THIS IS THE TEXT OF THE 48 PAGE BOOKLET THAT IS SUPPLIED FREE WITH EACH CLAN MAP OF SCOTLAND
Please note that this is a long document, containing
1. An Early History of Scotland.
2. A history of the languages of
Scotland.
2. A List of the Clan Names shown on the map with their meanings
and historical background.
4. A List of Place-names shown on the map with
their meanings and historical background.
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Place-names using the links below. Please note that all names beginning Mac or
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THE EARLY HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The history of Scotland, even more than that of England, Ireland or Wales, can be read in its place-names and family names. The Picts, the Celts, the Romans, the Irish (or the Scots as they were originally called), the Angles, the Vikings, the Normans and the English all played their parts in the story to a greater or lesser degree. To understand it all, it is necessary to have recourse to maps, and yet it is a little known fact that Scotland was not mapped until about AD 1600, long after most of the events which created the modern nation had taken place.
In this, Scotland is by no means unique. Map-making is a younger science than most people appreciate. The Alexandrian Greek, Ptolemy, mapped the ancient world in the 2nd century AD, using information gathered by travellers, but his maps were crude in outline and contained relatively few names - fewer than 40 in Scotland. His maps have not survived, but the co-ordinates he used to draw them have, and, when rediscovered in the Middle Ages, they were used to create the most accurate maps then available. Unfortunately for Scotland, the co-ordinates for the country were corrupted, with the result that on many early maps it leans drunkenly into the North Sea. European countries were not accurately surveyed until the 16th and 17th centuries.
The first topographical survey of Scotland was conducted by Timothy Pont sometime between 1590 and 1610. Minister of Dunnet in Caithness, he is recorded as having found in the Highlands "inhabitants hostile and uncivilized, whose language he did not understand". He was, alas, "defeated by the greed of printers and booksellers" and was not able to publish his results. Fortunately, his drafts survived and these came into the hands of a Sir John Scot who commissioned a geographer, Robert Gordon, and his son James, to prepare them for publication by the great engraver, John Blau of Amsterdam. In 1641 the proofs were shown to King Charles I, who referred in a letter to Scot to "certane cairttis [maps] of divers schyres of this kingdome". The atlas, finally published in 1654, contained 49 maps and was one of Blau's finest creations. John Speed, incidentally, had published a single sheet map of the whole of Scotland in 1610, but this contained only a fraction of the information in the atlas..
Written records from much earlier periods do exist, however, and "Scotland under Robert the Bruce" represents the first attempt to map Medieval Scotland in detail using this information. The date selected is 1314, the date of Bruce's victory over the English at Bannockburn.
Why 1314? The answer lies partly in the availability of contemporary records of place-names - a glance through those listed below will show just how many are recorded for the first time around 1300. But the overriding reason is that many of the great Scottish clans came to prominence though their support of Bruce and were granted huge estates in the aftermath of his triumph. A map drawn at 1314 shows most of the clans in possession of the lands with which they are still associated today. (Records of the period are, of course, incomplete, and a little artistic licence has been used, in that several clans shown probably received their lands during the remaining 15 years of Bruce's reign rather than in 1314 itself.) Those readers whose clan names do not appear on the map are either descended from early septs (effectively sub-clans of the major clans, which they supported in battle and whose tartan they often wore) or from the few major clans, such as Clanranald MacDonald, whose the progenitor lived after this period. Close study of the Clan Names below may well reveal surprises!
THE PICTS
The earliest inhabitants of Scotland are known to us only by their archaeological remains: the great Stone Age chamber-tombs of Orkney, for example, and the Bronze Age stone circles on the same island and on Lewis. Bronze Age "Beaker folk", named after their drinking vessels, probably moved into eastern Scotland from Europe around 1800 BC. There is much dispute as to whether the cultural changes during the next 1,500 years were the result of fresh immigration or simply developments by the native tribes themselves. What is certain, however, is that by about 300 BC, Celts of mainland Europe were colonising England and Ireland (see "The Languages of Scotland" below) and must at least have been putting pressure on Scotland. Significant quantities of Celtic artifacts do not appear in the country until the period AD 50-150, however, and it is not clear if these were introduced by invaders displacing earlier peoples or whether they arrived as the result of intermarriage with southern tribes. What is certain is that CELTIC was spoken by at least some of the tribes north of the Forth by this time. Traditionally the LATIN name for these mysterious natives, Picti, derived from their practice of painting their bodies.
THE ROMANS IN SCOTLAND
After initial forays by Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC, the Romans invaded Britain a century later in AD 43. By AD 78, in spite of resistance from leaders such as Caractacus and Boudicca, they had subdued England and Wales and were free to turn their attention to Scotland. In AD 81, Cnaeus Julius Agricola marched north with the Ninth Legion, accompanied by his son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, who provides the first written records of Scottish history. Supported by his fleet, his progress was steady, and he established his headquarters at Stirling before defeating the native leader Calgacus in AD 83 or 84 at Mount Graupius, possibly as far north as Banffshire. Shortly after this, however, to Tacitus' disgust, Agricola was recalled as his troops were needed elsewhere. Thereafter, in Scotland, Rome generally settled for containment rather than for conquest. In 121, the Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and built his famous stone wall from the Solway to the Tyne; only 20 years later a turf wall was constructed from the Clyde to the Forth and was named the Antonine Wall after the Emperor Antoninus Pius. This was held for 50 years. In AD 208, the Emperor Septimius Severus led a final advance north of the Forth before dying in York in AD 211. For the next two centuries, Hadrian's Wall was the northern boundary of the Roman Empire.
The final withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain in AD 410, following the Rescript of Honorius, ushered in a period of Scottish history which is both complicated and largely undocumented. Within a few years the Picts north of the Forth would find themselves competing fiercely for territory in Alba, as Scotland was then called, with three other peoples: the Angles, the Britons and the Scots. After losing some territory to the Vikings (see below), the four kingdoms would eventually merge to form the Kingdom of the Scots.
THE ANGLES IN NORTHUMBRIA
The Roman retreat had been prompted by pressure on Rome from the tribes of central and northern Europe. One of these tribes, the Angles, began settling in northern Britain in the 5th century AD and by the 7th had formed the kingdom of Northumbria, stretching from the Tyne to the Forth. Much of the area, which included Lothian and Bernicia, is now in England, but it is all north of Hadrian's Wall. Other Angles, and their cousins the Saxons and the Jutes, invaded England at the same time, driving the Celtish inhabitants west into Wales and Cornwall and north into Cumbria and Strathclyde. Celtic resistance was at some stage, and in some unknown but much disputed area, led by a king called Arthur - later the subject of legend.
THE BRITONS IN STRATHCLYDE
As was seen earlier, the Celtic - or British, as it came to be known - colonisation of the full width of southern Alba at the expense of the Picts had begun by the 1st century AD. The Roman conquest of southern Britain certainly accelerated the process, and the arrival of the Angles and Saxons added further impetus. As the Angles moved into Northumbria, the Britons, after fierce fighting, retreated to the west. They established the Kingdom of Strathclyde, with its capital at Dumbarton; this consisted of modern Strathclyde and Galloway, and reached down into the English Lake District.
THE SCOTS IN SCOTTISH DALRIADA
The Romans never invaded Ireland, which they called Scotia, although they traded with the inhabitants, the Gaels, or the Scots as they were also known. Like Britain, Ireland had been colonised by Celts from about 300 BC, and consisted of various tribal kingdoms, whose kings periodically and reluctantly recognised one of their number as high king. The country as a whole was never united. From about the 3rd century AD, the Scots in Ulster, which was known as Dalriada (possibly meaning "the assembly of the kings"), began to colonise western Scotland north of Strathclyde. To this day the area they occupied is known as Argyll "the coastline of the Gaels". Rather confusingly, some history books refer to this ancient kingdom as Dalriada without specifying Scottish Dalriada.
Traditionally, the most important colonising expedition was that led by the three sons of King Erc: Fergus, Angus and Lorn. The latter two have left their names in Scottish territories; the former, who is credited with bringing the Stone of Scone to Scotland, is commemorated by Carrickfergus in Ulster, named after the rock which sank his ship as he returned home. The kings of Scottish Dalriada for generations remained subservient to those of Ireland.
A separate development occurred some centuries later when southern Strathclyde received an influx of Gaels of mixed Irish and Norse ancestry; these people became known as Gall-Ghódil "stranger Gaels" and gave their name to Galloway.
THE COMING OF CHRISTIANITY
The power struggle in Alba between the Picts, the Scots, the Angles and the Britons lasted many centuries. A major factor in their eventual unification was Christianity. In AD 397, St Ninian had founded the monastery of Candida Casa at Whithorn (see entry) in Strathclyde, but it was the arrival in Scottish Dalriada of Christian missionaries from Ireland in the 6th century that had the greater impact. (It had, of course, been a British missionary, St Patrick who had introduced Christianity to Ireland some time earlier.) St Oran established churches on Iona, Mull and Tiree before dying of plague in AD 548. St Columba, arriving in AD 563, just after the Scots has been defeated by the Picts in a major battle, first acted to stabilize the fledging kingdom by selecting a new king, then established a monastery on Iona, before travelling as a missionary deep into Pictish territory. Other saints founded churches in Dalriada, and St Aidan (died AD 651) travelled from Iona to found an abbey at Lindisfarne in Northumbria at the request of the king there. It was the Northumbrian king in AD 664 who at the Synod of Whitby had to decide whether to favour the Roman practice of Christianity or the more relaxed style which had been accepted in the Celtic church. (The date of Easter and the correct type of tonsure were both subject to much controversy.) The king came down on the side of the Roman church. Twenty years later, St Cuthbert, became abbot-bishop at Lindisfarne. Much of our knowledge of these events comes from the Ecclesiastical History of the English People written by the Venerable Bede, a monk at the Benedictine monastery of Jarrow in Northumbria, who died in AD 735. (He personally considered Celtic tonsures "lewd", but unfortunately left no illustration!)
THE UNIFICATION OF SCOTLAND
During the Dark Ages, each of the four peoples of Alba gained territory at one time or another only to be checked in a major battle. In AD 843, however, King Kenneth MacAlpin of Dalriada, who may have had a claim to the Pictish throne as a result of intermarriage (the Picts had a matrilinear form of succession), defeated the Picts and made himself ruler of all Alba north of the Forth. He promptly moved his political capital to Forteviot in the east, and the religious capital from Iona to Dunkeld. In spite of persistent efforts, however, Kenneth was unable to conquer the Angles in Lothian, and his successors soon found themselves too pre-occupied with Viking raids to look south.
It was only in about 1018 that Kenneth's descendant, Malcolm II, defeated the Northumbrian army at Carham and established his rule in Lothian, the region between the Forth and the Tweed. Malcolm's grandson, Duncan I, in the same year succeeded to the throne of Strathclyde, like Kenneth, benefiting from a claim through the female line. When Malcolm died in 1034, Duncan became the first king of all Scotland, although his kingdom did not include the lands held by the Vikings. The Celtic system of succession, called tanistry, however, allowed the throne to pass to any male member of the derbfine, a family group of four generations - a sure recipe for internecine conflict. Thus it was that Duncan's cousin, MacBeth, the Mormaer of Moray, was able to gather sufficient support in 1040 to kill Duncan in battle (not in bed) and seize the throne. In spite of a bad press from Shakespeare, MacBeth was in fact a successful king for 17 years, and even made a pilgrimage to Rome. In 1057, he in his turn was deposed by Duncan's son, Malcolm III or Ceann Morr `big head'. Malcolm, who had been raised in England from the age of nine, took as his second wife Princess Margaret of England, who with her brother, Edgar the Atheling, had fled to Scotland after the Norman Conquest in 1066. (His first wife had been daughter of the Norse earl of Orkney.) Prompted by Margaret, Malcolm introduced Anglo-Saxon customs into his court, while she endeavoured to enforce religious practices in the Roman rite, such as celibacy, on a reluctant Scottish church. Spurred on by his knowledge of England and by the possession of a ready-made claimant to the English throne in his brother-in-law, Malcolm raided Northumbria. This precipitated a Norman invasion of Scotland in 1071, during which Malcolm was obliged to pay homage to William the Conqueror at Abernethy. He did not give up, however, and it was during his fifth border campaign in 1093 that he was killed at Alnwick Castle. Margaret, who died three days later, was canonized in 1251.
THE VIKINGS
Viking raids on Britain (and Ireland), probably resulting from over-population on the west coast of Norway, began in the late 8th century AD, when Iona and Lindisfarne were sacked. Within a hundred years, the Orkneys and Shetlands and much of the Hebrides and Argyll were under Viking control - as also were Caithness and Sutherland. After initial violent assaults, further progress was achieved by inter-marriage as well as conquest, particularly in Argyll. It was not until the mid-12th century that a local leader, Somerled, half-Norse himself and the progenitor of the MacDonald and MacDougall clans, weakened the grip of the king of Norway on western Scotland. Lest it be thought that Somerled was acting for the king of Scots rather than for himself, it should be pointed out that he also sailed up the Clyde and sacked Glasgow. And it was only in 1266, three years after an unsuccessful expedition to the Hebrides by King Haakon IV of Norway, that the islands were formally ceded to the Scottish crown. The Orkneys and Shetlands were pawned to Scotland as part of a marriage contract between Norway and Denmark as late as 1469.
THE NORMANS
William the Conqueror's raid on Scotland in 1071 was not a serious attempt at conquest, but it did herald a period of Norman influence in Scotland which was almost as profound as that in England. In 1093, Malcolm III was succeeded by his brother, Donald Ban, who had spent his his childhood with the Vikings in the Hebrides and who immediately reversed many of Malcolm's policies. William Rufus of England responded by backing Malcolm's son by his first marriage, Duncan, who had been held as a hostage in England, against Donald Ban. Donald Ban was first overthrown, then restored to the throne when Duncan was murdered, then overthrown again by Edgar, Duncan's half-brother. Edgar, the first of the three sons of Malcolm and Margaret sons to reign in Scotland, had, like his brothers, Alexander and David, received a Norman education at the English court. It was perhaps natural, therefore, that he should reward those Normans who had helped him against Donald, with grants of land in the Lowlands (a process already begun by Malcolm Ceann Morr). Alexander, whose sister married Henry I of England and who himself married Henry's daughter, continued this policy, as did David who reigned from 1124-1153. Indeed, it was David who brought to Scotland such famous families as the Bruces, the Comyns and the Fitzalans. (Walter Fitzalan was made High Steward of Scotland, and his descendants were to form the Stewart dynasty. The name was changed in the 16th century to Stuart, the French spelling, that language having no W.) David, however, was a much stronger king than his brothers, who had effectively been clients of Henry I. Although he established an Anglo-Norman aristocracy in Scotland, it was with a view to asserting the country's independence, and the feudalism he fostered was tempered with the strong emphasis on the extended family which was the hallmark of the Celtic clan tradition.
FROM DAVID I TO ALEXANDER III
The 130 years following David's death saw just four kings: Malcolm IV (1153-65), William the Lion (1165-1214), Alexander II (1214-49), and Alexander III (1249-86). It was a period of consolidation with each king trying to re-establish the control in the Highlands, and in Galloway, which had been forfeited as the Celts had reacted against the way the crown had come under Norman influence. Malcolm IV defeated Somerled after he had driven the Vikings from Argyll; William campaigned successfully in the north; Alexander II subdued Argyll; and Alexander III forced the King of Norway to recognise the Hebrides as part of the kingdom of Scotland. It must be said, however, that Somerled's descendants, the MacDonald `Lords of the Isles' paid as little attention to the Scottish kings they had to their former master. Throughout this time England made repeated efforts to establish its claim to overlordship, and for 15 years after a disastrous campaign in England in 1174, William the Lion was formally subject to Henry II. In the Quitclaim of Canterbury in 1189, however, Richard I (the Lionheart), sold Scotland back its independence for 10,000 marks to finance the Third Crusade. Alexander III's reign in particular saw increased prosperity, and Scotland's future looked set fair when in 1286 the king's horse stumbled in the dark and he was killed. His heir was his infant grand-daughter, the `Maid of Norway', who just four years later was to die in the Orkneys on her way to Scotland. No less than thirteen claimants now asserted their right to the vacant throne.
THE WARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Alexander's death brought into Scottish history the formidable figure of Edward I of England, who had recently completed the conquest of Wales. Before the Maid of Norway travelled to Scotland it had been agreed by a panel of `guardians' that she should marry Edward's son and heir, although Scotland still should retain its independence. On her death, Edward was invited to choose between the claimants to the throne. At this point, sensing an opportunity, he re-asserted the English claim to feudal overlordship, a claim which was perforce accepted by the contestants, who were each hoping to be selected by him, but not by the `community of the realm', a group of important Scottish laymen and churchmen. Edward consulted with 80 Scottish and 24 English auditors at Berwick Castle and chose John Balliol over his chief rival, Robert Bruce. Both men had previously served in Edward's army. Balliol was a weak man, which is why Edward selected him, but even he reacted againt the dictatorial treatment he subsequently received from the English king. In 1296, he made an alliance with France and invaded England. Edward responded with a counter-invasion, and large numbers of Scottish nobles including Bruce and his son, another Robert, most of whom also had estates in England, came to pay him homage. Furious, Balliol confiscated Bruce's lands in Scotland and gave them to `Red' John Comyn. Edward captured Berwick with great slaughter; then, with Bruce at his side, defeated Balliol at Dunbar, before conducting a ruthless campaign as far north as Elgin. In August, back at Berwick, Edward required 2000 Scottish landowners to sign the `Ragman's Roll' acknowledging himself as king. He then returned to England, carrying with him the Stone of Scone. The conquest seemed complete.
The next year, however, a young Scot, William Wallace, became involved in a fight with English soldiers at Lanark. He escaped with the help of a girl, possibly his wife, but she was captured and executed. Wallace started a resistance campaign and a few months later triumphed over a vastly superior force led by Edward's viceroy at Stirling Bridge. Wallace in his turn was defeated by Edward the next year at Falkirk, but remained at large until 1305, when he was captured and executed as a traitor in London. His revolt showed that there was a fierce desire for independence in Scotland (there was great anger that he was branded a traitor to a regime he had never accepted), but also that only a genuine claimant to the throne could lead a successful revolt.
Two possible leaders now emerged: Robert `the' Bruce, son of Balliol's rival in 1291, and `Red' John Comyn. The two men met in a kirk at Dumfries to discuss future plans; there is no record of the meeting, but an argument must have broken out, for Bruce stabbed and killed Comyn. It was not an auspiscious start to Bruce's campaign and he was immediately excommunicated by the church. Undeterred, however, he had himself crowned at Scone on 27th March, 1306 (see the entry for MacDuff). Retribution was swift; Edward sent an army north under de Valence, which routed Bruce at Methven. Bruce became a fugitive and his supporter Simon de Fraser suffered the same fate as Wallace the year before.
Bruce spent the next year on the run, but was soon to prove himself a charismatic and successful guerrilla leader, achieving his first victory in 1307, on Palm Sunday. Furious, Edward marched north with a large army, but died at Burgh-on-Sands. On his deathbed, he ordered that his bones should be carried at the head of his army until Scotland was subdued. His son Edward II, of very different mettle from his father, called off the campaign. But even with the withdrawal of Edward II, Bruce was still faced with the prospect of years of struggle against his Scottish enemies as well as the English garrisons in numerous castles. By 1311 he was strong enough to invade England and sack Durham, and by 1313 he had evicted the garrisons from every stronghold in Scotland except Stirling. At this point Edward II bestirred himself and set out with a large relief force. It was beside the Bannock Burn in front of Stirling on 24th June 1314 that the two armies met and it was there that Bruce achieved the famous victory with which he has always been associated.
Bannockburn was not a typical example of Bruce's tactics: he had survived by skirmishing (see the entry for Scrymgeour) rather than by fighting set-piece battles. Nor was it conclusive: fourteen more years were to elapse before the English finally recognised an independent Scotland by the Treaty of Northampton. These years saw Bruce acting as a statesman as well as a soldier, and in 1320 his chancellor probably drafted the `Declaration of Arbroath', a letter to the Pope in which the magnates of Scotland pledged their commitment to Scottish independence and their loyalty to Bruce. In 1329, just before Bruce's death at the age of 53, possibly from leprosy, the Pope granted Scottish kings the right to be annointed with holy oil.
The reign of Bruce was a high point in Scottish history, and seems a fitting time on which to base a map of the country. It saw Scotland united in purpose as never before. But it would be idle to pretend that Bruce's triumphs outlasted him. In the Middle Ages each king had to make his own destiny, and the accession of Bruce's five-year-old son was a signal for further chaos; just four years later Berwick, that barometer of Anglo-Scottish fortunes, fell to the English and was never held by the Scots again except for twenty years in the late 15th century. But that is another story....
THE CLAN SYSTEM
The Clan system owes its origin to the Celtic tribal tradition, and remains at its strongest north of the `Highland Line' where Gaelic was the primary language until comparatively recently. The introduction of the Norman Feudal System from the south altered the relationship between the clan chiefs and the king, in that lands which had previously been held by the clans were now deemed to belong to the monarch, to be granted as he willed. The internal organization of the clans was little changed, however, and the chief, who succeeded according to the law of tanistry, dispensed justice in peacetime and led his clan in war. Each clan consisted of `native men', related by blood, and `broken men' - individuals or groups from other clans, who sought and obtained protection of the clan. The Normans, who came north from England, adopted many of these customs; the great Sinclair clan in Caithness, for example, owes its size to the number of retainers who took to themselves the chief's name. The custom of fosterage, the mutual exchange of children (often including the chief's children) between families, did much to bind the clan together. The Gaelic proverb "Kindred to forty degrees, fosterage to a hundred", describes a feeling of clan loyalty and egalitarianism, which today stretches from Scotland to every country in the world.
THE DECORATIONS ON THE MAP
The decorations on the map are based on "The Book of Kells". The supreme example of Celtic illuminated manuscripts and one of the great treasures of Europe, this was probably begun in the late 8th century in the monastery of Iona and may have been removed from there to Kells in Ireland for safety after a Viking raid. It may have been completed in the early 9th century and can now be viewed in the magnificent library of Trinity College, Dublin.
The lions at the top of the map are modelled on those on the Bruce crest; these were later adopted by the Stewart kings as a public proclamation of the legitimacy of their claim to be Bruce's heirs. The crown for which the lions are reaching is the second one Bruce had made for himself, Edward I having first confiscated the crown worn by Alexander III and then, after the battle of Methven in 1307, Bruce's replacement. Reworked and renamed, Bruce's crown is probably the oldest among the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
The ships on the map are called `cogs', 13th century cargo-carriers, which were converted to fighting ships in time of war by the addition of temporary `castles' fore and aft. These, successors to the Viking longships, were the earliest forerunners of the tall battleships of the Nelson's navy.
The points of the compass on the map are shown as they were depicted on early maps: septentrio, literally `seven stars', refers to the constellation of the Great Bear, two stars of which point north; oriens and occidens refer respectively to the rising and setting sun, and meridies to the midday sun.
CLAN NAMES APPEARING ON THE MAP
AGNEW
NAME ON MAP: AGNEV (in the old county of) Wigtownshire
DATE: 1436 MEANING: there are two possible sources. The spelling Agnev,
recorded in 1436, suggests a derivation from one of the original Ulster
tribes that came to Galloway in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. In
Ireland the name Agnew is usually an Anglicization of
O'Gneeve. However, a William des Aigneu, from Agneaux in
Normandy was granted land in Liddersdale in 1190, and the name
(which means `lambs' in NORMAN-FRENCH ) may descend from him. The Agnews
were appointed Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway in 1363 and have always
been associated with that area.
ANSTRUTHER
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
William de Candela possessed this barony in 1153. The name Candela
came from Candel in Dorset, England, which had been given to the
Norman family of Malherbe after the Conquest.
William's grandson was the first to use Anstruther as a
surname.
ARBUTHNOTT
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
Hugh de Swintun obtained the lands of Arberbuthenoth from
Walter Olifard (see the entry for Oliphant) in
c.1200.
ARMSTRONG
NAME ON MAP: ARMSTRONG (in the old county of)
Cumberland DATE: 1235 MEANING: a nickname. Tradition has it that
Fairbairn, armour-bearer to an early king of Scotland, lifted his
master onto his own horse after the king's had been killed in battle and was
rewarded with lands in Cumberland (now in England but then in
Scotland). By the late 14th century the clan was found in
Liddersdale just north of the present border, where its lawlessness
contributed much to the turbulence of these `Debatable
Lands'.
BAIRD
NAME ON MAP: BARDE (in the old county of)
Lanarkshire DATE: 1315 MEANING: GAELIC `bard, poet, singer'. Legend has it that
the family's fortunes were founded when William the Lion (1165-1214)
granted land to a retainer who saved him from being killed by a wild boar. A
Richard Bard is later recorded in Lanarkshire and Robert the
Bruce granted the barony of Cambusnethan in the same county to a
Robert Barde. It was from his family that the Bairds of
Banffshire and Aberdeenshire later descended.
BALFOUR
NAME ON MAP: BALFURE (in the old county of) Fife (inset map) DATE: 1304
MEANING: the name is territorial from the barony in Fife and probably
derives from GOIDELIC baile `settlement' and phùir `pasture'.
John de Balfure is the first on record from 1304.
BARCLAY
NAME
ON MAP: BERKELAI (in the old county of) Aberdeenshire DATE: 1165 MEANING: OLD
ENGLISH beorc leah `birch wood'. The name of the Norman family
which held Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, England. John de
Berkelai came north before 1100 and his three sons held Gartly,
Towie-Barclay and Ardrossan. Sir Walter Barkelai of Gartly
was Chamberlain of Scotland. For reasons of space, only the Towie
line is shown on the map.
BISSET
NAME ON MAP: BYSET (in the old
county of) Inverness DATE: 1242 MEANING: the NORMAN-FRENCH name first appears in
Scotland as Henricus de Byset in 1198; it meant `darkish,
brownish, greyish'. Henricus's son, John, acquired vast holdings
around Loch Ness, but Bisset power suddenly collapsed after 1242
when Walter Byset, after losing to the Earl of Atholl in a
tournament, vented his spleen by burning down the house where Atholl was
sleeping. The king banished Walter and his male heirs, leaving the
Bisset lands in the possession of the female line who eventually brought
the lands by marriage into the Chisholm and Fraser of Lovat
families. The Bisset lands which passed to the Frasers at about
the date of this map as shown as Byset/Freser.
BOYD
NAME ON
MAP: BOYT (in the old county of) Ayrshire DATE: 1296 MEANING: probably from
GOIDELIC buidhe `yellow', the nickname of the blond-haired Simon,
nephew of the first High Steward of Scotland, Walter Fitzalan. A
derivation from the island of Bute has also been suggested. The family
supported Robert the Bruce, Duncan Boyd being hanged by the
English in 1306 and Sir Robert de Boyt fighting at
Bannockburn. See the entry for Stewart.
BOYLE
NAME ON
MAP: BOIUIL (in the old county of) Ayrshire DATE: 1170 MEANING: from the NORMAN
de Boyville family, originally from Beauville(NORMAN-FRENCH
beautiful manor') in Normandy. A David de Boiuil is recorded
between 1164-74, the change in form being due to the letter `V' being read as
`U'.
BRODIE
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY: an
alternative tradition derives the clan name from an ancient Pictish king called
Brude, who welcomed St Columba in the 6th century, or a later king
of the same name. A Michael de Brothie received a charter from Robert
the Bruce in 1311.
BRUCE
NAME ON MAP: BRUS (in the old county of)
Stirling/Fife; Dumfries DATE: 13th century MEANING: from Sir Robert de
Bruis who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in
1066. He may have come from Brouize (possibly OLD FRENCH `muddy') or
Le Brus (possibly GAULISH `heath' or OLD FRENCH `maple'); both places are
in Normandy. His son was created first Lord of Annandale. See the
historical introduction.
BUCHAN
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names.
HISTORY: alternatively the name may have come from the ancient Pictish
Mormaers of the region. A cleric, Ricardus de Buchan, is mentioned in
c.1207 and a William de Buchan in 1282.
BUCHANAN
NAME ON MAP:
CANONACH (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Stirling MEANING: GOIDELIC buth
chanain `the cannon's seat', the name of an area just east of Loch
Lomond. Malcolm II granted the lands in the early 11th century to the
Irish chieftain Anselan O'Kyan, who had come across the water to
help Malcolm in his struggles against the Vikings. The original
clan name was MacAuslan `son of Anselan'.
BURNETT
NAME ON MAP:
BURNET (in the old county of) Kincardine DATE: 14th century MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
beorn heard `warrior brave' or `bear brave'. In England the name
became Bernard. A Roger Bunard is recorded in c.1200; Alexander
Bunard or Burnet was granted lands in Kincardineshire by
Robert the Bruce.
CAMERON
NAME ON MAP: CAMSHRON (in GAELIC )
(in the old county of) Inverness MEANING: in the Highlands - GOIDELIC
`wry-nose, hook-nose' after some early chieftain. In the Lowlands, the
name (not shown on the map) is of territorial origin. Donald Du, GOIDELIC
Domhnull Dubh `Black Donald', reckoned the 11th chief, is the first on
record in c.1411.
CAMPBELL
NAME ON MAP: CAIMBEUL (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Argyll MEANING: GOIDELIC `crooked, wry mouth': possibly from
Duncan MacDuibhne, an early 13th century chieftain. His son or grandson,
known as Cailean Mor `Colin the Great', was knighted in about 1280 and is
regarded as the founder of the Argyll clan. Robert the Bruce's
sister, Mary, married a Cambell.
CARMICHAEL
NAME ON
MAP: CARMICHELL (in the old county of) Lanark DATE: 13th century MEANING: a
territorial name taken from the barony of Carmichell - "BRYTHONIC
caer `fort' of Michael". A Robert de Carmitely is recorded
as early as 1220.
CARNEGIE
NAME ON MAP: CARNEGEY (in the old county
of) Angus DATE: 14th century MEANING: just after the date of this map, John
de Balinhard was granted the lands of Carnegey by Robert II
(1329-70) and took the name as his own. The name shown on the map, therefore,
shows these lands.
CATHCART
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names.
HISTORY: the first of the the family, known variously as Rainald,
Ranulfus de Ketkert and Reginaldus de Cathekert, came to
Scotland with the first of the Stewarts probably from
Brittany in the late 12th century. Originally the stress was on the
second syllable.
CHISHOLM
NAME ON MAP: CHESHOLME (in the old county
of) Inverness DATE: 1359 MEANING: a territorial name from the barony of
Chisholm (MIDDLE ENGLISH `cheese meadow') in the parish of Roberton,
Roxburghshire. A John de Chesehelme is recorded in 1254; in the 14th
century members of the family moved north and Robert de Chesholme appears
as sheriff of Inverness and constable of Urquhart Castle
(succeeding his father-in-law Sir Robert Lauder) in 1359.
CLAN
CHATTAN (pronounced Hattan)
NAME ON MAP: CLAN CHATTAN (in the old
county of) Inverness/Perth MEANING: although the clan motto "Touch not the Cat
Bot (ie. without) a Glove" would imply otherwise, the name comes from
Gillechattan Mór `great follower of St Catain', baillie of the
lands of Ardchattan Abbey in the 11th century. He was the first leader of
what was to become a very powerful confederation of clans including the
MacPhersons, Davidsons, Gows, MacGillivrays, MacBains and
MacPhails. In 1291 Angus, 6th chief of the Clan Mackintosh,
married Eva, heiress to Clan Chattan and became 7th Captain of
Clan Chattan. A supporter of Robert the Bruce, in 1319 he, or his
successor, received the lands in Badenoch forfeited by the Comyns
(although the name Cumming still survives in the area). The Shaws,
Farquharsons, Toshachs and MacThomases sprang from Clan Mackintosh.
See under the individual clan or sept names for further
details.
COLQUHOUN
NAME ON MAP: COLQUHOUN (in the old county of)
Dunbarton DATE: 1308 MEANING: a territorial name from lands in
Dumbartonshire - GOIDELIC còil `nook' or coill `wood' and
cumhann `narrow'. The lands were granted to Umfridus de Kilpatrick
by 1241. A descendant, Sir Robert, married the `Fair Maid of
Luss', heiress to lands slightly to the north, in 1368 and it is with
Luss that the family is now associated.
CRAUFORD, CRAWFORD
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY: although the name
Crawford is now normally associated with the Lindsay family, the
Earls of Crawford, it was used as a surname in its own right. John de
Crauford and Galfridus de Crauford both witnessed 12th century
charters and the name appeared as Krauford, Craufurde, Crawford and
Crauuford before 1300. See the entry for Lindsay.
CRICHTON
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY: Turstan de Crectune
witnessed a charter at Holyrood in c.1128. William, Rector of
Kreitton, gave his lands to Newbattle Abbey in
1338.
CUMMING(S), CUMINE
NAME ON MAP: COMYN (in the old county of)
Moray, Perth DATE: 14th century MEANING: although some derive the name from the
7th century saint, Abbot Cumin of Iona, the name is probably
NORMAN-FRENCH de Comines, from a companion of William the
Conqueror in 1066. His grandson Willelmus Comyn became chancellor to
David I and, later, Bishop of Durham in England. In the
latter capacity he fell out fatally with his clergy who poisoned his communion
wine. Judicious marriages brought the Comyns much power and when
Alexander III died in a riding accident in 1285, two of the six
Guardians of Scotland were Alexander Comyn and `Black' John
Comyn. Following the death in 1190 of the king's heir, the eight year old
Margaret, `The Maid of Norway', they were among the claimants to the
throne. It was Red Comyn, son of Black John, who was killed by his
rival Robert the Bruce when they met to negotiate in a church in
Dumfries in 1306. See the historical introduction.
CUNNINGHAM,
CUNINGHAM
NAME ON MAP: CUNYNGHAM (in the old county of) Ayr DATE: 1317
MEANING: uncertain. It is a territorial name from the district in north
Ayrshire which was Cunegan in 1153. A derivation from GOIDELIC
cuin-neag `milk pail' has been suggested but is unconvincing. The name
has had OLD ENGLISH hám `homestead, settlement' added to it. According to
one tradition the clan descends from Wernibald who was granted land by
Hugh de Morville, Constable of Scotland in about 1140; according
to another it descends from Freskin (see the entry for
Sutherland). Hugh de Cunninghaham was confirmed in his lands after
the Battle of Largs in 1263 and the family gained more under Robert
the Bruce.
DAVIDSON
NAME ON MAP: CLAN DHAI (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Inverness MEANING: from David Duhb `Black David', their
first chief. A 17th Century record states that the Davidsons were
originally a branch of the Comyns, but that Donald Dhu of
Invernahaven married the daughter of Angus MacKintosh, 6th Captain
of Clan Chattan, sometime before 1350. Later authorities believe him to
have been the son of the 4th captain. Rivalry between the Davidsons and
the MacPhersons within Clan Chattan led to the `Battle of the
Clans' at North Inch, Perth in 1396, a trial by combat before
Robert III. Out of 60 combatants only 12, one a MacDhai, survived.
The story was told by Sir Walter Scott in `The Fair Maid of
Perth', but it must be admitted that no one has ever been quite certain
which clans were involved.
DOUGLAS
NAME ON MAP: DOUGLAS (in the old
county of) Dumfries DATE: 1298 MEANING: a territorial name, probably from
Lanarkshire - GOIDELIC dubhglhas `black stream'. The origins of
the family are unknown; a William de Duglas is recorded between 1175-99
and his great-grandson William the Hardy, 1st Lord of Douglas, founded
the two great branches of the family, the Black and the Red.
William's son `Good Sir James' was Robert the Bruce's
closest companion. By 1400 the family dominated the Lowlands and for many
years it was second only to the Stewarts in power.
DRUMMOND
NAME ON MAP: DROMUND (in the old county of) Perth DATE: 1296 MEANING: from
the place-name Drymen, just east of Loch Lomomd (see the entry for
Drummond under place-names). After distiguishing himself at
Bannockburn by strewing caltrops, or upturned spikes, in the path
of the English cavalry, Malcolm Drummond was awarded land in
Perthshire by Robert the Bruce and Bruce's son David
II (1329-71) married Malcolm's daughter
Margaret.
DUNBAR
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
the surname was first used by descendants of Earl Gospatric, who himself
claimed descent from Kenneth MacAlpine. Gospatric was created
Earl of Dunbar by King Malcolm in 1072. See the entry for
Dundas.
DUNCAN
NAME ON MAP: CLAN DONNACHAIDH (in GAELIC ) (in
the old county of) Perthshire MEANING: GOIDELIC `brown warrior'. The family
descended from the hereditary Abbots of Dunkeld and the name may come
from Duncan son of Abbot Crinan in the 11th century.
Duncan's son, Maelmare, became Earl of Atholl and his
descendant Donnachadh Reamhar (`Fat Duncan') won fame leading the clan at
Bannockburn. In the 15th century the clan became known as
Robertson or MacRaibeirt after `Grizzled Robert' who
captured the murderers of James I. See the entry for
Roberston.
DUNDAS
NAME ON MAP: DUNDAS, DATE: 1296 MEANING:
GOIDELIC dùn deas `hill south'. The name of the lands chartered to
Helias, son of Uctred or Huctred, by Waldeve, son of
Gospatric, probably in the late 12th century. Uctred and
Waldeve may have been brothers, in which case the Dundas and
Dunbar families were connected, a supposition supported by the fact that
both carry a lion rampant on their arms. See the entry for
Dunbar.
DURIE
NAME ON MAP: DURRY, DATE: 1260 MEANING: from the
place-name Durie near Leven in Fife - GOIDELIC
dobharach `watery place'. Duncan de Durry appeared as witness to a
charter in 1260. Angus Durie, Bishop of Galloway, died 1558, was
described by the religious reformer, John Knox, as so filthy that he was
known as Abbot Stottikin.
ELIOTT
NAME ON MAP: ELWALD (in the
old county of) Roxburgh DATE: 1357 MEANING: the early name of the clan,
Elwald, probably ANGLO-SAXON `elf wood', is recorded just south of the
Scottish border in 1357. The first chief was Robert Elwald of
Redheugh in Liddersdale who died in 1497. Like the
Armstrongs, to whom they were closely linked, the early Eliotts
were active on both sides of the border. Most ENGLISH Elliots, by the
way, derive their name from the diminutive of Elias, the GREEK form of
HEBREW Elijah `Yahweh is God'.
ERSKINE
NAME ON MAP: see
under place-names. HISTORY: Henry de Erskyn is recorded as a witness in
1225. The name appears as Irskyne, Ireskin and Irskyn
before 1300 when the family supported Robert the
Bruce.
FARQUHARSON
NAME ON MAP: CLAN CHATTAN (in the old county
of) Perth MEANING: descended from the Clan Mackintosh, the clan takes its
name from Farquhar, 4th son of Alexander Ciar, or Shaw, of
Rothiemurchus in Strathspey around 1500 after the date of
this map. The clan territory is that covered by the name Chattan on the
map. See the entry for Clan Chattan.
FERGUSSON
NAME ON MAP:
MacFHEARGHUIS (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ayr MEANING: from GOIDELIC
fearghas `first choice'. Traditionally the Fergussons descend from
Fergus, son of Erc, who with his two brothers came to
Scotland from Dalriada (Ulster) in the 6th century AD, bringing
with him the Stone of Scone, which later became the Scottish
Coronation Stone. It is quite possible that this tradition is correct, but
there are several families and it is unlikely that they are all related. The
Anglicized name appeared as Fergousone in 1501.
FLETCHER
NAME ON MAP: Mac an FHLEISTEIR (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Perth
MEANING: `son of a fletcher': from NORMAN-FRENCH flechier, a craftsman
who made flights for arrows. Fletcher tradition records that they were
`the first to raise smoke and boil water in Glen Orchy'; the
Fletchers of Glen Lyon were arrow-makers to the
MacGregors.
FORBES
NAME ON MAP: FORBES (in the old county of)
Aberdeen DATE: 1300 MEANING: from the place-name in Aberdeenshire,
derived from GOIDELIC forba `field, district' with either BRYTHONIC
ais `place' or simply MIDDLE ENGLISH plural -s. John de
Forbes held the lands in the early 13th century; his son or grandson
Alexander fell defending Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness
against the forces of Edward I.
FRASER
NAME ON MAP: FRESER (in
the old county of) Inverness, Peebles DATE: 1210 MEANING: the spellings de
Frisselle, de Freseliere and de Fresel are recorded in Scotland in
the 12th century; the name probably came from the Frezel family in
Anjou, France and may have meant `ash-tree'. The story that
Jules de Berry was renamed Fraiseur by Charles the Simple
after serving his king delicious strawberries (fraise) is just a legend,
but is perpetuated in the strawberry leaves in the family crest. Sir Simon
Frysel of Oliver Castle fought with Wallace against Edward
I and was hung, drawn and quartered by the English. Although some
Frasers had settled in the Highlands in the 13th century, the
Fraser of Lovat lands around Loch Ness came by marriages of
descendants of Simon Fraser, who fought at Bannockburn and was
killed at Halidon Hill in 1333, to heiresses to the Bisset
estates. The lands around Fraserburgh came into the main Fraser
family by marriage in 1375.
GORDON
NAME ON MAP: GORDUN, DATE: 13th
century MEANING: probably from the place-name Gordun in
Berwickshire - BRYTHONIC `great hill fort'. Far less likely is a
tradition that the village was named after an Adam de Gordon, whose name
came from a place-name in NORMANDY, and who died with King Malcolm
III at Alnwick in 1093. The family moved to the Highlands at
the end of the 13th century. Sir Adam, a friend of `Red' John
Comyn, initially opposed Robert the Bruce, but was later reconciled
to him and was granted extensive lands in Strathbogie.
GOW See the
entry for Clan Chattan. The name, which is not shown separately on the
map, derives from GOIDELIC gobha `smith'.
GRAHAM
NAME ON MAP:
GRAHAM (in the old county of) Forfarshire, Perthshire DATE: 13th century
MEANING: the name probably came from Grantham, England - "Granta's
OLD ENGLISH `homestead'". Granta was an ANGLO-SAXON nickname `the
grinner, the snarler'. An Anglo-Norman, William de Graham, came
Scotland in the time of David I (1124-53) and was granted lands at
Abercorn and Dalkeith. There is no basis for the legend
associating the family name with the Antonine Wall, although part of the
remains of this Roman fortification is called Graeme's Dyke.
David de Graham was granted land north of Dundee by William the
Lion and another David acquired the barony of Kincardine in
Perthshire. The latter's son, Sir John, was known as the `Richt
hand of Wallace' and was killed at Falkirk in 1298.
GRANT
NAME ON MAP: GRANT (in the old county of) Inverness, Banff DATE: 13th
century MEANING: one tradition has the Grants descending from Kenneth
MacAlpine, king of Scotland in the 9th century, but the name is
NORMAN-FRENCH grand `tall, large or chief'. The Grants were
probably brought to Scotland by the Bissets who were neighbours to
them in England during their exile from Scotland. (See the entry
for Bisset.) Sir Lawrence le Grant was Sheriff of Inverness
by 1263 and his son John was granted lands in Strathspey in
1316.
GUNN
NAME ON MAP: CLAN GUINNE (in GAELIC ) (in the old county
of) Caithness MEANING: from OLD NORSE gunnr `war, battle'. Gunni,
son of Olaf, was a Viking chieftain in Caithness in the
12th century; his name was presumably a diminutive of a longer name such as
Gunn-arr, Gunn-laug or Gunn-olfr.
GUTHRIE
NAME
ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY: the Laird of Guthrie is recorded
as going to France in 1299 to escort Sir William Wallace back to
Scotland.
HAIG
NAME ON MAP: HAGA (in the old county of)
Berwick DATE: 1165 MEANING: from OLD ENGLISH haga `enclosure'. A Petra
del Haga is recorded in about 1165 and the family settled at
Bemersyde in Tweedsdale. Although sold by the family in 1867, the
house was bought by the nation and presented to Field Marshal Sir Douglas
Haig in 1921. The spelling Haig dates from 1412.
HAMILTON
NAME ON MAP: HAMILTON (in the old county of) Lanark DATE: 1378 MEANING: from
an OLD ENGLISH place-name, probably in Northumberland, although there are
several others. The name derived from OLD ENGLISH hamel `cut-off, maimed'
and dun `hill'. A Wauter fiz Gilbert de Hameldone (Walter
Fitzgilbert) was recorded in Renfrewshire in 1296. Having served
under Edward I, he later supported Robert the Bruce and was
granted lands at Cadzow, which subsequently became known as
Hamilton. The first of the family to use the territorial name alone was
David de Hamilton in 1378. From the family descend the dukedoms of both
Hamilton and Brandon and of Abercorn.
HANNAY
NAME ON
MAP: HANNETHE (in the old county of) Wigtown DATE: 1296 MEANING: BRYTHONIC
`son of Sheanagh'. Gilbert de Hannethe was recorded in 1296; the
name appears as John of Hanna in 1424 and, more correctly, as James
Ahannay, the king's master gunner, in 1529.
HAY
NAME ON MAP: HAY
(in the old county of) Perth DATE: c.1300-20 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH haga
`enclosure'. The Anglo-Norman William de la Haye came to Scotland in 1160
and acquired the lands of Errol by marriage; he was created baron in
1178. The 3rd baron acted as co-regent during the minority of Alexander
III (1249-86) and the 5th was confirmed as Hereditary High Constable of
Scotland and Commander of the Royal Bodyguard by Robert the Bruce
after Bannockburn.
HENDERSON, MacKENDRICK
NAME ON MAP:
MacEANRUIG (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: the name has many
variants: MacHenry, MacHendrick, MacHendrie, MacHinery, etc; GOIDELIC
`son of Henry. It the Highlands it has often been Anglicized to
Henderson - as it always has been in the Lowlands. Tradition has
it the the clan was in Glencoe before the arrival of the MacIains of
Abrach, who were MacDonalds, and to whose chief they became
hereditary bodyguards and pipers. The Hendersons of Caithness, a
branch of Clann Gunn, descend from a 15th century younger son. The main
Lowland clan, the Hendersons of Fordell in Fife, probably
descend from the Henrysons of Dumfriesshire after the date
of this map. A William Henrison was recorded in 1374 . The name also
appeared in Liddersdale.
HOBKIRK
NAME ON MAP: see under
place-names. HISTORY: a territorial name of which the first record is James
Hopkirk in 1574.
HOME, HUME
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names.
HISTORY: the name shown on the map is now the village of Hume, as the
surname is still pronounced, which is within the original barony. Alden de
Home appears in the 12th century.
INNES
NAME ON MAP: INEYS, DATE:
1226 MEANING: GOIDELIC innis `island'. It was the territorial name
adopted by the family of Berowaldus Flandrensis (Berowald of Flanders) who
was granted lands at Innes in Moray by Malcolm IV (1153-65).
His grandson Walter de Ineys was granted a charter in
1226.
IRVINE, IRVING
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
There were two possible sources of the name, one in Ayrshire (shown on
the map) and one in Dumfriesshire (not shown on the map). Robert de
Hirewine, recorded in 1226, was from the latter. The Irvines of Drum
(not shown on the map) descend from William de Irwyne, armour-bearer to
Robert the Bruce, who was granted lands in the Highlands by the
king.
JARDINE
NAME ON MAP: JARDING (in the old county of) Dumfries
DATE: 14th century MEANING: NORMAN-FRENCH jardin `garden, orchard'.
Wimfredus or Walfredus de Jardine witnessed a charter during
David I's reign (1124-53). He was probably of the same family as the
du Jardin who fought at Hastings in 1066.
JOHNSTON
NAME
ON MAP: JONESTONE (in the old county of) Dumfries DATE: 1296 MEANING:
"John's OLD ENGLISH tun `manor, estate'". John is HEBREW
"Yahweh (God) has favoured". The son of the founder of the family styled
himself Gilbert de Johnstoun in c.1200. Another Gilbert de
Jonestone rendered homage in 1296.
KEITH
NAME ON MAP: KETH,
CEITEACH (in the old county of) Aberdeen, Caithness DATE: 1289 MEANING:
BRYTHONIC cet, chet `wood': a territorial name, but whether from the
lands of Keith in Banffshire or East Lothian is not
certain. The Keiths were hereditary Great Marischals, later
Earls Marischal, of Scotland from the 12th century. Keith
in Banffshire was called Ketmariscalli "Keith of the
marshal" in c.1250. In the 14th century a marriage to an heiress to the
Cheynes of Akergill founded the Caithness branch of the
clan (now called Ceiteach in GAELIC ), bitter enemies of Clan
Gunn.
KENNEDY
NAME ON MAP: KENEDY (in the old county of) Ayr
DATE: 1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceannaidach `ugly head'. (Irish
Kennedys descend from the nephew of Brian Boru.) Duncan
Kennedy was created Earl of Carrick by Malcolm IV (1153-65)
and is regarded as founder of the clan. The spelling on the map is taken from
Huwe Kenedy who rendered homage in 1296.
KER, KERR
NAME ON
MAP: KERR (in the old county of) Roxburgh DATE: 1357 MEANING: a territorial name
probably from BRYTHONIC caer `fort'. Johannes Ker, huntsman, was
recorded in 1190 and the names Ker, Kaurr, Keyr, Kayr and Kerre
appeared in the 13th century. John Kerr was mentioned in a charter in
1357.
LAMONT, LAMOND
NAME ON MAP: MacLAOMAINN (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Argyll MEANING: OLD NORSE lögathr `lawman, lawyer'. The
clan probably descends from Ladman or Lauman, Lord of
Cowal, in Argyll in the 13th century.
LAUDER
NAME ON MAP:
see under place-names. HISTORY: Sir Robert de Lauedre witnessed a charter
and William de Lawedre was sheriff of Perthshire under
Alexander III (1249-85).
LENNOX
NAME ON MAP: see under
place-names. HISTORY: the area was ruled over by one of the Mormaers
(Celtic princes) and eventually became the earldom of Lennox.
Malcolm, 5th Earl of Lennox, succeeded to the earldom in 1293 and was
killed at Halidon Hill in 1333.
LESLIE
NAME ON MAP: LESSLY (in
the old county of) Aberdeen DATE: a. 1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC llys
`court' with linn `pool' or celyn `holly-trees'; a territorial
name adopted in the 12th century by a Flemish knight called
Bardolf who settled there.
LINDSAY
NAME ON MAP: LINDESEIA (in
the old county of) Lanark, Angus DATE: 1174 MEANING: probably "Lincoln
OLD ENGLISH eg `island, dry area in the fens'" - the name of an old
administrative area of Lincolnshire, England. Baldric de Lindesay
appeared in the Domesday Book (1086). His grandson, Walter de
Lindeseya, was a friend of David I (1124-53) and was granted lands
near Crawford; his great-grandson Sir William de Lindeseia was one
of the hostages for William the Lion in 1174. The family later acquired
land in Glenesk in Angus and in 1398 the chief was created Earl
of Crawford.
LIVINGSTONE
NAME ON MAP: LEVYSTONE (in the old
county of) West Lothian DATE: c.1290 MEANING: a territorial name:
"Leving's or Leuing's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement,
village'". An Anglo-Saxon, he came to Scotland in the first half
of the 12th century. William Levystone witnessed a grant of land in
c.1290 and Sir Archibald de Levingestoune rendered homage in
1296.
LOCKHART
NAME ON MAP: LOCARD (in the old county of) Lanark
DATE: 13th century MEANING: a NORMAN-FRENCH (originally TEUTONIC ) personal name
Locard. Symon Locard witnessed a grant c.1153-65. Sir Simon
Locard held the keys to the casket taking Robert the Bruce's heart to
the Holy Land and in the fullness of time the clan name was changed to
Lokhart (1488) and the crest altered to reflect Sir Simon's
exploits.
LOGAN, see MacLENNAN
MacALISTER
NAME ON MAP:
MacALASDAIR (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: the clan
descends from Alasdair Mor, the great grandson of the Somerled
(killed 1164), the half-Viking king of the Hebrides and Argyll.
Alasdair was killed in 1299 in a feud with his distant cousin Alasdair
MacDougall, Lord of Lorne.
MacALPINE
NAME ON MAP:
MacAILPEIN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: the meaning is
unknown. Tradition traces the clan's descent from King Alpin who was
murdered after the defeat of the Scots by the Picts in 834. Its
history is very uncertain, but they were probably located in northern
Argyll.
MacANDREW, ANDERSON
NAME ON MAP: Mac GHILLE AINDRAIS
(in the old county of) Argyll DATE: 14th century MEANING: `son of Andrew'
or `son of St. Andrew'. The `Kinrara' manuscript of 1676 states
that `sick-like' Donald MacGillandrish came from Moidart to
Badenoch with Moira MacDonald before 1400. The clan was therefore
in Moidart at the date of this map. In Badenoch the
MacAndrews soon became associated with, and effectively a sept of, the
Clan Chattan. It is probable that many Andersons descend from the
sept.
MacARTHUR
NAME ON MAP: MacARTUIR (in GAELIC ) (in the old
county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Arthur'. (Although the name
Arthur has been derived from BRYTHONIC artos `a bear', its
probable origin is LATIN Artorius.) The clan probably descended from the
Campbells. The 14th century saw them at the height of their power as
their support for, and the MacDougall's opposition to, Robert the
Bruce led to their being awarded large areas of land in Lorne at the
expense of the MacDougalls. Most of these were forfeited after the clan
chief was executed by James I in 1427.
MacAULAY
NAME ON MAP:
MacAMHLAIDH (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ross & Cromarty (Lewis)
MEANING: there were two clans, one in Lewis and one to the south west of
Loch Lomond. Only the former is shown on the map. The Lewis clan
name means `son of Amhlaidh', a name probably related to OLD NORSE
áleifr and modern Olaf, a personal name deriving from ans
`god' and leifr `relic'. The progenitor of the clan was Gunni
Olafson who was given sanctuary in Lewis, a Viking island
until 1266, by the MacLeods after he had been expelled from
Orkney. The clan had an earlier base near Ullapool (see entry).
The Dunbartonshire, or Ardincaple, clan name means `son of
Amhalghaidh', an old GOIDELIC name. Their lands are covered by the
place-name Rosneth on the map.
MacBEAN, MacBAIN
NAME ON MAP:
MacBHEATHAIN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Inverness MEANING: `son of
Beathan'; the name is a diminutive of GOIDELIC beath `life'. See
the entry for Clan Chattan.
MacCOLL
NAME ON MAP: MacCOLL (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Coll'. (The name
just possibly derives from GOIDELIC coileán `young dog, youth'.)
Tradition has it that the clan was a branch of the MacDonalds who used
the name Coll extensively.
MacDONALD
NAME ON MAP: CLAN
DOMNALLACH (in GAELIC) (in the old county of) Hebrides, Inverness MEANING: until
the 16th century the name was Clan Dhomhnuill or Domnallach `of
the Donalds': only the chief was known as MacDhomnuill `son of
Donald'. The personal name derives from GOIDELIC dubno `world' and
val- `might, rule'. Grandson to Somerled (killed 1164), the
half-Viking king of the Hebrides and Argyll, Donald was the
son of Ranald and his second wife, daughter of Olaf, King of
Man. Donald, his son Angus and his grandson Angus Og
were effectively independant princes and when Angus Og supported
Robert the Bruce he considered himself an equal. Angus Og's son,
John, was the first to assume the title `Lord of the Isles' and it
was John's son Archibald or Ranald who was the founder of
Clan Ranald (after the date of this map).
MacDONELL OF
GLENGARRY this clan descended from Donald, son of Ranald and is
therefore too late to appear on the map. See the previous entry.
Glengarry is shown as Glen-garech.
MacDOUGALL
NAME ON
MAP: MacDHÚGHAILL (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of
Dubhghall'; the name derives from GOIDELIC bubh `dark' and
ghall `foreigner'. Dougal, one of the three sons of
Somerled (killed 1164), the half-Viking king of the Hebrides and
Argyll, received as a part of his portion the lands of Lorn and
was styled Lord of Argyll. The family opposed Robert the Bruce and
in one skirmish almost captured him; he only escaped by discarding his cloak and
brooch. The Brooch of Lorn is still in the clan's hands today. After
Bannockburn the family was deprived of their lands by the king. Although
a portion of these lands was restored within a century, but the clan was never
as powerful again as it had been in former times. See the entry for
MacArthur.
MacDOWALL
NAME ON MAP: MacDHÚGHAILL (in GAELIC )
(in the old county of) Wigtown MEANING: see the previous entry; the clans were
not related. It is possible that in this case Dougal was one of the
ancient Lords of Galloway. The modern form Dowall rather than
Dougal is interesting in view of the clan's proximity to Ireland,
where Dhúghaill has become Doyle.
MacDUFF
NAME ON MAP:
MacDUF (in the old county of) Fife DATE: 12th century MEANING: `son of
Dhubh'; the name meaning `dark' was probably a shortening of another
name. The chiefs of the clan were earls of Fife from the late 11th
century and it is thought they descend from Aedh, Abbot of
Dunkeld, the elder brother of three kings: Edgar, Alexander I
and David I. As a cleric, Aedh, was unable to assume the throne.
Second in precedence in the kingdom, the family had the honour of enthroning the
king at Scone. In 1306, the chief's elder sister Isabel gallantly
deputised for her brother, who had been forced to become a ward of the
English king, Edward I, and officiated at Robert the
Bruce's coronation. Edward's revenge included displaying her in a
lattice cage at Berwick Castle.
MacEWEN
NAME ON MAP:
MacEóGHAINN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of
Eóghann'; the name probably meant `youth'. Eóghain na h-Oitrich `Ewen
of the Otter' was one of the early chiefs whose castle controlled traffic on
Loch Fyne.
MacFARLANE
NAME ON MAP: MacPHARLAIN (in GAELIC )
(in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Parlan'; the name is a
contraction of GOIDELIC Partholon, which possibly derives from bar
`sea' and tola `waves'. It was later Anglicized as Bartholomew.
The founder of the clan is believed to have lived during the reign of David
II (1329-71) and have descended from a younger son of an Earl of
Lennox.
MacFIE
NAME ON MAP: MacDHUBH-SHITHE (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Argyll (Colonsay) MEANING: `son of Dhubhshith'; the name
derives from GOIDELIC dubh `dark' and shith `peace'. The name
appears in the 13th century as MacDufthi. The clan lived on
Colonsay and provided the Hereditary Keeper the Records to the
MacDonalds.
MacGILLIVRAY
NAME ON MAP: MacGHILLE-BRATHE (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Inverness MEANING: `son of
Ghille-brathe'; the name means 'servant of judgement or doom'. The clan's
original homeland was in Argyll, but a 16th century historian records
that in c.1270 Gillevray pledged himself and his family to the
Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan and settled in the area south east
of Inverness. This was probably a response to the conquests of
Alexanders II and III. See the entry for Clan
Chattan.
MacGREGOR
NAME ON MAP: MacGRIOGHAIR (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Grioghair; the name
Gregor(y) derives from GREEK `to be watchful'. The clan's motto
`S'rioghal mo dhream' `Royal is my race' attests to the tradition that it
descended from a brother or son of the 9th century King Kenneth MacAlpin.
It is more probable that the name comes from Gregor `of the Golden
Bridles' in the 14th century. The clan's turbulent history was dictated by
the fact that their homeland was situated in the heartland of Campbell
country.
MacINNES
NAME ON MAP: MacAONGHAIS (in GAELIC ) (in the old
county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Aonghais; the name means `unique
choice'. The clan was closely allied to the MacGillivrays in
Morven at an early date and remained there after their allies migrated
east. See the entry for MacGillivray.
MacINTYRE
NAME ON MAP:
Mac an TSAOIR (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: GAELIC `son of
the carpenter'. The clan may possibly have originated in Kintyre or the
Hebrides, but settled in Glenoe in the 14th century, where they
became foresters to the Stewarts who had become Lords of
Lorn.
MacKAY
NAME ON MAP: MacAOIDH, CLANN MHIC MORGAINN (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Sutherland MEANING: `son of Aodh (or
Aedh)'; the name means `fire'. The clan seems to descended from the old
ruling house of Moray. Malcolm, chief in the 12th century, may
have married Somerled's sister. (Somerled (killed 1164), was the
half-Viking king of the Hebrides and Argyll.) Malcolm's
grandson Kenneth was killed in a rebellion against William the
Lion (1165-1214). It was under Kenneth's son and grandson that the
clan moved to the Durness area, where they became bitter rivals of the
Sutherlands. The early MacKays were also known as Clann mhic
Morgainn.
MacKENDRICK, see HENDERSON
MacKENZIE
NAME ON
MAP: MacCOINNICH (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ross and Cromarty MEANING:
`son of Coinneach'; the name derived from GOIDELIC cann `fair'.
The clan probably descends from Gilleoin of the Aird and was thus
connected to the old ruling house of Ross. Most of the family's vast
territory was barren and its political influence, therefore, was less than it
would appear from the map.
MacKINNON
NAME ON MAP: MacFHIONGHUIN (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Mull, Skye MEANING: `son of Fhionnghan';
the name Fingon probably means `fair-born'. The family probably
originally controlled most of Mull and Iona, but lost out to the
MacLeans in the 14th century. They still, however, provided many abbots
of Iona.
MacKINTOSH
NAME ON MAP: Mac an TOISICH (in GAELIC )
(in the old county of) Inverness MEANING: `son of the chief'. The clan is
believed to have descended from the early MacDuffs. The marriage of the
6th chief to Eva the heiress to Clan Chattan in c.1291 brought the
clan to a dominant position within Clan Chattan for many generations. See
the entries for Clan Chattan and Shaw
(Highland).
MacLACHLAN
NAME ON MAP: MacLACHLAINN (in GAELIC ) (in
the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of Lachlan'; the name possibly
derived from GOIDELIC laochail `warlike'. There is a tradition that the
clan descends from the O'Neill kings of Ulster. Lachlan Mor
(`the Great') is recorded in the 13th century and Gileskel McLachlan
in 1292.
MacLAINE of LOCHBUIE (in the old county of) Argyll (Mull) DATE:
too late to be shown on this map MEANING: see the entry for MacLean. The
progenitor of this now separate branch of the MacLean clan was Eachan
Reaganach `Hector the stubborn' who resented his younger brother Lachlan
Lùbanach `Lachlan the astute' being chosen as clan chief, although this was
perfectly legal under a system known as `tanistry'. He was granted the lands of
Loch Buie by John, 1st Lord of the Isles in the second half of the
14th century, just after the date of this map. Lochbuie (Lochbowe)
is shown.
MacLAREN
NAME ON MAP: MacLABHRUINN (in GAELIC ) (in the old
county of) Perth MEANING: `son of Labhran; the name, the GOIDELIC form of
Lawrence, probably derives ultimately from LATIN `bay tree'. He seems to
have been a medieval abbot of Achtow. Traditionly the clan trace their
ancestry to Loarn, one of the three sons of Erc, who with his
brothers Fergus and Angus came from Ireland (which had been
called Scotia by the Romans) in the 5th or 6th centuries to found
the a new Scots kingdom across the sea.
MacLEAN
NAME ON MAP:
MacGHILLE EOIN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll (Mull) MEANING: `son
of the servant of (St.) John'. The earliest GOIDELIC form of John
was Eathain; Eoin, the later form, has now become Iain. The
clan descended from Old Dugald of Scone, and may have been moved
west by Malcolm IV. Seven generations later Gilleathain na Tuaighe
`Gillean of the battleaxe' fought against the Vikings at the Battle of
Largs; the clan adopted his name. His grandson, Malcolm, fought for
Bruce at Bannockburn and his great-grandson, Iain Dubh `the
Black', was chief when the clan was granted the lands of Duart. See
the entry for MacLaine.
MacLENNAN, LOGAN
NAME ON MAP:
MacGILL'INNEIN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ross and Cromarty MEANING:
`son of (St.) Fillan's servant'. The Lowland Logans (not shown)
derived their name from Logan in Ayrshire. For the Highland
Logans it is necessary to have recourse to a clan legend; apparently the
Frasers killed Gilligorm the chief of a small clan in Easter
Ross and broke the bones of his young son. Crotair `hunchback'
MacGilligorm grew up and was nicknamed Lobhaireacan `stunted',
thus Logan. He migrated west to Kintail and became a priest,
dedicating his son to St. Fillan. CELTIC priests were allowed to marry
and the story might just be true.
MacLEOD
NAME ON MAP:
MacLEÓID (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Skye, Lewis, Ross & Cromarty
MEANING: `son of Leòd'. The name is OLD NORSE Ljotr `ugly'; he was
one of the sons of Olav the Black, who was King of Man and the
Isles (1225-37), and was brought up by Paal Baalkeson, Olav's
sheriff in Skye. On his foster father's death in 1231 and Olav's
in 1237, he inherited extensive lands in Skye, Lewis and the
mainland. He obtained Dunvegan Castle by marriage. The MacLeods
are really two separate clans, named after Leòd's two eldest sons,
Tormod and Torquil.
MacMILLAN
NAME ON MAP:
MacGHILLE-MHAOLAIN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Perth MEANING: `son of
the bald or tonsured servant', ie. the cleric or the abbot. It seems to have
been a Celtic family in the Moray area; An Gillemaol living
near Elgin appears in The Book of Deer at 1132; his son
Malcolm is recorded in 1150. The clan was moved by David I to
Lochaber at this time and then in c.1160 was moved to Loch Tay (as
shown on the map) where they remained for two centuries before being driven out
once more to settle in the Kintail area.
MacNAB
NAME ON MAP:
Mac an ABA (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Perth MEANING: `son of the
abbot'. The clan descended from the abbots of Glendochart who had
considerable local status and power. The MacNabs supported the
MacDougalls (see entry) against Robert the Bruce and like them
suffered after Bannockburn; possibly because of their connection with the
church, however, they were not deprived of all their lands, being allowed to
retain Bovain in Glendochart.
MacNAUGHTON
NAME ON MAP:
MacNEACHDAINN (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of
Neachdainn'; the name BRYTHONIC Nechtan derives from nech
`pure, washed'. The family originated in Lorn and in 1247 Gillecrist
Mac Nachtan, son of Malcolm, the first recorded chief, was granted
the church of Kilmorich; in 1267 he gained possession of Fraoch Eilean
Castle in Loch Awe. At 1300 the clan's lands lay between Loch
Awe and Loch Fyne. Like the MacNabs (see above) they opposed
Bruce and lost much land; they recovered most of it, however, under
Bruce's successor.
MacNEIL
NAME ON MAP: MacNÉILL (in GAELIC )
(in the old county of) Hebrides, Outer Hebrides MEANING: `son of Nèill';
the name may have meant `champion'. There are two separate branches of the clan:
the MacNeils of Barra and the MacNeils of Gigha. Tradition traces
their descent from the 5th century Irish king, Niall of the Nine
Hostages, but there is no proof other than a story which claims such
antiquity for the clan that one of the early chiefs refused space on the
Ark on the grounds that, `the MacNeil had his own boat'. Neil
Og MacNeil of Barra supported Robert the Bruce and was granted land
by him in Kintyre. The MacNeils of Gigha, the minor branch of the
clan, are best remembered as pirates.
MacNICOL, NICHOLSON
NAME ON
MAP: MacNEACAIL (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ross & Cromarty, Skye
MEANING: `son of Nicol'; the name derives from LATIN Nicolaus,
itself derived from the GREEK, `victory of the people'. The MacNicols
shown are of the West Highland clan; many of have become
Nicholsons, but they are totally unrelated to the more numerous
Lowland Nicholsons.
MacPHERSON
NAME ON MAP: MacMHUIRICH (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Inverness MEANING: `son of the parson'. The clan
descended from Ewen Ban, son of Muirach, an early chief of Clan
Chattan, and the daughter of the Thane of Cawdor. Ewen Ban had
been parson of Kingussie before becoming chief and the clan became known
as MacMhuirich `son of Muirach' or Mac a'Phearsoin `son of
the parson'. The name shown on the map is MacMhuirich as it was not until
the 15th century that Donald Mhor adopted the modern
form.
MacQUARRIE
NAME ON MAP: MacGUADHRE (in GAELIC ) (in the old
county of) Argyll (Island of Ulva) MEANING: `son of Guaire'; the name
means `proud, noble'. Traditionally the clan descends from Cormac Mor who
fought alongside Alexander II during his invasion of the Western
Highlands in 1249.
MacQUEEN, MacSWAN, MacSWEEN
NAME ON MAP:
MacSHUIBHNE (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of
Shuibhne'; the name means `good going'. The clan was associated with the
MacDonalds at an early date and gave its name to Castle Sween in
Argyll.
MacRAE
NAME ON MAP: MacRATH (in GAELIC ) (in the old
county of) Inverness MEANING: `son of grace'. The clan lived in the
Beauly district until the mid-14th century, then migrated west to
Kintail where they became closely associated with the
MacKenzies.
MAITLAND
NAME ON MAP: MAUTELAND (in the old county
of) Berwick DATE: c.1240 MEANING: it is NORMAN-FRENCH, but there are two
possible meanings. If the name came from the place-name Mautalant in
Normandy it would have meant `unproductive (soil)'; if it was a nickname
it would have meant `discourteous, rude'. Sir Richard de Mauteland
married the heiress to the lands of Thurlestane in the time of
Alexander II (1214-49).
MALCOLM, MacCALLUM
NAME ON MAP: Mac
MHAOL CHALUIM (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Argyll MEANING: `son of a
follower of (St.) Columba'; GOIDELIC mhaol means 'bald, tonsured'.
There may originally have been two separate clans, but insufficient early
records exist to confirm this.
MATHESON
NAME ON MAP: MacMHATHAIN (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland MEANING: 'son of
Matthew'; the name ultimately derives from HEBREW `gift of
Jehovah'. Cormac MacMhathain possibly took part in the Battle
of Largs in 1263.
MAXWELL
NAME ON MAP: MAXUEL (in the old county
of) Dumfries DATE: 1424 MEANING: "Maccus' OLD ENGLISH wael
`stream, spring": a territorial name. One tradition locates this as a salmon
pool on the Tweed, Maccus being a Saxon who obtained land
here before 1150. Another tradition identifies Maccus as a Viking
associate of David I. Johannes de Makeswell was Chamberlain of
Scotland in c.1230; a descendant, Sir Eustace, held Caerlaverock
Castle for Edward II, but changed sides to fight for Robert the
Bruce at Bannockburn.
MENZIES
NAME ON MAP: MENYERS OLD
COUNTIES: Dumfries, Perth, DATE: 1249 MEANING: either from NORMAN-FRENCH
mesnières `servants, tenants' or from the place-name Mesnières in
Normandy. Sir Robert de Menyers was Chamberlain of Scotland
in 1240 and held land in Tayside as well as the lands of Durisdeer
in the borders. The letter -z- represents the obsolete letter yogh
(shaped like a 3 and pronounced gh). The name is pronouced
Mingis.
MOFFAT
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
Nicholas de Mufet witnessed a charter before 1232.
MONCREIFFE
NAME ON MAP: MONCREFFE (in the old county of) Perth DATE: 1296 MEANING:
GOIDELIC monadh craoidhe `hill of the [sacred?] tree'; a territorial name
from the barony. It has been suggested that the family may have descended
Maldred, brother of the King Duncan I who was killed by
MacBeth in 1040. William de Monnecrefe reluctantly swore fealty to
Edward I in 1296.
MONTGOMERY
NAME ON MAP: MUNDEGUMRI (in the
old county of) Renfrew DATE: c.1170 MEANING: from Sainte Foi de
Montgomery in Normandy. The place-name meant "hill of [a
Norman called] Man powerful". Robert de Mundegumri,
great-great-grandson of William the Conqueror's companion Roger,
was granted land at Eaglesham in the 12th century.
MORRISON
NAME ON MAP: MacGHILLE MHOIRE (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Lewis
MEANING: `son of the servant of (the Virgin) Mary'. Tradition has it that
the clan's founder was an illegitimate son of the Viking, King Olav of
Man and the Isles. The young man was shipwrecked on Lewis and married
the heiress of Clan Gow. The family held hereditary office as
Brehon judges, giving the clan an influence disproportionate to its size
and location.
MUNRO
NAME ON MAP: MONRO (in the old county of) Ross
and Cromarty DATE: 1314 MEANING: `man of (or from) Ro'. It has been
suggested that Ro refers to a place on the river Roe in
Ulster. The clan were vassals of the earls of Ross. Robert de
Monro fought for Robert the Bruce at
Bannockburn.
MURRAY
NAME ON MAP: DE MORAVIA (in the old county
of) Perth DATE: 1317 MEANING: a territorial name from the province of
Moray or Moravia which had originally been a Celtic kingdom
embracing a large area around Inverness. The founder of the clan was
probably Freskin, a Fleming, who was given land in Moray by
David I (1124-53) and married into the old Celtic Mormaer family.
Others suggest the clan may descend from the Mormaers directly.
William de Moravia witnessed a charter in 1203 and Sir Andrew de
Moravia rendered homage in 1317. See the entry for
Sutherland.
NAPIER
NAME ON MAP: NAPER (in the old county of)
Dunbarton DATE: 1296 MEANING: tradition has it that Donald, the younger
son of the Earl of Lennox, once saved the day for the King of
Scots in battle and in gratitude the king dubbed him `nae peer', that is
`without equal'. Napier, however, was a MIDDLE ENGLISH name for the man
responsible for the royal linen and this may well be the true meaning. A John
le Naper rendered homage to Edward I in 1296.
OGILVY
NAME
ON MAP: OGILVIN (in the old county of) Angus DATE: c.1205 MEANING: the name is
territorial: probably BRYTHONIC ocel `high' with BRYTHONIC ma, fa
`plain' or GOIDELIC bheinn `hill'. Gilbert, son of
Gillebride, the 1st earl of Angus was granted a charter for the
lands between 1172-77.
OLIPHANT
NAME ON MAP: OLIFAUNT (in the old
county of) Fife DATE: 13th century MEANING: David Holifard, a
Norman, saved the life of David I at Winchester in 1141
when he was living in England and was rewarded with a grant of land in
Scotland. The change of name is believed to have been influenced by
stories of `earth-shaking beasts' brought back by the
Crusaders.
RAMSAY
NAME ON MAP: RAMSAY (in the old county of)
Midlothian DATE: 1342 MEANING: the name comes from Ramsey in
Huntingdonshire, England and derives from OLD ENGLISH
hramsa `wild garlic' eg `island'. Simund de Ramesie
witnessed a charter in Scotland in c.1153-75, William de Rammeseye
rendered homage in 1296 and Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie was
starved to death by Sir William Douglas at Hermitage Castle in
1342.
RATTRAY
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY: GOIDELIC
rath `hill fort' tref `dwelling'. Sir Thomas de Rettre was
involved in a dispute with the abbot of Arbroath in
1253.
ROBERTSON
NAME ON MAP: CLAN DONNACHAIDH (in GAELIC ) (in the
old county of) Perth MEANING: NORMAN-FRENCH (originally GERMANIC ) Robert
`fame bright'. The clan takes its name from Robert Riabhach or
Grizzled Robert, chief of Clan Duncan, who sprang to fame in 1451
by bringing to justice the murderers of James I. This feat is
commemorated in the clan's crest badge of a hand holding a crown aloft. The map
shows the original clan name. See the entry for Duncan.
ROLLO
NAME ON MAP: ROLLO (in the old county of) Perth (inset map) DATE: 1382
MEANING: a diminutive form of the OLD GERMAN name Hrodulf derived from
hrothi `fame' and vulf `wolf'; the forms Rolf and
Rudolf are perhaps more familiar. A John Rollo was recorded in
Perthshire in 1382 and it is probable that the family was established
there somewhat earlier.
ROSE
NAME ON MAP: ROS (in the old county of)
Nairn DATE: 1280 MEANING: one tradition traces the name from Ros in
Normandy. It was brought to England by a follower of Odo,
Bishop of Bayeux in 1066. Descendants later moved to Scotland where a
Hugh de Ros is recorded in Nairn in the 1280s. It is just as
probable, however, that the name has the same origin as Ross.
ROSS
NAMES ON MAP: RÓS and CLANN ANDRIAS (in GAELIC ) (in the old county of)
Ross and Cromarty MEANING: a territorial name from the old province of
Ross: BRYTHONIC ros `a moor' or GOIDELIC ros `a headland'.
Traditionally the clan descends from Fearchar Mac an-t-sagairt `son of a
priest' of Applecross, who supported Alexander II (1214-49) and
was created Earl of Ross in c.1234. His grandson, William, fought
for Bruce at Bannockburn.
RUTHVEN
NAME ON MAP: ROTHEUEN
OLD COUNTIES: Perth and Angus (inset map) DATE: 1284 MEANING: a territorial name
from the barony in Angus; probably GOIDELIC ruadh bheinn `red
mountain'. The family descends from Swan, son of Thor, son of
Swein in the 12th century. Walter de Rotheuen, the first to use
the name, witnessed a charter in 1244.
SCOTT
NAME ON MAP: LE SCOT (in
the old county of) Roxburgh DATE: 1296 MEANING: see the entry for
Scotland. The first on record is Uchtred filius Scot who witnessed
a the foundation charter of Selkirk in c.1120. His grandsons,
Richard and Michael, were the ancestors of the Dukes of
Buccleuch and of the Scots of Balwearie respectively. The name
generally appears as Le Scot or Lescot for the next three
centuries.
SCRYMGEOUR
NAME ON MAP: SKIRMESCHUR (in the old county of)
Angus, Fife DATE: 1297 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH skrymsher `swordsman',
from OLD FRENCH eskermisor. It is likely that the family was originally
based in Fife, but in 1297 Sir Alexander Skirmeschur was granted
the lands in Angus and created Constable of Dundee by William
Wallace after his valiant services as Hereditary Bannerman (Standard
Bearer) at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
SEMPILL
NAME ON
MAP: SEMPILL (in the old county of) Renfrewshire (inset map). DATE: 1280
MEANING: the name may come from St Paul, a common place-name in
France, but may be NORMAN-FRENCH simple `honest, guileless'.
Robert de Sempill witnessed a charter by the Earl of Lennox in
c.1280.
SHAW, SCHAW (Lowland)
NAME ON MAP: SHAWE (in the old county
of) Renfrewshire DATE: 1296 MEANING: from OLD ENGLISH scaga `copse,
grove'. Early spellings from the Renfrew area include: de Schau,
1284, and de Schawe, de Shawe and de Schawe in
1296.
SHAW (Highland), SETH, MacAY
NAME ON MAP: SCAYTH (in the old
county of) Invernesshire DATE: 1338 MEANING: a member of the Clan Chattan
confederation, the clan's origins, like those of the closely related Clan
MacKintosh, go back to the very early MacDuffs who, although based in
Fife, had enormous estates in the north. Both clan names contain GOIDELIC
toiseach `chief', a word which derives from an old INDO-EUROPEAN root,
the basis of words such as shah, tsar, caesar and
kaiser. The name has a wider variety of forms than any other
Scottish surname: Sceth, Seth, Sheath and
Shay are obvious derivatives, but the fact that the genitive form of
Shaw was pronounced Ay means that MacAy, Ayson and
Easson are also members of the clan. The clan was probably known as
Clann Ay in the 14th century, but versions of Shaw was current at
the time. The spelling on the map is Scayth, recorded in 1338. In the
next century three individuals appear with their names spelt Scheo, Scheho,
Schetho, Schethou, Schethow, Scheoch, Schethock and
Scheok.
SINCLAIR
NAME ON MAP: ST CLARE (in the old county of)
Midlothian DATE: 12th century (in LATIN ) MEANING: a territorial name from
St. Clare in Normandy. William de Sancto Claro received the
barony of Roslyn in the 12th century. Sir Henry St Clair fought
for Bruce and his son was killed by the Moors in Spain
while accompanying Sir James Douglas as he tried to take the heart of
Bruce to Jerusalem. The great Sinclair holdings in
Caithness came by marriage to the heiress to the Earl of Orkney,
in c.1350, and many Caithness retainers adopted the clan
name.
SKENE
NAME ON MAP: SKENE (in the old county of) Aberdeen DATE:
1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC sceathin `bush'. Traditionally the ancestor of the
clan was the younger son of Robertson of Struan who saved the
king's life by killing a wolf. He was rewarded with the lands of Skene.
Robert de Skene supported Robert the Bruce and received a charter
erecting the lands into a barony.
SPENS
NAME ON MAP: SPENS (in the
old county of) Fife DATE: 1260 MEANING: from MIDDLE ENGLISH spence,
derived from NORMAN-FRENCH despense `butler, dispenser of provisions'.
The name appears in various forms from the 13th century generally in
Fife. John de Spense together with other merchants lost money when
a ship was lost near Newcastle in 1365.
STEWART
NAME ON MAP:
STEWARD (in the old county of) Lanark DATE: 13th century MEANING: `steward,
keeper of the household'. In the early 12th century Alan Fitz Flaad came
to England from Brittany. He settled in Shropshire. His
elder son, William FitzAlan was ancestor to the present Duke of
Norfolk; his younger, Walter went to Scotland where he was
appointed High Steward of Scotland by David I (1124-53). The
office was later made hereditary. Walter, the 6th Steward, who had
commanded a wing of Bruce's army at Bannockburn, married
Marjorie, Bruce's daughter; their son, Robert, succeeded
his uncle and became the first of the Stewart kings. See the entry for
Wallace.
STIRLING
NAME ON MAP: see under place-names. HISTORY:
Gilbertus de Striuelin witnessed David I's gift of the lands of
Perdeyc (Partick) to the church of Glasgow in
1136.
SUTHERLAND
NAME ON MAP: CLAN MHUIRICH and SUTHERLARACH (in
GAELIC ) (in the old county of) Sutherland MEANING: from OLD NORSE
sudrland `southern land', ie. south of the Orkneys. Traditionally
the clan, like the Murrays, is believed to have descended from the
Flemish nobleman, Freskin. William de Moravia was created
1st Earl of Sutherland in about 1235. The 5th earl married Robert the
Bruce's daughter Margaret; their son might have gained the throne had
he not died of plague.
URQUHART
NAME ON MAP: URQUHART (in the old
county of) Ross and Cromarty DATE: 1358 MEANING: a territorial name (see
place-name). The clan's early history is obscure, but at the beginning of the
14th century William de Urchard was Sheriff of Cromarty. Adam
Urquhart had a grant of the sheriffdom of Crombathie in
1358.
WALLACE
NAME ON MAP: WALLEIS (in the old county of) Ayr/Renfrew
(inset map) DATE: 13th century MEANING: Welsh. Ultimately the name
derives from ANGLO-SAXON walas `foreigner', the term applied by the
Anglo-Saxons to any inhabitants of Britain who couldn't speak
their language. The family's ancestor may have been a Welshman who
accompanied Walter FitzAlan (see the entry for Stewart) when he
came north from Shropshire, England, or he may have been a native
from the old British kingdom of Strathclyde. Richard
Walensis of Riccarton was recorded in c.1170. His
great-great-grandson, born in 1274, was the great patriot William Wallace
(see historical introduction).
PLACE-NAMES APPEARING ON THE MAP
ABERARGIE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Aberargie EARLIEST RECORD: Apurfeirt DATE: c.970 MEANING: from BRYTHONIC
aber `mouth of a river' and feargach `fierce'. As the 970 record
is both very early and corrupted, a probable spelling is shown on the
map.
ABERCHALDER (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Abbircaledouer DATE: 1238 MEANING: BRYTHONIC aber `mouth of a river' and
an uncertain river name ending in BRYTHONIC dobhar `stream'.
ABERCHIRDER (in the old county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Abirkerdor
DATE: 1291 EARLIEST RECORD: Aberkerdouer DATE: 1291 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC
aber `mouth' [of a] GOIDELIC chiar `dark' BRYTHONIC dobhar
`stream'".
ABERCORN (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Abourcorn DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Aebbercurnig DATE: c.720 MEANING:
BRYTHONIC corniog `horned' aber `mouth of a
river'.
ABERCROMBIE (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Abbercrumby DATE: 1270 EARLIEST RECORD: Abercrumbi DATE: a.1165 MEANING: from
BRYTHONIC aber, here probably meaning `marsh', and crumb
`crooked'.
ABERDALGIE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP:
Aberdalgy DATE: 1348 EARLIEST RECORD: Abirdaglyn DATE: 1150 MEANING: BRYTHONIC
aber `river mouth' with GOIDELIC dealg `thorns'.
ABERDEEN
(in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Aberden DATE: 1214 EARLIEST
RECORD: Abberdeon DATE: 1100 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC aber `mouth' [of the]
Don". Don is a common river name throughout Europe and means
`water'. The settlement has spread south over the centuries and is now located
on the Dee rather than the Don.
ABERDOUR (in the old county
of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Abirdaur DATE: 1126 MEANING: from BRYTHONIC
aber `mouth of a river' and dobhar `water,
stream'.
ABERDOUR (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Aberdour (a conjectural spelling) EARLIEST RECORD: Abbordoboir DATE: 12th
century MEANING: "BRYTHONIC aber `mouth' [of the] Dour". The river
name derives from BRYTHONIC dobhar `water, stream'.
ABERLADY (in
the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Abirleuedy DATE: 1328 EARLIEST
RECORD: Aberlessic, in the Life of Kentigern MEANING: BRYTHONIC
aber `mouth of a river' followed, possibly, by a reference to the
Virgin Mary. There is an appropriate chapel there, but lady (an
ANGLO-SAXON word deriving from hlaf `dough' and a verb-root gig-
`to kneed') is a surprising word to find with aber. It is probably a
corruption of an earlier BRYTHONIC name.
ABERNETHY (in the old county of
Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Abernithi DATE: 1130 EARLIEST RECORD: Aburnethige DATE:
c.970 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC aber `mouth' [of the] Nethey"; the river
name may derive from GOIDELIC an eitighich `gullet', but Nedd and
Nidd, possibly meaning `shining', occur as BRYTHONIC river names in
England and Wales.
ABOYNE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Obeyn DATE: 1282 MEANING: "river of the white cow": from
GOIDELIC abh (the root of abhain `river'), bo `cow' and
bhán `white'. The first element might be ath `ford'. See the entry
for Boyndie.
ACKERGILL (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP:
Akirgill DATE: 1567 MEANING: OLD NORSE acr `field' and gil
`ravine'. Although the 1567 record is late, tradition has it that the
Keiths gained their land in Caithness by marriage to the heiress
to the Cheynes of Ackergill in the 14th century.
AIRTH (in
the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Erth DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD:
Hereth DATE: 1128 MEANING: GOIDELIC airidh, here meaning `level pasture
among hills'.
ALFORD (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Afford DATE: c.1200 MEANING: probably from GOIDELIC ath `ford' and
ard `high'. If the name is as late, however, it might be OLD ENGLISH
alor `alder' and `ford'.
ALLOA (in the old county of Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Alwey DATE: 1347 MEANING: GOIDELIC aileach `rocky' or
ail `rock' with mhagh `plain'.
ALLOWAY (in the old county
of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Auleway DATE: 1302-4 EARLIEST RECORD: Auilway DATE:
1236 MEANING: same as Alloa.
ALNESS (in the old county of Ross
& Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Alenes DATE: 1226 MEANING: a river name which
is BRYTHONIC or, possibly, PRE-CELTIC and may mean `holy, mighty'.
ALVA
(in the old county of Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Alwthe DATE: 1301 EARLIEST
RECORD: Alueth DATE: c.1180 MEANING: same as Alloa.
ALYTH (in the
old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Alyth DATE: 1327 EARLIEST RECORD: Alicht
DATE: a.1249 MEANING: from GOIDELIC aileach `rocky place'.
ANCRUM
(in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Ankrom DATE: 1275 EARLIEST
RECORD: Alnecrumba DATE: c.1116 MEANING: from either GOIDELIC crom or OLD
ENGLISH crumb, both of which mean `crooked', and the river name
Ale, possibly deriving from GOIDELIC aluin `fair,
lovely'.
ANGUS (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Anegos DATE:
c.1175 EARLIEST RECORD: Engus DATE: a.1150 MEANING: from an early
Scottish or Pictish king called Aonghas: the name means
`unique choice'. It is possible that it refers to Angus, the son or
Erc, who with his two brothers, Fergus and Loarn, came to
Scotland from Dalriada (Ulster) in the 5th or 6th
centuries.
ANNAN (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Annan
DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Anava DATE: 7th century MEANING: an old river name
probably related to a BRYTHONIC root-word simply meaning
`water'.
ANSTRUTHER (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Aynestrother DATE: 1270 EARLIEST RECORD: Anestrothir DATE: c.1205 MEANING:
GOIDELIC an `the' sruthair `stream'.
ANWOTH (in the old
county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Anewith DATE: c.1200 MEANING:
uncertain.
APPLECROSS (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME
ON MAP: Appillcroce DATE: 1510 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC aber `mouth' [of the]
Crossan"; the river name means `little cross'. St Maelrubha
founded the monastery here in AD 673.
ARBROATH (in the old county of
Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Abbirbroth DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Aberbrothoc
DATE: 1178 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC aber `mouth' [of the] Brothock",
from GOIDELIC brothach `boiling, turbulent'.
ARBUTHNOTT (in the
old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Aberbothenoth DATE: 1206 EARLIEST
RECORD: Aberbuthenot(h) DATE: 1202 MEANING: BRYTHONIC aber here meaning
`marsh' and, possibly, GOIDELIC baothanaich `silly
fellow'.
ARDNAMURCHAN (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP:
Ardenmurich DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Art Muirchol DATE: a.700 MEANING:
probably "GOIDELIC ard `height, headland' of muirchon `sea-hounds,
otters'", but GOIDELIC muir-chol `sea-sins', ie. `piracy', is a romantic
alternative.
ARDROSSAN (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Ardrossan DATE: 1375 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ard `height' [of the]
rosan `little headland'".
ARGYLL (the name does not appear on the
map) EARLIEST RECORD: Arregaithel DATE: 970 MEANING: "GOIDELIC oirer
`coastland' of the Gaels". These were the immigrants from Ireland
(called Scotia by the Romans), who came to Scotland (then
called Caledonia or Alba), bringing their name with
them.
ARISAIG (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Ariseg
DATE: a.1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Arasech DATE: 1250 MEANING: OLD NORSE ár
`of the river', ós `mouth' and vik, vágr `bay'.
ARNGASK (in
the old county of Kinross)
NAME ON MAP: Ardgrosc DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD:
Arringrosk DATE: c.1147 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ard `height' [of] an
`the' croisg `crossing, pass'".
AROS (in the old county of Argyll
(Mull))
NAME ON MAP: Aros DATE: 1410 MEANING: from OLD NORSE ár `of
the river' and ós `mouth'.
ARRAN (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Aran DATE: c.1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Arran DATE: as at 1154.
MEANING: probably derived from a BRYTHONIC word related to GOIDELIC ard
`height'. The Aran Islands off Ireland derive from GOIDELIC
ára `loin, kidney', however, and it is not impossible that the names are
related.
ARROCHAR (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Arrochar
DATE: c.1350 MEANING: a unit of measurement. It is a corruption of LATIN
aratrum, literally meaning `plough', but denoting a carrucate, an
area of 104 or 160 acres.
ATHOLL (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Athole DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Atholach DATE: c.970 MEANING: possibly
"GOIDELIC ath `second' Fhodla" (a poetic name for Ireland).
It would have been a name given by the Gaels, or Scots, who came
from Ireland in the 5th or 6th centuries. "Fhodla's GOIDELIC
atha `ford'" is a possible alternative.
AUCHENBOWIE (in the old
county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Auchinbothy DATE: 1329 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
achadh `place' [of] na `the' botha
`house'".
AUCHINLECK (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Auchinlec DATE: a.1239 MEANING: "GOIDELIC achadh `place' [of] na
`the' leac `flat stone'". The local name, Affleck, is from
achadh leac.
AUCHTERARDER (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Huchtirardor DATE: 1330 EARLIEST RECORD: Eohterardeuar DATE: c.1200
MEANING: probably from GOIDELIC uachdar `upper, top', GOIDELIC ard
`high' and BRYTHONIC dobhair `water, stream'. The 1330 spelling shows an
ENGLISH attempt at the name!
AUCHTERMUCHTY (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Utremukerty DATE: 1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Vchtermukethin DATE:
1204-14 MEANING: GOIDELIC uachdar `upper, top' muc `pig'
tigh `house'; -muchty may, however, be a single element meaning
`pig place'.
AUCHTERTOOL (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Huctartule DATE: c.1240 MEANING: GOIDELIC uachdar `top' tulaich
`of the hill'. The man's name Tuathal, or Toole, (meaning `tribe
rule') is a possible alternative.
AULDEARN (in the old county of Nairn)
NAME ON MAP: Aldheren DATE: 1238 MEANING: "GOIDELIC allt `stream' of
Earn". The river name derives from eren `water'.
AULDHAME
(in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Aldeham DATE: 1094 MEANING:
OLD ENGLISH ald `old' ham `homestead'.
AVOCH (in the old
county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Auauch DATE: 1333 MEANING:
GOIDELIC abh `river' ach `place'. It is now pronounced
auch.
AYR (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Air DATE:
c.1230 EARLIEST RECORD: Ar DATE: a.1177 MEANING: from the river on which it
stands. BRYTHONIC , or possibly PRE-CELTIC , it is also found in England
(Rivers Aire, Oare) and in mainland Europe (Rivers Aar,
Ahr). It probably means `river'.
AYTON (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Aytun DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Eitun DATE: 1098 MEANING:
"OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement' [on the] Eye". The river name comes
from OLD ENGLISH ea `water, stream' or eg, ieg.
BADENOCH
(in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Badenau DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST
RECORD: Badenach DATE: 1229 MEANING: GOIDELIC bàidheanach `land liable to
flood', from bàdh `to drown'. It refers to the upper Spey
valley.
BALCOMIE (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Balcolmy
DATE: 1253 MEANING: probably "GOIDELIC baile `settlement' of [St]
Colman".
BALDERNOCK (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Baldernokis DATE: 1238 EARLIEST RECORD: Buthirnok DATE: c.1200 MEANING: either
GOIDELIC buth, both `house' or baile `settlement' with
airneach `[among] the sloes'. Compare the next entry.
BALERNO (in
the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Balernauch DATE: 1289 MEANING:
GOIDELIC baile `settlement' with airneach `[among] the sloes'.
Compare the previous entry.
BALFRON (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Buthbrene DATE: 1303 EARLIEST RECORD: Bafrone DATE: 1300
MEANING: GOIDELIC buth, both `house' or GOIDELIC baile
`settlement' with, probably, GOIDELIC fraon `sheltered place among hills'
or, possibly, GOIDELIC bhròin `house of mourning'.
BALLOCH (in the
old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Bellach DATE: 1238 EARLIEST RECORD:
Bealaigh DATE: c.1213 MEANING: GOIDELIC bealach `pass', possibly from an
earlier BRYTHONIC bwlch `pass'.
BALMERINO (in the old county of
Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Balmorinach DATE: 1227 EARLIEST RECORD: Balmerinach DATE:
c.1200 MEANING: "GOIDELIC baile `settlement' of Merinach"; the
saint is said to have accompanied St Regulus to St Andrews.
GOIDELIC mearanach `drunken, wanton' is a profane alternative! It is now
pronounced bamérnie.
BALMORAL (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Bouchmorale DATE: 1451 MEANING: possibly "GOIDELIC baile
`settlement' [in the] GOIDELIC mór `big' BRYTHONIC ial
`clearing'", but the mixture of languages is uncomfortable.
BALQUIDDER
(in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Boffodyr DATE: 1304 EARLIEST
RECORD: Buffudre DATE: 1266 MEANING: GOIDELIC buth, both `house' or
GOIDELIC baile `settlement' with GOIDELIC fiuder, a corruption of
OLD ENGLISH fodor `fodder'.
BANCHORY DEVENICH (in the old county
of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Banchery defnyk DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC
beannachar `place [surrounded] by peaks'. St Devinicus was a
contemporary of St Columba who preached as a missionary in
Caithness.
BANCHORY TERVAN (in the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Bancheritarny DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC beannachar
`place [surrounded] by peaks'. St Ternan was a convert of St
Ninian (see the entry for St Ninian's Chapel).
BANFF (in the old
county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Banffe DATE: 1291 EARLIEST RECORD: Banef DATE:
c.1136 MEANING: probably from an early name of the River Deveron. It is
likely to be BRYTHONIC or even PRE-CELTIC and its meaning is unknown. However, a
word related to GOIDELIC banbh `pig' should not be excluded as a possible
origin; various other rivers are called after animals.
BANNOCKBURN (in
the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Bannockburn DATE: 1314 EARLIEST
RECORD: Vtred Banoc DATE: 1215 MEANING: BRYTHONIC ban oc `white stream'
with MIDDLE ENGLISH burn `burn, stream'.
BARRA (in the old county
of Inverness (Outer Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Barrich DATE: 1292 EARLIEST
RECORD: Barru DATE: a.1100 MEANING: possibly named by his disciples after St
Barr (c.560-c.615), bishop of Cork, Ireland. There was once a church
here dedicated to the saint. However, "Hilly island", from GOIDELIC barr
`top, headland' and OLD NORSE ey `island' is more
probable.
BATHGATE (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Bathket DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Bathehet DATE: c.1160 MEANING: probably
BRYTHONIC baedd `boar' chet `wood' although BRYTHONIC bath,
both `house' has also been suggested.
BEATH (in the old county of
Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Beth DATE: 1178 MEANING: GOIDELIC beath, beith
`birch tree'.
BEATH (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Beeth
DATE: c.1140 MEANING: GOIDELIC beath, beith `birch tree'.
BEAULY
(in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Beaulieu DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST
RECORD: Prioratus de Bello Loco DATE: c.1231 MEANING: NORMAN-FRENCH `beautiful
place'. The monastery was founded in c.1231 by the Bissets; the first
record is in LATIN .
BENBECULA (in the old county of Inverness (Outer
Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Beanbeacla DATE: 1449 MEANING: uncertain: possibly
GOIDELIC beinn `mountain', although the island is relatively flat, with
GOIDELIC bauchaille `shepherd'. The second element might derive from
GOIDELIC na fhaodla `of the fords'.
BERRIEDALE (in the old county
of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Beridale DATE: 1340 EARLIEST RECORD: Berudal, in
Norse Sagas MEANING: probably from Beri, an OLD NORSE personal
name, and OLD NORSE dalr `dale, valley'.
BERWICK (in the old
county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Suth Berwyc DATE: 1187 EARLIEST RECORD:
Berwick DATE: 1097 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH berewic `barley farm'. The
stronghold changed hands regularly between the Scots and the
English, was declared neutral in 1551 and (probably for the last time)
English in 1885.
BIGGAR (in the old county of Lanarkshire)
NAME ON MAP: Bygris DATE: 1229 EARLIEST RECORD: Bigir DATE: c.1170 MEANING:
OLD NORSE bygg `barley` garthr `field'.
BIRSE (in the old
county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Brass DATE: 1170 MEANING: probably from a
river name related to GOIDELIC bras `rash, impetuous'.
BLANTYRE
(in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Blauntyr DATE: 1319 EARLIEST
RECORD: Blantthire DATE: 1290 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC blaen `edge'
and BRYTHONIC tir `land, territory'.
BO'NESS (in the old county of
West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Berwardeston DATE: 1335 MEANING: the earliest
form suggests "Beornward's OLD ENGLISH naess `headland'" (the
personal name means `warrior guardian'). A later form, Borrowstounness,
in 1649, would imply that at that date the meaning was "the headland belonging
to the borrowstoun `municipal burgh'". It was Bo'ness in
1783.
BONAR BRIDGE (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP:
Bunnach DATE: 1275 MEANING: uncertain: just possibly a MIDDLE ENGLISH corruption
of GOIDELIC am bonnàth `the bottom ford'.
BONHILL (in the old
county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Buchnwl DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD:
Buchul DATE: 1225 MEANING: GOIDELIC buth an uillt `house by the
stream'.
BONKLE (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Bonkil
DATE: 1290 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC bun coill `foot of the wood', but
GOIDELIC bun cùl `confluence ridge' has also been proposed.
BORGUE
(in the old county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Borg DATE: 1260 EARLIEST
RECORD: Worgis DATE: c.1150 MEANING: either OLD NORSE borg or OLD ENGLISH
burg `fort, fortifed manor'.
BOTHWELL (in the old county of
Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Bothwile DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Botheuill DATE:
a.1242 MEANING: either MIDDLE ENGLISH both `booth, shelter' and OLD
ENGLISH wella `well', or "Bathan's well". There was a 7th century
abbot of Bangor in Ireland of this name.
BOYNDIE (in the
old county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Inverbondin DATE: c.1170 MEANING: an old
river name, possibly related to the Boyne in Ireland which derives
its name from the goddess Boand, who in turn derived her name from
GOIDELIC bo bhán `white cow'. See the entry for Aboyne.
BRECHIN
(in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Brekin DATE: 1248 EARLIEST RECORD:
Brechin DATE: a.1150 MEANING: from Brychan, a BRYTHONIC personal name
which left its mark throughout Britain, most notably in Brecon,
Wales.
BRODICK (in the old county of Bute (Arran))
NAME ON
MAP: Brathwik DATE: c.1306 MEANING: OLD NORSE breithr `broad' vík
`bay'.
BRODIE (in the old county of Nairn)
NAME ON MAP: Brodie DATE:
1311 MEANING: GOIDELIC brothach `at the muddy place'. The alternative
name, Dyke (see entry) may be a translation of GOIDELIC brothag `little
ditch'.
BUCHAN (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Bochan
DATE: 1249 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC buwch `cow' or GOIDELIC bo
`cow' with the suffix -an `little'; GOIDELIC bothan `little hut'
or GOIDELIC buc-an `little buck' are possible
alternatives.
BUCHANAN (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Boughcanian DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Buchquhanane DATE: c.1240 MEANING:
"GOIDELIC buth `hut, shelter' of the chanain `cannon'". See the
entry in Clan Names.
BUCKIE (in the old county of Banff)
NAME
ON MAP: Buky DATE: 1362 MEANING: either GOIDELIC bocaidh `[place] of
bucks' or bucaidh `pimple, knob'.
BUSBY (in the old county of
Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Busbie DATE: c.1300 MEANING: either OLD NORSE
busk-r `bush(y)' by `settlement', or "Butr's by".
The word by, incidentally, still exists in the expression
bye-law.
BUTE (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Boot
DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Bot DATE: c.1093 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC
bót `beacon, fire'.
CADDER (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME
ON MAP: Cader DATE: 1186 EARLIEST RECORD: Chaders DATE: 1170 MEANING: BRYTHONIC
cadair `fort, hill-fort'. Hill-names such as Cader Idris in
Wales are now believed to have come into BRYTHONIC from LATIN
cathedra `throne', and it is noteworthy that Cadder is close to
the ROMAN Antonine Wall.
CADZOW (now HAMILTON) (in the old county
of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Cadyow DATE: c.1360 EARLIEST RECORD: Cadihou DATE:
c.1150 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC cadair `fort' with OLD ENGLISH holh
`hollow'.
CAERLAVEROCK (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Caerlaverock (probable spelling) MEANING: GOIDELIC caer `fort'
leamhreaich `in the elm trees'. A castle was here by
1314.
CAIRNBURG (in the old county of Argyll (Mull))
NAME ON MAP:
Cairnburg (a probable spelling) MEANING: from GOIDELIC carn `cairn' and,
possibly, OLD NORSE borg `fort'. A castle was here by
1314.
CAITHNESS (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Catness
DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Kathenessia DATE: c.970 MEANING: from OLD NORSE
köttr `cat' (referring either to a geographical feature or the
inhabitants) and nes `promontory'. Why the local tribe should call
themselves `the cat people' is a mystery.
CALDER (in the old county of
Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Kaldor DATE: 1250 MEANING: a river name probably
derived from GOIDELIC caled `violent, hard' and dobhar
`water'.
CALLANDER (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP:
Calendrate DATE: 1451 MEANING: probably same as Calder.
CALLY (in
the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kalathin DATE: a.1214 MEANING:
possibly from GOIDELIC caladh `ferry'.
CAMBUSBARRON (in the old
county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Cambusbarrun DATE: c.1270 EARLIEST RECORD:
Cambusbarroun DATE: 1215 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `bend' [in the]
barran `little hill'".
CAMBUSKENNETH (in the old county of
Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Cambushenel DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Cambuskenneth
DATE: 1147 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `bend' [in the River Forth]
associated with Caioneach". St Canice (c.515-99) was an
Irish monk who worked under St Columba in Scotland.
Kilkenny in Ireland takes its name from him. The modern form of
his name, which means `fair', is Kenneth.
CAMBUSLANG (in the old
county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Cameslong DATE: 1319 EARLIEST RECORD:
Cameslank DATE: 1296 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `river bend' of the
luinge `ship'".
CANONBIE (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME
ON MAP: Canenby DATE: 1290 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH `the canon's' OLD NORSE
by `settlement'. The priory was demolished in 1542.
CARDROSS (in
the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Cardrois DATE: 1275 EARLIEST
RECORD: Cardinros DATE: 1208-33 MEANING: BRYTHONIC cardden `wooded'
ros `promontory'.
CARGILL (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Carghill DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Kergill DATE: c.1180 MEANING:
BRYTHONIC caer `fort' or carr `rock with, possibly, GOIDELIC
gill (the genitive form of geall) `of the pledge' or `of the
wager'.
CARLUKE (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Carneluke
DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Carlug DATE: 1304 MEANING: either BRYTHONIC
caer `fort' or GOIDELIC carn `cairn' with, probably, BRYTHONIC
lwch `marsh'.
CARMUNNOCK (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON
MAP: Cormannoc DATE: c.1177 MEANING: GOIDELIC coire manaich `corrie or
glen of the monk'.
CARMYLE (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Kermill DATE: 1223 MEANING: GOIDELIC càrr `rock, crag' with maol
`bare, bald'.
CARNBO (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Carnbo
DATE: c.1210 MEANING: "GOIDELIC càrr `rock, crag' [of the] bo
`cow'".
CARNOCH (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kernoch
DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Carnock DATE: 1215 MEANING: either a diminutive of
GOIDELIC carn `cairn', thus `little cairn', or cànach `rocky
place'.
CARNWATH (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Charnewid
DATE: c.1165 MEANING: possibly a VIKING personal name such as Kærandi
with OLD NORSE vath `ford'.
CARRIDEN (in the old county of West
Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Karreden DATE: c.1140 EARLIEST RECORD: Caer Eiddyn
DATE: a.1000 MEANING: BRYTHONIC caer `fort' eiddyn `on the slope
or hillside'.
CARSTAIRS (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Castrotharis DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Casteltarres DATE: 1170 MEANING: "OLD
ENGLISH castel `castle' of Tarres".
CASTLE LACHLAN (in the
old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Lachlan (probable spelling) MEANING: see
the entry for MacLachlan in Clan Names. A castle was here by
1314.
CASTLE SWEN (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Swen
MEANING: see the entry for MacQueen in Clan Names, although there
may not be a connection. A castle was here by 1314.
CASTLECARY (in the
old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Castelcarris DATE: c.1200 MEANING:
probably tautological - OLD ENGLISH castel `castle' and BRYTHONIC
caer `castle'.
CATHCART (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON
MAP: Katkert DATE: c.1170 EARLIEST RECORD: Kerkert DATE: 1158 MEANING: either
BRYTHONIC caer `fort', cet `wood' or, just possibly, cath
`battle' with the river name Cart, which may mean
`cleanser'.
CAVERS (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Cauers
DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Kauirs DATE: 1291 MEANING: possibly from an OLD
ENGLISH personal name, Cafhere, which derived from caf `bold' and
here `army'.
CAWDOR (in the old county of Nairn)
NAME ON MAP:
Kaledor DATE: c.1280 MEANING: from a river name probably derived either from
GOIDELIC caled `violent, hard' or call `hazel' and dobhar
`water'.
CERES (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Syreis DATE:
1199 MEANING: BRYTHONIC siar-ais `western place'.
CHAPEL FINIAN
(in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Finian MEANING: There are
several saints of this name: the most likely candidate is the Irishman, St
Finian of Clonard, (died c.552) who may have spent time at Candida
Casa, now Whitehorn, under St Ninian, before returning to
Ireland where he founded many monasteries including Clonard. It
was there that he instructed St Columba. His name means
'white-haired'.
CHEVIOT (in the old county of Northumberland)
NAME ON
MAP: Chyviot DATE: 1239 EARLIEST RECORD: Chiuiet DATE: 1181 MEANING: the range
is named after the the single mountain The Cheviot. The name may be
PRE-CELTIC and the meaning is unknown.
CHIRNSIDE (in the old county of
Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Chirnside DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Cirnside DATE:
c.1098 MEANING: possibly "OLD ENGLISH side `[hill]side' [like a]
cyrin `churn'".
CLACKMANNAN (in the old county of Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Clacmanan DATE: c.1133 MEANING: BRYTHONIC clach `stone'
of Manau. The glacial rock can be seen in the middle of the
town.
CLATT (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Clat DATE:
1137 MEANING: GOIDELIC cleit, from OLD NORSE klettr, `cliff,
rock-face'.
CLEISH (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Cleth
DATE: c.1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Kles DATE: 1231 MEANING: GOIDELIC clais
`narrow valley, ditch'.
CLOVA (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON
MAP: Cloueth DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC cloidh `paddock'
with -ach `place'.
CLUNIE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Clony DATE: 1291 EARLIEST RECORD: ad Cluanan (in LATIN ) DATE: a.1000
MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cluain `meadow' -an
`little'.
CLYDE, see the entry for STRATHCLYDE
CLYTH (in the old
county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Westerclithe DATE: 1377 MEANING: GOIDELIC
cliath `the slope of a hill'.
COCKBURNSPATH (in the old county of
Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Colbrandespade DATE: c.1128 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
paeth `path' of Colbrand. The personal name might have meant
`black or cold sword'.
COLDINGHAM (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME
ON MAP: Coldingham DATE: c.1098 EARLIEST RECORD: Coludi Urbs (in LATIN ) DATE:
c.720 MEANING: originally "fort of Colud". Later "OLD ENGLISH ham
`settlement' of Colud's people".
COLDSTREAM (in the old county of
Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Coldstreme DATE: 1290 EARLIEST RECORD: Kaldestrem
DATE: a.1178 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH cald `cold' stréam
`stream'.
COLINTON (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Colgyntone DATE: 1296 MEANING: "Colgan's OLD ENGLISH tun
`settlement, village'".
COLL (in the old county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Coll DATE: 1449 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC coll
`hazel-tree'; possibly OLD NORSE kollr `hill-top,
summit'.
COLMONELL (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Colmanel
DATE: c.1240 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirke colmanele DATE: 1179 MEANING: `church of
Colmonella'. The saint died in c.611. See the entry for
Kirkcolm.
COLONSAY (in the old county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON
MAP: Colowsay DATE: 1376 EARLIEST RECORD: Golwonche DATE: 1335 MEANING: probably
"Kolbein's OLD NORSE eg `island'", from an OLD NORSE personal
name; an alternative is `St Columba's island'.
COMRIE (in the old
county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Comry DATE: c.1268 MEANING: GOIDELIC
comar `confluence, junction of waters'.
CORSTORPHINE (in the old
county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Crorstorfin DATE: c.1140 EARLIEST RECORD:
Crostorfin DATE: c.1130 MEANING: "GOIDELIC crois `cross' of
Thorfinn".
CORTACHIE (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP:
Carcathie DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Cortachyn DATE: 1257 MEANING: probably
GOIDELIC cor tathaiche `frequented turning', but at 1320 it seems to be
GOIDELIC cathair catha `fort of the battle'.
COUPAR ANGUS (in the
old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Coupre [in Angus] DATE: 1296 EARLIEST
RECORD: Cubert DATE: c.1169 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC comh-pairt `common
land'.
COWIE (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Collyne
DATE: 1147 MEANING: possibly coille `wood', or it may be cuidhe
`cattle-pen', an adaption of an OLD NORSE word.
CRAIGIE (in the old
county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Craigie MEANING: GOIDELIC creag `the
crag'.
CRAIGMILLAR (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Craigmillar DATE: 1212 EARLIEST RECORD: Cragmilor DATE: c.1130 MEANING:
"GOIDELIC creag `crag' [of the] maol `bare' ard
`height'".
CRAIGO (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Craggow
DATE: 1359 MEANING: GOIDELIC creagach `rocky place'.
CRAIL (in the
old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Carrail DATE: 1195-1639 EARLIEST RECORD:
Cherel DATE: c.1150 MEANING: GOIDELIC carr `rock' with ail, an
obsolete word that also means `rock'.
CRAMOND (in the old county of
Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Cramunde DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Caramonth
DATE: 1178 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC caer `fort' [on the] Almond". The
river name is a corruption of GOIDELIC amhainn `river'.
CRANSHAWS
(in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Craneshawes DATE: 1250 MEANING:
OLD ENGLISH cran `crane' and either scaga `wood' or haga
`fenced enclosure'.
CRAWFORD (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON
MAP: Croweford DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Crauford DATE: c.1150 MEANING: OLD
ENGLISH craw `crow' ford `ford'.
CREICH (in the old county
of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Creyh DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC crìoch
`boundary, region'.
CRICHTON (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME
ON MAP: Krektun DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Crechtune DATE: c.1145 MEANING:
probably GOIDELIC crìoch `boundary' OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement,
village'. See under Clan Names.
CRIEFF (in the old county of
Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Crefe DATE: 1218 EARLIEST RECORD: Creffe DATE: a.1178
MEANING: dative form of GOIDELIC craobh `[at the] tree'.
CRIMOND
(in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Crechmond DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST
RECORD: Creymund DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC crìoch monadh `boundary
hill'.
CROMARTY (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON
MAP: Crombathie DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Crumbathyn DATE: 1257 MEANING:
GOIDELIC crom `crooked' ard `promontory'.
CROMDALE (in the
old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Crumbdol DATE: 1237 EARLIEST RECORD:
Cromdol DATE: 1224 MEANING: GOIDELIC crom `crooked' dail
`dale'.
CROSSRAGUEL (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Crossraguel DATE: 1306 EARLIEST RECORD: Cosragmol DATE: a.1200 MEANING: probably
from GOIDELIC crois `cross`, rathaig `fort' and maol
`bare'. It might have meant `untowered'.
CRUDEN (in the old county of
Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Invercrwdan DATE: 1163 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
inbhir `confluence' crùidein `of the kingfisher'.
CULLEN
(in the old county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Colane DATE: 1260 EARLIEST RECORD:
Inverculan DATE: c.1190 MEANING: GOIDELIC cùilan `little nook'. The
Cuillin Hills in Skye, incidentally, do not derive their name from
this; their derivation is unknown, although tradition associates them with the
CELTIC hero and giant, Cuchullin.
CULLICUDDEN (in the old county
of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Culicuden DATE: 1227 MEANING: GOIDELIC
cùil `nook, recess' and, probably, a'chudainn `of the cuddies'
(small fish).
CULROSS (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Culneross DATE: 1295 EARLIEST RECORD: Culenross DATE: 12th century MEANING:
probably GOIDELIC cuilean `holly` ros `wood', but cùl
`ridge' and ros `promontory' are also possible.
CUMBERNAULD (in
the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Cumbrenald DATE: a.1300 MEANING:
GOIDELIC comar-an-allt `confluence of the streams'.
CUMBRAE
ISLANDS (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Kumbrey DATE: c.1270
EARLIEST RECORD: Cumberays DATE: 1264 MEANING: from the tribal name Cymri
and OLD NORSE ey `island'. Cymri was supplanted by the word
Welsh in ENGLISH , as the Anglo-Saxons referred to the earlier
inhabitants of Britain as Walas `foreigners'.
CUMNOCK (in
the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Cumnock DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD:
Comnocke DATE: 1297 MEANING: uncertain; both a diminutive of GOIDELIC
cuman `shrine' and GOIDELIC cumhann `strait' have been
suggested.
CUPAR (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Coper DATE:
1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Cupre DATE: 1183 MEANING: see the entry for
Coupar.
CURRIE (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Currie
DATE: c.1230 MEANING: from GOIDELIC currach `marsh, wet
plain'.
DALHOUSIE (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Dalwussy DATE: c.1235 MEANING: GOIDELIC dail `field' a' h'oisinn
`in the corner, at the angle'.
DALKEITH (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Dalketh DATE: c.1145 EARLIEST RECORD: Dalkied DATE: 1140
MEANING: BRYTHONIC dol `field, meadow` [in the, by the] cet, chet
`wood'.
DALLAS (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Dolays DATE:
1306 MEANING: BRYTHONIC dol `field, meadow' -ais `at
the'.
DALMELLINGTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Dalmeledone DATE: 1302-04 EARLIEST RECORD: Dalmellingtoun DATE: 1275 MEANING:
possibly GOIDELIC dail meallan `field among a cluster of hills' with OLD
ENGLISH tun `settlement, village' added. Compare the entry for
Dunfermline.
DALMENY (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Dumanie DATE: c.1180 MEANING: from the early spellings, either GOIDELIC dùn
mainne `hill of delay' or dubh moine `black moss' is possible, but
the modern form suggests confusion with GOIDELIC dail
`field'.
DALMUIR (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP:
Dalmore DATE: c.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC dail `field' mór
`big'.
DALRYMPLE (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Dalrimpill
DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC dail `field' chruim puill (the
dative form of crom poll) `at the curving stream'.
DALSWINTON (in
the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Dalsuyntone DATE: 1292 MEANING:
probably GOIDELIC dail `field' or bail `village' (a spelling at
c.1295 is Baleswyntoun) with OLD ENGLISH swin `pig' tun
`settlement, village'. The personal names Suen or Sveinn cannot be
excluded.
DALTON (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Paradelton DATE: c.1280 MEANING: probably OLD ENGLISH dæl `valley'
tun `settlement'.
DENHOLM (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME
ON MAP: Denhom DATE: 1304 EARLIEST RECORD: Denum DATE: 1296 MEANING: probably
OLD ENGLISH denu `valley' with holm (from OLD NORSE holmr)
`island, dry area in a marsh'.
DINGWALL (in the old county of Ross &
Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Dignewall DATE: 1263 EARLIEST RECORD: Dingwell DATE:
1227 MEANING: OLD NORSE thing `council, parliament' völlr `open
space'. The word survives in `Tynwald', the modern parliament of the
Isle of Man.
DIRLETON (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME
ON MAP: Dirlton DATE: 1270 MEANING: probably "Dirl's OLD ENGLISH
tun `settlement, village'".
DORES (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Durris DATE: 1263 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC dubh
`black, dark' ras `shrubland' or ros `wood'.
DORNOCH (in
the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Durnach DATE: 1145 MEANING:
GOIDELIC dornach `pebbly place'. The word derives from dorn
`fist'.
DOUGLAS (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Douglas
DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Duuelglas DATE: c.1150 MEANING: BRYTHONIC du
glas or GOIDELIC dubh glais `black stream'. See under Clan
Names.
DRON (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Dron DATE:
c.1190 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC dronn `hump'.
DRUMMOND (in the
old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Droman DATE: 1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC
drumein (from druim) `at the ridge'. See under Clan
Names.
DRYBURGH (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP:
Dryburg DATE: c.1211 EARLIEST RECORD: Dryburgh DATE: c.1150 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
dryge `dry' burg `fort, borough'.
DRYMEN (in the old county
of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Drumyn DATE: 1238 MEANING: see the entry for
Drummond.
DUART (in the old county of Argyll (Mull))
NAME ON
MAP: Duart MEANING: GOIDELIC dubh `black' ard `height'. The castle
may have been built just after the date of this map. See the entry for
MacLean.
DUDDINGSTON (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON
MAP: Dodingstone DATE: 1295 EARLIEST RECORD: Dodinestun DATE: c.1150 MEANING:
"Dudda's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'" or "Dudda's
people's village". OLD ENGLISH -ing means `associated with'; OLD ENGLISH
-inga means `belonging to the people of': without the earliest spelling
it is impossible to differentiate.
DUFFUS (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Duffhus DATE: 1274 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC dubh uisg
`dark water'. (Hence whisky.)
DULL (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Dul DATE: 1206 MEANING: BRYTHONIC dol or GOIDELIC
dail `field, meadow'.
DUMBARTON (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Dunbretane DATE: 1300-1445 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort'
of the Breatuin `Britons'". It was the capital of the British
kingdom of Strathclyde. See the entry for Cumbrae
islands.
DUMFRIES (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunfres DATE: 1183 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort, hill' with preas
`of the copse, shrubs'". (The OLD ENGLISH equivalent was scrubb's burg,
now Shrewsbury.)
DUNAVERTY (in the old county of Argyll (Kintyre))
NAME ON MAP: Dunaverdin DATE: 1252 EARLIEST RECORD: Aberte DATE: 712
MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `hill' a' bhardainn `of the warning or
summons'".
DUNBAR (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunbar DATE: 1072 EARLIEST RECORD: Dynbaer DATE: c.709 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
dùn `fort' [on the] barr `height, top'".
DUNBEATH (in the
old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Dunbeath DATE: 1450 EARLIEST RECORD:
Duinbaitte DATE: c.680 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' [at the]
beath `birch-tree'".
DUNBLANE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Dumblin DATE: c.1272 EARLIEST RECORD: Dumblann DATE: c.1200
MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `hill' (or here perhaps `fortified home') of
[St] Blane or Blaan". He was a 6th century disciple of St
Comgall and St Candice from Bute and founded a monastery on
the island.
DUNBOG (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Dunbulg
DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Duinbolg (perhaps) DATE: c.598 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
dùn `fort' [on a] builg `rise' (literally
`belly')".
DUNCANSBAY (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP:
Dungalsbaer DATE: c.1225 MEANING: "Dungad's (GOIDELIC donn chad
`brown warrior') OLD NORSE by, byr `settlement'".
DUNDEE (in the
old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Dunde DATE: a.1182 EARLIEST RECORD: Donde
DATE: a.1177 MEANING: probably "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' of Daig". His
history is unknown, but the name means `fire'. "Fort on the Tay" is a
possible alternative.
DUNDONALD (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON
MAP: Dundonald DATE: 1461 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' of
Domhnall (`world ruler')".
DUNDRENNAN (in the old county of
Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Dundraynane DATE: 1290 EARLIEST RECORD:
Dundrainan DATE: c.1160 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `hill' draighnean
`with the thicket'".
DUNFERMLINE (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON
MAP: Dunfermline DATE: 1251 EARLIEST RECORD: Dumfermelyn DATE: a.1092 MEANING:
GOIDELIC dùn `fort, hill' with an unexplained second
element.
DUNIPACE (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunipace DATE: 1195 EARLIEST RECORD: Dunipast DATE: 1183 MEANING: possibly
GOIDELIC dùn na bais `hill of death', but BRYTHONIC din y pás
`hill of the exit or pass' is an alternative.
DUNIVEG (in the old county
of Argyll (Islay))
NAME ON MAP: Duniveg MEANING: GOIDELIC dùn `fort'
and, possibly, beag `small'. A castle was here by 1314.
DUNKELD
(in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Dunkeld DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST
RECORD: Duincaillen DATE: 865 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' of the
Chailleainn `Calendonians'".
DUNNET (in the old county of
Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Dunost DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD: Donoft DATE:
c.1230 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `hill, fort' with, possibly, OLD NORSE
hofuth `headland'".
DUNNING (in the old county of Perth)
NAME
ON MAP: Dunine DATE: 1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC dùnan `little
hill'.
DUNNOTTAR (in the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunnotyr DATE: c.1270 EARLIEST RECORD: Duin foither DATE: 681 MEANING: GOIDELIC
dùn `fort' with, possibly, oitire `reef, low promontory' or
fother `a slope'.
DUNOLLY (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME
ON MAP: Dunollach DATE: 1322 EARLIEST RECORD: Duin Ollaigh DATE: 685 MEANING:
possibly "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' of Ollach".
DUNOON (in the
old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Dunhon DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Dunnon
DATE: c.1240 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' [on the] abhainn
`river'".
DUNROBIN (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunrobyn DATE: 1401 MEANING: from the earliest record, GOIDELIC dùn
`fort', but other records have Drum- GOIDELIC druim `ridge', with
rabhain `long grass'. It is worth noting, however, that one Raffin
(the name meant `raven') was the lömadr `lawman' here in 1222, and the
name may come from this, perhaps changing later in honour of Robin, Earl of
Sutherland, at c.1400.
DUNS (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME
ON MAP: Duns DATE: 1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC dùn `hill' with OLD ENGLISH
plural -s added. (John Duns, the 13th century theologian whose
followers became known as dunces probably came from
here.)
DUNSCORE (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Dunescore DATE: a.1300 MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort, hill' [at the]
sgòr `sharp rock'".
DUNSKEATH (in the old county of Ross &
Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Dunskeath MEANING: GOIDELIC dùn `fort, hill'
with, probably, BRYTHONIC cet, chet `wood'.
DUNSTAFFNAGE (in the
old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Dunstaffynch DATE: 1375 EARLIEST RECORD:
Ardstofniche DATE: 1322 MEANING: the first element GOIDELIC dùn `fort'
was earlier ard `height'; the third element is probably OLD NORSE
nes `headland'. The second element might be OLD NORSE stafr
`staff'. A local traditional interpretation is GOIDELIC dùn da innis
`fort by the two islands'.
DUNTOCHAR (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Duntocher DATE: 1273 EARLIEST RECORD: Drumthoker DATE: 1225
MEANING: "GOIDELIC dùn `fort' [on the] tócher
`causeway'".
DUNTROON (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP:
Duntroon MEANING: GOIDELIC dùn `fort' and, probably, BRYTHONIC
trwyn, GOIDELIC sròn `nose, cape'.
DUNVEGAN (in the old
county of Inverness (Skye))
NAME ON MAP: Dunbegane DATE: 1498 MEANING:
GOIDELIC dùn `fort' with bychan `small'. The NORSE personal name
Began, Bechan cannot be totally ignored as a possibility. Although the
record is late, the castle is much older.
DURISDEER (in the old county of
Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Doresdore DATE: 1303 EARLIEST RECORD: Durisdeir DATE:
1275 MEANING: GOIDELIC dorus doire `door, entrance to the
wood'.
DURNESS (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Dyrnes
DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE dyr `deer' nes `cape,
headland'.
DUTHIL (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Dothol DATE: c.1230 MEANING: GOIDELIC tuathail `north' (of
Creag-an-fhithich).
DYKE (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON
MAP: Brodie (the GOIDELIC form) is shown. EARLIEST RECORD: Dich DATE: c.1190
MEANING: OLD ENGLISH díc `ditch, dyke'. The place has had alternative
names for centuries. See the entry for Brodie.
DYSART (in the old county
of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Dishard DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Disard DATE:
c.1210 MEANING: GOIDELIC diseart `retreat' (from LATIN desertum
`desert place').
EAGLESHAM (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON
MAP: Eglishame DATE: 1309 EARLIEST RECORD: Egilsham DATE: 1158 MEANING:
"Egil's, or Egli's, OLD ENGLISH hám
`homestead'".
EARLSFERRY (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Erlsferie DATE: c.1296 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH feri `ferry'. The
earls may have been the early MacDuffs, Thanes of
Fife.
EARLSTON (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP:
Essedoune DATE: a.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Ercheldon DATE: c.1144 MEANING:
"Earcil's OLD ENGLISH dún `hill'".
EAST KILBRIDE (in the
old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Kellebride DATE: 1181 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
cill `church, cell' of [St] Brigid". There are several St
Bridgets, the most famous being the Irish Saint, Brigid of
Kildare (c.450 - c.525).
EAST LINTON (in the old county of East
Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Lintun DATE: 1127 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH lín
`flax' tun `settlement, village'.
ECCLEFECHAN (in the old county
of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Eglesfeghan DATE: 1303 MEANING: probably "GOIDELIC
eaglais `church' of Fechin"; it has also been associated with the
7th century Irish abbot, St Vigean, whose disciples came to
Scotland.
ECCLES (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP:
Hecles DATE: 1297 MEANING: GOIDELIC eaglais `church'.
ECCLESMACHAN
(in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Eglismauchin DATE: c.1250
MEANING: "GOIDELIC eaglais `church' of [St] Machan". He was a 6th
century disciple of St Cadoc.
ECHT (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Echt DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC eachd `an
exploit'.
EDDERTON (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON
MAP: Ederthayn DATE: 1275 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC eardar `between'
dùn `the hills'.
EDDLESTON (in the old county of Peebles)
NAME
ON MAP: Edwylstone DATE: c.1305 EARLIEST RECORD: Edoluestone DATE: c.1200
MEANING: "Eadwulf's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'". A
Saxon of the this name (`happy wolf') was granted lands here before
1189.
EDINBURGH (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Edenburge DATE: c.1126 EARLIEST RECORD: Din Eidyn DATE: c.600 MEANING: if the
date of the earliest form is correct, the name cannot derive from the 7th
century King Edwin of Northumbria. It derives either BRYTHONIC
din or GOIDELIC dùn `fort' and BRYTHONIC eiddyn or GOIDELIC
aodann `mountain face, hill-slope'.
EDZELL (in the old county of
Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Adall DATE: 1267 EARLIEST RECORD: Aydel DATE: 1250
MEANING: probably OLD NORSE å or OLD ENGLISH ea `water, river' and
OLD NORSE dal `dale', unless it is simply a corruption of
Eskdale.
EIGG (in the old county of Inverness (Hebrides))
NAME
ON MAP: Egge DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Ego (the genitive form) DATE: 725
MEANING: GOIDELIC eag `nick, gap', referring to the feature that runs
east-west across the island.
EILEAN DONAN (in the old county of Ross
& Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Elandonan DATE: c.1425 MEANING: either
"GOIDELIC eilean `island' of St Donnan" (a follower of St
Columba who founded a monastery on Eigg and was martyred there with
his 52 monks by the Vikings), or, less romantically, "island [of the]
GOIDELIC dùnan `little castle'".
ELECHNAVE (in the old county of
Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Elechnave (a possible 1314 spelling) MEANING: "GOIDELIC
eilach `narrow channel' of the naoimh `saints'". The chapel is one
of the oldest in Scotland.
ELGIN (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Elgin DATE: 1140 MEANING: "little Ireland", from a
diminutive of GOIDELIC Ealg, one of the early names for Ireland.
Some early settler must have been homesick!
ELLON (in the old county of
Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Elon DATE: 1265 EARLIEST RECORD: Helian DATE: c.1150
MEANING: probably GOIDELIC eilean `island'.
EMBO (in the old
county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Ethenboll DATE: c.1230 MEANING: possibly
Eyvind's (a Viking name) OLD NORSE ból
`settlement'.
ERCHLESS (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Erchelys DATE: 1258 EARLIEST RECORD: Herkele DATE: c.1220 MEANING: possibly
GOIDELIC airidh `shieling, shepherd's hut' ghlais `on a
stream'.
ERIBOLL (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP:
Erribull DATE: 1499 MEANING: probably "Erikr's (a Viking name) OLD
NORSE bol `settlement'".
ERROL (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Erole DATE: a.1199 EARLIEST RECORD: Erolyn DATE: c.1190
MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC ar ole `on the dingle'.
ERSKINE (in
the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Irschen DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST
RECORD: Erskin DATE: 1225 MEANING: uncertain - just possibly BRYTHONIC ir
`green' ysgyn `ascent' (literally `mantle').
EYEMOUTH (in the old
county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Aymouthe DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Ei
DATE: 1098 MEANING: probably OLD ENGLISH ea `stream' mutha
`mouth'.
FALKIRK (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Faukirke DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Egglesbreth DATE: 1065 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
fàg `speckled' (stone) cirice `church'. The earlier record means
the same in GOIDELIC .
FALKLAND (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON
MAP: Falkland DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Falleland DATE: c.1128 MEANING: OLD
ENGLISH fealca `falcon' land `land' is attractive, but OLD ENGLISH
folc `the people' is a more probable first element.
FARR (in the
old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Far DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE
far `passage for ships'.
FEARN (in the old county of Ross &
Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Noue Farine DATE: 1349 EARLIEST RECORD: Nova Farina
DATE: c.1245 MEANING: GOIDELIC fearn(a) `alder-tree'.
FETTERCAIRN
(in the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Ffetyrkern DATE: c.1250
EARLIEST RECORD: Fotherkern DATE: c.970 MEANING: possibly "GOIDELIC
faithir `terraced slope' [with a] ceàrn `corner' or BRYTHONIC
cardden `thicket'".
FIFE)
NAME ON MAP: Fif DATE: 1165 EARLIEST
RECORD: Fib DATE: 12th century MEANING: although there is a traditional
derivation from one of the seven sons of Cruithne, the legendary father
of the Picts, it more probably derives from GOIDELIC fiamh `path'.
In c.1153, it appeared rather endearingly as Fifi.
FOCHABERS (in
the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Fouchabre DATE: 1325 EARLIEST RECORD:
Fochoper DATE: 1124 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC fothach `lake' BRYTHONIC
abair `marsh'.
FORFAR (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON
MAP: Forfare DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Forfar DATE: 1137 MEANING: GOIDELIC
fothair `terraced slope' with, possibly, faire `watching', ie. "a
lookout place".
FORRES (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP:
Forais DATE: 1283 EARLIEST RECORD: Fores DATE: 1187 MEANING: GOIDELIC fo
`lesser' or `under the' ras `shrubland'.
FORTEVIOT (in the old
county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Ferteuyoth DATE: 1280 EARLIEST RECORD:
Fothuirabaicht DATE: c.1165 MEANING: GOIDELIC fothir `terraced slope'
and, possibly, t'abachd `abbey'.
FORTH (FIRTH OF))
NAME ON
MAP: Forth DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Bodotria DATE: 2nd century (in
Tacitus) MEANING: probably from OLD NORSE fjordr `estuary, bay' to
which MIDDLE ENGLISH frith, which means the same, has been added. On the
other hand it might be an old river name, related to BRYTHONIC byddar
`deaf', meaning `the silent one'.
FRASERBURGH (in the old county of
Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Faythlie DATE: medieval MEANING: uncertain - GOIDELIC
fadhail `salt-water ford' is a possibility. The modern name comes from
the Sir Alexander Frazer who developed the harbour here in the late 16th
century. In 1597 it was recorded as `the toun and burghe of Faythlie, now
callit Fraserburghe'.
FYVIE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Fyvyn DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC fiamh `a
track'.
GAIRLOCH (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON
MAP: Gerloch DATE: 1366 EARLIEST RECORD: Gerloth DATE: 1275 MEANING: GOIDELIC
gearr `short' loch `loch'.
GALASHIELS (in the old county of
Selkirk)
NAME ON MAP: Galuschel DATE: 1237 MEANING: "OLD NORSE
skali-s `temporary huts' on Gala Water". The river name comes from
GOIDELIC geal `white, shining'.
GALLOWAY OLD COUNTIES:
Kirkcudbright/Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Galeweia DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD:
Galweya DATE: c.970 MEANING: "GOIDELIC gall `stranger' Ghóidil
`Gaels'": the newcomers, of mixed Irish and Norse descent, who
came here in the 9th century.
GALSTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME
ON MAP: Gauston DATE: c.1260 MEANING: GOIDELIC gall `the stranger' (with
OLD ENGLISH 's added) OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement'.
GARTLY
(in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Garentuly DATE: 1237 MEANING:
GOIDELIC garan tulaich `thicket on the hill'.
GELSTON (in the old
county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Gevelestone DATE: 1296 MEANING: OLD
ENGLISH tun `settlement, village' with a personal name, possibly
Gebhild or Gebweald.
GIGHA (in the old county of Argyll
(Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Gug DATE: 1309 EARLIEST RECORD: Gudey DATE: 1263
MEANING: as it also appears as Gythe, Geday, Gya and Gigha, any
interpretation is speculative. OLD NORSE God, Guth ey
"God's island" and OLD NORSE gjá ey "rift island" have been
suggested.
GILMERTON (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Gyllemorton DATE: c.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC ghille Mhoire `servant,
follower of the Virgin Mary' with OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement,
village'.
GIRVAN (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Gervan DATE:
1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Girven DATE: 1275 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC gearr
abhainn `short river'.
GLAMIS (in the old county of Angus)
NAME
ON MAP: Glemmis DATE: 1251 EARLIEST RECORD: Glames DATE: 1187 MEANING: GOIDELIC
glamhus `wide gap', referring to Strathmore.
GLASGOW (in
the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Glascu DATE: 1156-78 EARLIEST RECORD:
Glasgu DATE: 1116 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC glas `green' cau
`hollows'.
GLEN GARRY (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Glengarech DATE: 1307 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann `glen' with the river name
derived from the root of modern garbh `rough'.
GLENCOE (in the old
county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Glenchomure DATE: 1343 MEANING: probably
GOIDELIC gleann `glen' comhann `narrow'.
GLENELG (in the
old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Glenelg DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD:
Glenhelk DATE: 1282 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann `glen' possibly with Ealg
`Ireland'. See the entry for Elgin.
GLENLUCE (in the old county of
Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Glenlus DATE: 1220 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann
`glen' with lus `herb'.
GOGAR (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Gogger DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Goger DATE: 1233 MEANING:
uncertain.
GORDON (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Gordun
DATE: 1315 EARLIEST RECORD: Gordin DATE: 1250 MEANING: BRYTHONIC gor
`great, spacious' din 'hill'.
GOURDON (in the old county of
Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Gurdon DATE: 1315 MEANING: see the entry for
Gordon.
GOVAN (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Govan DATE:
1275 EARLIEST RECORD: Guven DATE: c.1134 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
gobhann `blacksmith'.
GRANTON (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Grendun DATE: c.1200 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH gréne `green'
dún `hill'.
GREENLAW (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON
MAP: Grenlawe DATE: 1250 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH gréne `green' hlaw
`mound, hill'.
GREENOCK (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP:
Grenok DATE: a.1400 MEANING: GOIDELIC grianaig (derived from GOIDELIC
grian, grèine `the sun') `sunny' or `the sunny hillock'.
GRETNA
(in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Gretenhou DATE: a.1245 EARLIEST
RECORD: Gretenho DATE: 1223 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH greoten `gravelly' with
either hoh `hill, spur' or halh `nook, sheltered
spot'.
GULLANE (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Gollyn DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Golin DATE: c.1200 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC
gollan `small loch'; one is believed to have existed here. Or GOIDELIC
guallan `a shoulder'.
GUTHRIE (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Gutherie DATE: 1359 MEANING: GOIDELIC gaothair `windy
place'.
HADDINGTON (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Hadingtoun DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Hadynton DATE: 1098 MEANING:
"Hada's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'" or "Hada's
people's village". OLD ENGLISH -ing- means `associated with'; OLD ENGLISH
-inga- means `belonging to the people of': without the earliest spelling
it is impossible to differentiate. In the 12th century the county was called
Hadingtunschira, a name which was the alternative to East Lothian
until quite recently.
HALKIRK (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME
ON MAP: Hakirk DATE: 1222 MEANING: OLD NORSE hár `high' kirkja
`church'; at a later date hallr `slope' has influenced the
spelling.
HAMILTON (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Hamilton DATE: 1296 MEANING: see the entry for Cadzow, and for Hamilton
under Clan Names.
HARRIS (in the old county of Inverness (Outer
Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Heradh DATE: c.1500 MEANING: GOIDELIC
h-earaidh `higher', possibly from an earlier OLD NORSE hár ey
`high island'. It is more mountainous than Lewis.
HAWICK (in the
old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Hawic DATE: a.1183 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
haga `fenced enclosure' wíc `farm, settlement'.
HEBRIDES
(Not shown on the map) EARLIEST RECORDS: (H)Ébudes DATE: 77 (Pliny) Aibouda
DATE: c. 170 (Ptolemy) MEANING: unknown, it is probably PRE-CELTIC . The modern
spelling (from at least 1526) results from u being read as ri. The
Vikings called the islands Suthreyar "the southern islands", to
distinguish them from the northern islands, the Orkneys. It is from this
that the Bishop of Sodor and Man takes the first part of his
title.
HELMSDALE (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP:
Holmesdale DATE: 1290 EARLIEST RECORD: Hjalmunddal (Norse Sagas) MEANING:
"Hjalmund's (a Viking name) OLD NORSE dalr
`dale'".
HERMITAGE (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP:
Eremitage DATE: 1300 MEANING: from NORMAN-FRENCH ermite `hermit'. See the
entry for Ramsay in Clan Names.
HOBKIRK (in the old county
of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Hopechirke DATE: 1220 MEANING: either OLD ENGLISH
hop `valley' and cirice `church', which later became kirk,
or OLD NORSE hóp `sheltered spot' and kirkja `church'. See the
entry for Kirkcolm.
HOLYROOD (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Holyrud DATE: 1392 EARLIEST RECORD: Ecclesia Sante Crucis DATE:
c.1128 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH halig `holy' ród `rod, cross' (hence
the rood screen in many churches).
HOUSTON (in the old county of
Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Houstoun DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Villa Hugonis
DATE: c.1200 MEANING: "Hugo's tun `settlement, manor'". It was
held by the ANGLO-NORMAN Hugo de Paduinan in c.1160.
HUME (in the
old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Home DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Houm
DATE: 1127 MEANING: late OLD ENGLISH holm, from OLD NORSE holmr
`land partly enclosed by streams, dry area in a marsh'.
INCHCOLM
LOCATION: Firth of Forth)
NAME ON MAP: Ins. S. Columbae DATE: c.1123
MEANING: GOIDELIC innis Choluim "St Columba's island". The record
is from the year the abbey was founded.
INCHINNAN (in the old county of
Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Inchinan DATE: a.1173 EARLIEST RECORD: Inchenan DATE:
1158 MEANING: GOIDELIC innis Fhinnan "St Finnan's island". It
refers to the land in the angle of the junction of the Gryfe and the
Cart. See the entry for Chapel Finian.
INCHKEITH LOCATION: Firth
of Forth)
NAME ON MAP: Insula Ked(th) DATE: a.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC
innis Ked "the island of Keith". The final letter on the map, a
`d' with a cross through it, is an OLD ENGLISH letter called an
`eth', which sounds like a voiced `th'. The name Keith here
may be a corruption of a lost PICTISH name; it is unlikely to be connected with
the Keiths.
INCHTURE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP:
Inchethore DATE: 1183 MEANING: GOIDELIC innis `island, dry area in a
marsh' a' thòire `of the chase'.
INCHYRA (in the old county of
Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Inchesyreth DATE: 1324 MEANING: GOIDELIC innis
`island, water meadow' iar, siar `the west'.
INNERLEITHEN (in the
old county of Peebles)
NAME ON MAP: Innerlethain DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD:
Innerlethan DATE: c.1160 MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `confluence' [of the]
Leithen" (and the Tweed). The river name may come from GOIDELIC
liath `grey' or leathann `broad', but many river names are very
old, so BRYTHONIC lleithio `to moisten' may provide the root of the
name.
INSCH (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Innis
EARLIEST RECORD: Insula DATE: a.1300 MEANING: `island, water meadow'. As the
first record is in LATIN , the spelling used on the map is innis, the
probable GOIDELIC spelling at 1314.
INVERALLOCHY (in the old county of
Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Inverallochy MEANING: GOIDELIC inbhir
`confluence' àilleach `beautiful'. The castle was built by this
time.
INVERESK (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Infresc
DATE: 1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Inneresc DATE: a.1093 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
inbhir `mouth' [of the] Esk"; the river name is uisg
`water' as in the Usk in Wales and the Exe in
England (and indeed in whisky!).
INVERGORDON (in the old
county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Inverbreckie (probable spelling)
MEANING: the name Invergordon dates from c.1760 when Sir Alexander
Gordon, the landowner, developed the settlement. The earlier name for the
area was Inverbreckie "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [of the]
Breckie"; the river name derived from breac
`speckled'.
INVERGOWRIE (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP:
Invergoueren DATE: c.1160 EARLIEST RECORD: Invergourin DATE: 1124 MEANING:
GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' (presumably of the River Tay) with,
possibly, gabhar, gobhar `goat place'.
INVERKEITHING (in the old
county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Inverchethin DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD:
Hinhirkethy DATE: a.1057 MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [of the]
Keithing". The burn name derives from BRYTHONIC cet, chet
`wood'.
INVERKIP (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP:
Inverkippe DATE: 1303 EARLIEST RECORD: Innyrkyp DATE: c.1170 MEANING: GOIDELIC
inbhir `mouth' with ceap, cip `block, tree
trunk'.
INVERLOCHY (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Inverlochy (probable spelling) MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [on the]
GOIDELIC loch `loch'". A castle was there by 1314.
INVERNESS (in
the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Invirnisse DATE: c.1310 EARLIEST
RECORD: Invernis DATE: a.1300 MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [of the]
Ness". The origin of the river name is uncertain: it is probably
BRYTHONIC and may come from a root word ned- `to flood, related to GERMAN
nass `wet', or from a conjectured nesta `roaring,
rushing'.
INVERUGIE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Innerugy DATE: a.1300 MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [of the]
Ugie" (where it joins the Don). The river name is GOIDELIC
ùigeach `full of nooks or corners'.
INVERURIE (in the old county
of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Innervwry DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Enncroury
DATE: c.1175 MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' [of the] Urie"
(where it meets the Don). The origin of the river name is uncertain and
may be BRYTHONIC isara `strong river'; GOIDELIC uidhre, the
genitive of odhar `grey, dun coloured', has also been
suggested.
IONA (in the old county of Argyll (Mull))
NAME ON MAP:
Hiona Columcille DATE: a.1100 EARLIEST RECORD: Huensis DATE: 634 MEANING: in 700
the LATIN name, used by Adamnan in his life of St Columba, was
Ioua Insula, but this is from a late copy so may not be accurate. In 730
the Venerable Bede called the island Hy or Hii, which would
suggest a derivation from a BRYTHONIC word meaning `yew tree'. A later
mispelling could have led to a confusion with the name Jonah.
Interestingly, and possibly not coincidentally, jonah means `dove' in
HEBREW and columba means `dove' in LATIN . St Columba is believed
to have founded the monastery here in about c.563, and the element
Columcille means `Columba's church'. The Book of Kells,
from which much of the map border decoration is taken, was begun here and later
completed in Kells in Ireland, where it had been taken for safety
after the Vikings started raiding the Hebrides.
IRVINE (in
the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Irving DATE: 1205 EARLIEST RECORD: Hirum
DATE: a.1190 MEANING: uncertain. It must come from the river name, which is
possibly BRYTHONIC , related to MODERN WELSH ir `fresh, green' and
afon `river'. A derivation from yr wyn `the white' has also been
suggested.
ISLAY (in the old county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON
MAP: Yla DATE: c.1375 EARLIEST RECORD: Ilea DATE: c.700 MEANING: the first
record is from Adamnan, see the entry for Iona. A man called Ile
does feature in early Irish history, but the source for this, The
Annals of the Four Masters, was not written until the 1630s;
Adamnan's record may simply be the personal name. Another suggestion
relates to an old CELTIC root meaning `swelling'. It is probable that OLD NORSE
ey `island' had been added to the name by 1375.
JEDBURGH (in the
old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Jedwarth DATE: 1251 EARLIEST RECORD:
Gedwearde DATE: a.800 MEANING: "OLD ENGLISH worth `enclosure, settlement'
on Jed [Water]". The change to MIDDLE ENGLISH burg is difficult to
date: it was Jeddeburgh in c.1160, but still Jedward in 1500. The
river name may be related to BRYTHONIC gwd and mean `winding'. Just
possibly OLD ENGLISH gead `spear, pike' was the nick-name of the
landowner here, and the river took its name from the place through which it
flowed. `Back formation' of river names is common in
England.
JOHNSTONE (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP:
Jonestone DATE: 1292 MEANING: see the entry for Johnston under Clan
Names, but note that this is a different place of the same name. Nothing is
known of the John who settled here; a large cotton mill was built here in
the 1780s and it is now a suburb of Glasgow.
JURA (in the old
county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Dure DATE: 1335 EARLIEST RECORD:
Doirad Eilinn DATE: 678 MEANING: the earliest record, from The Annals of
Ulster, would be GOIDELIC Doirad's eilean `island'. The
personal name could have meant `broken hearted'. The name has contracted over
the centuries and may mave been influenced by OLD NORSE djur `deer' and
ey `island'.
KAMES (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP:
Cameys DATE: a.1204 MEANING: GOIDELIC kamas `bay'.
KEIG (in the
old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Kege DATE: 1200 MEANING: possibly
GOIDELIC caidhe `quagmire'.
KEITH (in the old county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Ket DATE: 1220 EARLIEST RECORD: Geth DATE: 1187 MEANING:
BRYTHONIC chet, cet `wood'. See the entry for Keith under Clan
Names.
KELSO (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Kelcou
DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Calkou DATE: 1126 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH calc,
cealc `chalk, limestone' hóh `hill-spur'.
KELTY (in the old
county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Quilte DATE: 1250 MEANING: either GOIDELIC
coillte `woods' or caled `hard'.
KENMORE (in the old county
of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kenmore DATE: 1258 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceann
`head, top' mór `big', possibly because it was the larger of the two
settlements at either end of Loch Tay.
KENNOWAY (in the old county
of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kennachyn DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceann
`head, chief' achadh `field'.
KILCONQUHAR (in the old county of
Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kilkunekath DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Kilconcath DATE:
1228 MEANING: probably "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Conchobar". The
name derives from GOIDELIC `hound' and `desiring', and is now found as
Connor, but there are no recorded saints of the name.
KILDONAN (in
the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Kyldonane DATE: 1332 EARLIEST
RECORD: Kelduninach DATE: c.1230 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' of
Donnan"; the saint, a follower of St Columba, founded a monastery
on Eigg and was martyred there with his 52 monks by the Vikings
c.618.
KILDRUMMY (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Kildrummy DATE: 1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Keldrumin DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC
coil `wood' or ceann `head' with druim
`ridge'.
KILLEARN (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Kynherin DATE: 1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynerine DATE: c.1250 MEANING: originally
GOIDELIC ceann `chief, head' and later cill `church' with
earrain `of the district'.
KILLIN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kyllyn DATE: 1318 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cill
`church' fhiom `white'.
KILMACOLM (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Kilmacolme DATE: 1205 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church'
[of] ma `my' Colm [Columba]". See the entry for
Iona.
KILMARNOCK (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Kelmernoke
DATE: 1299 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' [of] ma `my'
Ernanoc `little Ernan"; St Columba had a nephew of this
name.
KILMUIR (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP:
Kilmor DATE: 1296 MEANING: originally probably GOIDELIC cùl `back'
mòr `big' referring to a hill; it is now cill `church' of
Mhoire `Mary'.
KILPATRICK (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Kylpatrick DATE: 1283 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church'
of Patrick". There is no obvious connection with the St Patrick
who brought Christianity to Ireland. He was originally called
Sucat, but adopted a name meaning `nobleman'.
KILRENNY (in
the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kilrinny DATE: c.1160 MEANING: GOIDELIC
cill `church' with what may be a diminutive of the saint's name
Irenaeus, or possibly GOIDELIC rathain `ferns'.
KILSPINDIE
(in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kynspinedy DATE: c.1250 MEANING:
uncertain. The early forms are GOIDELIC ceann `chief, head' rather than
cill `church'. The second element might be GOIDELIC spùinneadaire
`plunderer' or the saint's name Pensandus.
KILSYTH (in the old
county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Kilsyth DATE: 1239 EARLIEST RECORD:
Kelvesyth DATE: 1210 MEANING: uncertain: GOIDELIC cill `church', either
with the personal name Syth or GOIDELIC saighde, the genitive of
saighead, `of the arrows'.
KILTARLITY (in the old county of
Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Keltalargyn DATE: 1279 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
cill `church' of Talorgain or Talarican"; he was an early
7th century saint. The name means `bright-browed'.
KILWINNING (in the old
county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Killvinin DATE: a.1160 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
cill `church' of Vinin or Wynnin". The name is an early
form of Finian. See the entry for Chapel Finian, but in this case the
name might be that of a later Finian who founded a monastery
here.
KINBUCK (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kinbucche
DATE: 1266 EARLIEST RECORD: Kenbuc DATE: c.1208 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann
`head, summit' [of the] boc `buck'".
KINCAPLE (in the old county
of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kincapel DATE: 1212 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann
`head, summit' [of the] capuill `horse'".
KINCARDEN (in the old
county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kyncardin DATE: 1239 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
ceann `head, summit' [of the] BRYTHONIC cardden
`thicket'".
KINCARDEN (in the old county of Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP:
Kincardyn DATE: 1277 MEANING: see the previous entry.
KINCARDINE (in the
old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Kynge Carden DATE: 1295 MEANING: see
the previous entry.
KINCLAVEN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Kynclevin DATE: 1264 EARLIEST RECORD: Kinclething DATE: 1195 MEANING:
"GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] cliathain `slope'" or "[of
the] clamhain `kite'".
KINFAUNS (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Kinfaunes DATE: c.1230 EARLIEST RECORD: Kinfathenes DATE:
c.1200 MEANING: possibly "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' fathan
`coltsfoot' -ais `place of'".
KINGARTH (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Kengarf DATE: 1204 EARLIEST RECORD: Cindgaradh DATE: 737
MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] gàradh
`enclosure, yard'", although BRYTHONIC cardden `thicket' is also
possible.
KINGHORN (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kinkorn
DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Chingor DATE: c.1136 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
ceann `head' [of the] gronn `marsh'".
KINGLASSIE (in the
old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kinglassin DATE: c.1153 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
ceann `head' [of the] glas `stream'".
KINGUSSIE (in the old
county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Kingussy DATE: c.1237 EARLIEST RECORD:
Kinguscy DATE: c.1210 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit'
giùthseach `of the pine-trees'".
KINLOSS (in the old county of
Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Kinlos DATE: a.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynloss DATE: 1187
MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' lussa `of herbs'".
KINMUNDY
(in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Kynmondy DATE: 1137 MEANING:
"GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' monaidh `of the
hill'".
KINNAIRD (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Kinard
DATE: 1183 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' aird `of the
crag'".
KINNEFF (in the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP:
Kinneff DATE: 1361 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC cinnaibh `at the
headlands'.
KINNEIL (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Kinel DATE: 1250 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, end' [of the]
fhàbhail `wall'". The ROMAN Antonine Wall ended
nearby.
KINROSS (in the old county of Kinross)
NAME ON MAP: Kinross
DATE: c.1214 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynros DATE: c.1144 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
ceann `head' [of the] ross `promontory'".
KINTORE (in the
old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Kyntor DATE: 1273 EARLIEST RECORD:
Kynthor DATE: c.1190 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the]
torr `hill'".
KINTYRE (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON
MAP: Kintyre DATE: 1266 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' [of the]
tir `land'".
KIPPEN (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON
MAP: Kippen DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceapan `little
stump'.
KIRKCALDY (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kirkaldin
DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirkaladunt DATE: a.1093 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC
caer `fort' [of the] caled `hard' din
`hill'."
KIRKCOLM (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Kyrkrum
DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Kerkecolemm DATE: 1186 MEANING: kirk, a
SCOTTISH ENGLISH word derived from OLD ENGLISH cirice or OLD NORSE
kirkja must often have been a replacement for an earlier GOIDELIC
cill `church, monastic cell' in place-names. "Church of [St]
Columba". See the entry for Iona.
KIRKCONNEL (in the old county of
Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Kyrkconwelle DATE: 1347 MEANING: "kirk of
[St] Conan or [St] Conghall". See the entry for Kirkcolm. There is
no certain candidate for the dedication.
KIRKCUDBRIGHT (in the old county
of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Kirkudbrid DATE: 1278 MEANING: "kirk
of [St] Cuthbert". A 7th century monk and Prior of Lindisfarne in
Northumbria, the saint spent much time in Galloway. He is buried
in Durham Cathedral. The name means `famous bright'. See the entry for
Kirkcolm.
KIRKINNER (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Ste
Kenere DATE: 1326 MEANING: "kirk of (probably) [St] Kennera"; he
was a 5th century recluse educated by St Ursula. See the entry for
Kirkcolm.
KIRKINTILLOCH (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP:
Kirkintolauche DATE: 1288 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirkentulach DATE: c.1200 MEANING:
"BRYTHONIC caer `fort' [at the] ceann `head, summit' [of the]
tulaich `hill'".
KIRKLISTON (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Listun DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Lyston DATE: 1230 MEANING:
"kirk of Liston". The village name was "Lisa's (a man's
name) OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'". See the entry for
Kirkcolm.
KIRKMADRINE (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP:
Kirkmadroyn DATE: Medieval MEANING: "kirk of GOIDELIC ma `my own'
Draigne". He may have been an early CELTIC saint. See the entry for
Kirkcolm.
KIRKPATRICK DURHAM (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON
MAP: Kirkepatrike DATE: 1248 MEANING: "kirk of [St] Patrick". See
the entries for Kilpatrick and Kirkcolm. Durham may have been added in
honour of an early proprietor.
KIRRIEMUIR (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Kerimure DATE: 1229 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceathramh
`quarter' mòr `big'. A caethramh, a quarter of a dabnach,
measured 48 Scots acres and was judged sufficient to support a
household.
KISMUL (in the old county of Inverness (Outer Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Kismul MEANING: uncertain: OLD NORSE kistu `glen' or
mùli `bare' might be elements.
KNOCKDOLIAN (in the old county of
Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Knokdolian DATE: a.1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Knoudolyan DATE:
1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC cnoc `hill' with, possibly, `the blinded one':
from GOIDELIC dall `blind, mislead'. (Or the BRYTHONIC
equivalents.)
LAIRG (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP:
Larg DATE: c.1230 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC learg `hillside, plain', but
the modern spelling would imply lairg `thigh, shank'.
LAMBERTON
(in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Lambertona DATE: 1235 EARLIEST
RECORD: Lambertun DATE: c.1098 MEANING: probably "Lambert's OLD ENGLISH
tun `settlement, village'". The personal name was GERMANIC and meant
`land bright'. It might also be "OLD ENGLISH lám `lamb' burna
`stream' tun".
LANARK (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON
MAP: Lanark DATE: 1289 EARLIEST RECORD: Pathelanerhc DATE: 1116 MEANING:
BRYTHONIC llanerch `glade'; the 1116 record may include BRYTHONIC
pert `wood'.
LANGHOLM (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON
MAP: Langholm DATE: 1376 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH lang `long' MIDDLE ENGLISH
holm `island, water meadow'.
LARBERT (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Larbert DATE: 1251 EARLIEST RECORD: Lethberth DATE: 1195
MEANING: the first spelling indicates BRYTHONIC lled `half, a portion'
and perth `wood, thicket'.
LARGO (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Largaw DATE: 1279 EARLIEST RECORD: Largauch DATE: 1250 MEANING:
GOIDELIC learg `hillside'.
LARGS (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Larghes DATE: 1140 MEANING: GOIDELIC learg `hillside'
with an OLD ENGLISH plural -s.
LASSWADE (in the old county of
Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Laswade DATE: a.1150 MEANING: probably OLD ENGLISH
læs `meadow' and (ge)wæd `ford'.
LATHERON (in the old
county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Laterne DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD:
Lagheryn DATE: 1274 MEANING: the 1274 record suggests GOIDELIC laghran
`prongs, forks' (there are two valleys here), but OLD NORSE hlatha `barn'
with OLD ENGLISH aern `storehouse' would fit the 1275 record
better.
LAUDER (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Loweder
DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Lauuedder DATE: 1208 MEANING: probably from the
Leader Water which runs through it. The river name is probably BRYTHONIC
leamh `elm' dobhar `water', but might take its name from the
Lowther Hills in which case the root could be BRYTHONIC lou-
`wash'.
LAURENCEKIRK (in the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP:
Conveth DATE: Medieval MEANING: originally possibly `noisy' from GOIDELIC
confhadh `storm'. It later became SCOTTISH ENGLISH kirk (see the
entry for Kirkcolm) of, probably, St Laurentius.
LAURIESTON (in
the old county of Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Laurenston DATE: 1243 MEANING:
see the previous entry. OLD ENGLISH tun means `settlement,
village'
LEADBURN (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Lecbernard DATE: c.1200 MEANING: either GOIDELIC leac `stone, grave' or
OLD ENGLISH lecc `stream' with the personal name Bernard
(beorn `bear' heard `stern').
LEITH (in the old county of
Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Let DATE: c.1145 MEANING: either BRYTHONIC
llaith `moist' or GOIDELIC liath `grey' could be the
source.
LENNOX (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Levenaux
DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Leuenaichs DATE: 1174 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
leamhanach `place abounding with elms'.
LENZIE (in the old county
of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Lengze DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Lenneth
DATE: c.1230 MEANING: GOIDELIC lèana `boggy field, marsh'.
LEOCHEL
CUSHNIE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Lochel DATE: a.1300
EARLIEST RECORD: Loychel DATE: c.1200 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC lòchail
`dark clearing'. The parish was united with Cushnie (GOIDELIC
cuisneach `freezing') in 1795.
LESMAHAGOW (in the old county of
Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Lesmachute DATE: 1316 EARLIEST RECORD: Lesmahagu DATE:
c.1130 MEANING: at 1148 there is a LATIN record: Ecclesia Machuti `St
Machute's church'. All the other early forms begin Les-,Lis-, so
GOIDELIC leas `enclosure, garden' is more probable than eaglais
`church'. St Machute may be the Welsh saint who went to
Brittany and became St Malo; he died in 621.
LETHAM (in the
old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Latham DATE: 1284 MEANING: probably OLD
NORSE hlatha `at the barns'.
LEUCHARS (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Locres DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC luachair
`rushes'.
LEWIS (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON
MAP: Liodhus DATE: c.1225 EARLIEST RECORD: Leodus DATE: a.1100 MEANING:
uncertain; derivations from GOIDELIC leog `marsh' or OLD NORSE lag
ey `lower island' are both possibilities.
LIBERTON (in the old county
of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Libertun DATE: c.1128 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
tun `settlement, village' with, probably, some personal
name.
LIDDEL (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Lidel DATE:
c.1160 MEANING: possibly OLD NORSE hly dal `shelter dale', but GOIDELIC
lì `coloured' is an alternative first element.
LILLIESLEAF (in the
old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Lyllesclif DATE: 1186 EARLIEST RECORD:
Lilleseliva DATE: 1116 MEANING: "Lille's OLD ENGLISH clif
`cliff'".
LINDORES (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Londors
DATE: 1203 EARLIEST RECORD: Lundors DATE: a.1182 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC
llyn `pool' with dwr `water' (with an OLD ENGLISH -s added)
or doruis `opening'.
LINLITHGOW (in the old county of West
Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Lenlithgow DATE: 1264 EARLIEST RECORD: Linlidcu DATE:
c.1138 MEANING: probably "BRYTHONIC llyn `lake' [at the] llaith
`damp' cae `field'".
LISMORE (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Lesmor DATE: 1251 MEANING: GOIDELIC lios `court,
enclosure' mór `great'. The monastery was founded by St Moluag in
the 6th century.
LIVINGSTONE (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME
ON MAP: Levingstoun DATE: a.1224 EARLIEST RECORD: Villa Leuing DATE: c.1128
MEANING: "Leofing's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'". The
ANGLO-SAXON name derives fron léof `love' and means `darling,
dear'.
LOCH BOISDALE (in the old county of Inverness (Outer Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: L. Boysdale DATE: c.1400 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch and,
probably, "Boia's OLD NORSE dalr `dale, valley'", although the
personal name was usually ANGLO-SAXON rather than OLD NORSE . The descriptive
OLD NORSE bugis `small bay' is a possible alternative.
LOCH BROOM
(in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Loch Bren DATE: 1310
EARLIEST RECORD: Braon DATE: 1227 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch with
braon `drizzle, dew'.
LOCHBUIE (in the old county of Argyll
(Mull))
NAME ON MAP: Lochbowe DATE: 1478 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch with
buidhe `yellow'.
LOCH DOON (in the old county of Ayrshire)
NAME ON MAP: Logh Done DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Inter Don and Ar DATE:
1197 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch with, possibly, donn `brown' or
dùn `fort, castle'.
LOCH EARN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: L. Eran DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Sraithherni DATE: a.1100
MEANING: Earn is probably very old: perhaps BRYTHONIC `water'. Some
scholars have linked it with éire `Ireland'.
LOCHINDORB (in
the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Lochindorb MEANING: GOIDELIC
loch with an `of' and doirb `tadpoles'. An early
alternative spelling in 1386 was Louchondoun `loch of the
castle'.
LOCH LOMOND (in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP:
Loch Lomond DATE: 1350 EARLIEST RECORD: L. Lomnan DATE: a.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC
loch with BRYTHONIC llumon `beacon', referring to Ben
Lomond.
LOCHMABEN (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Locmaban DATE: 1166-296 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch with, possibly, BRYTHONIC
mabon `youth, hero' referring to a CELTIC god.
LOCH NESS (in the
old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Loch Nis DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD:
Nesa, Nisa DATE: a.700 MEANING: GOIDELIC loch with a BRYTHONIC or
PRE-CELTIC river name possibly meaning `roaring'.
LOCH SHIEL (in the old
county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Loch Seile DATE: a.700 MEANING: GOIDELIC
loch with an unknown word. OLD NORSE skáli `shelter' would be
attractive were the first record not so early.
LOCH SHIN (in the old
county of Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: L. Shyn DATE: 1595 MEANING: GOIDELIC
loch with, possibly, GOIDELIC seun `charm', thus `enchanted', or
sine `storm'. The name is probably old, but the first record is
late.
LOCH TAY (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Loch Tay
DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Taus (the river name) DATE: c.80 MEANING: GOIDELIC
loch with, probably, a BRYTHONIC river name related to Thames
meaning `river' or `dark river'.
LOCHWINNOCH (in the old county of
Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Lochynoc DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Lochynoc MEANING:
GOIDELIC loch, probably with the diminutive of [St] Wynnin or
Vimin, who died in 579.
LOCKERBIE (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Lokardebi DATE: 1306 MEANING: probably "Locard's OLD
NORSE by `settlement, village'". See the entry for Lockhart under
Clan Names, although there is no proven connection.
LOGIERAIT (in
the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Rate DATE: a.1200 MEANING: "GOIDELIC
lag `hollow' [by the] ràth `circular fort'".
LONGFORGAN (in
the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Longforgrund DATE: 1315 EARLIEST
RECORD: Forgrund DATE: 1178-82 MEANING: GOIDELIC lann `enclosure, church'
or lòn `marsh' with, possibly, fothir grund `field with the good
bottom'.
LORN (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Lorne DATE:
1304 MEANING: traditionally named after Loarn. See the entry for
Angus.
LUFFNESS (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Luffnauch DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Luffenac DATE: 1180 MEANING: GOIDELIC
luibheanach `place full of little herbs or plants'.
LUMPHANAN (in
the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Lumfannan DATE: 1299 EARLIEST
RECORD: Lumfanan DATE: a.1100 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC lann `church' of
[St] Finan (Finian)". See the entry for Chapel Finian.
LUNCARTY
(in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Lonfordi DATE: 1358 EARLIEST
RECORD: Lumphortyn DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC longphort; literally,
`ship harbour', but here meaning `stronghold'. It is not on the sea and it is
possible the name might come from Longford in Ireland.
LUSS
(in the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Lus DATE: 1225 MEANING:
GOIDELIC lus `herb'.
MADDERTY (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Madirdi DATE: 1219 MEANING: just possibly "GOIDELIC
maedair `little pail, wooden dish' of [St] Ethernan". He was a 7th
century native of Scotland who went to Ireland and returned to his
homeland as a missionary.
MALLAIG (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Mallaig (probable spelling) MEANING: there are no early
records, but a possible derivation from OLD NORSE már `gull' or
möl `shingle' with vágr `bay' suggests that the name is
old.
MANUEL (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Manewell
DATE: 1301 EARLIEST RECORD: Manuell DATE: c.1190 MEANING: a priory, possibly
named from Emanuel, but probably from BRYTHONIC maen gwel `rock
[with a] view'.
MARKINCH (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Markynchs DATE: c.1290 EARLIEST RECORD: Marchinke DATE: a.1055 MEANING: GOIDELIC
marc `horse' innis `dry area in a marsh'.
MARYTON (in the
old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Marington DATE: a.1220 MEANING: probably
"Marinus' or Marcwin's tun `settlement,
village'".
MAUCHLINE (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Mauchlyn
DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Machline DATE: c.1130 MEANING: GOIDELIC
magh `field' [of the] linne `pool'.
MAYBOLE (in the old
county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Mayboill DATE: 1275 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
magh `plain, moor' baoghail `of danger'.
MEARNS (in the old
county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Mernis DATE: 1188 EARLIEST RECORD: Mearns
DATE: c.1160 MEANING: "GOIDELIC magh `plain' of [the Water of]
Earn"; see the entry for Loch Earn in Perthshire. But GOIDELIC an
mhaoirne `the stewardship' has also been suggested.
MEIGLE (in the
old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Miggil DATE: 1183 MEANING: GOIDELIC
mign `marsh' dol `meadow'.
MELROSE (in the old county of
Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Malros DATE: 1124 EARLIEST RECORD: Mailros DATE:
c.700 MEANING: BRYTHONIC maol `bare, bald' ros `moor,
promontory'.
MIDDLE ENGLISH STRIE (in the old county of
Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Mestry DATE: 1315 EARLIEST RECORD: Mestryn DATE:
1261 MEANING: BRYTHONIC maes `plain' tref `farm,
house'.
METHIL (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Methkil DATE:
1250 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC maoth `soft' or maid `boundary'
coill `wood'.
METHLICK (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME
ON MAP: Methelak DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC maoth `soft'
tulach `hill' or maid `boundary' llech
`stone'.
METHVEN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Mehtven
DATE: 1304 EARLIEST RECORD: Matefan DATE: a.1150 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC
maid `boundary' vaen `stone', although medd `mead' (the
drink), magh `plain' and meadhon `middle' with abhainn
`river' have also been suggested.
MINTO (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Minthov DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Munethov DATE: 1166
MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC mynydd `hill' or GOIDELIC monadh
`mountain' with SCOTTISH ENGLISH heuch `haugh, land by a
river'.
MOCHRUM (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Mouchrome
DATE: 1329 MEANING: GOIDELIC magh `plain' with crom
`crooked'.
MOFFAT (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP:
Moffete DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Moffet DATE: 1179 MEANING: GOIDELIC
magh `plain' fada `long'.
MONDYNES (in the old county of
Kincardine)
NAME ON MAP: Monachedin DATE: 1251 MEANING: GOIDELIC
monadh `moor' eadain `slope'.
MONEYDIE (in the old county
of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Monedy DATE: 1285 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC
monadh `moor' eadain `slope'.
MONIFIETH (in the old county
of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Monifeit DATE: 1242 EARLIEST RECORD: Munifieth DATE:
1178 MEANING: GOIDELIC moine `peat' féithe `bog'.
MONIMAIL
(in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Monimel DATE: 1250 MEANING:
GOIDELIC mòine `peat' meall `hill'.
MONKTON (in the old
county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Monktoun DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD: Munctune
DATE: 1163 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH tun `village, settlement' belong to the
monks of Paisley Abbey.
MONTROSE (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Monros DATE: 1322 EARLIEST RECORD: Munros DATE: c.1178 MEANING:
GOIDELIC moine `peat' ros `promontory'.
MONZIE (in the old
county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Muyhhe DATE: 1282 EARLIEST RECORD: Mugedha
DATE: 1226-34 MEANING: possibly mag iodh `plain of corn', later influenced by
GOIDELIC moine `peat moor'.
MOONZIE (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Mooney DATE: c.1230 MEANING: possibly mag iodh `plain of corn',
later influenced by GOIDELIC moine `peat moor'.
MOREBATTLE (in the
old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Merebotle DATE: 1170 EARLIEST RECORD:
Scerbedle (a misprint) DATE: a.800 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH mor `moor' or
mere `lake' with botl `dwelling'.
MORVERN (in the old
county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Morven DATE: 1390 EARLIEST RECORD:
Garwmorwarne DATE: 1343 MEANING: BRYTHONIC mor `sea' GOIDELIC
bhearn `gap' or GOIDELIC mór `big' bheinn `ben,
mountain'.
MOTHERWELL (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Moydirwal DATE: 1265 EARLIEST RECORD: Matervelle DATE: a.1250 MEANING: "OLD
ENGLISH modor `mother's' well `well, spring'", ie. dedicated to
the Virgin Mary.
MOULIN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON
MAP: Moulyn DATE: 1323 EARLIEST RECORD: Molin DATE: 1207 MEANING: GOIDELIC
maolinn `bare hillock'.
MOY (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Muy DATE: 1235 MEANING: GOIDELIC moigh (from
magh) `on the plain'.
MUCHALLS (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Mukulis DATE: a.1321 EARLIEST RECORD: Mukual DATE: 1268
MEANING: probably GOIDELIC mucail `[place] of swine'.
MUCK (in the
old county of Inverness (Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Helantmok DATE: c.1370
MEANING: GOIDELIC eilean muc `island of swine'.
MUCKHART (in the
old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Mukard DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC
muc `pig' ard `height'.
MUGDOCK (in the old county of
Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Mukdoc DATE: 1392 EARLIEST RECORD: Mageduac DATE:
c.750 MEANING: probably magh `plain' a' dhaboich `of ploughed
land'.
MULL (in the old county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Myl
(Norse Sagas) EARLIEST RECORD: Maleos DATE: 2nd century MEANING: although OLD
NORSE múli `snout, headland' or GOIDELIC mul `shingle beach'is
possible, the age of the earliest record makes BRYTHONIC maol `bare hill'
more probable.
MUNLOCHY (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Munlochy DATE: 1328 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC magh
`plain' n' lochaidh `of the black place'.
MUSSELBURGH (in the old
county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Muskilburk DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD:
Muxelburg DATE: c.1198 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH muscle `mussel' burh
`town'.
MUTHILL (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Muothle
DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Mothel DATE: c.1198 MEANING: either GOIDELIC
maothail `soft ground' or OLD ENGLISH (ge)mot `meeting'
hyll `hill'.
NAIRN (in the old county of Nairn)
NAME ON MAP:
Inernarn DATE: 1283 EARLIEST RECORD: Ilvernarran (a misprint) DATE: c.1200
MEANING: "GOIDELIC inbhir `mouth' of the Nairn". The river name is
possibly BRYTHONIC and may mean `penetrating'.
NEILSTON (in the old
county of Renfrew)
NAME ON MAP: Neleston DATE: a.1214 EARLIEST RECORD:
Neilstoun DATE: c.1160 MEANING: "Neill's tun `settlement,
village'". The personal name may mean `champion'.
NEWBATTLE (in the old
county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Neubattaill DATE: 1295 EARLIEST RECORD:
Niwabothla DATE: c.1145 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH neowe, niewa `new'
botl `dwelling'.
NEWBURGH (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME
ON MAP: Newburg (a probable spelling) MEANING: OLD ENGLISH neowe `new'
burh `burgh, stronghold'. The burgh was in existence by
1314.
NEWBURGH (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Niwanbyrig
DATE: 1130 MEANING: see the previous entry.
NEWCASTLETON / OLD CASTLETON
(in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Cassiltoun DATE: 1275 MEANING:
OLD ENGLISH castel `castle' tun `settlement,
village'.
NEWTON GRANGE (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON
MAP: Neuton DATE: 1250 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH neowe `new' tun
`settlement, village'.
NIGG (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON
MAP: Nig DATE: c.1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC an uig `a bay'; it is an adaption
of OLD NORSE vík.
NIGG (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Nig DATE: 1257 MEANING: see the previous entry.
NORTH
BERWICK (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Northberwyk DATE:
1250 MEANING: see the entry for Berwick.
OLD DEER (in the old county of
Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Der DATE: 1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Dear DATE: a.1150
MEANING: GOIDELIC doire `wood, grove'.
OLD MONKLAND (in the old
county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Munkland DATE: 1323 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
land `land' belonging to the see of Glasgow.
OLDHAMSTOCKS
(in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Aldehamstoc DATE: 1127
MEANING: OLD ENGLISH ald `old' ham `homestead' stoc `place,
secondary farm'.
OLDMELDRUM (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON
MAP: Melkidrum DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Melgedrom DATE: 1291 MEANING:
possibly BRYTHONIC mal(a)g `noble' and GOIDELIC druim
`ridge'.
OLIVER (in the old county of Peebles)
NAME ON MAP: Oliver
MEANING: from the personal name. Although OLD FRENCH Olivier `olive tree'
is often given as the meaning, it may derive from OLD GERMAN Alfihar `elf
host'. The castle was held by the Frasers in the 14th
century.
ORMISTON (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Ormiston DATE: 1293 EARLIEST RECORD: Ormystone DATE: c.1160 MEANING:
"Orm's tun `settlement, village'". OLD NORSE Ormr was
adopted and used by the Anglo-Saxons.
OXNAM (in the old county of
Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP: Oxeham DATE: 1177 EARLIEST RECORD: Oxanaham DATE:
c.1150 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH oxna `oxen' hamm `meadow, water
meadow'.
OYNE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Ovyn DATE:
a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Uuen DATE: a.1182 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC
uaine `green'.
PAISLEY (in the old county of Renfrew)
NAME ON
MAP: Passelet DATE: 1163 EARLIEST RECORD: Passeleth DATE: 1157 MEANING: probably
from a GOIDELIC paislig, a corruption of LATIN basilica `church',
but "BRYTHONIC pasgell `pasture' llethr `slope'" or
"Pælli's OLD ENGLISH leah `settlement in wooded area'" would both
fit.
PANBRIDE (in the old county of Angus)
NAME ON MAP: Pannebrid
DATE: c.1200 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC pen `hill, headland' of [St]
Bridget. See the entry for East Kilbride.
PARTICK (in the old county
of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Pertheck DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Perdeyc DATE:
c.1136 MEANING: from BRYTHONIC pert `thicket', `bushy
place'.
PAXTON (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Paxtun
DATE: c.1098 MEANING: "Pace's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement,
village'".
PEEBLES (in the old county of Peebles)
NAME ON MAP:
Pebbles DATE: c.1141 EARLIEST RECORD: Pobles DATE: 1116 MEANING: BRYTHONIC
pabell `tent, temporary shelter' with OLD ENGLISH -s added. (The
same root gives `pavilion').
PENCAITLAND (in the old county of East
Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Penkatland DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Pencatlet DATE:
a.1150 MEANING: BRYTHONIC pen `head, hill' cet `wood' with
lann `field, enclosure' or OLD ENGLISH land
`land'.
PENICUIK (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Penycoke DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Penicok DATE: 1250 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC
pen `hill' y `of' cog `the cuckoo'".
PERTH (in the
old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Perth DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Pert
DATE: c.1128 MEANING: BRYTHONIC perth `thicket'. For many centuries it
was known as St Johnstoun.
PITCAIRNGREEN (in the old county of
Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Peticarne DATE: 1247 MEANING: "GOIDELIC pet
`portion of land' [of the] cairn `cairn'". OLD ENGLISH grene
`green' was later added.
PITTENWEEM (in the old county of Fife)
NAME
ON MAP: Petnaweem DATE: a.1150 MEANING: "GOIDELIC pet `portion of land'
[of] na `the' uamha `cave'".
PLEAN (in the old county of
Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Plane DATE: 1215 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC
plane, plen `plain'.
POLLOKSHAWS (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Pollock DATE: 1158 MEANING: diminutive of GOIDELIC poll
`pool'. OLD ENGLISH scaga `wood' has been added later.
POLWARTH
(in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Poulwrd DATE: 1250 EARLIEST
RECORD: Polwrth DATE: a.1200 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH pol `pool' worth
`enclosure, homestead'.
PORTREE (in the old county of Inverness (Skye)
DATE: the first record, Portri in 1549, is too late to appear on this
map. MEANING: traditionally GOIDELIC port righe `royal harbour' from the
visit of James V in 1540, but more probably port with
ruigheadh `of the slope'.
PRESTONGRANGE (at PRESTONPANS) (in the
old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: [Grangia de] Preston DATE: c.1240
MEANING: OLD ENGLISH preost `priest' tun `settlement, village'.
There were salt pans here at 1200 belonging to Newbattle
Abbbey.
PRESTWICK (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Prestwick DATE: 1158 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH preost `priest' wic
`farm, settlement'.
QUEENSFERRY (in the old county of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Queneferie DATE: c.1295 EARLIEST RECORD: Passigium S. Marg.
Regi DATE: 1183 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH quenes `queen's' ferien
`ferry'. Named after Margaret, wife of King Malcolm.
RAASAY
(in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Raasa DATE: 1263 MEANING:
probably OLD NORSE rár `roe deer' áss `ridge' ey `island',
or simply `roe deer island'.
RAIT (in the old county of Perth)
NAME
ON MAP: Rath DATE: 1284 MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort'.
RATHEN (in
the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Rathyn DATE: a.1300 MEANING:
GOIDELIC rathain `ferny place'.
RATHO (in the old county of
Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Rathou DATE: 1293 EARLIEST RECORD: Ratheu DATE:
1250 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC rathau `mounds, hills'.
RATTRAY
(in the old county of Aberdeenshire)
NAME ON MAP: Ratref (a probable
spelling) MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort' with an earlier BRYTHONIC
tref `farm, homestead'. A castle was here by 1314.
RATTRAY (in the
old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Retref DATE: 1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Rotrefe
DATE: 1291 MEANING: see the previous entry.
REAY (in the old county of
Sutherland)
NAME ON MAP: Ra DATE: c.1230 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
rèidh `smooth, level', possibly ràth `fort'.
REDCASTLE (in
the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Redcastell DATE: 1455 MEANING:
MIDDLE ENGLISH . There was a stronghold here by 1314.
RENFREW (in the old
county of Refrew)
NAME ON MAP: Renfrew DATE: 1160 EARLIEST RECORD: Reinfry
DATE: c.1128 MEANING: BRYTHONIC rhyn `point, headland' with frwyd
which implies `flowing' and may refer to the River Gryfe or to a current
in the River Clyde which the Gryfe joins.
RESTON (in the
old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Ristun DATE: 1098 MEANING: either
"Ris') OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'" or "hris
`brushwood' tun `settlement, village'".
RHUM, see the entry for
RUM.
RHYND (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Rindalgros DATE:
a.1147 MEANING: GOIDELIC rhyn `headland'; the early record seems to
include ros `headland'.
RHYNIE (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Ryny DATE: c.1230 MEANING: see the previous
entry.
RICCARTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Ricardten
DATE: 1208 MEANING: probably Richard's OLD ENGLISH tun
`settlement, village'.
ROGART (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME
ON MAP: Rothegorth DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE rauthr `red'
garthr `enclosure'.
ROSLIN (in the old county of Midlothian)
NAME ON MAP: Roskelyn DATE: c.1240 MEANING: the first record seems to be
BRYTHONIC ros `moor' celyn `of holly trees', but GOIDELIC
riasg `marsh' linn `pool' may well be correct.
ROSNEATH (in
the old county of Dunbarton)
NAME ON MAP: Rosneth DATE: 1225 EARLIEST
RECORD: Neveth DATE: a.1199 MEANING: GOIDELIC ros `headland' with a
second element which may derive from a BRYTHONIC river or lake name related to
Neath (in Wales) meaning `shining'.
ROSYTH (in the old
county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Rossyth DATE: c.1170 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC
ros `headland' with OLD ENGLISH hyth `landing place' added later,
although GOIDELIC saighead `of arrows' is a possible second
element.
ROTHES (in the old county of Moray)
NAME ON MAP: Rothes
DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort' -ais `place
of'.
ROTHESAY (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Rothersay
DATE: 1321 MEANING: probably "Rother's OLD NORSE ey `island'". The
island was granted to Roderick (Rudri) of Clan Donald in the 13th
century.
ROXBURGH (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP:
Roxburgh DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Rocisburc DATE: 1127 MEANING:
"Hroc's OLD ENGLISH burh `fortified manor'". The personal name
meant `rook'.
RUM (in the old county of Inverness (Hebrides))
NAME ON
MAP: Rume DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Ruim DATE: 677 MEANING: probably
`spacious' from GOIDELIC rùim or OLD NORSE röm. The letter
h was added by its English owner in the 20th
century.
RUTHERFORD (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP:
Rotherford DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Rutherford DATE: c.1215 MEANING: OLD
ENGLISH hryther `cattle' ford `ford'.
RUTHERGLEN (in the
old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Ruglyn DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD:
Rutherglen DATE: a.1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC ruadh `red' gleann
`glen'. The 1300 spelling is still heard in local speech.
RUTHVEN (in the
old county of Banff)
NAME ON MAP: Rothven DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD:
Ruthaven DATE: c.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC ruadh `red' bheinn
`mountain'.
SADDELL (in the old county of Bute)
NAME ON MAP: Sagadul
DATE: 1203-503 MEANING: probably OLD NORSE sag `saw' dalr `dale,
valley', or GOIDELIC sagart `priest' dail `dale, valley'. The
abbey was founded by Somerled, the half-Viking progenitor of Clan
Donald.
SAINT ANDREWS (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: St
Andrae DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Ecclesia Sancti Andreae DATE: a.1130 MEANING:
from Saint Androis, the name given, possibly by King Kenneth
McAlpine c.AD 850, to the church founded here by St Regulus who
traditionally brought relics of the apostle to Scotland in the 4th
century. Andrew derives from the GREEK for `manly', but in St
Andrew's case is probably a translation of a HEBREW name.
SAINT
NINIAN'S CHAPEL (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Scti. Niniani
[de Kirktoun] DATE: 1242 EARLIEST RECORD: Egglis DATE: 1147 MEANING: from the
abbot of Bangor, Ireland, died AD 432, who evangelized the
southern Picts and founded a church at Whithorn (see entry). His
name means `lively'.
SANQUHAR (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON
MAP: Sanwhare DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Sanchar DATE: a.1150 MEANING: GOIDELIC
sean `old' cathair `fort'.
SAUCHIE (in the old county of
Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Salacheth DATE: a.1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Salechoc
DATE: 1208 MEANING: probably from GOIDELIC socach `snout, land in the
fork of two streams'.
SCONE (in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP:
Scone DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Sgoinde DATE: c.1020 MEANING: probably
GOIDELIC sgonn `lump, mound'. It probably refers to the Mote Hill,
the meeting place of the Scottish kings from the 8th century. It does not
refer to the Stone of Scone.
SCOTLAND)
NAME ON MAP: Scotland
DATE: c.940 MEANING: literally `the land of the Irish'. Ireland to
the Romans was Scotia; Scotland was Caledonia or
Alba. Irish Celtic invaders, traditionally led by the three sons
of Erc, Fergus, Loarn and Angus, came to
Scotland from Ulster in the 5th or 6th century bringing their name
with them.
SCRABSTER (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP:
Scrabester DATE: 1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Skarabolstad DATE: 1201 MEANING: probably
OLD NORSE skjære `rocky' bólstathr `homestead'. The VIKING name
Skari is another possibility.
SELKIRK (in the old county of
Selkirk)
NAME ON MAP: Selkirk DATE: 1306 EARLIEST RECORD: Selechyrca DATE:
1113 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH sele `hall' with cirice
`church'.
SHETTLESTON (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Schedinestun DATE: 1186 EARLIEST RECORD: villa filii Sadin DATE: 1170 MEANING:
"Scadin's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'".
SHISKINE
(in the old county of Bute (Arran))
NAME ON MAP: Cesken DATE: a.1250
MEANING: GOIDELIC sescenn, seasgan `a marsh'.
SIMPRIN (in the old
county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Sympring DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST RECORD:
Simprig DATE: 1159 MEANING: possibly from a personal name such as
Sindbeorn.
SKELBO (in the old county of Sutherland)
NAME ON
MAP: Scellebol DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Scelbo DATE: c.1210 MEANING: OLD
NORSE skel `shell' bol `settlement'.
SKIPNESS (in the old
county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Skipnish DATE: 1260 EARLIEST RECORD:
Schepehinch DATE: c.1250 MEANING: OLD NORSE skip `ship' næs
`headland'.
SKYE (in the old county of Inverness (Hebrides))
NAME ON
MAP: Skey DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Skitis DATE: 2nd century MEANING: probably
GOIDELIC sgiathach `winged', from the aspect of the island when seen from
the mainland.
SLAINS (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Slanys DATE: c.1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Slanes DATE: 1165-9 MEANING: GOIDELIC
sleamhuinn `smooth' -ais `place'.
SLAMANNAN (in the old
county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Slethmanin DATE: 1250 MEANING: possibly
from GOIDELIC slámannan `slices', here used in some sense such as
`terraces'.
SLEAT (in the old county of Inverness (Skye))
NAME ON
MAP: Slate DATE: a.1400 MEANING: OLD NORSE slétta `plain'.
SOLWAY
FIRTH (in the old county of Dunfries)
NAME ON MAP: Sulway DATE: c.1300
EARLIEST RECORD: Sulewad DATE: 1218 MEANING: OLD NORSE súl `pillar'
vath `ford' fjorthr `firth'. A granite boulder known as the
Lochmaben Stone once marked the Scottish side of the stream. OLD
NORSE súla `the Solan goose' is a possible
alternative.
SPEY (RIVER) (in the old county of Banff, Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Spe DATE: 1124 EARLIEST RECORD: Tvesis DATE: 2nd century
MEANING: unknown. The early form is presumably Ptolemy's attempt at the
BRYTHONIC name.
SPOTT (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON
MAP: Spot DATE: 1298 MEANING: OLD NORSE spotti `a bit, a
piece'.
STENHOUSEMUIR (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Stanus DATE: 1264 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH stan `stone' hus `house'.
Moor was added by 1601.
STENTON (in the old county of East
Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Steinton DATE: a.1150 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH stan
`stone' tun `settlement, village', influenced by OLD NORSE stein
`stone'.
STEVENSTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Stevenstoun DATE: 1246 MEANING: "Stephen's or Steven's tun
`settlement, village'". The personal name derives from the GREEK for
`crown'.
STEWARTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP: Stewartoun
DATE: 1201 MEANING: "Steward's tun `settlement, village'". See the
entry for Stewart under Clan Names.
STIRLING (in the old
county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP: Strevelyn DATE: 1295 EARLIEST RECORD:
Strevelin DATE: a.1124 MEANING: uncertain: possibly GOIDELIC sruth
`stream' and lann `enclosed land'.
STORNOWAY (in the old county of
Ross & Cromarty (Lewis))
NAME ON MAP: Stornochway DATE: 1511 MEANING:
OLD NORSE stjorn `steerage, rudder' vágr `bay'. Although the first
record is late, the name is probably much older.
STRACHAN (in the old
county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Strathechin DATE: 1333 EARLIEST RECORD:
Stratheyhan DATE: a.1153 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC srathan `little
valley'.
STRANRAER (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP:
Stranrever DATE: c.1320 MEANING: GOIDELIC sròn `nose, point'
reamhar `thick'.
STRATHALLAN (in the old county of Perth)
NAME
ON MAP: Strathalun DATE: 1187 MEANING: "GOIDELIC srath `valley' [of the]
Allan. The river name is possibly BRYTHONIC and may mean `very
white'.
STRATHBLANE (in the old county of Stirling)
NAME ON MAP:
Strablane DATE: c.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Strachblachan DATE: c.1200 MEANING:
"GOIDELIC srath `valley' of Blane [Water]". The meaning of the
river name is unknown.
STRATHCLYDE)
NAME ON MAP: Streclued DATE:
a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Stratduttenses (a misprint) DATE: a.910 MEANING:
GOIDELIC srath `valley' [of the] Clyde. The river name, recorded
as Clota in the 2nd century, is probably BRYTHONIC and may be related to
LATIN cluo `wash' or cloaca `sewer'.
STRATHKINNESS (in the
old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Kinninis DATE: 1156 EARLIEST RECORD:
Stradkines DATE: 1144 MEANING: "GOIDELIC srath `valley' [of the]
Kinness [Burn]". The river name may be GOIDELIC ceann `head' with
ness `cape' or with an `the' eas
`waterfall'.
STRATHMIGLO (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP:
Stramygloke DATE: 1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Scradmigglock DATE: a.1200 MEANING:
GOIDELIC srath `valley' with (possibly) GOIDELIC muclach
`swine-pen' or with mig `marsh' and loch.
STRAVITHIE (in
the old county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Struuithin DATE: 1144 MEANING: GOIDELIC
srath `valley' with (possibly) GOIDELIC mheith `rich,
fertile'.
STROMA (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Stroma
DATE: 1455 MEANING: OLD NORSE straumr `current' ey `island'. The
Pentland Firth must have been a real challenge in a
longboat.
STRONE (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Stron
DATE: c.1400 MEANING: GOIDELIC sròn `nose, headland'.
SUNART (in
the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Swynwort DATE: 1372 MEANING:
"Sven's (a Viking name) OLD NORSE fjordr
`fjord'".
SWINTON (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP: Swintun
DATE: c.1120 EARLIEST RECORD: Suineston DATE: c.1098 MEANING: either Suen
or OLD ENGLISH swin `swine' with tun `settlement,
village'.
SYMINGTON (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP:
Symondstone DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Villa Symonis Loccardi DATE: c.1189
MEANING: "Simon's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'". The
personal name derives from HEBREW Shimeon `hearkening'. For the 1189
reference, see the entry for Lockhart under Clan
Names.
TAIN (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON
MAP: Tene DATE: 1226 MEANING: a BRYTHONIC river name similar to Tyne;
like many old river names it probably just means `water,
river'.
TANTALLON (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Dentaloune DATE: a.1300 MEANING: originally probably BRYTHONIC din `fort'
with talgwn `high-fronted', later GOIDELIC tom `knoll' of the
talain `feats of arms'.
TARBERT (in the old county of Argyll)
NAME ON MAP: Tarbart DATE: 1326 MEANING: from GOIDELIC tar `across'
ber `bring, bear', ie. a place where boats can be dragged across an
isthmus.
TARBOLTON (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Torboultoun DATE: a.1177 MEANING: GOIDELIC torr `hill' with OLD ENGLISH
botl `dwelling' and tun `settlement, village'.
TARLAND (in
the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP: Tarhlund DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST
RECORD: Tarualund DATE: 1183 MEANING: GOIDELIC tarbh `bull' lann
`enclosure'.
TARVES (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Tarvas DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Tarves DATE: 1165-9 MEANING: GOIDELIC
tarbh `bull' -ais `place'.
THURSO (in the old county of
Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Turseha DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Thorsa DATE:
1152 MEANING: probably "OLD NORSE thjorsa `bull' á `river'",
although this name may be an adaption of a BRYTHONIC original.
TIBBERMORE
(in the old county of Perth)
NAME ON MAP: Tubermore DATE: c.1200 MEANING:
GOIDELIC tiobar `well' with either mòr `big' or Moire
`[the Virgin] Mary'.
TIBBERS (in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Tibbers MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC tiobar `well' with an
OLD ENGLISH plural -s. A castle was here by 1314.
TILLICOULTRY (in
the old county of Clackmannan)
NAME ON MAP: Tullicultrane DATE: 1270
EARLIEST RECORD: Tulycultri DATE: 1195 MEANING: "GOIDELIC tulach
`hillock' [in the] cùl `back, hinter' tir `land'".
TINWALD
(in the old county of Dumfries)
NAME ON MAP: Tinwald DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST
RECORD: Tynwalde DATE: c.1280 MEANING: OLD NORSE thing `assembly,
parliament' völlr `open space'.
TIORAM (in the old county of
Inverness)
NAME ON MAP: Tioram MEANING: GOIDELIC tioram `dry'. The
castle was in existence by 1314.
TIREE (in the old county of Argyll
(Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Tiryad DATE: 1343 EARLIEST RECORD: Tir Iath DATE:
9th century MEANING: "GOIDELIC tir `land' of Ith", or "of
eadha `corn'". The personal name, if such it was, is not recorded
elsewhere.
TONGLAND (in the old county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP:
Tuncgeland DATE: c.1150 MEANING: OLD NORSE tunga or OLD ENGLISH
tunge `tongue' OLD ENGLISH land `land'.
TORRIDON (in the
old county of Ross & Cromarty)
NAME ON MAP: Torvirlane DATE: 1464
MEANING: uncertain; the first element is probably GOIDELIC torr
`hill'.
TRANENT (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP:
Tranent DATE: c.1210 EARLIEST RECORD: Treuernent DATE: c.1144 MEANING: probably
"BRYTHONIC tref `farm, settlement' [of] yr `the' neint
`streams'".
TRAQUAIR (in the old county of Peebles)
NAME ON MAP:
Traquair DATE: 1265 EARLIEST RECORD: Treverquyrd DATE: 1116 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC
tref `farm, settlement' [on] Quair [Water]". The river name
probably means `green'.
TULLIBODY (in the old county of Fife)
NAME ON
MAP: Tullibotheny DATE: 1195 EARLIEST RECORD: Dunbodeuin DATE: 1147 MEANING: the
first spelling gives GOIDELIC dùn `hill', the second spelling
tulach `hillock', each with both `hut'.
TULLIBOLE (in the
old county of Kinross)
NAME ON MAP: Tullibole MEANING: GOIDELIC
tulach `hillock' with, possibly, baoghail `of danger'. A castle
was here by 1314.
TURNBERRY (in the old county of Ayr)
NAME ON MAP:
Tornebiri DATE: 1301 EARLIEST RECORD: Turnebiri DATE: c.1200 MEANING: OLD NORSE
turn `tower', or just possibly NORMAN-FRENCH tournei `tournament',
with OLD ENGLISH burh `fort, castle'. Tradition has it that Robert the
Bruce was born here.
TURRIFF (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME
ON MAP: Turreth DATE: 1273 EARLIEST RECORD: Turbruad DATE: c.1150 MEANING:
GOIDELIC torr `hill' with an uncertain second element, just possibly
bruid `of anguish'.
TWYNHOLM (in the old county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Twenham DATE: c.1200 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH betweon
`between' with hamm or holm `river land'.
TYNINGHAME (in
the old county of East Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Tynynham DATE: 1265 EARLIEST
RECORD: Tinnings DATE: a.800 MEANING: "OLD ENGLISH ham `homestead' of the
`dwellers on Tyne'".
UIST (in the old county of Inverness (Outer
Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Guist DATE: 1292 MEANING: possibly OLD NORSE
í `in' vist `dwelling', or, more probably, an unknown CELTIC
word.
ULLAPOOL (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty The earliest
record, Ullbill, in 1610 is too late to appear on this map, but if its probable
derivation from "Olaf's OLD NORSE bólstathr `dwelling'" is correct
then it may indeed be old. It is interesting that the MacAulay clan
(GOIDELIC `son of Olaf') came to Lewis from here.
ULVA (in
the old county of Argyll (Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Ulway DATE: 1473 MEANING:
either Ulfr or OLD NORSE ulfr `wolf' with ey
`island'.
URQUHART (in the old county of Inverness)
NAME ON MAP:
Urquhart MEANING: BRYTHONIC ar `near' cardden `the thicket'. A
castle was here by 1314.
URQUHART (in the old county of Moray)
NAME
ON MAP: Hurcard DATE: c.1200 MEANING: see the previous entry.
URR (in the
old county of Kirkcudbright)
NAME ON MAP: Urrer DATE: c.1280 MEANING: a
river name, possibly from a BRYTHONIC root isura `holy one, strong
one'.
VATERSAY (in the old county of Ross & Cromarty (Outer
Hebrides))
NAME ON MAP: Vatersa DATE: 1580 MEANING: "Vottr's OLD
NORSE ey `island'". OLD NORSE vottr means `glove' and may have
been a nickname.
WARK (in the old county of Berwick)
NAME ON MAP:
Wark MEANING: OLD ENGLISH (ge)weorc `fortification'. A castle was here by
1314.
WATTEN (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Watne
DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE vatn `water'.
WEMYSS (in the old
county of Fife)
NAME ON MAP: Wemys DATE: 1239 MEANING: GOIDELIC uamh
`cave' with an OLD ENGLISH plural -s.
WHITBURN (in the old county
of West Lothian)
NAME ON MAP: Whiteburne DATE: 1296 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH
hwit `white' burna `stream'.
WHITHORN (in the old county of
Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Whitherne DATE: 1159 EARLIEST RECORD: Hwiterne DATE:
565 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH hwit `white' erne `house'. In LATIN it
was Candida Casa and was so named when St Ninian founded it in
c.397.
WICK (in the old county of Caithness)
NAME ON MAP: Wick DATE:
c.1375 EARLIEST RECORD: Vik DATE: 1140 MEANING: OLD NORSE vík
`bay'.
WIGTOWN (in the old county of Wigtown)
NAME ON MAP: Wyggeton
DATE: 1283 EARLIEST RECORD: Wigeton DATE: 1266 MEANING: either OLD ENGLISH
wic `farm', or Wicga with tun `settlement,
village'.
WISTON (in the old county of Lanark)
NAME ON MAP: Wicestun
DATE: c.1155 MEANING: "Withce's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement,
village'". A knight of this name appears in 12th century
charters.
WRANGHAM (in the old county of Aberdeen)
NAME ON MAP:
Wrangham DATE: 1261 MEANING: probably "OLD ENGLISH ham `homestead' of the
Væringi (Varangians)". The name meant "men of plighted faith" and was
used of the Normans in Russia.
YARROW (in the old county of
Selkirk)
NAME ON MAP: Gierwa DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Gierua DATE:
c.1120 MEANING: probably a corruption of GOIDELIC garbh `rough' with
abh `stream'.
YESTER (in the old county of East Lothian)
NAME
ON MAP: Yestre DATE: 1295 MEANING: BRYTHONIC ystre
`dwelling'.
YETHOLM (in the old county of Roxburgh)
NAME ON MAP:
Yetham DATE: c.1244 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH geat `pass' hám
`homestead'.