
'  The  crooks  '  or  windings  of  the  R.  Calder. 

CALDERHEAD  (Shotts). 

CALDWELL  (Renfrew).  Presumably  'cold  well,'  fr.  Sc. 
catdd,  O.E.  cald,  Icel.  kaldr. 

CALF  (Eday,  Orkney),  also  CALF  OF  MULL  (Tobermory),  and 
CALVA  (islet  in  W.  of  Sutherland).  Orkney  C.  in  N. 
chrous.,  Kalf-ey.  Mull  C.  in  do.,  Mylarkalfr  (in  G.  An 
ealWi).  Icel.  kdlfr,  Sw.  half,  a  calf,  hence  a  small  islet 
near  a  large  one  (cf.  '  Calf  of  Man ') ;  +  ey  or  ay  N. 
suffix  for  island. 

CALIFORNIA  (Polmont).     Fancy  name. 

CALLANDER  (S.  Perthsh.  and  Falkirk).  The  parishes  of  Fal- 
kirk,  Polmont,  and  Muiravon  were  once  called  Calatria, 
in  Ir.  annals  Calathros,  and  by  Britons  Catraeth  or 
fort  of  Che  (G.  catliair  Caith,  c  lost  through  aspiration). 
Calatria  is  commonly  supposed  =  Callander ;  but  c.  1 190, 


52  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Callander  is  found  asKalenter;  1296,  Calentyr;  c.  1350, 
Callanter.  This  can  hardly  be  aught  else  but  G.  coill 
an  tir,  '  wood  of  the  land,'  or  an  dur  (dobhar),  '  of  the 
water;'  prob.  the  two  names  have  been  assimilated. 

CALLERNISH  ("W.  of  Lewis).  Prob.  G.  coill  aird,  l  wood  on 
the  height,'  +  N.  nces,  ness,  cape.  Of.  ARDTORNISH. 
Possibly  the  same  as  the  Icel.  '  Kj alar-ness.' 

CALLIGRAY  (Harris).  Prob.  G.  coill  na  greaich,  'wood  on 
the  high  flat.'  Of.  AUCHENGRAY. 

CALLY,  Bridge  of  (Blairgowrie).     G.  coille,  a  wood. 

CALROSSIE  (Fearn).  G.  coill  rois  or  rhos,  'wood  of  Koss' 
or  '  of  the  promontory.' 

C  ALTON  (Edinburgh  and  Glasgow).  Prob.  G.  coill  duin, 
'wood  on  the  hill;'  G.  calltuinn  is  the  hazel;  and 
there  was  a  Cailtaine  or  Cailtarn,  son  of  Girim,  king  of 
the  Picts. 

CALVINE  (Blair  Athole).     G.  coille  mliim  (f r.  mm),   '  smooth 

woods.' 
CAMBUS  (Stirling).     G.  and  Ir.  camus,  a  bay,  creek,  crook. 

For  intrusion  of  b,  cf.  CAMERON,  CROMARTY,  and  CUMBER- 

NAULD  ;    and   cf.    Cambo,    Northumberland    (in    13th 

century,  Cambhou,  Camou). 

CAMBUSBARRON  (Stirling).  'Bend  at  the  height  over  the 
water;'  G.  barr  an  =  abhainn,  water,  river  (cf.  CARR-ON). 
Cambusdrenny  (G.  draighneach,  thorns)  refers  to  the 
same  crook  of  the  Forth. 

CAMBUSCURRY  BAY   (Tain).     Sic  1487.      'Bay  of  the  glen;' 

G.  coire.     Cf.  CURRIE. 
CAMBUSDOON  (Ayr).     'Bend  of  the  R.  DOON.' 

CAMBUSKENNETH  (Stirling).     /S^'cll47;  1290,  Kambuskinel; 

1296,  Cambusshenel.      'Bend  of  Kenneth'  or  Canice, 

in  Adamnan,  Cainnachus,  friend  of  Columba,  and  patron 

of  Kilkenny. 
CAMBUSLANG  (Glasgow).     'Long  bend;'  Sc.  lang,  O.E.  lang, 

long,  Icel.  langr ;  a  hybrid. 

CAMBUSMORE  (The  Mound).     'Big  bay'  (Loch  Fleet);    G. 

camits  mar. 
CAMBUSNETHAN    (Lanarksh.).      a.    1153,    Kambusnaythan. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  53 

*  Bend  of  Nathan ; '  perh.  same  man  as  gave  name  to 
NENTHORN;  or  perh.  fr.  King  Necthan,  king  of  the 
Picts  c.  700. 

CAMBUS  o' MAY  (Aberdeensh.).  G.  camus  a  maigh,  'crook 
in  the  plain.'  Of.  May,  in  Mochrum  parish,  and 
ROTHIEMAY. 

CAMELON  (Falkirk,  and  Balmaghie,  Galloway).  Talk.  C., 
977,  Camlan ;  local  pron.  never  sounds  the  e.  G.  cam 
Jon, '  crooked  marsh,'  prob.  extension  of  the  now-drained 
Mungal  Bog ;  Ion  also  means  meadow.  Cam  is  one  of 
those  few  G.  adjectives  which  usually  stand  before  the 
substantive.  Of.  Camling,  Carsphairn ;  Cameline,  Ire- 
land ;  and  Lincom,  New  Luce. 

CAMERON  (Fife  and  Stirling).  Stirl.  C.,  a.  1200,  Cambroun. 
Fife  C.,  c.  1320,  Cambron.  There  is  also  early  mention 
of  a  Kambroun,  near  Craigmillar.  Must  be  G.  cam  sron, 
'crooked  nose.'  For  intrusion  of  6,  cf.  CAMBUS  and 
Cambo ;  also  cf.  Campbell. 

CAMLACHIE  (Glasgow).  Prob.  G.  cam  lathach,  lit.  'crooked 
puddle '  or  mire.  A  -zigzag  burn  used  to  flow  here. 

CAMPBELTON  (Kiiityre  and  Cromarty).  Kint.  C.,  fr.  Duke 
of  Argyle,  head  of  the  Clan  Campbell.  Crom.  C., 
named  in  1623  after  John  D.  Campbell  of  Calder. 
Campbell  occurs  in  chrons.  as  De  bello  campo  =  Norm. 
Beauchamp  or  'Fairfield;'  but  this  is  popular  etymo- 
logy. Earliest  mention  of  the  name  is  of  a  '  Gillespic 
Cambell,'  1263;  plainly  G.  cam  beul,  'crooked  mouth.' 
Cf.  CAMERON. 

CAMPERDOWN  (Dundee).  Presumably  after  the  scene  of 
Admiral  Duncan's  victory  over  the  Dutch  in  N.  Holland, 
1797. 

CAMPFIELD  (Banchory  and  Falkirk).  Former  prob.,  latter 
certainly,  a  field  of  battle  (1298  and  1746). 

CAMPSIE  (Glasgow).    1216,  Kamsi;  a.  1300,  Camsy.    G.  cam 
sitk,  'crooked  hill' or  hill-range.    Also  near  Londonderry. 
CAMPTOWN  (Jedburgh).     Cf.  Chester. 

CAMSTRADDAN  (L.  Lomond).  'Crooked  lanes;'  G.  sraddan, 
pi.  of  sraid. 

K 


54  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

CAMUSNAGAUL  (Fort  William).  '  Creek  or  bend  of  the 
stranger;'  G.  gall.  Here  we  get  the  Mod.  G.  spelling 
of  CAMBUS. 

CAMUSTOWN  (Forfarshire).     A  curious  hybrid  (see  above). 

CANISBAY  (John  o' Groat's  House).  c.  1240,  Cananesbi ; 
1274,  Cranesby ;  1455,  Cannasby.  A  '  crane '  in  Icel.  is 
tram,  Dan.  trane;  so  1274  is  prob.  a  mistake.  Font's 
map,  c.  1620,  gives  Conansbay,  which  Dr  Jos.  Anderson 
thinks  shows  the  name  is  after  an  early  Celtic  chief, 
Conan ;  but  the  earliest  form  makes  it  most  likely  = 
'canon's  place.'  Canon  is  found  c.  1205  in  Layamon 
as  a  name  for  a  clergyman.  Bay  is  the  northern  form 
of  the  Dan.  and  O.E.  by  or  bi,  a  village.  See  p.  lxiii> 
and  cf.  DUNCANSBAY. 

CANISP  BEN  (Assynt).  Fossibly  '  bishop's  lake,'  fr.  Old  G. 
can,  a  lake,  +  easpuig  (L.  episcopus),  a  bishop. 

CANNA  (Arisaig).  1549,  Kannay.  Prob.  'island  like  a  can 
or  pot;'  O.X.  and  Sw.  kanna,  O.E.  canne,  G.  cunna,  a 
can,  +  ay  or  ey  ~N.  for  *  island.' 

CANNY,  R.  (Banchory,  Kincardine).  Perh.  fr.  StKenneth  (see 
CAMBUSKENNETH)  ;  G.  cannach,  is  sweet-willow,  myrtle. 

CANONBIE  (Dumfries).  1290,  Canenby  and  Canneby. 
'  Canon's  town '  =  CANISBAY  ;  O.E.  canonic,  M.E.  canon 
or  -un.  An  Austin  priory  founded  here  in  1165. 

CANTY  BAY  (North  Berwick).  Its  site  makes  it  prob.  = 
KINTYRE,  '  head,  end  of  the  land,'  only  accent  is  here  on 
first  syll.  (cf.  Blantyre).  G.  cann-thigh  is  a  strawberry. 

CAPPLEGILL  (Moffat).  '  Horse  glen  ; '  G.  capall,  a  horse,  + 
N.  gil  (see  AUCHINGILL).  Shows  how  far  inland  Scan- 
dinavian influence  went. 

CAPUTH  (Dunkeld).  Pron.  Kayput ;  '  full  of  heights  like 
shoe-lasts,'  fr.  G.  ceap,  a  last,  as  in  Edinkyp,  Loch 
Earn ;  so  Rev.  J.  M'Lean.  Cf.  Caputhall,  Bathgate. 

CABBERY  (Inveresk).  Said  to  be  fr.  Cairbre,  son  of  JSTiall  of 
the  nine  hostages ;  common  in  Ireland.  Quite  possibly 
a  tautology  fr.  W.  caer,  a  fort,  +  Eng.  burgh,  bury  ;  see 
TURNBERRY,  and  cf.  BERRIEDALE. 

CARBETH  (Killearn).     Perh.  '  fort  among  the  birches ; '   G. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  55 

cathair   (pron.   carr)   beath ;    or    'Macbeth's   forfc,'    cf. 
CAIRNBEDDIE. 

CARBOST  (Skye).  G.  cathair,  a  fort,  +  IS",  host,  short  form  of 
bolstaftr,  place  (see  p.  Ixiv).  Cf.  Shawbost,  Skeabost. 

CARBROOK  (Larbert).  G.  cathair,  W.  caer,  a  fort,  +  O.E. 
broc,  a  spring  or  brook.  Cf.  CARRON,  close  by.  Three 
in  England. 

CARDENDEN  (Dunfermline).  Prob.  G.  cathair  diona,  f  fort  of 
protection,'  +  den,  O.E.  denu,  a  dell,  'dean,'  or  'dene,' 
often  found  in  place-names. 

CARDONALD  (Paisley).     *  Donald's  fort ; '  G.  cathair  Donull. 

CARDORCAN  (Newton  Stewart).  Old,  Garrowdorkan.  Here 
car-,  as  in  several  cases,  is  fr.  G.  ceathramhadh  (pron. 
carrou), '  a  land-quarter,'  fr.  ceithir,  four ;  second  syllable 
prob.  a  man's  name  (cf.  Dorking) ;  perh.  from  G.  and  Ir. 
tore,  a  boar ;  cf.  Edendurk,  Tyrone. 

CARDOWAN  (Lanark).  Prob.  G.  carr  dubhagain,  '  rock  at  the 
deep  part  of  the  stream,'  fr.  dubh,  black.  Cf.  PARDOVAN. 

CARDRONA  (Peebles).  Sic  1534 ;  c.  1500,  Cardronow ;  1530, 
-ono.  '  Eort  on  the  ridge '  (G.  dronnag).  Old  British 
fort  here. 

CARDROSS  (Helensburgh).  1208-33,  Cardinros,  Cadinros; 
1401,  Cardrose.  Looks  like  G.  ceardach  an  rois,  'smithy 
on  the  promontory.' 

CARESTON  (Brechin).     Old  form,  Caraldston. 

CARFIN  (Lanarksh.).  G.  cdrrfionn,  '  white  or  glistening  rock.' 

CARGiLL(Perthsh.).  1296,  Carghill.  Either  'fort  in  the  glen' 
(see  AUCHINGILL),  or  G.  carr  gill  (gen.  of  geall),  '  rock  of 
the  pledge,'  or  '  wager,'  or  '  love,'  or  fr.  geal,  gile,  white. 

CARINISH  (Lochmaddy).  '  Rock  island ;'  G.  carr  innis  ;  or,  as 
likely,  N.  Kariness,  Kari  being  a  Norse  personal  name  ; 
cf.  Carness,  near  Kirkwall. 

CA(E)RLANRIG  (Hawick).     See  below,  and  DRUMLANRIG. 

CA(E)RLAVEROCK  (Dumfries).  Sic  1299.  W.  caer,  a  fort; 
laverock  is  Sc.  for  a  lark ;  O.E.  Idwerce,  or  -ferce.  Some 
think  fr.  Ly warch-Ogg  (or  '  the  little '),  son  of  Lywarch 
Hen,  lord  in  Mthsdale,  c.  600. 


56  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CARLONAN  LINN  (Inveraray).  Perh.  G.  carr  lonain,  '  rock  of 
prattling,  foolish  talk.' 

CARLOPS  (Penicuik).  c.  1425,  Wyntoun,  Karlynlippis.  Mar- 
line's loup,'  'old  woman's  leap,'  fr.  northern  M.E.  and 
O.N.  Jcerling,  old  woman;  fern,  of  Karl,  assimilated 
with  carl,  Sc.  for  churl ;  -ing  in  Sc.  is  usually  -in'  (cf. 
waddin'  =  wedding,  &c.),  +  loup,  Sc.  for  a  leap,  O.N. 
hlaup  (cf.  O.E.  hfedpan,  past  tense  Jileop,  Icel.  Jilaupa,  to 
leap).  Carlops  Hill,  Dean,  and  Burn,  ancient  names ; 
village  only  founded  in  1784. 

CARLOWAY  (Lewis).  1716,  Carlvay.  'Karl's  bay;'  N.  vagr. 
Cf.  STORNOWAY. 

CARLOWRIE  (Kirkliston).  G.  carr  labliairadli  (pron.  lowra), 
'rock  of  the  echo,'  lit.  'of  speaking.'  Cf.  Craiglowrie, 
Galloway. 

CARLUKE  (Lanarksh.).  c.  1320,  Carneluke;  1567,  Carlouk. 
1  '  Cairn  of  St  Luke.'  Its  old  name  was  Eglismalescoch 
(cf.  LESMAHAGOW,  near  by),  i.e.,  'church of  ?'  The 
ma  is  prob.  the  endearing  prefix,  and  -ocli  the  dimin. 
(see  p.  xcv.) ;  so  Lesc  may  be  the  name  here  corrupted 
into  Luke. 

CARMICHAEL  (Lanark),  c.  1180,  Kermichael.  W.  caer 
(Armor,  cear,  her)  Michael,  '  Michael's  fort.' 

CARMUIRS  (Falkirk).  1774,  Caer-muirs.  Prob.  'fort  in  the 
moors;'  Sc.  muirs,  O.E.,  Icel.,  and  Dan.  mur,  a  heath 
or  marsh ;  thus  hybrid  word.  It  stands  just  by  the  old 
Roman  wall. 

CARMUNNOCK  (Glasgow),  c.  1177,  Cormannoc.  Prob.  G. 
coire  manaich,  'glen  or  corrie  of  the  monk/ 

CARMYLE  (Lanarksh.)  and  CARMYLIE  (Forfar).  Lanarksh.  C., 
c.  1240,  Kermill.  G.  carr  maol,  'bare,  rounded  rock.' 
Cf.  Myl,  spelling  of  MULL  in  the  sagas.  Of  course  -mill 
may  be  the  gen.  of  G.  meall,  a  hill,  and  the  Car-  will 
mean  'fort;'  thus,  'fort  on  the  hill.' 

CARNBEE  (Anstruther).  c.  1450,  Carnbe;  1457,  Carnebene. 
Looks  like  G.  carr  na  bein,  '  rock  of  the  hide '  or  wild 
beast's  skin.  Perh.  fr.  G.  beath,  a  birch,  Hi  quiescent. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  57 

CARNBO  (Kinross).  Sic  c.  1210.  'Rock  or  mound  of  the 
cattle;'  G.  bo. 

CARN  DEARG,  LEAC,  &c.  (Inverness-sh.).  G.  =  'red  cairn  or 
mound,'  *  cairn  of  the  flag  or  tombstone,'  &c. 

CARNETHY  (Pentland  Hills).  W.  caer  Nechtan,  'King 
Nechtan's  fort '  or  '  rock.'  See  ABERNETHY. 

CARNOCK  (Dunfermline,  St  Mnians,  and  Ross-sh.).  St  .N". 
C.,  c.  1150,  Jocelyn,  Kernach.  Dunf.  C.,  1250,  Kernoch. 
*  Fort  or  rock  in  the  field ; '  W.  caer,  Armor,  cear,  her, 
G.  cathair  an  acliaidli.  The  G.  -acli  often  becomes  -ock 
in  names,  as  Beattock,  Corsock,  &c. 

CARNOUSTIE  (Arbroath).  Perh.  G.  cathair,  carr,  or  earn  na 
flieusta,  fort,  rock,  or  cairn  of  the  feast;  fli  lost  by 
aspiration. 

CARNWATH  (Lanarksh.).  c.  1165,  Charnewid;  1174,  Kar- 
newic;  1186,  Carnewith.  The  old  forms  are  puzzling. 
Seems  to  be  G.  earn,  cairn,  mound,  +  N.  with,  a  forest, 
or  N.  and  Dan.  wath,  a  ford,  same  root  as  Icel.  and 
Sw.  vada,  O.E.  waden,  to  wade,  go. 

CAROY  (Skye).     G.  carr  ruadh,  'red  rock.'     Cf.  Rob  Roy. 

CARPOW  (Abernethy).  Prob.  the  ancient  Cairfull,  which  is 
W.  caer pivl,  'rock  or  fort  at  the  pool.'  Cf.  POWBURN. 

CARRADALE  (Kintyre  and  Skye).  G.  and  Ir.  carraig,  a  cliff, 
rock,  +  N.  dal,  dale,  valley. 

CARRBRIDGE  (Aviemore).     See  CARR  ROCKS. 

CARRICK  ( Ayrsh.  and  Lochgoilhead).  Ayrsh.  C.,  c.  1 200,  Karic ; 
1286,  Carryke.  G.  and  Ir.  carraig,  'a  sea-cliff  or  rock.' 
Compounds  very  common  in  Ireland,  and  in  Galloway, 
where,  e.g.,  we  have  Carrick-aboys,  -cow,  -glassen,  &c. 

CARRIDEN  (Bo'ness).  c.  560,  Gildas,  Cair  Eden,  and  prob.  in 
Brit.  Triads,  CaerEiddyn;  1250,  Karedin.  W.  caer, 
G.  cathair,  'fort  on  the  slope  or  hillside,' W.  eiddyn. 
Cf.  G.  aodann,  front,  face  ;  and  Dunedin,  or  EDINBURGH. 

CARRINGTON  (Edinburgh),  a.  1300,  Kerington.  Prob.  from 
some  man ;  1  who. 

CARRON  (Falkirk,  Elgin,  W.  Ross-sh.).  Talk.  C.  prob.  Caere 
in  O.E.  chron.,  ann.  710 ;  c.  1470,  Carroun.  Ross-sh.  C. 


58  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

prob.  seen  in  tribes,  Carnones  and  Cerones,  mentioned 
by  Ptolemy,  c.  120,  in  this  region.  Prob.  G.  cathair  or 
W.  caer  +  Gr.  abliainn,  'fort  on  the  river.'  Cf.  CAMBUS- 
BARR-ON  and  C ARBROOK,  near  Falk.  C.  But  th  e  Ir.  Carrons 
are  corruption  of  Ir.  and  G.  earn,  cairn,  rock. 

CARRONBRIDGE  (Stirlingsh.  and  Dumfriessh.). 

.  CARRONSHORE  (Falkirk).  Founded  c.  1750.  The  Carron  is 
a  tidal  river  even  above  this. 

CARR  ROCKS  (Crail  and  Berwick-on-Tweed).  Tautology ;  G. 
carr,  W.  caer,  Armor.  Jeer,  cear,  also  O.E.  (in  Lindis- 
farne  Gosp.,  c.  950)  carr,  a  rock  (cf.  Ir.  carraig,  sea-cliff, 
rock).  Car-  is  in  some  Ir.  place-names,  Carlow,  &c., 
though  not  in  the  Irish  dictionaries.  Carr  is  perh. 
cognate  with  scaur. 

CAR(R)UBER  (Linlithgow,  also  farm  in  Fife).  Perh.  'fort 
with  the  yews ; '  G.  iubhar,  now  pron.  yure.  '  William 
of  Caribris'  was  Bailie  of  Edinburgh  in  1454. 

CARRUTHERSTONE  (Lockerbie),  c.  1350,  Caer Ruther, 'fort  of 
R.,'  an  old  Celt.  The  final  syllable  is  O.E.  tun,  tune,  village. 

CARSEBRECK  (Auchterarder).  '  Spotted,  mottled  CARSE  ; ' 
G.  breac,  speckled. 

CARSE  OF  ARDERSIER  (Cromarty),  OF  THE  FORTH,  OF  GOWRIE 
(Forfar),  OF  STROWAN,  also  FRIAR'S  CARSE  (Dumfries). 
Dr  Murray's  earliest  quotation  is  fr.  Barbour,  1375, 
'kerss;'  but  in  charter  of  Win.  Lyon,  c.  1200,  we  find 
'Filio  Walteri  Falconer  in  lie  Carse  de  Gowrie,'  and  in 
oath  of  fealty  to  Edward  L,  1296,  '  Johan  Strivelyn  de 
Cars '  (  =  C.  of  Forth).  In  Sc.  still  called  kerss,  as  in 
KERSE,  Grangemouth.  It  means  low,  alluvial  land  along 
a  river.  Root  doubtful;  prob.  O.N.  carr,  Dan.  kaer, 
pool,  marsh,  fen-land,  Icel.  kjarr,  copse-wood ;  common 
in  M.E.  as  carr. 

CARSETHORN  (Kirkcudbright). 

CARSHOGLE  (hill,  Thornhill).  Prob.,  by  common  transposi- 
tion of  r,  G.  crasg  (or  crosg}  oglaich,  '  pass  or  crossing  of 
the  soldier ;'  lit.  a  youth.  Cf.  ARNGASK,  and  also  CARSE. 

CARSKEY  (Kintyre).  G.  cathair  sgeaig,  'fort  among  the 
hawthorns.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  59 

CARSPHAIRN    (Kirkcudbright).       '  CARSE  with  the   alders;' 

G.  fearna. 
CARSTAIRS  (Lanarksh.).     1170,  Casteltarres;  1592,  Carstairs. 

O.E.  castel  (or  G.  caisteal)  Terras,  'T.'s  castle  or  fort;' 

but  see  CASTLEBAY.     Terras  is  still  a  Sc.  surname ;  and 

cf.  « Tarrisholme,'  1376,  in  Liddesdale. 

CART,  R.  (Renfrewsh.).  The  Black  and  "White  Cart  join  to 
form  the  R.  Cart,  G.  caraid,  '  a  pair.'  The  Water  of 
Kilmarnock  is  also  called  Garth;  for  it,  too,  forms  a  pair 
of  streams.  Cf.  Cartmel,  Lancashire. 

CARTER  FELL  and  HAUGH  (Cheviots).  Sic  a.  1540.  Looks 
like  G.  cathair  (or  W.  caer)  tir,  'fort  on  the  land.' 

CARTLAND  CRAGS  (Lanark). 
CARTSDYKE  (Greenock). 

CARWHINELOW,  R.  (S.  Dumfriessh.).  Prob.  W.  caer  Gwen- 
dolew,  *  fort  of  G.,'  leader  in  the  Battle  of  Ardderyd,  573. 

CASHEL  DHU  (Sutherland).  G.  and  Ir.  caiseal,  circular 
stone  fort,  +  G.  dhu,  black,  dark.  Fifty  '  Cashels '  in 
Ireland ;  cognate  with  L.  castellum. 

CASKARDY.  Prob.  G.  crasg  airde,  '  pass  of  the  height.'  Cf. 
ARNGASK. 

CASKIEBEN  (Aberdeen).  Prob.  G.  crasg-a-beinn,  'pass 
between  the  hills.'  Cf.  above,  and  '  Kaskybaran '  (  =  na 
bearna),  Fife,  '  opening  between  high  lands.' 

CASSILIS  (Maybole).  Prob.  G.  and  Ir.  caiseal,  a  wall,  castle, 
with  the  Eng.  pi.  s. 

CASTLEBAY  (Uist).  In  dealing  with  some  names  containing 
castle,  it  needs  to  be  remembered,  O.E.  castel  originally 
was=L.  castellum,  'the  Vulgate  N.  T.'s  translation  of 
Gr.  Kco/xr;,  '  village '  or  '  ton ; '  only  through  Fr.  influence 
did  it  come  to  mean  'a  fortress.' 

CASTLE  CAMPBELL  (Dollar).  Formerly  'Castell  Gloume' 
(?  =G.  gocli  leum,  mad  leap).  Name  changed  in  1489, 
after  its  owner,  first  Earl  of  Argyle. 

CASTLECARY  (Falkirk).  Perh.  '  Gary's  castle,'  or  a  tautology 
fr.  W.  caer,  fort.  Old  Roman  fort  here. 

CASTLE  CAVAN  (Perthsh.).    Old  G.  cabhan,  a  field,  Ir.  cabJian, 


60  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

a  hollow,  'hollow  place.'     Common  in  Irish  names,  but 
not  cognate  with  cabin. 

CASTLE  DOUGLAS.  Modern;  after  a  man  who  built  mills 
here. 

CASTLE  KENNEDY  (Stranraer). 

CASTLEMILK  (Dumfries  and  Glasgow).  Dumfries  C.,  1189, 
Kastelmilc.  See  ABERMILK  and  CASTLEBAY.  Zfyefr  JT-/ 

CASTLE  STALKER  (Appin).  On  Island  Stalker,  sic  1501 
(Q.Eilein-an-stalcaire,  'falconer's  isle'),  fr.  O.Kstaelcan, 
Dan.  stalke,  to  go  warily,  stalk.  Said  to  have  been 
built  for  James  IV.  's  hunting  expeditions. 

CASTLE  SWEN  (Knapdale).  In  old  Ir.  MS.  Dun  Suibltm 
(pron.  Sween).  S.  was  Abbot  of  lona,  766.  Dr 
M'Lauchlan  says  fr.  Sweyn,  a  chief  who  died  in  1034. 

CASTLETON  or  -TOWN  (Koxburgh,  Braemar,  Thurso).  Rox- 
burgh C.,  1220,  Caseltoun.  Eight  in  England.  Of. 
p.  Ixxiii.-lxxiv. 

CAT,  Hill  of  (Forfar).     G.  cat,  a  cat,  or  cath,  a  battle. 

CATACOL  (L.  Eanza).  1433,  Catagill.  Prob.  G.  cath  na  gill, 
'battle  of  the  gill;'  O.N.  gil,  ravine.  Cf.  AUCHINGILL, 
and  for  interchange  of  c  and  g,  cf.  AUCHNAGATT. 

CATHARINE'S,  St  (L.  Fyne).     Modern. 

CATHCART  (Glasgow).  1158,  Kerkert;  c.  1170,  Ket-  or 
Katkert ;  c.  1375,  Catkert.  '  Battle  (G.  cath)  on  the  R. 
CART.'  On  Ker-,  cf.  CAERDON. 

CAT(H)KIN  BRAES  (Glasgow).  G.  cath  cinn,  '  battle  on  the 
height  or  head  ; '  and  cf.  BRAES. 

CATHLAW  (Torphichen).  Hybrid;  G.  cath,  battle,  +  law  (O.E. 
hldeiv,  a  cairn),  Sc.  for  hill. 

CATRAIL,  or  PICTS  WORK  DITCH  (said  to  run  from  Peel  Fell 
to  Mossilee,  near  junction  of  Tweed  and  Gala).  Dr  J. 
A.  H.  Murray,  a  Border  man  himself,  informs  me  that 
this  is  an  invented  name  for  an  invented  rampart,  both 
due  to  the  imagination  of  Chalmers  (Caledonia,  1807). 

CATRINE  (Mauchline).  Perh.  '  battle  at  the  point  or  division 
of  the  land ; '  G.  rinn. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  61 

CAT(T)ERLINE  (Bervie).  Old,  Katerlyn.  Perh.  G.  ceathra 
linne,  '  cattle  pool.' 

CAULDCOTS  (Arbroath).  '  Cold  huts ; '  O.E.  cot,  cott,  a  cham- 
ber, hut,  Icel.  kot  (cf.  dovecot,  and  see  CALDWELL). 
Of.  Calcots,  Elgin. 

CAULRIG  (Inverness).  Prob.  '  cold  (Sc.  caul'  or  cauld)  rig  or 
ridge.'  See  p.  Ixi. 

CAUSEWAYEND  (Manuel)  and  -HEAD  (Stirling).  Fr.  Eng. 
causey  +  way,  M.E.  cauce,  O.KFr.  caucie,  late  L. 
calceata,  a  beaten,  trodden  way,  fr.  calx,  the  heel. 

CAVAY  (Orkney).     Not,  as  some  say,  *  cheese  isle,'  but  prob. 

Kalf-ey.     Cf.  CALF,  CALVA. 
CAVERS  (Roxburgh).     1291,  Kauirs ;  c.  1310,  Cauers.    Prob 

a  man's  name.     Cf.  Caversham,  Eeading. 

CAVERTON  (Roxburgh).     As  above. 

CAWDOR  (Nairn).  Now  pron.  Kahdor;  c.  1280,  Kaledor; 
1501,  Caldor,  =  C  ALDER. 

CEANNACROE  (Inverness).  '  Peak  or  head  of  the  hill.'  G. 
ceann  in  names  is  usually  Ken-,  Kin-.  Croe  is  the  G.  and 
Ir.  croagh,  cruach,  a  stack-like  hill,  of  which  CRUACHAN 
is  the  diminutive.  Cf.  Glencroe,  Croagh  patrick,  &c. 

CEANN  A  MHAIM  (Inverness).  '  Head  or  point  of  the 
rounded  hill ; '  G.  mam,  gen.  m/iaim,  prob.  cognate 
with  L.  mamma,  a  breast.  The  n  of  the  article  is 
merged  in  the  ceann. 

CELLARDYKE  (Anstruther).  Doubtful;  Cellar  (O.F.  celier,  L. 
cellarium,fr.  cella,  cell)  occurs  in  Eng.  a.  1225.  Dyke 
is  O.E.  die,  ditch,  or  bank  of  earth  thrown  up  from  the 
ditch,  which  is  softened  form  of  the  same  word. 

CERES  (Cupar).  1279,  Sireis;  1517,  Siras,  which  is  almost 
the  modern  pron.  G.  siar,  west,  or  saor  (pron.  seer), 
carpenter  (cf.  Balsier,  Sorbie) ;  with  Eng.  plural.  Siris 
is  G.  and  Ir.  for  a  cherry.  Bishop  Eorbes  thinks,  perh. 
fr.  St  Ciricius  or  ST  CYRUS  ;  cf.  EGLISGIRIG. 

CHALLOCH  (Girvan  and  Newton  Stewart).  G.  teallach,  a 
hearth,  forge.  Initial  t  often  =  ch.  Cf.  CHIPPERDINGAN. 

CHALMAN  ISLAND  (lona).  Prob  =  Colman,  name  of  about 
sixty  Irish  saints. 


62  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CHANCE  INN  (Arbroath). 

CHANNELKIRK  (Lauder).  Old,  Childeschirche,  sacred  to  St 
Cuthbert,  fr.  O.E.  did,  a  child,  especially  of  gentle 
birth;  but  present  name  means  'church  on  the  river' 
(Leader),  common  former  meaning  of  channel — O.Fr. 
clianel,  L.  canalis,  canal.  Cf.  Channelsea,  on  E.  Lea, 
Essex. 

CHANONRY  (Fortrose).  1503, '  The  Canonry  of  Koss ; '  1570, 
Channonrie.  'The  ric,  O.E.  rice,  or  jurisdiction  of  the 
canon '  (see  CANONBIE).  The  word  canonry  does  not 
seem  to  occur  till  1482.  The  G.  name  of  Fortrose  is 
A'chanonach,  '  the  canonry.' 

CHAPEL  (two  in  Fife,  and  four  others).  Common,  too,  in 
England.  Chapel  (late  L.  cappella,  fr.  cappa,  cape,  cope ; 
see  Dr  Murray's  dictionary)  is  so  spelt  in  Eng.  c. 
1275. 

CHAPELHALL  (Airdrie),  -HOPE  (St  Mary's  L. ;  see  HOBKIRK), 
-KNOWE  (Hawick ;  Knowe,  see  p.  Ixxvi.),  -TON  (Hamil- 
ton), -TOUN  (Ballindalloch). 

CHAPPELERNE  (Carmichael).  'Chapel-house;'  O.E.  erne, 
house,  cot.  Cf.  WHITHORN  and  Blackerne,  Kirkcud- 
bright. 

CHARLESTON  (Dunfermline).     Also  near  St  Austell. 

CHARTERSHALL  (Bannockburn).  Charteris  (i  mute)  is  a 
common  Sc.  surname. 

CHERRYBANK  (Perth).  Cherry,  c.  1350,  cheri,  is  in  O.E. 
ciris,  G.  kirsche. 

CHESTERS,  The  (Hawick  and  Bolton,  Haddington),  CHESTER 
KNOWES  (Chirnside),  CHESTER  LEES  (Tweedsmuir),  and 
CHESTER  RIG  and  HILL  (Traquair).  L.  castra,  camp, 
castrum,  fort  (cf.  Chester,  and  the  many  -chesters  in 
England).  Eemains  of  circular  or  oval  hill-forts  found  at 
all,  or  nearly  all,  the  places  cited.  The  Romans  certainly 
were  in  Peeblesshire,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  these  are 
Roman  or  British.  Professor  Veitch  thinks  they  mark 
the  Cymri  or  Brythons'  final  but  unsuccessful  stands 
against  Pict,  Scot,  and  Saxon,  their  last  retreats. 

CHEVIOT   HILLS.     W.  cefn,  a  ridge   or  back.     Cf.   Chevy 


PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND.  63 

Chase  and  Chevington,  Northumberland ;  -ot  is  a  difficult 
ending  to  explain. 

CHICKEN  HEAD  (Stornoway).  Translation  of  G.  name, 
ceann  na  circ.  Circ  is  now  obsolete. 

CHIPPERDINGAN  WELL  (Wigtown).  G.  tiobar  Dingan,  '  well 
of  St  JSTinian.'  See  p.  xcii.,  and  cf.  CHALLOGH  and 
TIPPERLINN. 

CHIRNSIDE  (Berwicksh.).  Sic  1250.  '  Hillside  like  a  churn  ;' 
O.E.  cyrin,  M.E.  chyme,  Sc.  kirn. 

CHONZIE,    Ben  (S.    Perthsh.).     Might  be  =  Choinneach,  G. 

fen.  of  St  Kenneth,  more  prob.  fr.  chon,  gen.  of  G.  cu,  a 
og.     Cf.  Carchonzie  Woods,  Callander,  while  L.  Con 
is  not  far  away. 

CHRYSTON  (Glasgow).  Pron.  as  'Christ'  is;  so  just  'Christ's 
village.'  Cf.  Christon,  near  Exeter,  and  Christskirk,  old 
name  of  Strath,  Skye. 

CIR  MHOR  (Corrie).   .  G.  'great  comb  or  crest.' 

CLACHAIG  (Dunoon).  'Stony  bay;'  G.  clacli,  a  stone,  +N. 
aig,  bay.  Cf.  ASCAIG. 

CLACHAN  (Tayinloan),  also  CLACHAN  OF  ABERFOYLE,  &c. 
Perh.  twenty  'clachans'  in  Scotland;  G.  for  'village;' 
often  also  for  '  church.' 

CLACHAN  EASY  (Wigtown).  '  Village  of  Jesus  ; '  G.  losa. 
Cf.  CHRYSTON. 

CLACHDHIAN  (Ben  Machdui).     'Stone  of  shelter;'  G.  dion. 

CLACHNACUDDAN  (stone  at  a  street  corner,  Inverness).  G. 
'  stone  of  Cudachan '  or  St  Cuthbert.  Cf.  Sc.  name 
'Cuddie,'  and  Killiemacuddican,  Kirkcolm,  'church  of 
my  Cuthbert.' 

CLACHNAHARRY  (Inverness).  Prob.  =  Clach-charra,  Onich, 
'stone  of  strife,  quarrel,  trouble,'  G.  carraid ;  but 
Knockenharrie,  Galloway,  is  'little  rough  hill,'  fr.  G. 
carrach,  rough,  lit.  mangy. 

CLACKMANNAN.  1147,  Clacmanant;  1283,  -annan ;  c.  1585, 
Clacmana.  '  Stone  of  Manann,'  prob.  same  as  the  Man- 
annan  MacLir  of  Ir.  legend,  who  gave  his  name  to  the 
Isle  of  Man.  The  district,  called  in  G.  Manann,  in  W. 
Manaw,  stretched  fr.  Clackmannan  over  the  Forth 


64  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

through  Stirlingshire  to  SLAMANNAN  Moor  and  east  to- 
R.  Avon. 

CLADICH  (Inveraray).     G.  cladaidi,  the  shore.     Cf.  BRUAN. 

CLA(I)RDON  HILL  (Thurso).  G.  dar  dun,  'smooth,  bare> 
bald  hill.' 

CLARENCEFIELD  (Annan). 

CLARKSTON  (Airdrie) ;  cf.  1183,  '  Clerkinton,' Midlothian. 

CLASHBREAC  (Morvern).  1496,  Clashbrake.  'Spotted,, 
speckled  hollow  ;'  G.  dais  breac,  G.  and  Ir.  dais,  a  ditchr 
trench,  furrow,  hollow  in  a  hill,  is  common,  as  Clash-,, 
in  names  in  Galloway  and  Ireland. 

CLASHMACK  HILL  (Huntly).  'Son's  hollow'  or  'swine's, 
hollow ; '  G.  mac,  gen.  maic,  or  mite,  gen.  muic. 

CLASHNEACH,  Nick  of  (Minigafi).  A  tautology;  G.  dais 
n'ech,  '  trench  or  furrow  of  the  horse.' 

CLATT  (Aberdeen),  a.  1500,  Clat.  G.  deitlie,  'concealed 
(place),'  or  =  CLETT. 

CLAVERHOUSE  (Dundee).  Prob.  fr.  a  man,  (cf.  Claverdon, 
-ing,  and  -ley,  England).  Perh.  fr.  Sc.  daver,  to  gossip,, 
found  a.  1605  ;  cf.  G.  dabaire,  babbler. 

CLAY  OF  ALLAN  (farm,  Fearn).  Clay,  prob.  as  in  Clayshant, 
Galloway,  =G.  clack  scant  (fr.  L.  sanctus),  'holy  stone.' 
Cf.  Cambus  o'  May,  and  see  ALLAN. 

CLEGHORN  (Lanark).  Perh.  corruption  of  G.  and  Ir.  doicli- 
rean,  stony  place,  fr.  dach,  a  stone,  as  in  Clogherane^ 
and  Cleighran,  Ireland.  Cf.,  too,  Ir.  daigeann,  G. 
daigionn,  a  skull,  '  often  applied  to  a  round,  hard,  dry 
hill,'  Joyce.  Cf.  DREGHORN. 

CLEISH  (Kinross).  1250,  Kles.  G.  and  Ir.  dais,  'a  ditch,, 
furrow.'  In  the  same  district  is  Clashlochie  (G.  locha),. 
'ducks'  ditch;'  the  name  has  nothing  to  do  with  Loch 
Leven,  on  which  the  place  stands. 

CLELLAND  (Motherwell).  Thought  to  be  =  Cleveland,  i.e., 
'cliffland;'  O.E.  dif,  M.E.  clef.  Cf.  woman  =  O.E. 
wifman. 

CLEPINGTON  (Dundee).  Prob.  'Clephane's  village.'  Cf. 
Clephantown,  Nairn. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  65 

CLETT,  The  (Thurso).     1329,  in  S.  Ronaldsay,  Klaet.     G. 

deit,  '  a  rocky  pillar.7 
CLIBRECK   BEN    (Sutherland).      1269,    Clybry.      G.   cliath 

breac,  l  spotted  side  or  slope.' 

CLINTMAINS  (St  Boswells).  Sw.  and  Dan.  dint,  brow  of  a  hill, 
promontory.  Cf.  Clint,  Yorks.,  and  Clent  Hills,  Stafford ; 
but  Clinty,  Antrim,  is  Ir.  duainte,  meadows.  Mains  is 
common  Sc.  term  for  a  farm-steading,  or  large  country 
house;  prob.  the  same  as  manse,  mansion.  Low  L. 
mansus,  fr.  L.  maneo,  mans-umt  I  remain. 

CLOCH,  The  (Gourock).     G.  dach,  gen.  doiche,  a  stone,  rock. 

CLOCHAN  (Fochabers).  Diminutive  of  above.  In  Ir.  it 
means  a  beehive-shaped  stone  house. 

CLOCHNABEIN  or  -BANE  (mountain,  Kincardinesh.).  Prob. 
G.  dochan  Ian,  'little  white  rock.'  It  is  sometimes 
called  'White  Stone  Hill.' 

CLOCKSBRIGGS  (Forfar).  Without  further  information  ex- 
planation of  this  corruption  is  impossible;  but  first 
syllable  prob.  G.  dodi,  a  stone. 

CLOLA  (Mintlaw,  Aberdeen).  ?  G.  dadh  lacha,  'hillock  of 
the  wild  ducks.'  Cf.  CLOVA  and  CLOVULLIN. 

CLONE  (three  in  Galloway),  c.  1230,  Clon  in  Ross-sh.  G. 
and  Ir.  duaiu  (pron.  cloon),  a  meadow. 

CLOSEBURN  (Dumfries),  a.  1200,  Kylosbern;  1278,  Close- 
burn.  G.  till  Osbern,  'cell  or  church  of  St  Osborne,' 
N.  Asenbjorn,  l  bear  of  the  gods.' 

CLOUSTA  (Shetland).  Perh.  O.N.  Tdof-sta,  ( place  of  the 
cleft,'  fr.  klofi,  a  cleft  or  rift,  and  statir,  place,  see 
p.  Ixiv. 

CLOVA  (Forfar  and  Aberdeen),  a.  1300,  Cloueth;  1328, 
Cloveth.  Prob.  G.  dadh  ath,  '  mound  at  the  ford.' 

CLOVENFORDS  (Galashiels). 

CLOVULLIN  (Ardgour).  In  G.  dadh-a-mhuillinn,  '  the  mound 
of  the  mill.' 

CLOY  GLEN  (Arran).  Perh.  G.  doidie,  gen.  of  doche,  a 
stone ;  and  cf.  LOY  or  Gloy. 


66  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CLUDEN,  K.  (Dumfries).  Peril.  W.  dwyd  afon  or  an,  l  warm 
river.'  Cf.  AVON,  and  K.  Clwyd,  Wales. 

CLUGSTON  (Wigton).  A  Cloggeston  is  found  in  1296, 
?  where.1  Pern.  =  Bally clug,  Ireland ;  Ir.  dug,  G.  clagy 
a  bell. 

CLTJNAS  (Nairn).  G.  and  Ir.  cluain  or  duan,  a  meadow, 
with  Eng.  plural. 

CLUNIB,  -Y  (Blairgowrie,  Aberdeen,  Laggan,  and  loch  west  of 
Fort  Augustus).  1291,  Clony.  As  above;  old  form 
Cluanan  occurs.  Cf.  Clun,  Salop ;  also  Cluniter  (duan- 
a-tir),  Dunoon. 

CLUTAG  (Kirkinner,  Galloway).  Prob.  refers  to  the  valua- 
tion of  land  in  *  pennylands  ; '  G.  ditag,  being  ^th  of  a 
farthing. 

CLYDE,  E.  Tacitus  (c.  80  A.D.)  and  Ptolemy  (c.  120),  Clota; 
a.  700,  Adamnan,  Cloithe;  a.  1249,  Clud.  Doubtful. 
Whitley  Stokes  says  =  L.  cluere,  to  wash.  Not  likely 
to  be  fr.  G.  cltih,  strength.  Khys  thinks  Clota  may 
have  been  a  pre-Celtic  divinity,  and  says  the  name  is 
not  =  Welsh  E.  Clwyd,  which  means  warm,  Cf.  also 
Joyce,  Irish  Names,  2nd  series,  pp.  371-72. 

CLYDEBANK  (Glasgow). 

CLYDESDALE.     1250,  Matthew  Paris,  Cludesdale. 

CLYNDER  (Helensburgh).  G.  duain  dur  (or  dobhar), 
'meadow  on  the  water.' 

CLYNE  (Golspie  and  E.  Koss-sh.).  Gols.  C.,  c.  1240,  Clun. 
Boss  C.,  1375,  Clyn.  G.  doom,  a  slope. 

CLYNELISH  (Sutherland).  G.  daon-lios,  '  hill  slope  with  the 
garden.' 

CLYTH  (Lybster).  G.  diathadi,  a  side,  'the  slope  of  a  hill ; ' 
fr.  diabh,  the  breast. 

CNOC  AINGIL  (lona,  Islay,  Lismore,  Lochaber,  Kintail, 
Tain).  G.  cnoc  aingeal,  'hill  of  fire,'  rather  than 
'  angel's  hill ; '  prob.  relic  of  Druidic  sun  or  fire  worship 

1  SeeJ.  Stevenson,  Documents  Illustrative  of  the  History  of  Scotland, 
vol.  ii.,  s.  ann.  1296. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  67 

(see  Alex.  Carmicliael  on  'Place-Names  of  lona,'  Scot. 
Geogr.  Mag.,  Feb.  and  May  1887).  Cnoc  in  names  is 
usually  spelt  Knock. 

COALTON  (Dysart). 

COATBRIDGE,  and  near  it  COATDYKE  and  COATS.  W.  coed,  a 
wood,  G.  coid,  brushwood,  sticks.  Two  Coathams  in 
north  of  England,  and  three  Coats  in  England. 

COBBINSHAW  (S.  of  Edinburgh).  Prob.  'Colvin's  hill.' 
Shaiv  is  properly  a  wood,  O.E.  scaga,  but  in  Sc.  often 
applied  to  a  hill,  Cobbie  Row's  Castle  in  Weir,  Ork- 
ney, is  corruption  of  Kolbein  Hruga's  Castle,  a  name 
mentioned  c.  1150.  Hruga  means  a  heap. 

COCKAIRNIE  (Aberdour).  a.  1169,  Kincarnathar ;  1178, 
Kincarnyne ;  form  a.  1 169  =  Kincarn  Nether ;  and  there 
are  still  Nether  and  Upper  Cockairnie.  Kincarn  =  G. 
ceann  cairn, '  head  of  the  cairn  or  heap.'  But  Cockairnie 
is  rather  the  W.  coch  earn,  '  red  heap  '  or  '  hill.' 

COCKBURNSPATH  (Berwicksh.).  1128,  Colbrandspath ;  1461, 
Coburnispeth,  and  now  pron.  Coburnspath.  Trans- 
position of  r  is  very  common,  and  I  easily  drops.  Of. 
POWBURN. 

COCKENZIE  (Prestonpans).  Kenzie  is  prob.  G.  Coinneach^ 
Kenneth;  the  first  syll.  might  be  G.  cobh,  a  victory, 
triumph. 

COCKMUIR  (Leadmuir). 

COCK  OF  ARRAN.  Its  northern  point.  Cf.  Cocklaw;  1461, 
Coklaw.  N.  kok  means  a  heap,  a  lump. 

COCKPEN  (Dalkeith).  1250,  Kokpen;  a.  1300,  Cockpen, 
W.  coch  pen,  '  red  head '  or  hill. 

COIGACH  (Ullapool).  1502,  Cogeach  (the  mod.  pron.); 
1530,  Coidgeach.  Prof.  M'Kinnon  says,  G.  cuigeach,  a 
fifth.  The  local  explanation  is  coigach,  '  five  fields,'  there 
being  five  places  there  beginning  with  Ach-  (cf.  FIM- 
BUSTER).  G.  coigeach  is  a  hand. 

COIGNAFEARN  (Inverness).  First  syll.  doubtful  (see  above) ; 
nafhearna,  '  of  the  alders.' 

COILANTOGLE  (R.  Teith).  G.  coil  an  foglaich,  'nook'  or 
'wood  of  the  youth  or  soldier.' 


68  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

COILTON  (Ayr).     Fr.  King  Cole.     See  KYLE. 

COIR-NAN-URISKIN  (Ben  Venue).  G.  '  cave  (coire,  a  dell  or 
hollow)  of  the  goblins.'  It  was  thought  to  be  haunted. 

COLABOLL  (Lairg).  Perh.  *  wood  of  the  place/  G.  coill  and 
!N".  bol,  or  fr.  G.  coil,  now  cuil,  a  corner,  recess ;  or,  as 
likely,  fr.  the  Norse  personal  name  Kol,  '  Kol's  place.' 

COLDBACKIE  (Tongue).  See  CALDWELL  and  BACK.  It  means 
'  cold  hill  ridge.' 

COLDINGHAM  (Berwicksh.).  c.  720,  Eddi,  Coludesburg; 
Bede,  same  date,  Urbs  Coludi;  1235,  Coldingham;  a. 
1500,  often  spelt  with  a  G;  1639,  Cauldingham. 
'  Colud's  place '  or  '  home.' 

COLDSTREAM.     1290,  Colde-,  Caldestreme,  referring  to  the  K. 

Tweed. 
COLDWELLS  (Cruden).     Cf.  CALDWELL. 

COLFIN  (Port  Patrick).  The  cols  may  often  either  be  fr.  G. 
coil,  cuil,  a  corner,  nook,  or  coill,  a  wood ;  so  this  will 
either  be  'clear,  white  (G.  fionn)  nook'  or  'wood.' 

€oLiNSBURGH(Fife).    Fr. Colin,  thirdEarl  of  Balcarres,  c.  1690. 

COLINTON  (Edinburgh).  c.  1540,  Collintoun.  '  Colin's 
village.'  There  are  two  Collingham's  in  England. 

COLINTRAIVE  (Kyles  of  Bute).  G.  coil  an>  t'snaimh,  '  corner 
at  the  swimming  place '  (for  cattle  to  be  driven  over). 
Of.  ARDENTRYVE.  Liquids  n  and  r  often  interchange, 
and  mh  is  =  v. 

COLL  (island,  and  in  Lewis).  Sic  1449;  c.  1590,  Collow. 
G.,  Ir.,  and  W.  coll,  a  hazel. 

COLLAGE  (Perth).  1250,  Kulas;  1403,  Cullace.  Prob.  G. 
cuil  eas,  '  nook  of  the  waterfall,'  if  there  be  one  there. 

COLLESSIE  (Newburgh).  1288,  Cullessy.  Perh.  G.  coill  or 
cuil  easaige,  'wood'  or  'nook  of  the  pheasant'  or 
'squirrel;'  and  cf.  above. 

COLLI(E)STON  (Ellon  and  Arbroath).  Collie  is  a  common  Sc. 
surname,  also  Sc.  for  'sheep-dog.' 

COLLIN  (Kirkcudbright).     G.  cuileann,  'holly.' 

COLMONELL  (Girvan).     c.  1240,  -manel.     Fr.  St  Colmonella, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF    SCOTLAND.  69 

died  611;  called  in  Adamnan,  Columbanus;  —Golum 
an  Eala,  '  Colum  of  the  Eala'  (name  of  stream  in 
King's  Co.).  Cf.  KILCALMONELL. 

COLONSAY.  1335,  Golwonche ;  1376,  Colowsay ;  1463, 
Colonsay ;  1549,  Colvansay.  In  Adamnan  it  is  Colosus, 
which  is  perh.  =  COLL,  'a  hazel.'  Most  say  =  'Colmnba's 
or  Colum's  isle '  (a?/),  or  '  isthmus '  (G.  aoi),  for  C.  and 
ORONSAY  once  joined.  But  Prof.  M'Kinnon  thinks  this 
cannot  be  the  original  meaning,  as  m  would  not  easily 
become  n.  Yet  m  and  n  often  do  interchange  (ef. 
the  many  cases  of  dum  for  dun,  DUMBARTON,  &C.).1 
However,  the  ending  is  Norse,  and  the  name  as  it  now 
stands  is  =  '  Colum's  isle,'  he  in  10th-century  ]N"orse 
being  called  Koln. 

COLPY  (Aberdeen).  Doubtful.  G.  calpa  is  'the  leg'  or 
*  the  brawn  of  the  leg ;'  and  Colpa  was  one  of  the  sons 
of  the  legendary  Milesius ;  hence  Colp  on  the  R.  Boyne. 
A  Colpley  in  Renfrew  occurs  in  1461. 

COLTNESS  (Lanarksh.).  Cf.  Coltbridge,  Edinburgh.  Quite 
possibly  G.  coillte  an  eas,  '  woods  by  the  waterfall.' 

COLVEND  (Dalbeattie).  1560,  Colven;  1610,  Culwen;  Font's 
map,  c.  1620,  Covenn  or  Cawenn.  First  two  forms  = 
G.  cul  Wieinn,  'back  of  the  hill;'  Font's  is  evidently 
G.  and  Ir.  cauhan,  a  hollow.  See  CASTLE  CAVAN. 

COMAR  (Ben  Lomond).  Farm  at  mouth  of  ravine  on  Ben 
Lomond's  north  side.  G.  and  Ir.  comar,  a  meeting, 
confluence  of  two  waters.  Cf.  CUMBERNAULD. 

COMERS  (Aberdeen).     As  above,  with  Eng.  plural. 

COMISTON  (Edinburgh).  Derivation  fr.  Camus,  Danish 
general  who  fought  here,  is  prob.  mythical. 

CON,  L.  (L.  Katrine).     G.  cu,  gen.  coin,  a  dog. 

CONAGLEN  (Fort  William).  Prob.  G.  cona  gleann,  '  Scots-fir 
glen.' 

CONCHRA (Strachur).    Perh.  for  Conchubar,  G.  form  of  Connor. 

1  Joyce,  Irish  Names,  1st  series,  gives  one  or  two  other  examples  of 
this  iu  his  chapter  on  Corruptions;  and,  e.g.,  comfort  and  all  its 
derivatives  were  in  M.E.  frequently  spelt  confort, 

L 


70  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CONDORRAT  (Cumbernaulcl).  Possibly  G.  caoin  dobhar  (or 
dor)  aite,  'gentle  river  place'  (cf.  CONON).  The  river 
would  be  the  Luggie  Water. 

CONISBY  (Islay).  Prob.  fr.  Dan.  konge,  a  king.  Cf.  Coniston 
and  CONNINGSBURGH.  On  Dan.  by  or  bi,  a  village,  see 
p.  Ixiii. 

CONNELL  FERRY  (Oban).  Not  after  some  Celtic  saint  or 
hero,  like  Inis  Chonaile,  L.  Awe ;  but  G.  coingheall,  a 
whirlpool,  referring  to  the  falls  on  L.  Etive. 

CONNINGSBURGH,  or  CUNNINGSBURGH  (Shetland).  Prob.  fr. 
Icel.  konungr,  Dan.  konge,  a  king.  CONISBY  may  be 
fr.  same  root.  Cf.  Kingstown,  Queensborough,  &c. 
But,  of  course,  O.E.  coning,  cunning,  M.E.  cunny,  cony, 
was  the  regular  word  for  a  '  rabbit.' 

CONON,  or  CONAN  (E.  Ross-sh.).  G.  caoin  dbliainn  or  an, 
'gentle,  pleasant  river.' 

CONTIN  (Strathpeffer).  1227,  Conten  ;  1510,  Contan.  Prob. 
G.  cointin,  a  dispute,  debateable  land ;  but  cf.  Quentan's 
Head,  Carsphairn. 

CONWAY  (Beauly).  c.  1220,  Coneway ;  a.  1300,  Conveth. 
G.  coinneajnh  or  coinmlie  (pron.  conve),  a  refection  = 
food-rent,  cf.  BORELAND.  But  Conva  and  Convoy,  Ire- 
land, are  fr.  Ir.  (and  G.)  con  mhagh,  '  hounds'  plain.' 

COODHAM  (Kilmarnock).  Prob.  W.  coed,  a.  wood,  +  O.E. 
ham,  home,  village.  Cf.  Codford,  Bath.  There  is  a 
Cootham  Common  in  Sussex. 

COOKNEY  (Stonehaven).  Doubtful.  Cf.  'Quikenne,'  a. 
1400,  near  Hawick. 

COOMLEES (Tweeddale).  'Hollow  pastures;'  W.  cwm,  hollow 
(cf.  Eng.  coomb,  O.E.  cumb,  a  valley  or  a  bowl).  On 
lee,  see  BROOMLEE  ;  and  cf.  Coomb  Hill,  Tweedsmuir. 
Leo  of  Halle  says,  root  is  same  as  O.E.  cimban,  to  join. 

COPINSHAY  (Orkney),  c.  1260,  Kolbensey.  N.  'Colvin's 
or  Kolbein's  Isle.'  Cf.  COBBINSHAW.  On  ay,  cf. 
BARRAY,  &c. 

COPPERCLEUCH  (Selkirk).  ? '  Copper-beech  glen.'  See  Buc- 
CLEUCH. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  71 

CORBY  (Eoxburgh).     Corbie  is  Sc.  for  a  raven,   crow;   N. 

and  Sw.  korp,  L.  corvus.     Three  in  England ;  and  cf. 

Corbiehall,  Carstairs,  Corbie  Den,  Cults. 
CORGARFF  (Strathdon).     G.  wire  garbli,   '  rough  ravine   or 

corrie.' 

CORNHILL  (Coldstream,  Coulter,  Banff). 
CORPACH  (Fort   William).     ?G.   corp-achadh,   'corpse-field, 

grave-yard,  i.e.,  that  at  Kilmallie.    Cf.  Lochan-nan-Corp, 

Callander. 
CORRA  LINN  (Lanark).     Corra  is  said  here  to  mean  '  round 

(cf.   G.  corran,   a   reaping-hook).     Linn   is  W.   rather 

than  G.,  which  is  linne.     Cf.  Corra  Pool,  Galloway. 
CORRAN  (L.  Linnhe).     G.  '  a  reaping-hook,'  in  Ir.  carran,  as 

in  Carran  Tual. 
CORRIB  (Arran  and  Dumfries).    Arran  C.,  1807,  Currie.    G. 

coire,  a  cauldron ;  hence,  a  glen,  ravine. 

CORRIEGILLS  (Arran).  Tautology,  see  above.  Icel.  gil,  a 
ravine.  Cf.  CATACOL. 

CORRIEMULZIE  (Braeiiiar).  G.  coire  muileagacli,  l  glen  abound- 
ing in  cranberries.' 

CORRIEVAIRACK,  or  CoRRYARRiCK  (Inverness).  G.  coire  eirich, 
'  rising  ravine  or  glen.' 

CORRIEVRECKAN  (Jura).  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Vortex  or 
Charybdis  Brecain ;  c.  1380,  Fordun,  Corebrekane. 
G.  coire  Blirecain,  'cauldron,  i.e.,  whirlpool  of  Brecan,' 
grandson  of  the  famous  Mall,  c.  450. 

CORSEWALL  POINT  (Wigtown).  '  The  cross  well ;'  here  dedi- 
cated to  St  Columba.  Transposition  of  r  is  very 
common.  Cf.  Corsapool,  Islay. 

CORSOCK  (Kirkcudbright).  1527,  Karsok.  Sc.  CARSE  +  G. 
achadh,  field.  Cors  in  Corn,  means  bog,  fen.  Cf.  Cors- 
cleugh,  Yarrow.  On  ock,  cf.  BEATTOCK. 

CORSTORPHINE  (Edinburgh).  1147,  Crostorfin;  1508,  Cor- 
storphyne.  G.  crois  torr  fionn,  '  cross  of  the  clear  (lit. 
white)  hill.'  A  cross  certainly  stood  here;  and  cf.  CORSE- 
WALL.  There  is  an  Incheturfin,  c.  1130,  in  charters  of 
Dunkeld,  but  that  is  G.  innis  tuar  fionn,  '  meadow  of 
•  the  white  bleaching-green.'  There  is  a  Torphin  Hill  just 


72  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

opposite  Corstorphine,  near  Juniper  Green ;  and  cf. 
CARFIN.  A  Thorfinn  or  Turphin,  son  of  the  Norse 
Earl  Harold,  appears  in  Scotland,  c.  1165,  but  he  has 
probably  given  rise  to  no  place-name. 

C6RTACHIE  (Kirriemuir).  c.  1320,  Carcathie.  G.  cathair 
(pron.  car)  catha,  'fort  of  the  battle.' 

CORUISK  (Skye).     G.  and  Ir.  coire  uisge,  'glen  of  the  water/ 

Cf.  Usk,  Esk. 
CORVEN.    G.  corr  bheinn,  'rounded  hill.'    Cf.  Corwen,  Wales. 

COTHAL  (Kinaldie,  Aberdeen).  Doubtful.  Cf.  '  Couthal,* 
1329,  in  Arbroath  Chart.,  vol.  ii. 

COULBEG  and  COULMORE  (Sutherland).  G.  cul  beag  and 
mhor,  'little'  and  'big  back'  (of  the  hill). 

COULISS  (Mgg).  1351,  Cnluys;  1550,  Guiles.  G.  cul  lios 
(pron.  lis),  'at  the  back  of  the  garden.' 

COULL  (Aboyne).  a.  1300,  Coul;  1454,  Colle.  G.  cul, 
'the  back.' 

COULMONY  HOUSE  (Nairn).  'At  the  back  of  the  moss  or 
moor;'  G.  moine. 

C(O)ULTER  (Biggar,  loch  near  Stirling,  and  Aberdeen).  Big. 
C.,  c.  1210,  Cultyr;  1229,  Cultir.  Aberd.  C.,  c.  1170, 
Kultre  and  Culter ;  a.  1300,  Cultyr.  'At  the  back  of 
the  land;'  G.  tir,  W.  tre.  Cf.  BAL-QUHIDDER.  Simeon 
Durham,  a.  1130,  mentions  a  Culterham  near  theTeviot. 

C(O)ULTER  ALLERS  (Biggar).  See  above.  A llers=  'alders  ;* 
O.E.  alor,  aler,  O.K  olr. 

COUNTESSWELLS  (Aberdeen). 

C(o)upARFiFE  and  C(O)UPAR  ANGUS.  Fife  C.,  1183,  Cupre; 
1294,  Coper.  Angus  C.,  c.  1169,  Gilbert;  1296,  Coupre 
in  Anegos.  Can  it  be  G.  cu-barr,  'dog  height,  or  hillT 
G.  bearrta  means  '  clipped,  pruned,  shorn.' 

COURANCE  (Lockerbie).     Prob.  fr.  a  man. 

COUSLAND  (Dalkeith).  Sice.  1160.  '  Cows'  land;'  O.E.  cw, 
Icel.  Jcu,  Lowl.  Sc.  coo,  a  cow.  Cf.  Cousley  Wood,  Sussex. 

COVE  (Dumbarton,  Aberdeen,  L.  Ewe).  O.E.  cofa,  chamber, 
cave,  Icel.  kofi,  Sw.  kofioa,  a  hut.  Two  in  England. 

COVINGTON  (Lanark),     c.  1190,  Villa  Colbani;  c.  1212,  Col- 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  73 

baynistun;  1434,  Cowantoun;  c.  1480,  Covingtoun. 
'Colban's  or  Cowan's  village.'  C.  was  follower  of 
David,  Prince  of  Cumbria,  c.  1120.  There  is  a  Coving- 
ton  near  St  Neot's.  Of.,  too,  Coven,  Wolverhampton, 
and  SYMINGTON. 

COWAL  (L.  Fyne).  From  King  Comgall,  Coill,  or  Cole,  chief 
of  the  Dalriad  Scots  in  the  6th  century ;  but  Liber 
Pluscardensis,  1461,  spells  it  Touvale. 

CowCADDENS  (now  in  Glasgow).  1521,  Kowkadens.  Latter 
half  puzzling.  But  cf.  Icel.  gaddr,  Sw.  gadd,  an  ox- 
goad.  It  was  a  loan  by  which  the  cows  went  to  pasture. 

COWDENBEATH  (Dunfermline).  There  is  a  Cowden  in  Eng- 
land, and  it  is  an  Eng.  surname ;  but  here  it  is  prob. 
Celtic  as  in  next.  See  BEATH. 

COWDENKNOWES  (Earlston).  1604,  Couldenknowes ;  1827, 
Coldingknowes.  Hybrid;  G.  cul  duin,  '  the  back  of  the 
hill,'  +  Sc.  Jcnowe.  Cf.  Cowdenhill,  Bonnybridge.  On 
knoive,  see  p.  Ixxvi. 

COWLAIRS  (Glasgow).  Prob.  just  'cow  pastures  or  lairs;' 
O.E.  leger,  couch,  bed. 

COYLET  INN  (L.  Eck).    Perh.  G.  coill  eich,  'wood  of  the  horse.' 

COYLTON  (Ayr).  Prob.  fr.  King  Cole.  See  COWAL  and 
KYLE.  On  -ton,  see  pp.  Ixxiv,  Ixxv. 

CRACKAIG,  or  CRAGAIG.  Either  G.  creag,  '  a  crag,'  a  rock,  or 
croic,  '  a  skin '  (cf.  Clintycracken,  Tyrone ;  Ir.  cluainte, 
croiceann,  'meadows  of  the  skins,' =  Sc.  SKINFLATS). 
Aig  is  N.  suffix  for  'bay.' 

CRAGGANMORE  (Craigellachie).  G.  creagan  mar,  lit.  'big, 
little  rock.' 

CRAGGIE,  or  CREAGACH.     G.  creagach,  rocky. 

CRAICHIE  (Forfar,  and  Parton,  Kirkcudbright).  G.  cruacliach, 
hilly.  Cf.  CRUACHAN. 

CRAIG(A)NURE  (Mull).  '  Kock  of  the  yew-tree ; '  G.  iubhar 
(pron.  yure). 

CRAIGDAM  (Old  Meldrum).     G.  creag  daimh,  '  rock  of  the  ox.' 

CRAIGDUCKIE  (Kinross).  <  Crag  of  the  hawk  ; '  G.  t-sealliac 
(pron.  tavac). 


74  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CRAIGELLACHIE  (Ballindalloch).  G.  creag  eagalach,  '  rock  of 
warning/  war-cry  of  Clan  Grant.  Cf.  'Stand  fast, 
Craigellachie.' 

CRAIGENPUTTOCH  (Mthsdale).  Said  to  be  G.,  'rock  of  the 
kite,'  same  root  as  L.  buteo  ;  but  dictionary  gives  only 
putag,  a  small  ridge  of  land. 

CRAIGENVEOCH  (Old  Luce).  G.  crew/an  blifitliich  or  bhfiaicJt 
(pron.  veeagh),  '  little  rock  of  the  raven.' 

CRAIGFOODIE  (Cupar).  Might  be  G.  creag-bhodaig,  'rock  of 
the  calf,'  or  bhodaich,  'the  churl,  rustic.' 

CRAIGHALL  (Edinburgh). 
CRAIGHOUSE  (Jura). 

CRAIGIE  (Kilmarnock,  Blairgowrie).  c.  1272,  Cragyn.  G. 
creagan,  dimin.  of  creag ',  crag,  rock. 

CRAIGIEBARNS   (Dunkeld).     As   its   site   shows,  plainly  G. 

creag-a-beirn,  'crag  at  the  gap  or  pass ;'  with  the  common 

Eng.  plural. 
CRAIGIEBUCKLER  (Aberdeen).     The  second  part  is  sure  to  be 

corruption  of  some  G.  word.     Difficult  to  say  what. 

CRAIGIEVAR  (Alford).  G.  creagach  bharr,  'rocky  point  or 
head.' 

CRAIGLEITH  (Edinburgh).    '  Rock  over  the  (Water  of)  Leith.' 

CRAIGLOCKHART  (Edinburgh).  1528,  Craglokhart.  Peril, 
fr.  a  man ;  but  cf.  Bar-  and  Drum-lockhart,  Galloway, 
and  Drumlougher,  Ireland,  fr.  G.  and  Ir.  luacTiair, 
rushes. 

CRAIGLUSCAR  (Dunfermline).  Perh.  'rock  of  the  sudden 
noise ; '  G.  lasgar.  Also  cf.  Ir.  lusca,  a  cave,  and  loisgrean 
(fr.  loisg,  to  burn),  '  corn  burnt  in  the  ear,'  as  in  Knock- 
aluskraun,  Clare,  &c. 

CRAIGMILLAR  (Edinburgh).  Sic  1212.  Old  form  Craig- 
moilard  is  said  to  occur,  if  so  =  G.  maol  drdj  '  rock  of 
the  bare  height.' 

CRAIGMORE  (Rothesay  and  Aberfoyle).  G.  creag  mbr,  '  big 
rock.' 

CRAIGNEUK  (Motherwell  and  Kirkcudbright).  Eng.  corrup- 
tion of  G.  creag  an  eag,  '  crag  of  the  nook.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  75 

CRAIGNISH  (Lochgilphead).  1434,  Cragginche ;  1609,  Cregi- 
nis.  '  Rock  of  the  meadow ; '  G.  and  Ir.  innis. 

CKAIGO  (Montrose).  Prob.  G.  creag-abh,  'rock  by  the 
water.'  Of.  Toe,  old  form  of  Tay  =  tabli. 

CRAIGROTHIE  (Cupar).  Either  '  red  rock,'  G.  ruadh,  or,  more 
likely,  '  rock  of  the  fort,'  G.  rath.  Cf.  ROTHIEMAY,  &c. 

CRAIGROWNIE  (Dumbarton).  Prob.  '  rock  of  the  little  head- 
land ; '  G.  rudhan,  dimin.  of  rudha  (cf.  Row).  Might 
be  fr.  Dan.  ron,  ronne-trce,  Sw.  ronn,  the  rowan  or 
mountain-ash.  ^  ,  ^  ^ 

CRAIGROYSTON  (Ben  Lomond).     '  Rock  of  Roy's  place,'/jrj;          * 
Rob  Roy.     Cf.  Royston,  Twynholm.  ?£    JT     - 

CRAIGS,  The  (Bonar  Bridge,  &c.).  p'(  J 

CRAIGVAD  (Aberfoyle).   G.  creag  mhadaidh,  *  rock  of  the  wolf ; 
or  wild  dog.'  Oil 

CRAIL  (Fife),  c.  1160,  Carele ;  a.  1300,  Carail ;  1639,  Car- 
rail.  G.  carr  aille  '=  '  rock  cliff.'  For  omission  of  the 
first  a,  cf.  C  RAMON  D.  The  '  Carr  Rocks '  are  just  east 
of  Crail. 

CRAILTNG  (Roxburgh),  c.  1147,  Creling,  Craaling;  1606, 
Craling.  Doubtful,  cf.  CRAIL.  No  proof  that  it  is  = 
traver-ling,  fr.  G.  treamhar,  a  bare  hillside,  as  in 
TRANENT,  but  possibly  so. 

CRAMOND  (Edinburgh).  1 1 78,  Caramonth ;  1292,  Cramunde ; 
1 293,  Karamunde.  W.  caerAmontk,  '  fort  on  R.  ALMOND.' 
For  dropping  of  the  first  a,  cf.  CRAIL  ;  d  and  t  are  often 
suffixed,  as  in  DRUMMOND,  &c.  Cf.,  too,  Cramonery, 
Minigaff,  and  Cramalt  Craig  =  'bowed  or  bent  cliff'  (G. 
allt),  which  it  exactly  is,  in  Tweeddale. 

CRANSHAWS  (Duns)  and  CRANSTOUN  (Midlothian).  1250, 
Craneschawes ;  c.  1 160,  Craneston.  O.E.  cran,  *  a  crane  ;' 
on  Shaw,  cf.  Cobbinshaw.  But  Ir.  crann,  a  tree,  is 
common  in  Ir.  names,  Crancam,  Cranlome,  &c. 

CRASK,  The  (Sutherland).     G.  crosg,  a  cross,  crossing,  pass. 

Cf.  ARNGASK. 
CRATHES  (Kincardinesh.).     a.  1600,  Crathas.    Prob.  G.  croit, 

Ir.  cruit,  humpback,  with  English  plural ;  cf.  next. 

CRATHIE  (Braemar).     Perh.  =  CRATHES,  or  fr.  G.  creathach, 


76  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

'  brushwood.'    Cratlie,  Ireland,  is  Ir.  cruit  stiabh,  ( crook- 
backed  hill.' 

CRAVIE  (Banff).  G.  craobhach,  '  woody,'  fr.  craobh,  a  tree. 
Of.  Corncravie,  Stoneykirk,  Wigtown,  and  Corriecravie, 
Arran. 

CRAWFORD  (Lanark).  *  John  of  Crauford '  was  witness  to  a 
Lesmahagow  charter,  c.  1150.  Craw-  may  be  O.E. 
crdwe,  a  crow ;  or  possibly  G.  craob/i  (pron.  crav),  a  tree ; 
a  similar  combination  is  found  in  GLASSFORD. 

CRAWFORDJOHN  (Lanark).  See  above,  c.  1300,  Craw- 
fordeione ;  1492,  Crawfurde  Johne.  The  John  (G.  Ian) 
was  stepson  of  Baldwin,  Sheriff  of  Lanark.  This  place- 
name  is  almost  unique. 

CRAWICK  (Sanquhar).     Perh.  =  CRAVIE. 

CRAY  (Blairgowrie).     This,  too,  may  be  fr.  G.  craobh,  a  tree. 

CREAGORRY  (Lochmaddy).  Perh.  G.  creaga  garradh,  l  garth 
or  garden  with  the  cluster  of  houses.' 

CREE,  R.  (Kirkcudbright),  and  CREETOWN.  1363,  Creth.  G. 
cricJi,  '  boundary '  between  E.  and  W.  Galloway. 

CREICH  (N.  Fife  and  Bonar  Bridge).  Fife  C.,  1250,  Creyh. 
Bonar  C.,  c.  1240,  Crech  ;  1 275,  Creych.  =  CREE  ;  and 
cf.  Coil-a-creich,  Ballater.  The  name  Creagh  is  common 
in  Ireland. 

CRERAN,  R.  and  L.  (Argyle).  G.  crearadh  abliainn  (or  an), 
'bending of  the  river,'  fr.  wear  oicriathar,  a  hoop,  sieve. 

CREWE  (Granton).  *  Crew '  is  common  in  Ireland,  =  Ir. 
craebhj  G.  'craobh,  'a  large  tree.'  Cf.  BUNCHREW. 

CRIANLARICH  (N.  of  L.  Lomond).  Seems  to  be  G.  creachan 
laraich,  '  mountain  path  or  pass,'  though  some  say  crian 
means  'calves.' 

CRICHTON  (Midlothian).  1250,  Krektun;  1337,  Krethtown; 
1367,  Creigchton  (the  Sc.  pron.  still  sounds  the  cli  as  a 
gutural).  'Border  or  boundary  town ;'  G.  crich.  Cf. 
CREE  and  CREICH. 

CRIEFF.  (A  Pet-na-crefe  is  found  in  Strath  Guay  in  1457.) 
G.  crubha,  haunch,  shoulder  of  a  hill.  Cf.  Dumcrieff, 
Moffat. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  77 

CEIFFEL    (mountain,    Kirkcudbright).     1330,     Crefel.     G. 

crich,  boundary,  cf.  CREE,  +  Icel.  fell,  hill,  Dan.  fjdld, 

fjeld,  a  mountain,  rock. 
CRIMOND  (Buchan).     a.   1300,  Crechmond;  c.  1550,  Crich- 

mound.     G.  crich  monadh,  'boundary  hill.'     Monadh 

in  1550  is  Anglicised. 

CRINAN  (Argyle).  Perh.  fr.  Crinan  or  Cronan,  warlike  lay 
Abbot  of  Dunkeld  in  10th  century,  whose  sway  may 
have  reached  here.  See  Skene,  Celtic  ScotL,  i.  392, 
note. 

CROCKETFORD  (Kirkcudbright).  G.  crocJiaid,  'hanging,'  fr. 
croch,  to  hang.  Cf.  l  Crockatshot '  (or  '  hanging-place,' 
cf.  Aldershot)  in  Kenfrew  in  1452,  and  Craigcrocket, 
Carsphairn. 

€ROE  GLEN  (Argyle).  Ptolemy,  c.  120  A.D.,  mentions  tribe 
Croenes,  who  prob.  extended  from  Loch  Linnhe  to 
Loch  Carron.  G.  crd,  a  circle,  sheep-cot,  hovel;  prob. 
referring  to  the  encircling  hills. 

CROFTHEAD  (Bathgate).  O.E.  croft,  a  field.  Prof.  Yeitch 
says,  in  Sc.  croft  properly  means  'enclosed,  cropped 
land.'  Cf.  Croft-an-righ,  or  '  king's  field,'  Holyrood. 

•CROICK  (Bonar  Bridge).  G.  cruach,  a  stack  or  '  stack-shaped 
hill.' 

CROMAR  (Aberdeen).  'The  circle  or  enclosure  of  Mar.'  See 
CROE. 

CROMARTY.  1263,  Crumbathyn;  1315,  -bathy;  c.  1400, 
-bawchty;  1398,  Cromardy;  c.  1565,  -arte.  Looks  like 
G.  crom  athan,  'crooked  little  ford '  (but  ?  what  ford).  For 
intrusion  of  b,  cf.  CAMERON,  old,  Cambroun.  Might  be 
fr.  Old  G.  baith,  the  sea,  i.e.,  the  Cromarty  Frith,  with 
its  sharply  crooked  entrance.  Some  explain  the  later 
ending,  -ardy  or  -arty,  as  aird-fach,  '  height  of  the  field.' 

CROMBIE  (Fife).  Prob.  G.  erom(b)  achadh,  '  crooked,  curved 
field.' 

CROMDALE  (Craigellachie).  G.  crom  dail,  '  crooked  plain,'  fr. 
the  sweep  of  the  Spey  here. 

CROMLIX  (Inverness). 

•CRONJBERRY  (Muirkirk).     Prob.  G.  cronay,  a  circle,  a  fort,  fr. 


78  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

G.  cruinn,  Ir.  cruin,  W.  crwn,  round,  +  O.K.  byrig,  'a 
burgh'  or  fortified  place.  Thus  the  word  is  a  tauto- 
logical hybrid  like  Barrhead.  For  -berry,  cf.  TURNBERRY 
in  same  region. 

CROOK  (Biggar,  Stirling,  Kirkinner).  Icel.  krokr,  Sw.  krok, 
also  G.  crocan,  '  a  hook  or  crook.' 

CROOK  OF  DEVON  (Kinross).  The  DEVON  is  a  river.  Cf. 
the  G.  CAMBUSDOON,  &c. 

CROOKSTON  (Paisley  and  Stow).  Paisley  C.,  c.  1160, 
Crocstoun;  1262,  Cruikston.  Place  given  by  Robert 
de  Croc  to  his  daughter  on  marrying  a  Stewart,  temp. 
Malcolm  III.  Stow  C.  perh.  similar  in  origin. 

CROSBY  (Ayr).  '  Cross  town.'  Prob.  Fr.  cros,  Fr.  croix.  On 
Dan.  suffix  -by,  see  p.  Ixiii.  Four  in  England. 

CROSS  (Lewis  and  Orkney).  Cross  in  G.  is  crois,  Fr.  croix, 
L.  crux. 

CROSSAIG  (Kintyre).     As  above,  +  K".  dig,  a  bay. 

CROSSAPOOL  (Mull).  1542,  Crosopollie.  Pool  here=jpo/or 
bol  N.  for  '  place '  (see  on  bolstafir,  p.  Ixiv).  The  r  is 
transposed  in  Corsapool,  Islay. 

CROSSBOST  (Stornoway).  Keally  same  as  CROSSAPOOL.  See 
bolstafir,  p.  Ixiv. 

CROSSFORD  (Lanark  and  Dunfermline),  CROSSGATES  (Dun- 
fermline),  CROSSBILL  (Glasgow  and  Maybole),  CROSS- 
HOUSE  (Kilmarnock),  CROSSLEE  (Stow),  CROSSKIRK 
(North  Mavine),  and  CROSS  KOADS  (Cullen).  Lanark 
C.,  1498,  Corsefoord  (cf.  Corsapool).  Most  of  these 
names  also  occur  in  England,  but  not  Crosskirk. 
Crosslee,  in  Ireland,  means  '  grey  cross ; '  and  that  near 
Stow  may  be  the  same,  fr.  G.  liath,  grey,  with  th  lost 
by  quiescence. 

CROSSMICHAEL  (Castle-Douglas). 

CROSSMYLOOF  (Glasgow).  The  story  runs,  after  the  fatal 
battle  of  Langside,  1568,  when  Queen  Mary  wished  to 
fly  to  Dumbarton,  and  was  warned  she  could  not  cross 
the  Clyde  because  of  the  enemy,  she  cried,  'By  cross  (i.e., 
crucifix)  i'  my  loof  (i.e.,  in  my  palm  or  hand)  I  will/ 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  79 

Cf.,  too,  the  gipsy  slang  phrase,  '  Cross  my  loof,  and  see 
till  your  fortune/ 

CROSSRAGUEL  ABBEY  (Maybole).  a.  1200,  Cosragmol. 
Doubtful. 

CROWLIN  (W.  Ross-sh.).  G.  craoWi  linne,  'pool  with  the 
trees ; '  or  f  r.  cro,  a  circle. 

CROWNPOINT  (now  in  Glasgow).  Country-house  built  there 
by  William  Alexander,  and  called  after  the  frontier  fort 
onLake  Champlain,  just  (1775)  captured  from  the  French. 

CROY  (Kilsyth  and  Fort  George,  also  one  near  Gartness,  on 
map  of  1745).  Kilsyth  C.,  sic  1369.  Fort  George  C., 
sic  1473.  Prob.  G.  crois,  Ir.  crock,  L.  crux,  a  cross. 
Of.  Knocknacrohy  =  '  Crosshill ; '  three  in  Ireland. 

CRUACHAN,  Ben  (Argyle).  G.  dimin.  of  cruach,  a  stack,  or 
stack-shaped  hill. 

CRUACH  LUSSA  (Knapdale).  G.  'hill  of  plants;'  G.  lus,  lusa. 
Of.  Ardlussa,  Jura. 

CRUDEN  (Aberdeen).  a.  1300,  Crowdan;  also  Crudane. 
Perh.  G.  craoWi-dun,  '  tree  hill '  (cf.  BUNCHREW).  Tradi- 
tion says  =  Croju  Dane,  l  slaughter  of  the  Dane,'  fr. 
great  battle  here  between  Cnut  and  Malcolm  III.  All 
such  stories  are  very  dubious. 

CRUITHNEACHAN  (Lochaber).  'Picts' places;'  fr.  G.  Cruitlmiy, 
or  people  who  painted  the  forms  (crotha)  of  beasts, 
fishes,  &c.,  over  their  bodies.  Hence  the  name  Picti  or 
Picts;  though  Prof.  Rhys  now  thinks  Piet  is  a  non- 
Aryan  word. ' 

CUCHULLIN  HILLS,  properly  CUILLINS  (Skye).  1702,  Quillins. 
First  form  is  a  '  guide-book '  name  only  forty  years  old. 
Coolin  or  Cuillin  is  =  G.  cu  Gliulainn,  'hound  of  Gulami,' 
hero  in  Ossian,  '  noble  son  of  Semo.'  Not  likely  to  be 
fr.  G.  cuilionn,  '  holly ; '  but  cf.  Collin  Hill,  Galloway. 

CUFF  HILL  (Beith).     1  G.  cubliay,  '  the  cuckoo.' 

CUICH,  R.  (Kinross).    G.  cuach,  drinking-cup,  a  '  quaich,'  cf. 

DUNIQUAICH. 

CUIL  (Ballachulish).     G.  ciiil,  a  corner,  '  retired  nook.' 


80  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CULBEN  (Banff),  e.  1270,  Coul-,  Culbin.  G.  cul  beinne, 
'back  of  the  hill.' 

CULBOKIE  (Dingwall).  1542,  -oky.  'Back  of  the  crook;' 
G.  bocan,  or  'bow,'  G.  bogha. 

CULCRIBPP  (Crieff).  'At  the  back  of  the  haunch.'  See 
CRIEFF. 

CULDUTHIL  (Inverness).  '  At  the  back  of  the  dark  stream ; ' 
G.  dhu  thuil. 

CULLBN  (Banff),  a.  1300,  Culan ;  1454,  Colane.  Perh. 
Celnius  Fluvius  of  Ptolemy ;  G.  cul  abliainn  or  an,  '  at 
the  back  of  the  river.' 

CULLICUDDEN  (Cromarty).  1227,  Culicuden ;  1535,  Culli- 
cuddin.  Prob.  G.  cul  na  cliudainn,  'the  back  of  the 
tub  or  large  dish.'  Near  by  was  a  '  Drumnecudyne '  or 
'  Dromcudyn.'  Of.  DRUM. 

CULLIPOOL  (Oban).  G.  cul  na  p(h)oll,  'the  back  of  the 
pool.' 

CULLIVOE  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Kollavag.  Prob.  fr.  a  man, 
'  Colla's  bay ;'  Icel.  vor,  a  little  inlet,  or  O.N\  vagr,  a  bay. 

CULLODEN  (Inverness).  'At  the  back  of  the  little  pool;' 
G.  lodan.  Of.  CUMLODDEN. 

CULNAHA  (Mgg).  G.  cul  na  h'cWt,  '  at  the  back  of  the  kiln ' 
or  kiln-like  hill. 

CULNAKNOCK  (Uig).     '  The  back  of  the  hill ; '  G.  cnoc. 
CULRATN  (Bonar  Bridge).    G.  cul  raoin,  '  the  back  of  the  field 

or  road.'     But  Culdrain,  Galloway,  is  fr.  G.  draigliean, 

1  the  blackthorns.' 

CULROSS  (Alloa).  c.  1110,  Culenross;  also  Kyllenros.  'At 
the  back  of  the  promontory ; '  G.  ros. 

CULSALMOND  (Insch).  Sic  a.  1600.  'At  the  back  of  the 
Salmond,'  which  might  mean  '  dirty  hill ; '  G.  salach 
monadh  (cf.  CRIMOND).  In  Garioch,  a.  1300,  we  find  a 
'  Culsamuelle.' 

CULTERCULLEN  (Ellon).  Curious  combination,  prob.  recent. 
See  COULTER  and  CULLEN. 

CULTS  (Aberdeen,  and  two  in  Galloway).  G.  coillte,  '  woods,' 
with  Eng.  plural. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  81 

CUMBERNAULD  (Larbert).  1417,  Cumyrnald ;  pron.  Cum- 
mernaud.  G.  comar  riallt,  '  meeting,  confluence  of  the 
streams,'  which  is  actually  nearer  Castlecary.  Skene 
says  her  in  cumber  is  same  as  in  aber  (see  p.  xxvii).  On 
intrusion  of  b,  cf.  CAMERON  •  in  Ireland  we  have  p  as 
well  as  b,  as  in  Donaghcumper,  Kildare.  But,  rtota 
bene,  Cumberland  is  from  the  Cymri  or  Kymry,  i.e., 
'  fellow-countrymen.' 

CUMBRAES  (Frith  of  Clyde),  c.  1270,  Kumbrey;  c.  1330, 
Cumbraye.  Some  say  =  '  Kymry's  isle '  (N.  ay  or  ey) 
(see  above)  •  others  say  =  Kimmora  or  Kil  Maura,  cell 
or  church  of  a  female  saint  who  early  laboured  there  ; 
but  where  is  the  proof  ? 

CUMINESTOWN  (Turriff).  Fr.  Cutnaine  or  Cummene,  an  abbot> 
who  died  669  ;  best  known  for  his  Life  of  St  Columla. 

CUMLODDEN  (Inveraray  and  Galloway).  G.  cam  lodan, 
'  crooked  little  pool.'  Cf.  CULLODEN. 

CUMMERTREES  (Dumfries).  Prob.  G.  comar  dreas,  '  the  con- 
fluence at  the  thorn  or  bramble'  (cf.  CUMBERNAULD). 
In  Ir.  we  have  both  comar  and  cummer,  as  in  Cum- 
meragh,  Kerry ;  Comeragh,  Waterford. 

CUMNOCK  (Old  and  New).  1297,  Comnocke  ;  1461,  Cunnok ; 
1548,  Canknok.  G.  cam  cnoc,  'crooked or  sloping  hill.' 
Cf.  Kenick  Wood,  Kirkcudbright. 

CUNNINGHAM  (Ayr).     Old  Welsh  bards,  Canawon;  c.   1150, 

Cunegan;   Brev.    Aberdon.,    (yoninghame.     ?P1.  of  G. 

cuinneag,   a  milk-pail ;  -ham  is  the  alteration  of  some 

Saxon  scribe. 
CURRIE  (Edinburgh).     Sic  c.  1230.     G.  coire,  'a  cauldron,' 

ravine.     Cf.  CORRIE,  and  Currie  Rig,  Carsphairn. 

CURROCHTRIE  (Wigtown).  Fr.  G.  currach,  a  marsh  (cf.  '  The 
Curragh,'  Ireland,  meaning  'undulating  plain');  -try 
may  be  W.  tre,  land. 

CUSHNIE  GLEN  (Aberdeen),  a.  1300,  Cuscheny;  also 
Cussenin.  G.  ch'oisinn,  '  a  corner,'  or  perh.  cos  (pron. 
cush)  an  achaidh,  '  foot  of  the  field.' 

CUTHILL  (farm,  West  Calder).  (A  Cuthilgarth,  c.  1500,  in 
Sanday.)  Prob.  fr.  W.  cut,  a  hovel,  shed,  civt,  round- 
ness ;  hence  a  cot.  Cf.  Cutcloy,  p.  xix. 


82  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

CYDERHALL  (Dornocli).  c.  1160,  Siwardhoch;  1640,  Blaeu, 
Siddera.  Interesting  corruption  fr.  Earl  '  Sigurd's  How ' 
or  Haugh  (O.N.  haugr,  a  grave-mound,  cf.  N.  hoi,  a 
hill) ;  he  was  buried  here  in  1014. 

CYRUS,  St  (Montrose).  After  St  Cyricus,  Ciricius,  or  Cyr,  of 
Tarsus.  See  EGLISGIRIG. 


D 

DAILLY  (Maybole,  and  Urr,  Kirkcudbright).  G.  dealghe, 
'  thorns.' 

DAIRSIE  (Cupar).  1250,  Dervesyn;  1639,  Dersey.  First 
syll.  prob.  either  Celtic  der,  dor,  G.  dobhar,  'water, 
river,'  or  G.  doire,  'a  grove,  thicket,'  as  in  DERRY;  and 
second  syll.  perh.  fr.  b(h)as,  pi.  basan,  'a  hollow,'  lit.  the 
palm  of  the  hand.  '  Grove '  or  '  river  in  the  hollows.' 

DALAROSSIE  (Inverness).  G.  dail-a-rois,  '  field  on  the  point 
or  promontory;'  G.  dail,  older  dal,  W.  dol,  is  not 
the  same  word  as  dale  (O.E.  dael,  Icel.  and  Sw.  dal,  a 
valley,  'dell').  Unlike  the  Eng.  and  Norse  ending 
-dale,  the  Celtic  dal  is  always  a  prefix,  and  means  a 
meadow  or  plain. 

DALAVICH  (Lorn).  'Field,  plain  of  the  AVICH,'  or  G.  dail 
amliaicli,  'field  of  the  narrow  neck.' 

DALBEATTIE  (Kirkcudbright).  1599,  Dalbatie.  'Field  of  the 
birch  trees  ; '  G.  heath. 

DALCHREICHART  (Glenmoriston).  G.  dail  chreaich  drd,  '  high- 
up  field  of  the  foray '  or  '  division  of  the  spoil '  (creach). 

DALDERSE  (Falkirk).  1745,  -derce.  G.  dearsach,  'bright, 
gleaming,  radiant,'  so  'shining  meadow.' 

DALE  (Halkirk).  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Dal.  Icel.  N.  and 
Sw.  for  'dale,  valley.' 

DALGARDIE  (Perthsh.)  =  DALNACARDOCH.  G  and  c  in  Celtic 
often  interchange. 

DALGETY  (Aberdour,  Fife).  1178,  Dalgathyn.  '  Windy  (G. 
gaothanach)  meadow.' 

DALGUISE  (Dunkeld).     'Field  of  firs;'    G.  guithseach.     Cf. 

KlNGUSSIE. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  83 

DALHOUSIE    (Dalkeith).       1461,    Dalwosy;    same    as   Dal- 

choisne,   Rannoch,  =  G.    dail-a-ch'oisinn,     'field  in  the 

corner  or  angle.' 
DALIBORG  or  -BURGH  (Lochmaddy).     '  Meadow  of  the  borg 

or  fort.'     See  BORGUE. 
DALJARROCH  (Girvan).     G.   dail  dharaich,    'field  of  oaks.' 

For  dh—j,  cf.  Barrjarg,  'red  height,'  fr.  G.  dearg. 

DALKEITH.  1140,  Dalkied;  c.  1145,  -keth;  and  Dolchet. 
Perh.  fr.  Ce,  one  of  seven  sons  of  great  Cruithne,  father, 
according  to  the  legend,  of  the  Picts.  But  see  on 
INCHKEITH,  and  cf.  KEITH. 

DALLACHY  (Fochabers,  and  Aberdeen,  Fife).  In  Fife  pron. 
Daichy.  Prob.  G.  dalacli,  gen.  of  dail,  a  field ;  perh. 
fr.  dealachd,  a  separating,  a  division,  a  space. 

DALLAS  (Forres).     '  Meadow  of  the  waterfall ; '  G.  eas. 

DALMAHOY  (Edinburgh).  1295,  -mehoy.  G.  dail  ma  (  =  na) 
thuath  (pron.  hua),  'field  to  the  north.' 

DALMALLY.    Its  old  name  was  DYSART.    Prob.  f r.  St  Maluog. 

See  KILMALLOW. 
DALMELLINGTON  (Girvan).     1  Same  as  DALMALLY,  +  O.E.  ton, 

tun,  hamlet,  village. 

DALMENY  (Edinburgh).  c.  1180,  Dumanie;  1250,  Dun- 
manyn.  Of  course  du  or  dim  is  'black,'  and  dun  is  a 
hill.  Perh.  the  name  is  dhu  moine,  '  black  moss ; '  but 
on  -manyn,  cf.  CLACKMANNAN. 

DALMUIR  (Dumbarton).  Hybrid  •  G.  dail,  a  field,  +  O.E., 
Icel.,  and  Dan.  mor,  a  moor,  morass,  heath. 

DALNACARDOCH  (S.  Inverness-sh.).  '  Plain  of  the  smithy ; ' 
G.  c(h)eardaich,  fr.  ceard,  a  smith.  DALGARDIE  is  the 
same  word. 

DALNAGLAR  (Glenshee).  Fr.  G.  gleadhar,  a  loud  noise, 
clang  of  arms. 

DALNAMEIN  (Dalnacardoch).     Fr.  G.  mein,   '  ore,  a  mine,  a 

vein  of  metal.' 
DALNASPIDAL  (N.  Perthsh.).     G.  spideal,  a  'spittal'  or  inn. 

Same  word  as  '  hospital.' 

DALNAVAIRD  (Forfar  and  Kincardine).     1338,   'Dalnavert,' 


84  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

near  Aviemore.       'Rhymer's  or  bard's   glen;'  G.    na 
bhaird,  gen.  of  bard. 

DALQUHARRAN  CASTLE  (Dailly).  Doubtful;  perh.  *  field  of 
drunkenness  or  lasciviousness  or  madness ;'  G.  m(h)earan. 
Qu  is  w,  and  we  have  mh  =  w  in  DALWHINNIE,  &c. 

DALREOCH  (Dumbarton).  G.  riabhach  (pron.  reoch  or 
reeugh),  'grey,  brindled.' 

DALRY  (Edinburgh,  Ayrshire,  Castle  Douglas,  and  Tyndram). 
'  King's  meadow  ; '  G.  righ  (pron.  ry  or  ree,  as  in  Dal- 
ree,  Tyndrum,  and  PORTREE). 

DALRYMPLE  (Ayrshire).  1467,  -rumpyll.  G.  dail  rumpuill> 
'field  of  the  tail'  or  '  rump.'  Of.  Buttock,  near  Polmont. 

DALSERF  (Hamilton).  Formerly  '  Mecheyii '  or  '  Machan  > 
(for  which  cf.  METHVEN  and  ECCLESMACHAN).  From  St 
Serf,  5th  century,  Prior  of  Lochleven. 

DALSETTER  (Lerwick).  '  Valley  of  the  saetor,'  N.  for  a 
summer,  hill,  or  dairy  farm.  Ending  -setter  also  occurs 
in  Caithness. 

DALSWINTON  (Dumfries).  1292,  Dalsuyntone;  also  c.  1295, 
Bale-swyntoun,  which  is  a  tautology,  G.  baile  being  = 
O.E.  ton,  tun,  a  village.  See  SWINTON. 

DALTON  (Ayr).     Dal  may  be  G.  or  Norse,  prob.  the  former. 

DALWHINNIE  (S.  Inverness).  G.  dail  mlmine,  '  field  of  the 
thicket.'  Cf.  Dalmoney,  Galloway.  Mh  usually  is  =  v  ,- 
but  cf.  Craigwhinnie,  Galloway. 

DALZIBL  (Motherwell).  a.  1200,  Dalyell,  -iel ;  1352,  Daleel. 
Now  pron.  Dalzell ;  prob.  G.  dail  ial,  '  field  of  the  sun- 
gleam.' 

DAMHEAD  (Kinross). 

DAMPH,  or  DAIMH  (L.  Broom).     G.  damh,  '  an  ox.' 

DAMSEY  (Kirkwall),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Daminsey  and 
Demisey;  curious  contraction  for  '  Adamnan's  isle  '  (N. 
ay,  ey),  see  p.  xcv. 

DARNAGIE  (New  Luce).  G.  dobhar  (pron.  dor  or  dar)  na 
gaoithe,  '  water  or  stream  of  the  winds.'  With  dar, 
dor,  cf.  W.  dwr,  river. 

DARNAWAY  (Forres).     1453,  Tarnewa;  1498,  Darnway.     G. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  85 

doWiar  na  bheath  (pron.  vay),  'birch-water.'     Of.  above, 
and  ALLOWAY. 

DARNCONNER  (Ayr).  'Connor's  Water'  (see  above).  C. 
might  be  a  man,  but  Connor  in  Antrim  opposite  is  the 
old  Condeire,  -daire,  glossed  in  old  Ir.  MSS.  doire  na 
con,  'oak-wood  of  the  wild  dogs.'  Cf.  Gartconner, 
Kirkintilloch. 

DARNICK  (Melrose).  a.  1150,  Dernewick.  Prob.  G.  dobhar 
an  ackaidh,  '  stream  in  the  field.' 

DARVEL  (Galston).  Prob.  G.  daire  chuill,  'oak  wood;'  G. 
coill,  a  wood.  Cf.  Barluell,  Galloway,  —  barr  leamli- 
chuill,  or  '  elm  wood.'  Here  the  ch  is  wholly  lost 
through  aspiration. 

DAUGHTIE  MILL  (Kirkcaldy).  Pron.  dawty ;  ?  G.  dabhaich 
Ugh,  '  farm-house.'  See  DAVA. 

DAVA  (Grantown).  More  fully  davoch,  older  dabach,  a  land 
measure  =  four  ploughgates,  fr.  G.  damh-ach,  'ox-field 
or  ox-gang.' 

DAVARR  ISLAND  (Campbelton).  G.  and  Ir.  dd  bharr,  'two 
heights.'  Cf.  Inishdavar,  Ireland. 

DAVEN,  L.  (Ballater).  Ptolemy's  town  of  Devana  is  by  some 
supposed  to  have  stood  near  here.  As  it  stands,  it 
might  be  G.  damli  bheinn,  'ox  mountain.' 

DAVIDSON'S  MAINS  (Edinburgh).  On  mains,  see  CLINT- 
MAINS.  As  early  as  1761,  and  still  called,  curiously, 
'  Muttonhole.' 

DAVIOT  (Old  Meldrum  and  Inverness).  Old  Meldrum,  sic 
a.  1300 ;  also  Davyoth.  Prob.  Mod.  G.  dabhoch,  a  farm 
sufficient  for  so  many  cows  (G.  damh,  an  ox),  in 
Hebrides  usually  320.  Cf.  DAVA. 

DAWIC  (Stobo).  c.  1200,  Dauwic.  Prob.  G.  and  Ir.  damh, 
an  ox,  +O.E.  wic,  a  dwelling  or  camp.  Cf.  Dawros, 
Donegal,  and  BOCHASTLE. 

DAWSTANE  BURN  and  KIGG  (Liddesdale).  a.  720,  Bede, 
Degsastan,  '  Degsa's  stone '  (O.E.  stdn,  Sc.  stane),  \vhere 
King  Aidan  was  defeated  in  603. 

DEAN  (Edinburgh),     c.  1145,  Dene.    O.E.  denu,  M.E.  dene, 

M 


86  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

a  valley  or  glen,  generally  deep  and  wooded,  cognate 
with  O.E.  denn,  a  den,  cave,  lurking-place. 

DEANBURNHAUGH  (Hawick).     See  HAUGH. 

DEANSTOUN  (Doune).  Place  or  'house  (O.E.  tiln,  Sc.  toun} 
in  the  DEAN,'  or  glen. 

DEARG,  Ben  (Ross-sh.).     G.  deary,  red. 
DEARN,  K.  (Carrbridge). 

DECHMONT  (Cambuslang  and  Uphall).  Tribe  Decantae  lived 
in  the  north  of  Scotland  (c/.  Deganwy,  Llandudno) ;  and 
the  name  Mac  Decet  is  common  on  inscriptions  in  Devon, 
Anglesea,  and  Ireland.  So  prob.  '  Decet's  hill;'fG. 
monadli.  Cf.  CRIMOND. 

DEE,  E.  (Aberdeen  [and  Kirkcudbright).  For  early  forms, 
cf.  ABERDEEN,  also  Ptolemy's  L.  Deva.  In  G.  Deabhadh 
(pron.  devay),  which  is  lit.  'draining,'  it  also  implies 
hastiness. 

DEER,  Old  and  New  (Aberdeen).  Bk.  Deer,  10th  century, 
Dear.  G.  deur,  a  tear,  so  called,  says  Bk.  Deer,  fr. 
the  tears  shed  here  at  the  parting  of  Columba  with  his 
friend  Drostan,  who  founded  the  abbey  here. 

DEERNESS  (Kirkwall).  Prob.  not  '  deer  ness '  or  cape ;  IceL 
and  Dan.  dyr,  a  deer ;  rather,  fr.  the  door-like  recess  in 
the  mural  cliff  here,  dyr-ness  or  '  headland  with  the  door/ 

DEGENISH  (Argyle).  Prob.  the  ness  or  nish  of  some  Norse- 
man, 1  Dega.  Cf.  ARDALANISH. 

DELNY  (Invergordon).  Sic  1463  ;  but  1398,  Delgeny.  G. 
dealganacli,  'full  of  little  prickles  or  thorns;'  G.  dealy, 
a  thorn  or  bodkin. 

DELTING  (Shetland).  K  dal  Iping,  'dell  or  valley  of  the 
thing  or  meeting.'  Cf.  TINGWALL. 

DEMYAT.     See  DUNMYAT. 

DENBURN  and  DENHEAD  (St  Andrews,  andAuchmacoy,Ellon). 
Den  is  Sc.  for  DEAN,  '  wooded  glen.' 

DENHOLM  (Hawick).     See  DEAN  and  BRANKS-HOLM. 

DENINO,  or  DUNINO  (St  Andrews).  1250,  Duneynach;  1517, 
Dinnino.  G.  dun  aonaicli,  'hill  on  the  heath'  or 
'  waste.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  87 

DENNIS  HEAD  (Orkney)  and  DENNISTOUN  (Glasgow).  Dennis 
is  a  common  Ir.  name,  prob.  =  St  Denis  or  Dionysius, 
first  bishop  of  Paris,  beheaded  c.  280. 

DENNY  (Stirling).  Old  G.  dinat,  a  wooded  glen  or  DEAN 
(cf.  DUNNET).  There  is  a  Denny  Bottom  near  Tun- 
bridge  Wells. 

DENNYLOANHEAD  (Denny).  Of.  LOANHEAD,  head  of  the  loan 
or  lane  (O.E.  lane). 

DERNACISSOCK  (Kirkcowan).  G.  ilobhar  na  siosg,  '  water  with 
the  sedges.'  Cf.  DARN  AWAY. 

DERRY  (burn,  Crathie).  G.  and  Ir.  daire,  doire,  an  oak  or 
oak-wood.  Two  in  England. 

DERVAIG  (Tobermory).  1  G.  darbh  aig,  '  worm  or  reptile 
bay ;'  aig  is  ISTorse. 

DESKFORD  (Cullen).  a.  1600,  Deskfurd.  Prob.  da  uisge, 
1  two  waters,'  +  O.E.  ford,  a  ford.  Cf.  Desford  and  Des- 
borough,  Leicester. 

DESKIE  BURN  (Elgin).     As  above. 

DEVANHA  (Aberdeen).  Ptolemy's  Devana  was  at  Nor- 
mandikes,  8  miles  west  of  Aberdeen  (cf.  DAVEN).  Last 
syllable  looks  like  G.  and  Ir.  b(h)eannach ,  hilly,  as  in 
Aghavannagh,  Wicklow.  But  cf.  next. 

DEVANNOC  (L.  Lomond).  Sic  1776;  1804,  Tavanach. 
Prob.  G.  Ugh  mhanaich,  'house  of  the  monk.'  A 
hermit  once  dwelt  here. 

DEVERON,  R  (Banff),  a.  1300,  Douerne.  Must  be  the  same 
word  as  Ptolemy's  Ir.  Dabrona ;  G.  dobharan,  dimin.  of 
dobhar,  'water,  stream.'  Cf.  Devoran,  Cornwall. 

DEVON,  K.  (Kinross),  c.  1210,  Glendovan.  G.  dubhabhainn 
or  an,  '  black,  dark  river.'  The  district  seems  to  have 
been  inhabited  by  the  Mseatse,  an  outlier  of  the  great 
tribe  of  the  Damnonii,  inhabiters  and  namers  of  the 
Eng.  '  Devon,'  in  W.  Dyvnaint.  Ehys  thinks  the  names 
identical  in  meaning  and  origin. 

DHU  HEARTACH  (rock  off  Colonsay).  G.  dim  cheartaich,  '  the 
black  adjuster  or  corrector,'  fr.  ceart,  right,  just.  A 
lighthouse  now  on  the  rock.  Some  say  it  means  '  black 
rock  to  the  wester.' 


88  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

DHUSKER,  L.  (Eribol).  G.  dhu  sgeir,  '  black  rock ; '  cf.  N. 
skjaer  or  sker,  a  rock  or  'skerry.' 

DINGWALL.  1263,  Dignewall;  1290,  Dingewal;  1463, 
Dingvale.  O.N".  ftngavoll,  'meeting  of  the  thing'  or 
local  assembly,  =  TINGWALD  and  TING  WALL. 

DINNET  (Aberdeen).  Old  G.  dinat,  a  wooded  glen.  Cf. 
DENNY  and  DUNNET. 

DINWOODIE  (Dumfries),  c.  1500,  Dunwedy ;  1578,  Dum- 
widdie.  Perh.  G.  dun  Iheadaig,  'hill  of  the  gossip  or 
wanton.' 

DIPPIN  (S.  Arran).  1807,  '  The  Dipping  Rocks,'  300  feet  of 
perpendicular  basalt. 

DIRLET  (Caithness).  Prob.  dirl-det,  '  stack-like  rock  with 
the  hole  in  it.'  There  is  a  CLETT  here ;  and  see  next. 

DIRLETON  (N.  Berwick  and  Kirkinner).  N".  Berw.  D.,  1270, 
Dirlton;  1288,  Driltone;  looks  like  'village  by  the 
drills'  or  planted  rows  (of  potatoes,  &c.).  The  Sc.  dirl 
and  the  Eng.  drill  and  thrill  are  all  fr.  same  root  as 
O.E.  thyrl,  a  hole  ;  hence  nosethril  or  nostril. 

DISTINKHORN  HILL  (Galston).  Prob.  fr.  a  man.  Cf.  Disting- 
ton,  Whitehaven.  Horn  may  well  represent  G.  earn, 
cuirn,  a  heap  of  stones,  a  rock. 

DOCHART,  L.  andE.  (Perthsh.).  c.  1200,  Glendochard;  1428, 
Dochirde.  Prob.  G.  dabkack  aird,  'height  with  the 
ploughed  land.'  See  DAVA,  and  cf.  Dawachnahard, 
Coigeach. 

DOCHFOUR  (Inverness).     '  Cold  ploughed  land;'  G.  fuar,  cold. 

Cf.  PITFOUR,  Avoch. 
DOCHGARROCH  (Inverness).     '  Ploughed  part  of   the  rough 

field;'  G.  garbh  acliadli.     Cf.  GARIOCH. 

DOCHLAGGIE  (Strathspey).  G.  daWioch  laggain,  '  ploughed 
land  in  the  little  hollow '  (G.  lag). 

DODD,  common  name  of  rounded  hills  in  the  south  of  Scot- 
land. Cf.  Lowl.  Sc.  doddy,  doddit,  '  without  horns,'  or 
'bald.'  Perh.  cognate  with  0.  Icel.  toddi,  a  portion. 
Cf.  Dodridge,  Eord. 

DOLLAR  (Alloa)  and  DOLLAR  LAW  (Peebles).     1461,  Doler; 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  89 

1639,  Dolour.     W.  dol,  G.  dail  dird,  'meadow  below 

the  height.'     On  law,  see  p.  Ixxvi. 
DOLPHINTON.      1253,  Dolfinston.     Dolfine  was   brother   of 

the  first  Earl  of  Dunbar,  c.  1240.     Of.  Dolphinholme, 

Lancaster. 
DON,  R.     Sic  c.  1170.     G.  donn,  'brown,'  or  domhain,  'deep,' 

mil  mute. 
DONIBRISTLE  (Aberdour,  Fife),     a.  1169,  Donibrysell;  1178, 

Donybrisle.      Prob.     G.     dunan     brisg-gheal,     'clear, 

bright  little  hill.'     Cf.  ARDALANISH. 

DOON,  R.  and  L.  (Ayrsh.).  c.  1300,  Logh  done.  G.,  Ir., 
and  O.E.  dun,  a  hill,  then  a  hill-fort. 

DORBACK  (Grantown).  G.  dobhar  or  dor  bathaich,  '  stream 
of  the  cow-house.'  On  dobhar  (which  is  Pictish),  cf. 
DARNAGIE. 

DORES  (L.  Ness).  The  e  is  mute.  G.  dobhar  or  dor,  water, 
with  the  common  Eng.  plural. 

DORLINN  (between  Morven  and  Oronsay,  Davaar  and  Kin- 
tyre,  CALF  and  Mull).  G.  doirlinn,  a  bit  of  land,  or 
isthmus,  which  is  temporarily  submerged  by  the  tide. 
Dornie  (1617,  Dorny)  is  thought  to  be  a  corruption  of 
the  same  word.  It  is  on  Lochalsh. 

DORNOCH.     1199,  Durnah;   c.  1230,  Durnach;    1456,  Dor- 
v    nouch.    G.  dobhar  or  dur  an  achaidh,  'water  of  the  field.' 

DORNOCK  (Annan).     As  above. 

DOUGLAS  (Lanark,  and  two  burns  on  L.  Lomond).  L.  Lorn. 
D.,  in  Nennius,  Dubglas.  Lan.  D.,  c.  1150,  Duuelglas, 
Duueglas,  Duglas ;  c.  1220,  Dufgles.  Old  G.  dhu  or 
dubh  glas,  'black,  dark  water;'  the  only  meaning  of 
glas  in  Mod.  G.  is  'grey,  pale.' 

DOUGLASTOWN  (Maybole  and  Forfar).  Fr.  the  great  Scotch 
family  of  that  name. 

DOUNBY  (Stromness).  Sw.  and  O.E.  dun,  a  hill,  +  by,  town, 
village,  see  p.  Ixiii.  =  HILTON. 

DOUNE  (Callander)  =  DOON. 

DOUR,  R.  (Fife).  Forms,  see  ABERDOUR.  G.  dobhar,  dor, 
dur,  W.  din',  water,  river. 


90  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

DOVECRAIGS  (Bo'ness).  'Black  rocks;'  G.  dulh,  'black. 
Cf.  the  name  Duff. 

DOWALLY  (Pitlochry).  G.  dubli  Ihaile,  'dark,  black  village.' 
Cf.  BALLYGRANT,  &c. 

DOWNFIELD  (Dundee).  Down,  as  in  Ir.  '  Down ; '  prob.  = 
G.  and  Ir.  dun,  a  hill,  hill-fort. 

DOWNTES  (Kincardine).  Corruption  of  G.  dunan,  'a  little 
hill,'  with  the  common  Eng.  plural.  There  was  a 
thanage  of  '  Duny '  or  Downie  at  Monikie ;  and  there 
is  Port  Downie,  above  Falkirk. 

DRAINE  (Lossiemouth).  G.  and  Ir.  dralgheann,  "W.  dram, 
'(black)  thorns.'  Cf.  Drain,  Drains,  Dreenan,  &c.,  in 
Ireland. 

DRANIEMANNER  (Minigaff).  Prob.  as  above,  +G.  mainnir, 
a  sheep-pen,  booth,  cattle-fold. 

DREGHORN  (Irvine  and  Musselburgh).  Prob.  corruption  of 
G.  draiglieann.  See  DRAINE,  and  cf.  CLEGHORN. 

DREM  (Haddington).  Sic.  1250.  G.  druim,  the  back; 
hence  'a  hill-ridge.'  Cf.  Drimagh,  Ireland. 

DRIMNIN  (Morven).  G.  druinnein,  dimin.  of  dronn,  the 
back,  a  ridge.  Cf.  Drimna  and  Drimmin  (Ir.  druimin), 
Ireland. 

DRIP,  The  (Stirling,  on  the  Forth),  and  DRIPPS  (Renfrew). 
Renf.  D.,  1158,  Le  Drip.  Prob.  Sc.  dreep,  'a  jump  or 
drop  down,'  same  as  drip,  O.E.  drypan,  Icel.  drjupa,  to 
drip  or  drop. 

DROMA,  L.  (Ross-sh.).  G.  gen.  of  druim,  the  back,  a  hill- 
ridge.  It  stands  where  the  great  backbone  of  Scotland 
(Drum  Alban)  crosses  the  valley  at  the  head  of  the 
R.  Broom.  Cf.  Drom  and  Dromagh  in  Ireland. 

DROMORE  (Kirkcudbright),  or  Drummore.  '  Big  hill-ridge  ;' 
G.  mor,  big,  and  see  above.  Also  in  Ireland. 

DRON  (Bridge  of  Earn).  Sic  c.  1190.  G.  dronn,  the  rump, 
back,  a  hill-ridge. 

DRONGAN  (Coylton).  G.  dronn  gaothanach  (pron.  ganach), 
'  windy  hill-ridge.' 

DRONLEY  (Dundee).  G.  dronn,  '+  Eng.  ley  or  lee,  a  meadow. 
Cf.  Dronfield,  Sheffield. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  91 

DRUM  (farm,  Bonnybridge,  &c.).  G.  druim  =  L.  dorsum, 
the  back ;  hence  a  hill-ridge  like  a  beast's  back.  Sir  H. 
Maxwell  names  198  Drums-  in  Galloway  alone.  It  is 
seen  in  Ptolemy's  (c.  120  A.D.)  KoA^Sonos  Spv/xos,  which 
Skene  thinks  is  translation  of  Caledonium  Dorsum  or 
Drum  Alban,  the  great  dividing  mountain-ridge  of 
Scotland.  Drum  and  dum  or  dun,  'hill,'  are  con- 
stantly interchanging  in  Sc.  names. 

DRUMBLADE  (Huntly).  a.  1500,  -blate;  perh.  fr.  G.  bladh, 
smooth,  or  blath,  a  flower,  bloom. 

DRUMCHAPEL  (Dumbarton).  Probably  'mare's  back;'  G. 
c(h)apuH,  a  mare. 

DRUMCLOG  (Strathaven).  Prob.  fr.  G.  dog,  a  bell.  Was 
there  a  chapel  here  1 

DRUMELDRIE  (Largo).     Prob.  fr.  G.  eildeir,  'the  elder-tree.' 

DRUM(M)ELZIER  (Biggar).  Pron.  -elyer ;  c.  1 200,  Dunmedler ; 
c.  1305,  Dumelliare;  1326,  Drummeiller;  1492,  -mel- 
zare.  Here  G.  druim  and  dun,  '  hill-ridge '  and  '  hill,' 
have  been  interchanged.  The  second  part  looks  like 
O.Fr.  medler  or  meslier,  the  medlar-tree,  but  this  is  very 
unlikely,  especially  as  'medler'  (sic)  is  not  found  in 
Eng.  till  c.  1400  in  Romaunt  of  the  Rose.  Perh.  fr.  a 
man,  or  fr.  O.^N".  melr,  pi.  melar,  bent  grass. 

DRUMFADA,  Mountain  (Banavie).  'Long  (G.  fada)  hill- 
ridge.' 

DRUMGLOW  HILL  (Kincardine).  '  Ridge  of  the  cry  or  shout ; ' 
G.  glaodli.  Cf.  DUNGLOW. 

DRUMLANRIG  (Thornhill).  1663,  -lanerk.  As  it  stands  looks 
like  a  tautology,  for  drum  is  =  rig  (see  p.  Ixi),  and  Ian 
=  long  (cf.  Carlenrig,  north  of  Langholm) ;  but  cf. 
LANARK. 

DRUMLEMBLE  (Campbelton). 

DRUMLITHIE  (Fordoun).     '  Gray  (G.  liatli)  hill-ridge.' 

DRUMMOND  (S.  Perthsh.  and  Whithorn).  Perthsh.  D.,1296, 
Droman;  c.  1300,  'Gilbert  de  Drymmoiid.'  G.  dro- 
mainn,  a  ridge,  fr.  druim,  the  back.  Several  Drum- 
monds  in  Ulster ;  also  in  Ireland,  Drummin,  &c.  The 
d  has  not  added  itself  in  DRYMEN. 

DRUMMUCKLOCH  (Kirkcudbright).     '  Eidge  of  the  piggery ; ' 


92  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

G.    mudach,    fr.    muc,    a   pig.     Of.    Drimnamucklach, 
Argyle,  and  Gortnamucklagh,  Ireland. 

DRUMNADROCHIT  (Inverness).  '  Hill-ridge  by  the  bridge  ; ' 
G.  drochaid.  Of.  Drumdrochat,  Minigaff,  and  KIN- 

DROCHIT. 

DRUMOAK  (Aberdeen),  c.  1250,  Dumuech,  also  Dulmaok, 
and  still  (?)  pron.  Dalmaik.  'Field  (G.  dail)  of  St 
Mazote,'  the  Irish  virgin,  friend  of  St  Bride  or  Bridge t, 
5th  century. 

DRUMOCHTER  (Dalnaspidal).  '  Upper  hill-ridge ; '  G.  uach- 
darach,  fr.  uaclidar,  the  top.  Of.  the  names  in  Auchter-. 

DRUMSHEUGH  (Edinburgh).  '  Hill-ridge  with  the  trench  or 
furrow ; '  G.  sheuch. 

DRUMSMITTAL  (Knockbain).  '  Vapoury,  misty  (G.  smuideil) 
hill-ridge.' 

DRUMTOCHTY  CASTLE  (Fordoun).  ? c  Obstructing,  lit.  choking, 
hill-ridge ; '  G.  taclidacli,  fr.  tachd,  to  stop  up.  choke. 

DRUMVUICH  (Perthsh.).     *  Hill-ridge  of  the  buck ; '  G.  Untie. 
DRYBRIDGE  (Buckie).     Possibly  fr.  G.  draigh,  a  thorn. 

DRYBURGH  (St  Boswells).  Sic  c.  1200;  c.  1160,  Drieburh; 
c.  1211,  Dryburg,  Driborch,  also  -brugh;  1544,  -brough. 
Quite  possibly  'dry  fort/  O.E.  dry  ye,  drie,  dry  (see 
BROUGH);  but  commonly  said  to  be  fr.  G.  daracli  bruach, 
'oak-bank.'  Cf.  BROUGHT Y. 

DRYFESDALE  (Lockerbie).  Now  pron.  Drysdale;  1116, 
Drivesdale.  Prob.  fr.  O.E.  drifany  Dan.  drive,  to  drive. 

DRYMEN  (S.  of  L.  Lomond).  Pron.  Drimmen;  1238, 
Drumyn ;  also  Drummane.  =  DRUMMOND. 

DRYNACHAN  HOUSE  (Nairn).  Charter,  c.  1170,  '  Trenechinen 
quod  Latine  sonat  lignum  recte  extension;'  1497, 
Drynahine.  G.  draigneachan,  substantive  dimin.  meaning 
'  a  thicket,'  lit.  'abounding  in  thorns;'  G.  draiglmeaclt. 

DRYNIE  (Dingwall).  G.  draigkneach,  'thorns.'  There  is 
also  a  Drynoch. 

DUBFORD  (Banff).  Prob.  'black  (G.  duWi)  ford;'  dub  is 
also  Sc.  for  a  pool,  puddle. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  93 

DUBTON  (Montrose).     Prob.  corruption  of  G.  dubh  dun,  l  dark 

hill.'     Of.  EABLSTON,  EDDERTON. 
DUDDINGSTON  (Edinburgh).     Charter,  c.  1150,   'Dodinus  de 

Dodinestun;'  1290,   Dodingstone.     Dodin   must  have 

been    a    Saxon    settler.     Six   Doddingstons   and   one 

Duddingston  in  England. 

DUFFTOWN  (Banff).  Fr.  the  clan  Duff;  G.  dubh,  black. 
Cf.  Dufton,  Appleby. 

DUFFUS  (Elgin).  1290,  Dufhus;  1512,  Duffous.  'Dove- 
house;'  O.E.  dufa,  dufe,  +  O.E.  and  Icel.  Tms.  Prob. 
this  is  the  Dufeyrar  in  Orkney.  Sag.,  in  which  the 
latter  part  =  O.I^.  eyri,  a  spit  of  land. 

DUICH,  L.  (Glenelg).  Fr.  St  Duthac,  died  at  Armagh,  c.  1062. 
Cf.  Bailedhuich,  G.  name  of  Tain. 

DUIRINISH  (Skye).  (1501,  Watternes;)  1567,  Durynthas; 
1588,  Durinysh.  It  is  a  peninsula,  almost  an  island, 
so  prob.  G.  dur  (or  dobliar)  innis,  'water-island.'  Cf. 
Craig  Durnish,  in  1613  -durinche,  L.  Etive.  Prof. 
M'Kinnon  thinks  =  DURNESS  or  '  deer-ness.' 

DULL  (Aberfeldy).  Sic  1380;  c.  1230,  Dul.  G.  dtilacli, 
'misty  gloom.'  A  mountain  called  Doiliceme  ('murky 
cave ')  is  mentioned  in  the  Irish  Life  of  St  CutJibert  as 
near  by.  In  charter,  c.  1170,  re  the  Don  Valley,  we 

read,  'Rivulus Doeli  quod  sonat  carbo  ("coal") 

La  tine  propter  ejus  nigredinem.' 

DULLATUR  (Falkirk).  G.  dim  leitir,  'dark  hill  slope.'  See 
BALLATER. 

DULNAN,  R  (Grantown).  ?G.  dail  an  tin  or  abliainn,  'field 
by  the  river.' 

DUMBARTON,  a.  1300-1445,  Dunbretane ;  1498,  Dunber- 
tane;  1639,  Dumbriton.  G.  dun  Blireatuin,  'fort  or 
hill  of  the  (Strathclyde)  Britons.'  Its  old  name  was 
Alcluith.  Dum  and  dun  are  constantly  found  inter- 
changing in  Sc.  names ;  so  are  dun  and  drum. 

DUMBUCK  (Dumbarton).  G.  dun  lute,  '  hill  of  the  buck  or 
he-goat'  (boc). 

DUMCRTEFF  (Moffat).  '  Hill  with  the  haunch  or  shoulder.' 
See  CRTEFF. 


94  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

DUMFRIES.  1288,  D(o)unfres;  1395,  Drumfreiss,  formerly 
called  Caerf eres.  Skene  thinks  both  these  = '  fort  of 
the  Frisians,'  here  a.  400.  Others  say  fr.  G.  phreas, 
copse,  shrubs,  =  Shrewsbury.  Cf.  the  Sc.  surname 
Monf ries,  1  =  G.  monadh  phreas. 

DUMGREE  (Kirkpatrick-Juxta).  G.  dun  greighe,  '  hill  of  the 
herd '  (of  deer,  &c.). 

DUN  (Montrose).  Sic  1250.  G.  and  Ir.  dun,  a  hill,  then  a 
hill-fort,  W.  din,  cognate  with  O.E.  tiin,  enclosure,  village, 
and  L.  ending  -dunum,  so  common  in  Csesar,  Lugdunum, 
Camalodunum,  &c. 

DUN  ALASTAIR  (Pitlochry).     G.  '  Alexander's  hill.' 

DUNAN  (Broadford).     G.  '  a  little  hill.' 

DUNASKIN  (Ayr).     Prob.  'hill  of  the  water;'  G.  uisgean. 

DUNBAR  (Haddington  and  Kirkbean).  Hadd.  D.,  c.  720, 
Eddi,  Dyunbaer;  a.  1200,  Dunbarre.  'Fort  on  the 
height;'  G.  barr.  Possibly  connected  with  St  Bar  or 
Fin  bar,  Bishop  of  Cork,  to  whom  Dornoch  Church  is 
dedicated. 

DUNBARNEY  (Bridge  of  Earn),  a.  1 1 50,  Drumbernin.  '  Hill 
with  the  gap ;'  G.  bearna.  Cf.  DUMBARTON. 

DUNBEATH  (Caithness).  Sic  1450;  Ulst.  Ann.,  re  ann.  680, 
Duinbaitte.  '  Hill  of  the  birches ; '  G.  beath. 

DUNBLANE.  Old  chron.  Dubblain;  c.  1272,  Dumblin. 
'Hill  of  Blane,'  son  of  King  Aidan,  who  founded  a 
church  here  in  the  6th  century. 

DUNBOG,  or  DINBUG  (Cupar).  c.  1190,  Dunbulcc;  1250, 
-bulg.  '  Massive,  bellying  hill,'  fr.  G.  ~bulg,  the  belly. 
Cf.  Drumbulg,  Tarland. 

DUNCANSBAY  (Caithness),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,T)\mgQ\sba&f, 
c.  1700,  Dungasby;  present  spelling  only  later  than 
1700.  '  Donald's  house  or  village.'  Donnghol  is  the 
Old  G.  form  of  Donald,  now  Dbnull;  and  in  Orkney. 
Sag.  we  read  of  a  10th-century  Celtic  chief  Dungad  or 
Dungal,  who  prob.  gave  his  name  to  this  place.  For 
-bay  =  Dan.  by  orbi,  'village,'  cf.  CANISBAY. 

DUNCANSBURGH  (Fort  William).     A  modern  name. 

DUNCANSTONE  (Inscll). 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  95 

DUNCOW  (Dumfries).  Prob.  'hill  of  the  gow  or  smith;' 
G.  goblia. 

DUNCRUB,  or  DRUMCRUB  (Strathearn) ;  in  Pict.  Chron.,  ann. 
965,  'Dorsum  Crup.'  'Hill  with  the  haunch  or 
shoulder;'  G.  crublia.  =  DUMCRIEFF,  only  here  the  & 
is  hard. 

DUNDEE.  1199,  Dunde;  1367,,  Dundee.  No  reason  to 
dispute  the  common  derivation,  G.  dun  De  (gen.  of 
Dia\  '  hill  of  God ; '  ?  = '  Gadshill.' 

DUNDONALD  (Ayrsh.,  sic  1461)  and  DUNDONNELL  (Ulla- 
pool);  cf.  ''Dundouenald,'  1183,  in  Forfar.  'Hill  of 
Donald ; '  G.  Dbnull  or  Domhnull.  There  is  a  Dun- 
donald  in  County  Down. 

DUNDRENNAN  (Kirkcudbright).  1290,  -draynane;  1461, 
-dranan.  'Hill  of  the  thorn-bushes;'  G.  draiglmeanan. 
Cf.  DRYNACHAN  ;  also  Dreenan  and  Aghadreenan,  Ire- 
land. 

DUNECHT  (Aberdeen).     See  ECHT. 

DUNFALLANDY  (Logierait).  Latter  part  unknown;  ?  some 
man. 

DUNFERMLINE.  Sic  1251,  but  c.  1145,  -fermelin;  1160, 
-fermling.  No  explanation  very  satisfactory ;  for  if  it 
be  'hill  of  the  crooked  pool,'  the  G.fiar  linne  could  with 
difficulty  become  fermling  ;  and  if  it  be  'Farlan's  Hill,' 
as  Dr  M'Lauchlan  says,  the  first  form  Avhich  favours 
that  is  in  Barbour's  Bruce,  c.  1375,  '  Dunferlyne.'  This 
Farlan  (now  seen  in  the  surnames  M'Farlane  and  Par- 
lane),  according  to  legend,  was,  with  Nemed,  first 
coloniser  of  Ireland.  Prob.  a  pre-Celtic  name,  Khys 
thinks.  The  m  is  best  accounted  for  by  deriving  fr. 
that  Melyn,  whose  name  is  supposed  also  to  enter  into 
STIRLING  ;  so  the  name  would  mean  '  crooked  hill  of 
Melyn.' 

DUNFION  (hill,  L.  Lomond).  '  Finn  '  or  '  Fingal's  hill ; '  he 
is  said  to  have  hunted  here. 

DUNGLASS  (Firth  of  Clyde).     '  Grey,  wan  (G.  glas)  hill.' 

DUNGLOW  (Kinross).     '  Hill '  or  '  fort  of  the  shout  or  cry ; ' 

G.  ylaodh. 
DUNIPACE    (Denny).      Sic    1195;    1293,  Dunypas.     Skene 


96  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

says  fr.  bass,  a  mound  (see  BASS),  the  two  mounds  here 
being  supposed  to  mark  the  site  of  that  battle  of  King 
Arthur,  which  Nennius  calls  Bassas.  The  local  ex- 
planation is  G.  dun  na  bais,  '  hill  of  death.' 

DUNIQUOICH  HILL  (Inveraray).  'Hill  like  a  drinking-cup ; ' 
G.  and  Ir.  cuach,  '  a  quaich ; '  cj.  R.  Quaich,  south  of 
Kenmore. 

DUNIRA  (St  Fillan's).     '  Hill  of  the  west  water ; '  G.  iar  abh. 

DUNJUMPIN  (Colvend,  Kirkcudbright).  '  Fort  of  the  hillock ; ' 
G.  tiompain,  ti  being  =  ch  in  G.  Tiompan  also  means 
cymbals ;  perh.  with  reference  to  some  religious  rites. 

DUNKELD.  Sic  a.  1150;  but  Ulst.  Ann,,  ann.  865,  Duin- 
caillen ;  Pict.  Chron.,  Duncalden ;  Wyntoun,  c.  1 420, 
Dwnkaldyne.  '  Hill  with  the  woods.'  Caillen  or 
chaillein  is  gen.  pi.  of  G.  coille,  a  wood.  Same  root  as 
Caledonii. 

DUNKIRK  (Kells,  Kirkcudbright).  Prob.  'hill  of  the 
grouse;'  G.  cearc,  gen.  circe. 

DUNLOP  (Ayrsh.).  (Of.  1250,  'Dunlopin,'  Forfar.)  Prob. 
'hill  of  the  bend,  angle,  or  little  glen;'  G.  lub.  Cf. 
Crup  for  crubha,  s.v.  DUNCRUB. 

DUNMORE  (Falkirk).     *  Big  hill ; '  G.  mbr,  big. 

DUNMYAT  (Ochils),  or  Dum-,  or  Demyat ;  fr.  tribe  Mceatai 
or  Miati  (sic  in  Adamnan)  =  Verturiones,  outliers  of 
the  Damnonii.  Of.  DEVON  Valley  near  by.  Miati  is 
prob.  fr.  W.  meiddio,  to  dare ;  so  Prof.  Rhys. 

DUNNAIST  (W.  Ross-sh.).  G.  dun-an-(f1i)aste,  '  hill  of  the 
fort.' 

DUNNET  (Caithness).  c.  1230,  Donotf ;  1275,  Dunost; 
1455,  Dunneth.  Doubtful ;  early  forms  make  it  unlikely 
to  be  =  DINNET. 

DUNNICHEN  (Forfar).     '  Fort  of  Nechtan,'  King  of  the  Picts, 

died  481. 
DUNNIKIER  (Kirkcaldy).    G.  dunan  czar,  '  dusky,  dark  brown 

little  hill.' 
DUNNING    (Perthsh.).       1200,    Dunine,    later   Dunyn.     G. 

dunan,  '  little  hill '  or  '  fort.' 

DUN(N)OTTAR  (Stonehaven).      Ulst.   Ami.,   ann.    681,   Duin 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  97 

f either;  1461,  Dunotir.  'Fort  on  the  reef  or  low 
promontory;'  G.  oitir.  Mod.  G.  has  lost  the  /  by 
aspiration. 

DUNOLLY  CASTLE  (Oban).  Ulst.  Ann.,  aim.  685,  Duin 
Ollaigh;  Tighemac,  ann.  714,  Dunollaig;  1322,  Dun- 
ollach.  Prob.  fr.  some  man. 

DUNOON.  Sic  1472:  but  c.  1240,  Dunnon;  1270,  Dun- 
hoven ;  c.  1300,  Dunhon  ;  1476,  Dunnovane.  '  Hill  by 
the  water ; '  G.  abhamn,  in  S.  Argyle,  pron.  o'aii.  Of. 
AVON  and  PORTNAHAVEN.  Possibly  fr.  h'amhuinn 
(pron.  havun),  an  oven.  Dunoon  and  Dunowen  are 
names  common  in  Ireland. 

DUNPHAIL  (Forres).  Perh.  '  hill  of  the  horse  ; '  G.  p(h)eall. 
Cf.  Drumpail,  Old  Luce.  Fail  in  G.  means  a  ring, 
a  wreath,  a  sty. 

DUNRAGIT  (Glenluce).  ?  'Hill  of  the  noise  or  disturbance;' 
G.  racaid,  Eng.  '  racket.' 

DUNROBIN  CASTLE  (Golspie).  1401,  robyn;  1512,  Drum- 
rabyn ;  also  Drum  Raffn.  In  1222  Kaffn  was  Logmadr, 
'law-man,'  or  crown  representative  here.  Name  prob. 
remodelled  in  compliment  to  Robin  or  Robert,  Earl  of 
Sutherland,  c.  1400.  On  interchange  of  drum  and 
dun,  cf.  DRUMELZIER,  DUMFRIES. 

DUNROD  (Kirkcudbright).  Sic  1360.  Prob.  'hill  by  the 
road ; '  G.  rathaid,  pron.  raad ;  more  likely  than  fr. 
ruadh,  red. 

DUNROSSNESS  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Dynrostarnes,  'ness, 
'promontory  of  the  hill  by  the  rust,1  N.  for  whirlpool, 
i.e.,  SUMBURGH  ROOST. 

DUNS  (Berwick).  Prob.  G.  dun,  hill  or  fort,  with  the  com- 
mon Eng.  plural.  No  proof  of  the  tradition  that  it  is 
contracted  fr.  Dunstan. 

DUNSCAITH  CASTLE  (Sleat).  1505,  Dunskahay.  ?  G.  dun 
sgatha,  '  hill  of  the  consuming,  destruction.'  Cf.  '  Dun- 
schath'  or  'Dunscacht,'  1461,  in  Ross. 

DUNSCORE  (Dumfries),  a.  1300,  Dunescor.  'Hill  with  the 
sharp  rock ; '  G.  sgor. 


98  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

DUNSHELT  or  -ALT  (Auchtermuchty).  Prob.  'hill  of  the 
hunt;'  G.  sealg. 

DUNSINANE  (Dunkeld).  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron.,  Dunsinoen 
(and  prob.  the  Arsendoim  or  -in,  Tigliernac,  ann.  596). 
Prob.  'hill  with  the  breasts  or  dugs;'  G.  siiteachan, 
fr.  sine,  a  breast. 

DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE  (Oban).  1322,  Ardstof  niche. 
Hybrid ;  prob.  '  hill  of  the  inch  (G.  innis,  island  or 
peninsula),  with  staff-like  markings;'  Icel.  stafr,  Dan. 
stav.  Of.  STAFFA. 

DUNSYRE  (Dolphinton).  1180,  -syer;  a.  1300,  -sier.  'East 
(G.  siar)  hill.'  Of.  Balsier  (old,  Balsyir)  and  Balshere, 
Galloway. 

DUNTOCHAR  (Dumbarton).  1265,  Drum  toucher  (cf.  DUM- 
FRIES, &c.).  'Fort  of  the  causeway ;'  Ir.  tocliar  (not  in 
Mod.  G.).  Cf.  Cantoghar,  Ireland. 

DUNTULM  (Uig).  1498,  -tullen.  'Fort  on  the  hillock  ;'  G. 
tolm,  gen.  tuilm. 

DUNVALANREE  (Benderloch).  G.  dun-a-bhaile-na-righ,  'hill 
of  the  king's  house  '  or  '  village.' 

DUNVEGAN  (Skye).  1498,.-begane;  1517, -veggane;  1553, 
Dunne vegane.  1  'Fort  of  the  few,  small  number;'  G. 
b(h)eagain. 

DUPPLIN  CASTLE  (Perth).  Pict.  Chron.,  Duplyn.  'Black 
pool '  =  Dublin ;  G.  dubh,  black ;  lynn  is  W.  rather  than 
G.,  which  has  linne.  On  p  for  6,  cf.  Dor  sum  Or  up  for 
DUNCRUB. 

DURA  DEN  (Cupar).  G.  doWtaracli  (duracli),  watery;  fr, 
dobhar,  water,  cf.  DOUR,  DURIE  ;  +  DEAN. 

DURHAM  (Kirkpatrick-Durham,  and  name  of  hill  there). 
O.E.  deor  ham,  'wild  beasts'  home  or  lair;'  cf.  Icel. 
dyr,  Sw.  diur,  a  wild  beast ;  same  as  Eng.  deer. 

DURIE  (Fife).  G.  dohharach  or  durach,  watery.  Cf.  DURA 
DEN,  and  Dourie,  Mochrum,  also  Doory  and  Dooragh, 
Ireland. 

DURNESS  (W.  Sutherland),  c.  1230,  Dyrnes.  'Deer  ness;' 
Icel.  dyr,  Dan.  dyr,  a  beast,  deer. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  99 

DUROR  (Glencoe).  (1343,  Durdoman,  i.e.,  'deep  water;') 
1501,  Durroure.  G.  dobhar  or  dur  oir,  '  water's  edge.' 

DURRIS  (Banchory).  Prob.  G.  doras,  dorus,  a  door,  entrance. 
Cf.  Durrus,  south  of  Ireland. 

DUR(R)ISDEER  (Thornhill).  1328,  Durrysder.  G.  dorus 
doire,  '  entrance  of  the  grove  or  forest.'  There  was  an 
ancient  forest  here.  Cf.  Deerhass,  near  by. 

DUTCHMAN'S  CAP,  The  (isle  off  W.  of  Mull). 

DUTHIL  (Carrbridge).    G.  dhu  thuil,  l  black  stream '  or  '  flood.' 

DYCE  (Aberdeensh.).  ?  G.  deas,  south,  or  dias,  an  ear  of 
corn. 

DYE,  K.  (Kincardine). 

DYESTER'S  BRAE  and  EIG  (Galloway),  -ster  is  the  old  female 
suffix ;  cf.  spinster,  webster,  or  female  weaver,  now  only 
a  proper  name,  &c. 

DYKE  (Forres).  Sic  1311.  O.E.  die,  bank  of  earth  cast  up 
fr.  a  ditch,  which  is  the  same  word.  Wherever  dyke  or 
dykes  enters  into  a  name,  as  in  Battledykes,  Forfar, 
Cleaven  Dyke  on  Isla,  and  Kaedykes  on  Ythan,  it 
usually  means  the  site  of  an  ancient  camp. 

DYKEBAR  (Paisley).  Barre,  a  barrier,  is  found  in  Eng.  as 
early  as  c.  1220. 

DYSART  (Fife  and  Montrose).  Fife  D.,  1250,  Dishard; 
c.  1530,  G.  Buchanan,  Deserta.  G.  diseart  fr.  L.  deser- 
tum,  desert  place,  then  a  hermit's  cell  or  house  for 
receiving  pilgrims.  Dysart  (sic  1446)  or  Clachandysert 
was  the  old  name  of  the  parish  of  Glenorchy ;  others,  too, 
in  Scotland.  Desert,  Disert,  &c.,  common  in  Ireland. 


E 

EAGER-,  EGGER-NESS  (Wigtown).  'Eagre  ness,'  i.e.,  'cape  of 
the  tidal  wave '  or  bore  (of  the  Solway) ;  O.E.  edyor, 
egor,  Icel.  cegir,  the  sea. 

EAGLESFIELD  (Ecclefechan).     Also  one  near  Cockermouth. 
EAGLESHAM   (Paisley).     1158,  Egilsham ;  1309,  Eglishame. 
Not  fr.  the  eagle,  which  is  Fr.  aigle,  but  W.  eglwys,  G. 


100  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

eaglais,  fr.  L.  (and  Gk.)  ecdesia,  a  church,  +  O.E.  ham, 
home,  place,  village.  Only  -ham  in  this  quarter,  and 
even  this  is  a  hybrid. 

EARLSFERRY  (Elie).  a.  1300,  Erlesferie.  O.E.  eorl,  an  earl ; 
said  to  be  after  Macduff,  thane  of  Fife,  but  he  is  a 
*  mythic  character ;  (Skene). 

EARLSTON  (Berwicksh.).  c.  1144,  Ercheldon;  c.  1180, 
Ercildune ;  a.  1320,  Essedoune;  1370,  Hersildoune; 
fine  example  of  popular  corruption  and  'etymology.' 
Prob.  G.  aird  clioil,  '  height  of  the  wood,'  cf.  ARD- 
CHALZIE  ;  to  which  prob.  the  Angle  immigrants  added 
O.E.  dtin,  a  hill 

EARN,  E.  Propliy.  St  Berclian,  a.  1100,  Eirenn;  very  old 
M.S.,  Sraith  hirend,  i.e.,  Strathearn.  Pron.  eran,  which 
looks  like  G.  ear  an  or  abliainn,  '  east  (flowing) 
river.'  But  Dr  Skene  says  fr.  Eire,  Irish  queen,  men- 
tioned in  the  Ir.  JSTennius,  who,  tradition  says,  was  fr. 
Scotland.  Eire  or  Erin,  accusative  $rinn,  was  also  an 
old  name  of  Ireland,  =  Gk.  'le/oi/r/  and  Juvenal's  luuerna, 
corrupted  into  Hibernia ;  so  Rhys.  He  thinks  it  pre- 
Celtic,  and  does  not  accept  Windisch's  meaning,  '  fat, 
fertile  land  ; '  cf.  Sanskrit  pivan,  fern,  pivari;  Gk.  TriW. 
Eren  was  the  old  name  of  the  K.  Findhorn.  Of.  BANFF. 

EARNOCK  (Hamilton).  Prob.  G.  earr  an  achaidh,  '  end, 
boundary  of  the  field.'  Of.  DORNOCK. 

EASDALE  (Oban).  G.  eas,  waterfall,  +  N.  dal,  dale,  valley; 
see  p.  xlvi. 

EASSIE    (Meigle).     1250,  Essy.     G.  easach,  'abounding  in 

waterfalls;'  G.  eas.     Cf.  ESSY. 
EASTHAVEN  (Arbroath). 
EAST  NEUK  o'  FIFE.     Sc.  neulc  is  G.  and  Ir.  niuc,  a  'nook ' 

or  corner. 

EASTWOOD  (Glasgow).     Also  in  Notts. 
EATHIE  (Cromarty).     Prob.  =ETHIE,  c.  1212,  Athyn,  i.e.,  G. 

athan,  a  little  ford. 
ECCLEFECHAN  (Dumfriessh.).     L.  Ecdesia  Fechani,  'church 

of   St   Fechan'(G.  fiachan,    'little   raven,'  dimin.   of 

fitheach},  Abbot  of  Fother,  West  Meath,  time  of  Ken- 

tigern.     Cf.  ST  VIGEAN'S. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  101 

ECCLES  (Coldstream  and  Penpont).  Colds.  K,  1297,  Hecles  = 
'  church '  (see  EAGLESHAM).  St  Mary's  Cistercian 
nunnery,  founded  here  1155.  In  1195  St  Ninian's, 
Stirling,  is  called  the  church  of  Egglis.  Three  in  Eng- 
land. See,  too,  p.  xcviii. 

ECCLESIAMAGIRDLE  (S.E.  Perthsh.).  '  Church  of  St  Griselda ' 
or  Grizel,  ma  being  the  Celtic  endearing  prefix,  'my 
own.'  The  parishes  of  Flisk  and  Lindores  are  dedi- 
cated to  a  St  Macgidrin,  but  this  is  prob.  a  Bishop  of 
St  Andrews,  called  Mac  Gilla  Odran. 

ECCLBSMACHAN  (Uphall).  1250,  Eglismanin;  1296,  Eggles- 
mauhy,  '  church  of  1  Manclianj*  Irish  saint,  7th  century. 
See  EAGLESHAM,  and  cf.  CLACKMANNAN. 

ECIIT  (Aberdeen).  Sic  a.  1300.  ?G.  each,  a  horse,  or  pos- 
sibly eaclid,  an  exploit.  Duneight,  Lisburn,  is  the  old 
Dun  EacUdach,  '  Eochy's  hill  or  fort.'  Cf.  DUNECHT. 

ECK,  L.  (Dunoon).  Prob.  same  as  OICH,  fr.  Old  Celtic 
root  for  'water.'  Cf.  Axe,  Esk,  Usk,  and  G.  uisge, 
also  Ecton,  Northampton. 

ECKFORD  (Jedburgh).  c.  1200,  Eckeforde;  1220,  Hecford. 
See  above. 

EDAY  (Kirkwall).  Sagas,  Eidey;  c.  1260,  Eidoe.  ?'Eddy 
isle '  (  N.  ay,  ey),  fr.  Icel.  itha,  an  eddy  or  whirlpool. 
The  earliest  known  form  of  the  Eng.  word  '  eddy '  is 
in  Houlate,  a.  1455,  'aneydy.'  Or  fr.  Icel.  ceft-r,  Dan. 
eder,  the  eider-duck. 

EDDERTON  (Tain).  1461,  Edirtonne;  1532,  Eddirtane;  c. 
1565,  -thane.  Early  corruption,  perh.  influenced  by 
nearness  to  Tain,  fr.  G.  eadar  dun,  'between  the  hills.' 
Cf.  EARLSTON. 

EDDLESTON  (Peebles),  c.  1200,  Edoluestone;  1296,  Edal- 
stone;  c.  1305,  Edwylstone.  'Edulfs  place;'  a,  1189 
lands  here  granted  to  a  Saxon  settler,  Edulf  or  Edulphus. 
The  Celtic  name  had  been  Penjacob. 

EDDRACHILIS  (W.  Sutherland).  Pron.  -heelis ;  1509,  Eddira- 
quhelis.  G.  eadar-a-cliaoilas,  'between the  straits;'  G. 
caol,  a  KYLE  or  narrow  sound;  cf.  Eddergoll  ('between 
the  fork,'  G.  goWiaT),  Breadalbane. 

N 


102  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

EDEN,  E.  (Fife  and  Koxburgh).  Perh.  c.  120,  Ptolemy,  Tinna. 
Prob.  W.  eiddyn  or  G.  eadann,  'face,  slope  of  a  hill.' 

EDENSHEAD  (Kinross). 

EDGERSTONE  ( Jedburgh).  =1455,  'Eggerhope  Castell;'  only 
perh.  =  'Edgar's  town.' 

EDINBANE  (Portree).  G.  eadann  ban,  '  white  slope  or  face  of 
the  hill/ 

EDINBURGH,  a.  700,  Nennius,  'The  Mount  Agned'  =  Welsh 
bards'  Mynyd  Agned  (1  who  was  A.) ;  but  in  c.  970,  Pict. 
Chron.,  'Oppidum  Eden,'  plainly -- Dunedin  (oppidum 
is  always  the  translation  of  dun  in  the  L.  chronicles),  W. 
din  eiddifn,  or  G.  dun  eadain,  'fort  on  the  hill  slope '  (that 
fr.  the  Castle  Eock  down  to  Holyrood).  This  exactly 
suits  the  case,  bunjli  being  the  Eng.  for  dun;  and  with  this 
agrees  the  Orkney.  Sag.  spelling  c.  1225,  Eidiniaborg. 
This  makes  connection  with  St  Edana  or  Medana,  the 
Cornish  Modwenna,  very  doubtful,  though  the  form 
Medanburgh  or  Maidenburgh  does  occur,  and  we  find 
David  I.  (1140-50)  signing  charters  '  apud  Castellmn 
puellarum,'  or  the  'Castle  of  the  Maidens.'  But,  without 
doubt,  the  name  of  King  Edwin  of  Northumbria  (616- 
33)  did  influence  the  later  spellings,  indeed  influenced  the 
oldest  spellings  we  have,  viz.,  Holyrood  Charter,  c.  1128, 
'  Ecclesia  Sancti  Crucis  EdwinesbuYgensis,'  and  Simeon 
Durham  (died  1130),  Edwinesburch.  But  in  later 
charters  of  David  L,  a.  1147,  we  find  Edeneburg, 
Edensburg.  On  burgh,  cf.  BORGUE. 

EDINGIGHT  (Banff").  G.  eadan  gaoith,  '  hillside  exposed  to 
the  wind.' 

EDINKILLY  (Dunphail).  G.  eadan  choille,  'face  or  front 
of  the  wood.' 

EDNAM  (Kelso).     c.   1100,  Aednaham;  1116,  Edyngahum ; 

1285,  Edinham ;  1316,  Ednam.     '  Home  or  village  (O.E. 

lidm)  on  the  Eiver  EDEN.'     Cf.  Edenham,  Bourne,  and 

EDROM. 
EDRADYNATE  (Logierait).     G.    eadar   dinait,   'between   the 

woods  or  woody  glens.'     Cf.  EDDRACHILIS  and  DINNET. 

EDROM  (Berwicksh.).  O.E.  Edr-liam,  'home'  or  'village 
on  the  E.  ADDER.  Cf.  EDNAM. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  103 

EDZELL  (Brechin).     a.  1204,  Edale;  c.  1230,  Addele.     ?G. 

eadha,  an  aspentree,  +  N.  dal,  dale. 

EGILSHAY  (Orkney).  Orlmey.  Sag.,  Egilsey ;  1529,  Jo.  Ben, 
'  Egilschay  quasi  ecclesia?  insularum.'  If  fr.  G.  eaglaia 
(L.  ecclesia),  a  church,  the  name  is  a  very  exceptional 
one  for  Orkney.  Perh.  fr.  some  man,  'Egil's  isle.' 

EGLINTON  (Ayr).  1205,  Eglingstoun,  Eglintoune.  Fr. 
some  Saxon  settler.  Cf.  Eglingham,  Alnwick  ;  Eglin 
Lane,  Minigaff;  and  Eglin  Hole,  Yorks. 

EGLISGIR(I)G  (Kincardine).  'Church  (G.  eaglais)  of  Girig,' 
Grig,  9th-century  Scottish  king,  dedicated  by  him  to  St 
Ciricius,  and  now  ST  CYRUS. 

EGLISMONICHTY    (Monifieth).      1211,    Eglismenythok.     See 

MONIKIE. 

EIGG  (Hebrides).  Adamnan,  Egea;  Ulst.  Ann.,  ann.  725, 
Ego ;  old  Celtic  MS.,  Eig,  which  last  in  Old  Ir.  means 
'a  fountain.'  The  G.  eag,  gen.  eige,  means  a  nick  or 
hack. 

EILDON  HILLS  (Melrose).  a.  113Q,  Sim.  Durham,  Eldunum; 
a.  1 1 50,  Eldune.  Prob.  G,  dill,  a  rock,  cliff,  +  dun,  a 
hill.  Cf.  Ercildun  or  EAKLSTON. 

EILEAN  DONAN  (W.  Eoss-sli.).  1503,  Alanedonane;  1539, 
Elandonan.  G.  =  '  St  Donan  the  martyr's  isle.'  He 
died,  617,  in  Eigg.  Perh.  fr.  dunan,  a  little  fort  or 
hill. 

EILEAN  MUNDE,  or  ELANMUNDE  (Glencoe).  '  Isle  of  Munnu,' 
Columba's  friend.  See  KILMUN. 

EILEAN  NA  NAOIMH  (The  Minch).     G.  =  'isle  of  saints.' 

EILLERHOLM,  or  HELYER  HOLM  (Kirkwall).  Icel.  for,  'isle 
of  the  flat  or  slaty  rocks.'  Cf.  HOLM. 

EISHORT,  L.  (Skye).  Perh.  G.  eisg,  gen.  of  iasg,  fish,  +  Norse 
suffix  art,  art,  or  arth,  frith,  bay,  or  fjord. 

ELCHIES  (Craigellachie,  g.v.}.  The  s  is  the  common  Eng. 
plural  added  to  a  G.  word. 

ELCHO  (Perth),  c.  1230,  Elchok.  ?  G.  eallach,  gen.  eallcha, 
'a  battle.' 

^LDERSLIE  (Renfrew).     1398,  -sly.     '  Alder  lea '  or  meadow 


104  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

(cf.  COULTER  ALLERS).  The  elder  in  Sc.  is  '  bourtree,' 
though  in  O.E.,  a.  800,  we  find  ellcern  as  the  gloss  of 
L.  sambucus. 

ELGIN.  Sic  1283;  in  1281,  Elgyn;  on  old  corporation 
seal,  Helgyn.  Said  to  be  fr.  Helgy,  a  Norse  general, 
victor  near  here  c.  927.  But  Rhys  thinks  it  pre-Celtic 
or  Ivernian.  Elga  is  a  character  in  Irish  mythic 
history,  and  also  poetic  name  for  Ireland,  peril,  mean- 
ing 'noble.' 

ELGOLL  (Broadford).  Perh.  G.  al-goWiail,  'rock  at  the  fork,' 
if  that  suit  the  site. 

ELIE  (Fife).  Perh.  '  on  the  other  side ; '  G.  eile,  other. 
Cf.  BALELIE  and  Ely. 

ELLIOT  (Forfar).  Old,  Elloch  (see  ARBIRLOT).  Prob.  G.  aill 
or  al  achaidh,  'rock  in  the  field;'  perh.  connected  with 
Ir.  aileach,  a  stone  fort,  as  in  Ardelly,  Ireland. 

ELLON  (Aberdeensh.).  1265,  Elon.  Prob.  G.  ailean,  'a 
green  plain.'  Cf.  ALLAN. 

ELLSRIDGEHILL,  or  ELSRICKLE  (Biggar).  1293,  Elgirig,  which 
must  be  G.  al  Girig,  'rock  of  King  G.'  (see  EGLISGIRIG). 
A  very  curious  corruption. 

ELPHIN  (Lochinver).  Prob.  =  Elphiii,  Ireland ;  G.  and  Ir. 
aill fhionn,  'white  rock'  or  'cliff.' 

ELPHINSTONE  (Airth)  and  PORT  ELPHINSTONE  (Inverurie). 
May  be  as  above,  +  O.E.  ton,  tun,  hamlet ;  more  prob. 
fr.  some  man.  Elpin  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  Pictish 
kings. 

ELSICK  (Portlethen,  Kincardine).  Sic  1654;  cf.  Elswick, 
Newcastle,  pron.  Elsick.  It  looks  like  G.  aillse,  a  fairy, 
+  O.E.  wic,  dwelling,  village ;  but  that  is  rather  a 
dubious  combination. 

ELVAN  WATER  and  ELVANFOOT  (N.  of  Beattock).  c.  1170, 
El  wan,  and,  same  date  and  district,  'Brothyr-alewyn.' 
Prob.  W.  al-wen,  '  very  white,  bright,'  fr.  gwen,  white, 
as  in  Gwenystrad  (Gala  Water)  or  '  white  strath,'  now 
WEDALE  ;  cf.  R.  Alwen,  N.  Wales,  and  Elwand  (c.  1160, 
Alewent,  Aloent),  other  name  of  Allan  Water,  Melrose. 
Elwan  is  the  name  in  Cornwall  for  a  porphyritic  rock. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  105 

EMBO  (Dornoch).  a.  1300,  Ethenboll;  1610,  Eyndboll. 
A  difficult  name;  ?  '  place  of  the  little  ford.'  G.  athan, 
+  N.  bol,  see  p.  Ixiv ;  cf.  ETHIE.  But  in  G.  it  is 
Eirpol  =  ERIBOLL,  K".  eora-bol,  beach-town  or  -place, 
just  its  site. 

ENARD  or  EYNARD  BAY  (W.  Sutherland).  1632,  Eynort.  N. 
eyin  ard,  art,  or  ort,  '  island  bay '  or  '  fiord '  (see  p.  Iv). 

ENDRICK,  E.  (Stirlingsh.).  (Of.  Strathendry,  Leslie,  a. 
1169,  -enry).  Prob.  G.  abhainn  or  an  reidh,  'smooth' 
or  '  straight  river.'  Final  dli  is  sometimes  pron.  with  a 
click,  almost  =  k.  On  d  intruding  itself  as  here,  see  p. 
xxxvii. 

ENHALLOW  (Orkney).  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Eyin  helga, 
*  holy  isle '  (cf.  ENARD).  Eng.  hallow  is  fr.  O.E.  lidlyian, 
to  hallow ;  hdlga,  a  saint. 

ENOCH  DHU  (Pitlochry)  and  ENOCH  (Durrisdeer).  G.  aonach 
dim,  'black,  steep  hill ; '  for  ao  =  e,  cf.  aodaim  and  edann, 
slope,  hill  face.  But  St  Enoch's,  Glasgow,  is  fr.  Thenew, 
c.  500,  mother  of  St  Kentigern  or  Mungo.  The  th  in 
her  name  has  been  lost  by  aspiration. 

ENTERKIN  BURN  (K  of  Drumlanrig).  ?G.  an  (abhainn) 
fuircein,  '  sow's  water,'  or  far  coin,  '  mastiff's,  blood- 
hound's water.' 

ENZIE  (Buckie).  1654,  '  Ainia  (Ainyee),'  sic  in  E.  Gordon's 
Survey;  nowpron.  Irigee  ;  doubtful.  The  Eiver  Inny,  W. 
Meath,  c.  6  70  in  Tirechan  was  Ethne ;  and  E.  was  daughter 
of  an  Irish  king.  1  Any  connection  with  this  Enzie. 

EOCHAR  (Lochmaddy).  More  correctly  lochdar,  G.  for  '  low 
place,  bottom.'  Cf.  YOKER. 

EOROPIE  (Lewis).  Erroneously  spelt  Europa ;  N.  eora  pie 
( =  by,  bi),  « beach-place,  or  village.'  Cf.  ERIBOLL,  and 
'  Eurobolsey,'  in  Islay,  1562. 

EPORT,  L.  (Lochmaddy).  Prob.  K".  ey,  isle,  +  G.  port,  port, 
harbour. 

ERCHLESS  (Beauly).  1258,  Herchelys  ;  1539,  Hereichlis;  a 
puzzling  name.  Can  it  be  =  Hercules,  whose  G.  name  is 
lorcall,  as  in  Uinneaglorcaill,  'H.'s  window,'  a  huge  cleft 
in  a  rock  in  Colonsay,  and  cf.  Erackhall,  Breadalbane. 

ERIBOLL  (^ST.  Sutherland).      1499,   Erribull;    1530,  Ireboll. 


106  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

N.  eyri-bol,  'place  on  the  tongue  of  land,'  same  as 
G.  earbil  and  Ir.  earbatt.  Of.  ARBOLL,  and  Erribul, 
Foynes. 

ERICHT,  E.  and  L.  (K  Perthsh.).  Stream  from  '  the  ascent 
or  rising  slope;'  G.  eiridh.  Cf.  Coire  Eirigh,  Loch 
Katrine. 

ERISKA(Y)  (L.  Creran  and  S.  Uist).  Crer.  E.,  1558,  Yriskay. 
Uist  E.,  1549,  Eriskeray.  Looks  like  'goblin's'  or 
'  diviner's  isle  ; '  G.  uruisg  +  N.  ay,  ey,  isle.  But  some 
say  it  is  the  !N".  Eiriksey,  '  Eric's  isle.' 

ERISORT,  L.  (Lewis).  Prob.  '  Eric's  bay ; '  N.  ort,  art  (see 
p.  lv). 

ERROGIE  (Fort  Augustus).  Prob.  G.  aird  raoig,  '  height  of 
rushing.'  Cf.  Falls  of  Rogie,  and  Ercattan,  old  form  of 
ARDCHATTAN. 

ERROL  (Firth  of  Tay).  c,  1190,  Erolyn ;  c.  1535,  Arole. 
Doubtful. 

ERSKINE  (Renfrew).  1225,Erskin;  1262,  Ireskin;  a.  1300, 
Irschen,  Yrskin,  Harskin.  Prob.  G.  aird  sgionn,  '  squint ' 
or  'projecting  height.'  Cf.  Ercattan,  spelling  in  1296 
of  ARDCHATTAN. 

ESK,  R.  (Midlothian,  Berwick,  Forfar).  Midi.  E.,  a.  1145, 
Esch.  Berw.  E.,  a.  1130,  Sim.  Durham,  Esce ;  c.  1200, 
'  Northesk.'  Celtic  for  '  water.'  Same  root  as  G.  uisge, 
Ax,  Usk,  &c. 

ESKADALE  (Beauly ).    1 538,  Eschadillis.    See  above,  and  DALE. 

ESKBANK,  ESKBRIDGE,  ESKDALE,  &C. 

ESSACHOSEN  (Inveraray).     G.  easar-chasain,  '  a  thoroughfare.' 

ESSLEMONT  (Ellon).  a.  1 600,  Essilmontht.  G.  eoisle-monadli-, 
'  mount,  hill  of  the  spell,  incantation.'  Cf.  TULLYNESSLE. 

ESSY  (Strathbogie).  1187,  '  Esseg  in  Strabolgin.'  Prob.  G. 
easach,  '  abounding  in  waterfalls  ; '  G.  eas,  a  waterfall. 

ETAL  (Coldstream).  Prob.  G.  aitedl,  'a  juniper'  or  'a 
glimpse.' 

ETHIE  HOUSE  (Arbroath).  c.  1212,  Athyn;  1433,  Athe, 
Athy.  G.  athan,  a  little  ford. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  107 

ETIVE,  L.  (Argyle).  Old  Ir.  MS.,  Loch-n-Eite.  Prob.  eite 
or  eiteag,  a  white  pebble ;  also  name  for  the  streaks  of 
quartz  with  which  the  rocks  there  abound. 

ETTRICK  (Selkirk),  c.  1235,  Ethric,  Hetterich,  Etryk  ;  1776, 
Atric.  Doubtful.  Can  it  be  G.  atharrach,  an  alien  ? 

EUNAICH,  Ben  (Dalmally).     Prob.  =  ENOCH. 
EVAXTON  (Dingwall).     '  Evan's  town. ' 

EviE'(Orkney). "  Orkney.  Sag.,  c.  1225,  Efju,  also  Efja;  last 
syllable  prob.  N.  gjd}  a  goe  or  narrow  inlet. 

EWE,  L.  (W.  Koss-sh.).     Prob.  =AWE,  ( water.  ' 

EWES  and  EWESDALE  (Langholm).  a.  1180,  Ewichedale ; 
c.  1280,  Ewycedale;  1296,  'Le  Vale  de  Ewithe;'  c. 
1300,  Ewytesdale.  '  Newt's '  or  '  eft's  dale ;'  O.E.  efete, 
M.E.  evete,  eivte  ;  the  n  in  newt  is  fr.  the  article  an. 

EYEMOUTH  and  EYE  WATER  (Berwicksh.).  Eye  is  prob. 
Celtic  for  *  water.3  Cf.  AYTON. 

EYE  PENINSULA  (Stornoway).     1506,  Fy;  1552,  Y.     Old  G. 

y,  ui,  aoi,  island,  peninsula.     Cf.  IONA. 

EYNARD,  L.     See  ENARD. 


F 

FAD,  L.  (Bute).     G.fada,  'long.'     Of.  Inchfad,  L.  Lomond. 

FAIRGIRTH  (Dalbeattie).  '  Fair  garth  or  garden ;'  O.E.  faeger, 
Icel.  ftujr,  Dan.  feir,  fair,  pleasant ;  and  cf.  APPLEGARTH, 
old,  Applegirth. 

FAIR  ISLE.  Orkney.  Sag.,  Fridarey,  the  goddess  'Freya's 
isle.'  Cf.  Friday.  But  Jo.  Ben,  1529,  says,  'Faray, 
quasi  clara  (fair)  insula.' 

FAIRLIE  (Largs).  '  Fair  lea '  or  meadow,  untilled  land ;  O.E. 
leak,  Dan.  lei,  fallow. 

FALA  (S.  Midlothian).  1250,  Faulawe.  Fahlaw,  'pale,  dun 
hill;'  cf.  next,  and  LAW;  also  cf.  'Fauhope,'  c.  1160, in 
Melrose  Chart. 

FALKIRK.  Sic  1 546 ;  but  Sim.  Durham  (died  1 1 30),  ann.  1065, 


108  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

Egglesbreth;  1166,  charter,  'Ecelesia  de  Egglesbrec, 
que  varia  capella  dicitur;'  1382,  Fawkirc  (which  still  is 
the  local  pron.,  accent  on  either  syllable).  These  forms  are 
most  instructive.  Its  original  name,  and  its  name  in  G. 
still,  is  Eaglais  (W.  eglwys)  breac,  'speckled  church, 
church  of  mottled  stone,'  of  which  Fah-  or  Faw-kirk  is 
the  translation,  Sc.  faw,  faucli^ meaning  'dun,  pale  red/ 
O.E.  fah,  varicoloured.  Of.  Faside  Farm,  Newton 
Mearns. 

FALKLAND  (Fife).  c.  1125,  Falleland;  1160,  Falecklen ; 
but  a.  1150,  Falkland.  Doubtful.  Perh.  connected 
with  G.  failc,  to  bathe  or_a  bath,  t or  falaich,  to  hide,  a 
hiding.  The  old  forms  seem  to  prevent  any  derivation 
fr.  O.E.  fah,  as  in  FALKIRK. 

FALLOCH,  E.  (L.  Lomond).     G.  falach,  a  hiding,  a  veil. 

FALLSIDE  (Lanarksh.).     Prob.  =  Faside,  'spotted  side.'     See 

FALKIRK. 
FALMOUTH  (Cullen).     So  spelt  in  Ordn.  Survey  Map.     Its 

real  name  is  '  whale's  mouth,'  locally  pron.  fal's  mou\ 

Icel.  hval-r,  Sw.  and  Dan.  lived,  a  whale. 

FANDOWIE  (Strathbraan).     c.    1200,  Fandufuith.     Prob.  G. 

fan   dubh,    'dark,    black   slope.'      Fuith   may   further 

represent  fuachd,  cold. 
FANNYSIDE,  L.  (Slamannan).     Prob.  fr.  G.  feannag,  a  ridge 

of  land ;  a  peculiar  way  of  laying  out  ground,  sometimes 

called  '  a  lazy-bed.' 
FARG,  R.  (Kinross),     c.  960,  Pict.  Chrort.,  Apur-feirt.     See 

ABERARGIE. 
FARNELL   (Brechin).      c.  1220,   Fernevel;    1410,  Fernwell. 

Prob.  G.  fearna  lhail,  '  alder  village/ 

FARNESS  (Cromarty  and  Wigtown).  Wig.  F.,  in  Ada  Sanct., 
Farness.  Crom.  F.,  1578,  Fames.  Prob.  G.  faire, 
watching,  +  N.  ncets,  nose,  ness,  cape.  Cnoc-na-faire,  or 
'  watch  hill,'  is  common  in  the  Highlands. 

FAR  OUT  HEAD,  or  FARRID  HEAD  (N.  Sutherland).  Prob. 
Icel.  fjarri,  '  far.' 

FARR  (N.  Sutherland),  c.  1230,  Far.  Icel.  far  means  a 
passage,  means  of  passage,  ship.  Ships  can  sail  right 
up  the  River  Naver  here. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  109 

FARRER,  E.  and  GLEN  (Inverness).     Possibly  G.  faraire,  a 

lyke-wake,  night-watch  over  a  corpse. 
FASNACLOICH  (Appin).     G.  fasadh  na  doich,  '  protuberance 

of  the  stone  or  rock.' 

FASQUE  CASTLE  (Laurencekirk).  JProb.  G.  fdsach,  '  a  wilder- 
ness, forest,  mountain ;  also  stubble,  choice  pasture.' 

FASSIEFERN  (Banavie).     1553,  Faschefarne.     G.  fasach  na 

fhearna,  '  forest  of  alders.' 
FAST  CASTLE  (Coldingham).      Sic  1461.     Prob.  O.E.  fest, 

Dan.  fast,  Icel.  fast-r,  'firm,  solid.' 

FAULDHOUSK  (Lanarksh.).  'House  by  the  fold;'  O.E.  fold, 
a  pen  (cf.  GUSHETFAULDS).  JS"ames  in  Fauld-  common 
in  Galloway. 

FE(A)RINTOSH  (Dingwall).  G.  fearainn  Toishacli,  'land  of 
the  thane'  or  'land-officer.' 

FEARN  (Tain  and  Brechin).  Tain  F.,  1529,  Feme.  G. 
fedrna,  an  alder.  Cf.  COULTER  ALLERS. 

FEDDERAT  (Brucklay).  c.  1205,  Fedreth ;  1265,  Feddereth. 
Prob.  Old  G.  father,  hardened  to  fader  (sometimes  to  for, 
as  FORDOUN,  &c.)  ath,  'land  at  the  ford.'  Cf.  FOD- 

DERTY. 

FENDER  BRIDGE  (Blair  Athole).  G.  fionn  dur  or  dobhar, 
i  white,  fair,  pleasant  water.' 

FENTONBARNS  (Haddington).  1332,  Fenton.  '  Village  in  the 
fen,  bog,  mud ;'  O.E.  and  Icel.  fen. 

FENWICK  (Kilmarnock).  The  w  is  mute;  =  FENTON;  O.E. 
wic,  Idwelling,  village.  Common  in  the  north  of 
England. 

FEORLIN(G)  (Skye).  G.  fabirlinn,  'a  farthing,'  a  land- 
measure  (see  p.  Ivii). 

FERNAN  (Fortingall).  Black  Bk.  Taymouth,  Stronferna, 
which  is  G.  for  '  point  of  the  alder  trees.' 

FERNIEGAIR  (Hamilton).  G.  fearna  gwradh,  clump  or 
'  garden  of  alders.'  Cf.  GREENGAIRS. 

FERRIELOW  (Colinton).  1  =' Ferry-hill ;'  O.E.  JtMiv  Sc.  law. 
But  this  and  the  following  quite  possibly  fr.  G.  fearann, 
land,  a  farm. 


110  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

FERRYDEN  (Montrose).     See  above,  and  DEAN. 
FERRYHILL  (Aberdeen).     Also  in  Durham. 
FERRYPORT  ON  CRAIG  (N.  Fife). 
FESHIE  BRIDGE  (Kingussie).     Prob.  G.  fasach,  desolate. 

FETLAR  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Faetilar.  Perh.  connected  with 
Icel.  fitla,  to  touch  lightly. 

FETTERANGUS  (Mintlaw).  Here  and  in  next  Old  G.  fothir, 
'bit  of  land,  field,'  is  softened  into  fetter;  often  it 
is  hardened  into  for,  cf.  p.  xxviii,  and  FEDDERAT,  and 
ANGUS.  ' 

FETTERCAIRN  (Laurencekirk).  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron.,  Fother- 
kern.  '  Field  in  the  corner ;'  G.  cearn. 

FETTERESSO  (Stonehaven).  c.  970,  Fodresach  (bat  cf. 
FORRES);  1251,  Fethiresach.  'Land  abounding  in 
waterfalls;'  G.  easach,  fr.  eas,  waterfall. 

FETTERNEAR  (Chapel  of  Garioch).  a.  1300,  Fethirneir. 
'  Field  to  the  west ;'  G.  an  iar. 

FETTYKIL  (Leslie),  c.  1200,  Futhcul.  G.  fodha,  or  perh. 
Old  G.fetMr  coill,  'foot'  or  'field  of  the  wood.' 

FEUGH,  E.  (Kincardine).     Prob.  G.  fuachd,  cold,  dullness. 
FIDDICH  GLEN  (Banff).     Prob.  fr.  Fidach,  son  of  the  legendary 

Cruithne. 
FIDRA  (N.  Berwick).     Prob.  'Feodore's  isle;'  N.  ay,  eij. 

FIFE.  1165,  Fif.  Fr.  Fibh,  mentioned  in  the  Irish  Nennius 
as  one  of  the  seven  sons  of  Cruithne,  legendary  father 
of  the  Picts. 

FIFE  KEITH  (Keith).     See  above,  and  KEITH. 

FIGGATE  BURN  (Portobello).  First  syllable  doubtful.  Gate 
in  Sc.  means  '  a  road,  way.' 

FILLAN'S,  St  (L.  Earn).  Fillan  succeeded  St  Mund  as  Abbot 
on  the  Holy  Loch ;  died  777. 

FIMBUSTER  (Caithness).  'Five  places'  or  'houses;'  Icel. 
Jim,  five.  Cf.  COIGACH,  and  see  bolsta&r,  p.  Ixiv. 

FINCASTLE  (Pitlochrie).  G.  and  Ir.  fionn  caisteal,  *  white, 
fair  castle '  or  fort. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  Ill 

FINDHORN,  K.  (Forres).  On  part  of  its  course  still  called 
Findearn.  Prob.  =  G.  fionn  Earn,  or  '  white,  clear 
EARN.'  On  the  d,  cf.  p.  xxxvii,  and  next. 

FINDLATER  CASTLE  (Portsoy).  G.  fionri  leitir,  '  white,  clear 
hillside.'  Cf.  BALLATER.  On  the  d,  see  above;  in 
pron.  it  is  usually  mute. 

FINDON  (Aberdeen,  Eoss,  Perth).     '  Clear  hill ;'  G.fionn  dtin. 

Also  near  Worthing. 
FINGLAND  LANE  (Carsphairn).     Fingland  is  a  personal  name 

now  iii  this  district. 

FINLARIG  CASTLE  (Killin).  G.  fionn  lairig,  '  clear,  sloping 
hill.' 

FINHAVEN  (Oathlaw).  c.  1445,  Fynewin;  1453,  Finevyn. 
G.  fionn  abhuinn,  '  clear,  white  river.'  Cf.  METHVEN 

and  PORTNAHAVEN. 

FINSTOWN,  or  PHINSTOWN  (Kirkwall).    Phin  is  a  Sc.  surname. 

FINTRAY  (Kintore).  c.  1203,  Fintrith;  a.  1300,  Fyntre. 
1  White  or  fine  land;'  at  least  trith,  tre,  is  prob.  the  older 
form  of  G.  tir,  land,  W.  tre. 

FINTRY  (Stirlingshire  and  Cumbraes).  1238,  Fyntrie;  = 
above. 

FINZEAN  (Aboyne).  c.  1150,  Feyhan.  Doubtful,  though 
prob.  G.  f aiche  or  fonn  abhainn,  *  plain  by  the  river.' 

FIRTH  (Orkney),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Fiord.  Mod.  K 
fjord,  a  frith,  bay. 

FISHERIE  (Turriff). 

FISHERROW  (Musselburgh),  FISHERTON  (Ayr). 

FITEACH,  Ben  (Islay).     G.  fltheacli,  a  raven. 

FITFULL  HEAD  (Shetland).    Saga,  Fitfugla  hofdi.    Prob.  Icel. 

fet,  a  step,  and  Icel.  and  Dan.  fugl,  a  fowl,  from  being 

spot  where  the  sea-birds  love  to  light. 
FIVE-MILE-HOUSE  (Dundee). 
FLANNAN  ISLES  (Minch).     Fr.  St  Flannan,  a  Culdee  saint. 

FLEET,  E.  (Sutherland  and  Kirkcudbright).  Icel.  fljot,  a 
stream,  fljot-r,  quick.  Cf.  Eng.  fleet,  float.  Three 
Fleet  streams  in  England. 


112  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

FLEURS  CASTLE  (Kelso).     ~Fr.fleurs,  'flowers.' 

FLISK  (Cupar).     Sic  1250.     1  G.  fleasg,  a  wand,  a  ring. 

FLODAVAGH  (Harris).  Prob.  'flood-bay;'  fr.  Icel.,  O.E., 
Sw.,  and  Dan.  flod,  flood,  flow  of  the  tide,  +  N.  vag-r,  a 
bay,  cove,  as  in  STORNOWAY.  Might  be  fr.  Icel.  floti, 
a  fleet. 

FLOTTA  (Orkney).  Sagas,  Flottey.  'Isle  of  the  fleet;* 
Icel./o^',  O.E.  fleot.  The  «  =  N.  ay  or  ey,  isle ;  Icel. 
flota-liolmr  simply  means  an  islet. 

FLOWERHILL  (Airdrie). 

FOCHABERS  (Elgin).  1325,  Fouchabre ;  1514,  Fochabris. 
G.  faiclie  abhir,  plain,  meadow,  at  the  river  mouth ;  * 
is  the  common  Eng.  plural. 

FODDERTY  (Dingwall).  c.  1360,  Fothirdy ;  1548,  Fothartye  ; 
1572,  Foddertie.  Old  G.  fothir,  'land,  field,'  of  which 
we  find  here  both  the  soft  and  hard  forms,  +  tigli,  a 
house.  Of.  FETTERANGUS. 

FOGO  (Duns).  1250,  Foghou ;  a.  1300,  Foggov ;  1352, 
Foggowe.  Prob.  'fog  how,'  i.e.,  'hollow  (O.E.  holy, 
holh,  Sc.  hou'e)  in  which  the  fog,  after-math,  or  second 
growth  is  found  ; '  W.  ffwg,  dry  grass. 

FOINAVEN,  Ben  (Sutherland).  Prob.  G.  fonn  aWiuinn,  '  river 
land.' 

FOLDA  (Alyth).  Perh.  G.  faoc/ltail  (pron.  foyl)  daimh,  'ford 
of  the  ox.' 

FOLLA  RULE  (Fyvie).  1245,  Folayth  ;  1364,  Fouleroule  ;  a. 
1400,  Folethroule,  Foleroule;  seems  to  be  G.  foladlt, 
a  covering,  hiding-place.  On  Rule,  cf.  R.  RULE,  Rox- 
burgh, and  ABBOTRULE. 

FONAB  (Perthsh.).     G.  fonn  aba,  'land  of  the  abbot.' 

FORBES  (Alford).  Sic  a.  1500.  Prob.  fr.  Old  Ir.  (and  ?  (r.) 
forba,  'afield,  district,' with  the  common  Eng.  plural. 
G.  forbhas  is  an  ambush. 

FORD  (Coldstream,  Dalkeith,  Loch  Awe).  Colds.  F.,  1293, 
Forde.  O.E.  ford,  a  ford.  Four  in  England. 

FORDOUN  (Kincardine).  a.  1100,  St  Berchan,  Fothardun ; 
Colgan,  Life  of  St  Patrick,  Forddun;  c.  1130,  Fordouin. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  113 

Old  G.  fothir  duin,  '  land  of  the  hill  or  fort ; '  fothir  is 
here  hardened.     Cf.  p.  xxviii,  and  also  FETTERANGUS, 

FODDERTY,  FORTEVIOT. 

FORDYCE  (Portsoy).  a.  1 300,  Fordyse.  '  Land  to  the  south ; ' 
G.  deas,  also  'trim,  fit.' 

FORFAR.      Sic  1199.      Prob.  G.  fothir  or  for  fuar,  'cold 
.  land.' 

FORGAN  (N.  Fife).  1250,  Forgrund.  Perh.  G.  fothir  grunda, 
'land  with  bottom'  or  'ground,'  i.e.,  good  subsoil. 

FORGANDENNY  (Perth).  1250,  '  Forgrund  in  Gouirryn.'  See 
above,  and  DENNY. 

FORGLEN  (Turriff).     G.  fothir  gleann,  land  in  the  glen. 

FORGUE  (Huntly).  a.  1300,  Forge.  Perh.  'land  of  the 
wind ; '  G.  fothir  gaoith. 

FORRES.  Perh.  the  Fodresach,  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron.  (cf. 
FETTERESSO);  1187,  Fores;  1283,  Forais.  G.  fothir  or 
for  eas,  '  land  by  the  waterfall.'  Prob.  influenced  some- 
what by  N.  fors,  a  waterfall,  the  Eng.  force,  so  common 
in  Lake  district.  Tacitus,  in  his  Agricola,  mentions  a 
tribe  Horestii  hereabouts. 

FORSE  (Lybster),  FORSS  (Thurso).  Thurso  F.,  c.  1225, 
Fors.  N.  fare,  a  waterfall ;  cf.  Stockgill  Force,  &c. 

FORSINAIN  (Sutherland).  Said  to  be  '  lower  waterfall/  as 
contrasted  with 

FORSINARD  (Sutherland).  '  Higher  waterfall ; '  G.  an  dird, 
'  of  the  height.' 

FORT,  St  (K  Fife).  A  quite  modern,  silly  corruption  of 
Sandford,  old  name  of  the  estate  here.  Cf.  Sandyford, 
Glasgow. 

FORTEVIOT  (Perth),  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron.,  Fothuirtabaicht ; 
1280,  Ferteuyoth;  but  1251,  Forteviot.  Old  G.  fothir 
fabaicht,  land  of  the  abbey ;  Mod.  G.  dbachd.  Not  the 
same  as  R.  TEVIOT. 

FORTH,  Firth  of,  and  R.  Sic  a.  1150;  form  Forthin  also 
occurs.  In  Bede  c.  720,  called  Sinus  Orientalis ;  in 
Nennius,  about  the  same  date,  Mare  Frenessicum 
('Frisian  Sea') ;  in  Descriptio  Albanian,  a.  1200, '  Scottice 


114  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

(i.e.,  Gaelic)  Froch,  Brittanice,  (i.e.,  in  Welsh)  Werid, 
Romana  (i.e.,  Old  English)  vero  Scottewattre  (or 
'Scots  water');  Orkney.  Sag.,  c.  1225,  Myrkvifiord 
(i.e.,  'murky,  dark  frith').  In  Jocelyn,  1185,  the 
northern  shore  is  called  'Frisican  (Frisian)  shore;'  .the 
12th  century  Froch  may  be  connected  with  G,  fraigh, 
edge,  rim,  border  of  a  country.  By  the  common  trans- 
position of  r,  Froch  has  become  Forcli,  softened  to  Forth. 
As  likely,  Forth  is  the  corruption  of  N.  fjord,  a  frith, 
often  found  in  Sc.  names  as  worth.  Cf.  KNOYDART 
and  MOYDART.  j 

FORTH  (Lanark). 

FORTINGALL  (Aberfeldy).  c.  1240,  Forterkil;  a.  1300, 
Fothergill ;  1544,  Forty rgill.  Interesting  example  of 
a  name  which  has  quite  changed.  It  really  is  Old  G. 
fotliir  gaill  or  till,  '  land  of  the  stranger '  or  '  of  the 
church.'  In  this  region  we  could  not  have  Icel.  gil,  a 
ravine.  The  r  has  been  transposed,  as  often,  through 
the  influence  of  the  Eng.  fort. 

FORTISSAT  (Shotts). 

FORTROSE  (Cromarty).  Prob.  G.  fothir  or  for  frois,  'land  on 
the  promontory.'  Cf.  MONTROSE. 

FORTS  AUGUSTUS,  GEORGE,  and  WILLIAM  (Strathmore).  Fort 
A.,  named  in  1716  after  William  Augustus,  Duke  of 
Cumberland.  Fort  G.,  named  in  1748  after  George  II. 
Fort  W.,  so  named  c.  1690  after  William  III.,  though 
there  was  a  fort  built  here  in  1655. 

Foss  (Pitlochry).  c.  1370,  Fossache.  Prob.  G.  fdsach,  'a 
desert,  forest,  hill.' 

FOSSOWAY  (Kinross),  c.  1210,  Fossedmege.  Prob.  G.  fasadh 
mhagha  *  protuberance,  hill  in  the  plain.' 

FOULA  (Shetland).  Icel.  and  Dan.  fugl-ay,  '  fowl  island ;  * 
abundance  of  sea-fowl  there.  Cf.  Fugloe,  Faroes. 

FOULDEN  (Ayton).  1250,  Fulden.  Prob.  O.E.  ful\(Icel.  full) 
denu,  '  foul  valley '  or  '  dean.'  Cf.  Foulden,  Norfolk.  , 

FOULFORD   (Crieff).     Prob.    tautology ;    G.    faogJiail   (pron. 

foil,  full),  a  ford. 
FOUNTAINBRIDGE  (Edinburgh),  FOUNTAINHALL  (Stow). 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  115 

FOVBRAN  (Ellon).  a.  1300,  Fouerne.  Perh.  G.  fothir 
abhuinn  or  an,  'land  by  the  river.' 

FOWLIS  (E.  Eoss-sh.  and  Crieff).  Pron.  Fowls.  Ross-sh.  F., 
1515,  Foulis.  Prob.  G.  pliuill,  '  a  pool,'  with  the  common 
Eng.  plural. 

FOYERS,  Fall  of  (Fort  Augustus).  Prob.  G.  fairs,  '  reflec- 
tion of  light'  fr.  the  clouds  of  spray.  The  s  is  the 
common  Eng.  plural. 

FRASERBURGH.  Sic  1605.  Land  here  bought  by  Sir 
William  Eraser  of  Philorth,  close  by,  in  1504.  Town 
founded  c.  1600.  Erasers  found  in  Scotland  fr.  c. 
1160.  Fraser  was  formerly  often  spelt  Fresel.  The 
old  name  of  the  spot  was  Faithlie. 

FRESWICK  (Wick),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Thresvik.  Prob. 
'  Frisian's  bay ; '  K  vik.  Of.  Freston,  Ipswich. 

FREUCHIE  (Auchtermuchty).  (1479,  Freuche,  near  Banff; 
1548,  Freuchy,  Loch  Broom.)  G.  fraochach,  'heathery, 
heathy '  place ;  fr.  fraoch,  heather,  and  name  of  an 
isle  on  Loch  Lomond.  Cf.  French,  Galloway. 

FRIOCKHEIM.  Pron.  Freakem ;  German.  Village  founded 
c.  1830. 

FRUID  WATER  (Hart  Fell).  W.  frwyd,  'impulsive,  hasty 
stream.'  Cf.  RENFREW. 

FRUIN  GLEN  (L.  Lomond).  Said  to  be  G.  br&n,  brdin, 
lamentation  (over  the  dreadful  slaughter  here  of 
Colquhouns  by  the  M'Gregors,  1602). 

FUINAFORT  (Bunessan).  G.  fionna  pliort,  white  or  'fair 
port 3  or  bay. 

FULLARTON  (Irvine  and  Forfarsh).  Irvine  F.,  'Geoffrey 
of  Foullertoune,'  king's  falconer  in  1327;  1391,  Fouler- 
toun.  'Fowler's  town'  or  hamlet;  fr.  O.E.  fugel,  -ol, 
Icel.  and  Dan.  fugl,  Sc.  foul,  a  fowl  or  bird. 

FURNACE  (old  iron-work  near  Inveraray).  G.  fuirneis,  a 
furnace.  Also  near  Llanelly. 

FUSHIEBRIDGE  (S.  Midlothian).      Perh.   Sc.  fussie ;   fr.  Fr. 
fosse,  a  ditch,  or  fr.  G.  fdsach,  a  desert,  forest,  hilL 
Cf.  FOSSOWAY. 


116  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

FYViE~(Aberdeen).  a.  1 300,  Fy  vyn.  Peril.  G.  fiodli  aWminn, 
with  dh  quiescent,  '  wood '  or  *  wilderness  by  the  river.' 
Cf.  METHVEN. 


G 

GADIE,  R.  (Aberdeensh.).     G.  gad,  a  withe.      Cf.  GARNGAD. 

GAIRLOCH  (W.  Ross-sh.,  and  Kells,  Kirkcudbright)  and 
GARELOCH  (Helensburgh).  Ross.  G.,  1366,  Gerloch; 
1574,  Garloch  ;  prob.  fr.  G.  gearr,  'short  loch,'  as  con- 
trasted with  its  much  longer  neighbours,  Lochs  Carron, 
Torriden,  and  Broom.  The  same  is  true  re  Helensburgh 
G.,  1272,  Gerloch. 

ITAIRN  (or  Gairden)  WATER  (Ballater).  ?  G.  garan,  -ain,  '  a 
thicket,'  or  earn,  cairn,  a  cairn. 

GALA,  R.  (Galashiels).  a.  1500,  Gallow.  G.  geal  abh, 
1  clear  water ; '  cf.  AWE  and  Gala  Lane,  Carsphairn. 
1  Galawater,'  according  to  Border  usage,  means  the  valley 
through  which  the  Gala  flows. 

-GALASHIELS.  1416,  Gallowschel;  1503,  Galloschelis,  *  shiel- 
ings '  (O.N.  skali)  or  '  huts  on  the  River  Gala.'  Skali  is 
still  used  in  N.  for  a  temporary  or  shepherd's  hut.  Cf. 
SELKIRK. 

GALBRAITH,  Inch  (L.  Lomond).  Family  of  Galbraith  (1492, 
Galbreytht)  used  to  reside  here.  It  is  G.  gall-Breatun- 
nach,  Brythonic,  British,  or  "Welsh  stranger,  '  Low- 
lander.' 

•GALCANTRY  (Fort  George).  Prob.  G.  geal  ceann-tire, '  white, 
clear  promontory.'  Cf.  KINTYRE. 

GAL(L)ATOWN  (Kirkcaldy).  ?G.  gall,  a  stranger,  foreigner, 
or  galla,  a  bitch. 

GALLON  HEAD  (Lewis).  G.  gallan,  a  branch,  or  gaillionn, 
a  storm.  Cf.  Gallan,  Tyrone,  Gallana,  Cork. 

GALLOWAY,  c.  970,  Pid.  Chron.,  Galweya;  c.  1250,  Gale- 
weia;  Led.  chrons.,  Gal(l)wethia  (1158,  Galovidienses). 
W.  Gallwyddel  (dd  =  th)  =  G.  Gall-Gaidhel,  'stranger 
Gael.'  Prob.,  says  Dr  Skene,  fr.  Galloway  being  long 
a  province  of  Anglic  Northumbria. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  117 

GALLOWFLAT  (Rutherglen).  'Plain'  or  'flat  of  the  gallows.7 
Of.  SKINFLATS. 

GALSTON  (Ayrsh.).  'Gall's'  or  'stranger's  (G.  gall)  town.' 
Of.  GATTONSIDE. 

GAMRIE  (Banff).  c.  1190,  Gameryn;  c.  1200,  Gamery. 
Prob.  G.  cam  airidhean,  'crooked  shielings'  or  'hill 
pastures.'  Cf.  BLINGERY.  C  and  g  constantly  inter- 
change in  Gaelic  place-names. 

GARDENSTOWN  (Banff). 

GARDERHOUSE  (Lerwick).     Icel.  garfi-r,  an  enclosure,  garden, 

GARGUNNOCK  (Stirling),  c.  1470,  -now.  G.  garWi  cuinneag, 
'rough,  uneven  pool.'  Cf.  Girgunnochy,  Stoneykirk. 

GARIOCH  (Aberdeensh.).  c.  1170,  Garuiauche;  c.  1180, 
Garvyach;  1297,  Garviagha;  a.  1300,  Garuiach.  G. 
garbh  achadh,  '  rough  field.' 

GARLIESTON  (Wigtown).  Prob.  1592,  Garlics,  i.e.,  G.  garlh 
or  gearr  lios,  '  rough '  or  '  short  garden.' 

GARMOUTH  (Fochabers).     G.  gearr,  'short.'     Cf.  GAIRLOCH. 

GARNGABER  (Lenzie).  G.  gdradk  na  cabair,  '  deer  forest ; ' 
gar(r)adh  is  an  enclosure,  park,  garden,  =  O.E.  geard, 
Icel.  garft-r  ;  and  cdbar  usually  means  an  antler.  Cf. 
Glengaber,  Yarrow,  and  Ringaber  ('antler-point'), 
Buchanan. 

GARNGAD  (Glasgow).     '  Enclosure  of  the  withies ; '  G.  gad. 

GARNKIRK  (Glasgow).  'Enclosure  of  the  hens,'  hen-roost; 
G.  cearc,  circe,  a  hen. 

GARRABOST  (Stornoway).  Hybrid;  G.  gatradh,  enclosure, 
+  N.  bolstafir,  place  (see  p.  Ixiv). 

GARROCH  HEAD  (Bute).  1449,  Garrach  (old  MS.,  Ceann 
garbh,  '  rough  head '  or  '  cape ')  =  GARIOCH. 

GARRY,  R.  (Inverness  and  Perth).  G.  garbh,  rough,  turbu- 
lent. Cf.  GARVE. 

GARRYNAHINE  (Stornoway).  G.  gdrradh  na  tiabhuinn, 
'  garden '  or  '  enclosure  by  the  river.'  Cf.  PORTNAHAVEN. 

GARSCADDEN  (Glasgow).  'Herring  (G.  sgadan)  enclosure;' 
?  herrings  cured  here.  Cf.  Culscadden,  Galloway,  and 
Balscadden,  Howth. 

O 


118  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

GARSCUBE  (Glasgow).  G.  garbh  cub,  rough  curve  or  bend, 
or  ?fr.  sguab,  a  broom. 

GARTCOSH  (Glasgow).  Prob.  G.  yarradh  cbi$,  '  enclosure  at 
the  fissure,  little  hole '  (cf.  Cash  Bay,  Wigton) ;  or  fr. 
G.  cots,  lit.  'a  foot,'  which  seems  also  to  have  meant 
'servant,'  as  in  the  surnames  Cospatrick,  Cosmungo, 
and  Cosh. 

GARTH  (Aberfeldy).  M.E.  garth,  farm,  garden.  Cf.  APPLE- 
GARTH  and  GARNGABER. 

GARTIE,  Mid  and  West  (Helmsdale).  Icel.  yarft-r,  an 
enclosure ;  cf.  above. 

GARTLEY  (Insch).  Prob.  G.  yaradh  tulaich,  'enclosure  on 
the  hill.'  Cf.  MURTHLY. 

GARTMORE  (Balfron).     G.  = '  big  enclosure  '  or  '  farm.' 

GARTNAVEL  (Glasgow).  '  Enclosure  of  the  apple-trees ; '  G. 
n'abhail.  =  ORCHARD  and  APPLEGARTH. 

GARTNESS  (Drymen).  Prob.  G.  yarradh  an  eas,  'enclosure 
by  the  waterfall.' 

GARTSHERRIE  (Coatbriclgc).  'Enclosure  of  the  foals;'  G. 
searrach  (pron.  sharragh).  Cf.  Barsherry,  Galloway. 

GARTURK  (Coatbridge).  'Enclosure  of  the  boar  or  hog;' 
G.  tore,  gen.  tnirc.  Cf.  TURK. 

GARVALD  (Haddington  and  Peebles)  and  GARVALTBURN 
(Braemar).  Hadd.  G.,  sic  1250.  G.  garbh  allt,  'rough 
stream'  or  'cliff.'  Cf.  Garrel  (prob.  fr.  «/,  a  rock), 
Dumfries. 

(TARVE  (Ross-shire).     G.  yarbh,  rough. 

GARVELLOCH,  I.  (Jura).  1390,  Garbealeach.  G.  garbh 
aileach,  'rough,  stone  house;'  or  'rough  pass,'  G.  bealach. 

GARVOCK  (Laurencekirk).      =  GARIOCH. 

GASK  (Dunning).  Corruption  of  G.  crosg,  'crossing,  pass.' 
Cf.  ARNGASK,  and  Gergask,  Laggan. 

GASSTOWN  (Dumfries).  Founded  by  Mr  Joseph  Gass,  c. 
1812. 

GAS  WATER  (E.  Ayrsh.).  Prob.  G.  gasach, '  full  of  branches,' 
fr.  gas,  a  branch.  N.  gas  means  a  goose. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  119 

GATEGILL  BURN  (Girthon).  Icel.  gat  gil,  gill  or  '  ravine  of 
the  gap.' 

GATEHOUSE  (Kirkcudbright),  GATESIDE  (Kinross,  Renfrew). 

GATTOXSIDE  (Melrose).  a.  1150,  Galtuneside.  G.  gall,  a 
stranger,  +  O.E.  tun,  ton,  a  hamlet.  Of.  GALSTON  and 
WALLACETOWN. 

GAULDRY  (Cupar).  Prob.  G.  <jall-doire,  '  stranger's  wood ' 
or  *  grove.' 

GAVINTON  (Duns).     Fr.  a  man. 

GEANIES  (Tarbat  Ness).  Pron.  Gaynes.  c.  1500,  Genes; 
1529,  Gathenn;  1570,  Gany.  Like  Gannochy,  Edzell, 
fr.  G.  gaothanach  (pron.  gan-ach),  windy,  +  £T.  nces, 
nose,  ness. 

GELSTON  (Castle-Douglas).  Prob.  =  'Gael's  town.'  Of. 
GALSTON. 

GE6RGEMAS  (Thurso).  Site  of  a  modern  market  held  on  '  St 
George's  feast'  or  'mass;'  O.E.  maesse,  Dan.  messe. 
Of.  Hallo wm ass. 

GHENAGHAN,  I.  (L.  Lomond).  ?  G.  geangach,  '  crooked,  thick 
and  short.'. 

GIFFEN  (N.  Ayrsh.).  Sic  c.  1600.  W.  cefn,  a  ridge.  Of. 
Cefn,  St  Asaph's. 

GIFFNOCK  (Glasgow).  Looks  as  if  partly  Brythonic,  partly 
Gaelic ;  fr.  W.  cefn,  a  ridge,  +  G.  achadh,  field  (cf. 
CORSOCK),  or  CHOC,  a  hill. 

GIFFOBD  (Haddington).  Prob.fr.  'Hugo  Gyffard,'  c.  1180, 
in  Newbattle  Chart.,  p.  63.  Origin  of  that  name 
doubtful. 

GIGHA,  I.  (Kintyre).  1263,  Gudey;  1309,  Gug;  1343, 
Geday;  c.  1400,  Gya;  1510,  Giga;  1516,  Geya;  1549, 
Gigay ;  a  very  curious  assortment.  ? '  Isle  of  Ged  or 
Gug;'  cf.  JEDBURGH. 

(TIGHT,  Braes  of  (Fyvie).     Perh.  corruption  of  G.  yaoth,  wind. 

GILABOLL  (Helmsdale).  Prob.  G.  giulla  or  gille,  a  servant,  + 
N.  161,  place,  dwelling;  cf.  p.  Ixiv. 

GILCOMSTON  (Aberdeen).  1361,  Gilcolmystona.  Hybrid ; 
*  hamlet  of  the  gillie '  (G.  gille)  or  '  servant  of  St  Colm  ' 


120  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

or  Columba ;  cf.  p.  xcii,  and  GILMERTON.     The  -ton  is 
fr.  O.E.  ton,  tun,  a  village. 

GILLESPIE  (Old  Luce).  G.  till  easbuig,  '  church  or  cell  of  the 
bishop,'  L.  episcopus.  In  all  other  names  till  remains 
as  Kik 

GILLIESHILL  (Bannockburn).  'Attendants',  servants'  (G. 
gille)  hill.' 

GfLMERTON  (Edinburgh),  c.  1200,  Gyllemoreton.  'Abode 
("ton")  of  the  servant  of  Mary'  the  Virgin;  G.  gille 
Moire.  Cf.  Gilmorton,  Lutterworth,  and  GILCOMSTON. 

GILNOCKIE  (Canonbie).  G.  geal  cnocan,  '  white  or  clear 
little  hill.' 

GIRNIGO  (Wick).  Sic  1547.  1 '  Gaping  inlet,'  fr.  Icel.  girna, 
to  yearn,  desire,  +  gja,  a  goe  or  narrow  inlet. 

GIRTHON  (Gatehouse).  ?  G.  garradh  abliainn  or  an, 
1  enclosure  on  the  river,'  influenced  by  M.E.  garth,  girth, 
yard,  garden.  Cf.  APPLEGARTH. 

GIRVAN,  R.  and  Town  (Ayrshire).  Prob.  G.  gearr  abhairtn 
or  an,  '  short  river.'  But  cf.  GARVALD. 

GIZZEN  BRIGS  (shoal  off  Tain).  Pron.  rather  like  Giessen, 
prob.  means  'boiling  breakers.'  First  word  akin  to 
geyser,  f r.  Icel.  geysa  or  gjosa,  to  '  gush ; '  second  perh. 
the  same  root  as  Eng.  break,  breaker. 

GLADHOUSE  (Midlothian),  GLADSMOOR  (Kirkcolm),  GLADS- 
MUIR  (Tranent).  a.  1150,  Gledehus.  Tran.  G.,  1328, 
Glademor ;  like  '  Gladstone,'  formerly  Gledstane,  all 
thought  to  be  fr.  Sc.  gled,  O.E.  glida,  the  kite,  the  '  glid- 
ing' bird,  and  there  is  a  Gleadhill;  but  cf.  Icel.  gla&r, 
smooth,  bright,  light.  Muir  or  moor  is  O.E.  and  Icel. 
mor,  a  heath,  moor,  morass. 

GLAM(M)IS  (Forfar).  The  i  is  now  mute.  1187,  Glammes; 
1251,  Glemmis.  G.  glamhus,  lit.  a  wide  gap;  hence, 
open  country,  a  vale. 

GLASGOW.  1116,  Glasgu;  1158,  Glasgow;  1185,  Jocelyn, 
Cleschu.1  This  last,  Rhys  thinks,  shows  the  real  meaning ; 
it  is  just  W.  glas  chu  (G.  glas  cu),  '  greyhound,'  Kenti- 

1  In  the  oldest  MS .  it  stands  Descliu,  but  the  D  is  usually  thought 
to  be  a  scribe's  error  for  CL. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  121 

gern,  or  St  Mungo  of  Glasgow,  being  called,  in  Vitce 
Sanctorum,  '  In  glas  chu,'  the  greyhound.  But  is 
there  any  place-name  with  a  similar  meaning?  Others 
make  it  the  Celtic  glas  cu, '  dear  (W.  cu,  dear)  river '  (see 
GLASSFORD).  Glas-cu,  '  dear,  green '  spot,  is  an  unknown 
combination  in  Celtic  names. 

GLASMONT  (Kirkcaldy).  1178,  Glasmonth.  G.  glas  monadh, 
1  grey  hill '  or  mount. 

GLASS,  R.  (Beauly).  (1309,  Straglass.  G.  srath  ghlais.) 
Old  G.  glas,  river ;  see  above. 

GLASS  (Huntly).  G.  glas,  'grey;'  but  in  "W.  also  'blue'  or 
'  green. '  Two  in  England. 

GLASSARY  (Lochgilphead).  1251,  Glassered;  1284,  Glasrod  ; 
1394,  Glaster;  1513,  Glastre.  G.  glas  airidh,  'grey 
(or  green)  shieling '  or  'hill-pasture,'  c/.  BLINGERY  ;  but 
the  last  two  forms  are  fr.  tir,  land. 

GLASSERTON  (Whithorn).  In  early  chronicles  seemingly 
confused  with  Glastonbury,  the  famous  Somerset  monas- 
tery. It  is  pron.  Glais'ton.  Its  origin  is  thus  doubtful, 
but  cf.  GLASS  and  GLASSARY. 

GLAS(S)FORD  (Hamilton),  c.  1210,  Glasfruth,  -furth;  1296, 
Glasford.  Prob.  G.  glas,  grey  or  bluish,  +  O.E.  ford,  a 
ford ;  but  -frutli  may  be  G.  frith,  a  forest.  Besides,  in 
Old  G.  glas  means  a  river ;  cf.  Strathglass. 

GLASTERLAW  (Forfar).  G.  glas  tir,  'green'  or  'greyish 
land,'  +  O.E.  hldew,  a  hill. 

GLENALMOND  (Perth),  GLENARAY  (Inveraray).  See  ALMOND, 
ARAY,  &c. 

GLENAPP (Ballantrae)  andGLENNAPP (Berwick).  Ball.G., prob. 
the  Glen  Alpinn  where  King  Alpinn.  was  slain  in  750. 
But  they  may  both  be  G.  gleann  an  aba,  '  the  abbot's  glen.' 

GLENBARR  (Tayinloan).     'Glen  by  the  height;'  G.  barr. 

GLENBOIG  (Coatbridge).  'Soft,  moist  glen;'  G.  and  Ir.  bog 
or  bulge,  soft,  boggy. 

GLENBUCK  (Lanark).  'Glen  of  the  buck  or  he-goat;'  G. 
boc,  gen.  buic. 

GLENCAIRN    (Thornhill).      1301,    Glencarn.      'Glen  of  the 
cairn'  or  'heap  of  stones;'  G.  earn,  gen.  cairn. 


122  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

GLENCAPLE  (Dumfries).  'Glen  of  the  mare;'  G.  capull, 
gen.  capuill.  Cf.  KINCAPLE. 

GLENCABSE  (Errol).     '  Glen  of  the  CARSE  '  of  Gowrie. 

GLENCOE  (N.  Argyle).  1 343,  Glenchomyr ;  1494,  Glencole ; 
1500,  Glencoyne;  1623,  -coan.  The  forms  show  the 
word  has  been  constantly  altering.  1343  is  fr.  G. 
chomair  gen.  of  COMAE,  confluence,  meeting  of  two 
valleys;  1494  is  fr.  G.  coill,  a  wood;  the  two  last  are 
fr.  G.  cu,  gen.  coin,  a  dog ;  whilst  the  Mod.  G.  spelling 
is  gleann  comliann,  which  last  means  '  a  shrine ' — truly 
a  useful  warning  against  dogmatism  about  any  name. 

GLENCORSE  (Penicuik).  'Glen  with  the  pass  or  crossing;' 
G.  croisy.  R  is  very  commonly  transposed.  Cf. 

CORSOCK,   CORSEWALL. 

GLENDALE  (Skye).     Tautology  ;  G.  gleann  +  X.  dal. 

GLENDARVEL  (Tighnabruaich).  1238,  Glen  da  rua,  i.e.,  '  of 
the  two  points ; '  G.  da  rudha. 

GLENDOICK  (Errol).  Perh.  fr.  St  Dutliac  or  Duthus  of 
Tain.  Cf.  DUTCH. 

GLENDUCKIE  (N.  Fife).     Old,  -duachy.     Perh.  as  above. 

GLENELG  (W.  Inverness).  Sic  1292;  but  1282,  Glenlialk. 
Prob.  fr.  Icel.  elgr,  Sw.  elg,  an  elk.  Khys  thinks  fr. 
Elga.  See  ELGIN. 

GLENFINNAN  (Fort  William).  G.  ficmn  abliainn  or  an, 
'  white,  clear  river.' 

GLENGARNOCK  (Ayrsh.).  (Cf.t  c.  1240,  'Dalegernoc.')  Prob. 
fr.  G.  garradli  an  achaidh,  'enclosure  of  the  field.' 
Cf.  GARNGABER. 

GLENGIRNAIG  (Ballater).  Prob.  'glen  of  the  little  cairn,' 
see  GAIRN  ;  -aig  is  prob.  a  G.  diminutive. 

GLENGONAR  (Abington).  Sic  1239.  Either  'blacksmith's 
height'  (G.  gobhann  drd),  or  'height  with  the  little 
beak '  (G.  gobari). 

GLENHOWL,  -HOUL  (Carsphairn).  1563,  hovyll.  '  Glen  with 
the  fork'  or  'two  branches;'  G.  gaWial,  gen.  gTiaWiail 
(pron.  houl),  a  fork. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  123 

GLENIFFER  (Paisley).  Perh.  fr.  G.  aifrenn  or  aoibhrionn,  L. 
offerens,  'offering,'  i.e.,  the  mass.  Cf.  INCHAFFRAY. 

GLENKENS  (Galloway).     '  Glen  of  the  river  KEN.' 

GLENKINDIE  (Aberdeen).  '  Glen  of  the  black  head ; '  G. 
gleann  clnn  duibhe. 

GLENLIVAT  (Craigellachie).  ?  Fr.  G.  liobh  aite,  '  smooth, 
polished  place.' 

GLENLOCHAR  (Castle-Douglas).  G.  loch  aird,  '  loch  of  the 
height.' 

GLENLYON  (Aberfeldy).      Sic  1522;   but  c.   1380,  Forduii, 
-leoyne.     G.  lithe  amhuinn,  'spatey  river,'  the  th  and 
•  mil  being  lost  by  aspiration.     Cf.  LYON. 

GLENMORISTON  (Fort  Augustus).  1479,  Glenmorison.  G. 
mar  easan,  'the  big  waterfalls.' 

GLENMUICK  (Ballater).  '  Glen  of  the  swine  ; '  G.  muc,  gen. 
muiCj  a  pig. 

GLENORCHY  or  -URCHY  (Argyle).  1292,  Glenurwy ;  1510, 
-vrquha;  in  G.  Urchaidh,  'tumbling'  stream,  fr.  G. 
ur chair,  gen.  -aire  or  -air each,  a  cast,  throw,  push, 
sudden  sally. 

GLENPROSEN  (Kirriemuir).  1524,  Glenprossin,  -osswym. 
Prob.  fr.  Old  G.  brosnach,  a  river.  The  root  brosd  or 
brosn  means  to  excite. 

GLENQUAICH  or  -QUOICH  (Perth,  Forfar,  Inverness).  G. 
cuach,  a  quaich  or  drinking-cup. 

GLENSHEE  (Blairgowrie).  G.  sith,  gen.  slthe  (pron.  shee), 
means  'a  hill,'  'a  fairy,'  or  'peace,  a  truce.' 

GLENSHIEL  (Strome  Ferry).  Fr.  Icel.  skjol,  a  shieling, 
shelter.  Of.  GALASHIELS,  &c. 

GLENSHIORA  (Badenoch).  'Glen  of  the  attack,  onset;'  G. 
siorradh. 

GLENTRUIM  (Laggan).  G.  from,  gen.  truime,  means  a  burden, 
protection,  defence,  and  pregnancy. 

GLEN  VILLAGE  (Falkirk).     G.  gleann,  a  glen  or  valley. 

GLENWHILLIE  (Stranraer).  G.  gleann  clwille,  '  glen  of  the 
wood.' 


124  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

GLOON  BURN  and  RIG  OP  GLOON  (Minigaff).  Prob.  G.  glun, 
the  knee.  Cf.  Glunpatrick,  Roscommon. 

GLOUPHOLM  (Shetland).  Prob.  '  soft  isle ; '  Icel.  gltipr,  soft, 
porous,  +  HOLM  ;  cf.  the  Sc.  gloppen,  to  become  soft. 

GLOWER-O'ER-EM  (Linlithgow).     Name  of  a  hill  with  a  fine 

view.     Sc.  glower  is  to  stare,  gaze. 
GOATFELL  (Arran).     Fell   is   Icel.  fell,   a   hill,   or  fjall,   a 

mountain. 
GODSCROFT    (Abbey    St    Bathan's).       'God's    field.'       See 

CROFTHEAD,  and  cf.  '  God's  acre,'  a  churchyard. 
GOGAR  (Edinburgh).     1250,  Gogger ;  a  '  Gogar '  is  marked  in 

1745  map  near  Alva.     Prob.  G.  goWia  or  gow,  a  smith, 

+  gdrradh,  enclosure,  yard.     Cf.  LOCHNAGAR. 
GOGO  BURN  (Largs). 
GOIL,  L.  (Firth  of  Clyde).    1430,  -goyle,   "  Loch  of  the  fork ;' 

G.  gablial,  -ail ;  it  forks  off  from  Loch  Long ;  perh.  f r. 

G.  gall,  goill,  '  a  stranger.' 

GOIN,  L.  (Fenwick).  'Loch  of  the  geese  or  barnacle  ducks;' 
G.  and  Ir.  geadh,  gen.  pi.  geadhan  (pron.  goin).  Cf. 
Loughnagoyne,  Mayo. 

GOLDEN  ACRE  (Edinburgh).  O.E.  acer,  cecer,  Icel.  akr  = 
L.  ager,  a  field. 

GOLSPIE  (Sutherland).  1330,  Goldespy;  1448,Golspi;  1550, 
Golspiekirktoun  (farm  of  Kirkton  still  there),  locally 
pron.  Gdishpie  or  Gheispie.  Either  fr.  some  Norse- 
man Gold  or  Goa,  or  fr.  G.  gall,  a  stranger  (cf.  the 
surnames  Gould  and  Gauld),  +  Dan.  by,  bi,  bae,  a 
hamlet,  town  (cf.  pol  for  bol,  p.  Ixiv).  Its  Celtic  name 
was  Kilmaly. 

GOMETRA,  I.  (Mull).  1390,  Godmadray;  1496,  Gowmedra. 
'  Godmadr '  or  *  Godmundr's  isle ; '  K  ay,  ey. 

GORBALS  (Glasgow).  Perh.  W.  gor,  spacious,  or  G.  gobhar,  a 
goat,  -f  G.  baile,  a  village,  with  the  common  Eng.  plural. 

GORDON  (Earlston).  1250,  Gordin ;  1289,  Gordun.  W.  gor 
din,  'spacious  hill;'  or  perh.,  like  GOURDON,  G.  gobhar 
(pron.  gore)  dun,  'goat-hill;'  but  Killgordon  in  Ireland 
is  Ir.  coill-na-gem'ridin,  'wood  of  the  parsnips,'  a  word 
which  does  not  seem  to  be  found  in  G. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  125 

GORDONSTOWN  (Aberdeen  and  Kirkcudbright).  Fr.  a  man, 
Gordon. 

GOREBRIDGE  (Dalkeith).  Hybrid;  G.  and  Ir.  gobhar,  a  goat; 
in  O.Ir.  gobur,  also  meant  a  horse ;  hence,  probably,  is 
it  so  common  in  place  names. 

GORGIE  (Edinburgh),  c.  1  280,  Gorgyn. 

GORTLECH  (Fort  Augustus).  G.  goirt  leac,  i  stone  in  the  field 
or  standing  corn.'  Cf.  cromlech,  i.e.,  'a  crooked  stone.' 

GOURDON  (Fordounj.  1315,  Gurdon.  Prob.  =  GORDON  ; 
perh.  fr.  G.  curr,  a  corner  or  a  pit. 

GOUROCK  (Greenock).  See  above ;  the  -ock  may  be  G. 
achadh,  a  field,  or  JS".  aig,  a  bay. 

GOVAN  (Glasgow),  a.  1147,  Guven  ;  1518,  Gwuan.  Might 
be  ' dear  river ; '  Celtic  gliu  an  (—  G.  abhainn),  W.  cu, 
dear  (cf.  GLASGOW)  :  or  second  syllable  might  be  G. 
bhemn,  a  ben  or  hill.  Not  likely  to  be  fr.  G.  gobhann, 
a  smith.  Cf.  GOWANBANK. 

GOWANBANK  (Arbroath  and  Falkirk).  Sc.  gowan  is  a  daisy, 
G.  and  Ir.  gugan,  a  flower,  a  bud. 

GOWRIE,  Carse  of  (Firth  of  Tay).  a.  1200,  Gouerin;  c. 
1200,  Gowrie.  G.  gabhar  or  gobhar,  a  goat;  but  the 
origin  of  the  last  syllable  is  doubtful.  The  old  name 
of  Ossory,  Leinster,  was  Gabhran  (pron.  Gowran). 

GRAHAMSTON  (Falkirk).  Modern;  it  stands  on  '  Graham's 
Muir,'  sic  1774,  fr.  Sir  John  de  Graham,  slain  here 
1298.  In  1295  (charters  of  the  Roses  of  Kilravock) 
we  find  the  name  both  Graham  and  Gram. 

GRAIN.  O.N.  greni,  a  branch,  as  of  a  tree.  In  Tweeddale 
and  Liddesdale  applied  to  branches  of  a  valley  towards 
its  head,  where  it  splits  into  two  or  three  small  glens, 
and  to  the  burns  or  waters  in  these ;  e.g.,  Grain  Burn, 
near  Coulterwaterhead. 

GRAMPIAN  MOUNTAINS.  H.  Boace,  F.  vii.  45  (ed.  1520),  is 
the  first  (T)  to  identify  them  with  Mom  Grampius  in 
Tacitus'  Agricola,  29,  where  Skene  reads  Granpius. 
Origin  unknown. 

GRANDTULLY  (Aberfeldy).     1492,   Grantuly ;   in  G.  Garan- 


126  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

tulach,  prob.  =  '  cairn-hill,'  and  <•/.  under  CAIRN  Touu 
But  it  is  sometimes  called  Baile  na  Grandaich,  '  the 
Grants'  village.' 

GRANGE  (Edinburgh,  Eo'ness,  Dunfer inline,  Burntisland, 
Keith).  '  Farm '  (see  ABBOTSGRANGE).  Common  in 
England. 

GRANGEMOUTH.  Owes  origin  to  the  Forth  and  Clyde  Canal, 
begun  1768,  at  whose  mouth,  and  also  at  the  mouth  of 
'  Grange  Burn,'  it  stands.  Takes  name  fr.  ABBOTS- 
GRANGE. 

GRANTON  (Edinburgh).  1544,  '  Grantaine  Cragge.'  Either 
'  Grant's  ton  or  village,'  or  fr.  G.  grdnda,  gen.  t/rdn- 
dainde,  ugly,  ill-favoured. 

GRANTOWN  (Inverness-sh.).  The  oldest  known  Grant  is 
'  Gregory  le  Grant,'  a.  1250. 

GRANTSHOUSE  (Berwicksh.).     Cf.  Grantham,  Lincoln. 

GRAVIR  (Lewis).  ?  Icel.  grdr,  grey,  or  ?  G.  garWi  tir,  '  rough 
land.' 

GREENGAIRS  (Airdrie).  'Green  fields;'  G.  yarradh.  Cf. 
FERNIEGAIR. 

GREENHILL  (Larbert),  GREENLAND,  Hill  of  (Dunnet),  GREEN- 
LAW  (Berwick  and  Crossmichael).  Berw.  G.,  1250,  Gren- 
lawe.  Five  Greenhills  in  England.  On  law,  see  p. 
Ixxvi. 

GREENLOANING  (Auchterarder).  Sc.  loan  is  a  green  lane, 
O.E.  lane,  Fris.  lona,  lana,  a  lane,  Icel.  Ion,  a  row  of 
houses.  For  -ing,  cf.  shieling,  fr.  Icel.  slgol,  a  shelter. 

GREENOCK.  G.  grian,  gen.  yreine,  the  sun,  +  cnoc,  a  hill,  or 
achadh,  a  field,  or  K  aig,  a  bay  (cf.  ASCOG).  There  are 
several  Greenoges  (Ir.  grianog)  in  Ireland,  meaning 
1  sunny  little  hill.'  Loch  Grennoch,  Minigaff,  is  either 
fr.  G.  greanach,  gravelly,  or  grianach,  sunny. 

GREENS  (Turriff)  and  GREENSIDE  (Edinburgh). 

GRENAN  (Bute),  GRENNAN  (Penpont,  and  several  in  Galloway). 
Bute  G.,  sic  1400.  G.  grianan,  a  sunny  spot,  summer- 
house,  also  a  mountain  peak,  fr.  grian,  the  sun. 

GRETNA  (Carlisle  and  Old  Luce).     1376,  Gretenhowe  ;  1576, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  127 

Gratnay.  Prob.  'how'  or  'hollow  of  greeting;'  O.E. 
gretan,"' to  greet,'  i.e.,  either  'to  salute,'  or,  as  still  in 
Sc.,  'to  weep,'  Icel.  grata,  to  weep.  For  similar 
corruptions  of  how,  cf.  RATHO  and  STOBO, 

GREYSTOXE  (Arbroath).     '  Grey's  town '  or  *  grey  stone.' 
GRIMSAY  (L.  Eport).     The  man  '  Grim's  isle ; '  X.  ay,  ey. 

GRISAPOLL  (Coll).  G.  gresacli,  a  cobbler,  or  Icel.  gris,  Dan. 
grits,  Sc.  grise,  a  young  pig,  +poll  =  l$.  161,  place, 
village. 

GRUDNESS  (Shetland).  ?  Icel.  grjot,  stones,  rubble,  O.E. 
greot,  sand,  'grit,'  +n-ess. 

GRUINART  or  -ARD  (Islay,  Gairloch).  Prob.  'green  bay;'  Dan. 
and  Sw.  gron,  Icel.  grcenn,  +  art,  ard,  a.rst,  =  N.  fjord 
(see  p.  Iv).  Some  say  '  shallow  bay ; '  fr.  Sw.  and 
Dan.  grund,  ground,  a  shoal. 

GRULINE  (Aros,  Mull). 

GRYFE  WATER  (Renfrew),  c.  1160,  Strath  Grief;  a.  1200, 
Gryff.  Perh.  W.  grif,  frog-spawn. 

GUARDBRIDGE  (St  Andrews).  Built  by  Bishop  AYardlaw, 
before  1440. 

GUAY  (Dunkeld).     Sic  1457.     G.  gaothacJi,  windy. 
GUILDTOWN  (Perth). 

GUISACHAN  (Beauly).  1578,  -ane.  Pron.  Gheesachan. 
G.  giuthsaclian,  '  pine  forests ; '  fr.  G.  giutJtafi,  a  pine, 
Scotch  fir.  Cf.  Inverghuisachan,  Loch  Etivc. 

GULLANE  (Longniddry).  1 250,  Golyn.  Pron.  Gillan ; 
orgin  doubtful.  W.  golyn  is  'the  guard  of  a  sword,' 
which  might  refer  to  the  shape  of  the  bay.  The  name 
Gillon  is  just  the  G.  gille  or  giolla  Eoin,  'John's 
servant.'  Perh.  the  first  syllable  is  O.E.,  O.X.,  and 
Dan.  gul(l],  golden,  yellow. 

GUSHETFAULDS  (Glasgow).  Sc.  gusliet  is  a  triangular  corner, 
Fr.  gousset,  a  gusset  in  a  dress  or  boot ;  fauld  is  =  fold, 
O.E.  fold,  Dan.  fold,  lit.  'an  enclosure  by  felled  trees,' 
Prof.  Veitch. 

GUTCHER  (Cullivoe,  Shetland). 


128  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

GUTHRIE  (Arbroath).     1359,  Gutherie.     G.  gaothair,  -aire, 
*  windy.'     The  surname  is  derived  from  the  place. 

GWENYSTRAD  (Galashiels).     W.  =  '  white  strath '  or  '  vale  ; ' 
now  usually  called  WEDALE. 


II 

HABBIE'S  How  (Carlops).  Sc.  for  ' Halbert's  hollow  ; '  O.K. 
holg,  holh,  a  hollow,  fr.  hoi,  a  hole. 

HADDINGTON.  a.  1150,  Hadintun,  Hadingtoun.  'Hading's 
village ; '  O.K.  tun,  ton.  Hading  is  said  to  be  a 
Frisian  name,  some  early  settler's.  There  are  two 
Haddenhams  in  England. 

HADDO  HOUSE  (Aberdeensh.).  Sic  1654.  G.  fhada,  long  ; 
/  lost  by  aspiration.  Of.  ATTOW. 

HAGGS,  The  (Denny).  O.E.  haga,  a  hedge,  Old  Sc.  hag, 
copsewood.  Cf.  Hag,  Parton. 

HAILES,  New  (Musselburgh).  1250,  Halis;  1467,  Newhal. 
1  O.E.  7 teal,  heall,  Icel.  holl,  hall,  a  public  room,  a  hall  : 
fr.  O.E.  heal,  a  stone. 

HAIRMYBES  (Renfrew).  First  syllable  prob.  O.E.  har,  her, 
a  boundary  ;  second  syllable  is  Icel.  myrr,  myri,  X. 
myre,  a  swamp  fen.  Of.  HARLAW  ;  also  Halmyre,  or 
-mure,  Kelton. 

HALBEATH  (Dunfermline).  G.  choil  beath,  *  wood  of  birches;' 
c  lost  by  aspiration.  Cf.  CALROSSIE. 

HALF  MORTON  (Canonbie).     See  MORTON. 

HALIVAL  (mountain,  Rum).  1  G.  chala  na  l)hail,  'haven, 
shore,  bay  of  the  village.' 

HALKERSTON  (Moray),  c.  1200,  -ertoune.  'Hawker's,'  i.e., 
'  fowler's,  village ; '  Icel.  haukr,  a  hawk.  Cf.  EULLERTON, 
also  'baldric'  and  'bawdric.' 

HALKIRK  (Caithness).  Sic  1500,  but  in  saga  Hd  Kirkiu, 
'high  church;'  1222,  Hakirk ;  1274,  Haukyrc ;  1601, 
Halkrig.  The  I  is  prob.  due  to  association  with  Icel.  hall-r, 
a  slope,  frequent  as  Hall-,  in  Scandinavian  place-names, 
Hall-ormr,  Hall-land,  &c.  On  Kirk,  see  KIRKBAY. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  129 

HALLADALE  (Sutherland),  or,  by  tautology,  Strath  Halla- 
dale;  e.  1230,  Helgedall;  1274,  Haludal.  'Holy  dale' 
or  'vale  of  saints ; '  Icel.  heilag-r,  Dan.  hellig,  O.E.  hdlig, 
holy,  hdlga,  a  saint  (cf.  to  hallow),  +  N.  dal,  a  dale.  Cf. 
Hallaton,  Uppingham. 

HALLIN-IN-VATERNISH  (Skye).  Cf.  Hallen,  near  Bristol, 
and  see  VATERNISH. 

HALLRULE  (Hobkirk,  Hawick).  c.  1560,  Harroull.  Modern 
'  refining '  for  the  traditional  Harrule,  i.e.,  Haraway 
Kule,  Rula  Herevei.  See  ABBOTRULE. 

HALLSIDE  (Glasgow).  Prob.  tautology  fr.  Icel.  hall-r,  a  slope. 
See  HALKIRK. 

HAMILDEAN-HILL  (Lyne).  Prob.  'Ham  il's  woody  glen.'  See 
DEAN,  and  next. 

HAMILTON.  1291,  Hamelton ;  the  surname  also  occurs  as 
Hambleton.  Walter  'Eitz-Gilbert,'  called  Hamilton, 
is  known  to  have  held  the  lands  in  1296.  Hamil  is 
still  an  English  surname.  The  old  name  was  CADZOW. 

HAMMA  VOE  (Yell).     Sagas,  Hafnarvag.      Dan.  Jiawi,  Icel. 

hofn,  a  '  haven, '  +  0.l!s".  vag-r,  a  bay  or  inlet.     Voe  is 

Icel.  vor,  a  little  bay  or  inlet. 
HANGINGSHAW  (farms,  Coulter).     '  Wood  on  the  side  of  the 

hill.'     See  SHAW. 
HARBURN  (Carnwath).     O.E.  har,  her,   'a  boundary  mark;' 

cf.  'menhar,'  boundary  stone. 
HARLAW  (Aberdeen),      c.  1500,  Hayrlau.     '  Boundary  hill ;' 

O.E.  hldew.     Cf.  Harelaw,  Lochore,  Fife,  and  Herlaw, 

E.  Kilbride. 
HARLOSH  (Dunvegan).    G.  chdrr  lois,  'rock  of  the  fire.'    Cf. 

Ironlosh,  Galloway. 
HAROLDSWICK  (Balta  Sound).      'Bay  (N.  vik)  of  Harold,' 

prob.  King  H.  Hardrada,  died  1066. 

HARRAY  (Orkney).  Old,  Herad,  O.K  for  'territory.'  See 
BIRSAY. 

HARRIS,  c.  1500,  Blc.  Clanmnald,  Heradh;  1542,  Harrige ; 
1588,  Harreis.  N.  karri,  'heights,'  with  Eng.  plural 
s.  Its  G.  name  is  Na  h'earadh  (dirdead),  with  same 
meaning.  This  last  accounts  for  the  form  c.  1500, 
though  we  must  cf.  HARRAY. 


130  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

HARSTANB  (Kirkurd).  'Boundary  stone.'  See  HARBURN, 
and  <'/.  Haer  Cairns,  Clunie,  Blairgowrie,  and  Kinlocli 
(Perthshire),  and  Haerland  Faulds,  Finhaven. 

HARTFELL,  and  HARTHILL  (Whitburn).  O.E.  heor(o)t,  Icel. 
hjorl-r,  a  male  deer. 

HARTREE  (Biggar).     'Boundary  tree.'     Of.  HARBURN. 

HARVIESTON  (Edinburgh).  1250,  Heruistun.  'Harvey's 
dwelling.'  Of.  HALLRULE. 

HASKBVAL  (mountain,  Rum).  Ha#k  is  prob.  corruption  of 
G.  crosg,  a  pass,  cf.  ARNGASK  and  CASKIEBEN  ;  so  it 
will  be  'pass  of  the  dwelling,'  bail.  Cf.  HALIVAL. 

HASSENDEAN  (Hawick).  1155,  Halestonesden ;  1158,  Has- 
tenden ;  c.  1320,  Hassenden.  O.E.  hdlig  stem  denu> 
'  dean,  wooded  valley  of  the  holy  stone.' 

HATLOCK  (TAveeddale).  The  root  idea  of  both  our  Eng. 
words  hat  (O.E.  haet,  Icel.  hatt-r,  Dan.  hat)  and  lock 
(O.E.  loca,  loc,  Icel.  I  ok)  is  '  covering.'  But  early 
forms  of  this  name  are  needed.  Cf.  Matlock. 

HATTON  (Ellon,  Perthsh.,  and  Montrose).  Prob.  c.  970,  Pid. 
Chron.,  Athan  =  G.  ath  abliainn  or  an,  'ford  of  the 
river'  (cf.  AYTON).  Ir.  aiteann  (pron.  attan)  is  furze,  as 
in  Ballynahattin.  There  is  a  Hattonknowe,  Eddleston, 
the  'Haltoun'  or  'village  by  the  hall,' mentioned  a. 
1400.  Three  in  England. 

HAUGH  (Coulter,  &c.).  O.E.  halech(&sina.  1150,  '  Galtunes- 
halech,'  Melrose,  =  Gattonshaugh),  Icel.  hagi,  a  pasture- 
place  which  is  flat,  and  by  a  river-side.  Cf.  SAUCHIB. 
But 

HAUGH  OF  URR  (Dalbeattie)  is  X.  hoi,  a  hill,  O.K  hauya, 
a  mound. 

HA  WES  INN  (S.  Qucensferry).  Prob.  Icel.  hdls,  M.E.  and 
Sc.  halse,  hause,  the  neck,  throat ;  hence,  a  narrow 
opening,  defile. 

HAWICK.  a.  1183,  Hawic,  Hawich,  Hauuic.  First  syllable 
may  be  fr.  either  root  of  HAUGH  ;  the  second  is  O.E. 
•toic,  M.E.  loiclc,  with,  dwelling,  village,  as  in  BERWICK, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  131 

HAWTHORN  DEN  (Edinburgh).     Of.  DEAN. 
HAYWOOD  (Lanark). 

HEBRIDES,  c.  1 20,  Ptolemy,  Ebudae  (prob.,  too,  the  same  word 
as  the  Epidii,  who,  according  to  him,  inhabited  most  of 
modern  Argyle) ;  Soliims,  Polyhistor.,  3rd  century, 
Hebudes  (Ulst.  Ann.,  ann.  853,  Innsegall,  'isles  of 
strangers,'  i.e.,  Norsemen;  and  always  called  by  the 
Norsemen  'Sudreys'  or  Southern  isles  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  Northern  Orkneys,  &c.,  the  '  Nordreys '). 
Origin  unknown ;  possibly  Old  G.  c(h)abad,  a  head,  or 
c(h)dbadh,  a  notching,  indenting.  The  u  is  supposed  to 
have  become  ri  through  some  early  printer's  error. 

HECKLEGIRTH  (Annan).  '  Church-field '  or  '  yard.'  See 
ECCLES  (1297,  Hecles),  ECCLEFECHAN,  and  APPLEGARTH. 

HEE,  Ben  (Keay).  Perh.  G.  fliiadli,  a  deer  (cf.  HADDO). 
As  likely  fr.  sltith  (pron.  hee),  peace,  i.e.,  'tame,  peaceful- 
looking  hill.'  Cf.  TEE. 

HEITON  (Kelso).  K  hoi,  a  hill,  4-  O.E.  ton,  tun,  a  village. 
Cf.  Huyton,  Cheshire. 

HELENSBURGH.  Founded  c.  1776  by  Sir  James  Colquhoun, 
and  called  after  his  wife. 

HELLMUIR,  L.  (Hawick).  K  liella,  'flat,'  +O.K,  Icel, 
and  Dan.  mor,  a  moor,  marsh. 

HELL'S  GLEN  (Lochgoilhead). 

HELMSDALE  (Sutherland),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Hjalmund- 
dal;  another  Saga,  Hialmasdal;  1290,Holmesdale;  1513, 
Helmisdaill.  '  Hjalmund's  dale,'  or  '  valley  of  the  helmet ; ' 
Icel.  lijalm-r,  Dan.  hjelm.  Cf.  Helmsley,  Yorkshire,  and 
Helmdon. 

HEMPRIGGS  (Wick).  Icel.  hamp-r,  Dan.  liamp,  hemp.  On 
rig,  see  BISHOPBRIGGS. 

HERBERTSHIRE  CASTLE  (Denny).  Sic  c.  1630;  said  to  have 
been  given  by  an  early  James  to  the  Earl  of  Wigton 
as  his  '  halbert's  share,'  for  service  in  war. 

HERIOT  (Stow).  1250,  Herieth  ;  c.  1264,  Herewyt.  O.E. 
here-geatu,  '  army-equipment,'  a  '  heriot,'  payment  given 
to  the  lord  of  a  fee  on  the  death  of  a  vassal  or  tenant. 

HERIOTFIELD  (Methven). 


132  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

HERMISTON  (Currie).     1251,  Hyrdmanstoun,  '  herdman's '  or 

'  Herdman's  village.'     Of.  HALKERSTON. 
HERMITAGE  CASTLE  (Riccarton  Junction).     1300,  Eremitage  ; 

f r.  Fr.  ermite,  Gk.  ep^/xtrr;?,  a  hermit,  fr.  ep^os,  solitary. 

Of.  vicarage. 

HERRIES  (Dumfries).  1578,  Hereis  (1585,  'Herres,'  in 
Glenelg) .  =  HARRIS. 

HEUGH.     O.K  hauga,  a  mound. 

HIGH  BLANTYRE.  See  BLANTYRE.  '  High '  or  *  Higher  '  is 
very  common  as  a  prefix  in  England.  This  is  the  only 
instance  of  consequence  in  Scotland. 

HIGHLANDMAN  (Crieff).  Humorous  name.  The  earliest 
mention  of  the  word  Highland  I  have  found  is  in  the 
poet  Dunbar,  who  in  1503,  in  his  Daunce,  speaks  of  'a 
Heleand  padyane'  or  pagan;  Lyndesay,  c.  1536,  in  his 
Compleynt,  384,  has  '  Baith  throw  the  heland  and  the 
bordour;'  while  Hollinshed,  1577,  says,  'Justice  should 
be  administered  in  the  Isles  and  hie  lands.' 

HIGHTAE  (Lockerbie).  Can  hardly  be  fr.  O.E.  and  Icel. 
id,  toe ;  but  cf.  the  fee.  tee,  point  of  aim  in  quoits  or 
starting-point  in  golf,  fr.  Icel,  tjd,  to  mark. 

HILLEND  (Inverkeithing),  HILLHEAD  (Glasgow),  HILLSIDE 
(Aberdeen  and  Montrose),  HILLTOWN  (Dundee). 

HILLSWICK    (Lerwick).     Saga,  Hildiswik,   i.e.,   'battle-bay/ 

Cf.  WICK. 
HILTON  (Fearn).      1544,  Hiltown.      =  HILLTOWN.     Five  in 

England. 
HINTON  (Anwoth).     'Hind's,   servant's  place;'   O.E.   hina- 

tun.     Cf.  Carleton  or  '  churl's  place.' 

HIRSEL  (Coldstream).  Sie  1572.  Sc.  hirsle,  a  shepherd's 
term,  means  to  move  along  on  the  hams  ;  but  1  con- 
nection here. 

HOBKIRK  (Hawick).  1220.  Hopechirke  ;  1586,  Hopeskirk  ; 
c.  1610,  Hoppkirck;  still  sometimes  Hopekirk.  Sc. 
hope  (e.g.,  c.  1200,  Hopekeliov,  see  KAILZIE)  is  a  valley 
among  hills,  a  cul  de  sac,  Icel.  hop,  a  haven,  place  of 
refuge.  On  kirk,,  see  KIRKABY,  and  cf.  KIRKHOPE. 

HODDAM  (Ecclefechan)  and  HODDOM  (Parton).     Ecclef.  H.T 


PLACE-NAMES   OF -SCOTLAND.  133 

1116,  Hodelm;  1185,  Jocelyn,  Holdelin;  c.  1320,  Hod- 
holme.  First  syllable  prob.  =  hold,  in  sense  of  '  fortress,' 
hold  being  pron.  hod  in  the  north  of  England.  Holm  in 
Icel.  is  a  meadow  near  the  sea  or  a  river,  but  in  place- 
names  of  ten  used  interchangeably  with  ham  for  'dwelling, 
house'  (cf.  LANGHOLM,  YETHOLM,  also  Durham,  old  Dun- 
elm).  Hoddam  will  thus  prob.  mean  'fortified  dwelling.' 

HOLLAND  (S.  Eonaldshay).  Sice.  1500.  'Hole  (Icel.  and 
O.E.  hoi)  land,'  land  in  a  hollow. 

HOLLANDBUSH  (Denny). 

HOLM  (Orkney).  Dan.  and  O.E.  holm,  a  small  island  in  a 
river,  Icel.  holm-r,  an  island,  also  a  meadow  near  river 
or  sea;  and  often  interchanged  with  ham  (cf.  LANGHOLM, 
YETHOLM,  &c.).  Six  Holmes  in  England.  But  Glenholm, 
Peebles,  can  hardly  be  the  same  word,  for  its  forms  are 
—c.  1200,  Glenwhym;  c.  1300,  -whim ;  1530,  -quhome, 
which  may  be  '  glen  of  the  captive ;'  G.  chiomaich. 

HOLY  ISLE  (Lainlash).  Sagas,  Melansay,  '  Melan's '  or  '  St 
Molios'  isle.'  His  well  here  was  long  famed  for  its 
cures.  Cf.  LAMLASH. 

HOLYROOD  (Edinburgh),  c.  1128,  foundation  charter, 
'  Ecclesia  Sancti l  Crucis;'  as  late  as  1504,  '  Abbey  of  the 
Holy  Croce.'  Rood  is  O.E.  rod,  a  rod,  pole,  cross.  Eor 
the  legend  how  David  I.  scared  the  fierce  stag  with  the 
miraculously  given  '  holy  rood,'  see  Grant's  Old  and  Neio 
Edinburgh,  i.  21. 

HOLYTOWN  (Coatbridge).     Pron.  H611ytown. 

HOLYWOOJD  (Dumfries).  Aberdeen  Brev.,  Sacrum  Nenius.  A 
monastery  once  here.  Its  old  name  was  Darcongall, 
'thicket,  wood  (G.  daire)  of  StCongal.' 

HOPE,  Ben  and  L.  (Eriboll).  Icel.  hop,  a  haven  of  refuge. 
See  HOBKIRK,  and  p.  Ixi. 

HOPEKIRK.     See  HOBKIRK. 

HOPEMAN  (Burghead).  Icel.  hop,  haven  of  refuge.  Man 
might  be  G.  manach,  a  monk. 

HORNDEAN  (Berwick).     ?  G.  ornach,  barley,  +  DEAN. 

HOSH  (Crieff).  Its  site  shows  it  is  an  aspirated  form  of  G. 
cois  (pron.  cosh),  '  the  foot.' 

1  The  medieval  Latin  charters  often  pay  little  attention  to  gender. 

P 


134  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

HOUNAM  (Kelso).  c.  1200,  Humim,  Hunedun;  1237, 
Honum ;  1 544,  Hownome.  Prob.  '  hound's  home  or 
place'  (O.E.  ham);  O.E.,  Dan.,  and  Sw.  hund,  a  dog. 
Of.  EDNAM,  EDROM. 

HOUNDWOOD  (Grantshouse). 

HOUBN,  L.  (W.  Inverness).  Prob.  urrin  or  uitharn,  hell; 
corruption  of  G.  Ifreoine,  which,  nota  bene,  was  the 
cold  island  of  Fingal,  fr.  fuar,  cold.  Cf.  Glenurrin, 
Cowal. 

HOUSTON  (Johnstone).  c.  1200,  Villa  Hugonis ;  c.  1230, 
Huston;  c.  1300,  Houstoun.  'Village  of  Hugo'  de 
Paduinan,  mentioned  in  the  Paisley  Chartulary,  c. 
1160.  Cf.  SYMINGTON,  and  see  p.  Ixxiv. 

HOWFF  (farm,  Orkney).  Sc.  Iwwff  is  a  rendezvous,  house  of 
call;  but  in  N.  hof  means  properly  'the  house  of  God.' 

HOWMORE  (Lochmaddy).  How  prob.  represents  some  G 
word.  G.  mor  is  '  big.' 

HOWOOD  (Johnstone). 

HOWPASLEY  (Roberton,  Roxburgh).  Sc.  Iww  is  a  hollow. 
Cf.  HABBIE'S  How  and  PAISLEY. 

HOXAY  (S.  Ronaldshay).  c.  1390,  Haugaheith,  which  is 
O.K  for  '  mound  of  the  heath '  or  '  waste.'  The  -ay 
means  '  island.' 

HOY  (Orkney),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Haey;  c.  1580,  Hy. 
'High  isle;'  Icel.  hd-r,  Dan.  hoi,  high,  +  IS",  ay,  ey,  an 
island.  Cf.  Hysker,  '  high  rock.'  west  of  Rum. 

HUGHTON  (Beauly). 

HUMBIE  (Haddington,  and  Aberdour,  Fife).  Prob.  '  Hume's 
place  or  dwelling;'  Dan.  bi,  by,  northern  O.E.  ~by. 
There  is  no  -by  or  -bie  between  Aberdour  and  Caith- 
ness. 

HUME   (Greenlaw).      1250,    Home.     Home  and  Hume  are 
,     still  common  surnames  hereabouts. 

HUNA  (Canisbay).  Sagas,  Hofn,  i.e.,  'haven.'  The  -a  is 
N.  ay,  ey,  isle.  Prob.  referring  to  Stroma  opposite. 

HUNGYRFLAT.     1361,  in  Liddesdale.     Cf.  SKINFLATS. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  135 

HUNTER'S  QUAY  (Frith  of  Clyde).      On  the  estate  of  the 

Hunters  of  Hafton. 
HUNTINGTOWER  (Perth).      Hunting-seat   of  Lord   Ruthven. 

Cf.  'Castle  Stalker.' 
HUNTLAW  (Roxburgh).     Sic  1170.     O.E.  hunta,  a  hunter,  + 

lilcBW,  a  hill. 
HUNTLY  (Aberdeensh.).    1482,  -lie.    Originally  the  name  of  a 

Berwickshire  hamlet,  now  extinct,  and  transferred  north 

by  the  Duke  of  Gordon  •  =  '  hunting  lea '  or  '  meadow.' 

Cf.  Huntley,  Gloucester. 

HURLET  (Barrhead).  Possibly  G.  cliur  liath,  '  the  grey  turn ' 
or  '  bend '  (G.  car). 

HURLFORD  (Kilmarnock).  If  above  be  correct,  which  is 
doubtful,  this  cannot  be  the  same.  Prob.  liurl  =  whirl, 
referring  to  the  river  Irvine. 

HUSEDALEBEG  and  -MORE  (Skye).  Hybrids  ;  Icel.,  Dan.,  and 
Sw.  husdal,  '  house-dale,'  +  G.  beag,  little,  and  m6r, 
big. 

HUTTON  (Berwicksh.  and  Lockerbie).  Berw.  H.,  c.  1300, 
Hutona.  Prob.  not  '  hut-village,'  as  hut  is  not  in  O.E., 
rather  '  Hugh's  village '  (cf.  HOUSTON).  Seven  in  Eng- 
land. Isaac  Taylor  says  the  English  Buttons  mean 
'  enclosure  on  a  hoo  or  projecting  heel  of  land.' 

HYLIPOL.  Sagas,  Heylipol.  '  Heyli's  place  ; '  JS".  161.  Cf. 
p.  Ixiv. 

HYNISH  (Tyree).  Dan.  lioi  naes,  'high  ness'  or  '  promontory.' 
Cf.  YATERNISH. 


IBROX  (Glasgow).     (Cf.  c.  1200,  'Monabroc,'  in 

not  far  away.)     /  might  be  the  Ir.  liy,  '  tribe, 
in  Ikeathy,  Kildare  ;    and  there  is  an  Irish  j^t 
Broc  means   a   badger   both   in    G.   and   in  '6? 
BROXBURN,  &c.  ^     &• 

IDRIGILL  POINT  (Skye).     1  Er.  Idris,  a  reputed  giant,  as  l 

Cader  Idris,  Wales,  +  Icel.  gil,  a  ravine.  {'}  vi  t  cl  T i 0  , 

IDVIES  (Montrose).      1219,  Edevy ;    1254,  Edevyn.     Prob. 


136  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND. 

G.  fliada  dbh  or  abhuinn,  ( long  water '  or  '  river '  (cf. 
ADD  and  ADVIE).  The  s  is  the  English  plural. 

INCH  (Forfar,  Perth,  and  Wigtown,  also  loch,  Kincraig,  and 
isle  in  Tweed).  G.  and  Ir.  innis,  an  island;  also  'pasture- 
ground,  links.'  The  Gael  loves  to  aspirate  his  s.  Wig- 
town Island  is  so  called  fr.  the  island  in  the  White  Loch 
of  Inch.  Cf.  INSCH. 

INCHADDON  (Taymouth  Castle).  'Isle  of  St  Aidan,'  died 
651. 

INCHAFFRAY  (Muthil).  c.  1190,  'Incheaffren Latine 

Insula  Missarum;'  1290,  Incheafraue.  'Isle  of  the 
offering.'  i.e.,  '  the  mass  ; '  G.  aifrenn  or  aoibhrionn, 
corruption  of  late  L.  offerens,  offering  or  mass.  Cf. 
INNERPEFFRAY,  and  the  surname  Jaffrey. 

INCHARD,  L.  (Sutherland).  G.  innis  dirct,  '  isle  of  the 
height.' 

INCHBARE  (Brechin).  Here  G.  innis  has  its  meaning  of 
'  pasture-ground,  sheltered  valley  : '  and  the  meaning 
prob.  is  '  field  of  the  battle '  or  '  game ; '  G.  innis  baire. 

INCHCAILLOCH  (L.  Lomond).  '  Isle  of  ntins,'  lit.  '  old 
women ; '  G.  cailleacli.  Ruins  of  a  nunnery  here. 

INCHCOLM  (Aberdour,  Fife).  Monastery  founded  here  by 
Alexander  L,  c.  1123,  whose  charter  calls  this  'Insula 
Sancti  Columbse,'  or  'St  Columba's  isle;'  in  G.  Innis 
Colum,  cf.  p.  xcii. 

INCHES  (Douglas).  G.  innis,  a  meadow,  'links,'  with  Eng. 
plural.  Cf.  INCHBARE  and  Perth  Inches. 

INCHGARVIE  (Queensferry).     G.  innis  garbh,   '  rough,  rocky 

islet.' 
INCHINNAN  (Paisley).     1158,  -enan,  -ienun ;    1246,  -innun. 

'  Inch  of  St  Adamnan '  (cf.  KIRKENNAN,  and  see  p.  xcv). 

The  inch  is  the  angle  made  by  the  junction  of  the  rivers 

Gryfe  and  Cart ;  G.  innis}  an  isle  or  a  meadow. 

INCHKEITH  (in  Firth  of  Forth,  and  hill  near  Lauder).  a. 
1200,  Insula  KeS  ;  1461,  Ynchkeyth.  Bede,  c.  720, 
speaks  of  Urbs  Giudi  in  the  midst  of  the  Firth  of  Forth ; 
which  frith  the  Irish  once  called  Sea  of  Giudan  or  of 
the  Giuds ;  perh.  =  the  Jutes  f r.  Jutland.  May  mean 
'isle  of  Che,:  Pictish  prince,  one  of  the  seven  sons  of 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  137 

the  famous  Cruithne.  Skene  (Celtic  ScotL,  i.  208) 
thinks  fr.  a  successor  of  his,  Gaeth  or  Giudid  Gaeth 
brechach.  Of.  KEITH. 

INCHMAHOME  (L.  of  Monteith).  Sic  c.  1550:  1296,  lisle 
de  St  Colmoc.  *  Isle  of  Macholmoc,'  the  Irish  pet  name 
of  St  Colman,  c.  520.  See  p.  xcv,  and  cf.  KiLMALc6LM. 

INCHMARNOCK  (Bute).  '  Isle  of  St  Marnock,'  pet  form  of 
Ernan.  See  KILMARNOCK. 

INCHMICKERY  (Aberdour,  Fife).  G.  innis  na  bkicaire,  '  isle  of 
the  vicar.'  Inchcolm  Monastery  was  close  by. 

INCHMOIN  or  -MOAN  (L.  Lomond).  'Isle  of  the  mossy  spot ;' 
G.  moine. 

INCHNADAMPF  (L.  Inver).  G.  innis  na  daimli,  'pasture- 
ground  of  the  ox.' 

INCHTURE  (Errol).  1183,  -ethore.  'Inch'  or  'links  of  the 
tower '  or  '  hill ; '  G.  tbrr. 

INGAN  (hill,  Kinross).    G.  ionga,  'anail,  talon,  claw,' fr.  its  shape. 
INGLESTON  (T wynholm).  '  Village  of  the  English '  or  '  of  Inglis. ' 

IN(N)ISHAIL  (L.  Awe).  1375,  Insalte ;  1542,  Inchalt.  G. 
innis  ailt,  'stately,  charming  isle.' 

IN(N)ISTRYNICH  (peninsula,  L.  Awe).  Prob.  G.  innis  nan 
Druineacli,  '  isle  of  artists  or  sculptors  \ '  so  Prof. 
M'Kinnon. 

INKERMAN  (Paisley).     Fr.  the  battle  in  the  Crimea,  1854, 

INKHORN  (New  Deer).  Likely  to  be  the  corruption  of  G. 
ionga,  pi.  iongaingean,  nail,  claw,  cloven  hoof.  Cf. 
INGAN,  CLEGHORN,  and  DREGHORN. 

INNELLAN  (Firth  of  Clyde).  1571,  -lane.  Prob.  G.  an  eilean, 
'  the  island,'  fr.  the  rocks  off  the  shore. 

INNERLEITHEN  (Galashiels).  G.  inWiir,  mouth  of  a  river  or 
confluence,  is  a  purely  Gadhelic  form  =  the  Bry thonic, 
and  prob.  also  Gadhelic  dbhir  or  aber  (see  p.  xxvii). 
Inbhir  in  place-names  is  always  fluctuating  between 
inver-  and  inner-,  the  b  getting  lost  by  aspiration ;  e.g., 
this  name,  c.  1160,  is  Inverlethan,  'confluence  of  the 
R.  Leithen,'  which  may  either  be  G.  liath,  leithe  an  or 
abhainn,  'grey  river,'  or  =  LEiTH,  fr.  W.  Ueithio,  to 
moisten. 


138  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

INNERPEFFRAY  (Crieff).  1296,  Inrepeffre.  '  Confluence  of  the 
Peffray,'  corruption  of  G.  aoibhrionn,  offering.  See  INCH- 
AFFRAY,  which  is  just  to  the  east ;  cf.  also  river  PEFFER. 

INNERWICK  (Dunbar).  1 250,  Inuerwike.  Hybrid ;  G.  inbhir 
+  O.E.  wic,  'dwelling,  village,' or  !N".  vik,  'bay  at  the 
confluence.'  Cf.  LINTON,  POLTON,  &c. 

INSCH  (Aberdeensh.).  a.  1300,  Insula.  =!NCH;  G.  innis, 
1  isle '  or  '  links,  meadow.'  S  in  G.  generally  has  the 
sound  of  sh. 

INVER  (Crathie,  Tain,  where  the  Bran  joins  Tay,  river  and 
loch  in  W.  Sutherland).  See  INNERLEITHEN  ;  = '  con- 
fluence' (cf.  Aber,  Bangor).  The  Tain  Inver  was 
originally  Inverlochslin. 

INVERALLOCHY  (Aberdeen).     G.  inbhir   ciilleach,    'beautiful 

confluence.' 

INVERAMSAY  (Inverurie).     1  '  Eamsay's  confluence.' 
INVERAN  (Bonar  Bridge).     G.  inbhiran,  'little  confluence.' 

INVER-  or  INNER-ARITY  (Forfar).  1250,  Inuerarethin.  Prob. 
'confluence  at  the  shielings;'  G.  airidliean.  Cf.  INVER- 

QUHARITY. 

INVERARY,     '  Mouth  of  the  ARAY  '  or  '  smooth  river.' 
INVERAVON  (Balindalloch).     '  Confluence  of  the  AVON.' 

INVERCANNICH  (Beauly).  '  Confluence  of  the  Cannich.'  Prob. 
the  G.  caonnag,  a  fight,  a  fray. 

INVERDOVET  (N.  Fifesh.).  Old,  -dufatha  or  -doveth,  i.e.,  G. 
dubli  ath  or  dtha,  '  black  ford '  or  '  kiln.' 

INVERESKANDY  (Fern,  Forfar).  G.  inbhir  uisgain  dim  '  con- 
fluence of  the  dark  little  water  or  stream.'  , 

INVERFARIGAIG  (L.  Ness).  '  Mouth  of  the  fierce,  turbulent 
little  river;'  G.  feavgaig,  dimin.  of feargach,  fierce.  Cf. 
ABERARGIE  and  FARG. 

INVERGARRY  (Fort  Augustus).     '  Mouth  of  the  GARRY  '  or 

'  rough  river.' 
INVERGORDON  (E.  Eoss-sh.).     Quite  recent ;  used  to  be  Inver- 

or  Inch-breckie ;  G.  breac,  speckled. 

INVERGOWRIE  (Dundee).  This  can  only  mean  'place  in 
Gowrie  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tay.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  139 

INVERIE  (Fort  Augustus  and  Oronsay).  (Old  name  of  St 
Monan's,  *  Inverry ').  The  -ie  is  perh.  G.  iodh,  corn. 

INVERINGATE  (Lochalsh).  1  Fr.  G.  ionga-aite,  '  claw  or  hoof- 
like  place.'  Cf.  INGAN. 

INVERKEILOR  (Arbroath).  c.  1200,  Innerkeledur,  which 
shows  that  Keilor  is  just  another  form  of  CALDER  ;  G. 
coille  dur  or  '  wood  by  the  river.' 

INVERKEITHING  (Dunfermline).  1229,  Innerkeithing;  1250, 
Innerkethyn;  1290,  Inver- and Inner-kethin.  'Mouth 
of  the  Keithing;'  1  G.  tithean,  grumbling,  lamenting. 
Cf.  next. 

INVERKEITHNY  (Turriff).  Here  K&ithny  prob.  represents 
some  G.  adjective  formed  from  KEITH. 

INVERKINDIE  (Rhynie,  Aberdeen).  River  Kindie  is  the 
G.  cinn  dim,  '  black  head.' 

INVER-  or  INNER-KIP  (Greenock).  c.  1170,  Innyrkyp.  Kip 
is  G.  and  Ir.  ceap,  a  block,  trunk  of  a  tree;  in  G.  a 
shoelast.  Cf.  Edinkyp,  Loch  Earn,  and  Coolkip  and 
Knockacip,  Ireland. 

INVERLEITH  (Edinburgh),  c.  1145,  Inverlet;  also  Iiinerleith. 
'  Mouth  of  the  Water  of  LEITH.'  The  present  Inverleith 
is  a  good  distance  from  the  sea,  one  of  the  many  proofs 
of  the  once  much  wider  extent  of  the  Firth  of  Forth. 

INVERLOCHY  (Fort  William).     '  Mouth  of  the  river  LOCHY.' 

INVERNESS,  a.  1300,  Invernis;  c.  1310,  Invirnisse ;  1509, 
Innernis.  See  NESS. 

INVERNOOK  BAY  (Jura).  G.  iribhir  an  uige,  '  confluence  in 
the  nook.'  Cf.  CRAIGNEUK. 

INVERQUHARITY  (Kirriemuir).  1444,  Innerquharady,  Iner- 
carity.  *  Confluence  of  the  pair  of  streams;  G.  c(h)araid. 
Cf.  CART. 

INVERSHIN  (Sutherland).     '  Mouth  of  the  river  SHIN.' 

INVERSNAID  (L.  Lomond).  '  Needle-like  or  narrow  con- 
fluence ;'  G.  and  Ir.  snathad,  a  needle. 

INVER-  or  INNER-TIEL  (Kirkcaldy).  'Mouth  of  the  Tiel;' 
?  G.  t-siol,  spawn,  fish-fry,  seed. 

INVERUGIE  (Peterhead).     a.  1300,  Innerugy.     River  Ugie  is 


140  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

G.  uigeach,  full  of  nooks  or  retired  corners,  fr.  wig,  a 
nook. 

INVERUGLAS  (L.  Lomond).  'Confluence  of  the  grey  pro- 
montory;' G.  rudha  glas. 

INVERURIE  (Aberdeensh.).     Sic  1199;  1203,  Inuerurin;  a. 

1300,  Innervwry.     *  Confluence  of  the  river  URIE.' 
IOCHDAR   (S.   TJist).     G.    'the   bottom,  nether  lands.'     Gf. 

YOKER. 

IONA  (Mull),  c.  657,  Cuminus,  and  c.  690,  Adamnan,  Hyona; 
JBede,  Hy,  Hii;  a.  900,  O.E.  Chron.,  li;  c.  lIQQ,ibid., 
Hiona-Columcille.  Forms  loua,  Yona,  and  la  also  occur. 
Hy  or  li  may  be  either  G.  aoi,  isthmus  (as  lona  once 
seems  to  have  been  joined  with  Mull),  or  i,  island, 
while  Hyona  or  lona  may  be  either  aoi  uain,  'green 
isthmus,'  or  i-thonna,  'isle  of  waves.'  M'Lauchlan 
derived  f r.  G.  iodh,  com.  Also  called  Icolmkill  (cf.  form 
c.  1100),  i.e.,  '  isle  of  Columcille,'  pet  name  of  Columba. 
Cf.  Kilcolmkill,  formerly  on  Loch  Aline,  and  Kilcalm- 
kill,  Sutherland ;  also  Aoi  Columcille,  Lewis,  G.  name  of 
EYE  (i.e.,  isthmus),  peninsula.  lona  itself  is  called  by 
this  name  in  the  Annals  of  Innisfailen,  ann.  807. 

IRONGRAY  (Dumfries).  Corruption  of  G.  dird  an  greaicli 
(pron.  graigh),  '  height  of  the  moor.' 

IRVINE  (river  and  town,  Ayrsh.).  c.  1230,  Irvin;  1295, 
Ore  win ;  also  Ire  win.  G.  iar  alhuinn,  '  west-flowing 
river.' 

ISLA,  R.  (Banff  and  Forfar).  (1263,  Strath  ylif,  and  prob.  the 
Hilef,  mentioned  in  Angus  by  Bishop  Andrew  of  Caith- 
ness, 1165.)  1  G.  filleadh,  a  folding,  wrapping ;  /  lost  by 
aspiration. 

ISLAY.  c.  690,  Adamnan,  Ilia ;  a.  800,  Nennius,  He ;  Sagas, 
II;  1376,  Harbour,  Yla  (this  is  very  near  the  modern 
pron.);  c.  1450,  Yle.  Skene  thinks  the  name  pre- 
Celtic,  and  II-  is  common  in  Basque  place-names.  Mean- 
ing doubtful.  The  s  is  a  quite  recent  innovation,  so  no 
derivation  fr.  G.  iosal,  '  low,'  is  to  be  thought  of. 

ISLE  TOLL  (Auldgirth).  G.  isle,  compar.  of  iosal,  means 
'  lower ; '  but  is  this  name  Gaelic  ? 

ITLAW  (Banff).  Hybrid ;  prob.  G.  fiath,  a  calm,  fine  weather, 
/lost  by  aspiration,  +  law,  O.E.  lil&w,  a  hill. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  141 


JAMESTOWN  (Balloch  and  Strathpeffer). 

JANET'S  BRAE  (Peeblessh.).  Said  to  be  Danes'  BRAE. 
Certainly  d  in  G.  often  comes  near  the  sound  of  j.  There 
is  a  JanetstOwn  near  Thurso. 

JAWCRAIG  (Slamannan).  1745,  Jallcraig,  i.e.,  'bare  rock5 
or  '  crag,'  Icel.  gall,  barren  (cf.  YELL)  ;  also  stalk  (pron. 
stawk),  falconer  (pron.  fawkner),  &c. 

JEDBURGH  and  JEDFOOT  (Roxburgh).  Jedb.,  a.  1100, 
Geddewrde;  c.  1130,  Gedword ;  c.  1145,  Jaddeuurd; 
c.  1160,  Jeddeburgh;  1251,  Jedwarth  ;  a.  1300,  Gedde- 
worth;  c.  1500,  Jedward;  1586,  Geddart  (cf.  the 
modern  phrase  '  Jeddart  justice,'  and  by  some  still  living 
pron.  Jethart).  The  name  of  the  river  Jed  is  prob.  fr.  W. 
gwd,  a  turn,  a  twist.  The  second  syllable  was  originally 
(and  even  still)  O.E.  or  M.E.  worth,  word,  l  a  place  like 
an  island;'  cf.  POLWARTH,  Isleworth,  and  Donauwerth 
on  the  Danube ;  cf.,  too,  the  similarity  of  its  forms  here 
to  those  taken  by  the  N.  fjord  in  the  west,  see  p.  Iv. 

JEDBURGH  KNEES  (hill,  Carsphairn).  Knees  is  prob.  O.E. 
and  Dan.  naes,  a  ness,  cape,  nose.  Cf.  Calf  Knees. 

JEMIMAVILLE  (Cromarty).  A  modern  type  of  name  happily 
confined  chiefly  to  Brother  Jonathan. 

JOCK'S  LODGE  (Edinburgh).  1650,  Jokis  Lodge.  Jock  is 
Sc.  for  John ;  said  to  be  fr.  an  eccentric  beggar  who 
built  himself  a  hut  here. 

JOHN  o'  GROAT'S  HOUSE  (Wick).  Tradition  says  this  was 
an  octagonal  house  with  eight  windows  and  doors,  and 
a  table  with  eight  sides.  We  certainly  read  of  '  John 
o'  Grot  of  Duncansbay,  baillie  to  the  Earl  in  those 
pairts,'  1496-1525.  Grot  suggests  Holland. 

JOHNSHAVEN  (Montrose). 

JOHNSTONE  (Paisley  and  Moffat).  '  John's  town '  or  village. 
Perth,  in  1220  (and  earlier),  was  called  'Sanct1  Johns 
toun.'  Le  Seigneur  de  Jeanville,  a  Norman,  is  said  to 
be  the  ancestor  of  the  Johnston(e)s.  Paisley  Johnstone 
was  only  founded  in  1781. 


142  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

JOPPA  (Portobello).  Called,  c.  1800,  after  the  Joppa  on  the 
Mediterranean. 

JORDANHILL  (Glasgow),  JoRDANBURN  (Edinburgh),  and  JOR- 
DANSTONE  (Alyth).  Modern  j  though  Jordanhill  goes, 
back  at  least  to  the  16th  century. 

JUNIPER  GREEN  (Edinburgh).     Quite  recent. 

JURA  (Inner  Hebrides).  Ulst.  Ann.,  ann.  678,  Doirad 
Eilinn;  1335,  Dure ;  c.  1590,  Dewra,  alias  Jura;  in 
Mod.  G.  Diura.  Form  678  shows  it  is  'Island  of 
Doirad,'  and  not  K  dyr-ay,  'deer  isle.'  Very  few 
Norse  names  in  Jura.  Cf.  Jurby,  in  Man. 


KAIL  WATER  (Hawick).  1  Old  G.  cail,  an  assembly,  or  coil, 
a  wood  ;  on  Water,  see  GALA.  All  river-names  here- 
abouts are  pre-Anglian,  so  Kail  will  not  be  Sc.  kail, 
Icel.  Jail,  cabbage. 

KAILZIE  (Innerleithen).  c.  1200,  Hopekeliov;  c.  1265, 
-kelioch;  1494,  Hopkelzow ;  1653,  Kelzeo.  Prob.  G. 
coilleadli,  a  wood,  or  coillteacli,  woody.  On  hope,  'a 
shut-in  valley,'  see  HOBKIRK. 

KAMES  (L.  Fyne).  1475,  Camys.  G.  camas,  l  a  creek,  bay/ 
Cf.  CAMBUS. 

KATRINE,  L.  (Callander).  In  G.  pron.  Ketturin  or  -urn; 
G.  cath,  'the  battle/  or  as  prob.  ceatliach,  'the  mist, 
fog,'  urrin  or  uitharn,  'of  hell.'  Urrin  is  corruption  of 
Ifreoine,  the  cold  island  of  Fingal ;  fr.  fuar,  cold.  Cf. 
Loch  HOURN,  and  Glenurrin,  Cowal. 

KEIG  (Alford).  Pron.  Kaig,  {/hard;  a.  1200,  Kege.  1  G. 
ceadha,  the  part  of  a  plough  on  which  the  share  is  fixed. 

KEIL(L)OR,  E.  (Forfarsh.).      =  C  ALDER.     See  INVERKEILOR. 

KEILLS  (Lochgilphead),  and  KEIL  or  KIEL  (Kintyre).  Prob. 
Old  G.  cil,  'ruddle,'  a  kind  of  clay;  in  Sc.  keelie. 

KEIR  (Thornhill  and  Bridge  of  Allan).  G.  ciar,  dark  brown. 
Cf.  Keer,  mentioned  in  the  thanage  of  Belhelvie. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  143 

KEISGAG,  B.  (Cape  Wrath).  Prob.  Icel.  keisa,  to  jut  out, 
+  aig,  ag,  og,  a  bay. 

KEISS  (Wick).     Icel.  Jceisa,  to  jut  out. 

KEITH  (Banffsh.).  The  upper  part  of  river  Tyne,  Haddington, 
is  called  Keith  Water,  and  near  by  is  Keith-Humbie. 
Haddington  Keith  in  1160  is  Keth.  Prob.  fr.  CJie  or 
Gait,  the  Pict  who  gave  his  name  to  CAITHNESS  and 
INCHKEITH.  Cf.  Ikeathy,  Kildare,  =  hy  Ceatacli,  '  race 
or  family  of  Ce ; '  also  KEITHOCK.  Keith  Hall  is  near 
Inverurie. 

KEITHAN  (Keith).     G.  =  '  Little  KEITH.' 

KEITHOCK (Brechin).  c.H30,Chethec;  1617,Keithik.  'Field 
(G.  achadh)  of  Cheth '  or  KEITH. 

KELBURN  CASTLE  (Fairlie).  Old,  Kilburne.  Hybrid;  G. 
coil,  a  wood,  +  Sc.  burn,  O.E.  burna,  a  stream. 

KELLAS  (Elgin).     G.  coill  eas,  'the  wood  with  the  waterfall.' 

KELLIE  ('Mar  and  Kellie')  and  KELLY  (Carnbee).  Carnbee 
Kelly,  c.  1140,  Chellin.  G.  c(h)oill(t)ean,  plural  of 
coille,  a  wood.  Cf.  Collyland,  Alloa. 

KELLS  £New  Galloway).  May  either  be  G.  coill,  a  wood,  or 
till  or  ceall,  a  cell,  church,  with  Eng.  plural ;  Dan.  hell, 
means  'a  spring,'  as  in  Kellhead,  Dumfries.  Kells,  Co. 
Meath,  in  its  oldest  form  was  Cenandas,  then  Kenlis  or 
ceann-lis,  'head  fort.' 

KELSO.  1126,  Calkou;  1158,  Kelcou;  c.  1203,  'Ordo 
Kelchoensis ; '  c.  1420,  Wyntoun,  Kelsowe;  1447,  Cal- 
couia.  The  old  Welsh  bards  called  it  Calchvynyd,  of 
which  Calkou  may  be  the  rubbing  down,  fr.  Old  W. 
calcli  vynyd  or  mynyd,  '  chalk '  or  '  limestone  height.' 
Calch  is  =  O.E.  cealc  (sic  c.  700),  L.  calx,  chalk  or 
lime.  The  second  syllable  may  possibly  be  Sc.  liow 
(here  pron.  hu),  a  hollow,  O.E.  hoik.  Cf.  STOBO. 

KELTON  (Castle-Douglas).  (Cf.  a  'Cheletun,'  temp.  Wm. 
Lyon.)  Prob.  G.  coil,  a  wood,  +  O.E.  ton,  tun,  a 
hamlet,  village.  Cf.  LINTON. 

KELTY  (Kinross),  KELTY  WATER  (Gartmore).  Kinross  K., 
1250,  Quilte.  G.  coillte,  plural  of  coil,  a  wood.  Cf. 
Keelty,  and  Quilty,  Clare. 


144  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

KELVIN,  E.  (Glasgow).  G.  coil  aWiuinn,  'wood  by  the  river,' 
or  fr.  caol,  narrow. 

KELVINHAUGH  (Glasgow).  Haugh  is  Icel.  hagi,  a  pasture 
place,  flat,  and  by  a  river-side. 

KEMBACK  (Cupar-Fife).  Sic  1517;  but  1250,  Kenbak. 
Prob.  =  KINBUCK,  '  buck's  head ; '  but  perh.  G.  cam 
(old  camb,  cf.  CAMERON)  achadli,  '  crooked  field.' 

KEMNAY  (Kintore).  Prob.  G.  ceann  na  maigli  (pron.  may), 
'  head  of  the  plain.' 

KENMORE  (Aberfeldy).     G.  ceann  mbr,  big  head. 

KENNAGEALL,  or  WRITTEN  HEAD  (L.  Eriboll).  G.  ceann  na 
gil  (nom.  geal),  '  promontory,  head  of  the  white  mark,' 
fr.  geal,  white.  White  is  in  O.E.  hwit,  Sw.  hvit,  Dan. 
livid,  Icel.  livit-r. 

KENNET  (Clackmannan).  G.  ceann  dth,  ( head  of  the  ford,' 
or  ferry  over  the  Forth.  Cf.  Kennetis,  name  in  1565 
of  a  Ross-shire  parish. 

KENNETHMONT  (Huntly).     See  KINNETHMONT. 

KENNOWAY  (Leven).  1250,  Kennachyn,  -achi;  Aberdeen 
Brev.,  Kennoquy.  G.  ceann  achaidli(eari),  '  at  the  head 
of  the  field(s).'  ' 

KEPPOCHHILL  (Glasgow).     G.  ceapacli,  tilled  land,  fr.  ceap, 

a  turf  or  turned  sod.   Cf.  Keppach  (sic  1 662),  Applecross. 
KERRERA  (Oban).    Sagas,  Kjarbarey;  1461,  Carbery.    Prob. 

some  man,  '  Kjarbar's  isle.' 
KERRIEMORE    (Glenlyon).     G.    coire    mbr,    '  big    glen,'  lit. 

cauldron.     Cf.  CORRIE. 
KERRYCROY  (S.  Bute).     1449,  Kervycroy.     Prob.  G.  coire 

crois,  '  glen  of  the  cross.'     Cf.  CROY. 
KERRYSDALE  (W.  Ross-sh.).     G.   coire,  a  glen,  +  N.   dal,  a 

dale,  so  a  tautology. 
KERSE  (Grangemouth  and  Lesmahagow)  =  CARSE.    Cf.  Kers- 

land  Barony,  Dairy. 
KESSOCK  FERRY  (Beauly  Frith).     1564,  Kescheok;  1576, 

Kessok.     Fr.  St  Kessog,  or   '  little  Kess,'  born  of  royal 

blood  at  Cashel,  died  at  Luss,  L.  Lomond.       Church  at 

Auchterarder  is  dedicated  to  St  Makessog ;  see  p.  cxv, 

and  cf.  Tommachessaig,  Callander. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  145 

KETTINS  (Coupar-Angus).  Old,  Kethynnes,  and  prob.  the 
thanage  of  '  Kathenes,'  mentioned  in  this  region  in  1264, 
which  looks  as  if  the  same  as  CAITHNESS  ;  but  as  prob. 
fr.  G.  cathanacli,  pertaining  to  soldiers,  adjective  fr. 
cathach,  a  warrior ;  with  the  Eng.  plural  s. 

KETTLE,  or  KINGSKETTLE  (Cupar).  1183,  Cathel;  a.  1200, 
Cattel;  1558,  Kettil,  Chapel-Kettle.  Perh.  'hollow 
like  a  kettle;'  O.E.  cetel,  Icel.  Tcetill.  Cf.  Kettle- 
burgh,  Suffolk,  and  Kettlesing,  Leeds.  Possibly 
Celtic. 

KIL(L)ARROW  (Islay).  Pron.  Kilarru,  -ard;  1500,  Kilmol- 
row;  1511,  -morow;  1548,  -marrow;  1661,  Killerew. 
'  Church  of  St  Maolrubha'  (see  p.  xcvi),  m  disappearing 
by  aspiration ;  to  be  distinguished  f r.  KILMALLOW,  Lis- 
more.  G.  till  (Ml)  is  really  a  survival  of  the  old  dative 
or  locative  case  of  ceall,  a  hermit's  cell  (L.  cella\  then 
a  church,  especially  a  parish  church  (cf.  cinn,  see  KIN- 
ALDIE).  The  proper  form  is  seen  in  Loch-nan-ceall, 
'loch  of  the  churches,'  in  the  west  of  Mull.  Names  in 
Kil-  often  come  fr.  the  G.  coil,  which  means  both  a 
wood  and  a  corner  or  nook. 

KILBARCHAN  (Johnstone).  '  Church  of  St  Berchanj  7th 
century. 

KILBERRY  (Kintyre).  Sic  1492;  1531,  -berheth.  Prob.  fr. 
the  Irish  abbot,  St  Berach. 

KILBIRNIE  (Beith).  1413,  -byrny.  Prob.  fr.  St  Brendan. 
'  Birnie's  well '  is  here.  See  BIRNIE. 

KILBOWIE  (Dumbarton),  c.  1234,  Cullbuth.  G.culbuidhe, 
'  yellow  back '  (of  the  hill).  Cf.  CULDUTHIL,  and  Drum- 
bowie,  Linlithgow. 

KILBRANDON  (Oban).  '  Church  (G.  till)  of  St  Brendan,'  6th- 
century  missionary.  See  BIRNIE. 

KILBRENNAN,  or  -BRANDON,  SOUND  (Arran).  G.  caol  Brendain, 
'kyle'  or  'strait  of  St  Brendan.' 

KILBRIDE,  East  and  West  (also  Arran,  Argyle,  Dumfries). 
East  K.,  c.  1180,  Kellebride.  Arg.  K.,  1249,  'Ecclesia 
Beati  Brigide  Virginis  in  Lorn.'  Dumf.  K.,  c.  1300, 
Kylebride.  Arran  K.,  c.  1400,  St  Briged  Kirk.  '  Church 
of  St  Brigit '  or  Bridget  of  Kildare,  453-523  A.D. 


146  PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND. 

KILBUCHO  (Biggar).  c.  1200,  Kelbechoc,  Kylbeuhoc;  c.  1240, 
Kylbevhhoc;  1475,Kilbouchow;  1567, -bocho.  'Church 
of  St  BeghaJ  female  disciple  of  St  Aidan  and  Abbess 
Hilda,  6th  century.  Same  as  St  Bees,  Cumberland; 
and  St  Bees'  well  stands  near  the  old  church  of  Kilbucho. 

KILCALMONELL  (Kintyre).  1247,  'Ecclesia  Sti  Colmaneli;' 
1327,  Kylcolmanel.  '  Church  of  St  Colmanela,'  friend  of 
Columba  (see  COLMONELL).  Gaels  call  the  place  where 
the  church  used  to  stand  Clachan,  i.e.,  church. 

KILCHATTAN  (Bute  and  Colonsay).  Bute  K.,  1449,  Killecatan 
(c  still  pron.  hard).  '  Church  of  St  Chattan '  or  Cathan, 
an  Irish  Pictish  abbot,  and  friend  of  St  Columba.  Of. 
ARDCHATTAN. 

KILCHOMAN  (Islay).  1427,  Killecomman;  1508,  -comane. 
Like  Kilchoan,  prob.  fr.  St  Comgan  or  Comhghain, 
uncle  of  St  Fillan,  c.  750,  =  the  name  Cowan. 

KILCHRENAN  (Dalmally).  1361,  Kildachmanan,  Ecclesia  Sti 
Petri  Diaconi ;  1600,  Kilchranan.  Curious  corruption,  = 
'  church  of  the  Dean ; '  G.  dachman  or  deadhan.  Dean 
and  deacon  were  often  confounded. 

KILCHRIST  (old  name  for  parish  at  Muir  of  Ord,  and  Strath, 
Skye).  Strath  K.,  1505,  Kilcrist,  Cristiskirk ;  1574, 
Kirkchrist.  =  '  Christchurch.'  Of.  KILTRINIDAD. 

KILCHURN  CASTLE  (Dalmally).  Pron.  -hum ;  1432,  Kyl- 
quhurne.  G.  caol-a-chuirn,  '  straits '  or  '  narrows  of  the 
cairn  ; '  L.  Awe  narrows  there.  Gf.  Kilhern,  JSrew  Luce. 

KILCONQUHAR  (Elie).  Sic  1461 ;  but  1250,  Kilkunekath  ;  c. 
1300,  Kalconewauth.  Old  pron.  Kinuchar;  IG.ceann 
uachdair,  'head  of  the  high  land;'  but  perh.  fr.  G. 
caoineachadh,  a  drying,  as  of  hay. 

KILCOY  (Killearnan).  1557,  Culcowy;  also  Culcolly.  Prob. 
G.  cut  coille,  '  the  back  of  the  wood.' 

K.ILCREGGAN  (Firth  of  Clyde).  '  Church  on  the  little  crag ; ' 
G.  creagan.  Old  church  said  to  have  been  here. 

KILDA,  St  (island).  Sic  1716.  St  K.  is  unknown.  Fordun, 
c.  1370,  calls  the  isle  Irte. 

KILDALLOIG  (Campbeltown).  Prob.  G.  coil  dailoig,  '  wood  by 
the  little  field.'  Aig,  oig,  or  og  is  a  G.  diminutive, 

JVILDALTON  (Islay).  1548,  -tane.  G,  coill,  '  wood,'  or  till, 
1  church,'  daltain,  '  of  the  little  foster-child  or  god-child. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  147 

KJLDARY  (Invergordon).     G.  coill  daire,  '  wood  of  oaks.' 

KILDONAN  (Arran,  Eigg,  Skye,  S.  Uist,  Eoss-sli.,  Sutherland). 
Suth.  K.,  c.  1230,  Kelduninach ;  1332,  Kyldonane. 
'  Church  of  St  Donan,'  friend  of  Columba,  martyred  at 
Eigg  in  617. 

KILDROSTAN.  '  Church  of  St  Drostan,'  nephew  of  St 
Columba,  who  dwelt  in  Glenesk,  Forfar,  where 
'  Droustie's  Well '  is.  Kildrostan  is  a  name  now  found 
only  in  Dr  Walter  Smith's  poem.  But  'Kildusklan,' 
Grig.  Paroclt.,  ii.  40,  44,  represents  the  same  man. 

KILDRUMMY  (Aberdeensh.).  Sic  c.  1280.  G.  coil  droma, 
'  wood  on  the  hill-ridge ; '  G.  druim,  the  back,  a  ridge. 

KILDUICH  (L.  Duich)  and  KILDUTHIE  (Loch  of  Lays).  '  Church 
of  St  DuthacJ  died  c.  1062  :  famed  for  his  miracles. 
Cf.  DUICH. 

KILELLAN  (Lochalsh).  '  Church  of  St  Fillan '  (see  FILLAN'S, 
St).  The  /  is  lost  by  aspiration.  Cf.  Gill  Fhaelain, 
Leinster,  in  the  Martyrology  of  Donegal. 

KILFEATHER  (New  Luce).  c  Church  of  St  Peter ; '  G.  Plietir 
or  Pheadair.  Cf.  Kilphedre,  S.  Uist. 

KILFINICHEN  (Mull).  1561,  Keilfeinchen ;  c.  1640,  Kilin- 
nachan  (/  lost  by  aspiration).  Prob.  fr.  St  Findchan, 
one  of  Columba's  monks.  Peril,  fr.  St  Fincana,  virgin, 
one  of  the  nine  daughters  of  St  Dovenald. 

KILFINNAN  (Tighnabruaich).  c.  1240,  Killinan,  Kylfinnan. 
Prob.  '  church  of  St  Finnan,'  of  Cunningham,  a  pupil  of 
St  Patrick;  see  KILWINNING.  But  possibly  G.  coilf(li)ionn 
abhainn,  'wood  of  the  clear  stre'am/  cf.  GLENFINNAN. 

KILHAM  (Coldstream).  G.  coil,  a  wood,  or  cill,  a  church, 
+  O.E.  ham,  home,  village ;  also  near  Hull. 

KILKENZIE  (Campbeltown).  (1561,  Skeirkenze  ;  G.  sgeir,  a 
rock.)  '  Wood '  or  '  church  of  Kenneth  ;'  G.  Coinneach. 
Cf.  the  name  Mackenzie. 

KILKERRAN  (Ayr,  and  old  name  of  Campbeltown).  a.  1250, 
Kilchiaran.  'Church  of  St  Kiaran,''  founder  of  Clonmac- 
noise  Monastery,  died  545.  Cf.  Kilkeran,  Islay,  and 
river  Aultkieran,  Fort- William. 

KILLBAN  (Muasdale,  and  Torosay,  Argyle).  1243,  Killiean; 
a.  1251,  Ecclesia  Sancti  Johannis;  1545,  Killane. 


148  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

'  Church  of  St  John ; '  G.  Jam,  Eoin.     But  Barnean, 
Galloway,  is  fr.  G.  en,  a  bird. 

KILLEARN  (Stirlingsh.,  and  old  name  of  parish  in  Jura). 
Stirl.  K.,  c.  1250,  Kynerine  ;  1320,  Kynherin ;  c.  1430, 
Killern.  Both,  with  Killern,  Anwoth,  are  prob.  = 
'church  of  St  Kieran,'  see  KILKERRAN,  the  c  being 
lost  by  aspiration.  Kyn-  is,  of  course,  G.  ceann,  head. 

KILLEARNAN  (Muir  of  Ord,  and  Kildonan,  Sutherland). 
Muir  K.,  1569,  Kyllarnane.  Either  fr.  St  Ernan,  uncle 
of  Columba,  or  fr.  St  Ternan,  see  BANCHORY.  . 

KILLEN  (Avoch  and  Lismore).  Avoch  K.,  c.  1340,  Killayn. 
Either  fr.  G.  Jain,  John,  or  en,  a  bird.  See  KILLEAN. 

KILLENNAN  (Kintyre).  '  Church  of  St  Eunan '  or  Adamnan, 
see  p.  xcv. 

KILLIAN  (Strome  Ferry).  'Church  of  John;'  G.  Eoin,  or 
'  wood  of  the  bird,'  eun,  gen.  ebin. 

KILLICHRONAN  (Mull).  In  G.  coille  chrbnain,  '  wood  of  the 
low,  crooning  murmur,'  as  of  bees  or  a  brook ;  but 
possibly  fr.  St  Cronan,  founder  of  the  Irish  abbey  of 
Roscrea,  died  665. 

KILLICRANKIE  (Blair  Athole).  G.  coille  Chreithnich,  'wood 
of  the  Picts'  or  sons  of  Cruithne.  Gaels  call  K.,  Cath 
raon  Ruaraidh,  'battle  of  Eory's  meadow.' 

KILLIN  (L.  Tay,  and  river  and  loch,  Foyers).  Prob.  G.  cilia 
fhionn,  'white  church'  (cf.  Finlarig,  close  by  Loch  Tay). 
But  Perth  K.  is  the  burying-place  of  the  Macnabs,  and 
so  may  be  =  Killean,  common  name  for  '  burying-place  * 
the  S.  W.  Ireland. 

KILLINTAG  (Morvern).  1542,  Killindykt.  Prob.  'church  of 
St  Findoc,'  virgin.  On  the  /,  cf.  KILELLAN. 

KILLISPORT,  L.  (Knapdale).  G.  caoilas-port,  'port'  or 
'harbour  in  the  narrow  sea'  or  'straits.'  Cf.  KYLE(S). 

KiLL6cHAN  (Girvan).  Prob.  G.  coil  lochain,  '  the  wood  by 
the  little  loch.' 

KILLORAN  (Colonsay).  'Church  of  St  Odhran'  or  'Oran,' 
died  548.  Colonsay,  not  ORANSAY,  was  sacred  to  St 
Orna. 


PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND.  149 

KILLYWHAN  (Dumfries).  ?G.  coille  Wiainne,  'wood  of  the 
milk.'  Of.  Barwhanny,  Galloway. 

KILMADOCK  (Doune).  *  Church  of  St  Modoc,'  Saint  of  the 
Welsh  calendar,  a  rare  thing  in  Scotland.  Moedoc  or 
Mogue  is  =  Mo-Aedh-oc,  '  my  dear  little  Hugh,'  and  so 
is  the  same  as  Aidan,  i.e.,  l  little  Hugh ; '  cf.  p.  xcv. 

KILMALCOLM  (Greenock).  c.  1205,  Kilmacolme,  i.e.,  'church 
of  my  Colm'  or  Columba  (see  p.  xcv).  The  pron. 
-makom  is  thus  the  true  one.  The  common  pron. 
Kil-inal-kom  is  clue  to  supposed  derivation  fr.  Malcolm. 

KILMALLIE  (Fort  William).  1296,  -malyn;  1532,  -male. 
Malyn  looks  like  G.  mdilin,  eyebrow  (cf.  mala,  brow  of 
a  hill).  But  Kilmallie  is  usually  thought  =  next. 

KILMALLOW  (Lismore).  Pron.  -malu ;  old,  -maluog.  Here, 
too,  come  Kilmaluog,  old  name  of  the  parishes  of  Raasay, 
and  Kilmuir,  Skye.  '  Church  of  St  Maluog }  or  Moluoc, 
prob.  friend  of  Columba,  and  =  '  my  dear  little  Leu '  or 
St  Lupus,  same  name  as  in  Killaloe,  Clare  (cf.  p.  xcv). 
But  Kilmalew  (sic  1529),  old  name  of  Inveraray,  was  in 
1304  Kylmalduff,  i.e.,  '  church '  or  '  wood,'  maoil  duibk, 
'  of  the  black,  bare  rock '  (maol). 

EJLMAREE  LODGE  (Broadford).     Prob.   '  church  of  St  Maol- 

rubha.'     See  MAREE. 
KILMARNOCK.    Sic  c.  1400 ;  but  1299,  Kelmernoke.     '  Church 

of    St   Marnock  =  Maernanoc,    i.e.,    '  my  dear  little  St 

Ernan,'  priest,  and  uncle  of  St  Columba ;  see  p.  xcv. 
KILMARON  (Cupar).     1245,  -merone.     *  Church  of  my  own 

Ron '  or  St  Konan.      Cf.  next. 
KILMARONOCK   (Alexandria),    and  KILMARONOG  (L.   Etive). 

c.  1325,  -merannok;  c.   1330,  -maronnok.     '  Church  |/)f 

Moronoc,'  i.e.,    '  my  dear   little    St   Ronan,'  Abbot  Lof 

Kingarth,  died  737 ;  cf.  p.  xcv. 

KILMAROW   (Kintyre).      a.    1251,    Ecclesia    Sancti   Marie; 

1631,  Kilmaro.    '  Church  of  the  Virgin  Mary ; '  G.  Moire 

or  Maire. 
KILMARTIN  (Lochgilphead).     '  Church  of  St  Martin '  of  Tours, 

teacher  of  St  Ninian,  c.  380. 
KILMAURS  (Kilmarnock).     c.  1550,  Kylmawar.     'Church  of 

St  Maurus,'  French  saint,  c.  550. 

Q 


150  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

KILMAVEONAIG  (Blair  Athole).  'Church  of  my  dear  little 
Eunan '  or  Adamnan ;  see  p.  xcv,  and  cf.  ARDEONAIG. 

KILMELFORT  (Ford,  Argyle).  Kil-  either  =  G.  coil,  a  wood,  or 
till,  a  church,  or  caol,  straits,  narrow  inlet.  See  MELFORD. 

KILMENY  (N.  Fife  and  Islay).  (11th-century  MS.  in  Skene, 
Celtic  Scotl.,  i.  387,  Cillemuine,  i.e.,  St  David's,  S. 
Wales,  or,  just  possibly,  K.  in  Islay.)  'Church  in  the 
thicket ;'  G.  muine.  But  Fife  K.  is,  1250,  Kylmanyn, 
prob.  '  church  of  ST  MONAN  '  or  Monyn. 

KILMICHAEL  (Lochgilphead).     '  Church  of  St  Michael,'  the 

archangel;  also  in  Cromarty  in  1535. 
KILMODAN  (Argyle).     Sic  1250.     'Church  of  St   Modem,' 

colleague  of  St  Ronan,  in  8th  century.     Old  name  of 

Ardchattan  was  Balimhaodan. 
KILMONIVAIG  (Spean   Bridge).      1449,  -manawik;  c.   1600, 

-manevak;  1602,  -navag.   Pron.  now-moneevaig;  'church 

of  my  own  little  St  Naomhan,'  the  '  Neamhan  Mac  ua 

Duibh '  of  the  Martyrology  of  Donegal.     The  G.  and 

Ir.  naomlian  (pron.  navan)  means  '  a  little  saint.'     See 

p.  xcv. 
KILMORACK  (Beauly).     1437, -rok.     'Church  of  St  Moroc,} 

said  to  be  a  Celtic  abbot  of  Dunkeld. 
KILMORE  (Loth  and  Lorn).     Lorn  K.,  1304,  Kylmoor.     '  Big 

(G.  mbr)  church,'  or  =  KILMORIE. 
KILMORICH  (Lochgoilhead).     Sic    1511.     Prob.   'church  of 

St  Muredach '  (Murdoch),  Bishop  of  Killala,  c.  440. 

KILMORIE  (Wigtown,  Arran,  Rum).  Arran  K.,  1357, '  Ecclesia 
Sancte  Marie  de  Arane;'  1483,  Kilmory.  'Church  of 
the  Virgin  Mary ; '  G.  Moire.  Common  in  Ireland. 

KILMUIR  (Skye  and  E.  Ross).    Ross  K.,  1394,  Culmor ;  1482, 

Culmore.     Skye  K.  is  =  KILMORE.     Ross  K.  is  G.  cul 

mbr,  '  big  back '  of  the  hill. 
KILMUN  (Holy   Loch).     Sic   c.    1240;   c.    1410,    Kilmond. 

'  Church  of  St  Mund.'     Fintan  Munnu  or  Mundu  was 

an  Irish  friend  of  St  Columba.     Cf.  St  Mund's  Church, 

Lochleven. 
KILNINIAN  (Mull),     1561,  Kilnoening.     Prob.,  says  Skene, 

fr.    St  Nennidius,  friend  of   St  Bridget,    5th   century. 

Name  remodelled  after  St  Ninian  of  Whithorn. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  151 

KILNINVER  (Lorn).  1250,  Kyllivinor;  1558,  Kylnynvir. 
G.  cill  an  inbhir,  'church  by  the  confluence.' 

KILPATRICK,  Old  and  New  (Dumbarton).  '  Church  of  St 
Patrick,'  who  was  prob.  born  near  here,  c.  410. 

KILRAVOCK  (Nairn),  c.  1286,  Kelrevoch;  1295,  Kylravoc. 
'  Church  of  St  Eevoc,'  unknown. 

KILKENNY  (Anstruther).  c.  1160, -rinny.  Either  h.StNinian 
or  Ringan  of  Whithorn ;  or  perh.  fr.  St  Irenceus,  Bishop 
of  Lyons,  c.  180,  locally  called  Irenie.  St  Ir(e)nie's 
Well  is  here.  But  in  1250  we  find  Kilretheni,  prob.  fr. 
G.  rail  tain,  ferns.  Bishop  Forbes  thinks  K.  may  be  fr. 
Ethernan,  fuller  form  of  Ernan,  the  uncle  of  St  Columba. 

KILRIMONT,    or   CHILRYMONT    (old   name   of   St   Andrews). 

'  Church  of  the  king's  mount;'  but  in  Tighernac,  Cind- 

rigli-monaigli  ( =  monaidh),  '  head  of  the  king's  mount.' 
KILRY  (Kinghornand  Alyth).     Kinghorn  K.,  1178,  Kyllori. 

1  G.  cille  Mhoire,  the  Virgin  'Mary's  church.' 
KILSPINDIE    (Errol).     1250,  Kynspinedy.     Prob.  G.   ceann, 

cinn  spuinneadaire,  '  height  of  the  plunderer.' 
KILSYTH  (Glasgow),     -sytli  pron.  like  scythe.     '  Church '  or 

'  wood  of  (prob.)  the  arrow ;'  G.  and  Ir.  saighead  (pron. 

syed).     Of.  Coolsythe,  Antrim.      jtiU&^llk'^  R^X- 
KILTARLITY  (Beauly).     1279,  Keltalargyn.     '  Church  of  St 

Tolorggain  or  Talarican,'  an  Irish  saint  who  died  in  616. 
KILTEARN (Beauly).   1227,Keltierny;  1296,Keltyern.  G.ceall 

Tigliearna,  'church  of  the  Lord.'     Thus  =  KILCHRIST. 
KILTRINIDAD  (K  Uist).     Sic  in  Pont's  map,  c.   1620;  now 

Teampul-na-Trianaide,  '  church  of  the  Trinity.' 
KILVARIE  (Muckairn).     G.  cille  Mhaire,  the  Virgin  '  Mary's 

church.'     Of.  KILMORIE. 
KILWINNING  (Ardrossan).     1357,  Kylvynnyne.     'Church  of 

St   Vininus'  or  Wynnin,  an  Ulsterman,  who  crossed 

over  to  Ayrshire  ;  died  579.     His  name  is  also  spelt 

Finnan,  cf.  KILFINNAN. 
KIMMERGHAME  (Duns).     Possibly  G.  comar,  confluence  (i.e., 

the  meeting  of   Blackadder  and  Langton  Waters,  cf. 

CUMMERTREES),  +  O.E.  Mm,  house,  village. 
KINALDIE  (Aberdeensh.).     Km  or  cin,  older  cind,  is  really  a 

survival  of  the  old  dative  or  locative  of  G.  ceann  (W. 


152  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

penn),   head,    promontory   (cf.    Kil ;    see    KILARROW). 
Kinaldie  is  G.  cinn  alltain,  'the  head  of  the  little  brook.' 

KINBLETHMONT  (Forfar).  1189,  Kynblathmund ;  1322, 
Kinblaukmounthe.  Prob.  *  head  of  the  flowery  mount ' 
(G.  bldtha-monaidJi).  Form  1 322  is  a  Sassenach's  attempt  1 

KINBRACE  (Sutherland).  G.  cinn-a-bhrdiste,  'seat  of  the  wearer 
of  the  brooch'  (br  distich),  i.e.,  the  chief  of  the  Gunns. 

KINBUCK  (Auchterarder).  '  Buck's  head;'  G.  boc,  buic,  a 
roe-buck.  Cf.  DRUMVUICH. 

KINCAPLE  (St  Andrews).  1212,  -pel.  'Mare's  head;'  G. 
capidl,  a  mare.  Cf.  PORTINCAPLE. 

KINCARDINE  (county,  K.  on  Forth,  and  K.  O'Neil,  also 
Ross-sh.,  and  Boat  of  Garten).  County,  1295,  Kynge 
Garden.  Ross-sh.  K.,  1227,  Kyncardyn;  1536,  Kincarn. 
K.  O'Neil,  1277,  Kincardyn.  Prob.  G.  cinn  gdirdein, 
'head  of  the  arm,'  i.e.,  inlet.  K.  O'lSTeil  must  be  a  bor- 
rowed, not  an  original  name.  The  O'Neils  were  a  royal 
Irish  family. 

KINCLAVEN  (Stanley).  1195,  -clething;  1264,  Kynclevim 
'  Head  of  the  breast ;'  G.  cliathain. 

KINCRAIG  (Kingussie  and  Elie).  'Head  of  the  rock;'  G. 
creag,  gen.  craige. 

KINDROCHIT  (Aberdeensh.).  1245,  -ocht.  'Head  of  the 
bridge ;'  G.  drocliaid.  Cf.  DRUMNADROCHIT,  and  Kin- 
trockat,  Brechin,  1574,  Kindrokat. 

KINFAUNS  (Perth),  c.  1230,  Kynfaunes.  ?  Fr.  Old  G.  fan, 
a  slope,  or  b(h)an,  white,  fair. 

KINGARTH  (Bute).  Tigliernac,  ann.  737,  Cindgaradh,  i.e., 
'head  of  the  enclosure'  or  'yard;'  1204,  Kengarf; 
1497,  Kingarth.  G.  and  Ir.  gar(r)adh  is  =  M.E.  garth. 

KINGENNIE  (Broughty  Ferry).  1473,  Kyngenny.  1  The  old 
Kingalteny,  which  looks  as  if  fr.  G.  gealltanacli,  *  maker 
of  promises ;'  if  not,  prob.  '  windy  (G.  gaothanach)  head.' 
Cf.  GEANIES,  and  Bargueney  (sin  1639),  Galloway. 

KING  EDWARD  (Banff),  a.  1300,  Kynedward,  i.e.,  'head 
or  '  height  of  Edward.' 

KINGHORN  (Fife)  and  KINGHORNIE  CASTLE  (Kinneff).  Fife 
K.,  c.  1140,  Kingornum;  1280,  Kinkorn;  1317,  -gorin; 
1639,  -gorne.  Kinn.  K,  1654,  Kingorny.  G.  cinn 
cuirn  (nom.  corn),  '  head  of  the  horn '  or  bend  or  corner. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  153 

In  Gaelic  c  and  g  are  so  near  in  sound  that  they  often 
interchange  in  names. 

KINGLASSIE  (Leslie),  c.  1170,  Inner-kinglassin.  'Head  of 
the  green,  grassy  plain ; '  G.  glasanacli.  Near  by  is  Fin- 
glassie  fr.  G.  fionn,  white,  clear.  Cf.  Edinglassie, 
Aberdeenshire ;  and  1296,  'Petglassi.' 

KINGLEDORES  BURN  (Tweed  smuir) .  Prob.  G.  cinn  gill  dor 
(dobhair),  '  head  of  the  clear  water '  or  '  brook.' 

KINGOLDRUM  (Kirriemuir).  1454,  Kyncaldrum.  'Head  of 
the  thin,  narrow  ridge ; '  G.  caoil  druim. 

KINGSBARNS  (Grail),  KINGSBURGH  (Skye,  two  -burys  in  Eng- 
land), KINGSHOUSE  (Callander  and  Tyndrum),  KINGS- 
KNOWE  (Edinburgh,  cf.  KNOWE),  KINGSMUIR  (Forfar), 
KINGSTON  (Glasgow  and  Banff,  twelve  in  England), 
KINGSWELLS  (Aberdeensh.). 

KINGSCAVIL  (Linlithgow).  Perh.  erroneously,  1 498,  Kincavill. 
'  King's  allotment'  or  'share  of  land;'  Dutch  kavel,  lot, 
parcel.  Gavel  is  found,  a.  1300,  in  Cursor  Mundi,  18907. 
Cf.  1805,  State,  Leslie  of  Poivis,  $c.,  17  (in  Jamieson), 
'  The  Town  and  Bishop  feued  out  this  fishing  in  shares;  six 
of  them  called  the  King's  cavil,  six  the  Bishop's  cavil.' 

KING'S  CROSS  (Lamlash).     1807,  King's  Corrs. 

KINGSEAT  (Dunfermline)  and  KINGSKETTLE  (Fife).  These 
prob.  take  their  names  from  their  proximity  to  Dunferm- 
line and  Falkland  Palaces  respectively.  See  KETTLE. 

KINGUSSIE.  1380,  Kyngucy ;  so  still  pron.,  or  else  Kineuzie. 
'  Head  of  the  fir  wood ; '  G.  guithseacli,  a  pine. 

KININMONTH  (Mintlaw).  G.  cinn  na  monaidli,  'head  of  the 
mount '  or  '  hill.' 

KINKELL  (St  Andrews,  Aberdeensh.,  and  Cromarty).  Croni- 
arty  K.,  a.  1300,  Kynkell;  c.  1350,  Kynkellee.  Aber- 
deen K.,  c.  1320,  Kingkell.  G.  cinn-dlle,  'head- 
church,'  having  several  chapels  under  it. 

KINLAS  (Strath,  L.  Lomond).  1  'Grey'  or  'green  head;' 
G.  glas,  the  g  lost  by  aspiration. 

KINLOCH  (Lewis,  Rum,  and  Eossie,  Fife).  Eossie  K., 
c.  1270,  Kyndelouch,  i.e.,  Old  G.  cind-a-loch,  'head  of 
the  loch.' 

KlNLOCHARD,        -BERVIE,        -LAGGAN,        -LUICHART,        -MOIDART, 

-RANNOCH   (c.  1532,  Kenlochr-),    -SPELV(I)E,  &c. ;  also 


154  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

KINGAIRLOCH.     =  '  Head  of  Loch  Ard,'  &c.     See  ARD, 
BERVIE,  &c. 

KINLOSS  (Moray).  1187,  Kynloss;  1251,  Kinlos.  Prob. 
'  head  of  the  garden ; '  G.  lios. 

KINMUCK  (Inverurie).     *  Sow's  head  ; '  G.  muc,  muic,  a  pig. 

Cf.  KlNBUCK,  KlNCAPLE,  &C. 

KINMUNDY  (Aberdeensh.).  a.  1300,  Kynmondy.  'Head  of 
the  mount '  or  '  hill ; '  G.  monadh,  -aidh. 

KINNABER  (Montrose).  c.  1200,  Kinabyre ;  1325,  Kynn- 
aber.  '  Head  of  the  estuary ; ;  G.  aWiir. 

KINNAIRD  (Dundee  and  Larbert).  Dundee  K.,  1183, 
Kinard.  'Head  of  the  height;'  G.  aird,  or  'high  point ;  * 
aird,  adjective.  'Kinnaird  Head'  is  thus  a  tautology. 

KINNEFF  (Kincardine).  Sic.  1361.  Perh.  G.  cinn  eibhe, 
'  headland  of  the  cry  or  howl.' 

KINNEIL  (Bo'ness).  1250,  Kinel.  Bede,  c.  720,  speaks  of 
a  Pennel-iun  at  the  end  of  the  Roman  Wall  which  the 
Picts  called  Peanfaliel,  or,  modernised,  penn-vael,  W. 
for  'head'  or  'end  of  the  wall,' = '  Wallsend.'  The 
addition  to  Nennius  calls  this  Cenail,  the  same  word, 
only  now  passed  fr.  Brythonic  to  Goidelic. 

KINNEIR  (Fife),  c.  1200,  Kyner.  'West  head'  or  'height;' 
G.  iar,  the  west.  Cf.  KINNOIR. 

KINNELL  (Arbroath).  Prob.  'head  of  the  wall;'  G.  balla 
(cf.  KINNEIL)  ;  b  disappears  by  aspiration. 

KINNELLAR  (Aberdeensh.).  Prob.  'head'  or  'end  of  the 
high  wall ; '  G.  ciird,  high.  See  above. 

KINNESSWOOD  (Fife).  'Wood  at  the  head  of  the  waterfall;' 
G.  cinn  eas. 

KINNETHMONT  (Huntly).  c.  1203,  Kelalcnumd;  a.  1300, 
Kynalchmond,  -akemond ;  c.  1550,  -alchmund.  The 
modern  spelling,  Kennethmont,  is  due  to  association  with 
Kenneth.  Perh.  '  church '  or  '  height  of  a  StAlcmund.' 

KINNETTLES  (Forfar).  c.  1226,  Kynetles;  1296,  Kynathes. 
Prob.  '  head '  or  '  height  of  the  glimpse,  passing  view,' 
or  '  breeze ; '  G.  aiteal,  -teil,  with  Eng.  plural  s.  The 
form  Kynecles  (see  ECCLES)  also  occurs,  because  a  church 
once  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Kerbet  Valley. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  155 

KINNING  PARK  (Glasgow). 

KINNOIR  (Huntly).  Prob.  '  east  head  '  or  '  point ; '  G.  oir, 
east;  also  'a  border,  edge.'  Cf.  KINNEIR. 

KiNN6uLL  (Perth).  1250,  Kynul.  Prob.  G.  cinn  mliaol, 
'  bald,  bare  head ; '  m  lost  by  aspiration. 

KINPURNIE  (Newtyle).     '  Head '  or  *  chief  spring,  fountain ;' 

G.  fuaran,  -ain. 
KINRARA    (Aviemore).      1338,    Kinrorayth.     Prob.  G.  cinn 

ruaidh  ratha,  '  head '  or  '  height  of  the  red  fort '  (cf. 

Craiganra,  Kildonan).     Mitadh,  red,  is  generally  found 

in  names  as  Roy. 
KINROSS.     'Head 'or  'end  of  the  wood,'  for   'wood,'  not 

'  promontory,'  is  here  the  meaning  of  the  Celtic  ros. 

KINROSSIE  (Scone).  =  KINROSS.  For  the  diminutive  suffix 
-ie,  cf.  ROSSIE  and  RHYNIE. 

KINTAIL  (L.  Duich).  1509,  Keantalle;  1535,  Kyntaill; 
1574,  Kintale.  G.  ceann  fsaile  or  cinn  t'sail,  'head' 
or  '  end  of  the  salt  water.'  Cf.  p.  xxxvii. 

KINTESSACK  (Forres).  Perh.  G.  cinn  t'easaige,  'squirrel's 
head.'  Cf.  KINBUCK,  KINMUCK,  &c. 

KINTORE  (Inverurie).  1273,  Kyntor.  '  Head  of  the  hill '  or 
'  mound ; '  G.  tbrr,  -ra. 

KINTRADWELL  (Brora).  a.  1500,  Clyntraddel;  1509,  Clen- 
tredaill;  1563,  Clyntredwane.  Fine  example  of  corrup- 
tion or  popular  etymology  ;  G.  claon  Tradail,  '  slope  of 
StTriduana,'  locally  pron.  Trullen,  in  /Sagas,  Trollhsena, 
who  lived  c.  600.  Cf.  St  Trodline's  Fair,  Forfar; 
also  CLYNE,  near  by. 

KINTYRE  (S.  Argyle).  Ulst.  Ann.,  ann.  807,  Ciunntire ; 
1128,  Kentir;  Welsh  lards,  Pentir.  'Head 'or  'end 
of  the  land  ; '  G.  tlr,  tire. 

KIPPEN  (Stirling).  G.  ceapan,  dimin.  of  ceap,  a  stump  or 
block. 

KIPPENDAVIE  (Dunblane).  Prob.  'hillock  (lit.  little  stump) 
of  the  field-sorrel;'  G.  fsamhaidh  (pron.  tavie).  Cf. 
Auchindavy,  Kirkintilloch,  and  Knockdavie,  Kells. 

KIPPENROSS  (Dunblane).  G.  ceapan  rois,  'hillock  of  the 
wood.'  See  KIPPEN  and  KINROSS. 


156  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

KIPPFORD  (Dalbeattie).  Fr.  G.  and  Ir.  ceap,  gen.  dp,  a 
tree-stock  or  stump.  Cf.  Makeness  Kipps,  a  hill  near 
Eddleston. 

KIRKABY  (Unst)  and  KIRKAPOL  (old  name  of  Tyree  parish). 
Tyr.  K.'(?1375,  Kerrepol;  G.  coire,  a  hollow),  1561, 
Kirkapost  ( =  Kirkbost ;  see  on  bolstdftr,  a  place,  p.  Ixiv) ; 
1599,  Kirkcapol.  '  Church-place,'  both  by  or  bi,  and 
pol  or  bol,  being  common  Scandinavian  endings  =  place, 
building,  village  (cf.  Kirkebo  on  the  Sogne  Fjord). 
Church,  in  its  hardened  northern  form  kirk,  is  the 
Gk.  KvpidKov,  lit.  'of  the  Lord'  (Kv/otos),  'Dominical,' 
used  c.  280  A.D.  as  the  name  for  '  a  Christian  church.' 
Found  in  O.E.  in  Laws  of  King  Wilitraed,  696  A.D.,  as 
cirice;  in  870  as  circe  ;  in  a  will  of  960,  TcirTce;  c.  1175, 
chirche;  a.  1280,  cliurclie.  In  Sc.  place-names  are 
found,  a.  1124,  Selechirche  or  SELKIRK;  1220,  Hope- 
chirke  or  HOBKIRK,  &c.  In  O.N.  it  is  kirkiu  or  -ia, 
Jcyrkja,  Dan.  kirJce.  Not  in  any  Celtic  dictionary  ;  yet 
kirk  occurs  in  several  Gaelic  place-names  as  early  as  1200. 
Kirkaby  is  the  same  word  as  the  common  Eng.  Kirby. 

KIRKANDREWS  (Liddesdale).    1295, -andres.   Cf.  ST  ANDREWS. 

KIRKBANK  (Roxburgh),  KIRKDEN  (Forfar,  see  DEAN),  KIRK- 
FIELDBANK  (Lanark),  KIRKHILL  (Inverness  and  Peni- 
cuik),  KIRKMUIRHILL  (Lesmahagow),  KIRKNEWTON 
(Midcalder),  KIRKTON  (Hawick,  Penicuik,  L.  Melfort, 
Golspie).  There  are  many  Kirtons  in  England. 

KIRKBEAN  (Dumfries).  Prob.  'church  of  St  Bain'  or  'Beyne,' 
first  bishop  of  Mortlach. 

KIRKBUDDO  (Guthrie).  Prob.  'church  of  St  Buitte'  or 
'Bcethius,'  friend  of  King  Nechtan,  who  came  over 
from  Ulster,  and  died  521  ;  so  Skene.  But  Carbuddo, 
in  the  same  parish,  is  the  old  Crebyauch ;  G.  craobhach 
achadh,  '  wooded  field.' 

KIRKCALDY.  Pron.  Kirkaudy ;  c.  1150,  Kircaladinit  and 
-din;  1250,  Kirkaldin.  Hybrid;  'church  of  the  wood 
of  the  Den '  or  DEAN,  still  there ;  in  G.  coille  dinait. 

KIRKCOLM  (Stranraer).  1296,  Kyrkum,  which  is  the  present 
pron.  'Church  of  St  Colm'  or  'Columba;'  cf.  p.  xcii. 

KIRKCONNEL  (Sanquhar).  'Church  of  St  ConvalV  Seven 
Irish  saints  bear  this  name. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  157 

KIRKCOWAN  (Wigtown).  'Church  of  St  Comhghain'  or 
'  Comgan,'  uncle  of  St  Fillan,  c.  750. 

KIRKCUDBRIGHT.  1291,  Kirkcutbrithe ;  1292,  Kircutbrith; 
c.  1450,  Kirkubrigh ;  and  now  pron.  Kirktibry.  'Church 
of  St  Gudberctj  the  great  Cuthbert  of  Melrose,  c.  700. 

KIRKENNAN  (Minigaff ).  1611,  Kirkcunaiie.  'Church  of  St 
Eunan ;  or  '  Adamnan ; '  see  p.  xcv. 

KIRKGUNZEON  (Kirkcudbright).  c.  1200,  Kirkwynnin. 
'  Church  of  St  Wynnin,'  see  KILWINNING.  The  z  repre- 
sents, as  so  often,  the  old  Scottish  y. 

KIRKHOPE  '(Selkirk)  and  KIRKHOPE  CLEUCH  (Dumsdeer). 
'  Church  in  the  valley '  or  cul  de  sac,  =  HOBKIRK.  A 
clench  is  a  ravine ;  see  BUCCLEUCH. 

KIRKINNER  (Wigtown).  1584,  Kirkinver;  but  it  is  dedicated 
to  St  Kennera,  virgin  and  martyr,  who  accompanied 
St  Ursula  to  Kome. 

KIRKINTILLOCH  (Glasgow),  c.  1200,  Kirkentulach ;  1288, 
-intolauche.  Prob.  '  church  at  the  head '  or  '  end  of  the 
hillock ; '  G.  ceann  or  cinn  tulaicli.  Dr  Keeves  thinks 
this  is  the  site  of  the  Battle  of  Chircliind,  596  (-ind 
=  Old  G.  cind,  now  ceann). 

KIRKLISTON  (S.  Queensferry).  1250,  Listun;  1298,  Lystone 
Templi;  c.  1300,  Templehiston,  *  Listen  church.' 
L.  is  prob.  G.  Uos,  a  garden,  +  O.E.  tu?i,  dwelling, 
village.  New  Listen  is  near  by.  In  G.  teampull 
means  simply  a  church. 

KIRKMABRECK  (Kirkcudbright).  '  Church  of  Mabrec,'  i.e., 
my  own  Brecan  or  St  Bricius.  Prob.  he  who  was  such 
an  enemy  of  St  Martin  of  Tours,  4th  century. 

KIRKMAHOE  (Dumfries).  1321,  Kircmacho.  Prob.  'church 
of  St  Machute*  See  LESMAHAGOW. 

KIRKMAIDEN,  or  MAiDENKiRK  (Wigtown).  Aberdeen  Brev. 
says,  fr.  the  Irish  St  Medana,  contemporary  of  JSTinian, 
c.  390.  St  Medan's  Cave  is  here.  Cf.  EDINBURGH. 

KIRKMICHAEL  (Dumfries,  Maybole,  Blairgowrie,  Grantown). 
'Church  of  St  Michael,'  the  Archangel.  Also  in  the 
Isle  of  Man ;  and  cf.  KILMICHAEL,  and  Kilmichil, 
Ireland. 

KIRKNESS    (Orkney   and   Kinross).      Ork.    K.    is    certainly 


158  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND. 

'ness'  or  'cape'  with  the  church.  But  Mr  "W.  J. 
Liddell  thinks  Kinr.  K.  is  fr.  G.  cafliair  (pron.  car) 
cinn  eas,  'fort  at  the  head  of  the  waterfall.'  This  is 
doubtful,  for  the  name  in  the  llth  century  is  already 
Kyrkenes.  See  Skene,  Celtic  Scotl.,  i.  406. 

KIRKOSWALD  (Maybole).  Fr.  Oswald,  King  of  Northumbria, 
died  642,  regarded  as  a  saint  and  martyr.  Also  in 
Cumberland. 

KiRKPATRiCK-DuRHAM  (Dalbeattie),  -FLEMING,  -!RONGRAY,. 
and  -JuxTA  (Dumfries).  '  Church  of  St  Patrick,'  the- 
renowned  Irish  missionary  of  the  5th  century.  K.- 
Juxta  (L.  for  '  next '),  formerly  Kilpatrick,  was  so  called 
in  the  15th  century  to  mark  it  off  fr.  K.-Fleming. 

KIRKSHEAF  (Tain).  JN".  Kirk-skaWi,  i.e.,  land  given  as  tribute 
to  the  church,  fr.  Icel.  skatt-r,  Dan.  skat,  O.E.  sceat,  a 
'scat,'  i.e.,  a  coin  ;  hence,  a  tax. 

KIRKURD  (Biggar).  c.  1180,  Ecclesia  de  Orda  :  1186,  E.  de 
Horda;  c.  1200,  Orde ;  1296,  Horde;  c.  1320,  Urde ; 
1382,  Kyrkhurde.  Possibly  fr.  a  man,  or  fr.  G.  oir,  a 
corner,  edge ;  cf.  ORD.  Hardly  fr.  G.  aird,  a  height. 
Ladyurd  and  ISTetherurd  are  near  by. 

KIRKWALL.  Sic  c.  1500;  but  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Kirkiu- 
vag(r) ;  a.  1400,  Kirkvaw,  -cwav;  1438-1554,  -waw : 
1529,  -wallia.  O.K  kirkiu  vag-r,  'church  (cathedral) 
on  the  bay.'  The  forms  show  how  '  liquid  '  the  liquid 
letters  are.  Cf.  SCALLOWAY,  STORNOWAY. 

KIRN  (Dunoon).  Quite  modern.  Se.  kirn,  O.E.  cyrn,  Icel. 
kirna,  a  chum;  fr.  the  churn-shaped  quarry  out  of 
which  the  place  was  built. 

KIRRIEMUIR  (Forfarsh.).  1229,  Kerimure,  Kermuir.  Prob. 
G.  ceathramh  (pron.  carrou)  mbr,  '  big  quarter '  or  '  divi- 
sion.' Kerimor  (sic  1250)  was  one  of  the  quarters  of 
Angus,  and  is  prob.  Sim.  Durham's  (a.  1 130)  Wertermor, 
where  werter  is  corruption  of  O.E.  feorde,  a  4th;  so. 
Skene.  Also  called;Kilmarie,theYirgin  'Mary's  church,' 
with  which  the  modern  pron.  Kirriemare  has  nothing 
to  do ;  cf.  STENHOUSEMUIR,  pron.  Stanismare. 

KIRRIEROCK,  or  -ROACH,  HILL  (Barr).  Old,  Kererioch.  G. 
coire  riaWiach,  'greyish,  grizzled  ravine.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  15  $ 

KIRTLE,  R,  and  KIRTLEBRIDGE  (Annan).  Perh.  O.E.  cyrtel, 
Icel.  kyrtill,  a  short  gown,  petticoat ;  but  why  so  called  1 
Cf.  Kirtling,  Newmarket;  Kirtlington,  Oxford. 

KISHORN  (loch,  W.  Koss-sh.).  1472,  Kysryner  ;  1554,  Kes- 
sarne;  1575,  Kisyrne.  Prob.  G.  cis-roinn,  'cape  of  the 
toll '  or  '  impost '  (MS).  But  Icel.  kis,  kisa,  is  pet  name 
for  a  cat,  and  Kisi  was  a  Scandinavian  giant ;  whilst,  on 
the  analogy  of  CLEGHORN,  Kishorn  might  be  G.  cisean,  a 
little  chest.  Cf.  Kismull,  Barra. 

KITTLEGAIRY  HILL  (Soonhope,  Peebles).  Kittle  is  Sc.  for 
'  tickle,'  so  the  first  part  may  be  some  G.  word  or  words 
represented  by  tickle ;  so  ?  tigli  coill  gairbh,  '  house  in 
the  rough  wood.' 

KITTYBREWSTER  (Aberdeen).     Prob.  a  name. 

KITTYSHALLOCH  (Miiiigaff).  G.  (and  Ir.)  ceide  sealgaich, 
'  hillock '  or  '  green  for  hunting ; '  f r.  sealg,  the  chase. 

KNAPDALE  (N.  and  S.  Argyle).  1471,  -dal.  Icel.  knapp-r- 
dal  (or  G.  cnap,  as  in  next),  'knob-dale,'  i.e.,  glen  with 
the  hillocks.  On  the  coast  is  Knap  Point.  Cf.  Knapp 
Hill,  Woking;  Knapton,  Yorkshire. 

KNIFE,  The  (hill,  New  Cumnock).  G.  and  W.  cnap,  knob, 
button ;  hence,  little  hill ;  O.E.  cnaep,  hill-top. 

KNOCK  (Largs,  Banff,  Lewis,  &c.).  G.  and  Ir,  cnoc,  a  hill. 
Sir  H.  Maxwell  gives  220  Knocks-  in  Galloway. 

KNOCKANDO  (Moray).  G.  cnocan  dhu,  'black  hillock.'  Cf. 
Knockin,  Oswestry. 

KNOCKBAIN  (Cromarty).  G.  cnoc,  ban  or  bdine,  'white,  fair 
hill.' 

KNOCKFARREL  (Strathpeffer).  Prob.  G.  cnoc  faire,  '  hill  of 
the  watch '  or  '  guard ; '  but  G.  farrcd,  -rail,  means 
'anger.' 

KNOCKLEGOIL  (?Stirlingsh.).  G.  cnoc  till  goill,  'hill  of  the 
strangers'  (G.  gall)  grave.'  This  was  a  cairn  full  of 
cinerary  urns. 

KNOCKRIOCH  (Argyle,  passim).  G.  cnoc  riabhach,  '  brindled, 
brown,  heather-coloured  hill.' 

KNOCKSTING,  L.  (N.  Kirkcudbright).  G.  cnoc  staing,  'hill 
of  the  pool3  or  'ditch.' 


160  PLACE-NAMES    OF   SCOTLAND. 

KNOXLAND  (Dumbarton). 

KNOWE  (Kirkcowan).  Sc.  knowe,  O.E.  cnoll,  Dan.  knold, 
W.  cnol,  a  (rounded)  hillock.  Knowe  is  just  a  softened 
form  of  knoll.  Cf.  Pow,  fr.  G.  poll,  W.  pwl,  a  pool. 

KNOYDABT  (Sleat  Sound).  1309,  Knodworath;  1343, 
Cnudeworth;  1511,  Knod wart;  1517,  Knodort.  King 
Canute  or  '  Onut's  fjord,'  of  which  last  the  Norse  endings 
worth,  wart,  ort  are  corruptions;  in  G.  Crojarst.  Cf. 
MOYDART.  Cnut  invaded  Scotland  in  1031. 

KYLE  (district  of  Ayrsh.).  750,  Continuation  of  Bede, 
Cyil;  c.  1150,  Chul;  1293,  Kyi;  Bk.  Taliesin  (very 
ancient),  Coelin,  which  makes  it  likely  to  be  fr.  Coel 
Hen  or  C.  the  aged,  the  famous  'old  King  Cole;'  so 
Rhys.  Cf.  Coilsfield  and  Coilton  in  this  district.  Form 
Chul  suggests  G.  cliaolas,  straits ;  see  below. 

KYLE  AKIN.     See  AKIN.     Cf.  1549,  Dunnakyne. 

KYLE  SKOW  or  SKU  (Assynt).  Prob.  G.  caol  sgdtha,  '  straits 
of  dread.'  Kyle,  kil,  and  heel  are  all  only  approximations 
to  the  sound,  in  different  localities,  of  G.  caol,  caoil,  a 
strait,  fr.  caol,  slender,  thin.  See  KILCHURN,  EDDRA- 
CHILIS. 

KYLOE,  West.  Prob.  G.  caol  abli,  '  narrows  of  the  water.'  Cf. 
AWE. 

KYLES  OF  BUTE.  In  G.  Na  Caoil  Bhodach.  See  KYLE 
SKOW. 


LACHSAY  (Skye).  N.  lachs-d,  'salmon  river.'  Cf.  LAXA, 
LAXAY. 

LADHOPE  (Galashiels).  Prob.  O.E.  lad,  a  way,  course,  canal; 
Sc.  lade,  a  mill-race.  On  hope,  a  shut-in  valley,  see 
HOBKIRK. 

LADY  (Kirkwall),  LADYBURN  (Greenock),  LADYKIRK  (Nor- 
ham),  LADYWELL  (Glasgow).  All  prob.  fr.  '  Our  Lady/ 
i.e.,  the  Virgin  Mary.  Lady  is  O.E.  hlaefdige  or  -die,  lit. 
'  breadmaid.' 

LADYBANK  (Fife).     Lindores  monks  dug  peats  here,  fr.  13th 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  161 

century,  hence  called  c  Our  Lady's  BogJ  but  also  '  Lathy- 
bog,'  which  looks  like  G.  leatliad  bog,  '  moist  hill-slope  ;' 
about  fifty  years  ago  '  improved '  into  Ladybank.  There 
was  also  once  a  '  Lady-Bank,7  near  Arbroath. 

LAGAVOULIN  BAY  (Islay).     G.  lag-a-mhuilinn,  'bay  of  the 

mill.'     Cf.  MOULIN. 
LAGG  (Arran  and  Jura).     G.  and  Ir.  lag,  a  bay,  hollow ; 

same  root  as  Icel.  lag-r,  low.     Cf.  LOGIE. 

LAGGAN  (loch  and  village,  Inverness-sh.,  and  Bonar  Bridge). 
G.  lagan,  diminutive  of  lag,  a  hollow.  Laggankenney, 
on  Loch  Laggan,  is  fr.  St  Cainneacli  (Kenneth  or 
'  Kennie ')  of  Achaboe,  Irish  friend  of  Columba. 

LAID  (Durness).  G.  lad,  laid,  a  water-course,  a  foul  pool, 
same  as  O.E.  lad,  way,  course,  canal,  fr.  laedan,  Dan. 
lede,  to  lead. 

LAIGH  CARTSIDE  (Johnstone).  'Low  place  on  the  side  of 
the  river  Cart;'  Icel.  lag-r,  M.E.  lagli,  Sc.  laigh,  low. 

LAIGHDOORS  (Muthill).  '  Low  doors ; '  gh  is  always  sounded 
and  guttural  in  Scotch. 

LAIRG  (Sutherland),  c.  1230,  Larg.  G.  learg,  'a  plain, 
little  eminence,  beaten  path.'  Cf.  LARGS. 

LAMANCHA  (Peebles).  The  Grange  of  Eomanno  was  so 
called,  c.  1736,  by  Admiral  Sir  A.  ~F.  Cochrane,  who 
had  resided  for  a  time  in  this  province  of  Spain. 

LAMBERTON  (Berwicksh.).  1235,  -ertona.  Perh.  fr.  a  man. 
Cf.  Lamberhurst,  Sussex,  and  Lamerton,  Tavistock ; 
but  see  LAMMERMUIR. 

LAMBHILL  (Glasgow).     Cf.  Lambley,  Notts  and  Carlisle. 

LAMINGTON  (S.  Lanarksh.).  1206,  Lambinistun;  1359, 
Lambyngyston;  1539,  Lammyntoun.  Fr.amanZ-amfoX 
found  here  before  1150.  Cf.  p.  Ixxiv. 

LAMLASH  (Arran).  Formerly  simply  Molas ;  G.  lann  Lais, 
1  church  of  St  Las,'  commonly  in  the  endearing  form 
Molas,  or  Molios,  or  Molaise ;  though  Molios  is  also 
interpreted  as  =  Maol-Iosa,  l  servant,  shaveling  of  Jesus ' 
(cf.  p.  xcv).  Of  the  three  St  Molaises  this  is  M.  of 
Leighlin,  grandson  of  King  Aidan  of  Dalriada,  c.  610. 
G.  lann,  W.  llan,  is  rare  in  Sc.  names,  but  cf.  LHAN- 
BRYDE.  It  means  (1)  a  fertile,  level  spot;  (2)  an 


162  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

enclosure;  (3)  a  church;  cf.  a  similar  gradation  of  mean- 
ings in  L.  templum. 

LAMMERLAWS  (grass-topped  cliffs  at  Burntisland).  Lammer- 
law  is  also  name  of  one  of  the  LAMMERMUIRS,  so  the 
names  must  be  the  same.  Sc.  law  is  O.E.  lilcew,  a 
mound  or  hill. 

LAMMERMUIR  HILLS.  Sim.  Durham,  a.  1130,  Lombormore. 
Prob.  G.  lann  barra  mbr,  '  level  spot  on  the  big  height.5 
See  LAMLASH  and  LAMMERLAWS. 

LANARK,  also  LANRICK,  CASTLE  (E.  Teith).  c.  1188,  Lannarc  ; 
1289  Lanark;  c.  1430,  Lamarke;  also  Lanerch.  Lanark, 
Lanrick,  and  DRUMLANRIG  (1663,  -lanerk),  are  perh.  all 
the  same,  =  '  level  spot  on  the  ridge  ; '  G.  lann  (see  LAM- 
LASH)  +  O.E.  hrycg,  hric,  Sc.  rig.  a  hill-ridge,  furrow, 
=  G.  druim  or  DRUM.  But  -ark  might  be  f r.  G.  arach, 
field  of  battle ;  and  -ercli  is  like  Old  G.  earc,  a  cow,  which 
last  gives  the  likeliest  origin  of  all ;  and  so  Lanark  may 
mean  '  level  spot,  enclosure  for  the  cows.' 

LANGAVAT,  L.  (Lewis).  K  lancja-vatn,  '  ling  (the  fish)  loch ' 
or  '  water ; '  perh.  fr.  Icel.  lang-r,  Dan.  lang,  long.  Cf. 
Langavill,  Mull ;  -mil  prob.  =  G.  bail,  village,  dwelling. 

LANGBANK  (Port  Glasgow),  LANGHAUGHWALLS  (Hawick,  see 
HAUGH),  LANGSHAW  (Galashiels,  see  SHAW),  LANGSIDE 
(Glasgow,  c.  1600,  'The  Langsyd  field'),  LANGTON 
(Duns,  1250,  Langetun).  Sc.  lang,  O.E.  and  Dan. 
lang,  Icel.  lang-r,  long. 

LANGHOLM  (Carlisle).  Pron.  Langom;  sic  1376;  but  1776, 
Langham;  formerly  Arkinholm.  On  the  interchangeable- 
ness  of  holm,  a  meadow,  and  ham,  house,  see  HODDOM, 
YETHOLM. 

LANGLOAN  (Coatbridge).  '  Long,  country  lane ; '  Sc.  loan,  as 
in  '  Lovers'  Loan,'  O.E.  lane,  a  lane,  Fris.  lona,  a  lane, 
Icel.  Ion,  a  row  of  houses. 

LANTON  (Jedburgh).  =  LANGTON,  or  perh.  fr.  G.  lann, 
enclosure,  church,  +  O.E.  tun,  ton,  village. 

LAOGHAL,  Ben  (Tongue).  Popularly  spelt  and  pron.  Loyal ; 
G.  laogh  dl,  'hind  calves'  rock.' 

LARACHBEG  (Morvern).  G.  =  '  little  house '  or  '  farm '  or 
'  ruin ; '  larach  has  all  these  meanings. 

LARBERT   (Stirling).     1195,  Lethberth;    c.   1320,  Lethberd. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  163 

G.  letli  is  a  half,  a  share,  but  Lar-  is  prob.  f  r.  larach  ;  see 
above.  The  second  half  may  be  fr.  G.  bard,  bdird, 
a  poet,  bard,  or  beart,  work,  exploit,  a  yoke,  burden, 
machine,  so  that  the  exact  meaning  is  hard  to  define. 

LARG  HILL  (Kirkcudbright)  and  LARGS  (Ayrsh.).  Ayrsh.  L., 
c.  1140,  Larghes ;  1318,  -gys ;  and  prob.  Tighernac  Ann., 
ann.  711,  Loirg  ecclet.  G.  learg,  the  side  or  slope  of  a  hill, 
a  plain,  a  beaten  path,  with  English  plural.  Cf.  LAIRG. 

LARGO  and  LARGO  WARD  (Fife).  1250,  Largauch;  1279, 
-aw.  G.  learg  achaidh,  '  slope  of  the  field ; '  ward,  O.E. 
zueard,  expresses  direction,  as  in  l  homeward,'  &c. 

LARIG,   Hill  (Dava).     G.   larig,  a  path,  way.     Cf.  CRIAN- 

LARICH. 

LARKHALL  (Hamilton).     Also  near  Bath. 

LASSODIE  (Dunfermline).  Prob.  G.  leas-aodann,  'garden- 
slope  '  or  '  face,'  =  Lessuden,  old  name  of  St  Bos  well's, 
c.  1200,  Lassedwyn;  in  the  latter  the  ending  is  Bry- 
thonic,  W.  eidchjn,  a  slope. 

LASSWADE  (Dalkeith).  a.  1150,  Leswade;  and  cf.  LESWALT, 
in  17th  century  Lesswad;  first  syllable  prob.  G.  leas  or 
lios,  a  garden.  G.  Chalmers'  M.E.  weyde,  '  a  meadow,' 
is  a  pure  invention. 

LiTHERONand  LATHERONWHEEL  (Caithness).  1274,  Lagheryn; 
1275,  Laterne ;  1515,  Latheroun;  c.  1565,  Lethrin. 
Prob.  G.  lagliran,  ladhran,  '  prongs,  forks.'  Eorms 
1274-75  show  it  cannot  be,  as  Dr  M'Lauchlan  says,  = 
LORN.  Latheronwheel  is  prob.  G.  laghran-a-bhuill, 
'the  forks  or  divisions  of  the  plot  of  ground,'  fr.  G. 
ball,  a  spot,  a  limb.  With  this  agrees  the  recorded 
spelling  '  Lather on-fuil.'  Icel.  latra  is  a  place  where 
seals,  whales,  &c.,  lay  their  young.  It  is  common  in 
place-names,  Latra-bjarg,  Latra-heiSr,  &c. 

LATHONES  (St  Andrews).  Prob.  G.  leathad  aonaich,  '  the 
slope  of  the  hill '  or  '  heath ; '  with  the  common  Eng. 
plural. 

LATHRISK  (Fife).  1183,  Loschiresk;  1250,  Losresk;  a. 
1400,  Lothresk.  Prob.  G.  loisgear  uisge,  'swift  water.' 
Cf.  ESK. 

LAUDALE  (Strontian).  Prob.  'low  dale;'  Icel.  lagr,  Dan. 
lav,  low,  and  Icel.  and  Dan.  dal,  a  dale. 


164  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

LAUDER  and  LAUDERDALE.  1250,  Lawedir;  Lauderdale, 
1560,  Lawtherdale,  is  the  valley  of  the  river  Leader  ; 
c.  800,  Leder  ;  c.  1160,  Ledre,  and  prob.  the  names  are 
the  same.  Prob.  G.  liath  dobhar  or  dur,  l  grey  water  ' 
or  'stream.'  Of.  ADDER. 

LAURENCEKIRK.  Formerly  Conveth.  Prob.  fr.  St  Laurentiusy 
the  martyr,  c.  260.  Cf.  next. 

LAURIESTON  (in  Edinburgh,  and  Glasgow,  Cramond,  Bal- 
maghie,  Kinrieff).  Laurie  is  corruption  of  Laivrence, 
e.g.,  Kinn.  L.,  1243,  Laurenston ;  1461,  Laurestoun. 
Cram.  L.,  1590,  Laurenstoun;  and  a  chapel  to  St 
Laurence  is  mentioned  in  1249  near  Kinneff.  Laurie- 
ston,  nearFalkirk,  was  called  Merchistown  in  1774,  and 
was  renamed  after  the  late  Sir  Lawrence  Dundas  of 
Kerse.  Edinb.  L.  is  fr.  Lawrence,  son  of  Edmund  of 
Edinburgh,  to  whom  the  Abbot  of  Kelso  granted  a  toft 
between  the  West  Port  and  the  Castle  in  1160. 
Larriston  Fell,  Roxburgh,  is  the  same  name.  Cf.  the 
English  '  Larry.' 

LAW  (Carluke).  Sc.  law,  O.E.  hlcew,  a  mound,  hill;  in  England 
usually  -loio,  as  in  Marlow,  Taplow,  &c. ;  cf.  FERRIELOW. 

LAWERS,  Ben  (L.  Tay).  G.  lathar  (pron.  lar),  '  a  hoof,'  with 
Eng.  plural.  Ben  L.  =  '  cloven  mountain.' 

LAXA  (Shetland),  LAXAY  (Islay  and  Lewis).  Isl.  L.,  old,  Laxa, 
=  LACHSAY,  '  salmon  river '  (cf.  Laxay,  Isle  of  Man, 
and  next) ;  but  Laxa,  Shetland,  is  O.N.  lax-ay,  '  salmon 
isle.' 

LAXFORD,  L.  (Sutherland)  and  LAXVOE.  1559,  -fuird. 
'  Salmon  frith,  fjord,  or  bay  ; '  O.K  lax,  K  lacks,  a 
salmon.  Cf.  BROADFORD.  Voe  is  O.K  vag-r,  a  bay. 

LEADBURN  (Peebles).  Prob.  fr.  O.E.  lad,  a  way,  course, 
canal;  cf.  'mill-lade.' 

LEADER,  R.     See  LAUDER. 

LEADHILLS  (S.  Lanarksh.).  Lead  (O.E.  lead)  has  been  mined 
here  for  at  least  600  years. 

LECROPT  (Bridge  of  Allan),  c.  1550,  Lekraw.  G.  lee,  a 
flagstone,  tomb.  Perh.  +  rath,  a  circle,  rampart;  but 
cf.  Ir.  crapain  for  Ir.  and  G.  cnapan,  'a  little  knob, 
hillock;'  as  in  Carrickcroppan,  Armagh.  G.  has 
craparra  for  cnaparra,  stout. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  165 

LEDAIG  (Connel  Ferry).       G.   lad,  laid,  a  water-course,  + 

O.K".  aig,  a  bay. 
LEDI,  Ben  (Callander).     Commonly  said  to  be  the  '  Mount 

of  God ; '  G.  beinn  le  Dia.     Cf.  Cnoc  Ledi,  Tain. 
LEE,  Pen  (Peeblessh.).     Icel.  hlie,  Me,  Dan.  Uce,  O.E.  hleo, 

shade,  shelter,  the  'leeside.'     Pen  is  the  Brythonic  or 

Welsh  form  of  Ben,  a  hill. 
LEEDS,  New  (New  Deer).     Leeds,  Yorkshire,  is  '  Loidis '  in 

Bede.     Prob.  '  people's  place ; '  O.E.  leoda,  people. 

LEFFENBEG  (Kintyre).  G.  letli-pliegliinn,  'a  halfpenny/  a 
land  measure  (see  p.  Ivii),  +  beag,  little. 

LEGERWOOD  (Earlston).  Sic  1158;  1160,  Legerdswode. 
Prob.  fr.  a  man ;  cf.  the  Eng.  name  '  St  Leger.' 

LEGSMALEE  (Aberdour,  Fife),  a.  1169,  Ecclesmaline ;  later, 
Egilsmalye,  Egsmalye.  'Church  of  St  Maline'  (cf. 
Malines,  Belgium).  For  a  similar  corruption,  see  LES- 

MAHAGOW.       Cf.  ECCLES. 

LEITH  (town,  and  Water  of)  and  LEITHEN,  E.  (Innerleithen). 
Leith  is  (c.  1145,  Inverlet,  INVERLEITH),  1439,  Leicht ; 
1570,  Leth.  Prob.fr.W.  lleithio,  to  moisten,  overflow  (cf. 
G.  lighe,  a  flood).  The  -en  in  Leithen  will  be  W.  afon 
or  G.  abhuinn,  '  river.'  Cf.  Leet  Water,  Coldstream ; 
Leaths,  Buittle ;  and  Lethen  Burn,  branch  of  the  river 
Findhorn. 

LEITHOLM  (Coldstream).     *  Meadow  on  the  Leet.'     See  HOLM 

and  LEITH. 

LENDAL  WATER  (Girvan).     G.  lean  dail,  'marshy  meadow.' 
LENIMORE  (Caticol).     G.  leana  mbr,  '  big,  marshy  flat.' 
LENNOX    (Dumbarton)    and    LENNOXTOWN    (Kirkintilloch). 

c.  1210,  Levenax,  -nach  ;  1234,  Lenox ;  1296,  Levanaux; 

Old  G.  MS.,  Lemnaigh.    G.  leamlian-achadli,  '  elm-field.' 

Cf.  LEVEN. 

LENTRAN  (Inverness).     G.  leana  traona,  '  marshy  flat  of  the 

corn-crakes.' 

LENT  (Callander).     G.  leana,  '  a  marshy  flat.' 
LENZIE  (Glasgow),  c.  1 230,  Lenneth;  1451, Lenyie.  Prob. Old 

G.  Vean-achadh,  swampy  field ;  or  eth  may  as  likely  be  G. 

ath,  a  ford.     Cf.  CLOVA.     The  z  is  just  the  Old  Sc.  y. 

R 


166  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

LEOCHEL  CUSHNIE  (Alford).  c.  1200,  Loychel;  a.  1300, 
'  Loch  el '  and  '  Cuscheny  '  are  mentioned  in  Registr. 
Aberdon.  as  separate  places.  L.  prob.  =  LAOGHAL,  '  calf's 
rock;'  and  see  CUSHNIE. 

LERWICK.     1ST.  leir-vik,  '  mud-bay.'     Cf.  Lervik,  Norway, 

LESLIE  (Fife  and  Garioch).  Gar.  L.,  c.  1180,  Lesslyn;  a. 
1300,  Lessly;  Fife  L.  is  named  fr.  this  one.  Malcolm, 
son  of  Bardulf,  was  granted  the  lands  of  Lesslyn, 
1171-99,  and  took  his  name  fr.  them  ;  though  a 
Bartholomew  Lesly  is  said  to  have  come  to  Scotland  in 
1097.1  Prob.  G.  lios  linne,  'garden  by  the  pool.' 

LESMAHAGOW  (Lanarkshire).  1144,  Ecclesia  Machuti;  but 
c.  1130,  Lesmahagu;  1316,  Lesmachute.  *  Church  of  St 
MachuteJ  disciple  of  the  missionary  Brendan ;  went  with 
him  to  the  Orkneys,  6th  century.  Cf.  ECCLESMACHAN 
and  LEGSMALEE. 

LESSUDEN,  now  St  Boswell's.     See  under  LASSODIE. 

LESWALT  (Stranraer).  1580,  Loch  Swaid ;  17th  century, 
Lesswoll,  -wad.  Perh.  '  garden  (G.  lios)  at  the  base  ' 
of  the  hill.  W.  gwaelod,  '  base,  bottom,'  could  have 
originated  all  the  early  forms.  For  w.  =  gw  or  gu,  cf. 

KlRKGUNZEON.        Cf.   LASSWADE. 

LETHAM  (Forfar,  Collessie,  Larbert,  Dunfermline).  (1250, 
1  Capella  Brigham  Letham,'  Berwicksh.)  G.  leth,  a  half, 
a  share,  +  O.E.  ham,  home,  house. 

LETHENDY  (Blairgowrie)  and  LETHENTY  (Inverurie).  1285, 
Lenthendy.  1  G.  leathan  tir,  'broad  land,'  or  'broad 
house,'  tigh. 

LETHNOT  (Brechin).  1275,  Lethnoth ;  1359,  Lethnotty ;  but 
1328,  Petnocy.  '  Bit  of  land  on  the  hillock ;'  G.  leth  lit. 
means  '  a  half,'  then  '  half  a  township '  or  villula,  then 
perh.  simply  'a  piece  of  land,'  =  pit, pet  (see  PETTY).  The 
second  half  would  seem  to  be  G.  c?iocan,  a  little  hill. 

LETTERFEARN  (L.  Duich).  $^1509.  '  Alder-clad  slope,'  fr. 
G.  leitir  (leth-tir),  Ir.  leitar,  'land  on  the  slope  of  a 
glen,'  and  G.  fedrna,  an  alder ;  or  perh.  fr.  leth-oir,  '  the 
one  side  or  edge '  (oir) ;  cf.  '  Letherpen,'  a  harbour  in 
Argyle,  in  an  Old  Irish  MS.  (Skene,  Celtic  ScotL,  ii. 
203).  A  'Letter'  is  marked  on  a  1745  map,  north- 
1  Sibbald's  History  of  Fife,  edit.  1710,  p.  370. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  167 

west  of  Campsie.      Common   in  Ireland,    Letterfrack, 

-kenny,  &c.     Cf.  BALLATER,  DULLATUR. 
LETTERFINLAY  (L.  Lochy).     1553,  Lettirfmlay.     '  Land  on 

the  slope  belonging  to  Finlay;'  see  above. 
LETTERPIN  (Girvan).     '  The  slope  of  the  hill '  (pin  —pen  or 

ben) ;  cf.  above,  and  PINMORE. 
LEUCHARS  (St  Andrews),    a.  1300,  Locres  ;  1639,  Leucheries. 

Prob.  G.  luachair,    'rushes/   with   Eng.    plural.      Cf. 

Leuchar,  Skene ;  Luichar  Loch,  Lewis ;  and  Ardlougher, 

Ireland. 
LEUCHAT    (Aberdour,    Fife),     c.    1214,    Lowchald.      Prob. 

G~.  luachrach  allt,  'rushy  glen'  or  'stream.' 
LEVEN  (lochs,  Kinross  and  Argyle ;  river,  Dumbarton ;  town, 

Fife).    Kin.  L.,  a.  1100,  Lochlevine;  1156,  Lohuleuene. 

Arg.  L.,   a.   1100,    Tigliernac,   ann.  704,   Glenlemnae. 

Fife  L.,  c.  1535,  Levin.     Dumb.  L.,  c.  1560,  Levinus. 

G.  leamhan,  an  elm  (cf.  LENNOX  ;    also  Leven,  Hull ; 

Levens,   "Westmoreland).     Ptolemy,    c.   120  A.D.,  calls 

Loch  Long,  L.  Lemannonius,  evidently  the  same  word. 

LEVENHALL  (Musselburgh)  and  LEVENWICK  (Shetland).  See 
above.  Wick  is  N.  vik,  a  bay.  If  the  Shetland  name 
be  really  partly  Gaelic,  it  is  almost  unique. 

LEVERN  (Paisley).  Prob.  =  LEVEN.  Cf.  MORVEN  and  MOR- 
VERN. 

LEWIS,  a.  1100  (Gaelic  MS.),  Leodus;  Sagas,  LyoShus; 
c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Li6dhus;  1292,  Lodoux.  Com- 
monly said  to  be  Icel.  Jiljoth  hus,  O.E.  Mud  1ms,  '  loud ' 
or  'resounding  house.'  Martin  and  Prof.  M'Kinnon 
say  fr.  G.  leoig,  'a  marsh,'  which  is  appropriate,  but 
has  no  support  from  early  forms. 

LEYSMILL  (Arbroath).     Prob.  fr.  a  man  Leys  or  Lees. 

LHANBRYDE  (Moray).  G.  lann  Brid,  'church  of  St  Bride.' 
See  LAMLASH  and  KILBRIDE. 

LIBERTON  (Edinburgh  and  Carnwath).  Edinb.  L.,  c.  1145, 
and  Carnw.  L.,  c.  1186,  Libertun.  'Leper-town;'  G. 
loWiar.  Sometimes  called  '  Spitaltown,'  i.e.,  place  of 
the  leper  hospital. 

LIDDESDALE  (Roxburgh).  1179,  Lidelesdale,  'Glen' or 'dale' 
(O.E.  duel,  Icel.  and  Dan.  dal)  of  the  Liddel  Water,  c. 


168  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

1160,  Lidel;  c.   1470,   Ledaill.     Perh.  G.  Hath   dail, 

'grey  field,'  or  fr.  U,  coloured,  tinged.     If  so,  'Lideles- 

dale '  is  not  a  reduplication. 
LIFP  (Dundee).  1250,  Lif.  Perh.  G.  Hath,  grey ;  but  Clonliff, 

Ireland,  is  Ir.  and  G.  duain  luibh,  '  meadow  of  herbs.' 
LILLTESLEAF  (Selkirk).     1116,  Lilleseliva;  1296,  Lilleslyve. 

Prob.  just  '  lily's  leaf ; '  O.E.  lilie,  L.  lilium,  a  lily,  and 

O.E.  leaf,  a  leaf. 
LIMEKILNS  (Dunfermline),  LIMERIGG  (Slainannan,  cf.  BONNY- 

RIGG,  &c.),'LiME  ROAD  (Falkirk). 
LINCLUDEN    (Dumfries).      Sic    1449 ;    1452,    Lyncludene. 

'  Pool  (W.  llyn)  on  the  river  CLUDEN.' 
LINCUMDODDIE  (hamlet  in  Peeblessh.,  now  extinct).      Prob. 

"W.  llyn  cam,   '  crooked  linn  or  water,'  +  dodd,  doddy, 

a  rounded  hill,  see  DODD. 
LINDEAN  (Selkirk).     Also  old  name  of  Galashiels.     1275, 

Lyndon;    1353,    Lindene.       W.    llyn  din,    'linn'    or 

'  water  by  the  hill ; '  but  influenced  by  den  or  DEAN. 

LINDORES  (Newburgh).  1199,  Lundoris;  c.  1203,  Londors; 
1639,  Lundors.  Prob.  W.  llyn  dwr  (G.  linne  doMair), 
'  pool '  or  '  loch  near  the  water '  (the  Tay),  with  Eng. 
plural  6-.  Cf.  Poldores  Burn,  Carsphairn.  Hardly  fr. 
G.  doran,  an  otter. 

LINDSAYLANDS  (Biggar).  The  Lindsays  held  lands  in  Clydes- 
dale in  the  1 2th  century.  The  first  known  of  the  family, 
'  Randolph  de  Limesay '  or  '  Lindesey,'  was  a  nephew  of 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  came  over  with  him.  The 
name  means  'lime-tree'  or  'linden  isle,'  JST.  ay,  ey. 

LINGA  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Lyngey.  Icel.  and  Dan.  lyng-ay, 
'ling'  or  'heather  isle.'  Cf.  Lingholm  (see  'HOLM), 
Stronsay,  and  Lingrow,  Scapa. 

LINLATHEN  (Dundee).  Prob.  G.  linne  leatlian,  'broad  linn' 
or  'pool/ 

LINLITHGOW.  1147,  Linlitcu;  1156,  Lillidchu;  c.  1160, 
Linlidcu;  1264,  Lenlithgow;  and  contracted — as  still 
popularly — 1489,  Lythgow;  also  Lithcow.  Linlidcu  is 
plainly  Brythonic  =  '  dear,  broad,  lake  ; '  W.  llyn,  Corn. 
lin,  Ir.  linn,  G.  linnet  a  'pool'  or  'loch;'  W.  lledt. 
broad,  and  W.  cu,  dear.  Cf.  GLASGOW. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  169 

LINNHE,  L.  (N.  Argyle).  G.  linne,  a  pool,  enclosed  sea- 
loch  ;  thus  Loch  Linnhe  is  a  tautology. 

LINN  OF  DEE,  &c.     G.  linne,  a  pool.     See  under  LINLITHGOW. 
LINTMILL  (Cullen).   O.E.  linet,  lint,  fr.  O.E.  line,  L.  linum,  flax. 

LINTON,  East  and  West  (and  near  Kelso).  East  L.,  1250, 
Lintun.  West  L.,  1 567,  Lyntoun.  '  Hamlet  by  the  linn ' 
or  pool.  See  LINLITHGOW.  Five  Lintons  in  England. 

LINTRATHEN  (Kirriemuir).  1250,  Lumtrethyn  ;  1433,  Lun- 
trethin.  G.  Ion,  'meadow,'  or  G.  linne  (or  W.  llyn) 
frathain,  'pool  in  the  ferny  spot.' 

LINWOOD  (Paisley).     W.  llyn,  a  pool,  +  ivood,  O.E.  wudu. 

LISMORE  (N.  of  Oban).  a.  1100,  Tighernac,  ann.  611, 
Lesmoir;  1251,  Lesmor;  1549,  Lismoir.  G.  lios  mor, 
'big  garden,'  the  island  is  so  fertile.  Lios  is  lit.  the 
ground  within  a  lios,  i.e.,  a  wall,  often  a  rampart. 

LISSA  (Mull).  Corruption  of  O.N.  lax-d,  '  salmon-river.'  Cf. 
LACHSAY,  LAXA. 

LITTLE  FERRY  (Dornoch).  In  G.  Port  Beag.  Almost  the 
only  '  Little '  in  Scotland,  although  they  are  so  common 
in  England. 

LIVINGSTONE  (Midcalder).  1250,  Leuinistun;  1297,  Levynge- 
stone.  'Abode  of  Leving'  or  Levyn,  an  early  Saxon 
settler. 

LOANHEAD  (Edinburgh).  Loan  is  Sc.  for  '  a  country  lane ' 
(see  LANGLOAN).  Cf.  Loans,  Troon. 

LOCHABER  (district,  S.W.  Inverness)  and  LOCH  LOCHABER 
(Troqueer).  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Stagnum  (i.e.,  standing 
water,  swamp,  pool)  Aporum;  1297,  Lochabor;  1309, 
-abre.  '  Loch  at  the  river-mouth ; '  G.  abliir,  see  p.  xxvii. 

LOCHALSH  (W.  Inverness).  1449, -alche;  1472, -alch.  Perh. 
fr.  Sw.  elg,  an  elk,  cf.  GLENELG,  near  by ;  or  possibly  f r. 
G.  aillse,  a  fairy. 

LOCHANHEAD  (Dumfries).  G.  lochan,  diminutive  of  loch, 
1  a  lakelet.'  Cf.  Lochans,  Stranraer. 

LOCHARBRIGGS  (Dumfries).  Lochar  Water  is  possibly  fr.  the 
same  man's  name  as  LOCKERBIE  ;  but  more  likely  G.  loch 
ctird,  '  loch  of  the  height.'  Sc.  brig  is  O.E.  bricg,  a  bridge. 


170  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

LOCHBUIE  (Mull).  1478,  -bowe;  1549,  -buy.  G.  buidhe, 
'  yellow,  golden.'  Cf.  KTLBOWIE  and  Stronbuy. 

LOCHBURN(IE)  (Glasgow).  Burnie  is  diminutive  of  Sc.  burn, 
O.E.  burna,  a  stream,  rivulet. 

LOCHEE  (Dundee).     Perh.  fr.  G.  iodh,  corn.     Cf.  TIREE. 

LOCHEIL  (Fort  William).   1528,  -iell.    Prob.  fr.  G.  ial,  a  gleam 

of  sunshine. 
LOCHEND  (Edinburgh  and  Dumfries).    Prob.  fr.  G.  can,  a  bird ; 

on  the  d,  see  p.  xxxvii.    But  cf.  Lochfoot,  also  in  Dum- 
fries. 
LOCHGAIR  (Inveraray).    =  GAIRLOCH.    *  Short  loch ;'  G.  gearry 

short. 
LOCHGELLY  (Dunfermline).     G.  geal,  gile,  clear,  white.     Cf* 

Innergelly,  see  ABERGELDIE. 
LOCHGILPHEAD  (Argyle).     Gilp  is  prob.  G.  gilb,  a  chisel,  from 

its  shape, 

LOCHGOIL,  -INVER,  &c.     See  GOIL,  INVER,  &c. 
LOCHINVAR  (Dairy,  Kirkcudbright).      1578,  -in war;    1639, 

Louchinvar.  G.  lochan-a-bharra,  'lochlet  of  the  height/ 
LOCHLEE  (Brechin).  G.  Hath,  grey,  pale;  or  llomh,  smooth. 
LOCHLUICHART  (Ross-sh.).  G.  liichairt,  a  castle ;  or  luachairy 

rushes. 
LOCHMABEN    (Dumfries).     1166,    Locmaban;    1298,    Logh- 

maban;  c.  1320,  Lochmalban ;  1502,  -mabane.     'Loch 

of  the  bare  hill ; '  G.  maol  beinn.     Cf.  MULBEN. 
LOCHMADDY.     Fr.  G.  madadh,  a  wolf,  wild  dog.     Cf.  POL- 

MADIE. 

LOCHNAGA'R   (Aberdeen).      '  Loch   of   the   enclosure,    dyke, 

mound,  garden;'  G.  yaradli. 

LOCHORE  (Lochgelly).     Fr.  G.  odhar  (pron.  owr),  grey. 
LOCHRUTTON  (Kirkcudbright),    a.  1300,  Loghroieton.    Prob. 

G.  loch  ruad/i,  '  red,  ruddy  loch,'  +-ton;  butc/.  p.  Ixxv 
LOCHS   (Lewis),     c.  1620,  Loghur,  which  is  prob.   G.   loch 

chur,  '  loch  of  the  turn  or  bend '  (cor).     Cf.  STRACHUR. 
LOCHWINNOCH  (Beith).     1158,    Lochynoc    (which    is    very 

like  the  local  pron.   still);   a.    1207,    -winnoc;    1710, 

-whinyeoch.     Fr.  St   Winnoc,   diminutive   of  Wynnin, 

died  579  ;  see  KILWINNING. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  171 

LOCHY,  R.  and  L.  (Inverness),  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Lacus 
Lochdiae;  1472,  Locha;  1496,  Loquhy;  prob.,  too, 
=  Nigra  J)ea  in  Adamnan;  if  so,  it  is  the  O.Ir.  loch, 
black,  +  dea,  a  river-name  in  Ireland  \  or,  as  its  modem 
G.  spelling  is  Lochaid,  the  second  syllable  may  be  G. 
and  Ir.  achadh,  a  field. 

LOCKERBIE  (Dumfries).  '  Loker's  dwelling '  or  '  village ; ' 
Dan.  bi,  Inj  (cf.  p.  Ixiii).  Also  cf.  Locke rley,  Romsey, 
and  Lokeren,  Belgium. 

LOGAN,  Port  (Wigtown).  Prob.  =  LAGGAN  ;  G.  lagan,  a 
little  hollow.  Cf.  LOGIE. 

LOGIE  (Bridge  of  Allan  and  Cupar),  LOGIEALMOND  (Perth, 
see  ALMOND),  LOGIE  BUCHAN,  LOGIE  COLDSTONE  (Aber- 
deensh.),  LOGIE  EASTER  (Ross-sh.),  LOGIE  PERT  (Mori- 
trose).  More  than  one  of  above,  c.  1210,  Logyn,  i.e., 
G.  lagan,  a  little  hollow ;  or  lag,  luig,  a  hollow  den, 
with  Eng.  diminutive  suffix  -ie,  found  as  early  as  1270, 
'Logy,'  i.e.,  Logie  Easter,  and  a.  1300,  'Logy'  in 
Buchan.  On  Pert,  cf.  PERTH. 

LOGIERAIT  (Ballinluig).  c.  1200,  Rate,  Rath.  G.  lagan 
raith,  '  little  hollow  with  the  fort,  rampart,'  or  '  circle.' 

LOGIERIEVE  (Ellon).  ?  G.  lagan  riabaidh,  '  little  hollow  of 
the  rent '  or  '  fissure.' 

LOMOND,  L.  and  Ben,  and  LOMOND  HILLS  (Fife),  c.  1225, 
Lochlomne.  Prob.  G.  leamlina  or  leamhan,  an  elm. 
Cf.  LEVEN.  On  the  d,  see  p.  xxxvii. 

LONG,  L.  (Firth  of  Clyde).  Thought  to  be  Ptolemy's 
(c.  120  A.D.)  L.  Lemannonius ;  if  so,  =  LEVEN  and 
LOMOND,  '  loch  of  the  elms '  (G.  leamhan).  But  in  1776 
it  is  Loung,  which  is  G.  long,  luing,  a  ship.  Cf.  LUING. 

LONGFORGAN  (Dundee),  c.  1160,  Forgrund;  1461,  Lang- 
f orgend  ;  but  Ada  Sanctorum,  Lanfortin,  where  Ian  must 
mean  'church'  (see  LAMLASH).  A  church  is  said  to 
have  been  built  here,  a.  500,  by  St  Monenna  or  Medana. 
For-  may  be  Old  G.  fothir,  '  bit  of  land '  (see  FETTER- 
ANGUS)  ;  but  the  whole  name  is  perplexing. 

LONGFORMACUS  (Duns).  ?  G.  lann  fothir  Maccus,  '  church 
on  the  land  of  Maccus,'  who  lived  hereabouts  c.  1150. 
See  MAXTON,  &c.,  and  cf.  LONGFORGAN. 


172  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

LONGHAVEN  (Ellon),  LoNGHOPE  (Stromness ;  Icel.  hop,  a 
refuge,  see  HOBKIRK),  LONGMANHILL  (Banff),  LONGRIGG- 
END  (Airdrie,  cf.  p.  Ixi),  LONGSIDE  (Aberdeen). 

LONGMORN  (Elgin).  Perh.  popular  corruption  of  G.  Ion  mor 
abliainn  or  an,  '  big  meadow  by  the  river.' 

LONMAY  (Aberdeensh.).  a.  1300,  Lunme;  c.  1445,  Lymaij ; 
a.  1500,  Lummey.  G.  Ibnmaigh,  'marsh'  or  'meadow 
in  the  plain.'  Cf.  CAMBUS  o'  MAY. 

LORN    (Argyle).     a.  1300,  Loren.     Er.  Loarn,  first  king  of 

the  Scots  in  Dalriada,  c.  500  A.D. 
LOSKIN,  L.  (Dunoon).     G.  losgann,  a  frog. 

LOSSIE,  R.  (Elgin),  and  LOSSIEMOUTH.  If  this  be  Ptolemy's 
Loxa,  it  cannot  be  O.N.  lax-a,  'salmon-river'  (cf. 
LAXAY).  Perh.  fr.  G.  las,  to  be  angry,  sparkle,  shine. 

LOTH  (Brora).  1565,  Lothe.  Prob.  G.  lathach,  clay,  mud, 
or  rather,  fine  alluvial  soil,  such  as  is  here ;  so  Dr  Joass, 
Golspie. 

LOTHIAN,  East,  West,  and  Mid.  c.  730,  Bede,  re  aim.  654, 
Regio  Loidis  (Loidis  in  Bede  also  means  LEEDS)  ;  c. 
970,  PicJ.  Chron.,  Loonia ;  c.  1120,  O.E.chron.,  Lothene  ; 
1158,  'inLoeneis;'  a.  1200,  Ailred  L&udomsi ;  c.  1245, 
Laodinia ;  c.  1 600,  Lawdien.  Possibly,  like  LOTH,  con- 
nected with  G.  ldb(h}an  or  Idthach,  mire,  clay,  alluvial 
soil ;  possibly  fr.  O.E.  leod,  a  prince,  or  leoda,  people. 

LO"THRIE  BURN  (Leslie).  1250,  Lochris;  1294,  -ry.  Perh. 
G.  loch  reisg,  ( loch  with  the  rushes.' 

LOUDOUN  (Kilmarnock).  ?G.  laclidunn,  dun,  tawny.  Found 
as  an  Ayrshire  surname  f r.  1 4th  century. 

LOVAT  (Beauly).  Pron.  Luvat.  1294,  Lovet.  Perh.  G. 
lobht,  lobhta,  ( a  loft,  high  floor ; '  or  luibh-aite,  '  herb- 
place,'  district  abounding  in  plants. 

LOWER  CABRACH,  LOWER  LARGO,  &c.  See  CABRACH,  LARGO,  &c. 

LOWES,  L.  of  (St  Mary's  L.).  The  w  is  pron.  as  in  'how.' 
Prob.  Dan.  lav,  Icel.  Idg-r,  M.E.  latv,  low.  Cf.  Lowes- 
water. 

LOWLANDS.  Apparently  quite  modern.  Cf.  1691,  Petty, 
Polit.  Arithmetic,  iv.  69,  '  the  Low-land  of  Scotland.'  In 
G.  called  Galldachd,  or  '  stranger-dom,'  as  opposed  to 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  173 

Gaeltachd,  Gael-dom, '  th e  Highlands ;  also  called  Machair, 

1  the  plain.' 
LOWTHER  HILLS   (Dumfries).     Gf.    LAUDER,   and    Lowther 

Newtown,  Penrith. 
Low  WATERS  (Hamilton). 
LOY  GLEN  (Fort  "William).     Eeally  Gloy.     G.  gloath,  noise, 

fr.  the  high  sound  the  wind  makes  here. 
LOYNE,   R.    and  L.  (L.  Garry).     Fr.  G.  lonn,  loinn,  variant 

of  lann,  enclosure,  church,  or   fr.  loinneach,  beautiful, 

bright. 
LUBNAIG,  L.  (Callander).     Prob.  named  from  its  shape ;  fr. 

G.  lub,  bend,  curve,  with  double  diminutive  an  and  aig. 
LUCE,  Old  and  New  (Wigtown).    1461,  Glenlus.    Perh.  same 

as  Ptolemy's  AuKoTri/Jia.     Possibly  G.  lus,  an  herb,  plant ; 

but  Dunluce,  Portrush,  is  Ir.  dun  lios,  '  strong  fort.' 
LUFFNESS  (Aberlady).     1180,  Luffenac ;  c.  1250,  Luffenauch. 

Prob.    G.    letli-plieginn-acliadh,    'halfpenny   field'    (cf. 

LEFFENBEG).     Or,  as  Luffness  stands  in  a  bay,  not  on  a 

ness,  fr.  G.  lub(h)ain-achadh,  '  field  at  the  little  bend  or 

curve  of  the  shore.' 
LUGAR,  R.  (Auchinleck).     Accent  on  the  Lu-;  so  prob.  G. 

lub-  garadk,  l  enclosure,  garden  at  the  bend  '  or  *  curve.' 
LUGGIE  WATER  (Cumbernauld).    Perh.  G.  lugha,  '  the  lesser ' 

stream ;  but  cf.  next.     Sc.  luggie  is  a  little  dish,  plate. 
LUGTON  (Neilston).     Prob.  'village  in  the  hollow;'  G.  and 

Ir.  lag,  which  in   the  south  and  west   of  Ireland  is 

always  lug,  e.g.,  Lugduff,Wicklow,  &c.  But  cf.  DUBTON. 
LUIB  (Killin).     G.  lub,  luib,  a  bend,  curve,  angle. 
LUING  ISLAND  (S.  of  Oban).     G.  long,  luing(e\  a  ship.     Cf. 

Portnaluing,  opposite  lona,  Adamnan's  *  Lunge.' 
LTJMGAIR   (Kinneff).     c.    1220,    Lunkyrr ;    1651,    Lumger; 

also   Lonkyir.      Prob.   G.   Ion  gearr,    'short  meadow.' 

The  letters  c  or  k  and  g  often  interchange. 
LUMPHANAN  (Mar)  and  LUMPHINNAN  (Dunfermline).     Mar 

L.,  a.  1100,   Tighernac,  and  also  a.  1300,  Lumfanan. 

G.  lann  Finan,  '  church  of  St  Finan '  or  Wynnin,  see 

KILWINNING.     Of.  LAMLASH,  and  Llanfinan,  Anglesea. 
LUMSDEN    (Alford).      (Surname   spelt    'Lumisdean,'    1424; 

'  Loummysden,'  1431.) 


174  PLACE-NAMES   OF*  SCOTLAND. 

LUMWHAT  (Auchtermuchty).  Prob.  G.  Ion  chatt,  'meadow/ 
or  *  morass  of  the  wild  cat.'  Of.  ALWHAT. 

LUNAN  BAY  (Montrose).     Sic  1250.     G.  lunnan,  waves. 

LUNCARTY  (Perth).  Perh.  1250,  Lumphortyn  (Chartul.  St 
And7\),  which  looks  like  G.  Ion  fortain,  'meadow  of 
fortune,  luck;'  but  1461,  Longardi,  prob.  'meadow  of 
justice ; '  G.  ceartas,  -tais,  Scone  palace  being  near  by. 
Cf.  1564,  'Luncartis  in  Glentilth.' //  ^ix^d «  <*  A**~. 

LUNDIE  (Dundee).     Perh.  =  next. 

LUNDIN  LINKS  (Leven).  c.  1200,  Lundin.  The  family  of 
De  Lundin,  found  in  Fife  in  the  12th  century,  were  the 
king's  hereditary  hostiarii  or  doorkeepers,  hence  the 
name  they  took,  Durward  =  '  doorward.' 

LUNNA  and  LUNNASTING  (Shetland).  Lunna  is  perh.  Icel. 
lundra,  a  grove,  common  in  place-names ;  or  (f r.  its  sup- 
posed shape)  fr.  lunga,  a  lung.  Ting  is  O.K.  \ing, 
meeting,  assembly.  Cf.  TINGWALL. 

LURG  HILL  (Cullen).  G.  learg,  sometimes  pron.  lurg,  'a  little 
hill,  a  beaten  path.'  Cf.  LAIRG  and  PITLURG. 

Luss  (L.  Lomond).  Sic  c.  1250.  Prob.  G.  lus,  'an  herb, 
plant.'  Cf.  CRUACH  LUSSA. 

LUSSA  (Mull).  Said  not  to  be  =  Luss,  but  corruption  of  O.K. 
lax-d,  salmon-river.  Cf.  LAXA. 

LUTHERMUIR  (Laurencekirk).  The  name  Luthir  is  frequent  in 
Old  Ir.  MSS.  Muir  is  Sc.  for  moor,  O.E.  and  Icel.  mor. 

LUTHRIE  (Cupar).  Perh.  G.  ludraigeadli,  a  bespattering  with 
foul  water.  Cf.  LOTHRIE. 

LYBSTER  (Wick).  The  y  pron.  as  in  lyre;  1538,  Libister. 
Prob.  hlie-bister,  '  shelter-place,'  or  harbour ;  bister  is 
corruption  of  K.  bolstafir,  a  place  (see  p.  Ixiv,  and  cf. 
Bilbster).  Also  see  LEE. 

LYNE  WATER  (Peebles).  c.  1190,  Lyn ;  c.  1210,  Line. 
Corn.  lint  W.  llyn,  a  pool,  a  '  linn,'  a  stream. 

LYNTURK  (Alford).  G.  linne  (or  W.  Uyn)  tuirc,  pool  of  the 
wild  boar  (tore). 

LYNWILG  (Aviemore).  G.  linne (01  W.  Uyn}  guilce,  'pool'  or 
'loch  with  the  rushes,'  G.  giolc;  hence  the  name  'Wilkie.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  1*75 

LYON,  E.  (Perthsh.).  See  GLENLYON.  The  Irish  Lyons  are 
fr.  the  tribe  O'Liathain,  and  the  name  O'Lehane  is  still 
found. 

M 

MACBIE  HILL  (Dolphinton).  '  Coldcoat  '  was  bought  by 
Wm.  Montgomery  in  1712,  and  named  by  him  after 
Macbeth  or  Macbie  Hill,  Ayrshire. 

MACDUFF  (Banff).     From  the  clan  Macduff. 

MACHAR,  Old  and  New  (Aberdeen),  a.  1300,  'Ecclesia 
beati  Sti  Machorii.'  Machor  was  a  disciple  of  St 
Columba, 

MACHRAHANISH  (Campbeltown).  G.  magh radian,  'thin,'  or 
'shallow  plain'  or  links,  +  N.  nisli  or  nces,  ness,  cape 
(cf.  ARDALANISH).  The  root  of  magh  is  prob.  mag, 
'the  palm  of  the  hand.' 

MACMERRY  (Haddington).  Perh.  G.  magli  mire,  'plain  of 
the  merry'  or  'wanton  one'  (mear).  Merry  is  a  Sc. 
surname. 

MADDERTY  (Crieff).  a.  1100,  Tighernac,  ann.  669,  Mad- 
derdyn.  Prob.  G.  meadair  dun,  'hill  like  a  little 
pail '  or  'circular  wooden  dish.' 

MADDISTON  (Polmont).  Prob.  G.  madadh,  -aidh,  wolf,  wild 
dog,  +  -ton  (see  pp.  Ixxiv,  Ixxv).  Harold,  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Athole,  in  12th  century,  was  called  'Maddadson.' 

MAESHOW  (S  tennis).  A  famous  chambered  cairn.  Saga, 
Orkahaug,  i.e.,  'mighty  cairn,'  and  how  is  just  a  cor- 
ruption of  haug.  Cf.  CYDERHALL. 

MAGBY  (Ayr).  Prob.  G.  magh,  a  plain,  +  Dan.  bi,  by, 
dwelling,  village,  town. 

MAGDALEN  GREEN  (Dundee). 

MAGGIKNOCKATER  (Dufftown).  Looks  like  G.  mdgach  cnoc-a- 
tire,  '  hill  (cnoc)  with  many  arable  fields  on  the  land.' 

MAHAICK,  L.  (Doune).  Perh.  G.  ma  fhaitche,  '  my  green 
field,' /lost  by  aspiration. 

MAIDENHEAD,  B.  (Wigtown).  Prob.  a  corruption,  in  this  wanton 
county,  of  O.E.  meddan  hyti,  'middle  port'  or  'Hythe.' 


176  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MAIDEN  PAP  (hill,  Caithness  and  Colvend).  Named  fr.  their 
shape.  The  Maidens  is  the  name  of  rocks  on  the  west 
of  Skye,  and  near  Kirkoswald. 

MAINLAND  (Orkney  and  Shetland).  Both,  in  Sagas,  Megin- 
land,  i.e.,  mainland,  'continent.'  Icel.  megin  means 
'  might '  or  *  the  main  part.' 

MAINS  (Dundee,  &c.)  and  MAINSRIDDELL  (Dumfries).  Com- 
mon name  of  a  farm-steading,  or  little  group  of  houses,  or 
a  country-house  ;  same  root  as  manse,  L.  maneo,  mansum, 
to  remain.  Elddell,  of  course,  gives  the  owner's  name. 

MAKERSTON  (Kelso).     1250,  Malkaruistun ;  1298,  Malcaris- 

tona.     'Malcar's  tiin1  or  'hamlet.' 
MALSAY  (Shetland).     Prob.  '  isle  (ay,  a)  of  the  stipulation ' 

or  'agreement;'  Icel.  mdl. 

MAMBEG  (Gareloch).     G.  mam  beg,  '  little  round  hill '  like  a 

breast;  L.  mamma. 
MAMORE    FOREST   (Lochaber).     c.    1310,    Maymer ;    1502, 

Mawmor;  1504,  Mammore.     G.  magh  mbr,  'big  plain.' 

MANISH  (Harris).  May  be  G.  magh,  a  plain,  +  N.  nisli  or 
nffis,  a  ness,  promontory. 

MANNOFIELD  (Aberdeen). 

MANOR  (Peebles).  1186,  Maineure;  1323,  Mener.  Prob. 
O.Fr.  manoir,  -eir,  -er,  land  belonging  to  '  the  lord  of  the 
manor.'  Manor  was  the  Norman  name  for  township. 
'Villas  quasa  manendo  manerios  vulgo  vocamus,' 
Ordericus  Vitalis,  c.  1141.  May  be  G.  mainnir,  a 
cattle-pen;  and  cf.  Manorbier  and  Manordilo,  Wales. 
The  local  pron.  is  Msener. 

MANOR  SWARE  (Peebles).  O.E.  sivcer,  neck  or  pass  on  the 
top  of  a  mountain,  a  col. 

MANUEL  (Polmont).  Sic  1296  ;  1301,  Maiiewell.  Prob.  W. 
maen,  a  stone,  +  Fr.  ville,  township  (cf.  BOTHWELL, 
MAXWELL  ;  also  cf.  SLAMANNAN,  which  is  to  the  south  of 
this).  No  proof  that  it  is  a  contraction  from  Immanuel. 

MAR  (Aberdeensh.).  1165,  Marr.  Possibly  G.  mear  or  meur, 
a  bough,  branch,  branch  of  a  river. 

MARCHMONT  (Duns).  1461,  March einond.  '  Hill  (G.  monadh, 
and  cf.  Fr.  mont)  at  the  march  or  border.'  The  name 


PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND.  177 

Marjoribanks,  found  hereabouts,  is  pron.  Marchbanks. 
This  may  have  a  similar  origin. 

MARINE,  L.  (Ross-sh.).  1633,  Maroy.  Kbt  fr.  Virgin  Mary, 
but  from  St  Maelrublia,  who  arrived  in  this  district  fr. 
Bangor,  Ireland,  in  671 ;  see  p.  xcvi. 

MARGARET'S,  St  (Edinburgh),  and  ST  MARGARET'S  HOPE 
(Queensferry  and  Orkney).  Prob.  both  called  after 
Queen  Margaret,  Saxon  wife  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  died 
1093.  On  hope,  i.e.,  haven,  refuge,  see  HOBKIRK. 

MARKINCH  (Fife),     a.  1200,  Marcinche,  Marchinge.     Prob. 

G.  marc-innis,  '  Horse's  inch '  or  '  pasture  ground.'     Of. 

INCH,  also  river  Mark,  Edzell. 
MARNOCH  (Huntly).     Possibly  G.  mear-an-achaidh,  *  branch, 

outlier  of  the  field '  or  '  plain.'     Cf.  DORNOCH. 

MARTIN'S,  St  (Scone).  After  Martin  of  Tours,  teacher  of  St. 
Ninian  of  Whithorn,  c.  380  A.D. 

MARY'S  LOCH,  St  (Selkirk),  ST  MARY'S  HOLM  (Orkney ;  see 

HOLM).     Fr.  Mary  the  Virgin. 
MARYBURGH  (Dingwall).     Fr.  Mary,  wife  of  William  III.,. 

died  1694.     Also  old  name  of  Fort  William. 

MARYCULTER  (see COULTER),  MARYDALE,  MARYHILL  (Glasgow), 
MARYKIRK  (Laurencekirk),  MARYPARK  (Ballindalloch), 
MARYWELL  (Aboyne ;  cf.  MOTHERWELL  and  LADYWELL). 
Fr.  Mary  the  Virgin,  or  otherwise. 

MARYTON  (Montrose).  a.  1220,  Maringtun ;  c.  1600,  Mariton. 
Perh.  not  fr.  Mary,  but  from  the  name  of  some  man. 

MASTERTON  (Dunfermline).     Also  used  as  a  surname.     Cf. 

ton,  p.  Ixx. 
MAUCHLINE    (Kilmarnock).     c.  1130,    Machline ;    c.    1200, 

Mauchlyn.     Prob.  G.  magli  Linne  (or  W.  llyri),  'plain 

of  the  pool.'     Cf.  Maghline,  Ulster. 
MAUD  (New  Deer).    Prob.  G.  maodli,  soft,  moistened.    Hardly 

=  the  Sc.  maud,  a  plaid. 
MAULDSLIE  (Lanark).     Old,  Maldisley.    Prob.  fr.  some  man  ; 

perh.  fr.  O.E.  molde,  Dan.  muld,  earth,  mould,  +  lee,  lea, 

a  meadow,  pasture-land,  O.E.  ledh. 
MAVEN,  -VINE,  North  (Shetland). 
MAVISBANK  (Polton).     Mavis  is  Sc.  for  thrush,  Fr.  mauvis, 


178  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Span.  malviSj  but  thought  to  be  originally  Celtic  (cf. 
Armorican  milvid,  a  thrush).  The  G.  for  'thrush'  is 
smebrach. 

MAWCARSE  (Kinross).  Prob.  a  tautology  ;  G.  magh,  a  plain, 
+  CARSE. 

MAWKINHILL  (Greenock).  Maukin  is  Sc.  for  a  hare  (cf.  the 
G.  maigheach),  also  spelt  mdlkin.  This  last  in  Eng.  is 
a  variant  of  Moll-kin,  '  little  Mary/  used  for  a  wench,  or 
a  scarecrow. 

MAXPOFFLE  (St  Boswell's).  1317,  -poffil.  Fr.  Maccus  (see 
next)  +  ?  G.  both,  house,  +  Norman  ville,  house,  township 
(cf.  BOTHWELL).  This  is  simply  a  conjecture ;  but  on  p 
and  b,  cf.  p.  xxvi. 

MAXTON  (St  Boswell's).  1165-1214,  Mackustun,  -istun, 
Maxtoun;  c.  1240,  Makestun.  Fr.  a  man,  Maccus,  men- 
tioned in  Chartul.  Melrose,  c.  1144.  Cf.  ton,  p.  Ixx. 

MAXWELLTOWN  (Dumfries).  Tautology ;  =  Maccus'  ville  +  ton, 
ville  being  the  Norman  for  ton,  ham,  or  township  (see 
p.  Ixxxii,  and  cf.  BOTHWELL).  The  surname  is  found  c. 
1190  as  Maxwell;  1290,  Macswelle;  a.  1300,  Maxeuell. 

MAY,  Isle  of  (Firth  of  Forth),  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag., 
Maeyar;  c.  1272,  '  Prioratus  de  May.'  Prob.  fr.  Icel. 
md-r,  a  gull ;  cf.  Icel.  md-grund,  sea-mews'  haunt.  The 
-eyar  means  '  isle.' 

MAYBOLE.  1522,  Mayboile.  Old  G.  magh  baoil,  'plain  with 
the  water ; '  or  perh.  fr.  baoghal,  -ail,  danger. 

MAYFIELD  (Edinburgh).     Cf.  'Mayflower.' 

MEADOWFIELD  (Airdrie). 

MEALFOURVOUNIE  (L.  Ness).  G.  meall-fuar-a-bhuinne,  'cold 
hill  of  the  cataract.'  Of  hills  called  Meall  (lit.  a  lump 
or  boss)  Sutherland  is  full — Meall  Garve,  Horn,  &c. 

MEALLANT'SUIDHE.  G.  =  '  hill  of  the  seat ; '  it  is  a  part  of 
Ben  Nevis. 

MEARNS  (Kincardine),  a.  1200,  Moerne,  which  is  supposed 
to  be  G.  magh  Chirchinn,  'plain  of  Circinn,'  one  of  the 
seven  sons  of  the  legendary  Cruithne,  father  of  all 
the  Picts.  All  the  gutturals  must  have  been  lost  by 
aspiration.  Cf.  MOY. 

MEARXS   (Glasgow).      Sic  c.  1160;    1178,  Meorns;    1188, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  179 

Mernis.    Prob.  G.  magJi  edrna,  'field'  or  'plain  of  barley;' 
also  cf.  above.     The  s  is  the  common  Eng.  plural. 

MEGGAT  WATER  (St  Mary's  L.).  c.  1200,  -gete.  ?G. 
meigead,  the  cry  of  a  kid. 

MEIGLE  (Newtyle).  1183,  Miggil;  1296,  Miggyl;  also  Mig- 
dele.  Prob.  fr.  G.  meigeallaich,  meigeadaich,  or  meigh- 
licli,  bleating. 

MEIKLE  EARNOCK  (Hamilton,  see  EARNOCK),  MEIKLE  FERRY 
(Dornoch),  &c.  Sc.  meikle,  muckle,  O.E.  micel,  mycel, 
great,  large. 

MEIKLEOUR  (Coupar  Angus).  Prob.  G.  magli  coill  odliair 
(pron.  owr),  'plain  of  the  grey  wood'  (cf.  the  form 
Meorne,  s.v.  MEARNS).  The  spelling  has  been  conformed 
to  a  '  kent '  word. 

MELDRUM,  Old  and  New  (Aberdeen).  1330,  Melgdrum. 
Prob.  G.  meilleach  druim,  'bulging  hill-ridge,'  lit.  one 
having  swollen  cheeks ;  but  cf.  also  ABERMILK.  The 
Irish  Meeldrum  is  fr.  G.  and  Ir.  maol,  bare. 

MELFORD,  or  -FORT,  L.  (Lorn).  1403,  Milferth.  Either 
G.  maol,  bare,  or  Icel.  mel-r,  a  sand-dune  covered  with 
bent,  a  sand-bank,  +N.  fjord,  a  firth  or  bay.  Of. 
BROADFORD,  EISHORT,  &c.,  also  MELVICH. 

MELNESS  (Tongue).  1546,  Melleness.  On  Mel-,  see  above; 
ness  is  JST.  noes,  lit.  a  nose. 

MELROSE.  c.  730,  Bede,  Mailros.  Celtic  maol  ros,  'bare 
moor;'  ros  here  is  not  the  G.  ros,  a  promontory,  but 
rather  Corn,  ros,  a  moor. 

MELVICH  (Reay).     Mel-  (see  MELFORD)  +  K  vik,  a  bay. 

MELVILLE  (Lasswade  and  Ladybank)  and  MOUNT  MELVILLE 
(St.  Andrews).  Er.  a  Norman  family.  'Galfred  de  Mel- 
ville ' x  is  found  in  Lothian  in  1153  ;  and  a  '  Philippus 
de  Malavilla,'  c.  1230-50.  L.  mala  villa,  Fr.  mal  ville, 
means  'bad  township.'  Bonville  also  is  a  Scottish 
surname. 

MEMSIE  (Fraserburgh).    Perh.  G.  mam  sith,  '  little,  breast-like 

hill.'     Cf.  CAMPSIE  and  MAMBEG. 
1  But  in  Scotland  till  recently  Melville  was  constantly  confounded 

with   the   radically  different  name  Melvin.     In  his  nephew's  Latin 

letters  the  great  Andrew   Melville  is  always   'Melvinus;'  and   old 

charters  often  have  '  Melin  '  or   '  Meling  '  for  the  surname  Melville. 

Cf.  DUNFEKMLINE  and  STIRLING. 


180  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MEMUS  (Kirrieimrir). 

MENMUIR  (Brechin).     c.  1280,  Menmoreth.    Puzzling;  peril. 

Corn,  men,  W.  maen,  a  stone,  or  ?  G-.  mean,  little,  +  Sc. 

muir,  O.E.  and  Icel.  mor,  a  moor. 
MENSTRIE  (Alloa).     1263,  Mestreth.     Prob.  G.  magli  sratlia, 

'  plain  of  the  strath '  of  the  Forth  (cf.  MEIKLEOUR).     G. 

meas  means  fruit. 
MERCHISTON  (Edinburgh    and  Falkirk).     Edinb.  M.,  1494, 

Merchanistoun,  which  looks  like   '  merchant's  abode,' 

but  more  prob.  fr.  Murclia,  G.  for  Murdoch  or  Murchy, 

as  in  M 'Murchy.     Muirchu  occurs  as  an  Irish  name  in 

the  7th  century. 

MERSE  (Berwicksh.  and  Twynholm).  Perh.  O.E.  mearsc,  a 
marsh.  The  former  might  well  be  '  land  on  the  march  * 
or  borders  of  England  ;  O.E.  mearc,  Fr.  marche. 

MERTOUN  (St.  Boswell's).  1250,  Meritun.  O.E.  mere-tun, 
'dwelling  by  the  mere '  or  '  lake.'  Cf.  Merton,  ]N".  Devon. 

METHTL  (Leven).     1250,  Methkil.     G.  maoth  c(h)oill,  'soft, 

boggy  wood.'     Cf.  DARVEL. 
MBTHLIC(K)  (Ellon).    a.  1300,  Methelak.     Perh.  =  METHIL,  + 

G.  achadh,  a  field ;  or  the  latter  half  may  be  G.  tulacli, 

a  hill,  hillock.     Cf.  MORTLACH  and  MURTHLY. 
METHVEN  (Perth).      1250,    Methphen;    1500,    Mechwynn. 

?  G.  magli  ablminn,  '  plain  of  the  river '  Almond.     Cf. 

Mecheyn,  old  name  of  DALSERF,  of  course,  referring  to 

the  river  Clyde. 
MEY  (Dunnet).     Prob.  one  of  the  many  forms  of  G.  magli, 

'a  plain'  or  'field.' 
MIAVAIG  (Lewis).       Prob.    '  ill-luck  bay ; '  G.  mi-adli  +  ^. 

aig,  a  bay.     Cf.  ARISAIG,  &c. 
MIDCALDER,   Mm   CLYTH,    MID   YELL,    &c.      See  CALDER, 

CLYTH,  &c. 
MIDDLEBIE    (Ecclefechan).       'Middle   village'    or    'abode.' 

O.E.  and  Dan.  middel,  +  Dan.  bi,  by,  northern  O.E.  by. 
MIDDLEM  (Selkirk).     Prob.  O.E. middel-lidm,  'middle  home ' 

or  'village.'     Cf.  Middleham,  Yorkshire,  and  p.  Ixxvi. 
MIDDLETON  (S.  of  Edinburgh).     =  The  previous  two ;  on  ton, 

cf.  p.  Ixxiv.     Very  common  in  England. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  181 

MIDHOLM  (Selkirk).  =MIDDLEM.  See  HOLM  for  inter- 
change of  ham  and  holm. 

MIDMAR  (Dunecht).  (Prob.  a.  1300,  Migmarre.)  ?  'Field 
of  Mar ; '  G.  mag,  maig,  arable  field. 

MIGDALB  (Bonar).  Perh.  G.  mag  dail,  'plain  with  the 
meadow.'  Cf.  MEIGLE  and  MUGDRUM. 

MIGVIE  (Tarland).  1183,  Miguuith;  a.  1200,  -aveth ; 
a.  1300,  -ueth.  G.  maig-a-bheith,  'field  of  birches.' 

MILBY  (1  Dumfries).  =  MILTON  or  '  mill-place ; '  Dan.  bi, 
by,  northern  O.E.  by,  a  building,  village,  town. 

MILLBREX  (Fyvie).  Brex  is  prob.  =  ' breaks,'  i.e.,  pieces  of 
ground  broken  up  by  the  plough.  Cf.  1794,  Statist. 

Account  of  Scotland,  xi.  152.  'Farms divided 

into  three  enclosures,  or,  as  they  are  commonly  called, 
breaks.' 

MILLERHILL  (Dalkeith),  MILLERSTON  (Glasgow). 

MILLEUR,  St  (L.  Kyan).  G.  meall  odhar  (pron.  owr),  '  grey 
hill.'  Cf.  W.  mod,  a  hill. 

MILLHOUSE  (Tighnabruaich),  MILLPORT  (Cumbraes),  MILL- 
TIMBER  (Aberdeen),  MILLTOWN  OF  CUSHNIE. 

MILLIFIACH  (Beauly).    G.  meall-a-Jitheach,  '  hill  of  the  raven.' 

MILLIKEN  PARK  (Johnstone).  Ken  or  km  is  an  English 
diminutive,  as  in  manikin,  pannikin. 

MILLISLE  (Whithorn).  Old,  Milnisle.  O.E.  mylen,  miln,  a  mill. 

MILLSEAT  (Aberdeensh.).  Seat  is  Icel.  saeti,  set,  Sw.  sate,  a 
seat.  Site  is  pron.  in  Sc.  seat. 

MILNATHORT  (Kinross).  Prob.  G.  meall  na  tlwrraidli, 
'  mound '  or  '  hill  of  the  burial.' 

MILNGAVIE  (Glasgow).  Pron.  Milguy.  G.  muileann-gaoithe, 
'a  windmill;'  or  perh.  G.  meall  na  gaoithe,  'hill  of 
the  wind,'  '  windy  knoll.' 

MILNGRADEN  (Coldstream).  1515,  -gradon.  Might  be  G. 
muilean  (jradain,  '  mill  of  the  grain  dried  by  burning 
the  straw ; '  or  perh.  G.  meall  na  gradain,  '  hill  of  the 
hazard.' 

MILNHOLME  (1  Kelso).  1376,  Mylneholme.  O.E.  mylen, 
miln,  a  mill,  +  HOLM. 

S 


182  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MILTON  (Auchendinny,  Bannockburn,  Glasgow),  MILTON 
Brodie,  Milton  of  Balgonie,  Milton  of  Campsie,  Milton 
Lockhart,  &c.  Eighteen  '  Miltons '  or  '  mill-villages '  in 
England. 

MIXARD  (L.  Fyne).     G.  mm  dird,  smooth  height. 

MINCH  (Channel,  Lewis).  Doubtful.  Cf.  La  Manche,  *  the 
sleeve,'  French  name  of  the  English  Channel. 

MINDRIM  MILL  (Yetholm).  G.  mm  druim,  'smooth  hill- 
ridge,' lit.  'back.' 

MINGARRY  CASTLE  (Ardnamurchan).  1499,  Mengarie. 
G.  mm  gdradk,  '  smooth  enclosure '  or  '  garden.' 

MINISHANT  (Maybole).  Prob.  G.  muine  seant,  'sacred  (L. 
sanctus)  thicket.'  Cf.  CLAYSHAXT. 

MINNIGAFF,  or  MONIGAFF  (Newton-Stewart).  Old,  Monegoff, 
Munygoiff.  Possibly  G.  muine  gobha,  '  thicket  of  the 
smith.' 

MINTLAW  (Peterhead).  Prob.  G.  moine  flaclia,  '  moss  of  the 
wild  ducks,'  as  there  is  a  moss  here,  but  no  'law'  or 
hill.  Cf.  MINISHANT  and  MONTROSE. 

MINTO  (Roxburgh)  and  MINTO  HILL  and  CRAIGS.  Sic  1275  ; 
1296,  Mynetowe;  c,  1320,  Minthov.  Prob.  G.  mbin- 
teacli,  a  mossy  spot,  +  Sc.  how,  O.E.  holh,  holg,  a 
hollow,  a  hole. 

MOCHRUM  (Port  William),  c.  1341,  Mochrome,  Mouchrum. 
Prob.  G.  magli  chrom,  'crooked  plain,'  or  magh  cliruim, 
'plain  of  the  circle.'  Cf.  MEARNS,  MOY. 

MOFFAT.  1296,  Moffete.  Prob.  G.  maghfada,  'long plain,' 
its  very  site ;  cf.  above. 

MOIDART,  MOYDART  (Arisaig).  1309,  Modworth ;  1372, 
Mudewort;  1532,  Moydort.  Prob.  'muddy  frith'  or 
'fjord;'  Icel.  mod,  dust,  Sw.  modd,  mud;  and  see 
KNOYDART. 

MOLENDINAR  BURN  (Glasgow).  1185,  Jocelyn,  Mellindonor. 
Said  to  be  Rivus  Molendinarius,  'the  millers'  stream;' 
but  1185  looks  like  G.  meall  na  dhuinne  (or  donii)  drd, 
'hill  with  the  brownish  eminence,'  i.e.,  the  Necropolis 
hill. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  183 

MONADHLIATH  MOUNTAINS  (Inverness).  G.  =  '  grey  moor ' 
or  'mountain'  (monadli). 

MONAN'S,  St  (Elie).  Said  to  be  fr.  Monamis,  Archdeacon  of 
St  Andrews,  killed  on  1st  May  871.  St  Moinenn  was 
Bishop  of  Clonfert,  died  571  ;  and  St  Monyn  or  Mod- 
wenna  was  a  friend  of  St  Patrick,  died  519. 

MONCRIEFF  HILL  (N.  of  river  Earn),  a.  1100,  Tighernac, 
ann.  726,  Monid  Croib ;  ami.  728,  Monagh  Craebi.  G. 
monadh  craoibh,  'hill  of  the  trees,'  or  crubha,  'of  the 
haunch'  or  'hoof.'  Cf.  CRIEFF  and  DUNCRUB. 

MONCUR,  MONQUHUR  (Carmylie).  Prob.  Ulst.  Ann.,  ann. 
728,  Monitcarno,  which  will  be  G.  monadh  carnaich, 
'hill  of  the  pagan  priest,'  or  'in  the  rocky  spot;'  but 
-cur  seems  to  be  fr.  G.  car,  cuir,  a  turn,  bend,  cf. 
STRACHUR. 

MONDYNE  (Kincardine).      1251,  Monachedin.      G.    monach 

aodain  (W.  eiddyn),  'hilly  slope'  or  'face.' 
MONESS  (Aberfeldy).    G.  monadh  eas,  '  hill  of  the  water-fall.' 

MONEYDIE  (Perth).  1294,  Monedy,  and  so  still  pron.  G. 
monadh  aodain  (W.  eiddyn),  '  face '  or  '  slope  of  the 
hill.' 

MONIAIVE  (Thornhill).  The  ai  pron.  like  i  in  ivy.  Old, 
Minnyhive.  Possibly  G.  moine  ghdbaidh,  '  dangerous 
moss,'  gh  lost  by  aspiration. 

MONIFIETH  (Carnoustie).  c.  1205,  Monifod;  c.  1220,  Muni- 
feth,  Monifodh,  -foth.  G.  moine  fodha,  '  lower,  under 
moss '  or  '  moor.' 

MONIKIE  (Carnoustie).  Pron.  Moneeky.  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron., 
EglisMonichti/.e.,prob.  G.  eaglais  manaich-tigh,  'church 
of  the  monk's  house;'  form  Monichi  is  also  found. 

MONIMAIL  (Ladybank).  1250,  Monimel;  1495,  Monymeal. 
Prob.  G.  moine  mil,  '  moss '  or  '  moor  by  the  mound '  or 
'hill,'G.  meaU. 

MONIMUSK  (Aberdeen).  $z'c!315;  but  c.  1170,  Munimusc. 
G.  moine  mus(g)ach,  '  nasty,  filthy  bog.' 

MONKLAND,  Old  and  New  (Glasgow).  1323,  Munkland. 
The  land  belonged  to  the  see  of  Glasgow. 

MONKTON  (Prestwick).     Pron.  Miinton.     Four  in  England. 


184  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MON(T)QUHITTER  (Turriff).  Perh.  G.  monadh  rnhiodair, 
'hill  with  the  pasture  ground.'  Cf.  DALWHINNY. 

MONREITH  (Wigtown).     Old,  Murith,  Menrethe.     Perh.  G. 

moine  riabhach,  'grey  moor.' 
MONTBITH,   Lake  of   (Aberfoyle).      a.    1200,   Meneted;    c. 

1 200,  Menteth.     Prob.  G.  moine  teichidh,  '  moor  of  the 

flight.'     The  river  Teitli  in  G.  is  T(h)aich. 
MONTEVIOT,  or  MOUNTEVIOT  (Jedburgh).     See  TEVIOT. 
MONTROSE.     a.  1200,  Munros;  1296,Montrose;  1322,  Mon- 

ros;    1488,  Moiitross.     G.  moine  t'rois,   'moss  on  the 

peninsula.' 
MONYNUT  WATER  (Berwick).     Prob.  G.  moine  cnuith,  'moor 

with  the  (hazel)  nuts;'  influenced  by  O.E.  knut,  a  nut. 

MONZIE  (Crieff).     Pron.  Monee.     Prob.  G.  monadh  fheidh, 

'  hill  of  deer.'     Cf.  next.     The  z  is  the  old  Sc.  y. 
MONZIEVAIRD  (Crieff).       1251,    Moeghavard;    1279,    Mor- 

goauerd.     G.  mayli,  'plain,' often  in  names  as  Mo- or 

MOY,  or  monadh,  lhi\],'a-bhdird,  'of  the  bard'  or  'rhymer/ 

The  r  in  form  1279  must  be  an  error. 
MOONZIE  (Cupar).     c.  1230,  Mooney,  and  so  now  pron. ;  it 

seems  to  be  the  old  Monechata  (cf.  MONIKIE).     But  perh. 

G.  muin  flwidh,  '  the  deer's  back ; '  muin  is  lit.  the  back 

of  the  neck.     Cf.  DRUM  and  MONZIE. 
MOORFOOT    HILLS    (Midlothian).       a.     1150,     Morthwait, 

-thuweit.     Icel.  mor  Ipveit,  '  moor-place.'     Cf.  MURRAY- 

THWAITE. 

MORANGIE  (Tain).  1457,  Morinchy;  1520,  -inch.  G.  mbr 
innis  or  innse,  'big  inch  '  or  'links'  or  'pasture.'  It  is 
now  pron.  Murinjy.  Cf.  'Morinche,'  found  in  1550, 
near  Killin. 

MORAY,  c.  970,  Pict.  Chron.,  Morovia;  Vlst.  Ami.,  ann. 
1085,  Muireb;  a.  1200,  Muref;  Orkney.  Sag.,  Maer- 
haefui ;  c.  1295,  Morref.  Possibly  G.  mbr  dbJi,  'big 
water/  referring  to  the  river  Spey. 

MORAY  FRITH.  In  Orkney.  Sag.,  c.  1225,  Breidafjord. 
O.N.  =  ' broad  frith.' 

MORDINGTON  (Berwick).  1250,  -tun.  Perh.  Martin's  ton 
(see  p.  Ixxiv) ;  cf.  mord  for  G.  mart,  an  ox,  in  Ardni- 
niord,  Galloway. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND.  185 

MORE,  Ben  (Perth,  Mull,  Assynt,  Lewis).  G.  beinn  mbr, 
'  big  mountain.' 

MOREBATTLE  (Kelso).  1116,  Mcreboda ;  1170,  Merebotle; 
1575,  Morbottle;  1639,  Marbotle.  O.E.  mere-botl,  'lake- 
house  '  or  '  dwelling.'  Botl  is  cognate  with  the  O.iN". 
bol  so  common  in  Sc.  place-names.  Of.  NEWBATTLE,  a 
similar  corruption,  and  Harbottle,  near  Rothbury.  The 
-boda  in  1116  is  an  early  form  of  booth,  earlier  than 
any  in  Dr  Murray's  dictionary;  cf.  O.Icel.  biift,  Dan. 
and  Sw.  bod,  a  booth,  dwelling. 

MORHAM  (Haddington).  Sic  1250.  O.E.  mor-hdm,  'moor- 
house  '  or  'village.' 

MORMOND  (Fraserburgh).     G.  mbr  monadli,  '  big  hill.' 
MORNINGSIDE  (Edinburgh  and  Bathgate). 

MORTLACH  (Dufftown).  a.  1300,  Morthilache;  also  Muir- 
thillauch;  1639,  Murthlack.  G.  mdr  Mack,  'big 
hillock.'  Cf.  MURTHLY. 

MORTON  (Thornhill)  and  HALF  MORTON  (Canonbie).  Prob. 
fr.  O.E.  and  Icel.  mor,  a  moor,  +  ton;  see  p.  Ixxiv. 

MORVEN  (N.  Argyle).  G.  mbr  Wieinn,  '  big  mountain ; '  so 
Morar,  Arisaig,  is  'big  height,'  G.  ard. 

MORVERN  (N.  Argyle).  1343,  Garwmorwarne  (G.  garbh, 
rough);  1475,  Morvarne;  a.  1500,  Bk.  Clanranald, 
Morbhairne.  Prob.  G.  mbr  earrann,  '  great  division  '  or 
'province.' 

MOSSAT  (Aberdeensh.).  Prob.  '  mossy-place,'  fr.  Dan.  mos, 
O.E.  meos,  +  -et.  Cf.  AIKET,  thicket,  &c. 

MOSSBANK  (Lerwick),  -END  (Holytown),  -GREEN  (Crossgates). 

O.E.  meos,  Icel.  mosi,  Dan.  mos,  a  moss  or  bog. 
MOSSFENNAN  (Peebles),     c.   1260,  Mospennoc;  1296,  Mes- 

pennon.       Prob.  hybrid;    'moss  by  the  bheinnan,'  G. 

for    'little    mountain.'      The  p  marks   the    name   as 

Brythonic.    Pennoc  is  a  tautology ;  W.  pen  and  G.  cnoc, 

both  meaning  'hill.' 

MOSSPAUL  (Ewes  Water).  Prob.  also  hybrid ;  '  moss  with 
the  pool,  hole,  or  bog ; '  G.  poll,  puill. 

MOSSPEEBLE  BURN  (Ewes  Water).  Prob.  '  moss '  or  '  bog  by 
the  tents ; '  W.  pebyll.  Cf.  above,  and  PEEBLES. 


186  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MOTHERWELL  (Hamilton).  1362,  Modyrwaile ;  1373,  Moder- 
vale.  Prob.  G.  tnathair-bhaile,  'mother's  house'  or 
'village,'  influenced  by  O.E.  modor,  Dan.  and  Sw.moder, 
Icel.  mothir,  mother ;  and  cf.  BOTHWELL,  close  by.  The 
Mother-  is  prob.  the  Virgin  Mary  (cf.  LADYWELL  and 
MARYWELL)  ;  but  the  O.E.  well,  wella,  a  well,  would  not 
give  us  -waile  or  -vale. 

MOULIN  (Pitlochry).  G.  muileann,  muilinn,  a  mill.  Cf. 
O.E.  mylen,  a  mill,  and  the  name  Milne. 

MOUND,  The  (Dornoch).  This  modern  mound  or  breakwater 
at  the  head  of  Loch  Fleet  must  not  be  confounded  with 
The  Mountli  (i.e.,  the  Grampians),  G.  monadh,  a  hill, 
so  frequently  mentioned  in  early  Scottish  history. 

MOUNT  FLORIDA  and  MOUNT  VERNON  (Glasgow).  Recent. 
Mount  Vernon  is  mentioned  in  the  Glasgow  Director}7, 
1787. 

MOUNTHOOLY  (Aberdeen).  Perh.  G.  monadh  clihile,  'hill 
with  the  corner '  or  '  nook '  (cuil)  ;  cf.  Knockhooly  or 
-hillie,  Colvend.  But  Tomnahulla,  Galway,  is  the  Ir. 
and  G.  tuam  na  h'ulaidh,  'mound  of  the  altar  tomb,'  or, 
in  Scottish  G.,  rather  'grave  with  the  treasure;'  and 
-liooly  may  be  fr.  this. 

Mous A  (Shetland).  Sctf/as,  Mosey.  '  Moss-isle  ;'  Icel.  mosi, 
Dan.  and  Sw.  mos,  +  ay,  ey,  island  (cf.  '  Nethirmous- 
land,'  c.  1500,  near  Stromness).  Not  likely  to  be  fr. 
Icel.  mus,  a  mouse. 

MOUSWALD   (Euthwell).      c.    1340,   Musfold.      Prob.    O.E. 

meos-fald   or  Dan.    mos-fold,    '  moss-grown   enclosure/ 

Cf.  FAULDHOUSE. 
MOY  (S.  of  Inverness,  and  near  L.  Laggan).     Inv.  M.,  1497, 

Moye ;  in  G.  Mhaigh,  i.e.,  magli,  maigli,  a  plain.     Cf. 

MOCHRUM. 
MOYNESS    (Forres).      1238,    Moythus;    c.    1285,    Motheys; 

1295,  Moythes.      ?  G.  maoth  eas,  '  soft,  gentle  water-fall.' 

MUASDALE  (Argyle).  Prob.  Dan.  muus-dal,  'valley  of  the 
field-mice ; '  cf.  O.E.  and  Icel.  mus,  a  mouse. 

MUCHALLS  (Aberdeen).  (Castle  Fraser,  Monimusk,  used  to 
be  called  Muchals  or  Muchil ;  in  1268,  Mukual).  Prob, 
G.  muc-al,  '  boar's  (or  pig's)  cliff,'  with  Eng.  plural  s. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  187 

The  old  name  of  the  district  east  of  St  Andrews,  where 
'  Boarhills '  now  is,  used  to  be  *  Muicros '  or  '  Muckross ' 
(as  at  Killarney),  i.e.,  'boar's  promontory.' 

MUCK  (Hebrides).  G.  muc,  a  whale,  generally  called  muc- 
mliara,  lit.  'sea-pig.' 

MUCKAIRN  (Taynuilt).  1527,  Mocarne.  Perh.  G.  mar/h 
cairn,  '  plain,  field  of  the  cairn ; '  as  likely  muc-earrann, 
'swine's  portion'  or  'lot.'  Cf.  MORVERN. 

MUCKHART  (Dollar).  1250,  Mukard.  G.  muc-ard,  'boar's' 
or  '  sow's  height.'  Cf.  AUCHTERMUCHTY  and  DOCHART. 

MUGDOCH  (Dumbarton).  750,  Irish  chron.,  Magedaue. 
Prob.  G.  mag-a-dabhaich,  'field  of  ploughed  land.' 
Cf.  DOCHART. 

MUGDRUM,  I.  (Newburgh).  Island  like  '  a  sow's  back ; '  G. 
muic  druim. 

MUGSTOT  (Skye).  '  Monk's  place ;'  Icel.  muJc-r,  for  munk-r, 
a  monk,  +  X.  stad-r  ( =  Ger.  stadt),  =  the  G.  Baile  mhan- 
aich,  Uist. 

MUICHDHUI,  Ben  (Braemar).  G.  beinn  mulch  duiblie,  '  moun- 
tain of  the  black  boar '  (muc). 

MUIRAVON  and  -AVONSIDE  (Polmont).  'Moor  of  the  river 
AVON  ;'  O.E.  and  Icel.  mor,  Dan.  moer,  a  moor,  swamp. 

MUIRDRUM  (Carnoustie).  '  Hill-ridge  on  the  moor  '  (see 
DRUM).  Moor  (see  above)  is  almost  a  G.  word. 

MUIRKIRK  (Ayrsh.,  see  above),  Mum  of  ORD  (Beauly,  see 
ORD),  MUIRTOWN  (Inverness). 

MUIRNEAG  (Lewis).  G.  diminutive  of  muirn,  cheerfulness, 
joy.  Name  of  a  beautiful  hill ;  the  only  one  near  here, 
which  the  fishers  can  see  far  out  at  sea. 

MULBEN  (Elgin).     G.  maol  beinn,  'bare  hill.' 

MULL.  c.  120,  Ptolemy,  Maleas;  a.  700,  Adamnan,l~NLslea, 
insula;'  Sagas,  Myl ;  Act.  Sanct.,  Mula ;  1542,  Mowill. 
These  forms  well  illustrate  the  varying  sound  of  the 
G.  diphthong  ao  (cf.  KYLE  SKOW)  ;  G.  maol,  bald,  bare. 

MULL  OP  DEERNESS,  or  MOULHEAD  (Orkney).  Sagas,  Miili. 
MULL  OP  GALLOWAY;  1375,  Barbour,  Muller  Snook; 
&c.  G.  maol,  'brow  of  a  rock,  a  cape;'  prob.  cognate 
with  maol,  bare. 


188  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

MUMRILLS  (Falkirk).  Possibly  G.  mam  righle,  ( round  hill  of 
the  reel '  or  '  dance ; '  with  Eng.  plural. 

MUNCHES  (Dumfries).  1527,  -cheiss.  G.  moine  cheis, 
'moss,  bog  of  the  furrow'  or  'of  the  swine.' 

MUNGALL  MILL  (Falkirk).  Prob.  G.  moine  calla,  ( bog,  moss 
of  loss,  disaster/  or  perh.  fr.  gall,  gaill,  a  stranger. 
There  was  once  a  large  bog  here. 

MUNLOCHY  (Fortrose).  1605,  Mullochie.  Either  G.  maol 
lochan,  'bare  little  loch'  or  'bay,'  or  moine  lochain, 
'  moss,  bog  by  the  little  loch.' 

MURKLE  (Caithness).  Old,  Myrkhol.  Icel.  myrk-r  hoi,  '  dark, 
dusky  hole  ; '  cf.  '  mirk '  and  '  murky.' 

MURLAGAN  (R.  Spean).  G.  mur  lagain,  '  the  house '  or  '  wall 
of  the  little  hollow '  (lag). 

MURRAYFIELD  (Edinburgh)  and  MURRAYTHWAITE  (Eccle- 
fechan).  Eccl.  M.,  a.  1300,  Moryquhat.  Both  mean  the 
same,  thicaite  being  the  Icel.  ]>veit,  =  '  place.'  Common 
south  of  Carlisle — Braithwaite,  Crosthwaite,  &c.  The 
surname  Murray  comes  from  MORAY. 

MURROES  (Dundee),  c.  1205,  Muraus;  1250,  Moreus.  ?  G. 
mbr  iiisg,  '  big  water.' 

MURTHILL  (Tannadice).  1 360,  Murethlyn ;  c.  1 390,  Morthyll. 
G.  mbr  tulaclian  or  tulach,  '  big  hillock,'  cf.  next.  But 
the  ending  has  plainly  been  conformed  to  the  Eng.  hill. 

MURTHLY  (Dunkeld).     G.  mbr  tulach,  'big  mound'  or  'hill/ 

=  MORTLACH. 

MURTLE  (Cults).  Prob.  G.  mbr  tuil,  'big stream'  or  'flood/ 
re  the  river  Dee.  Cf.  DUTHIL. 

MUSSELBURGH  (Portobello).     1250,  Muskilburk.     From  Fr. 

muscle,  meaning,  as  here,  'a  mussel;'  also 'muscle.'    On 

burgh,  see  p.  Ixxiii. 
MUTHILL  (Crieff).     1199,   Mothel.     O.E.   mot-kill,    'hill  of 

the  meeting'   (cf.    'the  Mute    Hill,'    Scone;    'a  moot 

point;'  and  Witenagemot). 

MUTTONHOLE  (Edinburgh).  Humorous  name,  found  as  early  as 
a  map  of  1680.  Now  usually  called  Davidson's  Mains. 

MYLNEFIELD  (Dundee).  The  name  Mylne  is  fr.  G.  muileann, 
a  mill. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  189 

MYRESIDE  (Edinburgh).     Icel.  mijri,  myrr,  bog,  swamp,  the 
Eng.  mire.     Of.  BOGSIDE  and  WHITEMIRE. 


NACKERTY  (Bothwell).  Prob.  G.  cnac-dirde,  'height  of  the 
fissure  '  or  '  crack  '  (cnac}. 

NAIRN  (river  and  town),  c.  1200,  Hoveden,  Ilvernarran  (i.e., 
Invern-)  ;  1  283,  Inernarn  ;  1583,  Name.  Thought  to  be 
one  of  the  very  few  cases  of  names  where  initial  n  repre- 
sents the  article;  so  perh.  G.  an  am,  '  the  loin'  or  '  flank;' 
or  an  earrann,  'the  division,  province,'  cf.  MORVERN. 

NAVER,  E.  (Sutherland).  Prob.  Ptolemy's  (c.  120)  Nabaros  ; 
1268,  Strathnauir;  1401,  -navyr;  1427,  -nawarne. 
Prob.  G.  naomh  drd,  '  holy  height.'  Cf.  Elachnave  or 
eilean  na  naomh,  an  islet  off  Mull,  =  '  isle  of  saints.' 
But  Navar,  Brechin,  old,  Netheuer,  is  said  to  be  Celtic 
neth  var,  'whirling  streams,'  which  is  doubtful. 

NAVIDALE   (Helmsdale).     Perh.  Dan.   nav-dal,    'valley  like 

the  nave  of  a  wheel.' 
NAVITY  (Cromarty).     1578,  Navite.^  G.  naomh  dite,  'holy 

place'  or  'spot.' 
NEANT,  R.  (L.  Etive).     Looks  like  W.  nant,  a  stream,  or  a 

ravine  ;  but  this  is  a  very  un-Brythonic  region  ;    ?  G. 

neanntag,  nettles. 
NEIDPATH  CASTLE  (Peebles).     Either  fr.  Dan.  nod,   'neat- 

cattle,'  or  W.  nyddu,  to  twist,  turn,  referring  to  the 

river  Tweed.     Path  is  the  O.E.  paeth. 

NEILSTON  (Barrhead).  c.  1160,Neilstoun;  c.  1220,  Neleston. 
The  O'Neils  were  a  royal  race  in  Ireland. 

NELL,  Loch  (Oban).     G.  loch-nan-eala,  'loch  of  the  swan.' 

NENTHORN   (Kelso).      1204,    Naythansthorn.      ?  Who   was 

Nathan. 
NESS,  K.  and  L.  (Inverness,  and  in  Lewis),    a.  700,  Adamnan, 

river  and  loch,  Nisa,  Nesa;  a.  1300,  Nis.     Can  it  be 

G.  nios,  from  below,  up?     Lewis  N.  is  Icel.,  N.,  and 

O.E.  noes,  cape,  lit.  nose. 
NESTING  BAY  (Shetland).     Icel.  nes  ]>ing,  '  ness  '  or  '  cape  of 

the  thing  or  meeting.' 


190  PLACE-NAMES   OF    SCOTLAND. 

NETHERBURN  (Lanarksh.),  NETHERCLEUGH  (Lockerbie,  see 
BUCCLEUCH),  NETHER  DALLACHY  (Fochabers),  NETHER- 
LEY  (Muchalls,  Ice,  a  meadow),  NETHERTON  (Bearsden), 
NETHERURD  (see  KIRKURD). 

NETHY,  R.  and  Bridge  (Grantown).     See  ABERNETHY. 

ISTEVIS,  Ben  aad  R.  (Fort  William).  Sic  1532 ;  1552,  Nevess. 
Pron.  Neevush.  Prob.  G.  nimli  uisy,  'biting  cold 
water ; '  nimh  is  properly  a  noun. 

NEW  ABBEY  (Kirkcudbright).  1301,  La  ISTovelle  Abbey. 
Abbey  of  Sweetheart  (Douce  Coeur),  founded  here  by 
Lady  Devorgilla  in  1275. 

NEWARK  (Port  Glasgow).  (Of.  '  Newark  one  Spey,'  1492.) 
=  '  New  work,'  i.e.,  '  new  castle.'  There  was  a  castle  here. 
Work,  Sc.  wark,  does  not  occur  in  this  sense  in  O.E.  ; 
but  cf.  '  outwork '  and  '  bulwark,'  Old  Germ,  bolwerk, 
Dan.  bulvcerk. 

NEWARTHILL  (Motherwell).  Prob.  tautology,  G.  nuadh  ard 
'new  hill.' 

NEWBATTLE  (Dalkeith).  1141,  Niwebothla;  c,  1145,  New- 
botill;  1222,  Neubotle;  a.  1500,  Nowbatile ;  1825, 
Newbottle.  O.E.  neowe  botl,  'new  dwelling.'  Of. 
MOREBATTLE,  and  Newbottle,  Durham. 

NEWBIGGING  (Oxnam,  Carnwath,  Monifieth,  S.  Ronaldshay). 
Oxn.  N.,  1153,  -bigginghe.  A  'bigging'  is  a  building, 
Dr  Murray's  earliest  quotation  being  c.  1250  fr.  '  Genesis 
and  Exodus ; '  cf.  Dan.  bygge,  to  build,  bygninff,  a  build- 
ing. Four  Newbiggins  in  England. 

NEWBRIDGE  (Dumfries),  NEWCASTLETON  (Roxburgh),  NEW- 
HILLS  (Aberdeen),  NEWHOUSE  (Airdrie),  NEWLANDS 
(Peebles  and  Gran  gem  outh),  NEWMAINS  (Holy  town,  see 
MAINS),  NEWMILL  (Keith),  NEWMILNS  (Kilmarnock,  cf. 
MILNHOLME),  NEWPORT1  (Dundee;  nine  in  England). 

NEWBURGH  (Fife,  Aberdeen).  Fife  N.,  prob.  a.  1130,  Sim. 
Durham,  re  ann.  756,  Niwanbyrig ;  1309,  Noviburgum  ; 
it  is  not,  then,  a  very  new  burgh  !  Burgli  see  p.  Ixxiii. 

NEWBURN    (Largo).      1250,  Nithbren,  i.e.,   'new  burn'    or 
'stream.'     See  Nrra  and  BURN  OF  CAMBUS.     Also  in 
Northumberland . 
1  This  may  or  may  not  be  the  '  Newporth,'  temp.  William  "Lion,  in 

Melrose  Chartulary,  i.  33. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  191 

NEWHAVEN  (Leith),  1510,  Edinburgh  Charter,  *  The  new 
haven  lately  made  by  the  said  king,'  James  IV. 

NEWSEAT  (Pefcerhead).     Of.  MILLSEAT,  in  same  district. 

NEWSTEAD  (Melrose).  Stead  is  O.E.  stede,  Dan.  sted,  a 
place ;  cf.  '  farm-steading.'  Also  in  Notts.  Near  by  is 
Eed  Abbey  Stead. 

NEWTON  (Glasgow,  Dysart,  &c.  ;  thirty-four  in  England), 
NEWTON  FERRY  (Lochmaddy),  NEWTON  GRANGE  (Dal- 
keith,  see  ABBOTSGRANGE),  NEWTONHEAD  (Ayr),  NEWTON- 
HILL  (Stonehaven),  NEWTON  MEARNS  (Glasgow),  NEW- 
TON-ON-AYR,  NEWTON  or  KiRKNEWTON(Midcalder;  1250, 
Neutun),  NEWTON  OF  EERINTOSH  (Ross-shire),  NEWTON 
STEWART  (modern). 

NEWTOWN  (Kirkcaldy,  Dumbarton),  NEWTOWN  ST  BOSWELL'S 
(Roxburgh).  Twenty  Newtowns  in  England. 

NEWTYLE  (Coupar  Angus).  1199,  Neutile;  1250, -tyl.  G. 
nuadh  tulacJi,  '  new  hill.' 

NIDDRIE  (Musselburgh,  Winchburgh).  1572,  Nidderie 
Prob.  G.  nuadh  (or  W.  newydd)  diridJi,  '  new  shealing 
or  summer  shepherd's  hut.  Cf.  BLINGERY. 

NIGG  (Aberdeen,  Invergordon).  Abdn.  N.,  1250,  Nig 
Ross  N.,  1296,  Nig.  Prof.  M'Kinnon's  derivation,  G 
an  uig,  'the  bay,5  is  only  possible.  Perh.  G.  and  Ir.  nine, 
a  nook  or  corner. 

NINIAN'S,  St  (Stirling,  &c.).  Stirl.  N.,  1301,  Seint  Rineyan. 
There  are  twenty-five  chapels  in  Scotland  dedicated  to 
St  Ninian,  or  Ringan,  of  Whithorn,  c.  390,  first 
missionary  in  Scotland. 

NISBET  (Jedburgh,  Biggar).  Jed.  N.,  1298,  Nesebit.  ? '  Ness- 
bit,'  i.e.,  prominent,  projecting  site ;  O.E.  and  Dan. 
noes,  Icel.  nes,  a  ness,  cognate  with  nose,  O.E.  ndsu, 
Icel.  no's,  Dan.  ncese,  and  O.E.  bita,  O.N.  biti,  Sw.  bit,  a 
bit,  mouthful.  Bit  is  used  in  Sc.  for  a  piece  of  ground  ; 
see,  e.g.,  Scott,  Waverley,  iii.  237. 

NITH,  R.  (Dumfries).  Sic  1327;  c.  120,  Ptolemy,  Novios ; 
and  found  in  iWd-uari  (Bede),  tribe  of  Picts  who 
inhabited  Galloway.  Prob.  same  root  as  W.  newydd, 
L.  novus,  new.  Cf.  NEWBURN. 


192  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

NITHSDALE.     a.  1350,  Stranith,  Stranid,  i.e.,     the  strath  of 

the  Nith.' 
NITSHILL  (Paisley).      ?' Nuts'  hill;'    O.E.  hnut,  Icel.  Jtnot, 

Dan.  nod,  a  nut. 
NOBLEHOUSE  (Peebles). 

NOE  GLEN  (Ben  Cruachan).  Prob.  G.  nodha,  new. 
NORMAN'S  LAW  (Cupar).  Law  is  O.E.  hldew,  a  hill. 
NORRIESTON  (Stirling).  Norrie  is  a  common  Sc.  surname. 

Cf.  Nome's  Law,  Largo. 
NORTH  WATER  BRIDGE  (Laurencekirk). 
NORTON  (Edinburgh),     c.  1380,  Nortoun.     O.E.  north,  Sw. 

and  Dan.  nord,  north  or  nor'.     Fifty-seven  in  England. 
Noss  OF  BRESSAY  (Shetland).     Sagas,  and  1539,  Nos.     Icel. 

nos,  a  nose,  akin  to  ness. 
NOVAR  (Dingwall).      Perh.  G.  nodha  bharr,  '  the  new  hill ' 

or  'height.'     Cf.  NEWTYLE. 
NUNTON  (Lochmaddy).     Cf.  MONKTON  and  MUGSTOT. 

o 

OA,   Mull  of  (Islay).     In  G.  maol-na-Ho.      Hardly  fr.  G. 

ubh  (pron.  oo),  an  egg.     Perh.  Norse. 
OAKBANK  (Midcalder). 

OAKLEY  (Dunfermline).     '  Oak  meadow.'    Three  in  England. 
OATHLAW  (Brechin).     1635,  Ouathlaw.     G.  abh  atli,  'stream 

with  the  ford,'  cf.  AWE,  old  Ow ;  and  see  LAW. 
OATLANDS  (Glasgow).     Also  near  Weybridge. 
OBAN.     G.  =  '  little  bay.' 
OBBE  (Portree).     G.  ob,  oba,  a  bay. 

OCCUMSTER  (Lybster).    1 '  Occam's  place.'    On  -ster,  see  p.  Ixv. 
OCHIL  HILLS  (Alloa).     The  Geographer  of  Ravenna  has  '  Cin- 

docellun,'  =  ceann   ocliil   (cf.    KINALUIE),  so    Skene ;  c. 

850,  Bk.  Lecan,  Sliab(le.,  hill)  Nochel;  1461,  Oychellis. 

W.  uchel,  high.     Cf.  AUCHELCHANZIE  and  OGLE. 
OCHILTREE  (Auchinleck  and  Galloway).     Auch.  0.,  a.  1200, 

Okeltre;  1537-72,  Ychiltre,    Gall.  0.,   old,    Uchiltry. 

W.  uchel  tre,  'high  house.' 
OCHTER-   or   AUCHTERTYRE   (Crieff).      G.    uacJidar  tir  (W. 

uchder  tir),  '  high  land.'     Cf.  AUCHTERARDER. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  193 

OCTAVULLIN  (Islay).  G.  oclidamh-a-mlmiUnn,  'the  eighth 
(cf.  L.  octauus)  belonging  to  the  mill.5  On  land 
measurement,  see  p.  Ivii. 

ODAIRN,  L.  (Lewis).  1  G.  odha-earrann,  '  the  grandchild's, 
division '  or  '  share.'  Cf.  MORVERN. 

OGILVIE  GLEN  (Forfar).  c.  1205,  Ogilvin.  First  syll.  prob.  W. 
uchel,  high,  and  the  second,  G.  bheinn,  a  hill.  Cf.  OCHIL. 

OGLE  GLEN  (Killin).      =  OCHIL,  and  so  Brythonic. 
OLD  ABERDEEN.     Eight  places  called  Old  in  England. 

OLDHAMSTOCKS  (Cockburnspath).  1250,  Aldhamstok;  1567, 
Auldhamesokkes.  O.E.  aid  ham  stoc(c),  'old  home 
stock '  or  *  stump '  or  '  block '  (cf.  Dan.  stok,  Icel.  stokk-r, 
a  block,  cognate  with  stack  and  stick,  and  cf.  the  '  stocks ' 
on  which  a  ship  rests).  The  second  syllable  of  Knock- 
stocks,  Galloway,  must  have  the  same  origin. 

OLD  MAN  OF  HOY  (Orkney).     A  striking  high  rock  there. 

OLLABERRY  (N.  of  Lerwick).  Saga,  Olafsberg,  i.e.,  (  King 
Olaf  s  burgh'  (see  BORGUE,  and  cf.  TURNBERRY).  St  Olaf 
or  King  Olaf  the  Holy  was  King  of  Norway,  1015-30. 

OLNAFIRTH  (Shetland).  FIRTH  or  '  bay  like  the  forearm ; ' 
Icel.  alin  or  din,  Sw.  aln,  =  the  Eng.  ell.  Cf.  Olney. 

OLRIG  (Thurso).  c,  1230,  Olrich;  1587,  -rik.  Prob.  'alder- 
ridge;'  O.K  olr,  an  alder;  possibly  fr.  X.  ole,  old. 
On  rig,  see  BISHOPBRIGGS. 

OMOA  (Holytown).  Presumably  called  after  the  port  of 
Omoa  in  Honduras. 

ONICH  (Ballachulish).  Said  to  be  G.  ochanaich,  '  wailing 
for  the  dead,'  because  the  boats  started  from  here  for  the 
island  burial-places. 

ONWEATHER  HILL  (Tweeddale). 

ORAN-  or  ORONSAY  (Colonsay,  W.  Skye,  Bracadale,  L. 
Sunart,  Coll,  and  Lewis).  '  St  Oran's  isle '  (O.N.  ay, 
ey,  a)  or  'isthmus'  (G.  aoi,  see  COLONSAY).  Oran  or 
Odhran  was  an  Irish  friend  of  St  Columba,  died  548. 

ORCHARD  (Hamilton).  1368,  'Terrae  de  Pomario,'  i.e.,. 
'lands  of  Orchard;'  fr.  O.E.  ortgeard,  wyrtgeard,  'wort- 
yard  '  or  '  garden.' 


194  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

ORD  (Caithness)  and  Mum  OF  ORD  (Beauly).  G.  ord,  '  a  steep, 
roundedheight.'  Thus  Ordhead,Tillyfourie,isatautology. 

ORDIQUHILL  (Banff).  Local  pron.  Ordifiill.  G.  brd-a-Wiuill, 
'  height  in  the  plot  of  ground '  (ball).  Qu  is  =  iv  ;  cf. 
LATHE  RON  WHEEL. 

ORKNEY.  Strabo,  bk.  ii.,  fr.  Pytheas,  e.  B.C.  330,  'Op/cas 
(prob.  earliest  Sc.  name  on  record).  45  A.D.,  Pompo- 
nius  Mela,  Orcades  ;  c,  970,  Pict.  Chron.,  Orkaneya;  c. 
1295,  Orkenneye;  1375,  Orkenay ;  1420,  Orkney;  also 
1115,  *  jarl  i  Orkneyium.'  '  Whale  isles  ;'  Gk.  opvg,  -vyo?, 
L.  orca,  N.  ore,  a  whale.  On  G.  ore  =  L.  porcus,  a  pig, 
see  p.  xxvi.  Ay,  ey,  a  is  O.N.  for  'island.' 

'ORLOGE  KNOWE  (Wigtown).  O.Fr.  horloge,  L.  horoloyium,  a 
sundial  or  water-clock.  See  KNOWE. 

ORMIDALE  (L.  Riddon).     'Orme's  valley;'  N".  dal. 

ORMISTON  (Tranent)  and  GLENORMISTON  (R.  Tweed).  Tran.  0., 
sic  1293;  c.  1160,  Ormystone.  'Orme's  dwelling'  or 
'village;'  O.E.  ton,  tun.  Cf.  Ormesby,  Ormskirk,  and 
Great  Orme's  Head. 

ORMSARY  (Ardrishaig).  1  'Orme's  shieling'  or  ' hut;'  G.  diridh. 
Cf.  GLASSARY. 

ORPHIR  (Kirkwall).  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Jorfiara;  but 
other  Sagas,  Orfiara;  c.  1500,  Orphair.  Orfiris  -ey,  or 
-a  is  the  1ST.  name  for  an  island  joined  at  low  water  with 
the  mainland. 

ORR  or  ORE  WATER  (Leven).  Perh.  Ptolemy's  town,  Orrea. 
G.  odhar  (pron.  owr),  grey,  or  oir,  a  corner,  edge. 

ORTON  (Fochabers).  'At  the  border'  or  'edge  of  the  hill ;' 
G.  oir  duin.  See  ton,  p.  Ixxv. 

ORWELL  (Kinross).  1330,  Urwell.  Perh.  '  village  (G.  b(h)ail) 
by  the  water.'  See  URR,  and  cf.  FARNELL. 

OSPISDALE  (Dornoch).  Prob.  1384,  Hospostyl;  1583, 
Obstuill.  Prob.  '  valley  (N.  dal)  of  the  hospice '  or  '  inn ;' 
Fr.  hospice,  L.  liospitium.  Cf.  DALNASPIDAL. 

OSTAIG  (Sleat).  O.K  =  '  east  bay ; '  cf.  Icel.  aust,  O.E.  east, 
the  east. 

OTTER  FERRY  (L.  Fyne).     Cf.  Otterburn. 

•OTTERSTON  (Aberdour,  Fife).  Old,  Otherston.  Other  was 
a  Saxon  settler.  See  ton,  p.  Ixx. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  195 

OUTON.     *  Out-ton '  or  '  hamlet,'  outside  the  town  of  Whithorn. 

OVERTON,  -TOWN  (Dumbarton,  Wishaw,  New  Abbey), 
'  Upper  village.7  Six  in  England. 

OXGANG  (Grangemouth  and  Kirkintillocli).  Prob.  named 
fr.  a  grant  of  land  to  a  church  or  abbey  of  as  much 
land  as  an  ox  could  plough  or  '  gang '  over  in  a  day. 
Sc.  gang  is  'to  go.' 

OXNAM  (Jedburgh).  c.  1150,  Oxeneham;  1177,  Oxeham  ; 
c.  1360,  Oxinghame.  'Home  of  the  oxen;'  O.E. 
oxena-lidm.  =  Oxenholme,  near  Kendal. 

OXTOX  (Lauder).  O.E.  oxa,  Icel.  oxi,  Dan.  and  Sw.  oxe, 
an  ox  ;  cf.  above.  Three  in  England. 

OYKELL,  E.  (Sutherland).  1365,  Okel;  1490,  Ochell;  1515, 
Akkell.  Though  this  is  a  very  un-Brythonic  region, 
perh.  =  OCHIL,  fr.  W.  uchel,  high.  This  is  the  Ekkials- 
bakki  or  'coast'  or  'border  of  the  river  Oykell,'  in  the 
Flateyjarbok,  c.  1390;  but  Dr  Jos.  Anderson  thinks 
Ekkialsbakki  in  Orkney.  Sag.,  Ixviii.,  is  for  Atjokls- 
bakki,  i.e.,  '  coast  nearest  ATHOLE.' 

OYNB  (Insch).  a.  1300,  Ovyn.  Prob.  a  form  of  G.  abhuinn, 
a  river.  Cf.  ABOYNE. 


PABAY  (off  Barra).  O.N.  pap-ay,  '  priest's  isle,'  =  PAPA. 
P  and  b  often  interchange,  see  p.  xxvi. 

PADANARAM  (Forfar).  Fancy  name,  meaning  Padan  in 
Syria.  See  Genesis,  xlviii.  7. 

PAISLEY.  1157,  Passeleth ;  1158,  Paisleth  ;  c.  1550,  Passele. 
Prob.  '  at  the  front  of  the  slope,'  which  suits  the  site  of 
the  old  town,  fr.  G.  balhais  (th  mute,  and  with  the 
Brythonic  p  for  b),  brow,  front,  and  leathad,  a  slope, 
declivity.  Cf.  Howpasley,  Eoberton,  Eoxburgh. 

PALDY'S  WELL  (Fordoun).  Fr.  Palladius,  missionary  from 
Rome,  said  to  have  been  here  c.  430  A. D. 

PALINKUM  (Kirkmaiden).  Prob.  Brythonic,  poll  lijnn  cam, 
'  stream  with  crooked  pools.' 

PALNACKIE  (Dalbeattie).  Prob.  G.  poll  an  acliaidli,  '  stream 
in  the  field.' 


196  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

PALNTJRE  (Newton  Stewart).  Old,  Polnewyir.  G.  and  Ir. 
pott  n'iubhar,  'stream  of  the  yews.'  Cf.  Newry. 

PANBRIDB  (Arbroath).  c.  1200,  Pannebrid;  1485,  Panbrid. 
Ban  or  pan  is  a  G.  prefix  =  '  female,'  '  she-.'  Bride  is  St 
Bridget ;  see  KILBRIDE. 

PANMURE  (Forfar).  1286,  Pannemore.  Prob.  G.  Ian,  lame, 
white,  light  in  colour,  waste,  +  O.E.  and  Icel.  mur,  Se. 
muir,  a  moor,  almost  a  G.  word. 

PAPA,  LITTLE,  and  STOUR  (Shetland),  PAPA  STRONSAY  and 
WESTRAY  (Orkney).  Saga,  Papeylitla;  1229,  Papey 
stora ;  c.  1 225,  Orkney.  Say.,  Papey  ( =  P.  West  ray).  O.K 
pap-ey  is  '  priest's  isle,'  strictly  that  of  a  monk  from  lona.1 
Pap  is  same  root  as  pope  and  papa.  Litill,  litla  is  O.N. 
or  Icel.  for  'little ;'  star  (pron.  stour),  stora  is  O.K  for 
*  great ; '  WESTRAY  means  '  western  isle  ; '  and  cf. 
STRONSAY. 

PAPILL  (Unst  and  Yell)  and  PAPLAY  (Mainland  and  S. 
Konaldshay,  Orkney).  Papl.,  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag., 
Papuley,  Papuli;  1369,  Pappley;  1506,  Pappale. 
'Island  of  the  papulus,'  i.e.,  little  'pope'  or  priest. 
Cf.  above,  and  the  Papyli  of  Iceland. 

PAPS  OF  JURA.     Hills  so  called  fr.  their  shape. 

PARDOVAN  (Linlithgow).  Pron.  -diivan ;  a.  1150,  Pardufin. 
G.  barr  dubliain,  '  height  like  a  hook  or  claw.' 

PARENWELL  (Kinross).  Well  of  the  saint  called  in  W. 
Piran,  and  in  Corn.  Peran  ;  but  in  Ir.  Kieran,  of  Cloii- 
macnois,  6th  century.  Cf.  KILKERRAN,  and  Peranwell 
and  Peranzabuloe  ( =  in  sabulis),  Cornwall. 

PARK  (Banchory,  Old  Luce,  Lewis,  &c.).  G.  pairc,  W. 
parwg,  O.E.  pearruc,  an  enclosed  field,  park. 

PARKFOOT  (Falkirk,  &c.),  PARKGATE  (Dumfries ;  three  in 
England),  PARK  HEAD  (Glasgow),  PARKHILL  (E.  Eoss 
and  Dyce). 

PARTICK  (Glasgow).  1136,  Perdyec ;  1158,  Pertheck ;  1483, 
Perthic.  A  difficult  name ;  perh.  G.  barr  dliu  uige, 

1  Cf.   'Sanctus  Patricius,  papa  noster,'  in  letter  of  Cummian,  634 

A.D. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  197 

'  height  of  the  dark  nook '  or  '  cave/  but  this  does  not 
seem  very  apposite.  Possibly  aper  dim  ec,  Celtic  for 
*  at  the  confluence '  or  '  mouth  of  the  dark  water '  (see 
PERTH,  ECK,  ECKFORD) ;  Kelvin  and  Clyde  join  here. 
Cf.  p.  xxix. 

PARTON  (Castle-Douglas).  G.  portan, ( little  port '  or  '  harbour. ' 
Cf.  Parton,  Whitehaven ;  and  Parteen,  several  in  Ire- 
land. 

PATHSTRUIE  (Forgandenny).  1  G.  both  sruthain,  '  house  on 
the  little  stream '  (cf.  BATHGATE  and  STRUAN).  Possibly 
fr.  G.  poit,  and  so  '  cauldron,  pool  on  the  little  stream.' 

PATNA  (R.  Doon).     Presumably  after  Patna  on  the  Ganges. 

PAXTON  (Berwick).  ?  *  Place '  or  '  village  of  the  packs ;'  Dan. 
pak,  pakke,  G.  and  Ir.  pac,  a  pack  or  bundle. 

PEAT  INN  (Ceres)  and  PEAT  HASS  (Carsphairn).  Our  Eng. 
word  peat  is  not,  as  some  dictionaries  say,  the  same  as 
the  Eng.,  especially  Devonshire,  beat,  '  the  rough  sod  of 
the  moorland.'  Hass  means  '  gap,  opening,'  prob.  same 
as  M.E.  halse,  Icel.  and  Dan.  hdls,  the  neck ;  and  as 
liaicse,  the  hole  in  a  ship's  bow. 

PEEBLES.  1116,  Pobles;  1126,  Pebles.  W.  pabett,  plural 
pebyll,  a  tent.  The  s  is  the  Eng.  plural. 

PEFFER,  R.  (E.  Ross-sh.),  and  PEFFER  BURN  (Duddingston). 
Ross.  P.,  1528,  Paferay.  Dr  Skene  says,  corruption  of 
G.  aifrenn,  *  offerer.'  See  INCHAFFRAY. 

PENCAITLAND  (Haddington).  a.  1150,  Pencatlet ;  1250,  -kat- 
land.  'Land  of  the  hill  (W.  pen)  of  Cat'  or  'CM' 
See  INCHKEITH,  KEITH. 

PENDRICH  (Tweeddale  and  Perthsh.).  'Hill  of  the  view' 
(W.  drych,  a  spectacle),  or  perh.  '  of  the  meteor '  (G. 
dreag,  dreige).  Pen  is  the  W.  or  Brythonic  form  of 
the  G.  beinn.  Cf.  PITTENDRIECH. 

PENICUIK  (Midlothian).     1250,  Penicok;  1296,  -ycoke.    W. 

pen-y-cog,  '  hill  of  the  cuckoo.' 
PENNAN  (Fraserburgh).     ^1654.     Prob.  =  G.  beinnan,  'a 

little  hill '  (cf.  BINNY).     The  only  Pen-  north  of  Perth. 

PENNILEE  (Paisley).  Quite  possibly '  penny-lea '  or  '  meadow ; ' 
on  the  old  land  measures,  see  p.  Ivii.  If  Celtic,  perh. 
pen  na  lithe,  '  hill  of  the  spate.' 

T 


198  PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND. 

PENNINGHAME  (Newton  Stewart).  1576,  Pennegem.  O.E. 
peneg  ham,  'penny  holding'  or  'land;'  O.E.  also  has 
the  form  penning.  The  penny  was  a  frequent  land 
measure  in  the  west  of  Scotland;  cf.,  too,  Merkland, 
Dunscore,  and  Poundland  in  Parton ;  also  Pennington, 
Ulverston.  In  the  south-west  of  Scotland  are  also 
Pennymuir  and  Pennytown. 

PENNYGANT  (Tweeddale).  Prob.  W.  pen  y  gan,  '  hill  of  the 
thrush ;'  also  in  Yorkshire.  Cf.  PENICUIK. 

PENNYGHAEL  (Argyle)  and  PENNYGOWN  (Mull).  Here  penny 
is  the  diminutive  of  W.  pen,  or  G.  betnnan,  '  little  hill ' 
— 'of  the  Gael,'  and 'of  the  smith;'  G.  gobhann.  Cf. 
PENNAN  and  BINNY;  also  'Pennyfurt'  (sic  1596),  in  Lorn. 

PENPONT  (Thornhill).  Pron.  -punt ;  "W.  pen  y  pont,  '  hill  of 
the  bridge,'  L.  pons,  -Us.  Cf.  '  Kinpunt,'  Koxburgh,  sic 
in  1316. 

PENTLAND  FIRTH  and  PENTLAND  HILLS.  P.  Hills,  sic  1250; 
but  a.  1150,  Pentlant;  Sagas,  Petlands  fjord  (they 
tell  that  the  Norsemen  learnt  this  name  from  the  natives); 
1403,  Mare  Petlandicum.  Generally  thought  to  be  a 
corruption  of  '  Picts'  or  Pehts'  land.'  Land  is  so  spelt 
in  IceL,  Dan.,  and  O.E. 

PENVENNA  (Tweeddale).     ?  W.  pen  banau  or  ban,  '  hill  with 

the  peak '  or  *  beacon.' 
PERCEBIE  (Dumfries),  PERCETON  (Ayr).     '  Percy's  dwelling ' 

or   'village;'   northern   O.E.    and  Dan.    bi,    l>y.      Cf. 

p.  Ixiii. 

PERCLEWAN  (Dalrymple).  Prob.  G.  pairc  leamhan,  'park 
with  the  elms.'  Of.  BLALOWAN. 

PERSIE  (Blairgowrie).  G.  pearsa,  a  person,  '  a  parson.'  The 
-ie  may  represent  G.  achadh,  a  field  (cf.  Persebus,  Mull, 
'  priest's  place '  or  '  farm ').  On  bus,  see  p.  Ixiv. 

PERTH.  Sic  a.  1150;  c.  1178,  Pert;  1220,  'St  Johnstoun 
or  Perth;'  1527,  Boece,  Bertha,  which  shows  Boece 
thought  the  name  was  the  G.  barr  Tha,  '  height  over 
the  Tay,'  i.e.,  Kinnoull  Hill.  Possibly  it  means  'at  the 
confluence  of  the  TAY,  with  the  Almond  or  Earn.'  Aber 
could  easily  become  per.  See  p.  xxix,  and  cf.  'Ber- 
geveny '  (sic  1291)  for  Abergaveny,  and  PARTICK. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  199 

PETERCULTER.  Perh.  corruption  of  pette  cul  tire,  '  plot  at  the 
back  of  the  land.'  See  PETTY  and  COULTER;  but  cf. 
MARYCULTER. 

PETERHEAD.  Old  charter,  Petri  promontorium ;  1654,  R. 
Gordon,  '  Oppidulum  Peter-head.' 

PETTICUR  (Kinghorn).  Old  G.  pette  cuir,  '  bit  of  land  at  the 
bend '  or  '  turn  '  (car).  See  PETTY. 

PETTINAIN  (Carstairs).  c.  1150,  Pedynnane ;  c.  1180, 
Padinnan,  -uenane ;  c.  1580,  Pettynane.  Prob.  G.  pette 
n'en,  '  bit  of  land  with  the  birds,'  en  (pron.  ain),  a  bird. 

PETTY  (Fort  George).  Cf.  a.  1000,  Bk.  Deer,  '  Pette  mac 
Garnait,'  i.e.,  homestead  of  Garnait's  son.  Pette,  also 
found  in  names  as  Pedy,  pett,  peth,  pith,  put,  is  Pictish, 
meaning  'bit  of  land,'  then  'hamlet;'  in  G.,  i.e.,  the 
dialect  of  the  Dalriad  Scots,  which  afterwards  became 
the  universal  speech,  often  rendered  by  baile.  Cf. 

PlTLOCHRY,  &C. 

PHILIPSTOUN  (Linlithgow).     Sic  1720. 

PHILORTH   (Buchan).     Sic   1361  ;   but   a.  1300,    Fylorthe. 

Perh.  G.  faille  ghort,   '  market-field,'  gh  quiescent.     G. 

feill  is  a  feast,  fair,  market,  holiday. 
PHYSGILL  (Glasserton).     Old,  Fishcegil.     Dan.  fislc  gil,  '  fish 

gill;'  cf.  O.E.  jisc,  and  AUCHINGILL. 
PIEROWAAL  or  -WALL  (Westray).     Hardly  '  the  pier  on  the 

bay ; '  O.F.  piere,  Mod.  Fr.  pierre,  L.  and  Gk.  petra,  a 

stone.    On  O.K  vag-r,  a  bay,  here  wall,  see  KIRKWALL. 

Perh.  'Peter's  bay;'  but  prob.   'little  bay,'  Sc.  peerie, 

little,  a  word  common  in  the  Orkneys ;  cf.  '  The  Peerie 

Sea,'  Kirkwall. 
PILRIG  (Leith)  and  PILTON  (Granton).     W.  pill,  a  moated 

fort,  a  '  peel ; '  cf.  Pilmore,  St  Andrews ;  and  see  EIGG. 
PINKIE,  or  -KEY  (Musselburgh).     Perh.  cognate  with  Old  Sc. 

link,  binkie,  a  '  bank '  of  earth. 
PINMORE  (S.  Ayr).     Brythonic  form  of  G.beinn    mor,    'big 

hill.'     The  most   northerly  Pin-   is  Pinvally  (  =  beinn 

bhaile),  near  Cumnock. 
PINWHERRIE,   -IRRIE  (S.  Ayr).     Prob.    'hill  of  the  copse;' 

G.  fhoithre  (pron.  whirry),  and  see  above. 
PIRN  MILL  (W.  Arran).     Pirn  is  Sc.  for  a  reel  or  bobbin. 

Cf.  Pirnhill,  Innerleithen. 


200  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

PITALPIN  (Dundee).     'Land  of  King  Kenneth  MacAlpin,* 

c.  850.     See  PETTY. 
PITCAIEN   and   PITCAIRNGREEN    (Perth).      1247,    Peticarne. 

Old  G.  pette  cairn,  '  field  of  the  cairn '  or  '  barrow.' 
PITCAPLE   (Aberdeen).      'Field   of  the  mare'  (G.  capuill ; 

cf.  KINCAPLE),  or  '  of  the  chapel '  (G.  ca-ibeil). 
PITCORTHY  (Carnbee).     a.  1150,  Petcorthyn;  c.  1195,  Peth- 

corthing,  Pitcortyne.     Prob.  '  field  of  the  stingy  fellow, 

miser ; '  G.  gortan,  -ain. 
PITCULLO  (Fife).     Sic  1517.     Prob.    'field  of  Cullo;'  the 

surname  Kello  is  still  found.      Cf.  Edenticullo,  Ireland, 

=  'slope  of  the  house  of  Collo ;'  Ir.  Ugh  Oolla. 
PITFODDLES   (Forfar).      1525,  Petfothellis.      'Field  of   the 

foundling  or  waif ; '  G.  faodail,  with  Eng.  plural  s. 
PITFOUR   (Avoch).      c.   1340,   Pethfouyr.     'Cold  field'   or 

'hamlet.'     G.  fuar,  cold;  =  BALFOUR. 
PITGAVENY  (Elgin).     Some  think  =  a.   1100,  Bothnguanan; 

1187,    -gouane ;   1251,    Bothgauenan,   i.e.,   G.   loth  na 

gobhainn,   '  house  of  the  smith ; '  but  there  seems  no 

other  case  of  pit  (cf.  PETTY)  being  rendered  by  G.  both. 

Dr  M'Lauchlan  says,  Bothnguanan  is  Boath,  near  Forres, 

and  that  the  final  syllables  of  a  name  often  drop ;  cf. 

INVER.     In  any  case  the  meaning  is  almost  the  same. 
PITILIE  (Aberfeldy).     Pron.  -eelie  ;  G.  pit-a-dhile,   'hollow 

of  the  water.'     Cf.  Cnocadile,  Duncansbay. 
PITKEATHLY,  -CAiTHLY  (Bridge  of  Earn).     Prob.  '  field  of  the 

seeds '  or  '  chaff ; '  G.  cdithUch. 
PITKELLONY    (Muthill).      ?' Field   of   the    multitude;'    G. 

coilinne,  fr.  coimh-lion,  or   '  of  the  truant,  poltroon,'  G. 

coilleannich. 
PITLESSIE  (Ladybank).     '  Bit  of  land  with  the  garden ; '  G. 

lios,  -ise. 
PITLOCHRY.     In   G.    Bailechlochrie,    ch    quiescent;    either 

'hamlet,'    'field    of   the  assembly '    or    'convent'    (G. 

chlochar,  -air),  or  'of  the  stepping-stones'  (G.  dochran, 

-ain). 
PITLOUR  (Kinross).     '  Village   of   the   lepers ; '    G.    lobliar. 

Of.,  c.  1190,  '  Petenlouer,'  in  Aberdeen. 
PITLURG.     '  Field  on  the  slope'  or  'little  hill;'  G.  learg,  -eirg. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  201 

PITMEDDEN  (Dyce).  '  Middle,  centre  bit  of  land ; '  G. 
meadhon,  the  middle. 

PITMILLY  (Grail).  1211,  Putmullin.  '  Land,  hamlet  of  the 
mill ; '  G.  muileann,  -inn. 

PITRODIE  (Errol).  '  Land,  hamlet  by  the  wayside,  or  road ;' 
G.  rod,  raid. 

PITSCOTTIE  (Cupar).  '  Land  ef  the  small  farm '  or  *  flock  ; ' 
G.  sgotan,  ~ain. 

PITSLIGO  (Fraserburgh).  Sic  1467.  'Shelly  land;'  G.  and 
Ir.  sligeacli.  Of.  Sligo. 

PITTEDIE  (Kirkcaldy).  'Bit  of  land  on  the  slope '  or  '  hill- 
face  ; '  G.  aodann,  -ainn,  W.  eiddyn.  But  Killeedy, 
Limerick,  is  fr.  lie.  or  Ide,  famous  Irish  virgin  and 
saint,  c.  500  A.D. 

PITTENDREICH  (Denino).  Of.  a  *  Petyndreih,'  1140,  in 
Chart.  Newbattle.  Perh.  Old  G.  pette  na  drioga,  '  field 
of  the  drop '  or  '  tear '  (but  see  PENDRICH).  Mr  W.  J. 
Liddell  says,  '  land  covered  with  heather ; '  G.  fraoch, 
fraoich. 

PITTENWEEM  (Anstruther).  a.  1150,  Petnaweem;  1528, 
Pittenwemyss.  *  Land,  hamlet  with  the  caves ; '  G. 
uamli.  Of.  WEMYSS. 

PLADDA  (Arran).  1549,  Flada;  1609,  Pladow.  D&n.flad-a, 
'flat  isle'  (cf.  Icel.  flat-r,  and  Sw.  flat,  flat;  also  cf. 
Fladda,  Treshnish  Isles,  and  Fladay,  Barra). 

PLAID Y  (Turriff).  Perh.  G.  plaid,  -de,  an  ambush ;  also  cf. 
DRUMBLADE. 

PLAINS  (Airdrie). 

PLANTATION  (Go van).  In  1783,  '  Craigiehall '  was  purchased 
by  a  John  Robertson,  who  had  made  his  money  in  the 
West  Indian  plantations. 

PLASCOW  (Kirkgunzeon).  Prob.  "VV.  plas  cu,  'dear  place.' 
Cf.  GLASGOW,  LINLITHGOW. 

PLEAN  (Bannockburn).  1745,  Plen,  and  so  pron.  still.  ?  G. 
blian,  'the  flank,  groin,  or  as  an  adjective,  'lean, 
starved.' 

PLEWLANDS  (Edinburgh  and  Peeblessh.).     Edin.  P.,  sic  1528. 


202  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

'  Ploughed  lands  ; '  plough,  Dan.  ploug,  is  pron.  in  Sc. 
pleu,  or  pleugh,  with  gh  guttural. 

PLOCKTON  (Strome  Ferry).  G.  ploc,  a  large  clod  or  turf,  a 
'  block,' +  Eng.  -ton;  but  see  p.  Ixxv. 

PLORA  (Peeblessh.).     Prob.  G.  blorach,  noisy,  fr.  blor,  a  loud 

noise. 
PLUCKERSTON  (Kirriemuir).   Old,  Locarstoun,  i.e.,  ( Lockhart's 

hamlet.'     Cf.  for  the  p,  PEFFER. 

PLUSCARDEN  (Elgin).  1461,  Pluscarty;  1639,  -cardy.  Prob. 
*  place  of  the  smith(s) ; '  W.  plas,  not  in  G.,  and  G. 
ceard,  gen.  ceirde,  plural  ceardan. 

POCKBIE  (1  Berwicksh.).  ?Fr.  Sc.  poke,  Icel.  pold,  a  bag, 
sack,  +  northern  O.E.  and  Dan.  bi,  by,  house,  village. 

POLES,  The  (Dornoch). 

POLKEBUCK  BURN  (Muirkirk).  G.  poll  cabaig,  '  pool  like  a 
cheese,'  Sc.  kebbuck.  Pool  is  in  G.,  Jr.,  and  Corn,  poll, 
in  W.  pwll,  Armor,  poull,  and  these  words  may  mean 
either  running  or  stagnant  water,  either  *  stream '  or 
'pool.' 

POLKEMMET  (Bathgate).  See  above.  Kemmet  is  prob.  G. 
cam  ath,  'crooked  ford  '  or  'fordable  river;'  cf.  KENNET. 
The  river  Almond  meanders  through  this  estate. 

POLLOKSHAWS  and  POLLOKSHIELDS  (Glasgow).  1158, 
Pullock,  Pollock,  prob.  =  G.  poll  achaidh,  '  pool  in  the 
field.'  In  Malcolm  lY.'s  reign,  Peter,  son  of  Fulbert, 
took  the  local  surname  of  Police,  and  gave  to  Paisley 
Abbey  the  church  of  Polloc.  See  SHAW,  and  for 
-shields,  i.e.,  '  shielings,'  see  GALASHIELS. 

POLMADIE  (Glasgow)  and  POLMADIE  HILL  (Barr).  '  Pool '  or 
'  water  of  the  wolf  '  or  '  dog ; '  G.  madadh.  Cf.  Pul- 
maddy  Burn,  Carsphairn ;  but  Polmood,  Peebles,  is  f  r. 
Celtic  mod,  a  gathering,  court,  fold. 

POLMAISE  (Stirling).  Sic  1309  ;  but  1147,  Pollemase.    Perh. 

'beautiful  water;'  G.  maiseacli. 
POLMONT  (Falkirk).     Local  pron.   P6wmon.     'Pool  on  the 

moor ; '  G.  moine. 

POLNASKY  BURN  (Mochrum).  'Water  of  the  eels;'  G. 
n'easgann. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  203 

POLSHAG  BURN  (Carsphairn).  Perh.  '  water  of  the  hawks ; ' 
G.  seoWiac  (pron.  shock). 

POLTON  (Lasswade).  '  Hamlet  on  the  water,'  the  river  Esk. 
Cf.  LINTON. 

POLWARTH    (Duns).     ]  250,  Poulwrd  ;  1299,  Powelsworthe. 

'  Place  on  the  water  ; '  on  M.E.  word,  worth,  a  place,  cf. 

JEDBURGH. 
POMATHORN  (Penicuik). 

POMONA,  or  MAINLAND  (Orkney),  c.  1380,  Fordun,  Insulse 
Pomoniee ;  1529,  Pomonia.  Said  to  be  fr.  L.  pomum,  an 
apple,  because  '  Mainland '  is,  as  it  were,  in  the  middle  of 
the  apple,  between  the  north  and  south  isles.  This  is 
dubious.  The  L.  Pomona  was  goddess  of  fruit-trees, 
and  so  not  very  appropriate  for  Orkney. 

PONFEIGH  (Lanark).  Prob.  G.  bonn  fiaidh  or  fiaigli,  'low 
place  with  the  deer'  (cf.  BONSKIED,  &c.).  But  Ballyna- 
feigh  and  Eathfeigh  are  fr.  Ir.  faitche,  G.  faiche,  a  level 
green  plot,  a  field. 

POOLEWE  (L.  Ewe).     See  POLKEBUCK  and  EWE. 

PORT  BANNATYNE  (Eothesay).  'Mnian  Bannachtyne,'  of 
Kames,  granted  lands  here  to  his  son  Robert  in  1475. 

PORT   CHARLOTTE   (Argyle),    ELLEN    (Islay),    ELPHINSTONE 

(Inverurie),  &c. 
PORTENCALZIE  (Wigtown).      Old,  Portincailly.     G.  port  na 

cailliclie,  l  nun's  harbour.' 
PORTENCROSS  or  -NACROis  (Ardrossan).     G.  =  '  harbour  of  the 

cross  ; '  G.  crois.     Cf.  Portnacroish,  Appin. 

PORTESSIE  (Buckie).     '  Harbour  with  the  waterfall ; '   G.  eas, 

easan. 
PORT-GLASGOW.     Site   feued   here   by   the   Glasgow   Town 

Council  in  1668. 
PORTINCAPLE   (L.    Long).      '  Harbour   of   the   chapel ; '    G. 

caibeal,  and  cf.  PITCAPLE. 

PORTKNOCKIE  (Cullen).  '  Harbour  by  the  little  hill ; '  G.  cnocan. 
PORTLETHEN  (Kincardine).     Prob.   G.  port  leathan,  'broad 

harbour ; '  also  cf.  INNERLEITHEN. 

PORTMAHOMACK  (Tain),  a.  1700,  Portus  Columbi.  G.  port 
machalmac  or  Mocholmoy,  '  harbour  of  my  own  little 


204  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Colman,'  champion  of  the  Celtic  Church  at  the  great 
Whitby  Conference,  664.  See  p.  xcv,  and  cf.  Kilma- 
chalmag,  Kincardine.  The  1700  assertion,  'harbour  of 
St  Columba,'  is  possibly  correct ;  see  p.  xcii. 

PORTNAGURAN  (Stornoway).  '  Harbour  of  the  brood  of  birds ' 
(G.  gur),  or  '  of  the  goats '  (G.  gobhar). 

PORTNAHAVEN  (Islay).  Pron.  -naha vvn ;  not  a  tautology,  but 
G.  port  na  h'abhuinn,  'harbour  on  the  water.'  Cf. 
AVON. 

PORTOBBLLO.  Portobello  Hut  was  built  in  1742  by  an  old 
Scotch  sailor,  who  had  served  under  Admiral  Vernon,  to 
commemorate  his  victory  at  Portobello,  Darien,  in 
1739. 

PORTPATRICK  (Wigtown).  Fr.  the  famous  St  Patrick,  5th 
century ;  Ir.  Padric,  G.  Padruig,  L.  Patricius. 

PORTRBE  (Skye  and  Portpatrick).  'Harbour  of  the  king,' 
G.  port  riglie  ;  so  called  from  James  V.'s  visit  here.  Cf. 
Port-an-righ,  Saddel,  and  Inchree,  Onich. 

PORTSOY  (Banff).  ? '  Harbour  of  the  warrior '  (G.  saoi,  saoidh), 
or  '  of  the  bitch '  (G.  saigh,  -he). 

PORTYERROCK  (Wigtown).  Old,  Portcarryk.  '  Harbour  of  the 
sea-cliff;'  G.  carraig  (cf.  CARRICK).  The  y  sound  is 
the  result  of  the  aspiration  of  the  c.  Dr  Skene  thinks 
this  is  the  Beruvik  of  IN  ial's  Saga. 

POSSIL  (Glasgow).  1787,  -el.  Perh.  'the  front'  or  'face  of 
the  wood;'  G.  pais  (bathais)  clmill,  fr.  coill,  a  wood. 
See  PAISLEY,  and  cf.  DARVEL. 

POTTERHILL  (Paisley). 

POWBURN  (Edinburgh).  Pow  is  Sc.  for  a  sluggish  stream ; 
W.  pwl,  G.  poll,  .  see  POLKEBUCK.  Cf.  Pow,  New 
Abbey,  Powmill,  Plean;  also  'Pomon'  and  'Pomaise,' 
local  pron.  of  POLMONT  and  POLMAISE.  Powburn  is 
thus  a  tautology. 

POYNTZFIELD  (Invergordon).     Fr.  a  man. 

PREMNAY  (Insch).  ? '  Tree  in  the  plain '  (cf.  KEMNAY),  fr. 
W.  pren,  a  tree,  a  word  common  in  Ir.  names  as  cran, 
e.g.,  Crancam,  &c.  On  G.  magh,  plain,  =  may,  cf. 
CAMBUS  o'  MAY. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  205 

PRESHOME  (Buckle).  Prob.  '  priest's  home '  or  'house;'  O.E. 
preost-hdm;  cf.  christen,  pron.  chrissen. 

PRESTON  (Dumfries  and  Colvend).  'Priest's  abode'  (cf. 
above,  and  Prescot).  Fifteen  in  England.  See  ton, 
p.  Ixxiv. 

PRESTONGRANGE  (Prestonpans).  c.  1240,  Grangia  de  Preston. 
See  above,  and  ABBOTSGRANGE. 

PRESTONKIRK  (Haddington). 

PRESTONPANS  (Musselburgh).  1625,  Prestounepannis.  Salt- 
pans erected  here  by  the  monks  fr.  ?  Aberlady. 

PRESTWICK  (Ayr).  Sic  1158;  1160,  'Prestwick  usque  Pul- 
prestwick'  (pul  is  W.  pwl,  pool,  water);  c.  1230, 
Prestvick;  1265,  -wick.  Either  'priest's  dwelling' or 
'village'  (O.E.  wic;  cf.  BERWICK),  or  'priest's  bay' 
(N.  vile). 

PRINLAWS  (Leslie).  Prob.  W.  pren,  a  tree,  +  Sc.  law, 
O.E.  hldew,  a  hill.  Cf.  BARNBOGLE. 

PROSEN  (see  GLENPROSEN)  and  PULMADDY  (see  POLMADIE). 

PULCAIGRIE  BURN  (Kells).  '  Water  of  the  boundary '  (G. 
coigriche) ;  and  see  POLKEBUCK. 

PULHAY  BURN  (Carsphairn).  'Water  of  the  swamp;'  G. 
chaedhe  (pron.  haye). 

PULTENEYTOWN  (Wick).  Founded  in  1808  by  the  British 
Fisheries  Society. 

PUMPHERSTON  (Midcalder).  Pumpher  seems  an  unknown 
name. 

PYATKNOWE  (Biggar).  Sc.  =  'magpie's  hill;'  see  KNOWS. 
Pi/at  is  the  Eng.  pie,  Fr.  pie,  L.  pica,  with  the 
diminutive  -at  or  -et. 

Q 

QUAIR  WATER  (Peeblessh.).  1116,  Quyrd;  1174,  Cuer; 
1184,  Queyr.  Corn,  quirt,  later  gwer ;  W.  gwri/d, 
green.  Cf.  '  The  green,  green  grass  o'  Traquair  kirk- 
yard  ; '  and  cf.  TRAQUAIR. 

QUANTERNESS  (Kirkwall).     Fr.  Icel.  Kantari,  i.e.,  'Canter- 


206  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

bury,'  and  meaning  '  bishop.'     It  enters  as  an  element 
into  a  good  many  Scandinavian  names.     See  NESS. 

QUARFF  (Shetland).  Icel.  hvarf,  O.Sw.  Jiwarf,  a  turning, 
a  shelter.  Of.  Cape  WRATH,  and  the  Wharf e,  Yorkshire. 

QUARRYWOOD  (Elgin). 

QUARTER  (Hamilton  and  Galloway),  WEST  QUARTER  (Fal- 
kirk). 

QUEENSBERRY  HILL  (Drumlanrig).  Prob.  a  corruption  of 
some  Celtic  word.  But  cf.  TURNBERRY. 

QUEENSFERRY,  N.  and  S.  (Frith  of  Forth),  c.  1295,  Quene- 
ferie  ;  1461,  Quenis  Fery.  So  called  because  Princess 
Margaret  of  England,  afterwards  wife  of  Malcolm 
Canmore  (1057-93),  crossed  here. 

QUENDALE  BAY  (Sumburgh).  Icel.  Tcvan,  a  wife,  Dan.  qvinde, 
a  woman,  O.E.  civen,  Sc.  quean,  a  woman,  +  N.,  &c., 
dal,  a  dale,  valley. 

QUIEN,  L.  (Bute).  ^Old  G.  cuinne,  a  corner,  angle,  meet- 
ing. 

QUINAG  (mountain,  Sutherland).  Either  G.  cuinneag,  'a 
churn, milk-pail, 'fr.  its  supposed  shape;  or  fr.G.  caoinag^ 
diminutive  fr.  G.  caoin,  beautiful ;  cf.  Coshquin,  Derry. 

Quivox,  St  (Ayr).  Fr.  St  Kevoca,  holy  virgin  in  Kyle,  c. 
1030;  or  perh.  from  the  Ir.  St  Caemftan,  in  its  pet  form 
(p.  xcv)  Mochaemhoc  (pron.  Mokevoc) ;  also  called 
Pulcherius. 

QUOICH,  R.  (Braemar).  So  called  because  the  stream-bed  is 
full  of  circular  holes ;  G.  cuach,  a  cup,  *  quaich.' 

QUOTHQUHAN  (Biggar).  It  is  a  round  hill.  1253,  Cuthquen; 
1403,  Quodquen.  Difficult ;  first  syllable  looks  like  W. 
cwt,  roundness.  Possibly  '  woman's  hut,'  f r.  W.  cut,  a 
hovel,  shed,  +  O.E.  civen,  Sc.  quean,  a  woman  ;  but 
this  is  very  doubtful. 

QUOYLOO  (Stromness).  A  quoy  is  an  enclosure  with  turf  or 
stones,  a  fence.  In  the  earliest  Orkney  rentals  '  quoy- 
land '  is  very  common ;  also  such  names  as  '  Quoybew- 
mont,'  near  Kirkwall,  '  Gloupquoy,'  Deerness,  &c.  Loo 
is  Dan.  hlce,  Icel.  hlie,  the  same  as  O.E.  hleo,  lileow, 
1  shelter  ; '  cf.  LEE. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  207 


B 

RAASAY  (Skye).  Saga,  Hrauneyjar;  1263,  Raasa;  1501, 
Rasay.  Perh.  G.  rasy  a  shrub,  +  JNT.  ay,  ey,  a,  an  island. 

RACHAN  MILL  (Biggar).     G.v  mean,  arable  land. 

RACKWICK  (Westray  and  Hoy).  c.  1225,  Orkney  Sag., 
Rekavik.  Prob.  'bay  full  of  wrack,'  i.e.,  cast-up  sea- 
weed, fr.  O.jN".  vik,  a  bay,  and  Icel.  rek  or  vrek,  Sw. 
wrak  ;  same  root  as  wreck. 

RAFFORD  (Forres).  Prob.  G.  rath,  rampart,  fort,  +  Eng.  ford 
(cf.  Radford,  Gal  way),  which  is  in  Ir.  Ath-a-ratha,  '  ford 
of  the  fort.'  Cf.  ALFORD. 

RAHANE  (Gareloch).  Prob.  G.  rathain  (pron.  rahan),  '  ferny 
place.'  Cf.  Rahan,  Rahin,  Ireland. 

RAIT  (Errol).     G.  rath,  a  fort,  rampart.     Cf.  LOGIERAIT. 

RAITH  (Kirkcaldy).  c.  1320,  Rathe ;  as  above.  Cf.  Raithby, 
England,  and  O.Ir.  raith,  fern,  bracken. 

RAMORNIE  (Cupar).  1439,  Ramorgney.  Possibly  G.  rath 
mbr  gainimh,  '  big  rampart  of  sand '  or  '  gravel.' 

RAMSEY  (Whithorn).  O.E.  rammes  ige,  '  ram's  isle ; '  so  Sir 
H.  Maxwell.  Cf.  Portramsay,  Lismore. 

RANKEILLOR  (Cupar).  c.  1530,  Rankilor.  'The  part'  or 
'division  (G.  rann)  on  the  river  Keilor.'  See  INVER- 

KEILOR. 

RANNOCH  (Perthshire).    G.  raineach,  fern,  bracken. 

RANZA,  L.  (Arran).  1433,  Lochransay ;  1549,  -renasay. 
O.K  Mans-ay,  'isle  of  Ran,'  giant  goddess,  queen  of 
the  sea. 

RARICHIE  (Fearn).  1333,  Rarechys ;  1550,  -echy.  Prob. 
G.  riarachas,  or  -adh,  distribution,  a  share. 

RARNISH  (Lewis).  Nish  is  the  N.  ness,  promontory.  Perh. 
rar  is  cognate  with  O.E.  rdrian,  to  roar,  from  the  noise 
of  the  sea ;  but  it  is  also  spelt  Ranish.  Cf.  RANZA. 

RASHIEDRUM  (Denny).  G.  rasach  druim,  '  hill-ridge  covered 
with  shrubs.'  Cf.  DRUM. 


208  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

RATHELPIE  (St  Andrews).  1183,  Rathelpin.  'Fort  (G.  rath) 
of  King  Alpin.'  Of.  PITALPIN. 

KATHEN  (Lonmay).  a.  1300,  Rathyn.  Prob.  G.  rathain, 
'ferny  place,'  O.Ir.  raith,  fern.  Cf.  RAHANE. 

RATHILLET  (Fife).  a.  1200,  Radhulit.  Prob.  G.  rad-a- 
li'ulaidh,  '  road  of  the  treasure '  (or  fr.  rath,  a  fort). 

Cf.  MOUNTHOOLY. 

RATHMURIEL  (Garioch).     'Muriel's  fort.' 

RATHO  (S.  Queensferry).  1250,  Ratheu;  1292,  Radchou; 
1293,  Rathou ;  1316,  -oe.  G.  rath,  a  fort ;  second  syllable 
doubtful.  Cf.  STOBO. 

RATHVEN  (Buckie).  G.  rath  bheinn,  '  fort  on  the  hill.' 
RATTRA  (Borgue)  and  RATTRAY  (Blairgowrie).  Perh.  'fort- 
town,'  fr.  tre,  tra,  trev,  Corn,  and  W.  for  '  town '  or 
'house.'  Sir  H.  Maxwell  thinks  that  the  former  is  fr. 
G.  rath  toruidhe  (pron.  tory),  '  fort  of  the  hunter '  or  '  out- 
law.' Dr  Jos.  Anderson  thinks  Rattar  Brough,  Caithness, 
is  the  Rauda  Biorg,  or  'red  headland,'  of  the  Sagas. 

RAVELRIG  (Midcalder).  Ravel  is  prob.  a  man's  name  ;  cf. 
Ravelston.  On  rig,  see  BISHOPBRIGGS. 

RAVENSTRUTHER  (Carstairs).  Perh.  G.  rabhachan  sruith-ard, 
'beacon  on  the  height  by  the  river  ;'  G.  rabhachan,  a 
beacon,  warning;  cf.  ANSTRUTHER. 

RAW  YARDS  (Coatbridge).  Prob.  corruption  of  G.  rath  airde, 
'  fort  on  the  height.'  Cf.  BARNYARD,  MAWCARSE,  and 
Benraw,  Ireland,  =  ~beinn  rath,  '  hill  of  the  fort.' 

RAYNE  (Garioch).  a.  1300,  Rane.  G.  rann,  rainn,  a  part, 
division. 

REAWICK  (Shetland).  ?  'Bay  (Icel.  vik)  with  the  reef  or 
rocks;'  Icel.  rif,  Dan.  and  Sw.  rev. 

REAY  (K  Sutherland),  c.  1230,  Ra;  c.  1565,  Ray.  G. 
reidh  (pron.  ray),  '  smooth,  level,'  or  '  a  plain.' 

REDCASTLE  (Dingwall  and  Arbroath).  Ding.  R.,  1455,  -castell. 

REDDING  and  REDDINGMTJIRHEAD  (Polmont).  Prob.,  like 
Reading,  Berks,  called  after  some  man. 

REDGORTON  (Perth).  G.  ruadh  gort,  'reddish  field,' +  Eng. 
-ton,  see  pp.  Ixxiv,  Ixxv. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  209 

REISS  (Wick).  Prob.  G.  riasg,  reisg,  moorland,  morass.  Cf. 
Risk,  Minigaff. 

RELUGAS  (Dunphail).     Old,    Relucos.     Locally  interpreted, 

'  shieling    of    the    throat,'    referring  to     '  Randolph's 

Leap,'  a  narrow  passage  of  the  river  Findhorn  here. 

Perh.  G.  ruith  luaitli  gais,  '  flowing  (stream)  of  the  swift 

•    foot,'  gais  for  cais,  gen.  of  cas  or  cos,  a  foot. 

RENDALL  (Orkney).  Saga,  Rennadal.  Prob.  fr.  Icel.  renna, 
to  run,  cf.  'runnel,'  i.e.,  a  rivulet, +  N.,  &c.,  dal,  a 
dale,  valley. 

RENFREW.  SicIlGQ;  1158,  Reinfrew;  1164,  Renfriu.  W. 
rhen  friu,  'flowing  brook;'  friu,  flowing  (water),  is  fr. 
frw,  frou,  impulse. 

RENTON  (Dumbarton).  *  Village  on  the  river,  streamlet ; ' 
W.  rhen.  Cf.  LINTON,  and  see  ton,  p.  Ixxiv. 

RERRICK  or -WICK  (Kirkcudbright).  1562,  Rerryk.  Possibly 
'reaver's,  robber's  dwelling;'  O.E.  redfere-ivic. 

RESCOBIE  (Forfar).  1251,  Rosolpin;  1270,  Roscolpin  ;  also 
Roscolbyn ;  Aberdeen  Brev.,  Roscoby.  Brythonic 
ros  col  pin  or  pen  (G.  beinn),  'moor  at  the  back 
of  the  hill.' 

RESOLIS  (Cromarty).  G.  rudha  or  ros  soluis  (in  Ir.  solais), 
'point,  cape  of  the  (beacon-)  light.'  Cf.  Rossolus, 
Monaghan;  Barsoles,  -lis,  Galloway. 

RESTALRIG  (Edinburgh),  c.  1210,  Lestalrig;  1291,  -ric; 
1526,  Restalrig.  G.  lios-talamh,  garden-soil,  +  rig,  a 
ridge  (see  BISHOPBRIGGS).  The  liquids  I  and  r  always 
interchange  easily.  Cf.  Loch  Restal,  near  Glencroe. 

RESTINNET  (Forfar).  1322,  Roustinot.  Prob.  Old  G.  ros 
dinait,  'height,  promontory  of  the  woody  glen'  or 
'  dean '  (cf.  DINNET).  In  Old  G.  ros  also  means  a  wood. 

RESTON  (Berwick).  Ros,  Old  Celtic  for  a  'moor'  or  '  wood/ 
Cf.  MELROSE,  +  Eng.  -ton,  see  pp.  Ixxiv,  Ixxv. 

RHICONICH  (Sutherland).  G.  rudha  or  rhu  coinnich,  '  head- 
land covered  with  moss'  or  ' fog.' 

RHU  COIGACH,  &c.  G.  rhu  or  rudha,  'cape,  promontory,' 
is  common  in  names,  especially  in  Sutherland.  See. 
COIGACH. 


210  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND, 

RHUDUNAN  (Skye).     G.  =  '  cape  of  the  little  dune  '  or  '  hill.' 

RHYND  (Bridge  of  Earn),  EHYNIE  (Aberdeen,  Fearn),  RHYNNS 
POINT  (Islay),  RHYNNS  OF  GALLOWAY.  Team  R.,  c.  1564, 
Rany.  R.  of  Gall,  old,  Ryndis  (cf.  Irish  Life  of  St 
Cutlibert,  'Regio  quse  Rennii  vocatur  in  portu  qui 
Rintsnoc  [G.  cnoc,  a  hill]  dicitur,'  prob.  referring  to 
Portpatrick).  All  prob.  fr.  O.Ir.  rinn,  rind,  G.  roinn, 
W.  rhynn,  a  point  of  land ;  but  with  the  form  Rany, 
cf.  RANNOCH,  fr.  G.  raineach,  ferny.  The  s  is  the 
common  Eng.  plural. 

RIBIGILL  (Tongue).  Perh.  '  ribbed  glen,'  fr.  Dan.  rib,  Icel. 
rif,  a  rib,  +  Icel.  gil,  a  ravine. 

RICCARTON,  -KARTON  (Hawick,  Kilmarnock,  Currie,  Stone- 
haven).  Currie  R.,  c.  1320,  Richardtoun.  Haw.  R., 
1376,  Ricarden.  '  Richard's  dwelling ; '  see  ton,  p.  Ixxiv. 

RICHORN  (Urr).  1527,  Raeheren;  1623,  Rithorne.  Perh. 
O.E.  redd  oern,  '  red  house.'  Cf.  WHITHORN. 

RIDDON,  L.  (Kyles  of  Bute).  G.  rudan  is  a  knuckle ;  but  this 
is  prob.  ruadli  dun,  '  reddish  hill.' 

RIGG  (Gretna).  Sc.  rig,  a  ridge,  furrow,  hill-ridge,  fr.  O.E. 
lirycg,  hrick,  Icel.  hrygg-r,  Dan.  ryg,  a  ridge,  lit.  'the 
back.'  Cf.  DRUM. 

RINGFERSON  (L.  Ken).  G.  roinn  farsaing,  'wide  pro- 
montory.' 

RINGFORD  (Kirkcudbright).     Prob.  '  ford  at  the  point.'     Cf. 

above. 
RINNES,    Ben  (Banff).      =  RHYNNS  ;   s  and  es   are  English 

plurals. 

RIRAS  Largo).  Pron.  Reeres.  1353,  Riras.  ?  G.  riarachas, 
a  distribution,  sharing. 

ROADSIDE  (Errol). 

ROAG,  L.  (Lewis).  Prob.,  as  Captain  Thomas  thinks,  Norse 
=  '  roe  deer  bay.'  Cf.  RODIL  and  ASCOG. 

ROBERTON  (Biggar,  Hawick).  Big.  R.,  c.'  1 155,  Villa  Roberti 
fratris  Lambini  (cf.  LAMINGTON)  ;  1229,  Robertstun. 
Cf.  ton,  p.  Ixx,  and  Robert  Town,  Normanton. 

ROCKCLIFFE  (Dalbeattie).     Also  near  Carlisle. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  211 

ROCKVILLA  (Glasgow).     Modern. 

RODIL  (Harris).  Perh.  '  roe's  dale ; '  Icel.  rd,  Dan.  ma 
(pron.  ro),  a  roe-deer;  perh.  fr.  Icel.  rotSz,  redness,  +  dil 
=  N.  &c.,  dal.  Cf.  '  Attadiiy-wc  1584. 

KOGART  (Golspie).  Sic  1546  ;  butc.  1230,  Eothegorth.  Icel. 
rauft-r  gar$-r,  'red  enclosure,'  from  the  Old  Eed  Sand- 
stone here  ;  cf.  G.  garadh  and  gort,  '  field.7 

ROGIE,  Falls  of  (Strathpeffer).     G.  raog,  raoig,  a  rushing. 

ROLLOX,  St  (Glasgow).  Chapel  to  St  Roche,  built  here  in 
1508.  But  cf.  Woloc,  Abbot  of  lona. 

ROMANNO  (Peeblesshire).  a.  1300,  Roumanoch;  1530, 
Romannose.  Possibly  G.  rliu  or  rudha  manaich,  '  head- 
land of  the  monk.' 

RONA  (Skye),  N.  RONA  (N.  of  Lewis).  Fr.  St  Ronan,  died 
737,  who  died  in  wild  N.  Rona,  where  is  'Teampull 
Rona ; '  cf.  Port  Ronan,  lona,  and  '  St  Ronan's  Well.' 

RONALDS(H)AT,  North  and  South  (Orkney).  Two  distinct 
names.  North  R.,  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Rinarsey; 
also  Rinansey,  i.e.,  'island  (O.N.  ay,  ey,  a)  of  St 
Ringan,'  common  Sc.  corruption  of  Ninian  of  Whithorn, 
c.  390.  South  R.,  in  Sagas,  is  Rognvalsey;  1329, 
Rognvaldsay.  The  Rognvald  was  prob.  he,  jaii  of  the 
famous  Romsdal,  whose  brother  Sigurd  was  the  first 
jarl  of  Orkney,  c.  880. 

ROOE  and  ROOENESS  VOE  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Raudey  mikla 
(Icel.  miliill,  great),  and  Raudaness  vagr  (O.N.  for 
*  bay ; '  cf.  KIBKWALL)  ;  Raudey  is  '  red  isle  '  (O.N. 
ay,  ey,  a},  fr.  Icel.  raufi-r,  raud-r,  Dan.  and  Sw. 
rod,  red. 

ROSA  GLEN  (Arran).  c.  1450,  Glenrossy.  G.  rbsach,  rosy, 
red,  fr.  rbs,  a  rose ;  cf.  Icel.  ros,  a  rose. 

ROSEBURN  (Edinburgh),  ROSEHALL  (Sutherland),  ROSEMOUNT 
(Aberdeen),  ROSEWELL  (Hawthornden).  O.E.  rose,  Icel. 
ros,  G.  rbs,  L.  rosa,  a  rose ;  but  cf.,  too,  Ross. 

ROSEHEABTY  (Fraserburgh).  Prob.  G.  ros  cheartach,  'guid- 
ing, directing  promontory.' 

ROSEMARKIE  (Fortrose).  1226,  Rosmarkyn ;  1510,  -ky;  in 
old  Ir.  calendar,  'Ruis  mic  bairend,'  which  Bishop 


212  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Reeves  thinks  =  Rosmbaircind  (pron.  Rosmarkyn).  On 
cind,  '  head,'  see  KINALDIE  ;  ros  here  may  either 
mean  cape  or  wood.  Bair  is  perh.  the  G.  barr,  the  top, 
a  height,  or  bdir,  a  battle ;  thus  it  is  impossible  to  speak 
decidedly  about  the  name's  meaning. 

ROSLIN  or  ROSSLYN,  and  ROSSLYNLEE.  c.  1240,  Roskelyn. 
The  name  is  Brythonic.  Prob.  ros  coil  lyn,  i  headland 
of  the  wood  beside  the  water '  (W.  llyn,  a  linn, 
stream,  pool).  Lea,  lee,  '  meadow,'  is  O.E.  ledli,  pasture- 
land. 

ROSNEATH   (Gareloch).     a.  1199,  Neveth;  1225,  Rosneth ; 

also  Rusnith,  Rosneveth.  '  Promontory  (G.  ros)  of 
Neveth '  or  Nevydd,  British  or  Welsh  bishop  of  the  6th 
century. 

Ross ;  also  THE  Ross  (Borgue),  and  Ross  OF  MULL.  G.  ros, 
( a  promontory,  isthmus,'  in  the  case  of  Ross-shire, 
referring  to  Tarbat  peninsula.  In  Corn,  ros  is  a  moor 
(cf.  MELROSE)  ;  Ir.  ros  is  a  wood. 

ROSSDHU  (L.  Lomond),  c.  1225,  Rosduue.  G.  ros  dhu  or 
dubh,  'black,  dark  cape.' 

ROSSIE  (Fife),  c.  1170,  Rossyth;  1187,  Rossyn.  Perh. 
=  RosA,  and  cf.  Ross. 

ROSSKEEN  (Invergordon).  1270,  Rosken;  1575,  -kin.  Prob. 
same  as  the  Rosskeens  in  Ireland ;  fr.  Ir.  ros  caein  (G. 
caoin),  'pleasant,  dry  wood.'  Cf.  Ross. 

ROTHES  (Elgin).  Sic  1238.  G.  ruadh,  red,  from  the  red 
river  banks  here,  or  more  prob.  fr.  rath,  a  fort,  rampart 
(cf.  RAITH,  ROTHIEMURCUS)  ;  in  either  case  with  Eng. 
plural  s. 

ROTHESAY.  1321,  Rothersay;  c.  1400,  Rosay;  a.  1500, 
Rothissaye ;  c.  1590,  Rosa.  What  is  certain  is  that  the 
name  originally  applied  to  the  castle,  which  is  an  islet 
within  a  moat;  and  in  the  15th  century  the  parish 
seems  to  have  been  called  '  Bute.'  Thus  Rosey,  which 
otherwise  might  mean  '  isle  (O.N.  ay,  ey,  a)  of  the 
wood '  (cf.  Ross),  is  prob.  the  corruption  of  '  Rother's 
isle.'  Mother  is  said  to  have  been  a  descendant  of 
Simon  Brek  ;  cf.  Rotherham.  Rotlies-  may  be  a  corrup- 
tion of  G.  rath,  a  fort,  cf.  ROTHES. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  213 

KOTHIEMAY  (Huntly)  and  ROTHIE-NORMAN  (Turriff).  '  Fort 
in  the  plaift '  (G.  rdth-a-maigh)  and  '  fort  of  Norman.' 
Cf.  CAMBUS  o'  MAY. 

ROTHIEMURCUS  (Aviemore).  1226,  Rathmorchus;  1499, 
Ratamorkas.  Prob.  G.  rath  a?  morchuis,  '  fort  of  pride ' 
or  'boasting.' 

ROTTEN  Row  (Glasgow).  1434,  Ratown  rawe.  Thought  to 
be  fr.  Fr.  routine,  route  or  way,  because  it  was  the 
common  highway  to  the  Cathedral. 

ROUGHRIGG  (Airdrie).     See  RIGG. 

ROUSAY  (Orkney),  c.  1260,  Hrolfsey,  Rolfsey;  1529,  Jo. 
Ben,  '  Rowsay,  Raulandi  Insula/  '  Hrolfs '  or  '  Rollo's 
isle ; '  O.N.  ay,  ey.  Hrolf  founded  the  Norse  settlements 
in  Gaul,  c.  820. 

Row  (Helensburgh).  Pron.  Roo.  G.  rudlia  or  rhu,  a  cape, 
point. 

ROWANTREE  (Barr).  'Rowan;'  Dan.  ran,  r'on?ie-trce,  Sw. 
ronn,  is  the  Sc.  for  the  mountain-ash. 

ROWARDENNAN  (L.  Lomond).  G.  rhu  airde  Eonain,  '  cape  of 
Eunan's  height ; '  see  St  Adamnan,  p.  xcv. 

ROXBURGH.  Sic  1158;  but  1134,  Rokesburch;  c.  1160, 
Rochisburc;  1231,  Rokisburk.  Perh. simply 'castle (O.E. 
burg,  burh)  on  the  rock,'  Fr.  roc  ;  or  from  a  man  called 
Rock  or  Roche,  as  '  rock  '  or  '  roche  '  is  not  found  as  an 
Eng.  word  before  Chaucer.  Cf.  BORGUE,  and  p.  Ixxiii. 

ROY  BRIDGE.  (Iriverness-sh.).  G.  ruadh,  reddish,  ruddy. 
Cf.  '  Rob  Roy.' 

RUBISLAW  (Aberdeen).  1358,  Rubyslaw.  1  G.  reubadh,  -aidh, 
a  rent,  fissure,  +  L.AW.  Might  be  'Reubie's,'  i.e.,  'Reu- 
ben's hill.' 

RUCHIL,  R.  (Comrie).  G.  ruadh  coil,  'reddish,  ruddy 
wood.' 

RULE  or  ROULL,  R.  (Teviot).  Forms,  see  BEDRULE.  Prob. 
fr.  W.  rhull,  rash,  hasty,  fr.  rhu,  a  roar.  Close  by  is 
the  '  Town  o'  Rule.' 

RUM  (Hebrides),  a.  1100,  Tigliernac,  aim.  677,  Ruim; 
1292,  Rume;  and  prob.  Sagas,  Rauney.  G.  rum,  ruim, 

U 


214  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

is  '  a  place,  space,  room ; '  but  Ruim  was  also  the  old 
name  of  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  and  may  be  a  man's  name. 
Cf.  Ramsgate. 

RUMBLING  BRIDGE  (Kinross  and  on  river  Bran).  Cf.  '  Rout- 
ing Bridge,'  Kirkcudbright. 

RUSKIE  (Stirling).  G.  riascach,  boggy,  riasg,  a  bog.  Cf. 
Rusco,  Girthon. 

RUTHERFORD  (Kelso).     Icel  rauft-r,  red. 

RUTHERGLEN  (Glasgow).  Sic  a.  1150.  Hybrid;  'red  glen.' 
The  common  pron.,  Riiglen,  c.  1300,  '  Ruglyn,'  preserves 
the  original  G.  ruadh  gleann,  '  reddish  glen.' 

RUTHVEN  (Huntly  and  Meigle).  Hunt.  R.,  c.  1200,  Ruthaven, 
a.  1300,  Rothfen.  Meig.  R.,  1200,  Abirruotheven ; 
1291,  Rotheivan.  G.  ruadh  abliuinn,  'reddish  river' 
(cf.  METHVEN),  Often  now  pron.  Rivven. 

RUTHWELL  (Dumfries).  Prob.  G.  ruadli  b(k)ail,  'red-looking 
village '  or  '  house.'  Of.  FARNELL. 

RYAN,  L.  (Wigtown).  1461,  Lochrian.  Prob.  a  man's  name, 
common  in  Ireland.  Cf.  Seskinryan,  Ireland. 

s 

SADDELL  (Kin tyre).  1203-1508,  Sagadul;  also  Saghadul. 
Prob.  'arrow-shaped  valley,'  fr.  G.  saigliead,  an  arrow, 
+  N.,  &c.,  dal,  also  found  in  names  as  'dil,'  dyl,'  'a 
valley'  (cf.  '  Sacadaill,'  sic  1662,  near  Applecross). 
There  is  a  G.  dula,  meaning  'a  hollow.' 

SALEN  (Mull  and  Sunart).  G.  sailean,  '  a  little  inlet,'  arm 
of  the  sea. 

SALINE  (Dunfermline).  ?G.  salann,  salt.  Cf.  Saling, 
Braintree. 

SALISBURY  CRAGS  (Edinburgh).  Old,  Sarezbury  Crags.  Said 
to  be  called  after  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  who  accompanied 
Edward  III.  to  Scotland.  By  a  common  change  of  I  for 
its  kindred  liquid  r,  Sarum-lurg  has  become  already,  in 
1290,  'Salebire;'  this,  of  course,  is  Salisbury,  Wilts. 

SALSBURGH  (Holy town).     Prob.  'willow-town;'  O.E. 
salh,  a  willow ;  and  see  BORGUE. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  215 

SALTCOATS   (Ayrshire).     The  salt-workers'   *  cots '   or  huts  ; 

O.E.  cot,  cott.     Cf.  CAULDCOTS. 
SALTON  (Haddington).     1250,  Sawilton.     Prob.  =  BARNTON, 

fr.   G.   sabltal,  a  barn,  +  ton;   see  p.  Ixxiv.     Possibly 

*  Savile's  village/     Also  near  York. 
SALTPANS  (Campbeltown).     Cf.  PRESTONPANS. 

SAMSON'S  LANE  (Stronsay),  SAMSON'S  KIBS  (Arthur's   Seat, 

Edinburgh). 
SANDAIG  BAY  (Knoydart).     '  Sandy  bay ;'  Icel.  sand-r,  Dan. 

and  Sw.  sand,  sand,  +  O.K  aig,  og,  a  bay. 

SANDAY  (Orkney,  Canna,  and  N.  Uist).  K  Uist  S.,  1561, 
Sand  ;  1576,  Sanday.  '  Sandy  isle ; '  O.K  ay,  ey,  a,  an 
island.  Cf.  above,  and  Glensanda,  Lorn,  and  Sanna, 
Mull,  and  Ardnamurchan. 

SANDBANK  (Kilmun),  SANDEND  (Cullen),  SANDHAVEN  (Fraser- 
burgh),  SANDILANDS  (Lanark),  SANDNESS  (Walls). 

SANDSTING  (Shetland).  '  The  tiling  on  the  sands ;'  Icel.  ]>ing, 
Dan.  and  Sw.  ting,  which  in  Icel.  means  both  an 
assembly,  a  parish,  and  a  district  or  shire. 

SANDWICK  (Shetland,  Stromness,  Lewis).  Strom  S.,  c.  1225, 
Sandvik.  '  Sand  bay '  (N.  vik).  Cf.  Senwick,  Kirkcud- 
bright, c.  1350,  Sanaigh;  aigh  being  =  aig,  O.JST.  for 
'  bay.' 

SANNOX  (Arran).  Prob.  =  Sannaig,  Islay  and  Jura,  =  SAN- 
DAIG. *  Sandy  bay.'  The  x  is  the  Engl.  plural,  as  there 
are  North,  South,  and  Mid  Sannoc.  Some  think  fr.  G. 
sannoch,  '  river  trout ;'  cf.  Sannoch,  Kells. 

SANQUHAR  (N.  Dumfries).  Pron.  Sankar.  a.  1150,  Sanchar. 
G.  sean  catliair  (W.  caer),  '  old  fort.' 

SAUCHEN  (Aberdeen)  and  SAUCHIE  (Stirling  and  Alloa). 
Alloa  S.,  1208,  Salechoc;  1240,  Salwhoch;  1263, 
Salewhop.  '  Field  or  HAUGH  of  the  willows ;'  Sc.  saucli, 
O.E.  salig,  salli,  L.  salix;  cf.  Saughall,  Chester.  The 
-oc  or  -och  in  the  old  forms  may  represent  G.  achadh,  a 
field ;  cf.  CARNOCK. 

SAVAL  MORE  (mountain,  Keay).  G  sabhal  mbr,  'big  barn,' 
fr.  its  shape. 

SAVOCH  (Deer).     ?G.  samhadh-achadh,  'field  of  sorrel.' 

SCALLOWAY  (Shetland).     O.N.  skaaler-vagr,  'bay  with  the 


216  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

shielings  or  booths  round  it.'  Cf.  GALASHIELS  and 
STOENOWAY. 

SCALPAY  (Harris).  Sic  1549.  ?G.  sgealb,  splinters,  frag- 
ments of  rock,  +  O.K  ay,  ey,  a,  island. 

SCAMADALE  (Kilninver).  Perh.  '  dale  (N.  dal)  of  the  fright ' 
or  'alarm;'  G.  sgaoim,  -me. 

SCANIPORT  (Inverness-sh.).  Prob.  G.  sgainidh-port, '  harbour 
of  the  rent,  cleft,'  lit.  a  bursting. 

SCAPA  (Orkney).  Old,  Scalpeid.  Cf.  SCALPAY,  and  Icel.  itha, 
an  'eddy.' 

SCARBA  ( Jura).    1536,  Skarba.    N.  slcarf-ay,  'cormorant's  isle.' 

SCARCLET  or  SARCLET  (Wick).  It  is  hard  to  pronounce  both 
cs.  Scar-  is  either  '  sharp  rock,  rocky  pillar,'  G.  sgbr,  a 
rock,  'a  scaur,'  mountain  (often  spelt  sgur,  sguir,  scuir, 
skeir),  Dan.  and  N.  skjaer,  a  cliff,  rock  (cf.  Icel.  skor,  a 
cleft  in  a  precipice);  or  N.  skari,  'sea-gull.'  A  clet  is 
a  rock  (G.  de'it),  so  this  is  prob.  '  sea-gull's  rock.'  Cf. 
Scarborough,  and  Scar  Hill,  Kirkcudbright. 

SCARFSKERRY  (Dunnet).  'Cormorants'  rocks.'  See  SCARBA 
and  SCARCLET,  and  cf.  Sule-skerry. 

SCARINISH  (Tyree).     N.  skari-nces,  '  sea-gulls'  ness '  or  '  cape,' 

SCARRISTRA  (Harris).  First  syllable,  see  SCARCLET;  the  -stra 
is  =  -ster,  latter  half  of  N.  bolstaftr;  see  p.  Ixiv,  and 
cf. '  Scarrabolsy,'  sic  1562,  in  Islay. 

SCHALLASAIG  (Colonsay).  Perh.  'shell-bay'  (N.  aig),  Icel. 
skel,  a  shell ;  perh.  =  SCALLOWAY. 

SCHIEHALLION,  Mountain  (K.  Tummel).  Usually  said  to  be, 
f r.  its  shape,  '  maiden's  breast ; '  G.  sich  or  sine  cliailin 
(cailin,  a  maiden) ;  cf.  Sichnahnighean,  mountain  in  the 
north  of  Arran,  with  same  meaning  (fr.  G.  nighean,  a 
maiden),  and  Maiden  Pap,  Caithness.  Some  think,  G. 
sltJi  Chaillinn  '  hill  of  the  Caledonians.'  Cf.  DUNKELD. 
N.B.,  s  in  Gaelic  usually  has  the  aspirated  sound  sh. 

SCHILLEY  (Outer  Hebrides).     See  SELLAY. 

SCIENNES  (Edinburgh).  Pron.  Sheens.  Fr.  the  monastery 
of  St  Catherine  of  Siena,  Italy,  once  here. 

SCONE  (Perth).  Sic  1503,  but  c.  1020,  Sgoinde;  a.  1100, 
Scoine;  c.  1170,  Scoone  (still  pron.  Skoon).  Prob.  G. 
sgonn,  sguinn,  a  lump,  mass,  block  of  wood. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  217 

SCOONIE  (Leven).  1156,  Sconin;  1250,  -nyn.  G.  sgonnan, 
a  little  lump  or  block. 

SCOTCH  DYKE  and  SCOTS  GAP,  on  the  Borders.  The  true 
adjective  is  Scots  or  Scottish,  e.g.,  1549,  Gompleynt 
Scotland,  prol.  '  Oure  Scottis  tong.'  But  '  Scotch  '  is 
used  by  grave  Eng.  writers  as  early  as  1641,  'the 
Scotch  warre.'  * 

SCOTLAND,  also  SCOTLANDWELL  (Leslie),  c.  1000,  ^Elfric, 
Scotlande ;  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Skotland.  First 
mention  of  the  Scoti  (of  Ulster)  is  in  Ammianus  Mar- 
cellinus,  bk.  xxi.,  c.  A  D.  360 ;  and  Jerome,  a  little  later, 
speaks  of  '  Scotica  gens.'  Rhys  thinks  the  name  is  fr. 
W.  ysgthru,  to  cut,  sculpture,  and  Isidore,  6th  century, 
says  the  Scotti  were  so  called  from  tattooing  themselves 
with  iron  points  ;  cf.  the  Picts,  'painted  men,'  L.  Pieti. 

SCOTSCALDER  (Caithness).  The  part  of  CALDER  dale  possessed 
by  the  Scots  or  Celts,  as  contrasted  with  Norn  Calder, 
near  by,  possessed  by  the  Norse. 

SCOTSTOUNHILL  (Glasgow).  Cf.  Scotton,  Lincoln;  Scotby, 
Carlisle. 

SCOUR  or  SGUR.  Common  G.  name  for  a  mountain,  or 
'scaur;'  e.g.,  Scour  Ouran,  prob.  'St  Oran's  hill,'  L. 
Duich ;  Scour-na-Gillian,  'servant's  hill,'  Rum;  and 
Sgur  Ruadh,  '  red  hill,'  west  of  Beauly. 

SCOURIE  (W.  Sutherland).     G.  sguracli,  rocky,  fr.  sgbr,  sgur, 

a  rock,  mountain. 
SCOURINGBURN  (Dundee). 

SCRABSTER  (Thurso).  1201,  Skarabolstad;  c.  1225,  -abolstr; 
1455,  Scrabestoun ;  1557,  Scrabustar.  N.  slgaere 
bolstatir,  '  rocky  place ; '  see  p.  Ixiv. 

SCRAPE    (Tweeddale).     ?By   common   transposition   of  r  = 

'  scarp ; '  Fr.  escarpe,  a  slope. 
SCREEL,  Ben  (Glenelg).     Prob.  G.  sgrath-eileadi,  '  turf  bank 

or  '  mound  ; '  the  th  being  quiescent.      Cf.  next. 
SCRIDAIN,  L.  (Mull),  and  SCRIDEN  (N.  of  Arran).     G.  sgrath- 

aodann,  '  turf -covered  slope '  or  '  face '  (cf.  W.  eiddyn). 

1  See  A  Discourse  concerning  Puritans,  p.  54,  cited  by  Dr  M'Crie, 
Miscellaneous  Writings  (1841),  p.  344,  and  called  by  him  'the  words 
of  a  sensible  author. ' 


218  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

This  exactly  suits  the  Arran  site ;  near  by  is  a  rocky 
burn,  the  '  Scridan.' 

SEAFIELD  (Cullen  and  Leith),  SBAMILL  (W.  Kilbride). 

SEAFORTH,  L.  (Lewis).  '  Sea-frith  '  or  'fjord '  (cf.  FORTH). 
Sea  in  Dan.  is  so,  Icel.  sce-r. 

SEATON  (Haddington)  and  PORT  SETON.  c.  1210,  Seaton; 
1296,  Seytone.  O.E.  sae  tun,  l  village  on  the  sea.' 

SELKIRK,  a.  1124,  Selechirche ;  c.  1190,  Seleschirche ;  c. 
1200,  Selekirke.  'Church  among  the  shielings'  or 
'  hunters'  huts.'  See  GALASHIELS  and  KIRKABY. 

SELLAY,  SHELLAY,  or  SCHILLEY  (Outer  Hebrides).  !NT.  sel 
-ey,  '  seal  isle  ; '  cf.  Icel.  sel-r,  Dan.  seel,  a  seal. 

SERF'S,  St  (isle,  L.  Leven).  St  Serf  had  a  monastic  college, 
here,  c.  440  A.D. 

SGUR  NA  LAPAICH  (R.  Farrar).  G.  =  '  rock  of  the  muddy ' 
(river).  Cf.  SCOUR. 

SHAMBELLY  (New  Abbey).  1601,  Schambellie,  G.  sean 
baile,  '  old  house '  or  '  village '  (cf.  '  shanty  '  =  sean  tigli). 
Initial  s  in  Gaelic  is  usually  aspirated. 

SHANDWICK  (Fearn).  IN".  sand-vik,  '  sandy  bay,'  the  only  such 
bay  hereabouts.  Cf.  Shellay  or  SELLAY. 

SHANKEND  (Hawick).  Fr.  sliank  (O.E.  scanca,  Dan.  and 
Sw.  sJcank),  the  leg,  the  shin-bone. 

SHANNO  (Montrose).  1516,  Skannack.  1  G.  sgainn-achadh, 
1  field  of  the  herd  '  or  '  drove '  (sganri). 

SHANT  GLEN  (Arran).  G.  seunta,  sianta,  a  charm.  Initial  s 
in  G.  is  usually  aspirated. 

SHAPINSAY  (Orkney).  c.  1225,  Hjalpaiidisay ;  1529,  Jo. 
Ben,  '  Schapinshaw  dicta,  the  Shipping  Isle '  (Icel. 
skip,  a  ship).  But  Ben  is  evidently  wrong,  it  must  be 
'  Hjalpand's  isle,'  whoever  he  was. 

SHAW  (Coulter,  &c.,  five  Shaw  Hills  in  Galloway).  O.E. 
scaga,  Icel.  skog-r,  Sw.  skoy,  Dan.  sJcov,  a  wood ;  cf.  the 
O.E.  Imc/a,  a  hedge,  softened  in  haw,  a  hedge,  a  haw- 
thorn berry. 

SHAWBOST  (Barvas).  'Place  of  the  wood.'  Cf.  above,  and 
N.  bolstaftr,  p.  Ixiv. 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  219 

SHAWHEAD  (Dumfries),  SHAWLANDS  (Glasgow). 

SHEABOST  (Lewis).  Perh.  '  house,  place  set  askew ; '  Icel. 
skeif-r,  Dan.  skier,  oblique,  '  skew.'  Bost  is  contraction 
of  N.  bolstaftr,  see  p.  Ixiv.  Cf.  SKEABOST. 

SHEBSTER  (Reay).  '  Sheep's '  or  '  ship's  (Icel.  skip,  Dan.  skib) 
place.'  On-ster  =  N.  staftr,  see  p.  Ixv. 

SHETLAND,  or  ZETLAND.  Sagas,  Hjaltland,  Hetland;  1403, 
Zetlandie.  Cleasby  and  Vigfusson's  Dictionary  suggests 
no  explanation. 

SHETTLESTON  (Glasgow).  1226,  Shettilston.  Prob.  fr.  a  man ; 
cf.  Shuttleworth  (worth  =  place).  A  shuttle  in  O.E.  is 
scytel,  a  scuttle ;  O.E.  scutel  is  a  dish.  Might  be  fr.  either. 

SHEUCHAN  (Stranraer).  Prob.  G.  suidheachan,  diminutive  of 
suidlie,  a  seat.  Several  similar  Irish  names. 

SHIANT  ISLES  (The  Minch)  and  BEN  SHIANTA  (Ardna- 
murchan).  G.  seunta,  enchanted,  sacred,  fr.  seun,  a 
charm.  Cf.  MINISHANT,  and  Pen-zance,  'holy  headland.' 

SHIBBERSCROSS  (Sutherland).  Pron.  Sheeverscross.  1535, 
Heberriscors.  Perh.  G.  siabair-erois,  '  cross  of  the 
rubber  or  wiper,'  referring  to  the  action  of  cattle. 

SHIEL,  L.  (Moydart).  Prob.  loch  of  the  'shieling'  or 
'booth;'  O.N.  skali,  Icel.  skjol,  a  shelter,  skyU,  a  shed. 
Cf.  GALASHIELS. 

SHIELDAIG  (L.  Torridon).  'Shielding,  sheltering  bay'  (O.N. 
aig);  Icel.  skjold-r,  a  shield. 

SHIELDHILL  (Falkirk  and  Lochmaben),  SHIELHILL  (Stanley 
and  Oathlaw),  and  four  SHIEL  HILLS  (Galloway),  1629, 
prob.  Stanley  S.,  Shilhill.  All  prob.  'sheltering  hill;' 
see  above.  Talk.  S.  is  in  1745  Shielhill,  and  is  still 
so  pron.  Some  say  Shielhill  (Stanley)  is  the  G.  sealg 
clwill,  '  hunting  wood.' 

SHIELDS  ROAD  (Glasgow).     See  SHIEL  and  POLLOKSHIELDS. 
SHIELS  (Belhelvie).     'Huts.'     See  GALASHIELS  and  SHIEL. 

SHIN,  L.  (Sutherland).  Perh.  'loch  of  the  charm  ;'  G.  seun, 
sian  (cf.  SHIANT)  ;  but  Shinnock,  Galloway,  is  thought 
to  be  G.  sean  cnoc,  '  old  hill.' 

SHINNESS.     '  Cape  on  Loch  SHIN.'     See  NESS. 


220  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

SHIRA,  K.  and  L.  (Inveraray).  ?G.  sear  or  seur  dbli,  'east 
river.' 

SHISKINE  (Arran).  a.  1250,  Cesken ;  1550,  Ceskane.TG-. 
seiscinn  (pron.  sheskin),  a  marsh,  fr.  siosg,  sedge;  cf. 
Ir.  sescenn,  as  in  Sheskin,  Seskin. 

SHOTTS  (1ST.  Lanark)  and  SHOTTSBURN  (Holy town),  a.  1476, 
Bertramshotts.  O.E.  shot,  a  division,  plot ;  cf.  Shottes- 
ham,  Shotover,  Shotton. 

SHUN  A  (Appin).  Sic  1511.  G.  seun,  seuna,  a  protecting 
charm.  Cf.  SHIN. 

SHURRERY  (Halkirk).  G-.  suire-airidli,  *  shieling,  hut  of  the 
maid,  nymph,  syren.'  Cf.  BLINGERY. 

SICCAR  POINT  (Berwicksh.).  Thought  to  be  = '  scaur '  or 
rock.  See  SCRABSTER  and  CARR. 

SIDLAW  HILLS  (Forfar).  Prob.  G.  sith,  fairy,  or  sith,  a  hill, 
+  O.E.  hldew,  Sc.  law,  a  hill.  For  the  latter  origin, 
cf.  VENLAW;  and  for  interchange  of  tli  and  d,  cf. 

NlTH. 
SlGHTHILL  (Glasgow). 

SIMPRIN  (Duns).  1250,  Simp'nge;  c.  1300,  Sympring. 
Doubtful.  Perh.  fr.  W.  pren,  a  tree.  Cf.  PRINLAWS. 

SINCLAIRTON  (Kirkcaldy).  After  the  St  Glairs,  Earls  of 
Eosslyn,  whose  seat,  Dysart  House,  is  close  by. 

SINNAHARD  (Lumsden).  Prob.  G.  sineacli  ard,  'height  with 
bosses'  or  'breasts;'  G.  sine,  a  pap. 

SKAIL,  L.  (Sandwick,  Orkney).  ?Fr.  Icel.  sJiel,  a  shell,  or 
Dan.  skael,  a  scale  of  a  fish,  &c. 

SKEABOST  (Portree).  Prob.  =  SHEABOST,  'place  set  askew.' 
Also  cf.  SKYE. 

SKEIR,  SKERRIES  ;  also  the  SKARES,  off  Cruden.  Common 
name  for  rock  islets,  especially  in  the  Minch — Skeir  -inoe, 
&c.  It  is  N.  and  Dan.  skjaer,  cliff,  rock,  of  which 
Skerries  is  the  plural,  as  in  Pentland  Skerries;  1329, 
Petland-Sker ;  and  Auskerry,  east  of  Orkney  (in  Saya, 
Austr-sker,  or  '  eastern  rock ').  Cf.  SCARCLET,  and  the  G. 
sgur  or  SCOUR. 

SKELBO  (Dornoch).     c.   1210,  Scelbol ;  a.  1300,  Scellebol ; 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  221 

1455,  Skelbole.  'Shelly  place;'  Icel.  skel  (rf.  O.E.  seel, 
a  shell,  and  see  N.  bolstafir,  p.  Ixiv).  In  1290  an  Eng. 
scribe  writes  it  Schelbotel,  see  MOREBATTLE  ;  and  cf. 
SKIBO. 

SKELDA  NESS  (Shetland).  Prob.  'shield,  shelter  isle;'  Icel. 
skjold-r,  a  shield,  +  ay,  a,  isle.  Cf.  SHIELDAIG. 

SKELMORLIE  (Wemyss  Bay),   c.  1400,  -morley.    Prob.  'shelter, 

leeside    of   the    great  rock ;'    G.  and  Ir.    sceilig   mor. 

Skel-  is  evidently  cognate  with  SKEIR.     See  LEE,  and 

cf.  the  Skelligs,  Kerry. 
SKENE   (Peterculter).     Sic  1318.     A  'Johannes  Skene'  is 

found   in  1290.     G.  sceitliin  (th  mute),  a  bush.     Cf. 

Skeengally,  Kirkinner. 
SKERRAY  (Bettyhill),  SKERRIES  (Shetland,  &c. ;  see  SKEIR), 

and  SKERRYVORE  (Hebrides ;  G.  mhor,  big). 
SKIBA  (Islay).     Dan.  slab  -aa,  '  ship-water '  or  '  stream.' 
SKIBO  (Dornoch).     1275,  Schytheboll;  1557,  Skebo.    Perh. 

'scythe-place,'   i.e.,  meadow;  Icel.  siyth,  a  scythe  (cf. 

SKELBO,  and  p.  Ixiv).    More  likely  fr.  Icel.  akeithi-r,  Dan. 

skede,  a  sheath,  cognate  with  shed. 

SKINFLATS  (Grangemouth).  As  there  is  no  trace  of  a  tannery 
here,  Skin-  may  be  G.  sceitJiin,  a  bush  (cf.  SKENE). 
Flats,  i.e.,  'meadows,'  is  a  common  suffix  hereabouts — 
Millflats,  &c. 

SKIPNESS  (Frith  of  Clyde),  c.  1250,  Schepehinche ;  1260, 
Skipnish;  1502,  Skipinche.  Icel.  skip,  Dan.  skib, 
O.E.  scip,  a  ship,  +Icel.  and.  K  nces,  a  ness,  cape,  or 
G.  inniif,  an  island,  peninsula.  Cf.  INCH  and  ARDA- 

LANISH. 

SKIRLING  (Biggar).  a.  1400,  Scrawlin;  c.  1535,  Scraling. 
Prob.  '  water,  pool  by  the  scaur '  or  rock  (cf.  SCRABSTER, 
and  Dunskirloch,  Galloway,  and  Skirlaugh,  Hull).  The 
-lin  is  W.  llyn,  a  water  or  pool. 

SKYE.  Perh.  Ptolemy's  Scetis;  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Skia; 
Sagas,  SkitJ,  Skid ;  1272,  Sky;  1292,  Skey.  Usually 
said  to  be  G.  scjiatli  (pron.  skey),  a  '  wing,'  fr.  its  shape. 
Cf.  Dunskey,  Galloway. 

SKYREBURN  (Gatehouse).  Skyre-  is  prob.  =  SKEIR  :  so  '  rocky 
burn.' 


222  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

SLAINS  (Cruden).  a.  1300,  Slainys.  Prob.  G.  sleamhuinn, 
1  slippery,  smooth,'  with  Eng.  plural.  Cf.  Slane,  Tara. 

SLAMANNAN  (S.  Stirlingsh.).  1250,  Slethmanin.  'Moor  of 
Manan '  (see  CLACKMANNAN).  Sla-  is  G.  and  Ir.  sliabli, 
mountain,  hill,  face  of  a  hill;  in  G.  also  'a  moor.' 
Cf.  Slamonia,  Inch. 

SLATEFORD  (Edinburgh).  Prob.  'smooth  ford;'  O.K  slett, 
smooth.  Cf.  next.  '  Sclaitford '  was  the  name  of  the 
village  of  Edzell,  a.  1700. 

SLEAT  (Skye).  a.  1400,  Slate;  1475,  Slet;  1588,  Slait. 
Prob.  as  above ;  Sleat  Sound  is  sheltered.  But  Arden- 
slate,  Dunoon — 1401,  Ardinslatt — is  'slaty  height' 
(G.  sgleat,  a  slate) ;  and  Sleety,  Queen's  Co.,  is  fr.  Ir.  and 
G.  sliabli,  a  hill,  plural  slcibhte  (pron.  sleety). 

SLEWCREEN  (Kirkmaiden).  G.  sliabli  crion,  l  withered  heath ' 
or  'moor.' 

SLEWNARK  (Portpatrick).  G.  sliabli  n-arc  (ore),  *  hill  of  the 
pig,'  or  other  large  beast. 

SLIDDERY  (Arran).  Sc.  for  'slippery.'  Cf.  O.E.  slidan,  to 
slide,  and  Slidderick,  Wigtown. 

SLIGACHAN,  -ICHAN  (Skye).  G.  =  ' abounding  in  little  shells;' 
G.  sligeag,  diminutive  of  slige,  a  shell. 

SLIN,  L.  (Tain),    c.  1560,  Lochislyne.    Prob.  G.  sleamhuinn, 

smooth.     Cf.  SLAINS. 

SLIOCH  (mountain,  L.  Maree).     Prob.  G.  sleagli,  a  spear. 

SLOCKGARROCH  (Portpatrick).  G.  sloe  carrach, '  rough,  rocky 
gulley ; '  G.  sloe,  a  pit,  a  hollow. 

SMAILHOLM  (Kelso).  1250,  Smalham.  Either 'small house' 
(O.E  smcel  ham),  or  home,  village  of  a  man  called  Smail 
or  Small.  On  the  frequent  interchange  of  -ham  and 
-holm,  cf.  HOLM  ;  also  see  next. 

SMEATON  (Ormiston  and  Carsphairn).  Prob. '  smooth  village ;  ' 
O.E.  smethe,  smoethce.  tun  or  ton.  Cf.  Smeaton,  Ponte- 
fract,  and  Kirksmeaton,  Northallerton. 

SMERBY  (Kintyre).  Prob.  Icel.  smd-r  bi,  '  small  house '  or 
'hamlet.'  On  -~by,  cf.  CANISBAY. 

SMOO,  Cave  of  (Durness).     ?  Fr.  Icel.  smjuga,  to  creep  (same 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  223 

root  as  smuggle),  fr.  its  low  roof.      Possibly  fr.  Dan. 
smog,  smoke. 

SNAPE  (Coulter).  Prob.  Dan.  sneb,  a  beak,  Sc.  neb  (cf.  Snab 
Hill,  Kells),  or  fr.  Dan.  sneppe,  a  snipe.  Two  in 
England. 

SNIZORT  (Skye).  1501,  Snesfurd ;  1526,  Sneisport ;  1662, 
Snisort.  *  Fjord,  frith  of  snow;'  G.  sneachd,  Dan.  snee, 
or  '  of  rain '  (G.  snidli,  snitli).  See  KNOYD-ART. 

SOAY  (Hebrides).  1549,  Soa.  Dan.  and  Sw.  so,  a  sow,  a 
pig,  +  ay,  a,  island. 

SOLLAS    (Lochmaddy).       G.    solus,    a    (beacon-)   light.      Cf. 

KESOLIS. 
SOLWAY  FRITH,     c.  1300,  Sulway;   also  Sulliva;  also  called 

Tracht-Romra,  fr.  G.  traghadh,  ebbing,  and  Scottwade, 

or  Scottiswathe,  i.e.,  '  Scots'  ford  '  (N.  and  Dan.  icath). 

Solway  is  thought  to  be  fr.  the  tribe  Selgovae,  perh. 

meaning    'hunters,'   fr.    G.    sealg,    hunting;   so   Prof. 

M'Kinnon.    More  likely  fr.  O.N.  sol-vagr,  '  muddy  bay,' 

O.E.  sol,  mud,  that  which  '  sullies.'     Cf.  SCALLOWAY. 
SONACHAN  PORT  (L.  Awe).     Dimin.  of  G.  sonnach,  a  castle, 

a  wall,  a  palisade. 
SOONHOPE  (Peeblessh.).     c.   1200,  Swhynhope.     'Valley  of 

the  swine;'  O.E.  swin,  Icel.  svin,  Dan.  sviln;  but  soon 

is  Sc.  plural  of  soo,  a  sow,  O.E.  su  (cf.  shoe,  pi.  shoon). 

On  the  strict  meaning  of  hope,  see  HOBKIRK. 
SORBIE   (Wigtown)   and   SOROBY  (Tyree).      Tyr.  S.,  1461, 

Sourbi;    1561,    Soiribi;    1615,    Sorbi.       Prob.    'east 

village ; '    G.   soir,  seur,  east,  +  Dan.  l>i,   by,  dwelling, 

hamlet.     Cf.  Sourby,  Ewisdale. 
SORN  (Mauchline).     G.  sorn  means  a  snout  or  a  kiln. 
SOURIN  (Raasay),     ?  G.  suirean,  sea-nymphs,  syrens. f 
SOUTHDEAN  ( Jedburgh,  see  DEAN),  SOUTHEND  (Campbeltown). 
SOUTH  WICK   (Dumfries).     O.E.  stitli  zcic,   '  south  house '  or 

'  dwelling.'     Four  in  England. 
SOUTRA  (S.E.  of  Dalkeith).   1455,  Sowtra  ;  1461,  Soltra  (cf. 

the  SUTORS).     Perh.  fr.  Icel.  sbt-raiti-r,  '  soot-red,'  i.e., 

dark  red. 
SPEAN,  R.  (Fort  William).     1516,  Spayng;    1552,  Spane. 

The   sp   indicates   a  non-Gaelic,  prob.  Pictish,  origin. 


2*24  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND. 

Prob.  c  gleaming,  flashing '  river,  cognate  with  G.  sgian, 

a  knife.1 
SPELVE,  L.  (Mull).     Prob.  Pictish,  '  stony,'  cognate  with  G. 

sgealbacli,  abounding  in  splinters  or  fragments  of  rock  ; 

fr.  sgealb,  a  fragment.1 
SPEY,  K.     Sic  1492 ;  1235,  Spe.      Prob.  connected  with  G. 

sceim,  sgeitli,  to  vomit,  to  '  spue ; '  so  Whitley  Stokes.1 
SPIGIE,  L.  (Shetland).     Icel.  spik,  blubber  of  seals,  whales, 

&c.,  or  spik,  a  spike.     Of.  spigot. 
SPINNINGDALE  (Ardgay).     1464,  Spanigidill ;  1545,  Spanzi- 

daill.     The  word  perh.  means  just  what  it  says.     Of. 

Icel.  and  Sw.  spinna,  to  spin;  but  it  is  prob.  fr.  Icel. 

spaning,  temptation. 
SPITALFIELD  (Murthly).    Spital  is  the  old  form  of  'hospital/ 

in  G.  spideal. 
SPITTAL  (Watten,  two  in  Galloway),  SPITAL   OP  CBAIGLARD 

(Campsie  Hills),  SPITTAL  OF  GLENSHEE. 
SPOTT  (Dunbar).     G.  spot,  a  plot  of  ground,  or  Icel.  spotti, 

spot-r,  a  bit,  piece.     Of.  Spotland,  Lancashire. 
SPOUTHEAD  (Kirkintilloch). 

SPRINGBANK  (Glasgow,  &c.),  SPRINGBURN  (Glasgow),  SPRING- 
FIELD   (Cupar),    SPRINGHOLM   (Dalbeattie,  see  HOLM), 

SPRINGSIDE  (Kilmarnock). 
SPROUSTON  (Kelso).     c.    1150,  Sproston;  a.  1250,  Sproues- 

ton.       Prob.  fr.  some  man   (cf.  Sprowston,  Norwich). 

There  is  a  surname  Sprott,  just  possibly  from  it. 
SPYNIE  (Elgin),     c.  1295,  Spyny.    Prob.  Pictish,  akin  to  G. 

sginneadh,  a  projection ;  fr.  sf/inn,  to  protrude.1 
STACKS  (often  in  Caithness).     O.ISL  stah,  G.  stac,  a  cliff,  an 

isolated  rock,  cognate  with  Eng.  stack. 
STAFFA   (Mull).     N.  staf-ey^  *  isle  with  the  staves,'  i.e.,  its 

basaltic  columnar  rocks. 

STAFFIN  (Portree).    Prob.  G.  stacfionn,  'white  cliff '  or  '  preci- 
pice,' influenced  by  N.  staf,  for  the  rocks  here  are  very 

similar  to  those  at  STAFFA. 

STAIR  (Ayr).  G.  stair,  stepping-stones,  path  made  over  a  bog. 
1  These  are  all  good  illustrations  of  "VVindisch  and  Stokes'  classifica- 
tion of  Celtic  languages,  into  the  p  group,  Welsh,  Pictish,  Cornish, 
&c.,  and  the  c  (or  g  or  q)  group,  Sc.  and  Ir.  Gaelic.  Cf.  PEE.ANWELL, 
PREMNAY,  &c. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  225 

STANHOPE  BURN  (Borders).     O.E.   stdn,  a  rock,  stone.     On 

hope,  an  enclosed  valley,  see  HOBKIRK. 

STANLEY  (Perth).  May  be  '  rocky  lea  '  or  '  meadow ; '  but 
here  Stan-  might  be  G.  stang,  a  pool,  ditch,  or  staon, 
awry,  askew.  Five  in  England. 

STAPLEGORTON.     Old  name  for  Langholm ;  c.  1180,  Stapel- 

gorton;  1493,  Stabilgortoun.     In  M.E.  a  'staple' is  a 

mart  or  market  (cf.   Barnstaple).     Gorton  is  prob.  G. 

gort,  a  garden  +  Eng.  -ton,  cf.  LINTON. 

STAR  (Markinch).     Sc.  starr,  sedge,  Sw.  stair,  a  rush.     Cf. 

Starcross,  Exeter,  Starbeck,  &c. 
START  POINT  (Sanday).     O.K  =  '  the  tail '   (cf.  the  bird  red- 

start).     Also  in  Devon. 
STAY-THE- VOYAGE  (Kirkcowan).     Cf.  'Rest-and-be-Thankful,' 

Corstorphine  Hill. 

STEELE  ROAD  (Hawick).     Jamieson  says  the  Sc.  steel  is  '  a 
wooded  cleugh   or  precipice ; '   but  O.E.   stael   means 
'  place.'     Cf.  ASHIESTEEL,  and  Steel,  Hexham. 
STEMSTER  (Wick).     1557,  Stambustar.     '  Place  like  the  stem 
or   prow    of   a   ship ; '    Icel.  stamn,   stemni ;    and   see 
bolsta^r,  p.  Ixiv. 
STENHOUSEMUIR  (Larbert).     Local  pron.  Stanismare.     1293, 

Stan  hus,  i.e.,  O.E.  for  'stone  house.' 

STENNIS,    -NESS   (Orkney).      c.    970,    Steinsness ;   c.    1500, 

Stanehous  (an  ignorant  Anglicising);    1700,    Stennis. 

'  Rocky  ness '  or  '  cape ;'  Icel.  steinn,  Dan.  and  Sw.  sten, 

stone,  +  Icel.  and  K".  nces  or  ness,  a  cape,  lit.  nose. 

STENSCHEL   (Portree).      Prob.    N.    for    '  stone  shieling '    or 

'  booth.'     See  above,  and  GALASHIELS. 
STENTON  (Haddington).     a.  1150,    Steinton.      Icel.    steinn, 

Dan.  and  Sw.  sten,  stone,  +  Eng.  -ton,  village. 
STEPPS  ROAD  (Glasgow). 
STEVENSTON    (Ayrsh.).      1246,    -enstoun.       'Stephen's  'or 

'  Steven's  place.'     Two  Steventons  in  England. 
STEWARTON  (Ayrsh.).     1201,  -toun.     Place  of  Walter,  High 
Steward  (O.E.  stiiueard,  lit.  a  sty-keeper)  or  Seneschal 
of  David  L,  c.  1140. 
STICHILL  (Kelso).     1250,  Stichil.    Prob.  'sty-shieling;'  O.E. 

sti,  stige,  a  sty ;  and  see  GALASHIELS. 
STIRKOKE  (Wick).     Perh.  G.  sturrack  achadh,  '  rugged  field ' 


226  PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND. 

(cf.  GARVOCK,  &c.).  It  is  not  easy  to  see  how  it  can  bo 
fr.  Icel.  stir/c-r,  strong ;  but  cf.  Stirchley,  Birmingham. 

STIRLING.  1147,  Strivelin;  c.  1250,  Estriuelin;  1295, 
Estrevelyn;  1455,  Striviling;  1639,  -veling.  In  W. 
Ystrevelyn,1  '  dwelling  (ystre)  of  Melyn,'  or  Meling,  old 
Sc.  form  of  MELVILLE.  The  same  name,  perh.  the 
same  man,  is  found  in  DUNFERMLINE,  1295,  Donffrem- 
elyn.  In  G.  it  is  Srutlilinn,  lit.  '  river-pool,'  a  mere 
'  shot '  at  this  Brythonic  name  by  a  Gael.  St  BereUan 
(a.  1100)  mentions  another  Sruthlinn,  near  Perth. 

STOBINEAN  (mountain,  Perthsh.).  Perh.  'the  little  stump  of 
the  birds ; '  G.  stoban  ian. 

STOBO  (Peebles),  c.  1116,  Stoboc;  1170,  Stubho;  1223, 
Stobohowe;  1296,  Stubbehok.  Prob.  G.  stob-achadJi, 
1  field  enclosed  with  stobs '  or  *  stakes,'  but  with  the 
second  syllable  confused  with  HAUGH,  '  pasture '  (cf.  the 
forms  of  SAUCHIE).  There  is  a  Poltenstobbo  in  the  same 
parish,  c.1200,  '  Poltenstobbeh.' 

STOBS  (Hawick).     G.  stob,  a  stake  or  stump,  with  Eng.  plural. 

STOCKBRIDGE  (Edinburgh  and  Cockburnspath).  A  wooden 
bridge  formerly  there,  made  of  stocks,  stakes,  or  sticks 
(the  root  is  the  same).  Also  in  Hants. 

STOCKING  HILL  (Old  Luce).  Lowl.  Sc.  stoken,  l  enclosed,'  fr. 
verb  steek,  to  fasten,  cognate  with  to  stick. 

STOER  (Lochinver).  c.  1225,  Orkney.  /Sag.,  Staur.  DrJoass, 
Golspie,  thinks  fr.  N.  staftr,  place,  but  this  always 
becomes  -ster ;  see  p.  Ixiv.  Perh.  N.  stor,  a  steep  peak. 

STONEHAVEN,  STONEHOUSE  (Larkhall,  two  in  Kirkcudbright, 
and  two  in  England).  O.E.  stem,  a  rock,  stone. 

STONEYBYRES  FALL  (Lanark).  Byre  in  O.E.,  as  now  in  Sc., 
was  a  *  cow-house,'  cognate  with  bower  ;  but  this  name 
is  very  prob.  a  corruption,  ?  of  what.  Of.  next. 

STONEYHAUGH  (Liddesdale).    1376,Stanyhalch.    See  HAUGH. 

STONEYKIRK  (Stranraer).  1725,  Stevenskirk.  'SteenieV 
or  '  St  Stephen's  church.' 

STONEYWOOD  (Dyce). 

STORMONTH  (Perthsh.).  1292,  Starmonthe.  Prob.  G.  starr- 
monadh,  'distorted,  crooked  hill.' 

_  J  Velyn  would  be  spelt  in  G.  Mhelin,  with  the  same  sound,  only  a 
little  more  nasal  aspiration. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  227 

STORNOWAY.    1511,  Stornochway;  a.  1630,  Steornway;  1716, 

Stornbay.     'Steep  peak  ($.   stor)  on  the  bay'  (O.K". 

vagr).     Of.  SCALLOWAY. 
STOW   (Galashiels).     O.E.   stow,   a   place,   town ;   prob.   one 

enclosed   with   a   stockade   or    'stobs.'     Cognate  with 

Stoke,  so  common  in  English  names.     Four  in  England. 
STKACATHRO   (Forfar).      c.    1212,    Stracatherach.      The   G. 

sratli  (in  Old  G.  also  srad)  is  usually  spelt  in  Eng. 

strath  ;  but,  as  the  final  til  becomes  mute,  we  often  find 

only  sir  a.     The    t  is   only  an  English   device   to    aid 

pronunciation,  for  sr  is  always  pron.  sr  in  G.    In  one 

case,    a.    1200,    we    find    scrad   (see    STRATHMIGLO). 

'Strath'  iirW.  is  ystrad  (cf.  ANNANDALE  and  TESTER). 

Stracathro  is    'valley  of  the  fort'  or   'the  seat;'    G. 

cathair,  cathrach. 
STRACHAN  (Banchory).     Pron.   Strawn.     Prob.  G.  srathan, 

'  a  little  strath.' 
STRACHUR  (L.  Fyne).     1368,  Strachore ;    1500,   Stroquhor. 

'  Strath  with  the  twist  or  turn ; '  G.  cor,  chur. 
STRAITON  (Edinburgh,  Maybole).    Edinb.  S.,  1296,  Straton. 

Prob.    'straight  village.'      Straight  is  really  the  past 

participle  of  the  verb  stretch  (O.E.  streeean).     Perh.  fr. 

Icel.  strd,  O.E.  streaw,  straw. 
STRALACHUN  (Strachur).     Prob.  'dun-coloured  (G.  laclidunri} 

strath.'     See  STRACATHRO. 

STRANRAER.    c.  1320,  Stranrever;  1600, -raver.    Sir  H.Max- 
well thinks  G.  sron  reamhar,  '  thick  point,'  lit.  nose ; 

perh.  referring  to  Loch  Eyan  peninsula. 
STRATH  (Broadford).     See  STRACATHRO,  and  cf.  DALE  and 

GLEN  VILLAGE. 
STRATHABDLB  (Skye).     c.  1160,  -erdel;  1542,  -ardol.     'Glen 

with  the  high  rocks'  (G.  drddl);  or  'of  the  high  wood,' 

(ard  choil)  cf.  DARVEL. 
STRATHAVEN  (Lanarkshire).    Pron.  Straven.     1522,  Straith- 

awane.     '  Valley  of  the  AVEN.' 

STRATHBLANE  (Glasgow).      c.  1200,  Strachblachan,  -blahane  ; 
1253,  -blathane;  c.  1300,  Strablane.     'Glen  with  the 

(little)  flowers;'  G.  bldtkan;  and  cf.  bldd/iach,  flowery. 
STRATHBUNGO     (Glasgow).      Pron.     Strabungy.      G.    srath 

Mhunga,  'valley  of  St  Mungo'  or  Kentigern,  c.  550. 


228  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

STRATHCARRON,  -DON,  -FILL AN,  -ORD,  -PEFFER,    -TUMMEL,  &c. 

See  CARRON,  &c. 
STRATHEARN  (Perthsh.).     a.  1200,  Sradeern,  Strdeern.     See 

EARN. 
STRATHENDRY    (Leslie),     a.     1169,    -enry.      =ENDRICK   or 

Strathendrick  (Stirlingsh.). 
STRATHKINNESS  (St  Andrews).     1156,  Stradkines.     'Valley 

at  the  head  of  the  waterfall ; '  G.  ceann  or  cinn  an  eas. 

In  1156  Kinness  is  Kinninis. 
STRATHMARTIN    (Forfar).      1250,    Stratheymartin.      'Little 

glen  (G,  srathan)  of  St  Martin'  of  Tours;  cf.  KILMARTIN. 
STRATHMIGLO  (Auchtermuchty).     a.   1200,  Scradimigglock ; 

1294,  Stramygloke  ;  1517,  Strathmiglo.     '  Valley  of  the 

swine-pen;'  G.  muclach.     Cf.  DRUMMUCKLOCK. 
STRATHY  (Thurso).     G.  srathan,  'little  valley.' 
STRATH YRE  (Callander).    '  Valley  of  the  land '  (G.  tlr),  t  lost 

by  aspiration ;  so  Rev.  J.  M'Lean,  Pitilie. 
STRAVITHIE  (St Andrews).     1156,  Strauithin.     Prob.  'rich, 

fertile  (G.  m(h)eith)  strath.'     Cf.   AUCHMITHIE. 
STRICKEN  (Maud).     Perh.  G.  stribchau,  'a  little  streak'  or 

'  line ; '  or  G.  srath  cliinn,  '  valley  of  the  headland,'  G. 

ceann,  a  head. 
STROMA  (Pentland  Firth).     Sic  1455  ;  but  Sagas,  Straumsey. 

'Island  in  the  current'  or  'stream.'     Here  the  Firth 

runs  like  a  river.     Icel.  straum-r,  Dan.  strom,  stream, 

+  ay,  ey,  a,  island.     Cf.  Stromoe,  Faroes. 
STROME    FERRY   (W.    Ross).     Sic    1472;    1492,    Strome- 

carranach  (i.e.  '  of  L.    Carron ').     '  Stream ; '  see  above. 

Cf.  Strome,  Reay. 
STROMNESS  (Orkney).     Sagas,  Straumsness.     '  Ness,  cape  on 

the  current '  or  '  tide.'     See  STROMA. 
STRONACHLACHAR   (L.     Katrine).     G.    sron    na    cMachair, 

'  cape  (lit.  nose,  cf.  "ness  ")  of  the  mason  ;'  but  Strone 

clachan,  Killin,  is  '  promontory  of  the  village.' 
STRONE  (Firth  of  Clyde),     c.  1400,  Stron.     G.  sron,  nose, 

beak,   cape.     Cf.   the  two  Stroans   in  Kirkcudbright, 

and  Stronehill,  near  Luss. 
STRONSAY   (Orkney).      c.    1225,    Orkney.    Sag.,    Stiornsey ; 

1529,  Jo.  Ben,  '  Stronsay  vel  Sdronsay ;'  c.  1225,  must 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  229 

mean  'star-like  island'  (Icel.  stjarna,  a  star);  1529, 
looks  as  if  there  had  been  G.  influence,  for  sdron 
certainly  suggests  G.  sron,  nose,  cape. 

STRONTIAN  ( W.  Argyle).  Prob.  G.  sron  tiadhain,  '  promon- 
tory of  the  little  hill.' 

STRUAN  (N.  Perthsh.  and  Skye)  and  STROWAN  (Crieff). 
Crieff  S.,  c.  1210,  Strain.  G.  sruthan,  '  a  little  stream.' 
Three  Stroans  in  Ireland.  Stru(e)y,  in  South  Arran,  is 
the  same  word. 

STRUMINOCH    (New  Luce).      G.    sron    meadlwnacli    (pron. 

mennach),  '  middle  height,  promontory/ 
STUARTFIELD  (Mintlaw). 
STUC  A  CHROIN  (Ben  Voirlich).      G.  stuc  is  a  projecting, 

little  hill,  a  horn;  and  crann,  gen.  croinn,  is  a  plough 

or  a  tree. 
SUAINABOST  (Butt  of  Lewis).     '  Swain's,  boy's  place ; '  Icel. 

sveinn,  Sw.  sven,  O.E.  swan.     Possibly  fr.  King  Sweyn 

of  Denmark  and  England,  died  1014.     See  p.  Ixiv. 
SUILVEN    (mountain,    Lochinver).       Prob.    G.    suil-bh&inn, 

'eye-like  hill,'  from  its  shape. 
&ULLAM  (Lerwick).     '  Home  of  the  gannets,  solan  geese ; ' 

Icel.  sule  +  7iem-r,O.E.  Mm,  home,  house.    Cf.  BODDAM; 

also  Sule-skerry,  west  of  Stromness,  and  Sulby  Man. 

SUMBURGH  HEAD  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Sunnboejar  hofSi, 
Svinborg;  1506,  Swynbrocht.  Prob.  '  the  swain's  castle ' 
or  '  hold '  (see  SUAINABOST,  BORGUE,  and  BROUGH).  But 
see,  too,  SWANNAY.  Ho/Si,  of  course,  is  Icel.  hofuft,  the 
head.  Sumburgh  Koost  is  fr.  N.  rost,  '  a  whirlpool,'  lit. 
strife. 

SUMMERHILL  (Aberdeen,  and  three  in  Galloway),  SUMMERSTON 
(Glasgow).  Summers  is  a  common  surname. 

SUMMERTON  (New  Luce).     Also  near  Oxford. 

SUNART,  L.  (Morven).  King  '  Sweyn's  fjord '  or  bay.  He 
died  1014.  See  KNOYDART. 

SUNNYSIDE  (Lanark,  Coatbridge,  Falkirk,  &c.). 

SUTHERLAND,  c.  1250,  Suthernelande ;  1300,  Sutherlandia; 
in  N.,  Sudrland,  'southern  land,'  compared  with  the 
Orkneys  or  Nordreys.  Cf.  Sudreys,  N.  name  for  the 
Hebrides. 

X 


230  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

SUTOBS  OF  CROMARTY.  Two  cliffs  at  the  firth's  mouth,  on 
either  side.  N.  skuti,  shelter,  formed  by  jutting  rocks, 
fr.  skuta,  to  jut  out,  shoot.  Form  influenced  by  Sc. 
sutor,  a  shoemaker. 

SWANNAY  (Kirkwall).  c.  1260,  Torfceus,  Sviney,  i.e.,  'isle 
of  the  swain,  boy'  (Icel.  sveinn-r,  Sw.  sven),  or  'of 
swine'  (Icel.  svin;  cf.  SWONA).  But  the  name  now  is 
'  isle  of  swans ; '  Icel.  svan-r,  Sw.  svan,  a  swan.  Cf. 
'  Swanbustar,'  c.  1500,  in  Orphir. 

SWERDALE  (Criech).  1275,  Swerdisdale.  'Valley  (N.  dcU) 
of  the  green  sward'  or  'turf;'  Icel.  svord-r,  Dan.  suaer. 

SWINEY  (Lybster).  Sic  in  Orkney.  Saga.  Dr  Jos.  Anderson 
thinks  it  was  so  called  from  being  the  property  of  Grim 
of  SWONA.  Cf.  Svinoe,  Faroes. 

SWINTON  (Duns).  1250,  Swyntun.  Prob.  'village  of  the 
swine;'  O.E.  stum,  Icel.  svin,  Dan.  sviin.  Cf.  DAL- 
SWINTON.  Two  in  England. 

SWONA  (Orkney).  Orlmey.  Sag.,  Sviney  (see  SWANNAY); 
other  Sagas,  Swefney. 

SYMINGTON  (Ayr  and  Lanark).  Ayr  S.,  1160,  'Inter  terram 
Simonis  Loccardi  &  Prestwick  ;'  1293,  '  Symondstona 
in  Kyi.'  Lanark  S.,  c.  1189,  Villa  Symonis  Lockard  ; 
a.  1300,  Symondstone.  'Abode,  village  of  Simon  Lock- 
hart,'  a  local  knight.  Cf.  MILTON  LOCKHART,  and  see 
ton,  p.  Ixx. 

T 

TAENDORE  (Cromarty).  Prob.  '  house  by  the  water ; '  G.  Ugh 
(gen.  teighe)  an  dobhair  or  dor;  cf.  TAYINLOAN,  and  W. 
ty,  a  house. 

TAIN  (E.  Koss-sh.).  1227,  Tene ;  1483,  Thane ;  1505,  Tayn. 
Prob.  Icel.  ]>ing,  a  meeting.  Cf.  DINGWALL. 

TALISKER  (Raasay).  ?  G.  talamli  uisge  ard,  '  high  land  by 
the  water  '  (uisge).  Cf.  ESK.  The  -sker  might  also  be 
1ST.  skjaer  or  G.  sgor,  a  rock,  a  '  skerry.' 

TALLA  (Tweeddale).  Fr.  W.  root  tal,  'that  tops  or  fronts,' 
'a  brow;'  a  name,  as  Prof.  Veitch  shows,  very  appro- 
priate to  this  precipitous  burn.  Cf.  Taliessin  of  Strath- 
clyde,  i.e.,  '  The  Bright-browed.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  231 

TALMINE  (Tongue).     G.  talamJi  mln,  '  smooth,  level  land.' 

TAMFOUR  (Falkirk).  1617,  Thomf  our.  G.  torn  f war, '  cold  knoll. ' 
Form  1617  is  an  ignorant  association  with  Thomas. 

TANNADICE  (Forfar).  1250,  Tanethais;  1322,  Thanachayis. 
?  G.  deanaclidach,  rough,  fierce. 

TANNER  WATER  (Aberdeen).  G.  teannair  is  '  the  noise  of 
the  sea  in  a  cave ; '  possibly  this  may  be  ton  dirde,  '  the 
backside,  rump  of  the  height.'  Of.  Tandoo,  Galloway. 

TANNIEROACH  (Old  Luce).  Perh.  G.  and  Ir.  tamnach  ruadh 
(here  pron.  roch),  '  reddish  meadow.'  Cf.  Tamnymartin 
and  Tawnyeely,  Ireland. 

TANTALLON  CASTLE  (N.  Berwick),  c.  1300,  Dentaloune;  1481, 
Temptallon;  1572,  Tomtallon  (G.  torn,  a  knoll).  Prob. 
G.  dun  (W.  din)  talain,  '  hill,'  or  '  fort  of  the  feats  of 
arms,'  or  perh.  'of  the  hall'  (talla,  -achan).  For  change 
of  d  into  t,  cf.  DUBTON  and  EDDERTON. 

TARBAT  (E.  Ross),  TARBET  (L.  Lomond  and  Kirkmaiden), 
TARBERT  (L.  Fyne,  five  in  Mull,  &c.).  Ross  T.,  1227, 
Arterbert,  i.e.,  '  high  Tarbat.'  Fyne  T.,  Sagas,  Torfnes. 
G.  tairbeart,  '  an  isthmus,'  lit.  place  over  which  a  boat 
can  be  drawn,  contracted  fr.  tarruing-bata  or  -bad, 
'boat-draught,'  fr.  tarruing,  to  draw  (cf.  O.W.  bat,  a 
boat).  Both  King  Magnus  Barefoot  and  Robert  the 
Bruce  dragged  their  galleys  across  Tarbert,  Kintyre. 

TARBOLTON  (Ayrsh.).  Hybrid ;  G.  tbrr,  a  hill,  mound,  castle, 
+  BOLTON. 

TARFF  (Kirkcudbright).     G.  tarbh,  a  bull. 

TARFSIDE  (Edzell).    Cf.  above.    The  Tarf  is  a  violent  stream. 

TARLAND  (Aboyne).  1183,  Tarualund;  a.  1300,  Taruelayn, 
Tarhlund.  Looks  like  G.  tarbh-alachain  or  -uin,  '  bull's 
keeping-place.'  Can  it  be  so  ?  The  letter  d  is  fond  of 
suffixing  itself  (see  p.  xxxvii).  Land  is  spelt  land  in 
O.E.,  Icel.,  Sw.,  and  Dan. 

TARRADALE  (Conon  Bridge).  1240,  Taruedal;  c.  1320, 
TarrodalL  Hybrid;  'bull's  valley;'  G.  tarbh  +  N.  dal. 

TARREL  (Tarbat,  Ross).  1571,  Tarrall;  1579,  -ell.  Prob. 
G.  tbrr  dl,  'tower  on  the  cliff. ' 

TARVES  (Buchan).  1287,  Taruays;  a.  1300,Tarvas.  Prob. 
G.  tbrr  bhdis,  '  mound  of  death '  (bds). 


232  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

TARWILKIE  (Balmaclellan).  G.  tlr  guilcach,  'rushy  land. 
Of.  LYNWILG. 

TASSIESHOLM  (Wamphray).  Prob.  G.  tais,  -se,  moist,  damp, 
soft,  +  HOLM,  a  riverside  field. 

TAY,  K.  c.  80,  Tacitus,  Tavaus ;  c.  600,  Amra  Columcille, 
Toi,  Tai;  a.  1100,  St  Berclian,  Toe;  a.  1150,  Tey ; 
1199,  Th ay;  c.  1300,  Tay.  G.  tamli,  rest,  quiet,  slug- 
gishness, W.  taw,  smooth  (cf.  river  Taw).  Perh.  G. 
t'abJi,  '  the  river,'  cf.  AWE. 

TAYCHREGGAN  (L.  Awe).  G.  tigh-a-chreagain,  ( house  by  the 
little  crag '  or  rock. 

TAYINLOAN  (Argyle).  Prob.  G.  iigli  (gen.  teiglie)  na  loin. 
'house  in  the  meadow,'  or  'marsh.' 

TAYNUILT  (L.  Etive).  In  G.  Ugh  an  uillt,  'house  on  the 
burn '  or  brook ;  G.  allt,  gen.  uillt. 

TAYPORT  (N.  Fife).     '  Harbour  on  the  river  TAY,' 

TAYVALLICH  (Crinan).  G.  Ugh  (gen.  teiglie}  b(h)attach, 
'  lofty- walled '  or  '  spotted  house.' 

TEALING  (Forfarsh.).     1639,  Telin.    ?  G.  Ugh  linne  (W.  llyn\ 

'  house  by  the  water '  or  '  pool.' 
TECHMUIRY    (Fraserburgh).     Prob.     'leper's    hospital;'    G. 

tight  teighe,  a  house,  and  muire,  leprosy.     Cf.  LIBERTON. 

TEE,  Ben  (Fort  Augustus).  Locally  pron.  Hee.  'Hill  of 
peace,'  G.  slth  or  sin  ;  i.e.  '  tame-looking  hill.' 

TEITH,  K.  (S.  Perthsh.).  In  G.  Thaich ;  prob.  fr.  G.  tatc, 
strength,  vigour. 

TEMA,  K.  (tributary  of  Ettrick).  W.  tamh,  spreading,  quiet, 
still.  =  Thames. 

TEMPLAND  (Lockerbie).  '  Land  of  the  Knight  Templars ;' 
or  fr.  G.  teampull,  a  church,  +  O.E.  land,  land. 

TEMPLE  (Gorebridge)  and  TEMPLELANDS  (Strathmartine). 
Lands  belonging  to  the  Knight  Templars.  But  G. 
teampull,  L.  templum,  'a  church'  built  of  stone,  occurs 
as  a  name  in  Colonsay,  Tyree,  lona,  Skye ;  also  Team- 
pull  Columchille,  Benbecula. 

TENANDRY  (Blair  Athole).  Prob.  G.  Ugh  nan  doire,  '  house  in 
the  grove.'  But  tenandry  is  also  a  charter-term,  =  tenancy. 

TERERRAN  (Moniaive).    G.  tlr  iaran,  '  western  land'  or  '  farm.' 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  233 

TERREGLES  (Dumfries).  c.  1240,  Treueger ;  prob.  =  G. 
treabliadh-garradli,  'ploughed  land-enclosure,'  i.e.,  'a 
farm;'  but  1350,  Travereglys,  i.e.,  G.  treamhar  eaglais 
(W.  eglwys),  'farm  by  the  church;'  also  1461,  Tor- 
riculis,  Torrekillis.  Cf.  TRANENT,  TRAQUAIR. 

TEIOT  WATER.  Pron.  Teiit.  Name  of  the  valley  of  the 
Teviot  above  Hawick,  not  applied  to  the  river  Teviot 
itself.  Cf.  GALA  WATER. 

TEVIOT,  E.  (Hawick),  TEVIOTDALE,  and  TEVIOTHEAD.  la. 
600,  Avellencm,  Teiwi;  c.  1100,  Teuegetedale  ;  c.  1150, 
Teswetadala ;  c.  1160,  Teuiot ;  a.  1300,  Tyvidale.  Prob. 
fr.  W.  tyw,  '  spreading  around '  (cf.  river  Teifi  in  Wales, 
prob.  =  '  spreading  stream').  Mention  of  the  names  Tyivi, 
Teifi  is  common  in  the  earliest  Welsh  and  Strathclyde 
literature.  Dale  is  the  O.E.  dael,  O.N.  dal,  a  valley. 

TEXA  (Islay).  c.  1380,  Fordun,  Helan  (G.  eilean,  island) 
texa;  1549,  Munro,  'InErische,'  i.e.,  Gaelic,  'Tisgay.' 
?  G.  teas-yaoth,  a  parching  wind,  fr.  teas,  heat,  warmth. 

THANKERTON  (Carstairs).  c.  1180,  Villa  Thancardi,  Tan- 
cardestun;  c.  1320,  Thankaristone.  'House'  or  'village 
of  Thancard.'  Cf.  Loch  Thankard,  old  name  of  the 
Loch  of  Kilbirnie.  Also  formerly  called  Woodkirk. 

THIEVESHOLM  (Orkney).  See  HOLM.  The  public  gibbet 
once  stood  here. 

THOM,  L.  (Greenock).     G.  torn,  a  hill,  knoll.      Cf.  TAMFOUR. 

THORNHILL  (Dumfries,  and  E.  of  Monteith;  three  in  Eng- 
land), THORNILEE  (Renfrew;  c.  1340,  -yle),  THORNLIE- 
BANK  (Glasgow),  THORNTON  (Dysart,  Keith;  1292, 
-tone  ;  twelve  in  England),  THORNTONHALL  (Busby). 

THORNKIP  (Colvend).  Fr.  G.  ceap,  a  stump,  block.  Cf. 
KIPPFORD,  and  Makeness  Kipps,  Eddleston. 

THREEPNEUK  (Kirkcudbright)  and  THREEPWOOD  (Lauder). 
Fr.  M.E.  threap,  a  scolding  contest,  fr.  O.E.  Ipreapin, 
to  reprove,  afflict.  Neuk  is,  of  course,  Sc.  for  '  nook,' 
corner. 

THREPLAND  (Biggar  and  Banff).  Big.  T.,  1296,  Threpeland. 
See  above. 


234  PLACE-XAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

THROSK  (S.  Alloa).  Prob.  O.E.  tlirisc,  Icel.  tlirost-r,  a  thrush. 
Of.  Throston,  Hartlepool. 

THRUMSTER  (Wick).  ?  Icel.  ]>ruma,  a  thunder-clap,  +  -ster 
=  staftr,  '  place  (see  p.  Ixv).  Perh.  fr.  a  man,  Thrym. 

THURSO  (river  and  town).  1152,  Thorsa  (river);  c.  1200, 
Hoveden,  Turseha  (town);  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag., 
Thorsey  (town);  1547,  Thorso.  O.K  Thorsaa,  the 
god  'Thor's  river.' 

THURSTON  (Berwick).  1292,  Thureston.  '  Thor's  village.' 
Cf.  Thurleigh,  Thurlow,  England. 

TIBBERMORE,  -MURE  (Perth).     G.  tiobar,  a  well,  +  moor.    See 

MUIRAVON,  MUIRDRUM. 

TIENDLAND  (farm,  Elgin).  Tiend  is  Sc.  for  'tithe;'  Icel. 
tiund,  Sw.  tiende,  a  tenth.  Cf.  Merkland. 

TIGHARRY  (L.  Eport).  G.  tigli  cliarraigli,  'house  on  the 
rock,'  ch  lost  by  aspiration. 

TIGHNABRUAICH  (Kyles  of  Bute).  G.  =  '  house  on  the  bank, 
or  slope.'  Cf.  Balnabruaich,  Portmahomack. 

TILLICOULTRY  (Dollar).  Old,  Tuligcultrin.  G.  tulacli  cuil 
tire  (W.  tre),  'hill  at  the  back  of  the  land,'  i.e.,  the 
carse  of  the  Forth.  Cf.  COULTER. 

TILLIECHEWAN  (Alexandria).  G.  tulacli  cumliann,  '  narrow 
hill.' 

TILLITUDLEM  (Lanark).  Fancy  name  of  Sir  W.  Scott's  in 
Old  Mortality.  The  castle's  real  name  is  Craignethan. 

TILLYFOUR,  -RIE  (Alf ord).  G.  tulacli  fuar  or  fuaraidh,  '  cold, 
chilly  hill.' 

TILLYMORGAN  (Aberdeen).  Here  prob.  G.  teaglacli  (pron. 
tella)  Morgan,  lit.  'the  family,'  hence,  'the  ground 
belonging  to  the  family,  of  Morgan.' 

TILT,  R.  (Perthsh.).  1564,  'Glentilth.'  Rev.  J.  M'Lean, 
Pitilie,  does  not  recognise  this  as  Gaelic ;  but  surely  it 
looks  like  G.  tuUteach,  flooding,  overflowing,  adjective 
fr.  tuil,  a  flood.  Perh.  =  G.  fallt,  'the  river'  or  'glen.' 
Cf.  TAY. 

TINGWALL  (Scalloway).  Saga,  Thingavoll,  and  Orkney.  Sag. 
mentions  a  Thingavoll  (c.  1500,  Tyngwale)  in  Rendale, 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  235 

Orkney,  =  DINGWALL,    '  meeting   of    the  Thing.'      For 
Interchange  of  t  and  d,  cf.  Trondhjem  and  Drontheim. 

TINTO  (hill,  S.  Lanark),  c.  1320,  Tintov.  Prob.  hill  of  'the 
(signal-)  fires,  by  the  water,' i.e.,  the  R.  Clyde ;  G.  teinte- 
abh  (cf.  AWE,  old  Ow).  The  Mod.  G.  plural  of  teine, 
fire,  is  teintean,  but  the  Ir.  plural  is  teinte  (cf.  Tulla- 
tintin,  Cavan,  'hill  of  the  fires').  Knocktentol,  Gal- 
loway, is  G.  cnoc  tendail,  '  hill  of  the  bonfire.' 

TINWALD  (Dumfries).  O.N.  tyinyvold,  'meeting-place,'  lit. 
fold,  'of  the  Thing'  or  local  assembly;  O.E.  fold, 
Dan.  fold,  a  fold,  pen.  Cf.  TINGWALL,  and  Thingvellir, 
Iceland.  Also  in  Isle  of  Man. 

TIPPERLINN.  Once  a  village,  now  name  of  a  road  in  the 
south-west  of  Edinburgh.  G.  tiobar  linne  (W.  ttyn), 
'  well  by  the  water '  or  '  pool.' 

TIPPETCRAIG  (Bonnybridge).  Craig  or  rock  tipped  with  a 
house. 

TIREE  (Hebrides),  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Terra  Ethica;  c.  1225, 
Orkney.  Sag.,  Tyrvist;  1343,  Tiryad;  1354,  Tereyd; 
1409,  Tyriage;  also  Terra  Hith.  Skene  says,  G. 
tir-i-odh,  '  land  of  corn;'  but  Rhys,  &c.,  think  Hith  or 
Ith  is  a  legendary  Scot,  perh.  uncle  of  Miled  of  the 
Irish  legends.  Several  places  called  Mag-Ithe,  '  plain  of 
Ith,'  in  Ireland. 

TIRRY,    E.    (L.    Shin).      Prob.    G.   tuireadh,    a  lament,    a 

dirge. 
TOB  (Lewis).     G.  fob,  'the  bay'  or  'little  bay.' 

TOBERMORY  (Mull),  (c.  1200,  Bk.  of  Scon,  a  'Tubermore.') 
1540,  Tibbirmore.  G.  and  Ir.  tobar  Moire,  'well  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,'  =  LADYWELL.  Cf.  Toberonochy, 
Luing.  In  a  Moray  charter,  temp.  Alexander  II., 
are  '  Tubernacrumkel '  and  '  Tubernafein.' 

TOCHIENEAL  (Banff).  1' House  of  the  fishing  station;'  G. 
Ugh  an  iola,  or  '  of  the  shout '  (G.  iolach).  The  G.  tochar 
means  'a  causeway'  and  'a  dowry;'  but  the  r  would 
not  easily  disappear. 

TOD  RIG  (Kirkinner).  'Hill  of  the  fox;'  Sc.  tod,  so  called 
fr.  his  bushy  tail,  fr.  Icel.  toddi,  a  mass  of  wool.  See 
RIGG;  and  cf.  'Todholys,'  1376,  in  Liddesdale. 


236  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

TOFTCOMBS  (Biggar).  Dan.  toff,  a  field ;  cf.  Icel.  to])t,  tott, 
land,  +  O.E.  comb,  cumb,  a  vessel,  a  valley,  cf.  W.  3wm,, 
a  hollow.  Cf.  COOMLEES. 

TOLLCROSS  (Glasgow,  Edinburgh). 

TOLSTA  HEAD  (Lewis).  '  Place  of  the  toll '  or  '  custom-dues ;' 
Icel.  toll-Tj  Dan.  told.  On  sta  =  staftr,  place,  see  p.  Ixv. 

TOM-A-MHOID  (Dunoon).  G.  = '  hill,  knoll  of  the  court  of 
justice ; '  G.  mod,  a  court,  assembly. 

TOMATIN  (Carr  Bridge).  G.  tom-a-teine,  '  hill,  knoll  of  the 
fire.' 

TOMBEA  (Pass  of  Leni).  Pron.  -bay.  '  Hill  of  the  birches ; ' 
G.  beath.  Cf.  AULTBEA. 

TOMICH  (Beauly).     G.  tomach,  '  full  of  knolls,'  G.  torn. 

TOMINTOUL  (Ballindalloch).  Pron.  -t6wl.  Prob.  G.  toman 
tuathealj  'northern  little  hill.' 

TOMNAHURICH  (Inverness).  Prob.,  says  Prof.  M'Kinnon,  G. 
torn  na  h'iubhraich,  '  hillock  with  the  juniper  bushes  ; ' 
G.  iubhar,  a  yew.  lubrach  also  means  a  'boat,'  as  in 
Portnachuraich,  lona,  and  may  do  so  here. 

TOMNAVOULIN  (Gleiilivet).  '  Knoll  of  the  mill ; '  G.  torn  na 
mlmilinn. 

TONGUE  (N.  Sutherland,  and  three  in  Galloway).  1542, 
Toung.  N".  tunga,  '  a  tongue,  spit  of  land.'  Two  Tongs 
in  England. 

TONGUELAND  (Kirkcudbright).     1461,  Tungland. 

TORBANEHILL  (Bathgate).  Tautology;  G.  torr  ban,  'white 
hill '  or  '  mound.'  Tor  is  the  common  name  for  a  hill 
in  Devon  and  Cornwall. 

TORBOLL  (Sutherland),  c.  1230,  Thoreboll;  1575,  Thuri- 
boll.  =THURSTON.  The  god  '  Thor's  place.'  On  bol, 
bolstaftr,  'place,'  see  p.  Ixiv. 

TORDUFF  (Currie).  a.  1200,  Turdaphe.  G.  torr  dubh, 
'  black  hill' or  'tower.' 

TORE  (Inverness).  G.  torr,  a  heap,  mound,  fort,  Ir.  tor,  W. 
tur,  a  tower.  Cf.  Tur,  W.  Calder. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  237 

TORLANE  (Kirkcudbright).  G.  tdrr  leathann  (pron.  lahan), 
'broad  hill.' 

TORNESS  (Inverness).  G.  tdrr,  a  hill,  a  castle,  or  from  the 
god  Thor,  cf.  TORBOLL;  +  NESS. 

TOROSAY  (Mull).  Sic  1390;  1561,  Toirrasa.  1  G.  tdrr 
rasaclt,  'hill,  mound  covered  with  shrubs,'  with  ending 
influenced  by  O.N.  ay,  ey,  a,  island. 

TORPHICHEN  (Bathgate).  Sic  1540;  but  1296,  Thorfighyn, 
Torphychin.  G.  tdrr  phigheainn,  '  magpie's  hill.' 

TORPHINS  (Aboyne).  G.  tdrr fionn,  'white,  clear  hill,' with 
the  common  Eng.  plural. 

TORRANCE  OF  CAMPSiE.  Prob.  G.  tormnach,  '  abounding  in 
hills'  or  'knolls.'  See  CAMPSIE. 

TORRIDON  (W.  Ross).  1633,  -den,  Prob.  G.  tdrr-a-duin, 
'hill,  knoll  of  the  fort.' 

TORRY  (Aberdeen).     G.  torran,  '  a  little  hill.' 
TORRYBURN  (Dunfermline). 

TORSONCE  (Stow).  Prob.  G.  tdrr  sonnaicli,  'hill  with  the 
palisade,  wall,'  or  'fort.' 

TORTHORWALD  (Dumfries).  1287,  -thorald;  1297,  Thorthar- 
alde.  Might  be  '  hill  of  Thorold;'  or  a  hybrid,  G.  tdrr, 
a  hill,  +  JSr.  Thorvold,  '  meeting,  assembly  in  honour  of 
the  god  Thor.'  See  TINWALD. 

TOR  WOOD  (Larbert)  and  TORWOODLEE  (Peebles).  Larb.  T., 
c.  1140,  Keltor,  i.e.,  G.  coil  tdrr,  'wood  of  the  hill'  or 
*  fort ; '  so  that  Torwood  is  half  a  translation  of  Keltor. 
See  LEE. 

TOUGH  (Alford).  Pron.  Toogh.  1605,  Towch ;  but  c.  1550, 
'Tulluch  or  Tough,'  i.e.,  G.  tulach,  a  hill,  mound,  or 
Hugh,  thick,  dense,  closely  set. 

TOWARD  (Rothesay).  Sic  1498.  ?  G.  taoWi  ard,  lit.  'direc- 
tion-height,' i.e.,  cape  by  which  to  steer  one's  course. 

TOWIE  (Alford).     Perh.    G.    tomhach,    'full  of  knolls;'   cf. 

TOMICH. 

TOWNHEAD  (Glasgow,  Castle-Douglas),  TOWNHILL  (Dunferm- 
line, &c.). 

TOXSIDE  (Gorebridge).  Prob.  fr.  G.  toch,  thigh,  hough  of  an 
animal,  or  toic,  a  swelling. 


238  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

TRADESTON  (Glasgow).  The  ground  here  was  bought  in 
1790  by  the  Glasgow  'Trades'  House,'  and  laid  out  by 
them. 

TRAILTROW  (Dumfries).  Old,  Travertrold.  Hybrid;  'fairy's 
farm,'  G.  treamhar,  a  farm  (cf.  TRANENT),  +  Dan.  and 
Sw.  trold,  Icel.  troll,  a  kind  of  fairy,  'Kobin  Good- 
fellow.'  Of.  Pow  for  G.  poll. 

TRANABY  ( Westray).  '  Cranes'  abode  ; '  Icel.  trani,  Dan. 
trane,  +  ly,  bi,  dwelling.  Cf.  CANISBAY. 

TRANENT  (Haddington).  c.  1147,  Trauernent ;  c.  1210, 
Tranent.  G.  treamhar  (pron.  traver),  '  farm,'  lit. 
ploughed  land  'in  the  dell'  or  'by  the  stream'  (W. 
nant). 

TRANTLEBEG  (Forsinard).  Prob.  G.  traona-thuil  beay,  '  little 
stream  (cf.  DUTHIL)  of  the  corn-craik '  (traona). 

TRAPRAIN  LAND  (Haddington).  (1150,  Dunpelder.)  Perh. 
W.  tre,  tra  pren,  'house  by  the  tree.' 

TRAQUAIR  (Peebles).  Sic  1265;  but  1116,  Treverquyrd;  c. 
1140,  Trauequair ;  1174,  Trauercuer  ;  1506,  Trawere. 
''Farm  (G.  treamhar,  cf.  TRANENT)  on  QUAIR  Water/ 
The  first  syllable  of  Trabroun  and  Trahenna  in  the  same 
locality  may  have  the  same  origin.  As  likely  fr.  "W. 
tra,  tre,  and  Corn,  trev,  tref,  house,  home.  Two  instances 
of  Tre-  in  Stratherrick,  Loch  Ness,  showing  perh.  the 
extreme  limit  of  Brythonic  influence. 

TRESHNISH  ISLES  (Mull).  Prob.  Icel.  tre,  gen.  tres,  a  tree, 
wood,  +  nish,  nces,  a  ness,  cape,  or  G.  innis,  island, 
'  inch  ; '  these  two  often  are  confused.  Cf.  SKIPNESS, 
&c. 

TRESTA  (Shetland).  Icel.  tre-sta$r,  '  tree-place ; '  cf.  p.  Ixv. 
Trees  are  very  rare  in  Shetland. 

TRILLEACHAN,  Ben  (L.  Etive).  G.  for  '  the  pied  oyster- 
catcher.' 

TRINAFOUR  (Struan).  Said  to  be  =  BALFOUR,  '  cold  (G.  fuar) 
village.'  Cf.  Corn,  tre,  tra,  W.  tref,  trev,  Ir.  treb, 
house,  town. 

TRINITY  (Edinburgh)  and  TRINITY  GASK  (Crieff).  Fancy 
name.  A  '  Trinity  Lodge,'  where  Trinity  now  is,  is 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  239 

found  advertised  in  1783.     Gask  is  for  G.  crosg,  a  pass, 
crossing.     See  ARNGASK. 

TROCHRY  (Dunkelcl).      c.    1650,  -rig.      G.  troch,  bad,  dan- 
gerous, +  Sc.  rig  or  ridge.     See  RIGG. 

TROON  (Ayr).     Peril.  G.  troman,  'the  dwarf  elder,'  m  being 
lost  by  aspiration.     Also  near  Camborne. 

TROQUEER  (Dumfries).      c.  1380,  Treqvere  •  also  Traquire. 

Prob.  =  TRAQUAIR,    'green   farm.'       Cf.    Trowier    Hill, 

Girvan. 
TROSACHS  (Callander).    Said  to  be  G.  for  '  bristled  territory,' 

with  the  common  Eng.  plural. 
TROUP  HEAD  (Banff).     1654,  Trowp ;  peril.  Torfiies  of  Sagas. 

G.  trup  is  just  'a  troop.'     Meaning  here  doubtful. 
TROTTERNISH  (Skye)  and  TRUDDERNISH  (Islay).      Skye  T., 

1309,  Trouternesj  1573,  -tyrnes;  ?  1588,  Trotwayshe. 

Both  are  said  to  mean   '  enchanted  cape '  or   *  ness ; ' 

O.N.  nces  or  nisli.     Cf.  Icel.  truftra,  a  juggler. 
TRUFF  HILL  (Wigtown).     By  common  transposition  of  r, 

1  turf  hill ; '  O.E.  turf,  Icel.  and  Sw.  torf. 
TUACK  (hill,  Kintore).      Peril.  G.  tuamacli,   'abounding  in 

graves,'  or  tuadh  or  tuagli,  an  axe. 
TULLIALLAN  (Diuifennline).     G.  tulach  dileinn,  '  hill  by  the 

meadow,'  or  fr.  aluinn,  '  exceeding  fair,  beautiful,'  like 

Tullyallen  on  the  Boyne  ;  Ir.  tulaigli  alainn. 
TULLIBARDINE  (CriefT).    1461,  Tulybardyn  and  -bardy.    '  Hill, 

mound  of  the  warning ; '  G.  bardainn. 
TULLIBODY  (Alloa).      c.   1150,  Dunbodenum;    1195,  Tulli- 

botheny;  also  Tuligbotuan.      'Hill,  mound  (G.  tulach 

or  dun)  of  the  hut '  or  '  cottage ; '  G.  bothan,  -ain. 
TULLOCH  (Dingwall).    1542,  Tulche.    G.  tulach,  a  hill,  hillock. 
TULLYBOLE  (Kinross).     1685,  Tulliboal.     Perh.  'hill  of  the 

smell,  stink '  (G.   boladh),  or  '  of  the  pool '  (G.  boll  for 

poll,  as  in  BOLESKINE).     Hardly  fr.  the  N.  bol,  place. 
TULLYMET  (Ballinluig).    c.  1200,  Tulichmet,  Tulimath.    Prob. 

'  rich,  fat,  fertile  (G.  mcith)  hill.' 
TULLYNESSLE  (Alford).    a.  1300,  Tulynestyn;  a.  1 500, -restil. 

Perh!  'hill  of  the  charm,  spell;'  G.  tulach-an-eoide  (cf. 

ESSLEMONT).      In  the  same  district,  a.  1300,  we  find 

'Tulynahtlayk.' 


240  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

TULLYPOWRIE  (Perthsh.).  G.  tulacli  fuarach,  *  chilly  hill/ 
For  p  pro  /  in  this  district,  cf.  BONSKIED. 

TUMMEL,  E.  (Perthsh.).  G.  tum-allt,  'plunging  stream,'  fr. 
turn,  to  dip,  plunge. 

TUNDERGARTH  (Lockerbie).  Prob.  '  fallow  field  or  enclosure/ 
fr.  W.  tyndir,  'ley  land'  or  fallow,  fr.  tyn,  stubborn, 
rigid,  -f  garth,  see  APPLEGARTH.  The  Icel.  and  Dan. 
tondr,  tundr,  O.E,  tynder,  is  'tinder.' 

TURC,  Ben  (Glen  Shee  and  Argyle),  and  BRIG  o'  TURK  (L. 
Katrine).  G.  tore,  tulrc,  a  wild  boar.  Cf.  Altaturk, 
Ireland. 

TURNBERRY  CASTLE  (Ayrsh.).  c.  1200,  Turnebiri;  1286, 
-byry.  Prob.  hybrid ;  G.  tor  ran,  a  hillock,  +  O.E. 
byrig  or  burg,  a  fortified  place,  castle,  cf.  QUEENSBERRY. 
Turn  may  just  mean  '  turn '  or  '  corner.' 

TURRET  WATER  (Crieff).  1  G.  tumid,  a  turret,  fr.  the  shape 
of  the  rocks  here. 

TURRIFF  (Aberdeensh.).  a.  1000,  Bit.  Deer,  Turbruad;  a. 
1300,  Turrech ;  a.  1500,  Turreff.  Case  of  a  name  which 
has  changed ;  at  first  G.  tdrr  bruid,  '  hill  of  anguish '  or 
'  of  the  stab;'  or,  possibly,  '  fort  of  Brud-e;'  but  a.  1500, 
'hill'  or  '  fort  in  the  field'  (G.  achadh);  and  now,  '  hiir 
or  '  fort  by  the  stream,'  G.  abh. 

TWATT  (Stromness).     Icel.  tyveit,  a  'thwaite,  a  place.'     Cf. 

MURRAYTHWAITE. 

TWEED,  E,.,  and  TWEEDSMUIR  (Peebles).  1  a.  600,  Avellanau, 
Tywi;  c.  966,  Pict.  Chron.,  Tede;  a.  1150,  Thveda  ; 
c.  1160,  Tweda.  Prob.  W.  tivyad,  'a  hemming  in,'  fr. 
tioy,  to  check  or  bound. 

TWYNHOLM  (Kirkcudbright).  1605,  Twyneme,  i.e.,  Twynham. 
O.E.  tweon,  'between,'and  HOLM  or  ham,  which  constantly 
interchange ;  holm  is  '  meadow,'  ham  is  house,  home. 
Cf.  the  Roman  '  Interamna,'  and  Twineham,  Sussex. 

TYDEAVERYS  (Balmaclellan).  Old,  Tydauarries.  G.  fiidan 
bharra,  '  the  little  heap  on  the  top '  or  '  height '  (barr). 
Cf.  Tudhope.  The  s  is  the  common  Eng.  plural. 

TYNDRUM  (K-W.  Perth).  G.  teinedruim,  'hill-ridge  of  the 
fire.'  Cf.  DRUM. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  241 

TYNE,  R.  (Haddington).  Perh.  fr.  W.  tynu,  to  draw,  pull,  or 
Gr.  teann,  to  move,  stir,  proceed.  More  likely  fr.  W. 
tynoy  a  green  plot,  a  dale.  Also  in  England. 

TYNECASTLE  (Edinburgh). 

TYNETT.     Doubtful ;  -ett  may  be  G.  dth,  a  ford. 

TYNINGHAME  (Haddington).  a.  1130,  Sim.  Durham,  ann. 
756,  Tiningaham;  1265,  Tynynham;  perh.  Bede's 
Incuneninghum,  c  for  t.  A  unique  name  in  Scotland. 
Prob.  '  home  of  the  dwellers  on  the  Tyne  •'  see  p.  Ixxv, 
and  Ixxvi  note.  On  the  Tyne  also  stands  Tyneholm. 

TYNRON  (Moniaive).  Prob.  G.  teine  sron,  '  beacon -fire  point.' 
Cf.  CAMERON. 

TYRIE  (Fraserburgh  and  Kirkcaldy).  Fras.  T.,  a.  1300, 
Tyry.  G.  tlr,  tire,  'land.'  Cf.  STRATHYKE  and 
ALTYRE. 

u 

UAMVAR.  G.  uamli-a-Wiarra,  'cave  on  the  height'  or  'hill- 
top '  (barr).  Cf.  WEEM  and  LOCHINVAR. 

UDDINGSTON  (Glasgow).  Perh.  '  village  of  the  god  Odin  '  or 
'  Woden  '  (cf.  THURSTON).  But  the  name  Udstoii  close 
by  seems  to  point  to  some  man  Ud. 

UDNY  (Ellon).  1417,  Uldnay.  Prob.  G.  allt  an  bfieath, 
'  river  of  the  birches ; '  bh  lost  by  aspiration,  cf.  ALLO- 
WAY  ;  and  AULDEARN. 

UIG  (Skye  and  Lewis).  Skye  U.,  1512,  Wig;  1552,  Vig. 
Lewis  U.,  1549,  Vye;  c.  1620,  Oig,  Vyg.  G.  uig,  a 
nook,  retired  cove,  influenced  by  Icel.  vik,  a  small  bay. 
Cf.  WICK. 

UISKENTUIE  (Islay).  G.  uisg'an  tsuidhe,  'water  of  the  seat,' 
place  where  funerals  used  to  halt  to  rest  and  drink — 
'whisky.'  Cf.  BEALLACHANTUIE. 

UIST  (Outer  Hebrides).  1282,  luist;  1292,  Guist;  also 
Ewyst  (the  pron.  now)  and  Uibhist.  Icel.  i-vist,  an 
abode,  lit.  in-dwelling.  Vist  is  the  same  root  as  Ger. 
wesen  and  Eng.  was. 

ULBSTER  (Wick).  Prob.  O.N".  ulf-bustar,  'wolfs  abode.' 
Cf.  ULVA,  and  see  p.  Ixiv.  Perh.  fr.  a  man  named  Ulf. 

ULLADALE.      O.K   Uladalr;  perh.  fr.    G.   ulai,    'washing, 


242  PLACE-NAMES    OF    SCOTLAND. 

fulling,'  +  N.  dal,  dale.     But  cf.  Ir.  uladh  (pron.  ulla), 
'  a  tomb,  cairn,'  as  in  Kilulla,  Clare. 

ULLAPOOL  (W.  Ross-sh.).  See  above.  Pool  is  G.  and  Ir. 
poll,  a  pool  or  water  (cf.  POLKEBUCK).  Some  think 
Ulla-  is  fr.  King  Olaf  (cf.  OLLABERRY).  There  seems  no 
local  tradition  in  re.  An  'Ulyshaven'  is  found  in 
Forfarshire,  c.  1415. 

ULLTE  STRATH.      Through  this  the  river  Helmsdale   flows. 

Perh.  Ptolemy1  s  Ila.     Of.  ULLADALE  and  ISLAY. 
ULLOCHHILL  (Kirkcudbright).     G.  uallacli,  proud,  i.e.,  high. 
ULSTA  (Shetland).    Prob.  =  ULBSTER,  '  wolfs  place ; '  N.  stadr. 
ULVA  (Aros).     1473,  Ulway.    '  Wolfs  isle ; '  Icel.  ulf-r,  Dan. 

and  Sw.  ulv,  a  wolf,  +  ay,  ey,  a,  isle. 
UNGANAB  (N.  Uist).     G.  =  '  ounce-land  of  the  abbot,'  Old  G. 

unga,  L.  uncia,  an  ounce,  i.e.,  the  rent  was  an  ounce  of 

silver.     See  p.  Ivii,  and  cf.  BALNAB. 
UNICH  K,  (Edzell).     G.  uinich,   'bustle,'  'hurry.'     It  is  a 

rapid  stream. 

UNST  (Shetland).    Sagas,  Ornyst,  Ormst,  Aumstr.    Doubtful. 
UNTHANK  (farm,  Biggar,  and  burn  near  Mosspaul).    Mosspaul 

U.,   1228,  Vnthanc;  1290,  Wnthanke.     O.E.  un-]>anc 

means  '  ingratitude,'  prob.  here  referring  to  the  barren 

soil.     Cf.  Winthank,  St  Andrews. 
UPHALL  (Bathgate). 
UPLAWMOOR  (Neilston).     Cf.  LAW. 
URIB,  URY  (Aberdeensh.).     Forms,  see  INVERURIE.    Either 

G.  iuWiaracU,   '  abounding  in  yews '  (G.  iuWiar,  pron. 

yure),  or  =  URR. 
URQUHART  (Conoii  Bridge,  Inverness,  Elgin,  Fife).     Inver. 

U.,  a.  700,  Adamnan,  Airchartan;  a.  1150,  Urchard. 

Elgin  U.,  c.  1340,  Urquhart ;  also  Owrchard.  CononTL, 

1340,  Urchard.     Dr  M'Lauchlan  says  its  G.  form  is 

Urchudain,  fr.  urcJt,    a   knoll,  and   din,    a  fort.    But 

Airchartan  and  Urchard  look  more  like  G.  ard-a-cheaird 

or  ch  ear  dart,   'height  of  the  smith'  (ceard);  or,  quite 

possibly,  the  first  syllable  may  be  =  URR,  '  water.' 
URR  (Dalbeattie).     1607,  Or.     Generally  thought  =  Basque 

ur,  'water;'  cognate  with  G.  and  Ir.  dobhar  or  dor,  W. 

dwr,  water,  a  river.      Cf.  DOUR, 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  243* 

URRAY  (Muir  of  Orel).  1546,  Vrray ;  c.  1565,  Vurray.  Prob. 
Old  G.  ur  reidh,  'smooth  water.'  Cf.  above,  and  ARAY. 

USSIE  (glen,  Conon  Bridge).  Perh.  G.  easach,  'abounding in 
falls,'  G.  eas. 

UYEA  SOUND  (Unst). 

v 

VALE  OF  LEVEN  (Dumbarton).     See  LEVEN. 

VATERNISH  or  WAT-  (N.  Skye).  1501,  Watternes.  Prob. 
'water-peninsula,'  O.E.  wceter,  cf.  Icel.  vain,  water, 
and  Waterford,  Ireland,  i.e.,  ' water-fjord ;'  +  O.N\  noes- 
or  nisli,  '  ness/  peninsula,  lit.  nose. 

VEIRA  (Rousay).     Either  fr.  Icel.  ver,  the  sea,  then  a  fishing 

station,  cf.  Eng.  weir,  O.E.  wer,  a  fence,  enclosure  for 

fish ;  or  O.N.  vigr,  a  bay,  +  ay,  ey,  a,  island. 
VELLORE   (Polmont).     G.   mheall  odhar  (pron.  our),   'grey 

hill.' '   Cf.  MEAL,  EOURVOUNIE. 
VENLAW  (Peebles).    iSVc  1469.    Tautology ;  G.  Wieinn  +  Eng. 

LAW,  both  =  'hill.'     Cf.  Penlaw,  Dumfries. 
VENNACHAR,  L.  (Callander).     G.  Wieinn  na  char,  '  hill  with 

the  bend  or  turn,'  G.  car. 
VENUE,  Ben  (Trossachs).     Said  to  be  G.  meanb/i,  with  the  m 

aspirated,  meaning    'little,'  as   compared  with  its  big 

neighbour  Ben  Ledi.     Cf.  YARROW. 
VICE,  Lochan  of  (Ttmgland).     Old,  Voyis,    G.  lochan  is  '  a 

little  loch.'     Vice  is  doubtful. 
VIOLIN  (Shetland).    Icel.  vid-r,  Dan.  and  Sw.  vid,  wide ;  -lin 

may  perh.  be  N.  hind,   a  grove.     The  N.  lun  means 

'  sheltered.' 
VIGEANS,  St  (Arbroath).      Vigeanus  is  the  Latin  form  of  St 

Fechan,  abbot  of  Fother,    West  Meath,  d.    664;    cf. 

ECCLEFECHAN. 

VIRKIE  (Dunrossness).     Icel.  virki,  a  work,  bulwark,  castle ; 

cf.  '  outworks,'  and  WORK  Head. 
VOE  (Shetland).     Icel.  v'6-r,  a  little  bay,  inlet.     Common  in 

Shetland — Burra  Voe,  Hamma  Voe,  &c. 
VOIL,  L.  (Strathyre).     Possibly  aspirated  form  of  G.  moil, 

a  heap,  or  of  boil,  fury,  rage. 


244  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

YOIRLICH,  Ben  (L.  Lomond).  G.  mhor  leaa,  'big,  flat  rock,' 
or  fr.  leacach,  '  bare  summit  of  a  hill.' 

VRACKIE,  or  BHRAGGIE,  Ben  (Golspie).  G.  Ihreac,  Ihrice, 
spotted,  speckled.  Of.  BREAKACHY. 

YUILLIN,  Scuir  (Achnasheen).  G.  sgdr-a-mhuitinn,  'rock 
of  the  mill.' 

w 

WADDENSHOPE  (Glensax,  near  Yarrow).  1262,  Waltamshope, 
which  is  said  to  mean  the  Saxon  god  '  Wodin's  valley.' 
Of  course  Waltliam  is  also  a  man's  name.  On  hope, 
see  HOBKIRK. 

WALKERBURN  (Innerleithen).  Burn  or  stream  where  the 
wauking  or  fulling  or  dressing  of  cloth  was  done  ;  O.E. 
wealcere,  a  fuller.  See  WAUK  MILL,  and  cf.  Walkern. 
England. 

WALLACESTONE  (Polmont).  The  stone  commemorating 
Wallace's  Battle  of  Falkirk,  1298. 

WALLACE-TOWN  (Ayr).  Old,  Walenseton.  '  Abode,  village  of 
the  strangers'  or  '  WelshJ  i.e.,  Brythons  from  Strathclyde; 
O.E.  wcelise,  ivelise,  a  foreigner.  In  the  first  charter 
of  Paisley,  1160,  we  find  'Kicardo  Walas,'  perh.  earliest 
Sc.  mention  of  the  name  Wallace.  Le  Waleys  (after- 
wards Wallis)  was  a  common  Eng.  name  in  the  13th 
century.  Cf.  Wales,  Sheffield,  and  Walesby;  also 
GALSTON.  '  Wallachia  '  has  a  similar  origin. 

WALLS  (Hoy  and  Shetland).  Hoy  W.,  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag., 
Yagaland ;  also  Saga,  Yaley.  Thought  to  be  '  isle  of 
the  strangers '  (cf.  O.E.  loealh,  a  foreigner) ;  this  is 
doubtful.  Val-  might  be  Dan.  val,  Sw.  vail,  a  wall, 
rampart. 

WALSTON  (Biggar).  1293,  Walyston,  -lliston.  =  WALLACE- 
TOWN.  Cf.  Walsham,  Suffolk. 

WAMPHRAY  (Beattock).  Prob.  G.  uamli-a-pliraimli,  '  cave  of 
slumber'  or  'sorrow.'  Cf.  UAMVAR. 

WANDEL  (Lamington).  Also  called  Hartside.  c.  1116, 
Quendal.  O.E.  cwen,  a  woman,  a  'queen,'  Icel,  kvdn, 
a  wife,  +  O.E.  dael,  Icel.  and  IS",  dal,  a  dale,  valley. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF  SCOTLAND.  245 

WANLOCK  WATER  and  WANLOCKHEAD  (Sanquhar).  Can  this 
mean  'stream  like  a  woman's  ringlet'  or  'curl'  (O.E. 
locc,  Icel.  lokk-r)1  Of.  WANDEL.  To  the  east  lies 
Midlock  Water. 

WARDIE  (Edinburgh).  Wardie  is  a  man's  name.  Cf. 
WARRISTON  and  Wardington,  Banbury. 

WARDLAWHILL  (Glasgow). 

WARRISTON  (Edinburgh).  Prob.  '  Wardie1  s  abode '  or  'village.' 
Cf.  above. 

WARTHILL  (Aberdeen).  Prob.  fr.  its  shape,  fr.  wart,  O.E. 
wearte,  Icel.  varta. 

WATERBECK  (Ecclef  echan).  Tautology ;  here  water  and  beck 
(Icel.  bekk-r,  Dan.  baeTc)  both  mean  '  brook '  (cf.  Wans- 
beckwater).  The  O.E.  form  and  sound,  waeter,  is  still 
preserved  on  the  Scottish  border.  Cf.,  too,  GALAWATER. 

WATERNISH.     See  VATERNISH. 
WATERSIDE  (Fenwick).     Also  in  Essex. 

WATTEN  (Wick),  c.  1230,  Watne.  Icel.  vatn,  water,  a 
loch. 

WAUCHOPDALE  (Langholm).  1220,  Walleuhope  ;  1247, 
Waluchop ;  c.  1330,  Wachopdale ;  1340,  Walghopp. 
Prob.  fr.  O.E.  wealg,  Icel.  valg-r,  volg-r,  warm,  lukewarm, 
+  hope,  a  shut-in  valley ;  see  HOBKIRK. 

WAUK  MILL  (Haddington,  &c.).  1561,  Walkmiln.  1587, 
'The  Waulk  Miln  of  Partick.'  Sc.  loauk  is  'to  full'  or 
'dress  cloth,'  O.E.  ivealcan,  to  turn  about,  Icel.  vdlka, 
Dan.  valke,  to  full,  cognate  with  Eng.  walk  and  L. 
calcare. 

WEDALE  (Galashiels).  Sic  c.  1160.  O.E.  wd-dad  (in  Dan. 
vee-dal),  'vale  of  woe,'  so  called  by  the  Angles  from  their 
great  defeat  there  by  King  Arthur. 

WEDDERBURN  (Borders).  1300,  Wederburn.  Sc.  wedder, 
O.E.  wether,  a  wether  or  ram. 

WEEM  (Aberfeldy).  G.  uamh,  here  pron.  warn.  Cf. 
UAMVAR  and  WEMYSS.  An  old  Ir.  MS.  mentions  a 
high  mountain  near  Dull,  called  Doilweme. 

WEIR,  or  WYRE  (Orkney).     Sic  Jo.  Sen,  1529  ;  but  c.  1225, 

Y 


246  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

Orkney.  Sag.,  Vigr ;   c.   1500,   Wyir.      Vigr  is  prob. 
the  O.K  for  'a  bay.' 

WELLBANK  (Monikie). 

WBMYSS,  E.  and  W.  (Fife),  and  WEMYSS  BAY  (Largs). 
Fife  W.,  1239,  Wemys ;  1639,  Easter  Weimes.  = 
WEEM,  'a  cave,'  with  the  common  Eng.  plural  s. 
There  is  a  Port  Wemyss  in  Islay. 

WEST  BARNS,  CALDER,  LINTON,  &c.     See  CALDER,  &c. 

WESTERDALE  (Halkirk),  WESTERKIRK  (Langholm).  Icel. 
vest-r,  the  west;  but  Westerkirk  is  found  from  1296 
to  1641  as  Westerker  (cf.  CARR),  and  in  1322  as 
Watsterker. 

WESTRAW  (Lanark).     '  West  row  ; '  O.E.  raw. 

WESTRAY  and  PAPA  WESTRAY  (Orkney).  Orkney.  Sag., 
Westray;  c.  1260,  Vesturey.  O.K  or  Icel.,  vestr-ey  or 
-ay,  l  western  isle.'  See  PAPA, 

WEYDALE  (Thurso).  Prob.  l  valley  (Icel.  and  ~N.  dal)  of  the 
road '  or  '  way ; '  Icel.  veg-r,  Dan.  vei. 

WHALSAY  (Shetland).  Saga,  Hvalsey,  i.e.,  '  whale's  isle  ; ' 
Icel.  hval-r,  Dan.  and  Sw.  lival,  a  whale. 

WHAUPHILL  (Wigtown).  Se.  ivhaup  is  '  a  curlew,'  fr.  O.E. 
luveop,  wop,  a  cry. 

WHIFFLET  (Airdrie).  Prof.  Rhys  suggests  to  me  'whin 
(i.e.,  furze-covered)  flat ; '  as  likely  '  white  (in  names 
often  pron.  whit)  flat.'  On  flat,  cf.  SKINFLATS. 

WHINNEYLEGGATE,  -LIGGATE  (Kirkcudbright).  With  whinny, 
i.e.,  full  of  whins  or  furze,  cf.  W.  cliwyn,  weeds. 
Liggate  is  a  gate-post;  O.E.  leag-geat,  'field-post.'  Cf. 
Liggatcheek  in  Dairy. 

WHINNYFOLD  (Cruden).  Prob.  'enclosure  or  fold  full  of 
wliins '  or  furze  bushes. 

WHITBURN  (Bathgate).  '  White  stream  ; '  O.E.  htoit,  Icel. 
hvit-r,  white.  Also  near  Sunderland. 

WHITEBRIDGE  (Fort  Augustus),  WHITECAIRNS  (Aberdeen), 
WHITEHILL  (New Deer;  Aberdour,Fife;  Kirkcudbright), 
WHITEHILLS  (Banff,  Sorbie),  WHITEHOUSE  (Edinburgh, 
Argyle,  Aberdeen),  WHITEKIRK  (Prestonkirk),  WHITE- 


PLACE-NAMES  OF   SCOTLAND.  247 

NESS  (Shetland),  WHITERIGG  (Airdrie,  1572  Quhitrig; 

see  BJGG),  WHITEVALE  (Glasgow). 
WHITEFARLAND  (Arran). 
WHITEINCH   (Glasgow).     'White  meadow'  or   'links;'  G. 

innis.     Cf.  INCH. 
WHITEMIRE  (Forres).     '  White-looking  swamp  ; '  Icel.  myrr, 

myri,  N.  myre,  a  swamp,  fen,  cognate  with  the  Eng. 

moor.      Cf.  MYRESIDE.  and    '  Wytteriggemyre,'    temp. 

William  the  Lion,  in  Newbatite  Chart 

WHIT(T)EN  HEAD.     See  its  Gaelic  form,  KENNAGEALL. 

WHITERASHES  (Aberdeen).  Rashes  is  Sc.  for  'rushes,'  O.E. 
risce,  a  rush.  Cf.  Eashiehill,  Stirlingshire. 

WHITHORN  (Wigtown).  Early  Latin  writers, '  Candida  Casa ; ' 
1296,  Candida  Case;  O.E.  chron.,  Hwiterne;  1159, 
Whitherne;  1250,  Witernen;  1498,  Quhithern;  a  very 
old  MS.  has  the  form  Futerne,  with  which  cf.  the 
common  Aberdeen  /  for  wh,  foo  for  who,  far  for  where, 
&c.  O.E.  hwit  erne,  '  white  house  '  or  '  cot,'  is  a  transla- 
tion of  Candida  Casa,  the  clay  house  built  by  St  Ninian, 
c.  390.  There  is  a  Blackerne  in  Kirkcudbright. 

WHITING  BAY  (Arran).  Named  from  the  fish  of  that  name. 
Whiting  lit.  means  '  little  white  thing.' 

WHITLETTS  (Ayr).  Perh.  '  white  flats,'  and  so  perh.  = 
WHIFFLET. 

WHITSOME  (Chirnside).  1300,  Quitesum.  Prob.  ham,  i.e., 
'  home  of  White,'  some  man,  cf.  p.  Ixxvi.  Of  course, 
qu  was  a  true  guttural  in  Old  Scots,  and  in  form  1300 
is  =  the  O.E.  hw. 

WHITTINGHAM  (Haddington).  1250,  Whitingham.  Prob. 
'home  (O.E.  ham)  of  Whiting,''  i.e.,  'the  little  white 
man.'  Also  in  Northumberland,  and  near  Preston. 

WICK.  Sic  in  Barlour,  c.  1375;  but  1140,  Yik;  1455, 
Weke.  Icel.  viJc,  a  (little)  bay,  in  Sw.  ivik. 

WriDEWALL  (S.  Eonaldsay).  c.  1225,  Orkney.  Sag.,  Yidi- 
vag(r),  i.e.,  'beacon  voe  '  or  'bay.' 

WIESDALE,  WEIS-  (Voe,  Shetland).  Perh.  '  hissing  valley  ; ' 
Icel.  hvaesa,  Dan.  hvaese,  to  hiss,  the  Eng.  wheeze.  Cf. 
Glen  LOY.  Perh.  =  WTEDALE. 


248  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

WIGTOWN.  1283,  Wyggeton  ;  c.  1565,  Wigston.  'Dwelling, 
village  on  the  bay;'  O.E.  wic,  O.IST.  vigr.  See  ton,  p. 
Ixxiv,  and  cf.  Wigg,  Whithorn. 

WILKIESTON  (Ratho).  The  name  Willtie  is  fr.  G.  guilcacli, 
rushy,  fr.  giolc,  a  rush. 

WILSONTOWN  (Auchengray). 

WILTON  (Hawick).  c.  1170,  'Ecclesia  de  Wilthona  or 
Wiltona ;'  1186,  Wiltun.  '  Abode,  village  (O.E.  tun)  of 
Will?  i.e.,  William.  Two  in  England. 

WINCHBURGH  (Linlithgow).  Peril.  '  castle  (O.E.  lurJi,  cf. 
BORGUE)  with  the  winch  (O.E.  ivince),  crane,  or  hoisting 
machine,'  or  fr.  tvench  (M.E.  wenche),  a  (young)  woman. 
Cf.  Winchcombe,  Winchfield. 

WINDMILL  HILL  (Motherwell).     Also  at  Gateshead. 

WINDLESTRAE  LAW  (Tweeddalc).  Sc.  for '  windlestraw  hill ; ' 
O.E.  windelstreow  properly  means  '  straw  for  plaiting,' 
fr.  windelj  a  basket. 

WINDYGATES  (Markiiich).  Gate  in  Sc.  is  a  way,  road, 
though  O.E.  geat  means  '  a  gate.' 

WriNDY  GOUL  (Queen's  Park,  Edinburgh).  G.  and  Ir. 
gablial,  a  fork,  a  pass.  Cf.  Ardgoul,  Ireland. 

WINTON  (Ormiston).  c.  1 1 60,  Wynton ;  1 2 1 0,  Winton.  Prob. 
'  windy  abode,  village ;'  O.E.?mi<i,wmd,in  Sc.  ivm\wun'. 

WIRRAN  (hill,  Lethnot,  Eorfarsh.).  G.  fhuaran,  a  spring  of 
water. 

WISHAW  (Lanark).  Prob.  as  next ;  *  Wice '  or  '  Wisclie's 
wood '  or  SHAW. 

WISTON  (Biggar).  c.  1155,  Ecclesia  de  Wicestun;  1159, 
Ecclesia  ville  Withce;  c.  1190,  Ecclesia  de  Wische; 
1406,  Wyston.  This  knight  of  the  12th  century, 
Witlice  or  Wice,  is  well  known  from  his  charters.  (See 
ton,  p.  Ixxiv.  Also  near  Haverford  West.) 

WOODBURN  (Falkirk),  WOODHEAD  (Fyvie),  WOODSIDE  (Glas- 
gow and  Aberdeen). 

WORK  HEAD  (Kirkwall).  Icel.  virfci,  a  work,  bulwark, 
castle,  cognate  with  verJc,  work.  Cf.  VIRKIE. 

WORMIT  (N.  Fife).     1517, -et.     Peril,   'warm  place;'  Icel. 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND.  249 

varm-r,  fern,  vorm,  O.E.  wearm,  warm ;  perh.  from  O.E. 

wyrm,  a  serpent,  worm.     Worm-  is  common  in  Eng. 

names — Wormelow,  Wormley,  &c.     On  the  ending  -et, 

cf.  thicket,  BLAIKET,  &c. 
WRAE  (Tweeddale).     N.  wraa,  ra,  a  corner,  a  landmark ;  cf. 

wry,  fr.  O.E.  wrigian,  to  bend.     Cf.  Woodwrae,  Fin- 
haven,  in  1549,  Woodwra. 
WRAITH   (Berwick).     G.    rath,    a   circular  earthen   fort,   a 

rampart.     Cf.  EAITH. 

WRATH  CAPE.  Icel.  hvarf,  a  turning  out  of  sight,  a  shelter, 
f  r.  hverfa,  to  turn  round. 

WYSEBY  (Kirtlebridge).     Prob.  '  dwelling,  village  (Dan.  and 

northern  O.E.  by,  bi)  of  a  man  Wyse.' 
WYVJS,  Ben  (Dingwall).     1608,  Weyes.    Doubtful;  possibly 

corruption  of  G.  uamh,  a  cave,  with  the  common  Eng. 

plural  s.     Cf.  WEMYSS. 

T 

YARROCK,  Port  (Whithorn).  Skene  thinks  this  is  the 
Beruvik  of  Nidi's  Saga  (cf.  BERWICK)  ;  but,  as  it  stands, 
prob.  G.  garbh  achabh,  'rough  field.'  Cf.  next. 

YARROW  (Selkirk).  Also  called  '  St  Mary's  Kirk  of  Lowis ; ' 
c.  1120,  Gierua.  G.  garbh  abk,  'rough  stream.'  Cf. 
VENUE,  and  Yar  on  Tweed. 

YELL,  Mid,  K,  and  S.  (Shetland).  Sagas,  Jala,  Ala;  1586, 
Jella,  Yella.  Icel.  gelid,  gall,  barren.  Cf.  JAWCRAIG. 

YESTER  (Haddington).  1295,  Yestre,  older  Ystrad,  which 
is  W.  for  ' valley '  =  G.  srad  or  'strath;'  cf.  Estra- 
hannent,  s.v.  ANNANDALE.  Yester  is  just  on  the  brim 
of  the  Damnonian  region ;  see  p.  xxv. 

YETHOLM  (Kelso).  1233,  Jetham ;  1297,  Yetham;  also 
Zethame,  Yettame  :  c.  1420,  Kirkyethame  ;  1608,  Toun- 
Yettam.  '  Hamlet  at  the  gate  '  (on  the  Borders  pron.  yet, 
O.E.  geat)  between  England  and  Scotland.  See  HOLM. 
With  c.  1420  and  1608,  cf.  GOLSPIE. 

YOKER  (Glasgow).  Sic  1505;  1804,  Yocker.  G.  iochdar, 
iocar,  the  bottom,  low-lying  ground. 


250  PLACE-NAMES   OF   SCOTLAND. 

YORKHILL  (Glasgow). 

YOUCHTRIE  HEUGH  (Kirkmaiden).     G.  and  Ir.  uachdarach, 

upper ;  cf.  the  names  in  Aucliter-.     Heugh  is  =  HAUGH, 

a  hill. 
YTHAN,  E.  (Ellon).     Prob.  =  ETHiE;  c.  1212,  Athyn,  i.e.,  G. 

athan,  a  little  ford. 

z 

ZETLAND.     See  SHETLAND. 


ALPHABETICAL   LIST 

OF 

PLACE-NAMES  IN  ENGLAND 

4 


THE  following  list  of  place-names  in  England,  which  are 
identical,  or  practically  identical,  with  names  found  in  Scot- 
land, is  more  curious  and  interesting  than  scientifically 
valuable.  Many  of  the  names  must  be  quite  modern ; 
others,  though  similar  in  spelling,  are  probably  not  alike 
in  origin  for  England  as  for  Scotland. 


Abington. 
Alford. 
Appleby. 
Ashton. 

Bowden,  Great. 
Bowling  Bank. 
Brooklands. 
Broom. 

Chester. 
Coates. 
Corby. 
Cove. 

Avon. 
Ayton,  Great. 

Barry. 
Berwick. 

Broomhill. 
Brough. 
Broughton. 
Broxbourne. 

Covington. 
Coylton. 
Cray. 
Crewe. 
Crook. 

Bishopton. 
Blackburn. 
Blackford. 

Calder. 
Caldwell. 
Carbrook. 

Crosby. 
Crossgates. 
Crossbill. 

Blackball. 
Blackhill. 

Castle  Gary. 
Castleton. 

Curry  Mallet. 

Blackwater. 

Castletown. 

Dalton. 

Blackwood. 
Blythe  Bridge. 
Bolton. 

Chapel. 
Chapeltown. 
Charlestown. 

Dean. 
Dee. 
Denholme. 

252 


PLACE-NAMES   OF   ENGLAND. 


Denny  Bottom. 
Deny. 
Devon. 
Don. 

Huntley. 
Hutton. 

Johnstone. 

New  Mill. 
New  Mills. 
Newport. 
Newstead. 

Douglas. 
Durham. 

Jordanwell. 

Newton. 
Newtown. 

Kilham. 

Eaglesfield. 
Eastwood. 

Kingston. 
Kirkmichael. 

Oakley. 
Oatlands  Park. 

Eccles. 

Kirkoswald. 

Orton. 

Eden. 

Orwell. 

Ely. 
Esk. 

Langton. 
Larkhall. 

Overton. 

Oxton. 

Eskdale. 

Leven. 

Eye, 

Ferry  Hill. 
Findon. 

Linton. 
Longhope. 
Lundy  Island. 

Parkgate. 
Parkhead. 
Parton. 
Pilton. 

Fleet. 

Maxton. 

Portobello. 

Ford. 
Foulden. 

May  field. 
Merton. 

Preston. 

Furnace. 

Mill  House. 

Milton. 

Queen's  Ferry. 

Garth. 
Gilmerton. 

Monkton. 

Morton. 

Reading. 
Rockcliffe. 

Glass. 

Ross. 

Grange. 
Greenhill. 
Greenlands. 

Newark. 
Newbigging. 
Newborough, 
Newbottle. 

Salton. 
Seaforth. 
Shaw. 

Harthill. 
Hatton. 
Hilton. 

Newbridge. 
.  Newburn. 
Newcastle. 

Smeaton. 
Snape. 
Southend. 

Holme. 

Newhaven. 

South  wick. 

Holy  Island. 
Horndean. 

Newington. 
Newland. 

Spittal. 
Springfield. 

PLACE-NAMES   OF   ENGLAND.  253 


Sprowston. 

Swinton. 

Westfield 

Stanhope. 

Whitburn. 

Stanley. 

ThornhilL 

WhitehilL 

Start  Point. 

Thornton. 

Whittinghani. 

Steel. 

Townhead. 

Wick. 

Stockbridge. 

Trinity. 

Wilton. 

Stonehouse. 

Troon. 

Winton. 

Stow. 

Tyne. 

Wiston. 

Summer  Hill.  Woodside. 

Sunnyside.  Waterside. 


ADDENDA. 


Page  xxxvii,  foot.     For  LOGIE  and  lag  read  BOGIE  and  raog. 

Page  Ixxix,  foot.  It  should  here  have  been  stated  that,  while 
the  forms  here  given  do  seem  to  have  come  from  the 
pen  of  English  scribes,  and  while  no  place-name  inAber- 
or  Inver-  is  now  spelt  with  an  h,  yet  the  Celt  does,  not 
infrequently,  prefix  such  an  h.  Cf.  HARRIS,  IONA,  &c. 

AIKENHATT  (Finhaven).  Perh.  G.  athcliuinge  tiaite,  pron. 
ahkuin  haty,  '  prayer-place.'  The  Finhaven  church  was 
often  called  '  the  kirk  of  Aikenhatt.' 

AIRTH.     Prob.  c.  1145,  Hereth.     Cf.  the  note  above. 
ARBIRLOT.     c.  1210,  Abereloth. 

ARBROATH.  1178,  Aberbrothoc;  1546,  Abirbrothoke ;  c. 
1600,  Arbrothe.  Of  course  the  town  stands  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Brothock. 

ARGYLE.  An  adjective  '  Argathelaine '  is  found  as  late  as 
1650.  See  Napier's  Memoirs  of  Montrose,  ii.  735. 

AUCHTERARDER.     1295,  Eutrearde,  Outreart. 

BASS.     a.  1300,  Basse. 

BENHOLM.  1262,  Bennum;  c.  1280,  Benam.  Prob.  G. 
beinn,  a  hill,  +  O.E.  ham,  home,  dwelling ;  cf.  EDROM. 
On  ham  and  holm,  see  p.  Ix. 

BOHARM.  The  derivation  given  is  confirmed  by  the 
1  Bochquharne,'  found  in  1488,  near  Brechin. 

BUTTERGASK.  c.  1200,  Buthyrgasc,  Buthurgasc.  Cf.  also 
Burghill;  in  1574,  Buthirgille,  '  road- valley,'  near 
Brechin. 


ADDENDA.  255 

CAMPSIE.     1522,  Campsy. 

CARESTON.  Old,  Keraldiston ;  1529,  Caraldstoun;  1643, 
Carralstoun.  'Dwelling  of  Keraldus,'  the  'judex'  or 
'dempster'  of  Angus  in  1227. 

CARNEGIE  (Carmyle).  c.  1350,  Carinnegi.  G.  cathair 
(pron.  car)  an  eige,  *  fort  at  the  gap '  (G.  eag,  a  nick  or 
hack). 

CAULDCOTS.     1572,  Calcoittis. 

CELLARDYKE.  1600,  'The  Silverdyk;'  in  Sc.  Sillerdyke; 
hence  corrupted  to  its  present  form. 

CHEVIOT  HILLS,  c.  1250,  Montes  chiueti,  a.  1300,  Mons 
chiuioth.  Prob.  G.  c(h)iabach,  '  bushy,'  fr.  ciabh  hair, 
which  would  yield  both  '  Chevy '  and  '  Cheviot.'  For 
-ach  becoming  -ot  cf.  ELLIOT, 

CLEGHORN  must  be  O.E.  cldeg  erne,  '  clay  house,'  cf.  Dan. 
kleg,  clay,  and  WHITHORN.  So  DREGHORN  will  be  '  dry 
house,'  fr.  O.E.  drige,  dry. 

CLUNY  (Blairgowrie).     1164,  Kluen. 

COLLAGE.  The  village  is  built  on  a  slope,  down  which 
tumbled  a  rocky  burn. 

CORRA  LINN.  a.  1300,-  Polcorr,  where  the  G.pott  represents 
the  W.  llyn,  a  pool. 

CRICHTON.     c.  1145,  Crechtune.     It  is  thus  an  early  hybrid. 
CUMBERNAULD.     a,  1300,  Cumbrenald. 

DALLACHY.     For  Aberdeen  read  Aberdour. 

DUCHRAY  (Stirling),  DUCHRAYS  (Dumfries),  DEUCHRIES 
(Glen  Tanar,  Aberdeen).  G.  dhu  chraobli,  'the  dark 
tree,'  or  perh.  'wood.'  The  s  is  the  common  Eng. 
plural. 

DUNDEE,  c.  1200,  Liber  de  Scon,  pp.  26-28,  Dundo, 
Dundho,  Dunde ;  which  shows  the  name  to  be  G.  dun 
dhu,  «  dark,  black  hill.' 

DUNFALLANDY.     c.  1200,  Dunfolenthi,  -foluntyn.      Perh.  G. 

dun  faoilinn,  '  sea-gulls'  hill.' 

DUNLOP  (Ayr)  and  DUNLAPPIE  (Fern,  Forfar).     Ayr  D.,  sic 


256  ADDENDA. 

1522;   but  c.  1523,  Dunloppie.     Fern  D.,  1178,  Dun- 
lopyn.     G.  dun  liibain,  '  hill  of  the  little  bend  or  bow.' 

EDINBUKGH.  As  late  as  1680,  Edenburgh.  'Dun  Edin'  is 
found  in  a  document  of  Unknown  but  early  date,  in  the 
jRegister  of  St  Andrews,  referring  to  the  year  1107. 

ELIE.     c.  1600,  'The  Alie.' 

EXZIE.  1295,  Lannoy,  where  the  V  represents  the  Fr. 
article;  'The  Anny.'  Perh.  G.  eanach,  eanaiche, 
1  down,  wool.' 

FASQUB.     1471,  Fasky. 

FINHAVEN.  1379,  Fothynevyn.  This  is  prob.  G.  fodha 
n'abhuinn,  '  below  the  river.' 

KINFAUNS.  c.  1200,  Kinfathenes;  G.  cinn  fathain,  'head, 
height  with  the  coltsfoot ; '  with  Eng.  plural  es. 

Note.  — Several  of  the  above  are  from  Andrew  Jervise's  Land  of  the 
Lindsays,  2nd  edition,  revised  by  James  Gammack,  M.A. 


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