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Scottish toponymy

Scottish toponymy derives from the languages of Scotland. The toponymy varies in each region, reflecting the linguistic history of each part of the country.

Place names in Scotland that contain the element BAL- from the Scottish Gaelic 'baile' meaning home, farmstead, town or city. This data gives some indication of the extent of medieval Gaelic settlement in Scotland.

Goidelic roots accounts for most place-names in eastern Scotland, with a few Anglic names in Fife and Angus and with a small number Pictish elements assimilated into the total toponymy.[1]

Nearly every place-name in the Northern Isles has Norse roots (see Norn language and Scandinavian toponymy),[2] as do many in the Western Isles and along the coasts of the mainland.

In the highlands, the names are primarily from Scottish Gaelic, with emphasis on natural features; elements such as Glen- (Gaelic: Gleann, valley) and Inver- (Gaelic: Inbhir, confluence, mouth) are common. Some Gaelic elements may themselves also be ultimately of Pictish or Brythonic origin, such as Obar (Aber-, meaning confluence; cf modern Welsh Aber-) and Srath (Strath-, a wide, shallow river valley; cf modern Welsh Ystrad).

In lowland Scotland, names are of more diverse origin. Many are Gaelic, but many also derive from the Brythonic branch of Celtic languages (such as Lanark). There are also a substantial number of place names, particularly in the east lowlands, derived from the northern dialect of Old English (see Northumbrian language) and later Scots. For example, -dale as used in e.g. Tweeddale, is from Old English.

Places in Scotland where the Gaelic and English placenames appear to differ

This is a list of names which are not cognate, i.e. they are not from the same root or origins. Some names which appear unrelated in fact are; for example the name Falkirk ultimately derives from a calque (i.e. a word-for-word translation) of its Gaelic name An Eaglais Bhreac (literally 'the speckled/variegated church').

English name Scottish Gaelic name Notes
Alexandria Magh Leamhna The Gaelic name refers to the Plain of Leven, or the Lennox.
Applecross A' Chomraich The English is a corruption of an Aber- name.
Bearsden Cille Phàdraig Ùr Former name "Kilpatrick".
Beauly A' Mhanachainn Gaelic name means "The Monastery", referring to Beauly Priory.
Bishopbriggs Coille Dobhair Former name "Cadder".
Bo'ness Ceann an Fhàil Bo'ness is short for Borrowstounness; former name "Kinneil".
Cairngorms Am Monadh Ruadh English name for the range derived from Cairn Gorm, single mountain.
Cairnryan Machair an Sgithich "Carn Rioghainne" is also seen occasionally in Gaelic.
Campbeltown Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain Gaelic means "Head of Loch Kilkerran", and is often shortened to "Ceann Locha". Loch Kilkerran is an antiquated name for Campbeltown Loch.
The Cobbler Beinn Artair "Ben Arthur" is in occasional use in English too.
Dingwall Inbhir Pheofharain The English name comes from the Norse for a local parliament, while the Gaelic refers to the local river.
Dufftown Baile Bhainidh A translation of the English is occasionally used.
Flowerdale Am Baile Mòr Gaelic name means "The Large Farm".
Fort Augustus Cille Chuimein Formerly "Kiliwhimin".
Fort William An Gearasdan Gaelic name means "The Garrison". "Inverlochy" is used for the general area.
Fortrose A' Chananaich Name translates to "Canonry". Formerly called "Chanonry".
Holywood Doire Chonaill Former name "Dercongal".
Kincardineshire A' Mhaorainn Also known as "The Mearns".
Laurencekirk Coinmheadh Former name "Conveth". A translation of the English is in occasional use.
Leverburgh An t-Òb English name derived from Lord Leverhulme; formerly "Obbe".
Linlithgow Gleann Iucha These names may be etymologically linked, and refer to the loch in the town.
Lochnagar Beinn Chìochan The Gaelic name refers to the mountain; the English name comes from an adjacent loch.
River Forth An Abhainn Dubh Gaelic name means "The Black River".
Rothesay Baile Bhòid Gaelic name means "town of Bute".
South Queensferry Cas Chaolais "Caschillis" is an old form. A translation of the English name is sometimes used.
St Kilda Hiort Main island is often called Hirta. Origin of both names is unclear.
Tain Baile Dhubhthaich Gaelic name refers to Saint Duthac, the English to the River Tain.
Troon An Truthail Gaelic name means "The Thrush".
Wishaw Camas Neachdain From Gaelic "Camas", meaning bend/meander and Neachdain, which could refer to several historical or mythological figures. See also - Cambusnethan.

See also

References

  1. ^ Houston, Robert Allan; Knox, William (2001). National Museums of Scotland (ed.). The new Penguin history of Scotland: from the earliest times to the present day. Allen Lane History Series. Allen Lane in association with National Museums of Scotland.
  2. ^ Duncan, Archibald Alexander McBeth (1975). Donaldson, Gordon (ed.). The Edinburgh history of Scotland. The Edinburgh History of Scotland. Vol. 1. Oliver & Boyd. ISBN 978-0-05-002037-1.

Further reading

  • Mackenzie, William Cook (1931). Scottish place-names. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & co. p. 319.
  • Mackinlay, James Murray (1904). Influence of the pre-reformation church on Scottish place-names. W. Blackwood. pp. 463.
  • Nicolaisen, W. F. H. (2011). Scottish Place-Names: Their Study and Significance. Birlinn. p. 320. ISBN 978-1-906566-36-4.
  • Ross, David (2001). Scottish place-names. Birlinn. pp. 230. ISBN 978-1-84158-173-6.

scottish, toponymy, derives, from, languages, scotland, toponymy, varies, each, region, reflecting, linguistic, history, each, part, country, place, names, scotland, that, contain, element, from, scottish, gaelic, baile, meaning, home, farmstead, town, city, t. Scottish toponymy derives from the languages of Scotland The toponymy varies in each region reflecting the linguistic history of each part of the country Place names in Scotland that contain the element BAL from the Scottish Gaelic baile meaning home farmstead town or city This data gives some indication of the extent of medieval Gaelic settlement in Scotland Goidelic roots accounts for most place names in eastern Scotland with a few Anglic names in Fife and Angus and with a small number Pictish elements assimilated into the total toponymy 1 Nearly every place name in the Northern Isles has Norse roots see Norn language and Scandinavian toponymy 2 as do many in the Western Isles and along the coasts of the mainland In the highlands the names are primarily from Scottish Gaelic with emphasis on natural features elements such as Glen Gaelic Gleann valley and Inver Gaelic Inbhir confluence mouth are common Some Gaelic elements may themselves also be ultimately of Pictish or Brythonic origin such as Obar Aber meaning confluence cf modern Welsh Aber and Srath Strath a wide shallow river valley cf modern Welsh Ystrad In lowland Scotland names are of more diverse origin Many are Gaelic but many also derive from the Brythonic branch of Celtic languages such as Lanark There are also a substantial number of place names particularly in the east lowlands derived from the northern dialect of Old English see Northumbrian language and later Scots For example dale as used in e g Tweeddale is from Old English Contents 1 Places in Scotland where the Gaelic and English placenames appear to differ 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Further readingPlaces in Scotland where the Gaelic and English placenames appear to differ EditThis is a list of names which are not cognate i e they are not from the same root or origins Some names which appear unrelated in fact are for example the name Falkirk ultimately derives from a calque i e a word for word translation of its Gaelic name An Eaglais Bhreac literally the speckled variegated church English name Scottish Gaelic name NotesAlexandria Magh Leamhna The Gaelic name refers to the Plain of Leven or the Lennox Applecross A Chomraich The English is a corruption of an Aber name Bearsden Cille Phadraig Ur Former name Kilpatrick Beauly A Mhanachainn Gaelic name means The Monastery referring to Beauly Priory Bishopbriggs Coille Dobhair Former name Cadder Bo ness Ceann an Fhail Bo ness is short for Borrowstounness former name Kinneil Cairngorms Am Monadh Ruadh English name for the range derived from Cairn Gorm single mountain Cairnryan Machair an Sgithich Carn Rioghainne is also seen occasionally in Gaelic Campbeltown Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain Gaelic means Head of Loch Kilkerran and is often shortened to Ceann Locha Loch Kilkerran is an antiquated name for Campbeltown Loch The Cobbler Beinn Artair Ben Arthur is in occasional use in English too Dingwall Inbhir Pheofharain The English name comes from the Norse for a local parliament while the Gaelic refers to the local river Dufftown Baile Bhainidh A translation of the English is occasionally used Flowerdale Am Baile Mor Gaelic name means The Large Farm Fort Augustus Cille Chuimein Formerly Kiliwhimin Fort William An Gearasdan Gaelic name means The Garrison Inverlochy is used for the general area Fortrose A Chananaich Name translates to Canonry Formerly called Chanonry Holywood Doire Chonaill Former name Dercongal Kincardineshire A Mhaorainn Also known as The Mearns Laurencekirk Coinmheadh Former name Conveth A translation of the English is in occasional use Leverburgh An t Ob English name derived from Lord Leverhulme formerly Obbe Linlithgow Gleann Iucha These names may be etymologically linked and refer to the loch in the town Lochnagar Beinn Chiochan The Gaelic name refers to the mountain the English name comes from an adjacent loch River Forth An Abhainn Dubh Gaelic name means The Black River Rothesay Baile Bhoid Gaelic name means town of Bute South Queensferry Cas Chaolais Caschillis is an old form A translation of the English name is sometimes used St Kilda Hiort Main island is often called Hirta Origin of both names is unclear Tain Baile Dhubhthaich Gaelic name refers to Saint Duthac the English to the River Tain Troon An Truthail Gaelic name means The Thrush Wishaw Camas Neachdain From Gaelic Camas meaning bend meander and Neachdain which could refer to several historical or mythological figures See also Cambusnethan See also EditAcarsaid Ainmean Aite na h Alba Albania placename Celtic onomastics Celtic toponymy Dun Etymology of Aberdeen Etymology of Edinburgh Etymology of Scotland Etymology of Skye Geography of Scotland History of Scotland Irish toponymy List of places in Scotland List of Scottish Gaelic place names Scottish Gaelic personal naming system Scottish place names in other countries Scottish Place Name Society Shieling Toponymy in the United Kingdom and Ireland Welsh toponymyReferences Edit Houston Robert Allan Knox William 2001 National Museums of Scotland ed The new Penguin history of Scotland from the earliest times to the present day Allen Lane History Series Allen Lane in association with National Museums of Scotland Duncan Archibald Alexander McBeth 1975 Donaldson Gordon ed The Edinburgh history of Scotland The Edinburgh History of Scotland Vol 1 Oliver amp Boyd ISBN 978 0 05 002037 1 Further reading Edit Mackenzie William Cook 1931 Scottish place names K Paul Trench Trubner amp co p 319 Mackinlay James Murray 1904 Influence of the pre reformation church on Scottish place names W Blackwood pp 463 Nicolaisen W F H 2011 Scottish Place Names Their Study and Significance Birlinn p 320 ISBN 978 1 906566 36 4 Ross David 2001 Scottish place names Birlinn pp 230 ISBN 978 1 84158 173 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish toponymy amp oldid 1023297996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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