E L G I N .

The o a u of n ea A r ent anct u u a t e in o e R y l B rgh Elgi b rs g , S s Egidi s h bi d his r b s and myt re d h oldi ng i n his d e xt e r h a nd a pa st ora l st a ff a nd i n his l eft h and a c l a spe d book a l l pro pe r su pport e d by t w o a nge ls prop e r wi nge d or vol a nt u pwa rds a nd t he m ot t o S ic it u r a d a st ra u pon a ne compa rt m en t su it abil l t o a Bu rgh Roya l and for t h e ir col ou rs red a nd whit e : recorded in t erms of an i nt e rl oc u t or o f Lyon Ki ng of of 2 8t h o e e 1 888 a nd a eea t o t he az on of a e e ne on Arms N v mb r , , gr bly bl J m s Sk , Ly

e u t e o f a t e th ct o e 1 6 8 . D p D 9 O b r , 7

S t . u or i e w as a n a ot of t he e ent c ent u a nd a n t en an Egidi s , G l s , bb s v h ry , A h i by

t . H e a t o a e a t e t o a nce a nd t o a e ent e e a ea of bir h is s id h v migr d Fr , h v sp s v r l y rs his e i n t he e e t ne a t he ou t of t he one a nd u e u ent in a o e t in lif wild d s r r m h Rh , s bs q ly f r s t he oce e of e e e t he u nt e a n a t t he a o in it s e t ou e di s Nism s , wh r h d im l wi h rr w l f sh ld r

u t o t or e u e . S t u i n h nn n of t he e t cen t u a e . t e e c m p him r f g Egidi s died b gi i g igh h ry , a nd e a n e e e o e t o Tol ouse e e t e e e e o t e in the c u ch his r m i s w r r m v d , wh r h y w r d p si d h r

f a t u n n . o S t . S r i s TH E PLACE NAMES

E LGI N SH I E R .

D M A T H E N E . S O , R L S W

' I nst i t u t ion E l z n , g .

STI R L I N G

E N E A S M U R R A Y P L A CE . MACKAY, 43

L O N DON : DA V I D U 2 0 ST R A N D . N TT , 7

1 9 0 5 .

D E D I C A T I N O .

This wor k is r es p ect fu lly de dic at e d t o A N DREW

C R EG E LL D E s u r e o f Sk bo a s a s m a bu t A N I , q i i , ll s in cer e r eco gn it ion an d e st eem o f his n o ble work t o war ds t he c au s e o f e du cat o n in S co t an d o f his m u n f cen ce i l , i i t o t he S c ot ch Un ver s t es a n d t he s r e a d o f kn o ed e i i i , p wl g t hr o u ho u t t he co u n tr t h t he ferven t ho e t hat he g y , wi p m ay be l o n g s p ar ed t o s ee t he s eeds he ha s s o gen er o u l n r o m r e a n d m n n s y s o w g w o or e i t o fu ll fr u it io .

D M . .

N T E N T C O S .

UC Y N C INTROD TOR OTI E,

P A R I S H A BE N E T Y I . OF R H ,

P A R I S H L V II . THE OF A ES ,

P A R I SH BE L L I E III . OF , V B I . IRNIE,

V . B M OHAR ,

V I C M . RO DALE, VI I D . ALLAS, B V . III RAINIE,

D U . U IX FF S,

DU X . THIL,

DYK M OY XI . E AND ,

. E DE N KI L L I E XII ,

. E G XIII L IN,

% I V . F ORRES, K INLOSS,

K CK NO ANDO , R AFFORD, R OTHES ,

N E W S P YN I E ,

T W - S . A N DR E S L H A N BR YD ,

S P E YM O TH U ,

. U U A T XXII RQ H R ,

A L P H A BE TI CA L % INDE ,

I L L U S T R A T I O N S .

E G C M L IN OAT OF AR S,

M O RA Y BU G S R H EAL,

G W - ON - SP Y BU G S RANTO N E R H EAL,

L OSSIEM OU TH AND BRANDERBURGH BURG H

E G BU G S L IN R H EAL,

F C M ORRES OAT OF AR S,

F BU G S ORRES R H EAL,

R BU G S OTHES R H EAL,

E I NTRO DUCTO RY N OTI C .

H E aborigin es of S cotland were clans of the same Gaelic

as E n T origin those who in early ages settled in gland , and at R om an a the time of the inv sion under Agricola, they were

f E n n t o o . S in a similar co dition those ngland cotla d , from the

T E on t o P F on weed and den the south , the entland irth the north ,

- T n on e . s was divided amo g twenty tribes hose on the ea t coast ,

n an d owi g to the greater fertility of the soil drier climate , were more numerous and powerful than those on the west coast ; but

C n all of them , in accordance with eltic customs , were i dependent of one n c o- of a other, and only Operated under pressure outward

Of Va c ' i . oma danger these , the g occupied the country from the

Dever on on B on the east to the eauly river the west, comprehend

B ff E l i nshir e N air nshir e an d of ing an shire , g , , the eastern portion

n - or on of M F I verness shire , the territories the south the oray irth or i V fr r i s of R T —P t0fr ot 0'n n u s a w . S the omans heir towns were , — f A l a t a, Ca s t r a of P B d Tu essi s Old the tolemy, now urghea

S an d Ta mi a C an d Fochabers on the pey ; , supposed to be ullen ;

B B f The Va coma i s o denomi a n a ti a f. , supposed to be an g were m Old B ated because they occupied these shores , from the ritish

Va c or firt h—a n word , , a bay word which ru s through all the

n of n : S n ve a G k oi kos bra ches the Aryan la guages a scrit, g ree , ; O INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

P w igs ch W u i c G w i olish , ; Irish , fi ; elsh , q ; aelic, g ; and also the

B m a h T o . f ritish word , g , a plain his is a root great antiquity,

i n m a u s n n and the Latinised form , g , is frequently used in the a cie t

of G as Ca esa r - o- fma u s Dm s - o- m a u s N ovi - o place names aul , g , g ,

'ma u s i - s B i o m a u . g , and g g T hese tribes appear to have been little raised , at the time when

n n of history i troduces them to our notice , above the co dition

k of savages , but they were brave , alert, and had remar able powers

n Di o enduri g fatigue , cold , and famine , and tells us they were

n literal democrats , acting as cla s, and adopting any public measure

T of cu 'r m chs only by common consent . heir vessels consisted or

— f k n T cor a cl es boats made o twigs and covered with s i s . hus they

i u n 1 40 A D. Ur b c s t o were u til the year . , when Lollius was deputed R reduce them to obedience to ome . It is said he reduced the B Fi country up to the eauly rth , the district from which southward

W of V 3 06 to the all Antoninus he called espasiana . In the year , R while still under oman influence , we find a new native name

B of other than ritons given to the inhabitants S cotland . Irish

” history informs us that the P icts were driven ou t of that

M k Or n i th country by the brave ilesians , when they too ships to

a/n - tu a th old S , the name for cotland , and that their leader ,

Ca t hl u an of , obtained the sovereignty the country, and was the

of f k n We first monarch a long line o seventy i gs . can only accept

P s this as a mere conjecture , as there is little doubt that the ict were n o other than a part of the race of ancient Caledonians under

a an other name . Little is k nown of Pictish history for more than R B hundred years after the omans finally surrendered ritain , further than that some old chronicles give a list of the P ictish B f B k 5 8 6 k s . o ing y the accession redi , the thirteenth ing, in , to

P on d k the ictish throne , some light is let in the ar ness which I INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

surroun ded the history of previous k ings by his conversion t o

H e n ot n w as s Christianity. o ly converted him elf, but was the

k T s of . means ma ing his people embrace the same faith hi , Th w as . e though proud of his many victories , his greatest glory battles of the P ictish k ings were with the S coto - Irish from

Dalri ada of w a s Du n - N echt an , but the greatest all that fought at , i n A n i n 68 5 n B an d r id one o f berdee shire , , betwee a later redi n ,

S s N B n or the axon prince of orthumbria, who crossed er icia, river

defil es Of P an d A Forth , penetrated through the erth berdeen , until his w as Du n - N echt an n ow career ended by his annihilation at ,

D nn . u ichen , where he and the majority of his soldiers fell In

7 1 0 P n S n the icts were fi ally defeated by the axons , who retur ed t o n w the conquest under a e leader. Up to this period the pirate or Vik ingr of the northern s eas

t o of B confined his ravages the countries south the altic , but

7 8 7 on E n an d in he appeared the northern shores Of gland , a few

on C Bu t w as n ot 8 3 9 years after the aledonian shores . it until and following years that he entered the territory of the P ictish k n M ing, alo g the oray Firth , where murderous conflicts between

on one Uen U s the fierce Norsemen , the hand , and , the son of ngu ,

B on k and ran , his brother, the other, too place , with fatal results P T P to the icts . hese events hastened the downfall of the ictish

n The S k i n . K n mo archy cottish ng , e neth , carried i to execution , in

8 43 had i of n the year , the project he long enterta ned uniti g the

S P s For n on one . cots and ict , and placing both crow s head long

of s n s after the union the two crowns , the two race were recog i ed

as d n 1 2 isti ct people , until in the th century they lost their

characteristic dist in ctions by amalgamation with their con querors .

T of an d con hey were races common origin cognate speech ,

The n sequently they coalesced the more easily. union i creased I 2 INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

of S the power both , and by the ascendancy of the cots, their name

f o The was given to the whole o the northern part f Britain . S cottish pe riod extended from this union in 8 43 till the death of

D n B 1 0 7 D n G S s o ald ane in 9 . uri g this period the aelic cot

n of predomi ated , and their language , being the same as that the

P w as F 1 097 1 3 06 icts, universal throughout the country. rom to

n a new people appears, a new dynasty ascended the thro e , a new j urisprudence generally prevailed , new ecclesiastical establishments

an d an d were settled , new manners a new Speech overspread the Th f land . e fusion o the Celtic and Saxon races was a social

t o C conquest, and its results were almost suppress the eltic tongue

C or of and eltic manners, imprison them within the fastnesses the H ighlands . It is now generally ack nowledged that the Celts originally E T came from the ast . hey were , undoubtedly, the primitive

n of G B B i habitants aul, elgium , and the ritish Isles, and their history has to be built up of the fragments we fin d scattered here an d of s there in the form ancient tradition, the di coveries of the

k - of spade and pic axe, and above all by the traces their original language found in the etymology of the names still attached to

f We o C . places , and monuments undoubted eltic origin find the primaeval names given to places in ou r own cou ntry in the original language appearing through the subs equent strata laid in

s variou times , and the variations of spelling from the original root

M s s which have followed . allet ays All Celtic nation have been

” a ccustomed t o the worship of the s u n whose n ame in the

S sk H G k N C n an rit , ebrew, ree , orse , and eltic la guages is frequently

L aert i met with . u s places the Druids of ancient Britain on an

C n a n d M P equality with the haldea s , the agi of ersia in point of

n n H lear i g and literature . ence we may at once dispel the idea INTRODUCTORY NOTICE . I 3

that names were given to the hills , rivers , and fields in

z or of ou r - a hapha ard manner, that the mass place names are derived from the S axon speech . It is evident from

’ P G of B n m of tolemy s eography ritai , and fro the Itinerary

n s n o C Anto inu , that ma y places b re eltic names merely altered by

i E We Lat n terminations and nglish garb . find a good example of

P t or ot on B a this in the name , or now urghe d , which before the

of B R n w as Tor - a n - du i n circumnavigation ritain by the oma s , the

' Ben w as P - o- fru ci fort on the headland Cruachan en C u m . From these and many other examples that might be given there are strong grounds for believin g that the great majority of the place

n names were given by its earliest occupants , ha ded down to us with d the alterations intro uced by writing and spelling which have ,

i bu t more than anything, changed and obscured the orig nal term , ,

a ar e of k notwithst nding, still capable being traced bac to their T original etymon . his involves labour, and the surest way in which it ca n be done is by finding ou t the primary orthography from which alone can the signification of a word he even appr oxi

i S n a mately determ ned . In cotla d , and p rticularly throughout the

of E n as county lgi , a large number Of names can be interpreted they are found by any on e acquainted with the laws of trans muta

E l in shir e tion of words . g names present many peculiarities , and have to be traced to the original through the three strata of

E N an n d G . nglish , orse , fi ally aelic In their present form they are

n to be regarded from the phonetic standpoi t , having been put d as k as ri own they had been spo en , not written in the o ginal , and

T o are in consequence materially corrupted . hey are therefore f some im portance from an ethnologica l as well as from a phil ol ogi ca l

V point of iew . The ethnology of the an cient Briton s has given rise to so much I 4 INTRODUCTORY NOTICE . dis putation that it is impossible to form any clear idea as to either

n or of their origi , physical features , manners , religion , but their

’ n T E l i nshir e la guage we are sure . hroughout g there is a large number Of Old records which contain the orthography Of many of

m a the na es as written in medi eval times . It is thus the most

n on importa t Of all sources Of information this interesting subj ect , as embodying very approximately, if not the original form , at least

n ow i the original sound, for the most part strange and mean ngless

The to other than the student of place names . next important

of n n source information is local pro u ciation, which is , however, Of n o use in the lower part Of this county on account Of its being lost in the all - prevailing doric from which the Celtic aspiration has

— - ’ f f I n bhi r - a mhu i n n completely disappeared Inver aven, anciently,

- T f i s n ow sounded Inner an . his dropping o the aspiration throughout almos t the whole of the county presents many difficulties which can only be removed by an appeal to Old records

of and to the configuration the place .

The of E l inshir e n majority g place names are compou d words,

s n or s Tu l a ch made up Of a sub tantive and qualifyi g word word , as m i n as , the smooth hillside ; the qualifying word , in many

n la guages , coming after the substantive, and in several instances

’ a of or s Kint ra e— Cea n n - tr a i h m de up two more ubstantives , as g , the shore head . In such words the emphasis usually falls upon

s i s of the qualifying word ; and , remembering thi , it considerable

P n assistance in the explication of words . ho etic changes have

s w a s i n been frequent and peculiar, becau e every new sound a

u Of direction f rther removed from the original , which a good

A da m n an example is found in the word Urquhart . wrote it

A i r cha rf tda n i s Or cha 'r t a fn Or cha r den ; the next form , then , then

O Ur cha r d Ur u ha r t n rchard , then , and finally q , sig ifying the

6 I INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

The N ors e names can be treated with more certainty being t he

or of T stratum medium middle layer, and more recent date . hey retain more of their origin al appearance and are not subject s o

. The of R L a ma largely to elision Old name the Lossie iver was . The terminal a in N orse is river and forms the stem of a great

The many streams on the continent and elsewhere . Gothic and

a ha a n a ch Old German form is changed into and , but the simple a or 0 with prefixes expressive of the character Of the stream is that used in countries occupied by the Norsemen . It is also

N cc 0 or a a s very noticeable that wherever the orse , are found

- S ea e a d distinct from the Anglo axon , y , and y an islan , these

of Vik in r denote the presence the g . The word Ber g as changed into Bu r g is applied to towns and

B Bo Bol or Bol sta dr n fortresses , as urghead . , , , a dwelli g is widely

ff of S Sk Sk di used in the north and west cotland as in ibo , elbo , and k f B E S . o u st a Bou sta an d mbo in utherland It ta es the forms , ,

Bi ster i s Bost , and when used as a generic term , shortened into , which

n h Sk Br r Br . o o u accou ts for the number of osts found in ye , a

B s B or B S . i c bridge , is found in rora in utherland hire y , from the

bi a S Norse verb g to build , is found in the cotch doric as bigg to

k Can ob Canisb build , and as a terminal in Loc erby, y , y and

Golspie .

Da Ifr or t , a dale valley, is usually placed by the Norsemen af er

or n L axdal e S the adjective defini g word, as in and wordale , while D D C as . the elt adopts the opposite , in Dallas , alness and alcross

Bi dh k C N is , which loo s eltic , is the orse for an isthmus, and

in A t h E da Ai sdal e k found y and Aith , in y and , and ta es the forms

M e of a ei e v e e e. y , , y , , and y

The N Fa r r S orse , a sheep , is found in utherland, in Farra,

n F ld or veld Fa ra F . e y and are , a hill in Aberdee shire are not pure INTRODUCTORY NOTICE . I 7

T n Fell Fl a l l or old Norse, being borrowed from the euto ic, but , , H ,

n a fel Fl or d or R c/r N S . d a mountain , are pure orse , as in i , an

k s inlet, ta es many form , as ford , fort, forth , furt , and phonetically

r The F t F t F s or r l t a r . or t o d t . o , , , and ir h Of orth is a tau ology

f r F s For a f is S u der o s . Ga l , a water all , found in y and or inard , an

n C M R s Of Opening, is fou d in attegat, argate , amsgate , the pa sage

The w a is n ha t R . l uim ord g cognate with the I dian g , which is

l l l a s . G G u ed to signify a passage between hills and j , a ravine , is

Orm s ill Thors ill N s found in g , g named after two of the orse leader ,

’ n - A n The a d A lm a n n a gja l lm a n s ravi e . word is cognate with

- is H a e n Ge H . the ebrew g , also a ravine , and fou d in innom It

i n R a ven R ed oe as oe as s oe . met with g , g and g

H a e'n or H a vn ha i s f , a harbour, from fi, the ocean, found in

Thor shaven S n Milf r dha n H a n s o ve . a en , tonehave , g , enclo ure , is

N of S on not found in the orth cotland , but is common the

C n H em or H el m G k kel m a l ontine t but j , , cognate with the ree , a

f u B home , is quite di f sed over the ritish Isles, and is contracted into om a m a m H el H elle H el e H el l , , and while , , g , and , prefixes with

n n s various mea i g , are found scattered throughout the country,

n as H all w ell H eli o generally Signifyi g holy, in the holy well and g

n n la d the holy la d .

H olm s as s , an i land , not common such , but when used to ignify an n H oo or H oe of isolated hill is frequently fou d . , a spit land ,

Th l r i s N . e K che are common in the orth Norse , a church , certainly the most common of all Norse terms in Scotland ; the

G k ku r l a ke n s s word is usually derived from the ree , and ma y pari he

as K k K k K k nn L a d or prefix the word ir caldy, ir hill , ir co el . , a pile

n an d k as L ad heap, enters i to the names Of mountains high roc s , cr a L adhill r k L a n d s gg and , and Leadhills in Lana . , a acred

L u nds ar t h grove , is found in g and Lundy island . 8 I INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

M or or M oer or of , waste land heath , is found in all the moors

S S k Of M N oes or cotland ; in cotch it ta es the form uir . , a point

n N a su s a n t headla d, cognate with the Latin , plays important par S N N or . in cotch topography, while equally important is , the orth Throughout the Western Isles chiefly we find the word egr e or or e co n a t e or a G k hor as or as in g with Latin , ree , a shore boundary,

Kensal e re or d or c at er Airor and y ; while , a point corner, and , the

as 0 B f 0 east , sert themselves in such places as the rd in an f and rd

in C O n a n d O . aithness , and ste d sterburg

R a l n B a n d R a or is , , and , a promontory peninsula, found in d R R B R Ol . ain , hynie , hind , eay

S ca l e Sha ll or k S or , a hut shed from which is ta en the cotch Shea l or Shea l l ng is very commonly diffused throughout t he

B in S S G an d S ds ritish Isles , as calloway, calby, alashiels, hiel , and

Sk ail in S utherland .

Ska er k W - s a r l a d c , a sharp roc allied to the elsh y g and Gaeli

S el r S carn ose S carabi nes S cor dal e Ska/w g is found in , , and , while

or Ska l m s on n g , an isth u or promontory, is only found the conti ent,

kr n k a n d S ta c S . , a projecti g roc , is rarely met with in cotland

Sta v k or and k is , a sta e , pole , pillar, applied to a perpendicular roc ,

Du nst affna e S ff . S ter setr found in g and ta a , anciently , contracted

s ta dr or is from , a station place , found in Lybster, Leinster,

s S R k M U . S tar un ter, and lster , great, is found in the tore oc

S t or eha mm er r ea t hill s S S d and g , and toer in utherlan , Ta l u y or Ta fnga a point Of land is found in Ton gue in

T l ' r Tl n t o S u . h n o therland g g, a term applied by the Norsemen

se their legislative assemblies , and also to places where the

s n T n T d a semblies met, is found in Di gwall , i gwall ynwal , T T Thin w ald T R s . inwald , and g , and ain in os is the Norse hing

Thor Thu r N T is and , prefixes derived from the orse god hor, INTRODUCTORY NOTICE . I 9

h a n Thor hav n T n i n T T ors oe d s e . u n u fou d hurso, , , an enclos re ,

a n d w as originally meant a place rudely fortified , also applied to

s n s as t a n i con . farm and ma ors , and in this sense is still u ed and

Va tn va n d k n or , a la e , is only fou d in the western isles , as

Va t t in Sk fvl e c c w W in ye , but , , y , holy, is found in Advie , igan ,

dal W e W t . y , and ig on

Voe or Vo r is n L a xvoe Gru na voe an d VVest voe g , a bay, fou d in , , ,

c k or Vl or while y , a dwelling , village, town , the primary

s meaning Of which seems to have been a station for ship , but with

A - S n on is one of the nglo axo s a station land , the most common

N of B orse words round the coast the ritish Isles . These are some of the more common of the important additions made by the S candinavians an d Danes to the place names Of

B n ritai , and are easily distinguished because they do not readily

s lend themselves to as imilation . In Ork ney and S hetland where the sway of the Norsemen

of C obliterated all traces the eltic topography , there are only two

of — Old N E of classes names orse and nglish , and a Norseman the present day can as easily explicate the place - names there as those who gave the names . In other parts of the country the sway of

V k n w as not n or so n the i i g so long complete , hence a great ma y of n the names have been joi ed to the names already given , and in the proces s of transcription have become so obscured that only scholars with a k nowledge Of both Celtic and N orse can attempt

Ken al to explicate them . A good example is seen in s eyr e

C Cea 'r m S a l N s E r e or E r r eltic, , a head ; , the sea ; and or e y g ,

S —The of S ea S W N the hore head the hore . hile we find orse

C in so words conjoined to the original eltic many cases , it is not E universal as their conjunction with nglish , because the two are k indred speeches , consequently Norse names , as might be expected 2 0 INTRODUCTORY NOTICE .

not n n T as have undergone so ma y cha ges . hey are still robed , it

s E of were , in their original dres . ven at this remote period time traces Of N orse physiognomy as well as Of Norse names are found

- - - in the fair haired , blue eyed, and round shouldered men and

of S n women found in the north and east cotla d, to whose progenitors we are indebted for many Of the mythologies and

customs , traces Of which we find in the place names they have

s of left, and which have only been di sipated by the stronger glare

T in Thor more enlightened times . heir gods and heroes are found

R a n H C S and and arold and arl and weyn, and their usages and

n en e customs Of measuri g land by rentals are found in p g ,

en n l n r as P enn feil er Feor li Un anab. p g , in y , g, and g While there are a fe w N orse names in E lgin shir e it is evident

N n that the orsemen did not , for any le gth of time , if at all , settle

on Of M F the southern shores the oray irth , and we have it on the

r k l n D . S H e i o e Of authority of ene that g , the most notable of the

V k n n i ings, whose name had for lo g bee supposed to be found in

E S of lgin, never sailed farther outh along the eastern shores

n k The Of Sw eno in F S cotla d than the Or ney Islands . Stone orres and the Cairn Of Duffus are relics pointing ou t their existence for

some time .

The third or upper stratum of names in E lgi nshir e is an

n of E a n The i termixture cclesiastical d E nglish names . former are E chiefly attached to the parishes , while the purely nglish are

n fou d attached to modern holdin gs and reclaimed land . THE P LACE NAMES O F EL I NSH I E G R .

I BE PAR SH OF A RN E THY .

one time this large pa ris h formed a part of the county Of E lgin , but some years ago it was put under the j urisdiction

Of - Inverness shire , although much further removed from

n of E i 1 4 the county town tha from the county town lg n , It is

1 2 i n on miles in length , breadth , and is bounded the south by the

C r n S on famous airngo m ra ge of mountains , by the river pey the

a n d of C on north and west , by the neighbouring parish romdale the

The i s an east . population about In summer the climate d S scenery in this parish are scarcely equalled in all cotland , and k year by year, as this becomes more widely nown , many visitors

is H n resort thither during the summer season . It purely a ighla d

an of n parish , and few if y its place names indicate the incursio s Of foreign ers who s o frequen tly visited the seaboard Of the M oray

Fir th and left their indelible impression on the places they visited . N or has the universality of the E nglish lan guage even yet obscured T the names given by the first occupants Of the soil . hus the great majority Of the names found is as purely Celtic as can be found in

21 2 2 T H E O F E L I N H I R E PLACE NAMES G S .

S T ar any part Of cotland . here e some words that present difficulties in the way Of explanation from the fact that they have been already too much explained .

A l e e / m t z . of y is one Of these About Aber, the first part the

is A m word , there has never been any doubt . It derived from , a

' B zor n t o ford, and , water, and is ge erally supposed belong to the

W t o a elsh rather than G elic, while Inver, meaning the same thing, G f is the aelic form . Aber is chiefly confined to the east o

S on cotland , while the west its place is almost entirely occupied by

: N et h Inver, and means a confluence Of waters here , where the y

S The n or i of discharges itself into the pey. mea ing or gin the

e h ha The word N t y s been a topic Of discussion for a long time .

k echt a n P k common theory is that it is ta en from N , the ictish ing , w ho t o P is said have founded a church in Abernethy, erth , about

R k eit h 700. N e the year obertson ma es it to come from , the God k W . Of aters It is quite plain , however, that he new not either the

n or w as spelli g pronunciation Of the word , and had ritten it so to

h w n W fit in with is o theory. hen it rains very heavy it is quite

Tha neit heach common in some parts to hear the expression , na

t i hean n - n or ainu a g nuas the waters are comi g down , , in other

N eit heacha inn words , the heavens are coming down, showing that

1 292 Of a n d N eamhai n are two words for heavens . In the form

N et h n n the word was y , and we find the same word as the termi al of k The n 11 Cambusnethan in Lanar . termi al was dropped about

1 4 N t han A it ion n 00. e the year comes from , gorse , broom , or

N et h n i - n - a t ionn n s . j u iper, and y from the same root Aber is

of doubtless the origin Abernethy.

’ A c/z - na - ona l n is of A dza a lt g a combination the two Gaelic words, ,

' ' N a or Ga z na zl a n or . a field plain , and , folds cattle enclosures is

o or Of . the genitive form f, the field place enclosures Achadh

2 TH E F E L G I N H I R E 4 PLACE NAMES O S .

high land , frequently meaning a stag, as probably in this case

ox or the deer pastureland .

’ Glm l od z —I n A da mnan s of eak y . Life Columba the word L y is

’ L ockdza e n L ochdu bh k written , a Lati ised form Of , the blac loch , but probably the word Lochy here means the little loch

Gl en l och y , the glen Of the little loch .

' Ga r t en of s Goz r t et m , a tilled piece ground , ometimes , is derived

T Ga f f/t Ga r t is from the eutonic or , and in Ireland found in the

’ ' Ger t Th W s a r r a r a r e t o e G o G . form Of . el h is It is also applied

k r o . an enclosed place , as a stac yard a fold for cattle

’ ’ Ba nea a en —T Bu n . his word comes from , literally a root , but

’ F ed d a n Bzw here meaning the mouth , and , a small stream. is

S in Bu now en of frequently met with in cotland, as , the mouth the

A Bu na w e L ocha w e Bu nes s von ; , at ; and , the mouth Of the cascade .

’ L a z r a k G L ear n g is t en from the aelic g, a slope , and is fou d in

S l A r F uther and as Lairg , in y as Largs , in ife as Largo , and there

- - r eana s a - is Largan na g , the sunny lope , and L rgan reagh , the smooth slope .

M u aén w /z — Si r H M k . erbert axwell ma es this word to mean

A u w a swine pastureland . ltho gh the wild boar s common in the

s country in day long ago, it is very doubtful whether the

T a . M em ak application is correct here is another word , literally

n n k n mea i g a sand hilloc , but ge erally applied to undulating,

n s n uneven , grou d , which is evidently the ig ification here .

' D r u z m G D r ama k is the aelic for a ridge , from , the bac bone Of

n D or s u m an d an animal , cog ate with Latin , is met with in the

D r ew D r u m D r m D r eem various forms of , , y , , conspicuously found

r u mal n Br i a nnia in D ba or Dorsum t e .

' ll a c z —Th u ll Cu /z e. e r C fi st part, , must not be confounded with E R ’ ‘ Y 2 PARISH OF A B N E I H . 5

' ' Cazlle A c/za alt field— a l . C , a corner It is from , wood , and , a the

oil/e is Cu ll een e n . C woodla d stretch found in this form in , a littl

l lia t a of Barna cu . wood, and , the p the wood

' ’ ’

R rz a tt z n G R eza lz A it ionn . y , from the aelic , a plain , and , juniper

The W of E l l /t i n n elsh form the word is , and promi ent in the f t opography o S cotland . ' i Ga r l z ne G Ga r b/t W s Ga r z a is from the aelic el h , , rough ; and

’ — L za a z ia n field or . n . L , a the rough field marsh g is a small field

Tu ll aclz r Tu l a c/z an d s of , f om , a hill , ometimes a measure land ,

' ll z i s as Ta l l a Ta ll ow Ta l and Tu . and variously found , , ly , It ,

as however, more frequently used in the adjectival form than a

s sub tantive .

B al bo —The Del n Ba g . prefix is defi ed above ; g comes from the B — G a a or s . elic g , wet marshy the mar hy dell

Con a sk s G Can g is an expres ive word from the two aelic words ,

- t o E ca as co Ga l s . equal the nglish , in operate , and , a torrent

n as h Co g is the confluence Of two streams .

' ' P t t —P l t or P z t t erz ol d P s , a hollow, is an icti h word,

i - S P t P a n w th which is cognate the Anglo axon y , Latin te s , a

B k of . n P et t e well In the oo Deer it is fou d as , where the

' of Ba t l e or l n - meaning , a town dwel i g place , is attached to it , and

n ow batlt Old G in many places it is made the substitute for , aelic

Bu t / is n B u d S s Bad form z, with which cognate the Icela dic , wedi h ,

k Blt a - /z zt S n a fla B . allied to the a s rit y , a house , from the root word That P i t is interchangeable with bal k ca n be seen from

’ P it a veni e B atk az mtm w n g , formerly g , the smith s d elli g, made

’ historically famous by S hak espeare as the scene of M acbeth s

s s n of D an d P h rn Bot ca . as as i ation uncan , from itcairn , formerly

' In 1 667 the word was P z t From this it i s easy to arrive

P i - - hi hais fir w t a u t ood . at the proper meaning, which is g , the hollow 2 6 E L I N H I E TH E PLACE NAMES OF G S R .

' ll a - — E n eam . A zl ecm r ou nd and E ar na t he is a fertile piece Of g , is G . B n w aelic for barley arley bei g a surface feeding cereal, shallo humic soil is more suitable for growing it , and as a consequence

’ of A zl ea n - eam a many patches such soil are called .

ou l - na - ea — h l . T e Coa Ca l l m or C f first part , , is from , a oor

' ’ F ea G Fez tl /t — s hollow, and comes from the aelic , deer the deer

’ or hollow the deer s retreat .

' ne- be r W n G L z rm Ly g , f om the elsh L ly , aelic , a pool , with

- S H mza B e — n which is cognate the Anglo axon ly , and g , little Lin bheag , the little stream .

' arm e e —I n 1 orza z t n n a C g . 690 C is an Old Gaelic word mea i g

Cana l t P Cona n R . stream , as in erth and in oss

’ A zt ckem a eé is an unpardonable corruption from A clza a lz

lt ea r t za c/z f , meaning the field Of the alderwood .

D u a aé t a k an d is the hard form Of g , blac water . In this the foregoing word the substitution Of the hard termin als for the soft

would indicate at some time the influence Of the Norse elements .

' R e- k zl laeé— R eid/z Of y from the two Gaelic words , a stretch

' S ez l ea elt — w or land , and , the willow the willo field plain.

A u l t - a r r aek— G A ll t or and g from the aelic , a stream burn , — Ga r e/t a cit Ga r r aelt . or , turbulent the turbulent stream

' Ba z l - a n - t zt a — G B w or from the aelic aile , a residence , to n ,

T . hamlet , and uath , tenantry, here probably meaning a community

’ ’ ’ ' L ez t z r - a t t en— G L eit z r of from the aelic , the side a hill , and

A i t ionn or B . , gorse broom , literally meaning roomhill

A u ld- e/za r /z— G A ll t Ca m from the aelic , a burn or stream , and

or C r n of n k . The ai , a pile stones , here probably meani g a roc N S cairns are frequently met with throughout the orth of cotland , and were first of all erected to mark the Spots where the couriers

w ho carried the fiery cross were to meet . 2 PARISH OF ABERNETHY . 7

- na - K l —T r of G s Conl y e. his is a mutilated fo m the aelic word

- - u il na Cail l e or od k of . The C , the woody hollow, the wo y bac a hill word Coil /e i s met with i n various forms throughout the country.

K Th i i s Kel Kil K K . e , , elly, illy, and yle cymr c form Of the word

oed Cold Coi l oa t Cn it . C or , variously written as , C , and , a wood

l ia - —The S l ia G S l ia blz S mor e. first part, , is from the aelic , a

or n as S l iea e or S l ien k mountain heath , and is fou d , a in to the

l iet The M t he G S . erman , a declivity latter part , ore , is from — M ar . Gaelic , large the great hill

b - a ie - I n 1 67 0 w as T - fhaidh To er . it obar , which is the literal

’ ’ aba r P Gaelic for the seer s or prophet s well . T is from the ictish

“ D al /I a i t P a id/t or W n wa er, and is a prophet seer ells were held

n C S in great ve eration by the elts in heathen times , both in cotland

n C S t . and Ireland , and upo the introduction Of hristianity by Columba many of his followers erected their churches near these n ft ve erated wells , which were called a er the particular saint, by

k t o t o which they are nown this day . Some wells were supposed

s of or Toba r - na ni be posses ed certain charms healing virtues .

’ bnaa k Sk l of I i ver s Tiber in ye is the we l virtues, and the in Italy

Ti z/er ane T - abhu in n and the ( obar ) are from the same root .

Ba ll i n t ni in B Tam k or is from aile , a dwelling , and , a hilloc

The . on rising ground dwelling the hill .

' L n - a - elza z l — of y Lyn here does not mean a pool water, but is

i s of old G derived from , or rather the Anglicised form , an aelic

a nn Of n or word , L , a piece e closed ground garden , and variously

L n nn L i n s of found as y , Ly , and , which are the Oblique form

- - L a inn . C/mil G Ca l L n a eno il is from the aelic , cabbage . y is the

cabbage garden .

U N P l ot t a l ot a pper and ether . At first Sight P t would seem t o

’ N F l a t r D s Fl a a a not s o be a orse word , , or ani h , a flat isle . It is , 2 8 E L I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF G S .

P l a da i n of The but is from the Gaelic , a plot ground . upper and

of n lower plots grou d .

Tomba e— t w o G T077 1 k Beil lze from the aelic words , a hilloc , and ,

—the birchwood birchwood hill .

B neb- e/i a r n 1 67 0 B k - am — E n s Bi t /ek e , in uc from middle gli h ,

- S B u cca D Bob B i t /ebr Anglo axon , a he goat , utch , Icelandic ,

S Boob D B u b G n Boob G B oo wedish , anish , erma , aelic and Irish ,

S k B u bb The and ans rit a . name would seem to be applied to a

n A r n A s mountai here , and , a place which eagles frequent , as rni

’ K k - am dale and noc , the eagles mountain .

n - br ee — n B r eez e — e b. e Ly Ly here means a pool , and , trout the

’ trout s pool .

E ll a n of A il ea n is another form the word , a green plain or

meadow, very common in the country.

B a ll nr t b — Ba l i r l Ba ile I 1 e . . n 600 if it was f , the first part , is

on e of S the most prevalent of prefixes in cottish topography .

F er t i s n ow G , the latter, almost an Obsolete word in aelic , although

n or still common in Irish . It sig ifies a grave trench , and is found

a s t he F ea r t - t /z ni nn or n a prefix in term , rain, a place for holdi g

water.

To er —et t le— G Toba r F ea da il pp f from the aelic , a well , and ,

F eznl a il B u da l in cattle ; also . Italy, anciently , comes from this

n n n T word , and sig ifies the cou try adapted for reari g cattle . opper

’ k n or fettle means the cattle s drin i g place well . ' — M nll z nga r r oeb Before the days Of steam the meal or grinding mills were erected On the ban k s of rivers and streams with

u f of M nl l i n G s f icient supply water. is the aelic for mill , and

Ga r r oclz G A cb , from arbh, rough or turbulent , and , the Norse — water the mill on the turbulent stream .

B a nidd n —The G Br a lt or r e i . first part is from the aelic ig , a top F PARISH O ABERNETHY. 2 9

n B S summit , and freque tly an incline . rae is the cotch form , and

B r a The n n B r i B r e . Of a n t he is found as , , and y is a co traction ,

’ ’ n o [da i n i s A oa a n n ge itive preposition f a corruption Of , a face ,

d n di n E den Th n n as E din A i O . e and is fou d , , , word sig ifies brae face . — R n i r ieb G R eid/t m e F en r a cb y from the aelic , a plain or p , and ,

— s gras sy the gras y slope .

- n - —The Cicba nl oo e 1 7 22 Ciaeb a l nib. Ci oelt ha s p , in first part , ,

n as P a P a Of C s an d the same meani g the word p , in the p aithnes ,

k n a ib — k signifies an isolated oll, and L is a bend the noll at t he

Of apex the bend . — R n na n G R oid/z or (f a n a y from the aelic , a plain slope , and , — ’ il lamb the sheep s slope or b l .

D oi r — G D oi r e k or from the aelic , a grove , a thic et, an insulated

clump of trees . f R - a oa n Ga R eid/t n M boi ne or s y , elic , a plai , and , peaty mo sy

the mossy plain .

R ncl eie/t 1 e dlt - na - el aic/z n 700 R i . y , in , sto y field

r T a s a r Ca ns o . is G C i n here a aelic word , signifyi g phosphorescent light proceedin g from Old wood in the

k G - k dar , and what is commonly called by aelic spea ing peopl e

Teine- s ionna eba n The i s ff . same word also di erently applied t o

t he mean a thorn , slaughter, carnage , and probably the latter is

proper signification .

Cor e/i nll — Cai r e or y from the Gaelic , a deep gully mountain

oil/e — dell , and C , wood the woody mountain dell .

u r — G L ea r s i n L g from the aelic g, a Slope or hill ide , as found S Lairg in utherland , Largs, and Largo .

’ Ba l a w - - - - n o a n Ga eli c Ba il e na obba i n . g , g the smith s dwelling place

L ns t oeb— i nn an d S t i l e/t el ar se y from L , a pool , allied to the N ,

S t a /b f k — s . , a cli f ma ing a ca cade the cascade pool 0 TH E O F E L G I N S H I R E 3 PLACE NAMES .

S l ia clzl a eb— G S l ia b/t Cl a clt or from the aelic , a hill , and

Cl a cba cb k — k , roc y the roc y mountain .

’ D er r a ow — G D oir e r ave or k y from the aelic , a g thic et , or hollow,

D u b/i k or k — k or a nd . , blac dar the dar shady hollow

— Th a n L a n n t ieba n . e n s first part L , Of thi word is a root E ’ c s . a i na ommon to everal languages In middle nglish it was L ,

a nde S with the d dropped ; in Old French it was L , panish

L a nda or W l a n , a wild , untilled , shrubby, grassy plain ; elsh L ,

a n n a w n a nd Gaelic L n ; E glish L . Its primary meaning seems

n n to be an e closed piece Of ground. It is not found exte sively in

’ Tie/za n Ti b oli a n local nomenclature . , the latter part, comes from ,

The s e a nn a little hill . word ignifies the hill nclosure . L has m a fterwards come to mean a church , fro the fact that it was

i n of usually built an enclosed piece ground .

- - en —T E na u e . S o Cr of t q his word has assumed an nglish form .

i t - na - a in s 1 7 98 w as r o c ne . late a it C , the corner croft

- — Cr of t - r ona n was in the same year Cr oi t R ona n the cr aft of

u R S t . R n . T S t . o an his, however, is doubtf l , as onan died in the

7 3 7 of N R n year in the island orth o a, but probably his followers

m ight have named the place after him , as many other places in

S cotland have been so named .

- - — Cr af t - na - ba a en was Cr of t na lt a mbni n n the croft on the bank

O f a stream or river.

’ ' —The A nbnz nn r a eb. i A na a o first part is a contraction Of , a

an d D or r a clz G or — r iver, is the aelic for rough turbulent the

r ough flowing s tream .

r r ie 1 7 90 w as Tonnt i r G Tonn Tont e in , from the aelic , a wave

Ti r Ter r a or undulation , and , the land , cognate with the Latin

n t he undulati g land .

ett oc/z —The Da r/a rk m et L . word is frequently with in the place

I I .

E TH E PARISH OF ALV S .

- E l in hir H I S parish lies in the North West of g s e . It includes

of G 5 about a mile coast, and is i miles long and % miles 9404 broad . Its area is about square acres , valuation about

9000 1 000. The £ , and population a little over surface presents a

of The pleasant diversity hill and dale and undulating ground . land here Shows evidence Of early cultivation, and in several places his torical remain s of the lon g past have been unearthed in k S fields where the plough has been at wor for ages . ome years ago a cis t constructed of rude s tone slabs jointed together with something lik e bitumen was discovered on the farm Of Wester

n n s Alves , contai ing what appeared to be the bo e , not well

one preserved , Of a female . In Of the jawbones handled there were f on o . several teeth , two which the enamel was pretty well preserved This discovery led to the belief that others might be got in the

as s neighbourhood , but no exten ive excavations were made since ,

The k n k of none has been found . oc on the eastern boundary the

of parish is crowned by a tower, from which an extensive view the surrounding country and Of R oss and S utherlan d across the M oray B k k Firth can be commanded . y tradition the noc is connected

n P s with the story Of Macbeth a d the witches . os ibly there may

for k k on n be some foundation this , as the noc is the road betwee

' Bot h ow nan B H on e b u s g and the lasted eath , the y a c riou

3 2 V THE PARISH OF AL ES . 3 3

of E n coincidence being about three miles east lgi , and the other a

Similar distan ce eas t of N airn .

t t o of M Bu the Object (here) is not write the history oray , but t o s how that the topographical names of the county are

f s n a nd o considerable hi torical i terest importance , and to Show G that from these names , although the ael was the native

of s occupant the soil , the seaboard district Of the county frequently

i n n s D n S n n made the acqua ta ce hip Of a es and ca dinavia s , who

n crossed the German Ocean on their marauding expeditio s .

T k s a ing the parishe in alphabetical order, we have first the

The n of s s P arish Of A lves . co figuration thi pari h and its place names go a long way t o sugges t that at some remote period Of the

’ country s history there w as a large river flowing eastward through

n s of A D ff the low grou d between the pari hes lves and u us , very

k F n n E r en w as li ely the i dhor , or , as it anciently called , and form — ing on e as t i n nz fl n i n i n is with the L ax ia and Speeba n the L a ssie Th A S . e s s is and pey word lve itself furni hes a good example . It

s A bb derived , the fir t part, from , water, which is allied to the

S k a ba b Dou ab C t o N s a n ans rit , as in , henab , in India ; the or e ,

’ s T s T s as in Lena, sluggi h river ; Laxa, salmon river ; hur o , hor

E s s s Ga E a s river. , the latter part, is imply the elic a stream . In

n A bb ‘ Celtic cou tries is frequently applied to a ford . It should be

in A blt s bh . remembered that the a pirates equal v Alves , there

A bb - ea s fore , means , the ford Of the river.

A I nabs t el l ie G i n nis a nd nother example is , aelic , an island , very

n s n n freque tly pa turela d near water, with which is cog ate the

W s n s G m n s i s n s ll io i el a n u l a a d G k ne as . S te el h y y , er an , L tin , ree ,

s T n s t a l s t n/t l the latter part Of the word , come from the euto ic , ,

s t ell e or I nchst ellie s or and , a place , seat , farm . , the i land farm , the pastureland farm . E L GI N S H I R E 3 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF .

The Or dies of u next word , , supplies , evidence the irreg lar

’ N ar a D oor t action Of water, from the orse , utch , and

n r t r k Th n G a o . e erma , a point , a corner, a round noll termi al diminutive here strongly su ggests that the word Or di es means l Th d k T s Ca r s ew e l . e un ulating ground or little nolls . hen come

Ca r s e of first part , , this word is generally thought to be from the

S of i s ca r s cotch , while as a matter fact it from , a word peculiar to

C n the Armoric dialect Of the eltic, and meani g a level , fertile

n The w ell t o tract of cou try. word is a superimposed addition

of denote a spring water in the carse .

' B n E a r ns ia e. r e n was the ancient name Of the Fi dhorn , from

n k which doubtless the form E a r is ta en . A considerable difference Of opinion has for a long time prevailed regardi n g

f Dr k . S the derivation o this word . ene says it is derived

E i r e N enniu s from , the Irish Queen mentioned in , who is

n S W supposed to have go e from cotland . indisch , another

G ea r r ni nn eminent writer, gives it as from the aelic , a fertile

of R k - portion land . hys puts it far bac into the pre Celtic

H e period , a fashion Of his with words he cannot explain . has not told us yet when the pre - Celtic period ended and the Celtic

R k t o period began , and obertson ma es it be composed Of two

” “ ” E a r A n of a bbninn words , , the east , and , a contraction , a

— - flow i n The E P river the east g river. arn in erth was formerly

E r enn We i E . called , which is a near approximation to ren find

- - s N ru inn . the same word di guised in airn , anciently Inver na It does n ot follow that because all these forms have a certain semblance they are correct Ou r ancestors did not go about the

n nomenclature Of the cou try without palpable Objects in view .

' k n Dr . S ene s derivation can ot therefore be accepted, because he has gone on the assumption that all the E arn s in S cotlan d have V THE PARISH OF AL ES . 3 5

’ n R the same improbable origi . obertson s derivation is purely

’ Wi ndisch s n fanciful , while meani g, though nearer the point , is W still n ot correct . hen it is considered that the valleys and

of straths through which these rivers flow are rich , fertile pieces T n is t o n . la d , there a good deal be said for his meani g here is an

P s E ar r an G E arr ann an Old icti h word , , modern aelic , , meaning

m T n Of end , limit, extre ity, a water boundary . his is the origi the

E a word rn, and upon investigation it will be found that every E arn in S cotland at on e time formed the specific boundary of E E arr an a particular district, hence arn means , the boundary river.

The Cl oves n word is Of more rece t origin, and indicates the

n of s n n prese ce the Nor eme in the cou try . It is derived from the

D K l ove of a n anish , a hollow at the foot a sl pe , and cog ate with it

- S Cl eo a n D K l oa en K l n a are the Anglo axon f , utch , Icelandic j f ,

K l ibe l n s M i z n b G n G C . a a and erman , aelic , a sheltered pot g ty is

' G M ona a lt o a pure aelic word from , a mo rish hill , and frequently

A n li t A it M on M a n . e contracted into and g y is from , a place Of

n n reside ce , which in this case mea s the hill farm .

R eeves N i k is another impression from the orsemen . It s ta en

G r e s or from the Icelandic ifi, a teward governor, here meaning the

’ ’ s or L lzl a - . a e n w ell s teward s portion possibly the factor s farm ,

L ac/z l i n l l s w e . G formerly , without the Lochlin is a aelic s s ubstantive meaning hollow, and it is to thi day applied to

H n D L ochlin each olla d , and a utchman is always called a .

’ Ca r donbil l Ca er a nn of , anciently , indicates the presence the

C i n N W a e . r ymric element the orth It comes from the elsh C , a

a n d D nn s fort , , a hill . It is probable thi name was given by

nk A in W of St . mo s Of the order saph ales, who are said to have

M e ff been in orayshire . W find the same word slightly di erent in 3 6 THE PLACE NAMES OF E L GI N S H I R E .

C r P C - K k Ca r dow an a den in eebles , ardon ness in ir cudbright , and k in La nar shire .

— - Wa r ds This word is pretty common along the north east coas t

B s of S cotland wherever the Norsemen landed . e ides this one we

C n C O k . find the name in ruden (Aberdee ) , aithness, and r ney It

N Wa r t Wa r t b n or is derived from the orse , , and mea s a tower

- Wa r t n T n n S e dia n G e . beaco ; A glo axon , erman , to guard hen

W r i A s l i s b Old ea n . e in there is g , a fortification , an ruined tower

The on . the parish, situated the side Of a ridge word is a

of N an d G — A s or A a s s combination the orse aelic , Nor e , a hill

’ ' l ios Tor ea n S . ridge ; and , Gaelic, the side Of the ridge fi is a

G Tor r n native word, from the aelic , a conical hill , cog ate with

W s Tw r F Ta r n a r is G k which are the el h , rench , Lati , and ree

P r os The D ff G D u b/z y g . latter part , u , comes from the aelic ,

k The k w as n H em ri s blac . name blac hill o ce very applicable . p gg

E C i s is - S n H ene (in lgin and a thne s) derived from the Anglo axo p, T signifying hemp . his word was borrowed at an early period from

n a nn a bis G k K a n na bis n the Lati C , ree , and has u dergone many

n n n We D H enne conso a tal letter cha ges . have the utch p , from

i n S n H a nz r which source we probably got it cotla d , Icelandic p ,

R i s D n H a m n m . a ish p, all meani g the plant he p gg , the latter

n H r r d part Of the word , comes from Icela dic ygg , literally a ri ge ,

s n a l h H but commonly u ed in such express io s as p oug ed rig . emp f M —T o . he riggs means patches land for growing hemp . uirhead

M S so s o word uir is quite common throughout cotland , much that

k n n We many people loo upon it as an i dige ous word . are ,

i n ou r D s . however, indebted to ani h invaders for its troduction

D n M oer or or u as a ish , a moor swamp , a mossy platea , the moor

of R n n a och .

’ - a i r —Th of M M or ay s C n . e derivation the name oray has long M r o a y .

8 T H E F E L I H I R E 3 PLACE NAMES O G N S .

“ f k n e R o land overloo i g the s a . etaining the first adjectival form

M ar f n G A iblz of , big , and a fixi g thereto the aelic , the plural form

A bit M or a ibb n M or a ive , a river, we have the word , pro ounced ,

of The n signifying the district large rivers . ancient provi ce Of

M oray extended from P etri - P romon torium in the east t o Varar on Of the west , a stretch country through which more than any

The other in S cotland there flows a large number Of rivers . two

M M on C districts, orava and oravia, the ontinent , signify river districts .

’ The A r a e G A r tl a oit/i next word , gy , is derived from the aelic g ,

The the windy height , and is a common name in the country.

l b is a final frequently dropped, and we find it variously spelled g y ,

ie e ee z g , gy , g , g .

' R e a r as E n y y at first sight appears to be purely glish . It was

f R a t/za r el G R a tb ormerly , from the aelic , a round earthen fort , a

’ A r a tbill . Co mound , and Often a hill , and , a height is locally T of Cat s . t oo supposed to be the hill the his, however, is recent a

' W oea n . C a d meaning It comes from the elsh , a wood , variously

Coi t Cot Coa l Cn it C written , , , and , as found in otswold hills , woody

' ’ Coit mor e Gl a s eoea Ca l - a e- cot hills ; , the big wood , greenwood ,

u Cit - - C Ca l eots s corr pt from y oed, the woody retreat ; and , al o the

’ . T Coea woody retreat his word , a wood, though found in place

W s Coill e names , is more a el h word , while is more frequently used

’ i n S Col i el a has cotland , as found in the next word , t/ , which also the

n E n w as appearance at first sight Of bei g purely glish . It formerly

' Cn il el t l Coill t e of Coil l e d Vel a written tfi , from , the plural , woo , and , ill £1 li .

’ B r oa i s/t il l B r otlz iclz ill We e . , formerly find this same word in

- A ber br otlzoc s s s . , and means a mar h , the hill be ide the mar h — Cr ook of A l ves The word Cr ook is tak en from the Icelandic T H E F V PARISH O AL ES . 3 9

K r oeler S K r ob n n , wedish , which i dicates the prese ce Of the N orsemen .

‘ K il l a t K i l eot G K il or nf , formerly l/ , from the aelic , a cell church , an d D Vl iet or of — the utch , a channel arm the sea the church by the water.

Cl a e/z br a e Cl a clz Br a e — comes from , a stone , and , incline the

r stoney b ae . E L PARISH OF B L I E .

H I on f S parish is situated the east side o the Spey. Its

length is nearly Six miles , breadth about four miles , with an

of s area acre , for the most part allotted into large

The i s 45 00 farms . valuation about and the population . At on e time the greater part of the paris h w as attached to the

Of B county anff, but some years ago a readjustment was made by

n of E l in hir e which the whole was put under the jurisdictio g s .

The R B omans , in their circumnavigation round ritain at the

ni C s begin ng Of the hri tian era, are said to have landed at the

S i n s s mouth Of the pey thi pari h , and made an encampment

’ of I n P there , vestiges which are said to be still visible . tolemy s

G S Teu ssi s G k eography the river pey is called , from the ree word

Teu k r i on , the technical term for the common plant spleenwort ,

k A s frequently met with on the ban s Of the river. a rule the names in the P arish of Belli e do not belong to the N orse element ; wherever the names abound in prefixes it may be safely concluded

n s they are Of native origi . Celtic name abound in superimposed

s or n additions , and frequent reduplication tautological ames are found . E Bel lie itself is on e of the former. tymologists have given various derivations Of the wor d . One has it from the Gaelic

40 E L L I E PARISH OF B . 4 I

’ Bea l a ia lz— Ba ile broom , another that it comes from , a town ,

a or i s B el vill ge , house , another that it from the corrupt word , a i ford . A ll thes e are only euphon cal gu esses without regard to

The S i n ifi circum s tances or the configu ration of the place . real g

Of is G Bea l cation the word from the two aelic words, , the mouth ,

A bb — Of T is s S . and , a river the mouth the river pey his al o in k eepin g with the n ames given to all the other places at the mouths

n M B E nno bli — Of rivers alo g the oray Firth . anff, from the river

' F F or E a s — e ss or mouth ; orres , from and land at the river ;

s — Of an d B t Inverne s the mouth the river ; eauly , SO Often a tributed

F B - n B or Bea l - a b/z to the rench eau lieu , is nothi g else than ellic , ,

u t o over again . O r progenitors paid a great deal more respect system a n d method in the process Of la n d n aming than they get

W i n as credit for in the present age . herefore we must be careful ,

as ou t far possible , finding their design or reason for giving the particular name .

Da ll a cby is a combination Of t w o Gaelic words with a r edu pl i ca t ed or n a nd D a il or tautological meani g, is derived from , a field

k t o W D al S n n n D a li l G valley, and a in the elsh , ca di avia , erman

’ Tli a l A a — c/z a b s field of fi . , and , al o a literally the plain the eld

Ca r se- nz oor — H as . ow t w o words s o antagonistic in sign ification

a r s e A C a r s C , from the rmoric dialect Of the eltic C , a fertile tract of n N s M oer n or la d ; and the or e , waste la d heath , should be combined together is explained by the fact that the n ame was

n n t o l of origi ally give a arge level tract heath .

T net 1 667 Ti nn it — 2 4: y , in from the two Gaelic words T 3

o t i A i t e or — (s unded ) , a house , and , a place Site the Sight Of the house or dwelling.

B o nz oor in 1 68 6 Ba w ar o — g , g from the Gaelic Bag and

Bi n e s an d M ar or sometimes g , a mar h , , big large the great 2 T H E O F E L G I N S H I R E 4 PLACE NAMES .

F marsh . rom the root Bog we have the Gaelic Bogan and

Bo anach B —a g , Irish ogach quagmire . — Caw iern aar 1 667 Cobba - i n ar e G Cabba r , in from the aelic word ,

or literally foam froth , and frequently applied to marshy places ,

M ar as and especially to quagmires, and , in the foregoing word

Bo moor g .

S a ne/z w ell s S a na/t Old is directly derived from the cotch S .

E S a l z S a l/t n S a llx G S a il ea clt nglish g, Lati , and aelic , the

an d s as S a u chi ebu rn willow, is met with in such word and

a u hr i m S c e . , eaning the willow burn and the willow field

a nnan - lz a n b — s C g . Celtic people eem to have in some way a Ca or of ssociated the rabbit with , the dog hound , which the

ainen i G word C s a diminutive and is the aelic for rabbit . It is

k D K a ni n S K a nnina a in to the anish , candinavian , Latin

n icnl ns ne H S Cn E Ca . , and the nglish y augh in cotland denotes a l ow - r n k T lying meadow between bill s o o the ban s of a river. hus

m n ai nan - ba n b or the word ea s the C g the rabbit warren .

L an - baw e 1 67 4 L ab - w e T k ba . g , in a ing the earlier form ,

D L ab L aa evidently the prefix here is a foreign word . utch , ,

L obe E n H ez /z H e H , a meadow, prefixed to the middle glish g , y , y

- S H ea lt H e/z D H aa H a r G Anglo axon , utch g ; Icelandic erman

H a w k s H ack s or of — , , a hill long stretch hillside the hill pasture .

’ A nelz - i n - r ea t a — G A e/t a a lt R eid/z from the aelic , a field , and ,

or n — or smooth plai , free from undulations the smooth level field .

' i 1 r d- a - ans b — rd S Or d z s lt 667 0 . O j , in g is from the candinavian

0r d D Oar t G Or t n n of , utch , and erman , a poi t , a cor er, elbow a

Ga nsb G hill , and sometimes a place . is evidently the aelic

n — fi The n in Gi t/za s fir rw ood . , the hill ame is found the beginning

r is h of the century as O di qu . O F BE I E PARISH L L . 4 3

’ F l oaa s is not a common word in the northern part Of S cotland .

’ T ni —F l eat Fl iez D Wl ei t G F l eaa It is Of euto c Origin , , utch , aelic , or Fl eacl - r a d/z n , literally sig ifying floating, a flush Of water, but

or ar m a s more frequently applied to a narrow channel Of the sea ,

F l e F l eet We as Fl os s as n et . fou d in the river , Loch have it also ,

’ i n M on F an d k n A n nz ina s . the ill the loss, a i to afl , at the tream

A nld - tlms b —The G A ll t u prefix here is from the aelic , a b rn

n w as A nl t - a s b The Ancie tly the word g . latter part is an Old

h fir w d n of Gi u t as oo . form , the bur

1 42 Ba i r s 1 0 B r s —T k B r es 5 66 . y , in y y a ing the earlier form

n G approximati g the original , the word is derived from the aelic

a Th is B i r . e s , a battle , strife , rout suppo ition general that between the natives and the Danes a struggle had tak en place

Old s M a - baa r M a b here . people till call the place , from g , a

Ba ir plain , and , the battlefield .

' A nl t - a er Ga A ll t g is derived from the two elic words , a burn ,

Dea r ff d and g , red , which a ix is frequently foun in the place names of S as Ben r a an de . 13 d cotland in g is another word for red , is

s — n - l lz Cnoca r u a t . also frequently u ed in topography , the red hill

D el n — Th r . e of G D a il f first part this word is from the aelic , a

or . F n r F u a r a s plain field is from , Signifying cold , and is found

of s o n part a great many names, the place designated bei g

The probably exposed to the north , or being marshy , cold spots . word F u a r is as frequently found as a prefix t o the noun which it

as F or ie F na r as qualifies, in g , where the adjective acts a prefix .

The of Ga at b latter part the word is from , wind , and is

of k representative exposed , blea situations, which are Often

n Far i e i d or desig ated by the word g , the w ndy lan windy place .

S biel on e N S k a l i is Of the few orse words found in this parish , ,

S b al S S b nl Icelandic j , wedish j , literally a temporary summer hut . T H E O F E L G I N S H I R E 4 4 PLACE NAMES .

The S nail in S neel in word used in this country is g , in Ireland , and u of n sed in the hills in the days summer herdi g.

S t a r r - ba n —The of y gb . first part this word is a L ow German

S t er or E s t er root, , , a stream , and must not be confounded with

’ S n n S t er or S t a a r For es t m a n the ca di avian , a station or place . s ays that i n Germany he finds more than a hundred streams with

S t r s s the root , and we find the same root in thi country in uch

I s t e as S t ou r r . streams the , the It is very common all over the

C n H a n /i S H an /i n H ow onti ent . g is from the cotch g , and is fou d in

H o e l ow - on k and p , and generally denotes a lying meadow the ban s of The n s a stream . word sig ifies the haugh tream .

’ Cba el ar a C a el G K a el l e p f , from the eltic C p , erman p , both Of

Ca el l a or which are probably derived from the Latin p , a chapel

’ A - S F ar a G F a r t or F a r t /t small church , and the nglo axon , erman ,

’ D F aar a n utch , a Shallow passage over a river, and is freque tly

’ i n l a cena m es as C - a n - t o l e i n S a Of found p , in oil g ford cott s L dy k the La e .

Cnl r i a alt Cn l a l k , from the two Gaelic words, or , a noo or

k Of The s n Kia ck corner, and Often , at the bac the land . eco d part, , T i s R i a bba a/z or z z . from , greyish , brindled , gri led his particular

n - place was o ce covered over with the plant louse wort , and the

G R ia b/z a e/z n n m it s aelic name for it is , havi g got the ame fro

k - greyish appearance , which ma es the word to mean the louse wort

corner.

’ I Vellbea a s —The n ot . prefix Of this name is , as might at first

- n S W . Sight be supposed , from the A glo axon ell , but from the N G Wil a . n erman , a hamlet It is Ofte met with in the orth Of

S n Bra el an w ell R K cotland , as in La gwell and g in oss, intradwell in

n S u therla d .

r r n —The D r D y bn . prefix y in this word does not signify the

6 E I R E 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF L G I N S H .

a k s it would li ely be in those early days . The signi fication usually

G F a iclz or given is from the aelic , also a field plain, and allied to

F at/z and A ber — , the mouth Of a river the plain at the mouth Of k 1 5 1 4 1 660 the river. Loo ing at the word as it was in and , the forms Of A ber s and A bba r seem to support the idea Of the place

or S of w being a marsh fen, and the ituation the to n is Six miles

of from the mouth the river . E PARISH OF BIRN I .

H E B of E parish Of irnie lies south lgin , which bounds it on

. n on the east, north , and west It is bou ded the south by

is s R othes and Dallas . It the most parsely peopled parish

667 w as 7 4 1 . 8 . in the county In the year the valuation £ 3 3 s . d ;

one s w as n s 7 4 1 £ 3 3 s d. . 6 nearly hundred year after it twope ce les , , 0 and now it is about £3 00.

Birni e has long been k n own as one o f the earlies t s pots in

S n Ch s cotla d where the ri tian faith had been established , and it

Dr . C is now universally thought, as stated by ameron Lees in

his of n S t . C history I verness , that olumba himself erected the

as s n first church there , from which a base Of their mis io ary operations his missionaries made pilgri mages throughout the north

The B rn and east of Scotland . earliest form of the name i ie is

Br i nn tlt as n . C , given in the latter part Of the te th century eltic ecclesiastical names are the mos t complex and pu z z ling Of all land

M n s s . name a y Of the old saints are to us very dim personage ,

n an d only legendary bei gs at best, whose history identity it is

of of at this remote period time , particularly in the absence

n v s s s docume tary e idence, almo t impossible to e tabli h with any

n k degree Of certai ty. In topography, however, it is remar able

of S d that while church names are very common on the west cotlan ,

47 8 E L I N H I E 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S R .

sec u lar names have as a rule been retained on the east Of

S as B L u m han n an cotland , with few exceptions, such irnie , p ,

Ta nnad e B Th c . e i s on e y , and rechin fact that this parish Of the exceptions is in its elf powerful evidence Of i t s early occupation as

s B n . S t . w as a mis ionary station renda , the titular saint, the

n an d of k S t . C k frie d contemporary olumba, and the Old ir Of Birn ie mus t have been built on the Site of the old Cathedral Of B 1 20 S t . 0 Birnie founded by rendan . In we meet with the name

h The B is Br enn ach s Br enn ac . a Irish for rendan , while the

n s or Ga elic i s Brenn a . In either the Iri h Gaelic form the word B S t . means the portion Of rendan, in exactly the same sense as

ir r im u ir or t o K means the big quarter portion given the bishop,

f Br i i n O t . c u s and Brechin mea s the portion S .

e n — The u t o E a s t r t o . present form Of the word wo ld lead us

k i s E n s an thin that it pure gli h , without y change from the

n 1 660 E s ar t u n t h . e origi al In it was g , which is distinctly from

E n an d H ow W . elsh sgair, a lo g low ridge , Dun , a hill or fort the

’ a t k n came to be eclipsed by is not nown , u less it was for ’ k euphony s sa e .

’ D bes ia e i s y a common name throughout the country, and is

ib A D ie D D b D . S . T M E . purely eutonic , from the , , utch if ,

Di/ei G k Teibas G l D i k m Icelandic , ree , ae ic g, a dy e or ra part,

Dbz lt G or also a ditch or fosse . g is the aelic verb to raise a wall a rampart .

' E a s t l l e/i t ll i s s S n O . . e Ca s t al o a common name in cotla d , from C ,

a s t el l a ni of Ca s t r a nt . Latin C , and a diminutive , a fortified place

i ea Th t /l s a isea l G Ca s t l . e l a s e . The We sh form is C Iri h C , aelic form Ca s lzel i s common in Ireland and twice met with in S cotland — the cas tle or stron ghold on the hill .

” s /t ill Tai na il Tom Tom , anciently , distinctly two Gaelic words, , PARISH OF BIRNIE . 49

a n d a s n A il i s a hill , frequently found the prefix in place ames ; — k rock y the roc y hill .

S ta n —T i s S n n n S t er his word doubtless from the ca di avia ,

n S et r of n N s e Icela dic , both which are co tracted forms Of the or

’ S t a a r or s n an d n a s , a place tatio , is fou d a legacy from the

N or s em en N S t he wherever they went in the orth Of cotland ,

H s T lt s t r M onk s t a d U ebride , and Ireland, as y , , lster, Leinster,

s M un ter .

R a n d - a i r n n R a i t /z - a i r n G R a t /z y g , ancie tly g , from the aelic ,

W R ba t/z or s . a circular fort , cognate with the el h , a mound hill

Ga ir n G Ga i r na in s an d is doubtless from the aelic , a hout, often

— n k or b an echo the reverberati g roc ill .

l 1 n a il —T m c S k o e i n 670 S . G g , g his is evidently fro the aeli Th S n ba il s . e g , a mar hy place , or land with surface moisture

n is S a bba ll n k a t ge erally attributed meaning , a bar , but loo ing

s n the early form thi is i credible .

Gl enl a t t er a e/z 1 7 74 Gl en l a t erach— G Gl ea n , in from the aelic ,

- l n W Gl n Gl a nn a n d S G e . elsh y or , Anglo axon , a small valley

L a t t er a elt is G L ei t i r a eb or from the aelic , the side Of a hill Of a

— n country the gle on the hill side .

’ ' ’ M ia a l et an of T n m - S M ia is another word euto ic for , Anglo axon ,

’ ’ M ia r a M ea i ns G k M es as Icelandic , L tin , ree , the middle , Anglo

S Ton S n Ta n as axon , candi avian , an enclosure , or now understood ,

or n The of Ton a town reside ce . primary meaning comes from

G Ta i ns N Tei nn G Z a a n c of the othic , orse , erman , a fen e formed

s k s n twigs , or a place rudely fortified by ta e , and is brought dow

n T n to us in S cotla d in the word oo .

’ G r een w a r a in 1 7 02 r ea n w a r t —A t r G . , first sight it would appea that the firs t part of the word is simply the name of the colour of

n s k n s is growi g herb , but loo i g at the Older form , the ignification D 0 T H E O F E L G I N H I E 5 PLACE NAMES S R .

ff . G G r ea nn entirely di erent It is derived from the aelic ,

T Wa r t or Wa r t/t or frowning , and the eutonic , a watch tower

or n n or beacon, a guarded place , a fortificatio , the frowni g

commanding place .

Bl a i r nba l l 1 669 Bl a r - a n - a il e G E l a r n , in , from the aelic , a plai ,

A il e — or and consequently a battlefield, and , wind the windy plain

field .

K i r k t on N s K i r a/w W s C r ie D is from the or e , el h y , and utch

K er b The - S Ton t . Anglo axon , an enclosure , forms the latter par

— k k l a a/z a n of G C . the place the ir , in aelic,

T l 1 4 T i ea l 1 5 Tr i eel s - I n r acba i 5 1 r 70 . n s , in , ancie t time among people who followed the double occupation Of tillage

of and pasturage, before the days imperial measures , when every

had ow n of k community to a certain extent its idea bul , length ,

s and area, and when the country became more den ely peopled,

- k s u b of s . consequent division land too place , with fixed boundarie In land as in other matters standards Of measurement were

W T n adopted . hether the standard richel was common u iversally

s t he or confined to certain districts it i impossible to say. In

n Tr ichel s or North , however, the la d was divided into , thirty

W of T t he divisions to each family . hat the extent a richel was

u t f s of writer has not been able to find o . O course thi mode

s distributing the land is long ago Obsolete , but in several place throughout the country whose names begin with the prefix Tr i or Tr e or Tr a or Tr o we find indications that this system w as in

T a s Tr iaba or r ielz . force . In Ireland the equivalent w as

Tr oe/ba il i e therefore means th rty measures of land, and is evidenc

of f B the early occupation o the parish Of irnie .

n ni ont re Gr a ge lt is not found in Old documents . It must therefo

k F S Gr a n e be ta en as a modern name , from the rench and cotch g , 1 PARI S H OF BIRNIE . 5

n G a fa rm or s torehouse for grai , and is cognate with the aelic

n ns ea a/i an d G r a n i a . Gr a i , the low Latin g In Ireland we find it

a na li Gr a na ba n Of n n as Gr g and g , all which sig ify places produci g grain .

’ ’ ’ a r a ens ia e n B a r r a i n . The ffi B , a ciently su x side was

n f The s uperimpos ed about the e d o last century . word is derived

G s B a r r of from the two aelic word , the top , the uppermost part

n n a nd D i n i s of D i a nel a a ythi g , a contraction the word , a small

— on heap , but commonly applied to small hills the farm the hill

Side or on the top Of small hills .

b —T G R ia s R a sber aa . his word comes from the aelic g , a fen or

B a salt e R is a/be R esebe s M E . mar h , and is cognate with the , , ,

D R u s e/t of s n utch , a small , soft reed , usually coarse gra s growi g ou t C k k n or Of marshy places and roo , a hoo in the la d bend , from

D K r abe K r enb K r abe S K r ab— the utch or , Icelandic wedish the

n marshy cor er.

’ ' Wa l l br a e a u ci en t l Wa l a br a e— M E Wal a , y from the iddle nglish or Wa ld G n Wa ld Vall r u , erma , Icelandic , sed in various senses as

D or own , a plain, open country , a wood forest , waste ground , a

B a cclivit i P field. rae signifies a hill or y robably here meaning t he farm on the Brae .

’ M as s ena G M oas S M as from the erman , candinavian , Icelandic

M as i S M ass a R M ob/z—a , wedish , and ussian moss , moorland , or — swamp the end Of the moorland or swamp .

nr ie E l an d F Th D a r i e i D . e s , in gin ife in Fife said to have

P n B been named by tolemy in his circumnavigation rou d ritain .

The R n H s omans o ly Latinised the names they found . ence thi

of W s D w r or D w r G D abbr or D abba i r form the el h f , aelic , water,

a nd D nr a D an r D ar e D a i r T/z n r the same root appears in , , , , ,

’ A a anr D in i s Door D , erwent, and Ireland it met with as y and erry . 2 E L G I N S H I R E 5 THE PLACE NAMES OF .

’ H a n in al tl s H a n a n el a N g gf , anciently g f , which is clearly a orse

S H a n H a n en - word, from the candinavian g, g , and Anglo Saxon

H an ia n H en a an d g , a declivity, cognate with Icelandic gf , allied to

Cnnat a r i S k a nb F C . the Latin , and the ans rit ield is also from

N V or V The ni of the orse eld elt, a hill . traditional sig fication

n or the latter word is folds , pe s for sheep cattle , derived from the

’ ’ n F al al a r - S F a l a a or F a l na Icela dic / , Fj , and Anglo axon , enclosure

on The . the declivity. former meaning is preferable

L a bnie Th of s eb E M . e , in lgin and ull latter part thi word is frequently found as a qualifyin g word to lak es and hills

throughout the country as well as to trees and flowers . It comes

’ B n ia lze a from the Gaelic , yellow, and is cognate with the L tin

B adi ns F n Ba i E — k or Ba . , re ch , nglish y the yellow la e marsh

S t a nk/rans a —S t a nb is an Old word in topography, and derived

F E s t a n S E s t a n ne from the Old rench g , a pond or linn, panish g ,

S k S t a b or ans rit , and is applied to a linn in a river a pond S t ank hou s e therefore signifies the house on the margin Of the

or pond linn . — L evel This is an Anglicised Gaelic word from the substantive

a iba— i s L a ibba il % n L the adjective , pronounced lava , signifyi g clay

or or . clayey ground, and is Often applied to marshy wet soil In

G b/i v rn li aelic words the aspirate invariably is eclipsed by , and

w becomes eclipsed by .

l a ats —The s M C yp . first part Of thi word comes from the iddle

- E s l a n l ee n S x Cl a e D an d G K l ei . ngli h C or C , A glo a on g, utch erman

The ats i t s latter part, p , was formerly p , which evidently is derived

P — n ou t from the Gaelic itt , a hollow hollows made by diggi g clay,

s or sometimes by land lips .

’ ’ Wa r a ena E B ff T Wa r d , in lgin and an from the eutonic ,

Wa r t Wa r t/t The , and , a watching place . prefix is very common

F 5 4 TH E PLACE NAMES O E L G I N S H I R E .

Br eaa in f t B f o S . o , the whirlpool recan, grandson the famous

” Sir W S t Of and alter cot , in the Lord the Isles , says

“ ’ A nd S carba s l e w ho e t o t u e ho e is , s r r d s r

’ ” t i n t o rr vr ck n oa S ill r gs Co y e e s r r .

The proper Corri vr eck en or whirlpool is not that between S carba

J on W of S n and ura the est cotla d , but that between the historical

R at hlin island Of and the coast Of Antrim, where the Irish merchant with his fifty cu r achs or boats with their crews were all

d of Br ecan r The swallowed up in this awful caul ron Charybdis . old name has long been given up , and the equally expressive name of S l a - na - ni a r a of g , the throat the sea, is applied to it .

P a dtl aablt il l ni is not an Old word, mea ng a small enclosure . It i s E P a r b a r r aalt e a corruption Of the M iddle nglish r aa or P . It is

’ ’ a k M P a a a ob E . not the same word at all as p ddoc , a toad, from the ,

’ ' ’ ’ ’ ’ ' ’ P a a a a S P a a a a P a a a e D P a a a Icelandic , wedish , Danish , utch , a

k or S k S a nd — S a r t a j er er j umper ; ans rit p , to vibrate whence p l S a na a . p , a frog

brn aa -The r Coa r . first pa t Of this word is from the Middle

’ E s Cab - S Coca ngli h , Anglo axon , so named from the bird s cry

’ ’ ’ r a e cob cab N P T 4 G k C 5 6. y anon un s riest s ale, In ree we

K abbn k and M e have , the cry Of the cuc oo ; oor, a h ath , from the D M — k k utch oer, a moor the moor Of the game blac coc .

' nsbill acb in 1 667 D ab/za s lz ill eb — h a . T e t fi , first part is from the

G a D oib/zea s elic , literally a voice , but invariably applied to a

’ or k We Cnoc- a n - a aib/l ea s i n s reverberating hill roc . have the we t

- - of Cr ea a n doib/zea s of . Inverness , and g in the west Argyll AS in

s o G all ancient languages , in aelic, the adjective usually follows the — noun t he echo hill . Gl enl ass ie is rather a misleading name SO far as the application PARISH OF BIRNIE . 5 5

f n n For o the name co cerns the actual Situatio . the hollow called

n L assie The the gle is east Of the course Of the considerably . derivation of L assi e will be given un der Lossiemouth in the parish

ini of Dra e .

or n Cl odach u se a ciently , is a word in general along

s of s a the coa t the country, and signifies a flat, stony h re , here a a of L assi e s s pplied to the sh re the river , and as di tingui hed from

G - k n Tr a z Tr a . /z i s n , a sandy beach In aelic spea i g districts g definitely employed to distinguish that part between high an d low

’ m k Cl a a a e/z t o k water ar s , and that part between high water mar

n s a d the edge Of the gras . V .

PARISH OF BOHARM .

H I S parish was at one time partly in Banffshire and partly in

E l inshir e a o of B g , but a few years g , by order the oundary

C s of ommi sion , the whole was put under the jurisdiction

B ff The 4s l l d an . area is acres ; valuation, . . ; and

1 1 on pop ulation about 66. It is bounded the west by the river

S on Fiddich an t he Belli e on pey, the south by the , north by , and

E K Benai en 1 . 5 00 of the ast by eith g , feet high , occupies much

s of the area, and a valley overhung by that hill occupies mo t the

The above o arable land . average height sea level f the whole 45 0 B parish is feet . eing an inland parish and some distance from C the sea, the land names are mostly derived from the eltic

N an element , and are almost entirely free from orse , while , the B other hand , a few present a rythonic appearance , suggesting the

Of W n presence the elsh eleme t, but it is somewhat uncertain at what period it was introduced .

Balza r vi for m T bu t in its present assumes a eutonic appearance , ,

of d k w when the history the name is ma e no n , it will be found to

I n 1 000 B ne/za r i n from C . have sprung the eltic the year it was ,

1 200 t o S Bae/za i r n 1 220 w as in , according haw, it was , in it

B ne/za r in w as Bnlza r nze S , and shortly after it omewhere about

S k n 1 7 7 4 it assumed its present form . haw ma es the word to mea

or Ba /t a or the bend arch about the cairn , from the Gaelic g , a bow

5 6 PARISH OF BOHARM . 5 7

n a a n n be d , and others have, by d pting his meani g, fallen i to the

s err or 1 200 ame . In the year already mentioned a chapel was

b B of M C Baea i r n built y the ishop oray , called the hapel of , which

w as of k situated about fifty yards north the castle , and which , li e

o Bl er vi e w as on s on e Of the t wer Of , built the ite Of the ancient

s n for T w as n heili gs used herding cattle . his sheiling called a cair

or BO- —Ba n G cow for herding cows , cairn bei g the aelic for , and is

t o B as cow . allied the Latin , a

A r ntl il —The T A r n E r n y . prefix here comes from the eutonic , ,

A r ne A r a B A r ea F A i r e C A r as ; Latin , asque , rench , eltic , a place ,

f n i s as arm , or dwelli g, and found a suffix in such words as

Whit er n C C or W a M A r asai , andida asa , hitehouse , Ar s in ull , and g i n f i G D il e A il The s . rn e . d Argyll su fix from the aelic , a flood S the residence beside the flood ; in this case beside the pey .

a b e — t C b l at . C no p obble here is the name Of a small boat , but is a

Of T K a bbel en n k corruption the eutonic word , a be d in the ban of a

v n of or ri er, made either by the beati g the waters Of the river, by

f The w the waters o a tributary. word is frequently m e t ith as

K ab l b e.

Tant /rea d G i Tom o k or k nol l is from the ael c , a round hill c , or an eminence .

Ba in neb - Th n g . e i itial part of this word is Often found in land k . G B a names throughout the country It is ta en from the aelic g , a

. The from G M a e marsh or fen latter half is the aelic , a pig, with

’ W s M a C M alt — which is cognate the el h ch , ornish the pigs marsh .

K ill iernar e —The C . word oille plays an equally important part in

is K il l ie K el l Cil place names , and variously found as , y , , and some

m al l — . M ar i s G w or d for ti es C , a wood the aelic big the large wood .

’ F - er r ena er r an . T k G F ea r a nn his word is ta en from the aelic , 8 E L I N H I R E 5 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S .

or . t o land , ground , country In its topographical use it is applied

of The a particular portion land , but is widely used as a prefix .

G D a r D er a D er n oak latter part comes from the aelic , , y , , with

n D r ns S sk D r u — oa k which is allied the Lati , an rit the forest .

Tanz i na a/z —For —A a h m the initial part see Tomhea d. l is t e a A n o G F a l ali a of n rticle , f , and the aelic , a field or a piece la d

the field eminence .

' I ll a iebnaa/ea t er n M a /i - an ae- a n - ai t i r G c gg , ancie tly g , from the aeli

n i t i r Th n n M a li n aa a d O . e g , a plain ; C , a hill , a ridge combi atio

— n is m ost descriptive Of the place the plain of the hilly la d .

Ta nz i — Ta n Tein ne e. I n W G topography the elsh word , aelic ,

i s far ms of Ti n Ti nn Ta ne Di n nn fire , found in the various , y , , and y ,

n of T i dicating spots where fires importance used to be made . hey

s or B k might be beacon fire , the eltane fires indled by the ancient

C M a Da l s elts on y y , connected with the re igious Observance Of the

The f Z i Old n for Druids . a fix is the Fre ch habitation, and was

C s as i n introduced into this country by atholic missionarie , found

S on s on l aw ussi, the habitation high , and Is y, the dwelling the

a nz i fil T e f e . ground . signifies the place o

Ba l na eanl — B or . aile , a town dwelling, plays an important part as r C a prefix in the topog aphy Of all eltic countries, and is allied

k P a n a A n to the Gree alis . J i d with the article it is found as

Ba ile- na or k of Ba ll i n . C and oul signifies a corner the bac a hill ,

G Ca l Ca C C from the aelic , and is variously found as ul , oull , ults, and — Cool the corner residence .

a m a e — s e e Tomhead B k T n br e l n For the first part . rac is the — of B r ae . modern form , a badger the badger hill

K naal ’ a ncl n i s G Ca ot a n and D u b/z k the aelic , a little hill , , blac

a k the little bl c hill . — Ga n/dw ell Wherever the Danes or Norwegians were met with PARISH OF BOHARM . 5 9 by the Gaelic - speak ing people of this country they were ca lled

The N n G s . d s a s all , or strangers orwegians were i ti guished

F i n a l l s D as D a a l ls k g , white strangers ; the anes g , the blac ll ’ au ldw e n . stran gers . G is the stra gers well

B at t en nz as s G R at a n n k comes from the aelic , belchi g or Sha ing , — k as a quagmire the Sha ing m ass .

Ba l nel l a n G B a il e n or n is from the aelic , a tow reside ce , and

il ea n m — n A . , a green eadow the farm Of the green pasturela d

/z a ns -Th n S i . e belief in the super atural bein gs ca lled the fairies w as one n T at time ge eral among Celtic people . hey believed thes e beings dwelt in habitations i n the interior of pleasant e S i t /t or S i t/z ea ns — minences , which got the name Of pronounced

S ia ns —S /z ia ns n i s sig ifies the abodes of the fair es or fairy hill .

’ A na/z nz a dies G A a/za a li or n —T , from the aelic , a field plai here — — are two words i n use in Gaelic for a dag On and M a da d/z bu t

’ ’ is m or e M a a a a l t the latter form commonly found in place names .

a l so do s s n is applied to any wild animal of the g pecie . Co sequently A u chm adies m ay signify the field of the dogs or the field of t he foxes .

S t a r /rea d fr om S n S t ar S et r is the candinavia , Icelandic , both

’ a S t a a r — of contracted f rms of , a station or place the head the station .

Tanz ba i n G s Ta m k Ba n is from the two aelic word , a hilloc , and , — k white the white hilloc .

Bel na a r r —F a ile or aw . G B g rom the aelic , a town residence , and

Ga r a n k — n d , a thic et the dwelli g in the woo . — Cr i mea This word w as origin ally u s ed to design ate a stack of

n or t o s n cor hay, but the application was extended hill presenti g

n k The TVel sh Cr n an d in a rou d or stac ed appearance . is g,

C i s a— - ornwall it Cr n the stack lik e hill . 6 0 E L G I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF S .

’ A l a er n ie —The A l l t . G i s aelic , a mountain stream , usually

’ ’ A n A l a or A nl a i s Flzea r na glicised , and the alderwood called , in which the f li is eclipsed by the combination of the two words t he alderwood burn .

’ M a r e/zs i a e —T . his is a comparatively modern name , from the

- S M a r b M a r e/ze— Anglo axon , a boundary, French the boundary

S ide .

Cal d/zanze - o m u of . S na ed from the exposed sit ation the place a nd n il T the unco genial nature of the so . his word is very common in the north - eastern counties of S cot l and where the soil i s marshy or mossy .

’ Wi na /z ill aeb s k n s y ignifies a hilloc exposed to all wi ds, e pecially t o the cold n orth - east win ds which blow s o k eenly dow n the

M or a y Firth . — Ber r /e s . 1 5 1 6 of w or d w as Bea r a l a s y y About the form this g ,

’ fr om G Bea r r a a b of Gl a s the aelic , the top a hill , and , literally

i n The G for grey, but when applied to pasture it s gree . aelic

Ta l a nz /i Gl a s green ground or green field is , and this word would

n therefore mea the green hill top .

L /l b —I n 1 n n ac z ea s 7 s L ae/zl a s . R . 66 thi word was g un i g water — ha s often got names from the manner in which it flow s s traight

or k or t The L a s croo ed , fast Slow, urbulent or smooth . adjective g or L ea s b G L ea s z is from the aelic g , literally la y, but here

signifying the slow flowing water.

D aw a l l s — The D ow of is fr om G . first part, , this word the aelic

D a D u bli k k , , blac , and when found in patronymics signifies a blac

or D has stranger a ane , and by extended use become to signify a n s n D y treacherou perso , from the manner in which the anes

The f a . o treated the natives latter part the w rd , Alls, is from the — k G A il a k a k k or . aelic , a r c the bl c roc blac hill

2 E L G I N S H I R E 6 THE PLACE NAMES OF .

’ —F e S t r es ia e. G S t r n or yp rom the aelic p , strife , contention ,

u - S S t r a n D pl nder, and corresponds with the Anglo axon yp , utch

t r aa en . The n S t r en i s s S p , to plunder sig ification of p al o

k s or M os k extended to mean a s irmi h insurrection . t li ely the

k s place of the s irmi h .

a r l ns b k G Cnr r n a n en d C is ta en from the aelic , a cor er, , a pit ,

L ia s — corn er or n or fountain ; and g , a hut the hut, pit , fountai — Ca l t a na ch The haz el in olden times was a common w ood all over the country, and many places abound with it at the present

a Call t u i nn G z A a/t d y . is the aelic for ha el ; forms the adjectival

a lt anach n n n G . C a z termination in aelic sig ifies abou di g in h el .

’ aa/z — G A rd A r a signifies the plain on the height from the aelic ,

A or field— n an a height , and chadh , a plain the plai the height .

- H aw it s N ew t a ab. this word came to assume present form is difficult to mak e ou t Of euphon ious similarity to the former word

1 7 00 N a da — G very little remains . In it was g from the aelic

’ ll n N ea tl a ho ow s . g , a circular ; literally a bird s e t

i ne —The n u s e Of P ap . portions Of la d set apart for the the

for m r priests in e days were quite numerous all over the country.

T S n P a a his word is the candi avian p , a priest, and means the

’ n f P a a . o priest s la d It is met with in the various forms p ,

i ne P a en P a en P o a a n d P a . f fi , p , pp , p , as here

M a n eld C .M i n m en a n d M a en sfi comes from the eltic , , , a high F k or . roc the brow of a hill ield the latter half of the word , is a

of N V or V Of n n mutation the orse elt eld , a range hills or mou tai s . The combin ation here form s a tautology or a reduplication O f words having the same meaning united into one from differen t s ources .

ie — V s i nifica t ians Cr a zgell a e/z . arious g have been given to this

On e Crai dheal a chidh or name . says it might be g , the dividing PARISH OF BOHARM . 6 3

’ n k A n Cr ai el ach s b . k ou dary roc other that it is g , the wans roc ; a nd the writer at one time with equal persistency maintained it to

Crai i ol a chi e k C G be g , the roc from which the lan rant shouted

r I n 1 7 5 9 w as Cr a i ail t heir war c y . the form Of the word g ea ch h f G C k A il ea c d . rom the aelic raig, a roc , and , win y At the same

w or d — Cr ai ailbheach time, the is found in another form g , from the

k d s G A ilbhe . The . The aelic , a roc a jective al o means flint word

flin t k or a k may therefore mean the y roc the windy r c .

D e nr G D . F na r i s G lf from the aelic ail , a plain the aelic a d r s a — jective for cold , and is applied to wet , ma shy il the cold plain .

A ne/zl nnba r t — G A L n n from the aelic chadh , a field or plain ; d or L nnb a —a is from the Norse , and means a sacred gr ve place

n D where the ancie t ruids performed their religious ceremonies .

f Wa r t A r t o . The is a contraction , a guarded place word signifies the field of the gu arded grave .

bnr — a n na Ca nna n . C , the first part , comes from the Latin and

The l a ll a— G k Ca nna . G ree , a reed ae ic equivalent is C the willow or bulrus h burn .

F idde F id/t of G , anciently , which is a contracted form the aelic

F iad/z or . , wood woody

R i nnaa/za t 1 7 06 R i na a t from G R eid/t s , in g , the aelic , a hill ide s tretch ; N a is the genitive preposition of ; and Ga t is the N orse — far a gap or openin g in a hill or mountain the serrated stretch of

n la d .

Ga r l a nd Ga r l a a/z G a r b/malt , anciently , from the aelic g , the r or The a ugged part of a country the rough bed Of a river. w rd

G a r b/z i s frequently met with in topography .

D el nz ar e— a G D n M ar fr m the aelic ail , a field or plai , and , big

or . T s Dalm or es i n n large here are everal the country, all havi g

s the ame signification . E L E 6 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF GI N S H I R .

ma r —B S i n B n r lz na . T g y urgh is from the eutonic, cand navia

B F B t ow n or org , rench ourg, a city , but literally an enclosed dwell — — ing often fortified place and is a contracted form of the Teutonic T Ber en . an g , to protect hese fortified places were built isolated

k i n D n S n a n d E roc s, as umbarto , tirli g, dinburgh , for greater

a B er bil l n security , consequently the w rd g , a , was syno ymously

N a . M of used is the genitive of the article . ary is a corruption

old G M a er as n ow M a ar or ff the aelic word , or used , a steward baili .

’ h ld far m a B ar na r nba er — T e o ofthe w rd was g the steward s residence .

ea d —K c t ch of E Kn K naw e/z . nowe is the S o form the nglish oll k the hilloc head .

D r a benz r es n D r a e/ nneer N e y , ancie tly , evidently from the ors

D r ea/zt or - M oer — , a meadow pasture land , and , waste land the

- waste pasture land .

M nl ben 1 669 M a al bei n G c , in , which is evidently from the aeli

M a al or , bare bald , and when applied in topography signifies

Ben Beinn n destitute Of vegetation . is from the Gaelic , a mountai — or hill the bare hill .

a ll aa/t G S eil a a/i n S a l ix . Of S /z , aelic , Lati , the willow In the Isle

S W H el an d i s n M an it is called hell , elsh yg , to be frequently fou d in the place names of the country under a variety of forms .

—A t s t o S an n dmaar . first sight thi word would appear be

1 7 1 1 S nndm ni r E nglish . In it was , which Shows at once that the

n Bot h in N first part of the word is not of native origi . the orse and Teuton ic languages the ward S nnd sign ifies a piece Of

n privileged land, and in olden times many pieces of privileged la d were s et apart for flock s an d dr oves t o rest a n d feed on in their

S au n dmoar journey from on e part of the country to another.

r means the free m oo .

l a elzna w a r r en n Cl a a/t na ba r /za n Cl a e/z C , ancie tly p , from the Gaelic ,

- G r a n t ow m on S p e y . PARISH OF BOHARM . 5

a n d B a r a n na n n of a s a stone , p , co ical heaps stones put up

of or i s memorials the dead , of any great event , and the word met

as B S B Of with arrows , from the candinavian arrow, a mound earth;

- ar /t — n A nglo Saxon Be the memorial cair .

F ar ie G F at /z i r Ga at/z Ga ai tbe g , from the aelic , land , and or , — wind the win dy land ; that land very much exposed to wind .

L aebd/z n — D a b/z k A dam nan . o Ga . L ch , and the elic , blac has

n as L ae/z dia e n k Lati ised this word , meani g the blac loch .

B a l na br eie/z— a G Ba il e Br na iab fr m the aelic , a residence , and , a

r f — brae o the face o an incline the residence on the brae .

H al l— T H al l e r o . from the eutonic , cave hollow It is also found

H alt /e t he H al H nl G Us - lznl an as , allied to Icelandic , Danish , othic , t o ou t hollow .

Cn nnn in s t an Canz a ntan g , anciently , and is after the ancient

nnza ine r n rn rn n f C o C e e o S t . C Abbot , a follower olumba, who died

9 H e of of 66 . S in wrote a life the aint , much thought by the

I k n in on of rish , but little own this country, account the superior

’ i mpor t a n ce attached to R eeves translation of the life of the Saint

A da m nan S written by . everal places throughout the country have

n n Cu maine - old bee de ominated after , notably Fort Augustus the

of w as Ki l - C n G K il - a name which umi , in aelic to this day

C/zn i rn a in T K . here is also ilchoman in Argyllshire .

Cnl l ies ba n a -The g n . first part of the word is from the Gaelic

oill e w o Th or od. e n C , a pismire ant is ge erally found in woods

The G w or d s and among the roots of trees . aelic for these creature i s S ea n a n of g , which is Often found in the names the places where

n — of they abou d the wood the ants .

Gar l i a — a /z . T s i s a of G Ga r l nelz hi corruption the aelic word , a

a k an t has n n ot m le , which , li e the , co tributed a little to the n s w aming of the place here it much abounds . E L I N H R E 6 6 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S I .

Ba abs /i a ll aa/z G Ba e/zds eil ea e/z w comes from the aelic , the willo

Ba hd of or or . c brae hill literally signifies the top the brae hill ,

- - as Ba chd n a br u aich of . seen in the expression , the top the brae

- - — Cl a ab - na ell 1 5 74 Cl a e/z - na eill G Cl a eb y , in g from the aelic , a

T n N a o . stone . is the genitive f hroughout the cou try in olden times many of these stones and cairn s were erected to point ou t

a n d commemorate both triumph and defeat in man y a san guinary

or Geill contest . In this case it is defeat submission , being the

n Gaelic word for yielding or submitti g .

Cr a i l n — G Cr a i k T g g from the aelic g , a roc , and the eutonic

L n L nba a G L eai or — k g, , , aelic g, a hollow bend the roc y

— h ll w k holl ow ; or vice versa the o o roc .

Cn aldie— G Ca il k or lf from the aelic , a noo corner , and the

G F ail te or of . aelic , a den hiding place also the lair a wild beast

h or F a il F ail F eild T e w d . is meet with as , , Another word is

l ni nn n B r aa . , havi g the same signification Ba nds is a word frequently found in the topography Of the

- Of S an d i s north east cotland, generally given where there have

s of or G Ba d been clump trees brushwood , from the aelic , a clump

f The Ba da Ba da O . n trees plural is , and the diminutive is , a

of Ba d B ad Ba w d little clump trees , and is generally found as , , ,

B de and rarely a .

Ta na —I n 1 7 1 0 s Ta im t o thi word was , which would appear be

G Ta nt /t or the aelic , rest quietness , but here signifying abode

n the s heltered dwelli g .

Cl a cbenw ell s Cl ae/zen w ells G , anciently , from the aelic plural

or or k W C . n lachan, abounding in stones pebbles , roc s ater issui g

t on ou t of rock s or s y places .

S e — R Teu siss i s p y the omans named this river , which evidently

G k Teu k rion from the ree word , a plant called germander,

VI .

D E PARISH OF CROM AL .

P 1 8 70 H I S large parish is intersected by the Spey . rior to

f - l on part o it was in Inverness shire . It is seventeen miles g Th by ten miles broad . Its real property is about e

of C on on hills romdale are its southern boundary, and the haughs 1 low grounds were the scene of a famous battle in 690. In this

C G of E of parish is situated astle rant , the ancient seat the arls

l f k n hind r S eafie d o M u c era ch a d L oc o b. G , and also the ruins aelic

k of an d is spo en throughout the most part it at the present day, being inland its place names are almost entirely C eltic Few of

m odern T the more names are from the eutonic, and still fewer from the Welsh . With these exceptions the original language supplies the rest . — Cr omda l e The first part of this name runs through all the

of . G Cr ane W Cr w nz G n Aryan family languages aelic , elsh , erma

K r nnn n - S Cr nnz b k The , Anglo axon , all signifying croo ed . latter

G D a il k part is from the aelic , a valley , and is a in to the

D a l r D s D a l G Tlza l The Icelandic , ani h , and erman . winding

in S valley foll ow g the sweep Of the pey.

L nenz ar e i n ne W s L l n n - S n y , is from the Gaelic L , el h y , Anglo axo

k The ffi is G M ar H l nna ool or . y , a p la e su x from the aelic , big

the big pool .

a r t/zbeen —The of fr om t he G . first part this word comes

as PARISH OF CROMDALE . 6 9

T n Ga r t /i S n n Ca r t euto ic , allied to the ca dinavia , and the Gaelic

Ga r r od W l s Ga r r d s an d , e h , an enclo ed place , by usage has come

Th Ga r da l Va n . e r da to sig ify a farm French words and , also a llied to this word , originally signified a fortified place , but are

Ga r t/z K n ow s in a s . u ed the same sense een , the latter part of

of G ea nn a — the name is a corruption the aelic C , a he d the farm at f the head o the valley.

L oek nell a n —I n 1 690 t aali - a n - a l en his was L , evidently from the

G L ao/z k a n ni o A il ea n aelic , a la e , being the ge tive form f , and , a — green plain or meadow here signifying the meadow on the f margin o the loch .

Ui a G n k g is aelic word signifyi g a noo , a retired place , a

cave or den n T solitary hollow, a , cog ate with which is the eutonic

Wi a/z Wie W k S n Wick i i V V e. , , y , the ca dinavian , g, and the Icelandic

a llenda r —I t im r C . is evident this is an pa t ed word from the

of P A neighbouring county erth . nciently the word was Cal en t yr

K k Coill e- a n - t i r — and alentar, and some ma e this to signify the w ood — n of the land which is improbable . the meani g seems to be

- - — — the common form Caill e na dai r the oak wood from the Gaelic

D a i r W D a r Der a D ar n word , with which is cognate the elsh , , y ,

D r ns S k D n ak The d r o . t Latin , ans rit , an is here eclipsed by , in the old form s according to custom when it succeeds the preposition a n Th k . e oa d woo .

P ol ar ea c/i G P oll W P w l T is from the aelic , elsh , and eutonic

P ool or a P a l ns , a pool marsh , with which is cognate the L tin .

The G Cr ia d/za e/z Cr ia ak latter part is from the aelic (pronounced ) ,

. G l a a r h l C b . T e o clay Another aelic word is clay po .

Ba l na a i v - F r e e. a G B or s r m the aelic aile , a town re idence , and

Cr a aib/z n n d C w oo . The (pro ou ced rieve), trees or residence in the w ood or by the wood . TH E F E 7 0 PLACE NAMES O L GI N S H I R E .

Ba l va t t n F a . B rom the Gaelic aile , as above , and the

’ n na k T S Va t or Va . candinavian , , a la e his latter part is met with

Va t a n Va t t in throughout the country in the various forms Of , , l t Va on a Th k r . Wa t n . e o , and residence near the la e marsh

D a l e/t r a D a l er ai ve One er son w ord y , anciently . p gives this as

Dal cr u aidh k Old , but loo ing at the form it is evidently from the

G D Cr a oib/ze of Cr a abh aelic ail , a valley, and (the plural ) , a tree

w ood the y valley .

S t r a a n S t r a t/za n i G S t r a t/z , anciently , ev dently from the aelic , Th S . S t r a a n . e anglicised trath , a valley is a little valley valley of the Ugie in Aberdeenshire was in olden times k nown as S t ra a n

i i e The f r Ys t r a d U . W o g elsh word strath is , and found in the

Y M i - n word ester in d Lothia .

K noak t nlek a n G nae- na - t nl a ia/za z n T , in aelic C . his is in reality a

naa T or n . The tautology, from C , a hill , and ulach , also a hill mou d

W a of naa K n iva elsh f rm C is .

K naak a n ni —K k b e. The B noc an is a little hill . second part , uie,

G B n id/ze of is from the aelic , yellow, a gold colour, and is frequently S h k T e . found in cotch topography . yellow hilloc

nldr een —Th f r n il C . e o w o d Cnl or C first part this is from , a

or k f n o . W corner, the bac anythi g ith reference to its application

a s to places , it is used in the same sense the Latin prefix trans is

- - C applied in such terms as trans Atlantic, trans aucasia, and such

k s o Cu l li e , in relation to a hill is applied to the side remote from

er son k . D r een G D r oz /zea n n the p spea ing is from the aelic g , a

G Dar n Doom thorn , with which is cognate the erman , Dutch ,

- Tlt r n r a nen Th r S W D e . e o Anglo axon y , elsh thorny hillside thorny corner.

l l /za — l ea nn Gl n or Gl o nn G ent n a n . G W From the Gaelic , elsh y ,

E Gl en nglish , a small valley, often named from the river or stream PARISH OF CROMDALE . 7 I

fr om flowing through it , but in this case it is designated the plural

n f s . of t . The o Tulach , a li tle hill gle the little hill

/z nz r — S ee Cu ldr een a Cnldr a e/z beg and Cn ldor a e a e. for the w rd

— a e/z a l D r a a/z or D r a e/i i n D ai r e , C , o , both cases is from the Gaelic

ldr a chbe Be M lzor n an d . Cu a grove , g and signifyi g little big g is

the little woody corner ; Cu l dor a chm or is the big woody corn er . — D e ar n The a D a il . ly . first part is from the w rd , a plain or field

T n The affix Yar n is not directly a Gaelic word . It is the euto ic

D ar n The The G . Gor a n or . , a hill mountain aelic for it is , a hill

plain at the base of the hill .

F a n rn ar —The G F ann n e. prefix here is from the aelic , a portion

n or Th r Of la d ; is also applied to the earth soil . e suffix is f om

M r . a . The , big large portion of land

A ek vaek ie —The G A ak a d/z . prefix here is from the aelic , a plain or Cn ie far m of k or r oe field , and , the plural a young buc deer l the field or p ain of the deer .

Tor 7n or e — Fr am G Tar r W Tw r . the aelic , elsh , a conical hill ,

M ar — and , big the large hill .

Ga r va l t — G . G comm on arbh , the aelic for rough , is quite a

n as qualifying word in topography, and frequently fou d a designat

of n ing ward in the names streams and mou tains . Ault is the — Gaelic for a burn the rough stream . — A i r dbe . can g Aird , the first part Of the word , is not to be

A r d The oi nt of founded with the word . former means a p land ,

Be . G the latter a height g, the qualifying word, is from the aelic

B ea — g , little the little point .

A dvi —~ e. M r J n s of F lk irk k is . a oh ton , , thin s this word from the

G F/za da a n d A Mi aelic , long, , a river, which is far from correct .

T w or d A d of his has a history . , the first part, is a contraction the

T A bt t s - k f a A bba i . o eutonic , L tin , an abbot It is a well nown law 2 T H E O F E L G I N H I R E 7 PLACE NAMES S .

orthographical interchange that the consonantal letters b , c, d , f, g,

of ow n he p , s , t are each eclipsed by a special letter its . T

i s s has t he terminal letter t in Abt eclip ed by d , and the alteration

ff A Vi e bt A d. e ect Of Silencing the b altogether ; hence became ,

f x e the su fi of the word, is the Norse , literally for holy, but by usag Th ’ or . e extended to signify a church cell abbot s church or cell , and the ruins of this very old church or cell are still t o be found

of not very far away from the site the present church .

D eldaw m G D or D b k , fro the aelic ail , a plain field, and u h , blac

- k the blac or dark field .

A nl t ar n G A llt n y , from the aelic , a burn . Freque tly this word

ff Yar n W or . is confounded with Alt, elsh Alit , a height cli is from

T Gor a n D r i G a n . s the eutonic , aelic , a hill In its latter form it

ar r /z r Yar n The n met with as D n o D a n (pronounced ). mountai stream .

D nier of G D abk r or Dab/l a i r so is a corruption the aelic , found al

D w r r D w B D ob/t r one W o r D nar . as Dur, elsh f , reton is of the

G k n many aelic terms for water, which is evidently directly ta e

k P his S Da b/z r a s ea . from the ans rit , the For this word tolemy in

D n r D abk a r - ek n geography uses . is the Gaelic for an otter, and

b/za r - ns D o f is water cress .

Da l ve D or B W Badw y , from ail , a plain field , and eith , elsh , and

Bedw en a Bet nl a . M n , cognate with the L tin , the birch tree a y

w ood an d places have received their names from this , as a

k Ba Vea h B terminal syllable it ta es various forms, as y , g , eith , and

Th . B Beat hie B . e eath , , and eth birchwood plain

B a l n a ll an G B a il e or , from the aelic , a town residence , and

i n A il l ea n n A ilea n n . T s , a gree meadow here a other word , , signify

i n and ff of A l n in n A l a i nn g beautiful , found in the di erent forms , ,

A ill e t he and contracted as , but more probably the former, as O F O PARISH CR MDALE . 7 3

a rticle 11 or na would be unn ecessary were the sign ification the

s The G - a n beautiful re idence . proper aelic form would be Bails

il ean— a the meadow residence .

S k en noa/z G S ea n , from the aelic , Old , and cognate with the

en - ex k a na n Latin S . Sans rit S is Often fou d in place names of the

c i Oa/i ountry ch efly applied to natural features and to use . , the

The a G A . ffix , is from the aelic chadh , a field Old field or fallow

n la d ; land formerly in cultivation but allowed to become fallow.

i ia ek —The a nt G k Ca nr . first part , C , is the aelic word for croo ed

t o or . curved It is more particularly applied glens and straths ,

a nd w n n as C . The f ith refere ce to the sea coast is fou d ambus a fix ,

A w rd B l a ck G R ia b/nz e/z or . o , is from the aelic , greyish brindled

The fr t o s . equently applied hills torn by water pates brindled head .

B a ll bl a i r B or Bl a i r y , from the Gaelic aile , a town residence , and

or Bl a r a bat t l efield— on , a pl in originally a the residence the

plain .

D a l r ia ck Ga D a il or a nd R ia b/za e/z , from the elic , a plain field , ,

or — greyish brindled the rough , grey plain.

L et t oa/z —I n Th . n e Olden times Davach was a measure of la d .

w as Of word first used as designating a measure capacity, and the

of s w ac of w as a The piece land o n by the Dav h corn called a Dav ch .

G a D a L et hda voc h s h L et t oc . elic word for half av ch is , hortened into

Cn oe/z nz ar e G Cn il Cnl k or k lf , from the aelic or , a noo , corner, bac

f a nd F a i /ze M o — o e r cor n er . , , a field ; , big the of the large field

K n ock - na - k is t — naa G is t e . C is the aelic for a hill , and C , literally

a or - defined — k k box chest , but in topography a well hollow the noc

o f holl the ow .

D el l nr Th e G D a il or . e if , from the aelic , a plain field latter

G F na r part is from the aelic , cold , and usually applied to exposed

a n d s marshy oft places . T H E O F E L I N H I R E 7 4 PLACE NAMES G S .

Tanz va ia/z k a ioli T0772 . V , from the Gaelic , a hilloc , the latter

B a o k a a/z G of part is from g , an Old aelic word denoting the resort

fairies , generally supposed to inhabit little green eminences called

B a a /za ns i /z k t ea n s Th . g or S . e fairy hilloc

' K nock - na - aa r dzak —The G Cn ae aelic , a hill , also found as

C k on n or for of roc , where the combination is cha ged into purposes K k A pronunciation . nac is the nglicised form in which usually the

k ea r da e n n ie . C /z initial is silent . C is the plural form is the G T he . aelic for smithy . smithy hill

A a/z na /za nzet , formerly from Achadh , a field or

an d A nnait o plain , , literally a church , but in topography als

extended to signify churchland ; that is, land which was in Olden

W t he times set apart for the purposes of church revenues . hen

m i s k n The w or d double n was eclipsed by the aspirate not own .

of n A n na t i n is frequently found in the place names the cou try , as

H A A nait Sk of Inverness , anat in rgyll , in ye , all which have

an The . retained the original n in preference to the . church lands

n The E nglis h equivalents to these names is teind la ds .

A a/zna a l len A a/za d/z or Ga ll on g , from the Gaelic , a field plain , and ,

- — the well k nown plant the butterwort the field of the butterwort .

l a e/zendea l e C G C . g , from the aelic lach , a stone In olden times an d at the present day it was and is the c u st om in fine evenin gs

for Ol d of people , young and , after the labours the day, to assemble

k or n k or at particular Spots , such as on a noll , at a large sto e dy e ,

u D ea l nder a tree . gn i is the Old Gaelic word for evening or

z Cnac - an - dea u il twilight , hence these rende vous were termed g ,

C - an - dea u il Garr a dhdea u il Cr a abh - a n - dea u il t lach g , g , and g , so tha i the word s literally the twilight s t one .

a id —D oi r e G a or or D er r . is the aelic for a gr ve hollow dell , and — F/t a da n or rave . , lo g sinuous the long or sinuous g or dell

6 E L I N H R E 7 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S I .

B o ll iew o r d G Ba il e t ow n or , from the aelic , a residence , and

B lzo r d /t or . s t b , a poet bard In thi word the combina ion is

’ e v a B o il evo r a a n d clipsed by , the ancient , f rm being , in course the — v became eclipsed by w a well recognised interchange of c ons an

n f a ts in the process o A nglicising wards .

Gl os a/z oil G Gl a s a of , from the aelic , grey, having the appear nce

k n n the bar of the birch tree , not the same mea i g as when used in

h - T i s t e T l o oil le i s G . term o m/z gl os . C the aelic for wood here a p lace of the same name in the parish of Glen elg on the north side o f L ochn evi s .

A no bor d G A t/i A M , from the aelic or , a ford or stream , and the

B t/t The m B G a o r . aelic , a lane , road , or passage change fro othar

B Bor dcaill e Bor dr o a n d Bor d l einn s to ord is found in , y , g , al o

Borda onich , respectively the passage through the wood , red

The passage , glen road , and mountain path . ford to which several

roads lead .

D r ni nt nis /i G D r n i ni n g , from the aelic , cognate with the Lati

D 07’ 5 2l 772 k of an , and literally applied to the bac animal , and by e n r l n t eo xte sion has been applied to ridges o long aw hills . Gi / s is

t he G firw ood i n s . G b/z o firw ood aelic for It is also found as , the

ridge .

A t endow A it ionn or Dlt a , from the Gaelic , gorse j uniper, and , k — k blac the blac gorse field or place .

Onr aak dk o r o a/t Th l O u O . e O d , anciently (prono nced rach) form

O f Od/zo r Oar n or the word was (sounded ) , sig ifying dun colour pale

an d as Or e Oa r Oa r Ow er grey, is found , , , and , and frequently a pplied to grey hills , particularly those covered with withered

gras s .

R o it n R a t e B a i t/z R a R ob R o , a ciently , and found as , , , and y ,

a nd in L A atin it is found as trium , and applied to a circular mound PARISH OF CROMDALE . 7 7

or n n n n I n entre chme t thrown up to protect the e closed reside ces .

G i as R o t/z D o n a aelic we have the three words L , , and , having

n similar sig ification .

A no o a/z G [i n o t /z k or g , from the aelic g , a trac , a fetter, snare , and

s an by exten ion applied to y Obstruction, particularly to a marsh or

u a m rr e he q g ; in this case probably t marshy place .

P n o bo ll ae/t G R eid/t a Bea l o ck y , from the aelic , a hill stretch , and ,

W as ffi a road or mountain pass . hen this word is found the a x it

n int o Va l or/r b n v is usually cha ged , the bei g eclipsed by , as in

’ ” A ldiva ll h h of s ac R W Sac . T e . , in oy s ife , ridge the pa ses

D ell a elzo l e as Delha el Delha l e an d Del cha l e m pp , found p , p , p ; fro

G D a il or and G Ca ibea l or the aelic , a dell plain , the aelic , a cell

r church , applied particula ly to the rude places Of worship erected

C n k t he by the olumbian mo s throughout the country, cognate with

F n h W C a el e a C s . or re ch p , L tin apella , a hrine hen land a portion of lan d i s used as a prefix to another word Signifying church the combined word usually signifies land set apart in olden times for

s church purpo es .

Tamin onr d Ta Or k n oll nr G m O d . , from the aelic , a mound , and

The u n S 0r d G Ui r d a latter part is a corr ptio of candinavian , aelic ,

a mountain of a round form and steep , and generally applied to

ain t p or corner.

S ter end —The w as S t nr o nd/z i S t o r r y . Old form , from the Gaelic ,

of k bill A indib/e or the rugged point a roc or , and , an accident

—“ calamity the r ock or bill of affliction or calamitous hill .

Toi n in — h T m or k n an o r a o r n . T e G a d G n g aelic , a hill oll , , a

k The i s a s Gn i r eo n thic et or underwood . latter part also found

s the hrubby hill .

B o l no et t o ek fr om G B a ile s Feodo f , the aelic , a re idence , and g , the

s G F cr plover, which get this aelic name from ead, a whistle , the y E L I N H R E 7 8 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S I .

The n of the bird resembling a whistle . word ge erally forms the O f of . v a fix a place name ften the initial letter f is eclipsed by ,

n n b/z Vido n Bhido a n d a d . by the combi ed aspira ts , as g g

Cor s/zell ae/z ai r e , from C , literally a caldron , but in topography a

n n rou d deep hollow, j ust as the crater of a volca o was derived from

G k K r a t er an d S eil eoe/t the ree , a cup , , the willow, cognate with

k l l H o l ix Th s M n S e W S . e the a x , elsh e , and Latin initial is

ill - o - t s eil eo /zo n— t o e n a . O ften eclipsed by , as in C the willow hollow

P al ow iak G P al l W s P w l r P au ll , from the aelic , el h , A moric , a

T Wit /z Wie W k N Wick Vi S cl avon ic pool , and eutonic , , y , orse , g,

Wa s Wies is m , , a dwelling, and supposed by so e writers to come

- Woes Wies e The A S . from the nglo axon root , German , a meadow

n n Th primary signification seems to have bee a statio . e r oot runs

S k Veeo A . G k Oik os through all the ryan languages ans rit , ree ,

i e Wies C w . P olish , eltic Q In this country the word seems to have been first used with reference to stations on bays and creek s of the

s ea or of . , at the estuaries rivers ’ —T Th Wo nlk nz zll his is a comparatively modern name . e first

part of the name was introduced through the Flemish merchants ,

is of D Wa lk en or but the word itself utch origin , to press full

n Volk o D Vo lk e cloth , and is cognate with the Icela dic , anish , and

l — n n S cotch Won k the mill for pressi g or fulli g cloth .

no badoc/t from G Ba il e s Bol , the aelic , a town or re idence , and

oe/i . A n s Bad , an Old man lso used to define a clow , a surly, churli h ,

- or P Old ill natured fellow, and a ghost fairy . robably here the

’ men s place of abode .

k —The N oe/i Toak o o/t er s n ie . Cl ogg terminations , , and L are

found in all Gaelic - speak ing counties in combin ation with prefixes

i n r s t o r e n ding the letter , and when the letter is joined they

f N i ali or N i ck Tea t /2 e/t Th k o e . e ta e the oblique form , , and L PARISH OF CROMDALE . 7 9

w Cl a er is k G Cl o i ea a/z ord gg in topography ta en from the aelic g , a

s n n C . H teeple , which in its tur gets its ame from log, a bell ills havin g a roun d bell - lik e Shape are usually termed Cl azgeoa/t or

Cr o o n rn ar e G r a i k r eo o n i s gg , from the aelic C g, a roc , and C g the

d n a c k . M ar ffi imi utive f rm meaning a little ro , the su x , means k T s . big . hi name therefore signifies the big roc

t/zendr — T w ar d fr om L e y . his was imported into this parish the

of P I n 1 28 0 L et/rand neighbouring county erth . it was y , and is e n T ni a en or L e/zen et/zen vide tly from the euto c L , and latterly L ,

’ n n fi flan d The o s n sig ifyi g e . terminal syllable y is al o a co traction

T E nde s — fiefla nd of . the eutonic , ignifying a corner the corner

B o l ebol e B a il e oill e d G . , from the aelic , a residence , and C , woo

T n s his word assumes ma y other forms in topographical name , as

Kel Kil K K The a n d i s . C C , , elly, illy plural of oille is oillte , met

f K il i h The o Co l d . with in the form ilty, diminutive form is

Coillin oillt ann C e or s . and , applied to underwood hrubs

K n oak o n/ n /zl e The n G Cnoa . g , from the aelic , a hill termi able

H i bl e of a E at /t a ill part g is a corruption the old Gaelic w rd , the

w ood as O H an d Ochil t yew , found in the chil ills y , the yew wood

T w r d hills and yew wood. his o is therefore the yew wood hill .

Cr o t i ndonz G Cr ai t craft Da ni /t ox f , from the aelic , a , and , an ,

c D a ni a M ax M and ognate with the Latin , a deer. uller says that the transference of a name from on e species of animals or plants to another is a curious phenomenon , and not frequently met with .

The G k P k e as oa k n ree g signifies an , while the correspondi g Latin ,

G E F o ns B ok o Beet / othic, and nglish terms g , , and z are applied to the beech tree .

a ll T e C i ndu i in G oil l e . h , from the aelic C , a wood latter part ,

D n i nz is D a ni /t Tnnznl ns , from the Gaelic , cognate with the Latin , 8 0 E L G I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF S .

Tn i neo a raised head , which is derived from the verb , I swell .

T D ni nz s k S The hese are nown in cotland as sepulchral mounds .

of wood the tumuli . —T B a l in enoalz . his word is generally suppos ed to signify M iddle

M a d/t on T o h t on G e . s T e , from the aelic , the middle his is not .

G M nk M onoe/z n k t he aelic for o is , which evide tly is ta en from

/ /z s k a M ono e zns G k M onoc o . G k L tin , ree , a mon Again from the ree

’ M onas T k or . he , alone solitary mon s residence .

- - f The r o t no nz oll oa/t G r oit cr a t . G c C f , from the aelic C , a aeli for M o ll a ek d e curse is , and is used in topography to signify steril pieces of land that will produce little crop notwithstandin g what amount of labour is spent on them .

A alt r ois k G A ek od/z R io s or , from the aelic , a field, and g , a fen

i G R is e/z n - S marsh , cognate w th the erman and the A glo axon

R nos R is e. as g It is also found as g , and terminals it assumes

’ R iesk R eis k R is k R eos k R sk a R n is e. various forms, as , , , , , and

i s Ta l o ne/z It applied generally to wet land, as in the phrase

s oa/z r a g .

P /za ebnie F o ebn ie G F eit/t r o (pronounced ), from the aelic (p n ou n ced F eo ba ) , used to designate a g or boggy stream flowing

The through marsh where rushes grow . latter part is from

B o d s F Bo i The B nid/ze i n . , yellow, cognate with the Latin , rench yellow marsh .

/zas n ia/z m G A e/zod/z Cas noa/z o A ne , fro the aelic , a field, and (als

’ os no ie/ze or k — or written C ) , a labourer wor man the labourer s field

n portion of la d .

e ie D r e n G D r o z D r gg , anciently gg , evidently from the aelic g

n D r az en D r oen D r a i n lz ian , the thorn , and variously found as g , ,

een ffi i s D r o z /ze Coldr ai h . and D r , and as a su x it found as g , as in g

s G Gai r teo n of . I t Gar tan , from the aelic , a piece ploughed land 1 PARISH OF CROMDALE . 8

a s Gor t a nd F a r di n n is found , cognate with the rench j , A glo

d an d H or t ns Geo r . S axon , evidently glosses

R eear r o a/z G R eid/ze of y , from the aelic , a stretch hillside , and

/z or — or Cor r oa . , steep precipitous the steep declivity steep hillside

l l ea n n The Gl en on r G G . G t he g , from the ae ic , a gle word len is

A - S n of G Gl ea nn nglo axon form , and is indepe dent the aelic , which

n u se - S is much older, bei g in in this country in pre axon times .

f r Gobk o i r i s the Gaelic o goats . It is common to a number of

Ca er W Go er Co s Go vo r A n languages . Latin p , elsh f , rni h , glo

H o e er T w as r r em ot e S axon f . his word at a ve y period applied t o

f o nr a bn r a hor se in the form o G b and G .

R noar oe/z G R eidke y , from the aelic , a hillside stretch , and E r eoa/z . a C , plunder, Spoil vidently a pl ce where formerly the free

Of boaters were in the habit hiding their plunder.

Ti r be —I n of T k i g . the initial letter this word has ta en the place

f D F G Di r ea dk Bea — o . t h rom the aelic , an ascent , and g, little e

Di r eo d/nnor e or little ascent ; and in contradistinction to , the big l n The as o g ascent . word a prefix is frequently found throughout

the country .

Cor r iee/zor oak Cai r e or , from the Gaelic , a deep hollow ravine , k — Cor r o a or . and , steep precipitous the precipitous ravine

Gl en t or r oa/z fr om G Gl ea n n To r b/t ook , the aelic , a glen, and ,

T oa/t — G or . fertile , also the fertile len

K l eo n t r o G Coil l e and S r o tk y , from the aelic , a wood , , a strath .

S r o t/z n t s r In the word it is usual to i sert a between the and the ,

The S r a id a a n d S . the word becomes trath same with the word ,

i S r an n ose t on an S t r a d. 5 r d street , which becomes , a , becomes ,

t u t/z S r n t/z becomes S r .

D nl o z - T i s G D nl o a g. his a provincial word from the aelic , hollow, and signifies a little hollow . 8 2 E L GI N S H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF .

I n ver o ll o n G I n ver n of , from the aelic , a conflue ce two streams or E of the estuary Of a river. vidently the latter part this word is

G A il ea n or The from the aelic , a green plain meadow. Allan in

S R The tirling and Allen in oss are from the same source .

n r co fluence plain o meadow.

Go ie/z o r Goa/i d G G o . , from the aelic g , a cleft It is also found a a /t o z o s G b g and Gab/t g .

R na/z r o G R eid/ze a n d r adle y , from the aelic , a hillside stretch , C , — cattle the cattle hill pasture .

—The G i s r Cr onnia/z . onn W common aelic word for a tree C , elsh

nn Th Cr o i nn P r e r e . e T n P . he , Armoric genitive form is word

Crann ich signifies abounding in trees .

F ianl o r z G F iann . C g, from the aelic , white ommon to all Celtic

a . F au n languages, and evidently gl sses Albus It is also found as

an d F in or F i nn . The L or z fr om L ea r t he terminal g is g , Side — slope of a hill the white hills ide .

R nedeo n f R i—n - edeon G R eid/rte y , ormerly , from the aelic , a hill

A odo nn side stretch , and , the face , literally the forehead. It is

E odon also written , and used in topography to signify the brow of

The s of . a hill. face the hill ide

L ac/i indor b fr om G k , the aelic Loch , a la e, cognate with the

oans D ai r b/t G M eo nb/z Latin L , and the minnow, aelic , little or

B s fish s k . small, a small riti h found in fre h water la es Lochs are

ock - na usually designated after the fish found in them , as L

nea s a inn k ac/t - no - nz nr ao n g , the la e of eels ; L , the loch of the

u m fish L achin dorb of . l p . is the loch the minnow

Tober l na on k of S C of g , the west ban the pey Opposite the hurch

G Tobo r or Cromdale , from the aelic , a well spring of fresh water, k L no on e of C . and g , the olumban mon s

8 E L GI N S H I R E 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF .

D or Da as is that which has determined the name allas llas , it was formerly called .

A nl t nk or n —T g . his word is common throughout the country

—A nl t ver n A nl t nk or n G A ll t under various forms , g , from the aelic , T T Gor a n or Gar n n or bill . a burn , and the eutonic , a mountai his

' n To r n T ar n S suffix is found in recent writi gs as , Icelandic y , wedish

T a r n has k j , which come to signify a mountain la e .

L oa n L on of . We is from the Gaelic , a marsh find the root this

eno of S word in the word L , a river iberia, signifying the sluggish

or Th E n . marshy river. e glish word La w n is also derived from it

L anna/t means abounding in marshes .

Tar ak os tl e n was once a stro g fortalice , and forms the chief

Tor a . G antiquity of the parish It is derived from the aelic , L tin

Tn r r is G Tk nr nz G k P r os i , erman , and ree y g , , a mound , a con cal

- S os t el a s t el l a ni . hill , and Anglo axon C , Latin C , a fortified place There is another such place on the estate of Balm adu t hy in the k Blac Isle .

r —The R eidk e R k in in ve . G first part comes from the aelic , a hill side s tretch or a mountain flat or a moory level piece of land

R ea R e R e The among hills , and found as , , and y . latter part is

I n bk i r n from , which is the original form of the word still retai ed in

S I n ver a da t ed Ireland , but in cotland the form has been p , where

v n bk the letter has eclipsed the combinatio , and signifies a river

or n of t w o s a mouth the co fluence streams . It is seldom u ed as

L ochinvar t w o suffix . and this word are the only examples which

The Bk i r or Ver is n occurred to the writer. evide tly cognate with

r e k P k er i n Th F er G e . e the Latin , and ree hillside stretch or moun tain flat at the confluence .

ar r ies —The ai r e i n C word C , a deep round hollow, very common

n mou tainous districts . It is also applied to a ravine or a deep DALLAS . 8 5

ai r e G k . C gulch is also the aelic for the household utensil ettle ,

w as as and it is from this that it applied in topography, just the

of n w as k G k K r a t er . crater a volca o ta en from the ree , a cup

s ni of P robably the plural form here ig fies a number hollows .

Tann ar k G Tam or k , from the aelic , a hill round noll , and the

W ai r a A K er a G or a Coi r ee li k . aelic C , Irish , elsh C , and rmoric , oats

The cereal has been cultivated in this country from very early

a nd on of t of ages, account the fact that , with the excep ion barley, it is the grain that requires the shortest summer and least suns hin e

n n n to bri g it to maturity , along with a other equally importa t fact, n c amely, that it feeds upon coarse de ayed vegetable matter, which

s for account its being the first crop grown in reclaimed land , being

s t o s thu adapted soil and climate, are the rea ons for its early cultivation .

B ll oak r o an —The e gg . transformation through which many place

n s s names have go e in the Anglici ing proces , is very evident in this

The old of w as Bo il - a - ar e o n word . form the word gg , from the

G Ba il e Cr o on of aelic , a residence , and gg , the diminutive form k— k C . raig, a roc the residence at the little roc

A nl i nn is k —S o as 1 8 0 m t . recent the year 6 the for of this word

A nl t o nisk The f w as . o n y former would mean the burn the I sh ,

G A nl t I n is W Yn s A E nes from the aelic , a burn , and , elsh y , rmoric ,

I ns nl o n m l ow and Latin , an isla d , which is applied to a hol or flat m I n is eadow along a river , and is found in the various forms of ,

he n I n is k I na/t . T , and latter form is preferable , bei g the oldest

Yn isk a n d . G the most probable , the latter part, is from the aelic

i n T h n G tk a s . as t o , the fir his tree given names ma y places in the n of S n orth and west cotland , showi g that in former times it was v ery abundant .

S cat t oekl e s G S ot o n or S at o i m y , from the aelic g g g, a small far , 8 6 E L GI N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF S .

ni k M E n sh also by extension , sig fying a small floc , and the iddle gli

L a w G L ok B y , a meado , with which is cognate the erman , elgian

L ao W The , as found in aterloo . small meadow farm .

E l —The E ndo n or din vo i . A odnn n word , more commonly ,

literally a forehead , but topographically used to signify a hill brow, is very common throughout the country in the forms E di n and Th E den . e , and generally applied as a prefix latter part is from

B i of B o il e Th a l e k . e , the genitive form which is , a residence

bk is v initial combination usually eclipsed by , hence the form

— s n Vail the hou e o the brow of the hill .

A r daek A r d , from the Gaelic , a height , used sometimes as a

as n noun , and as in this case an adjective , and cog ate with the

A r dnns The n of Latin . latter part is a common co traction the

ek odk Th A . e word , a field field on the height, and so is Ardoch in

P erthshire .

t —I n i n A norgo e. comparatively recent times mark ets were held

The almost every parish . Gaelic word for an assembly of this sort

A enoek A eno r t S was in Ireland, in cotland . It is locally supposed

A eno r t this is the meaning of this word , but as the word has long k ff ago been obsolete , I am disposed to thin the word has a di erent

of d G f meaning on account the wor ate a fixed, and that it is derived

A no r iod/t T G . s from the aelic , a toll hus the word would ignify

the toll gate .

Gao t er o z G r o z r ock fou nd o r r z g, from the aelic C g, a , frequently as C g — o r r o z k k . or C g, and usually applied to a large roc the roc ofthe goats

Tor r w k in nie G Tar r W Tw r , from the aelic , elsh , a round , well

Co i l /me i s defined hill . , the arbutus or strawberry tree , more

k n as i nn Cn i nn neen W i n . frequently found a , , Q , and It is

generally supposed that this tree is not indigenous to this country, k but was in troduced from the Continent by the mon s . DALLAS . 8 7

es s G A ek odk Th A nek n . e old w as , from the aelic , a field form

’ A ek oo k - on - os on n or nk E a s e , the field the margi ba of the river.

as n a n d s or is always used a substa tive , primarily signified a ca cade

a n d n N F os s ha s waterfall , is cog ate with the orse , but by extension become to signify a stream .

S neeatk of for a m eas u r n is a corruption an old term used e of la d .

S aenak on e Of e , an extent of land as much as pair ox n or one plough could cultivate . — H a t t on . T H u a n d here are several attons thro ghout the country ,

E n w or d as H eit on H eo t an I n in gland the is found or . the P ictis h

C l 970 A tk o n an d 1 200 w as A t an The hronic e of it is , in it y . i a i s a a S ir a t e I t nitial subject to aspiration , which ccounts for the p

n . The is n A t t en A it en a n d A l t on bei g prefixed word fou d also as , , ,

G A i t io nn or . from the aelic , the gorse juniper

l os k den —A n is C . or s deep tre ch , a furrow , ditch , or fosse u ually

n l o is The D en f i s desig ated by the word C . word a fixed only a reduplication or a tautology .

Wk i t er os k es —T s t . hi word had at n o a remote period been

ri of A d n imported into the pa sh from the county ber ee , from the

M E n s R ns ek e D R ns ek n R ns eznn s iddle gli h , utch , and Lati , rushe

- of the field the white rushes .

R o — n on Th . N o . e R eidk e y g p first part is from , a hillside stretch

n o A k or n u k w is the ge itive form f . mouth , bea , s o t is no n in

G a Ga b Gab n elic by the words or , both forms bei g frequently

T n Ga b found in place names . here is a disti ction , however, made ,

s n an d Gab k or literally ig ifying a mouth a bea snout , the latter

n u s n k or aint ed . bei g the form ed here , and meani g the pea ed p hill

Col ebn r —Th all z n . e G prefix here is the Old aelic word C , ha el , c n w Cor l ns W Call G og ate ith the Latin y , elsh , modern aelic

Ca ll t u i nn—t he z ha el burn . 8 8 E L G I N S H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF .

k k Cr o z r o G r a i r oc R nod . g y , from the aelic C g, a , and , red , and

R n ber T n c ognate with the Latin . his termination is exte sively f used in the formation o S cotch local names . It has an equivalent i n D ea r s n The E r ndd the word g , al o Sig ifying red . nglish word y is

R nodk from the root .

Ta —I n i n pp several parts of the country, particularly the north a n d T n s east , the word app is frequently met with in local ame , as

’ - - k n k Ta o N i n s . in p oth , Aberdeen , signifying a round ma s or oc

Ta r N s To G Z a . From the or e pp , erman pf , Icelandic pp , a tuft

S oldow - S S ea /k k n of s o , from the Anglo axon , a i d willow named

S el a S S o l D from growing near water . Icelandic j , wedish g , anish

o il o il eo W H el G k E l iek e E e e G S or S ek . l/ , and aelic , elsh g ree

m of S ol S al S ol Found when a prefix in the various for s , , , and

l T f D ow D o b/z k The k o he is G . S . a fix from the aelic , blac blac willow hill .

Wo n ie G Wa n n - S Wa n or g , from the erman g, A glo axon g, a field

of strip land . Found in several places throughout the country as

Wo n e k on n S W . g . In the cotch doric it is g

S k a de of n - S S k o w S is a corruption the A glo axon , candinavian

S k e or S k a r S sk k n A S . g, a wood grove ; Icelandic g , an rit lso

s S eo o S k ide S eide a nd S k id found in the form of g , , , .

Tambr ok e G Tam Or k The , from the aelic , a conical hill noll .

G B r ea c k or - latter part is from the aelic , spec led parti coloured , and is generally applied to hillsides or upland districts which often

k or i n present a spec led spotted appearance . It is also found the v s of B r ock B r i t B r i at B r ea t ariou forms , , , and , which in reality is a d ff i erent word having the same signification .

R imiek ie G R eid/re or n , from the aelic , a hillside stretch mountai

G M o z k eoek M a i tk eoek or moorland , and the aelic g , Irish , a hare , place abounding in hares. 8 DALLAS . 9

n ni r —The Bad t o Of Badno z . prefix is common all the branches

lm The n dw el . the Celtic languages, and signifies a g root is fou d

’ A ba id n S k A boa E A bode G . in the ans rit , nglish , aelic , a dwelli g

h r N .M ar M oer S l ll n i r T e latter pa t is from the orse or , cotch , a

or piece of waste land heath .

n eiek - A i nk n i n neoe/t is of G B ni n e . the adjectival form the aelic

A nzk n i n n A rnnis n n word , cognate with , a river, literally Sig ify i g

i n n a bounding rivers , but is freque tly applied to marshy or moist

The B n inneoek has n and places . word a similar significatio , is

B ai nne of t from the root , a small quantity water . A sof , marshy

place .

—The f K kl e ell os . o e K first part this word is from the Norse , a

Ga Cool or as gorge or defile , and is cognate with the elic , found in s o el . E as K el l a n d K le ome places C In the nglish it is found y .

The a A s E a s The subst ntive is found in , a stream . gorge or defile of the river. ' — — B a dy nz zeko el Bo d is another form of Bad see Badno nzn ir

The old of Th form the word w as Badnzoy seol . e change took pla ce a 1 The f bout the year 690. su fix would therefore seem to be

M a b as M a a n d derived from g , a plain , more frequently found y , the

G I as ol The aelic , low or a hollow. residence of the low plain .

B a nds is B a The i t another form of d. introduction of the vowel in to the word is attributable to the Scotch language being d s of i tinguished by its lengthened sounding the vowels , as the

n word is not fou d so spelled outside the area of the S cotch .

M a i ns —The M a e n or word , a place district, is common to all

n I n W M oenar C . the bra ches of the eltic languages elsh it is ,

M o ns io F M a is on Latin , and rench .

B r aek i n t or e —The B r ae d i s n word , a ba ger, in exte sive use in

The n m local names throughout all S cotland . A glicised for is 0 TH E O F E L G I N S H I R E 9 PLACE NAMES .

B r ock s . It is perhap more Often found as a termin al than other

. B r acock of Tar e wise signifies the haunt the badgers . , the

’ Tor r W Tw r — latter part , is from , elsh , a hill the badgers hill . — B adno l nck . For a B odna rnni r p the first p rt of this word see .

P k is G P l oe n of d luc from the aelic , a rou d mass or a flat piece lan ,

n of n The and exte sively applied to the topography the cou try .

n dwelli g on the flat piece of land . — Bod- no - a lk er e e B od S k N S t S . e . as above tal er is from the ors

S t a ck r G S t no ic k i n , aelic , a projecting roc or point , and found the

k n k The k or . forms of S tac a d Stoc . dwelling at the roc point

B a bn ie —The B a G i s g . word g , though a pure aelic word , now an

k n E i t s t ac owledged nglish word as well , having found way into tha

Th B n ie i s s . e language at an early date , and signifies oft adjective

G B n id/t e Bodi ns from the aelic , yellow, cognate with the Latin ,

i E B o a Th . B . e ba French , nglish y yellow g or marsh — Cold/t oma M E K o ld A - S n Ceol d c iddle nglish , nglo axo , Icelandi

ldr el idns h - T n K a G T e . , Latin , cold . cold dwelling place his ame

i n is applied to houses in a windy situation , as well as to those

is moist, wet places . It also applied to places having a northern exposure .

S l o ck encl —The G S l oc/zd first part of this word is from the aelic ,

r The A s l a ck S l ack o . S a pit , den, hollow nglici ed forms are and , where the combination ck is harden ed into k and the termin al d

d - The en or . dropped . of the hollow den end

— For s e e l a ck as h Old l e . T e S l ock nzo is y the first part S above .

l o The i s form of the word was S ck nzo is el . Gaelic for beautiful

VI n The l J o is ea l . , and applied to local names freque tly beautifu hollow .

- — B r o nc k il l The first part is a foreign word pure and simple ;

S n B r on o from the ca dinavian g , a well , literally a mineral well , and

2 T H E O F E L G I N S H I R E 9 PLACE NAMES .

n particular spots easily disti guished , and probably this place was s o Th . e of called from this custom ford the hidden treasure .

’ T — - - o o ndo o r t The ol d of Tt k o n t S o i r t . g . form this word was g g h T e Tt k of Teock or . first part g is the dative , a house dwelling

S o o r t k n S a cer dos an d g , a priest, is ta e directly from the Latin , is q uite common in the topography of the country i n the form of

T n s t in aggart, where the i itial is eclipsed by , and the word under

’

The n . review by d. priest s dwelli g

F ebbe G F eitk gg , from the aelic , a ditch , literally a miry place , — Bea . d g , small the small ditch or small marsh

k ie - The old of Ceo nno ck ie Conoc . form this word was , from the

G Cea nn or n or of n n aelic , a head poi t the end a ythi g , and is

n K in or K en A ek odk or — frequently fou d as , and , a field plain the

n e d or head of the plain .

k t ebr oe —The of S o . first part this word is a corruption of the

G S ceoc/t S k a B r a e aelic (pronounced ) , the hawthorn , and , a hill — declivity the hawthorn brae . V III .

BRAIN IE .

H I S Paris h extends four miles along the southern shore of

M f r h o . a s the oray Firth , and inwards about two miles It

an area of 6949 acres ; population about 4000 ; an d val u a

on L £1 3 00. as s ie t he tion It is bounded the east by the river , on

of u of S nie on south by the site the once beautif l Loch py , the west

n d on B D ff a . S ni e by u us , the north by the firth efore Loch py was

of t he drained , the parish consisted a peninsula formed by it ,

L assi e M w a s , and the oray firth , stretching east and west , and

in n dar The of Kinnedar k nown as K e . two parishes and Ogston

n 1 67 5 as were co joined about the year , indicated by the date on

ol d T the spire . here are some most interesting caves on the coast , which in former days were the receptacles of many a hogshead of

H in F of olland g and rench wine, and the scene many a conflict

E The f n between smugglers and the xcise . site o the a cient strong

' Ki a d n The f castle of nned r a joi s the churchyard . patron saint o

ra in e k s w as S t . Ge r d the pari h the venerable , who too up his abode i n n 1 0 s a atural cave feet quare , and adorned with a beautiful

G T i n k n othic window and door. his cave was the roc now adjace t

n s of k it e to the railway statio , but in the cour e wor ing the quarries

s o n k was destroyed . A pring f medici al water issued from the roc

’ t he above saint s hermitage . E 9 4 T H E PLACE NAMES O F E L G I N S H I R .

o n ie is n D r i a pure native word , which , notwithsta ding the

of N on frequent incursions orsemen, has retained its hold the place

D r o z k n from the first . Its ancient form was g , which is clearly

G D r o z k eo n k n from the aelic g , the thorn , not the usual blac thor ,

u t hi o ha i r am noidos or s eabu ck n s s o b the pp p thor , which thrive

n n n n well o the seashore , and of which little or o e is to be fou d in

The i s t n t he pari s h now . word found throughou the cou try as

D r oen D r een D r a i n D r n ia D r nack i s n , , , y , y , with which cog ate the

D oor n - S Tb r n W D r a enen D ar n D . G erman , utch , Anglo axon y , elsh

eld — T s n j o nets/i . his word has not the signification u ually give to

’ — The of i t that of being J anet s field . Old form the word was

M E Tk ein - Tk en n e t sfiel d S a . Tha , from the iddle nglish , Anglo axon g

’ The s Tbe n or . Icelandic g , a thane , literally a warrior thane field or portion of land .

s —T n N ew l a nd . his name applies to land recently brought u der

n F M E n N ew e n - N ew . S i e cultivatio rom the iddle glish , A glo axon ,

N r D n N W N ew dd an d G N nodk Icelandic y , a ish y , elsh y , aelic ,

es as k va Th G k N S N o . e ree , ans rit , new word is found frequently a s a qualifyin g word to the names of towns as well as to reclaimed

in N F land, as ewburgh in ife , a town of considerable antiquity, owing its origin to the Abbey of Lindores in its immediate

‘ neighbourhood . It was erected into a burgh of barony by

. 1 266 ovu s Alexander III in , and in the charter it was called N

” b . urgus , j uxta monasterium de Lindores

H a ml et s M E H oani D H ei nz is from the iddle nglish , utch ,

H ei nzer E k anze S k a nze H Icelandic , a village ; nglish , cotch . amlet

i Fr esian H o nz d rectly formed from the , with the diminutive L et

ffi or w - a xed , signifying a little village a d elling place .

P a ddock/t ill —T is n ot old his an word . It was first used by

E n of n - S n P o r r ock e velyn , and is a corruptio the A glo axo or

6 E L I N H 9 THE PLACE NAMES OF G S I R E .

of of R sion the family for hundreds years . obert Gordon of

G or don st ou n of n , who received the title baro et , was the first in S 1 625 cotland to get the honour in the year , when this new order w a s created or instituted by J ames the S ixth of S cotlan d and First of E ngland as one of the sources from which he expected to obtain

n mo ey. ' — S z l ver k ill There is an old legend about this word wherever it occurs to the effect that in any time of danger from invasion or attack the people were in the habit of hiding their treasures in particular places which might be easily distinguished afterwards , m M particularly hills and strea s . any such places are found in the

k n n c- n - r a G as o o o i i d or . country, and own in aelic C g , silver hill

S w eetk ill ack n S n itk ill ock , a ciently , which is evidently a corrup

or ol d of S an tk k ill ock D Z n id tion rather an form , from the utch ,

ndr nn n r We i n S S . Icelandic ; also , the south find the word

- S nd r e or n Z n der s eo . yj , the southern isla ds ; y , the south sea — Ogs t on The name of the place where the mensal church under

old C of Kinn edar T the hurch was placed . his is not a patronymic word, as might at first sight be supposed . It comes from the

T n H one or H aa or euto ic g, a little elevation corner, allied to the

H en k n H n The on S cottish g and the S candi avian o gr . dwelling k the elevation or in the corner or neu .

ens —M of k G G r e . any the names of places are ta en from the aelic

C r io n G word , the sun, which in aelic is a feminine noun, as E opposed to the nglish masculine , and is usually applied to places

D s u n or t o where the ancient ruids worshipped the , more recently

n S m sun y spots , which latter are found in Latin writings as olariu

r i or Terra S ol a u s .

’ t — The of s A i r a A r divo . first part thi word is , a point , in contra

Th n A r d . e distinction to , a height second part is commo ly

8 E L N 9 THE PLACE NAMES OF GI S H I R E .

S n 1 400 S i ne was py y , about it was p , shortly thereafter the present

We ea n . S form was adopted find the same root in p , a river in

v - 1 1 o n 1 2 Th 5 6 S 5 5 S on e. e In erness shire ; in p y g , p first syllable

S i S e or S a P n p , or p , p is a ictish word signifyi g water, but by

n n exte sio has become to be understood as a running stream , and

The a t . S hen rapidity same root is also found in the word p , a

- The watering place . name was given from the loch to the east ,

S ni e S ni e i s which should be called Loch py , not the Loch of py , as generally the case .

L ack s ide is now an inland farm , but when the valley to the north of of T s it was full water the name was very applicable . hi is what

on sa i those who live the farm y is the sign fication , but the more

one is D L oa G o a probably correct from utch f , erman L f , a stream

The . or current . farm beside the current — S nn ba nk This is a recent name given to a farm not s o long

and so fin e ago reclaimed , is called because it has a southern exposure .

Ook enk eod —The old of Oick enk eod form this word was , which is

ol d Oick en or Oick el derived from the Gaelic word , water , and it is

of Ok el O k ell found throughout the country in the various forms , y ,

Oek el n and , when strictly applied to water, but whe applied to

Oco l A r dna mu r chan places near water as , a large cavern in ,

Oc/z ils P n O l e S . Argyllshire , in erth and tirli g ; g , in Forfar

’ K o s br z s K o M E y gg , from y , a man s name, and the iddle nglish

B r i e - S B r e B r a S B a gg , Anglo axon y g , Icelandic yggj , wedish rygg , d literally a pier, then a pavement and a bri ge .

’ as s ie —I n P G ax a L tolemy s eography it is given as L , and

t L ox io N s axa af erwards it is found as , from the or e L , a salmon.

The t i s L ox a s a roo , and the final , and in some ca es , a river, with

of of m a t a prefix expressive the character the stream , is the s D R A I N I E . 99

n of i n S freque t form the word Iceland , candinavia, and in the parts T Of Britain colonised by the N orsemen . here is a place in a

of R s L eo rnl aac n turbulent stream in the west o s called , signifyi g

r ol t ns ol rnan is the salmon leap o S S . It is very common in the

n as L a xa L a xdal e local ames y , the salmon stream in Lewis ; , the

of L L a xfirt h valley the salmon stream , also in ewis ; , the salmon

L a xfor d a m S S . firth, in hetland ; and , the s lmon strea , in utherland H I S Parish extends along the shore of the M oray Firt h west

an of Drainis . It is about six miles in length d three in

of 947 5 of breadth, with an area acres , and valuation about

The P 6000. £1 400. of opulation , surface , with the exception

The ol . d of S nie two small eminences , is level Loch py when full

for The old extended about a mile into this parish . Castle of

f on - a f k T Du fus stood the north west sh re o the la e . his castle was

u s rrounded by a deep moat , a parapet wall, with a drawbridge . The rude work manship of the walls would indicate that the strong

on e hold must be a very ancient , and is supposed to have formed a place of protection for the P alace of Spyni e opposite it on the

- of k One of s a nd south east side the then la e . its earliest posses ors ,

Fr esk in u s M possibly its founder, was de oravia, whose family

M of t he became conspicuous in oray in the reign David I . Near K k place called aim stood an obelis , conjectured to have been that erected near the village of Camus in commemoration of the victory obtained by Malcolm in M oray over the Danes under the great

l of f a leader Camus . At the picturesque vil age Du fus there is k square surrounded by four regularly paved streets , the wor manship ,

’ of O C on it is said , liver romwell s soldiers , who marched hither account of the loyalty and devotion of the inhabitants to the S tuart

a dyn sty.

1 2 TH E F E I N H I R E 0 PLACE NAMES O L G S .

as P o nd t k en T a or . base the Dutch , a pledge , a , coin hen we have

’ F e r l z k —a n a g in S ye farthi g s worth .

il o —The of G P k ox d l e. first part this word comes from the aelic

P ill or , a small river inlet, and is the oblique genitive form of the

G P ol l or The L ox aelic word , a pool hole . second part , , is the

N P hil axdal e f orse word for salmon . is the dale o the salmon stream .

Be r ow —The S Bee or B ack g . prefix here is from the candinavian ,

k t r o tk B G S or . ee a broo , and the aelic , a valley dale is also found k as B ack Ba ck P a ck Voc . and , and by mutation it is met with as and

in noar —The old f S ons ol rnaor S dl ei . o p form this word was p ,

of E n l S a ncel which is evidently a corruption the g ish p , German

S onnen of n p , to tie , to fetter, from the custom fettering or tetheri g

or or The . cows horses in a pasture moorland . tethering ground

ill s t on —The of n G . first part this word is from the Scandi avian ll B Gi or C o H Goe Gae. f , ebrew , a ravine , and also found as y

n extension it is applied to a small bay and to land depressio s .

The - S Ton S Ta n latter part is the Anglo axon , candinavian , an

r - enclosure o d w elling place . Single enclosures became in Celtic times a village , and the village a town , which particularly arose

D a ns R o tk s is es around the , , and L .

tk ill s —The R a tk P R a . word was in ictish times applied to a circular mound or entrenchment of earth thrown up for shelter and

A t r i nnz protection , and translated by Latin writers as , and met

t R ot/t R a tk R a il /t Th R a . e . with as , , , and hill entrenchment

Wa t er t on —T . his word is not at all what it would at first sight

The old Wo t ns ter appear to be . form was , which got corrupted

S n down to its present disguised form . It is from the candinavia

k The Vo t n S t ar or . , a la e , and , a place dwelling same word is k found almost identically with this in Wat er nish in S ye . D UFFUS . 1 0 3

n n nn in s t on 1 696 Ca nz i nes t an E C g , in , both in lgin and Aberdeen ,

ho f t Cznn nzene w o S . C from , the abbot wrote the life olumba, and

' n The n G who died i 669. word is fou d in the aelic for Fort

A u —K il - o - k ni nzen gustus c .

Cl o s k o n k —Th l os k . e G C g first part of this word is from the aelic ,

n n or a tre ch or fosse , but freque tly applied to a narrow dale hollow

n T . he H a n k k grou d word g being superimposed ma es it a tautology. — R os eis l e The G R os . . first part is from the aelic , a promontory

s s f It al o ignifies a wood , and it is often very di ficult to determine

of n n W which the two mea i gs should be applied . hen such is the cas e the n ature and co nfiguration of the place ought to be carefully

n k s n n co sidered . In this case the more li ely ig ificatio would be the

n or fr om island , headla d , promontory , the fact that both the

s of D ff a n d B n pari hes u us rainie , formi g one peninsula, were once nearly surrounded by water.

k z —Th n S en s t an . e S n H ei nz p prefix here is from the candi avia ,

of n - S H o mo a nd literally a place shelter, A glo axon , cognate with

G k H ei nz o n n n s the ree . O the Conti ent and i everal places in

E n k E i ni E nz S k ei nz S k ene gland this word ta es the form of , , , , and

S k ern a n d ffi S n Ta n p , the su x is from the candi avian , an enclosure , s o that in this as in several other cases the combin ation forms a tautology.

— S t er S to r r nz as s The i s s S n n . . prefix here al o a candi avia word ,

S t odr or n a contracted from , a place station , and by exte sion

. Th s dwelling e dwelling be ide the moss .

B a k i —T T n —B a t t el e an d t l . his is purely a euto ic word , a dw lling ,

B old B o t t l e Bat tl e S Bol B o a n d is found as , , , candinavian and , a very common word wherever the N orsemen set foot in the country .

B a i t t l e i n K k B i s ir cudbright . y extension the word now applied t o a farm . 1 0 TH E O F E L I N H I R E 4 PLACE NAMES G S .

k o r l es t an —The of - C . origin this word is from the Anglo Saxon

Ck o r l ock of d K edl ack T e , a species wild mustar ; also found as . her is a local tradition that the name w as given from the familiar name

’ C - W of U harles s ain , the cluster seven stars in the constellation rsa

M a or or G B j the reat ear. — S t a nding S tones The latter part is from the An glo - Saxon

S t a n . , a stone In several places throughout the country an

of n T u assemblage upright stones is fou d . hese were us ually put p

for s in circles , and were used by the early inhabitants special purpose

I n ckk eil G I nn is k W Yn s s an d , from the aelic , elsh y , an i land ,

l or The now frequent y applied to land near water a plain . latter

G K ok l - S Col o part is from the erman , Anglo axon , bald, bare ,

The of a Ca l va s . devoid vegetation, and cognate with the L tin bare field .

B r a nt/a nd B r a nd , from the German , a place cleared by burning,

i B r enna D B r a ende S w and cognate with the Iceland c , anish , edish C d B r o nna F er ner e t o . , and perhaps allied to the Latin , glow leare land .

a nd as s —Th ld of S k o ndmas s is S nz . e o y name this was , which

evrden t l G S ck w o nd . y from the erman , a wood clearing

k o n k M a on The M o is on . g , from the French g , a house dwelling in the haugh .

n ver u ie —The I e nbk z r I . G n v r or I g prefix here is from the aelic ,

or k s a confluence cree , and is an element in numerous name

The throu ghout Scotland . suffix (1 n is also common throughout

n S Vi the orth and west , and is from the candinavian g , Icelandic

i T k or Th W V Wi ck Wic W k . e g, y g , eutonic , , y , a cree bay primary meaning seems t o have been a station for ships or a

T is P t harbour. his an imported word from e erhead , anciently

I n ver a ie- P et r i or P et r i P r anzon t ar i nm g .

1 0 6 E L I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF G S .

1 1 t h of M a 1 8 0 M r A n 9 . C e discovered , and on the y , , thony arlisl exhibited to the S ociety of Antiquaries in London a drawi ng of a

k of R bull ta en from a stone found here , obviously oman sculpture .

“ ” n of 1 6 of A r chaeol o i a An engravi g it is given in the th volume g , G R page 3 65 . eneral oy has preserved a plan and sections of this

. n n s M r R i . h nd station Agai st this Opinio it is ob erved by , in his “ Sk P s P s n S of M etches of the a t and re e t tate oray, published in

1 8 3 9 R n , that it does not appear at all probable that the oma s ever

n M had any permanent footi g in oray . Agricola sailed round the

n f isla d on a voyage o discovery. It was from this voyage that

P d hi The tolemy rew his materials for s rude map of the country.

P t or ot on P B t of tolemy appears to correspond with urghead , at tha

Th V i s time nothing more than a headland . e arar the river

N at Varr i F T u sis S . B . s e eauly may have been orres , and the pey only from these circumstances, but also from the simple and rude

of P s construction the well itself, the probability is that the ict

N or were the founders of the fort and the a rt ificer s of the well .

n n o this account is it the less interesti g as a relic of ancient art .

We of R have abundant examples the oman art in other situations, and but few specimens indeed of the ingenuity of the Scandinavians . That the Picts held this stronghold of Burghead there can be n o

The of t he h doubt . very name and the traditions battles whic they fought in the vicinity indicate this . H I S P H n n arish is purely ighla d , and exceedingly interesti g

and m . ro antic It is sixteen miles long by thirteen broad ,

n k R The a n d is situated o the ban s of the iver Spey .

1 00 V T s population i s about 6 . aluation about hree mile to the east of Duthil Man s e stands the pictures que ruin of the ol d

of M u ck er at h of G R tower , a seat the rants of othiemurchus , which

as 1 5 98 P k G son J w erected in by atric rant, a of ohn , surnamed the

” The C of D i s on e R S imple . hurch uthil of the few oman Catholic edifices which escaped the relentless destructive energies R of the eformers .

D n tk il —V On e arious derivations have been given of this word . is Toabk - tk oll s n T , ignifyi g the other side . his is supposed to have

n n D as k o r bee give in contradiction to , where the old church

T n ot formerly stood , and supposed to signify the south side . his is s o Th D sk o r . e e D eser t n nz word is from the Latin , and used in an

s s ecclesiastical sen e to denote churches built in secluded spot , such as the early saints loved to select, and found variously throughout

Des er t Dis er t D s o r t D s er t D is k o r cl Das k o r the country as , , y , y , , , and in Cl a ck on d s er t n ol d n G y in Io a, and in the ame for lenorchy . A n Ta a tk ol n n . nother derivatio given is , having a orther exposure

T s n or he e derivations , however plausible , poi t to only a part

of ou r e division the parish , while forefathers gave comprehensiv

1 07 1 0 8 E L I N H R E THE PLACE NAMES OF G S I .

“ n n n ames that conveyed a ge eral idea of the place to be amed .

V s D n bk ery frequently whole districts were de ignated by the word ,

k H l f n . s o s o blac il s, islands , and large area la d were designated .

The D a kk n D n tk D i tk D i a n d D oe D ow word is softened i to , , , ; also . a nd D o The . of A l n e or latter part the word is , more frequently

A il k ff or D k , a roc , cli , hilly land . uthil is therefore the blac hill , f d n rom the ri ge that runs through the parish . A other derivation

” G of H a l e en d of given is the len eroes , from g that the chief these o n on e a on e k occ sion cleft a hill with stro e of his sword, which cleft i s s da B o r - o - l o idk eo rnk to thi y called e n C .

K in v o — T ea n e ck ie. G n his word is pure aelic, from C , a head or

an d Bei tk eock n W Bedw en Bedw p oint , , aboundi g in birch , elsh and , a n d Beo k B ei Ve Veo k Veock Beo tk variously found as g , , y , g , and , .

The b v initial is usually eclipsed by .

K nock r on is k G Cn oc T i g , from the aelic , a hill , and the euton c

G r a n or G r enz e The s , a boundary . old form of thi word was

K nack o Th i n gr ns ie. e latter part of the word is not common this c on C ountry, though found in a few places , but the ontinent it is frequently met with .

Dell vonl t —I n Do il - no - M n il t m . olden times this word was , fro

G Da il D Deel G Tk el D o l the aelic , utch , erman , and Irish , a dell or,

a s or . is sometimes the case , a field district In the latter part, the i n in old M a il t v M n il t is the form is eclipsed by . the plural form of M nl t or M al t The z , a wedder. wedder gra ing place .

L ock l nie L o L n G ock e g , from the Gaelic g , g , erman L , and cognate

L oens G k L okk os or k with the Latin , and ree , a hollow la e , and

L o a k L o z k n n ie h e L or . T e g , plural g (pronou ced ), a calf calves h of ollow the calves .

D r nnz nll ie G D r a i ne , from the aelic , the literal meaning of which i s k a n d a bac , but in its topographical application a hill or ridge , is

I I O TH E O F E L G I N H I R E PLACE NAMES S .

a nd To r r of , literally the lower part the belly, but in topography

or of applied to the base of a hill the lower part a valley.

D o l r ock n ie —The old of D - - . a l r o no ai form this word was , which i s n G D a il an d R a tk evide tly from the aelic , a district or part, , a c ircular mound or entren chmen t thrown up as protection ro u nd a

or n A t r i nnz The level space garde , and is termed in Latin . third

G N a avi k s n Th . e of syllable is clearly from the aelic , a ai t dale

’ n the s aint s e closure .

l ock on S eil eoek S k eo . , from the Gaelic , the willow Literally this

S o il is the adjectival form , the substantive being , cognate with the

S a l ix M n S k ell W H el . S Latin , a x , elsh gy everal places throughout the country get their names from the species of wood naturally T he . growing there . willow field

L etk endz —T fr om P y his word has been imported erthshire , the ol d w a s L etkenend form of which y , which evidently comes from the

o a h G L e n . T e aelic , grassy land with a soft , spongy bottom plural

n dk The L eo no is n as farm is L eo t o i e. form fou d a prefix in many

n places throughout the cou try. B eo no nock is a pure Gaelic word signifying many small peak s or k n t ed . or s errated or pai hills Abounding in pea s points .

Del nok o t n ick G D a il or N o , from the aelic , a plain level district ; , r ’ t he o A i t neo ck . The or genitive f ; and , a stranger st anger s field

The k ha s n plain . aspirate bee prefixed to the last syllable to

no form the genitive case after the proposition .

B ol nocr ive G Ba il e or N o , from the aelic , a town residence ; , the

o Cr oaibk . preposition f and , trees or wood

ia —A n as L ogg name very commo , both as a patronymic and a

n Th w as L a n . e n a d place name , throughout the cou try old form gy

L o a n G L o a n . g , from the aelic g , a hollow It is also found as

o o n L gg . DUTHIL . I I I

B o r a G Be ba or m g y , from the aelic g , a g marsh or quag ire ; and

R nodk n R nber E n R ed R a dd , red , cog ate with the Latin , glish or y ,

R a R oo k R e Th R no R aw . e a n d i s n as . fou d , , f , g , and red bog

S l o ck i n n ick G S l a , from the aelic g , literally the throat , but

n a M nc s a pplied to arrow pass ges ; and , a pig ; al o the heap rais ed

v of s n n o er the mouth a ves el in measuri g , and he ce applied to land

n H rais ed above the surroundi g level . ere probably signifying the

’ pigs passage .

A vi n or n ock G A nzk nin n A bk ni n n or A vni nn g , from the aelic or .

The i nk bk bk in the first form is eclipsed by in the second, and by v in the third , which is how the numerous Avens and Avons t hroughout the country are arrived at from the proper form

A nzk a i nn Gor nock i s N Gar n S cl avonic Gor a . from the orse , , and

is G k Or es n T n . h cog ate with which the ree , a hill or mountai e

n Th A ck . e t ermin ation signifies aboundi g in hill stream .

k —The A a l t Of s A a l t ck eonoc . A l t first part , , this word hould be ,

nonock k The i Ck eo . a nt ed or a hill , and signifies heads or pea s p

peak ed hill or mountain.

E l l a n Ga A ilea n . is from the elic , a green plain

M nll aek o r el —The G M a ll ock first part is the aelic , the top . As a root word this word enters extensively into the formation of place

M a l/o n of I ll a /l o . ck names , a little top, is the diminutive form .

The t A r d i is latter par , , sign fies a height, but in this word it used

The in the adjective form . high summit .

l n o nck B il e or N o B o r o . f , from the Gaelic , a town residence ,

n o The F r ock old the ge itive f . latter part , , is a corruption of the

G F o r r ock or F or r ock . aelic word , a meeting place Locally the

n n n F r o ack or . sig ificatio give to the latter part is , heath heather

L neck n r n G inne W s L l nn k y , from the aelic L , el h y , a pool or la e ,

i n n Dee C and sometimes a waterfall , as the Li n of the and orra I I 2 T H E O F E L G I N S H I R E PLACE NAMES .

k a a on C . r of Cor n a Linn the lyde C is the oblique form , a cairn ,

k C i n m heap of stones , also a roc y mount, as found in the a r gor

mountains .

k —The old of w o Cer no ic . as C r noick i s form this word , which

G Co r n of from the aelic , a cairn or heap stones , but here signify k k in or . g a rough , roc y hilloc y ground

De a br D o a k r m D a il lf , anciently lf , fro the Gaelic , a plain , and

old F oek a i r the Gaelic , shelving land , and is met with only

occasionally throughout the country. It is allied to the other

F a ick e or . word , a field lawn

l —FOr of s L ne n ck r n . L y nf en . the first part thi word see y The

F io ll or F el l or F eld S for latter part is from i , the candinavian

The n . mountain . mountai linn

I nck t arnock G I nn is k W Yn s or E nez , from the aelic , elsh y ,

I nsel I ns nl o G k N es os and German , Latin , ree , an island , in many

- k cases pasture land near water. It ta es the form I nck when

Tant a ek . t he applied in the latter sense , the latter part , is from

k A ck h r Tam . T e o Gaelic , a hill or noll, and , abounding in hilly

- k nolly pasture land .

B nt t o n er nz G B odon a g , from the aelic , a small cluster, a tuft ,

r ave w s Ger m . t n little g , or a round hill ith tree , and , blue It is of e applied to mountains or hills . It was also used t o designate

The n or n the colours of various natural objects . gree hill gree grove .

' — Caz l ner va nl The first part of the w ord is from the Gaelic

oil l e is e K il C , a wood , and r presented by various modern forms , as ,

K l e Cil k n y , and sometimes , but in the latter case care must be ta e

l Th w as oil - o n Ci . e C to distinguish it from , a church old form

r eol The 1 7 64 . A r z eol A ig . present form was adopted about g

1 H E E L I N H I R E 1 4 T PLACE NAMES O F G S .

T n — ar o Cer odk here is another word much resembli g this C or , a

I nchlin of d e . weir across a river. For the latter part the wor see

Ba ll o on G B a il e L o a n g , from the aelic , a residence , and g , a little

o The n h llow. reside ce in the little hollow.

Del bniock G D a il B n idk eo , from the aelic , a field or plain , and g , Th f e o . a yellow flower. field the yellow flowers

D ack l ie —The D eck n yg . first part, , of this word is a contractio of

D o bk ack i n the Gaelic , a farm ; olden times applied strictly to a farm sufficient to pas ture a certain number of cattle . In the

H n The ia ebrides it is three hu dred and fifty . latter part , Lyg , is

G L io o n of io n from the old aelic g , the diminutive L g , a standi g

or of n or bill The s . stone the side a mou tain . hill ide farm

Bo l noconeo k B o il e ai n g , from the Gaelic , a residence , and C

a mk e n The S s o ne . . , a meeti g meeting house uch places were named at cross roads in olden times or where people used to meet to discuss any matter of importance .

—For f e D l D ck o r n . k a the first part o this word s e the word ac ygi e.

The A r n T A r n latter part , , is from the eutonic , a home, Latin

A i r A r es Th A r a e G . e . , French , aelic home farm

K inck n r d ea nn or an d y , from the Gaelic C , a head point of land ,

K i n or K en a r r k D nbk k The found as ; C , a roc , and , blac . head f k or end o the black roc .

I n ver l a idna n G I n ver as I n bk i r , from the aelic , and found and

I nner n or k of The , a river conflue ce a cree at the mouth a river. m G L ia tk a n d t o iddle part is from the aelic , literally grey, applied

of W the silvery colour water. hen prefixed to the letters n or a i t

L a id L ea d or L ed in L i o tk invariably assumes the form or , place of .

The e N on n of A nzk n in n The latt r part , , is a contractio , a river.

or f mouth confluence o the silvery stream . DUTHIL . I I 5

I l v—T as e . his is rather a peculiar word , surrounded it is with

G s an d n n n aelic name , poi ts to a later date tha the ames of the

G E l a a s . E l other places in the p ri h It is from the aelic or f , a

is n ot s of S i s river. It frequent in the place name cotland , but

on C n n s as A l A l b common the o tinent , and is fou d in uch names f , ,

E E l ben L oo enel i n Dol el l be . , g y , the river the hollow ; f , the valley

E l bi n on . river ; and g , a town the river

F ar i en G F otk i r g , from the aelic (pronounced for), land , and Th ’ E i i n E i neock . e g , to Oppress ; g , an oppressor oppressor s land. T hat is to say, land reclaimed by excessive labour, without

n remuneratio therefor .

Go r bka k or —The of i s G . first part this word from the aelic

G o r bk a nd as , rough , is frequently found an attribute to place

The G S a atk o i r . . The names latter part is from the aelic , labour

old m w as Ga r bk - k a atko i r i n s of for , which the initial the proper

o s k r ot is eclip ed by the aspirate , and by extension was dropped

Th u e . altogether . rough labo r

A a ck t er ck e er —The n is p . i itial part of this word from the Gaelic

Ua ckda r as A nek t ar Ock t er W Uckder , and found , , elsh , the upper

or a n w a h d ter . T e part the summit , is sometimes anglicised

s G ea of k or econd part is from the aelic C p, the top a hill or a sta e

k n Ci ns k bloc , and is cognate with the Lati pp , a sharp sta e , and

' n K i i The W C C . with the elsh yfi , and is fou d as p and p last

s er is of Ti r yllable a contraction , land, and the proper form of the

Uo ckdo r - ck eo - t i r word is p , the first two syllables forming a tauto

The of . logy. summit the land

E ss T n is the Gaelic for a waterfall . here are two nomi ative

f s of E ss A ss E ss a E s s orm this word , and ; the genitive is and y , a n d i n thes e forms it enters largely i nto the place names of the

c n ou try . 1 1 6 TH E S E L I N H I R E PLACE NAME OF G S .

R mo o R eidke an d y g g, from the Gaelic , a hillside stretch ,

M o a ck d The old R eidkmo ock g , abounding in fiel s . form was g ,

nifi or f which literally sig es a stretch series o fields .

B o o — l n et t oek For of A . f . this word see the parish bernethy

Toa mt i kl eock Tom or k noll g , from the Gaelic , a round hill , and

Tnl ck r Ta o ick i k a o l . , a h lloc ; also a tautology

1 1 8 E L GI N S H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF . been facilitated and accelerated by the country people pullin g up

of k an d bent from the ground in the parishes Dy e and Auldearn ,

of P n . the practice was , in consequence, prohibited by Act arliame t In the churchyard of Dyk e is an old tombstone belonging to the

r emor sel . On of family, thus y disinherited the upper part the

n V 1 61 3 stone are the i itials and date , after which runs the following legend

VA L TI R Z B . KINNAIRD , ELI A ETH INNES

The bu ilders of t his bed of st ane A re a a nd a of Cow bine L ird L dy , u hilk t u a a nd t e u hane b raithe ane Q h irs , q is g ,

e G od slei t bed vithin . Pl is , vil p his

The of H ar dmoor heath , which adjoins the now sterile district of

Cu lbin a s M w as , is celebrated the place where acbeth met by the Weird Sisters while he journeyed with Banquo from the Western K F Isles to meet ing Duncan at the Castle of orres . — Dy k e This place was s o called fr om the fact that it is the site of k M E Dik an ancient camp , and is ta en from the iddle nglish ,

- S D ie D i k D ik i k Teix es Anglo axon , Dutch j , Icelandic , Gree , and

S k Dek i or k . ans rit , a wall rampart , a trench and emban ment

M e —T y . his word was the ancient name, and is derived from the

G M o k k of on e or . aelic g , a plain level trac country It perhaps is of M n The m G o s . the oldest aelic words , and Latinised g odern

- - G M o ek a i r M o k tk i r k . aelic is , that is g , the level trac of land It

as M o k l l M o M o as M o w . is variously found g , o , , and g ; also

Wk itemi r e old Wk it emer is a recent name , the form being ,

k M E n which evidently signifies the white la e , from the iddle glish

M er e M eer M o r r G M eer W s M ar , Dutch , Icelandic , erman , el h ,

M ni r M a r e The Sk Gaelic , Latin . original sense , according to eat,

” of . is dead, once a pool stagnant water, also the waste ocean K M ov 1 DY E AND . 1 9

Bo nkk eod M E s B onk e or B enek e , from the iddle ngli h , a mound of D Bo nck Bokk i or k earth , utch , Icelandic , the end head of a ban of ear th .

B r odie 1 3 1 1 B r ad n G , in y , which is evide tly from the aelic Th i B r ad ko n . e s , a poi t , a spot , a level piece of land same root

n B adies er d i n B ffs of fou d in r , an hire , which signifies a level piece

rd lan d at the base of the O hill .

B i nenes s G i B ei n a or , from the ael c , a mountain hill , and the

S n N oes n - S N oes N es s E n s candi avian , A glo axon , French , and gli h

s The . N e s . , a promontory high headland

K i n tess o ck —The ol d w as K i n tes k . form of this word , from the

G ea nn n K i n K en i n aelic C , and freque tly found as , , and C , a head

n d Teos n The a s . land , g , boisterou , wi d , storm , or furious waves

r stormy head o cold place .

D a l ve D eel r G D a il o . y , from the aelic , Dutch , a plain district

The of B tk e The a ei . latter part the w rd comes from , the birch

of d plain the birch woo .

L o iebnck n ie — T i s g . his s evidently in a disgui ed form the word

L o iebnck o n G L o L a n g , from the aelic g , g , a hollow, cog ate with the

L o ens k G k L okk as B k of D Latin , a la e , ree . In the oo eer, about

1 295 B n Benw o n 1 601 as Ba n k a n , the word ucha is found as , in g ,

B eck an a n d k a s but an older form still is , ta ing this the most

on e m t he approximately correct , the word would be derived fro

G B ack tk ann s or n aelic , a urge billow, a swelling wave , he ce by

n T A e extended use the undulati g land . his part of berdeenshir

n of l w as t once formed a cou ty itse f, and an earldom which ves ed in

Of 1 The C 3 09 . the chief the ummins , until their forfeiture in

u alternately und lating and hollow land .

B r oodsk o w M E n B r oad D B r eed , from the iddle glish , utch ,

B r eidr S k a w k S k a r Icelandic , broad , and , a thic et , Icelandic g , 2 TH E O F E L G I N S H I R E 1 0 PLACE NAMES .

D k ov S n k S k a The si ni fi S S k a S . ca wedish g , anish , a s rit original g

f or The tion o this root seems to be a covering shelter. broad w ood or k thic et .

D o r na w o —I n 1 45 3 To r new o 1 498 Da r nw o y . it was y , from the old Da i r or D ai r e Gaelic , which are , however, more strictly applied

f r ak Th to clumps o wood o groves than to the o species . e La tin Th D r a s and S ansk rit D r n are cognate with it . e latter part comes

G Bo i k D nine Bo i k ea ck from the aelic g , a noble , hence the phrase g ,

’ h oak a n T e . n noblema . nobleman s wood or forest Adjoini g the ‘ E R modern mansion is the princely hall built by arl andolph ,

of D B H R egent of S cotland during the minority avid ruce . ere 1 5 4 M ary Queen of S cots held the court in 6 . Among the pictures

“ on e of B E of M Da is the onny arl oray, who was murdered at ni

of F 1 5 92 on 7 t h of F bristle , in the county ife , in , the ebruary. The E arl of Moray was cru elly murdered by the E arle of H untly

” ri ll at his house in Du nnib ss e .

H e w as a a a ant br w g ll , A n d he pl a ye d a t t h e gl ov e ; nd t h e onn a of o a A b y E rl M r y . ’ Oh % he w a s th e u een o e Q s l v .

S nobl e — The old of s Ck no i form thi word was p, which is evidently

G Cn o i no from the aelic p, the plural , and C p, the Singular for a hill of The ck s s a round form . aspirates are eclip ed by in the angli

s m k k in G ci ing process, the for er being pronounced hard, li e aelic,

E k n ol or k n o i oc n i n k s . C o C k but soft li e in nglish ip , p , aboundi g

n rou d hills .

’ z l o a i a i k o r o e G Cr or r r . Cr e ock C gfi , from the aelic g C g, a roc g

d k F ield M is the a jective form , and means roc y , and , from the iddle

F ld eld Th k E e . e V . nglish , Dutch , a field roc y field

B a s Ba or n c g , from the Gaelic g , soft marshy, he ce the Gaeli

1 2 2 TH E F E L I N H I R E PLACE NAMES O G S .

Bl a ne G Bl a no n - S Bl a nk t he , erman , A glo axon , white , and found in

of Bl onl a Bl ink Bl a nk The n ot various forms , , and . latter part is t he E n Bonn G Ba n glish adjective y , but is from the aelic , a hill or

n W F a n 5 height, and fou d in ales as , where by mutation the

- - - - s e n a n an d Ta l a n The . become f , as in Cf y f y f . white hill

’ ' a r s z ol o S n M oer or M or S M a i r , from the candi avian , cotch ,

or Th f . e o waste land heath side the muir.

A boot s/ al l S A boa n A bba t is , from the yriac , literally a father, Lati ,

T A of n of E e eutonic , and were introduced i to the languages urop in con n ection with the M onastic system an d are attached to

of n T names places belongi g to church lands . hese words are frequen tly found throughout the country in the various forms of

’ ' ’ A of A bs A b A a a The o zo A Th s . a . e U , , , , Gaelic g is the Iri h form

’ abbot s hill .

' Ba na r a on G Ba na z r oa on or , from the aelic , a sheep fold an

k an d k enclosure where sheep are mil ed , the mil maid is termed

B a na r a olz .

Bor r l o —The G Boa r r a cllz y y . aelic pronunciation of this is

’ G Boa r r a a lz of or k G c from the aelic , the top a hill roc , and the aeli

’ t/z k z a The . L . , grey grey hill or roc

D a r k /a s a —The of B oa r l a s old form this word was g , which

'

G D oa r a zl . Ou r s comes from the aelic g , a red place forefather generally designated places by their most obvious characteristic. E very name denoting the feature that most stron gly attracted

The attention . red land .

’ ’ ’ E ll a na s - S B a l a na D E l a na t , from the Anglo axon , utch y , literally

of a s an island , and is applied to tracts land in the same sense i h I nn s .

B r oom B r ent . , formerly , which is the Dutch for the plant broom

— x E r Wal k man The prefi here is pure nglish , but the latte M Y 1 2 DYKE AND O . 3

' r Un zo s O no or Ow n pa t , , is the much disgui ed word y , and found

' On n Or /n Gw n Uno Un ze in the various forms of y , g , y , , , as here ;

E a n E on of i m . The e , , all which sign fy a soft, arshy place whit mars h .

’ ' Cl oa zomos s M E n s l ot l one S n , from the iddle gli h C , C , candinavia

’ ’ D n K l one K l ot K l oss of l oa G . C , a ish , Icelandic , erman , a ball earth

s The mo s abounding in clods .

F l océl o s M E Fl olz F l ol ’ o D y , from the iddle nglish , Icelandic , anish

F l oé S F l ock or M , wedish , a herd of sheep cattle , and the iddle

E L ea L a L k - o The . nglish , y , y , untilled land . floc pasture land

G r a n o r oon Gr a n e or g g , from the French g , a farm storehouse for

' Th a z /z . e G G r n ns oao grain aelic is , and cognate with both the

' n Gr a na r za Gr a n u m M E G r een Lati and and the iddle nglish ,

G r oen n G r a onn of an d Dutch , Icela dic , the colour growing herbs , might be defined the fertile farm .

B or nor G Bea r na or Boa r n an d y , from the aelic , a gap , usually

or t o r applied to a gap in a hill mountain , but also applied a greate

' ' ’ a n d A z r z a lz depression than the surrounding land , (pronounced or or n y ), hill pasture , a level green amo g hills ; also a summer

The . residence for herdsmen , a shealing. green hollow XII .

E DE N KI LLI E .

H I S P arish is pastural and hilly, but not mountainous, the

i ' k M h ll the K n . highest , noc of oray, being of small elevatio

k of F It lies on the right ban the indhorn, and is watered by t he Divi e F n and other streams tributary to the indhorn . O the bank s of the Findhorn and Divi e are some of the most roman tic r k of can ural scenes which wood , water, roc , and variety ground

The s produce . natural woods are very exten ive , and the ancient

Dar naw a 700 forest of y covers about acres , and farther up the river

o ff S or a k o hi ndorb f D . D b c L c is the wood unda outhwards up the is , i n of of L ochindorb the middle which is an island , with the ruins

s of n k S ir C . a tle , formerly a place great stre gth It was bloc aded by A ndrew M oray the R egent during David Bruce ’s captivity in

E n n an d E . n gla d , dward III in the followi g year honoured it by

The s a s . raising the siege . It was afterward used a S tate prison

Donn e H of B w ill elugas is a conical hill , round a great part of hich

D k n On n ivie . ru s the in a deep , roc y chan el the summit are the

of of remains a strong fortress antiquity, beyond the period of a H Divie C of u thentic history . igher up the stands the astle m Du nphail upon a rock of singular appearance . It for erly

The n R belonged t o the Cu mmings . si gular bridge of annoch here

1 24

2 P E 1 6 THE L A C NAMES or E L G I N S H I R E .

red , reddish , and is equivalent to and cognate with the Latin

oer is k R a . . The It extensively used as a qualifying word red roc .

' D nn /za z l G D a n of p , from the aelic , the primary signification which is stron g or firm . In Latin writings it is often found as the

’ ' e n of F z r nz ns an d F or t zs G quivale t , and in aelic it is used as the

' A rx L z s . s s Ca s t r zn n equivalent of , a stronghold It al o glo ses and , and A dam na n writes it as It i s found in other lan guages

W Di n G Z nn C . . a s well as the eltic elsh , erman In recent

D a n D eon D Th s on . e n ames it a sumes the forms of , , and latter

' ' ’ P lza z l S F z a ll f ol a part, , is an appendix from the candinavian or f/ ,

The N n or n . n a mountain mou tain range orseme , after la ding

S of upon the cottish coast , would have heard the strength of this

ow n hill fortress, and would have designated the hill by their word ; hen ce the hill fortress .

—For s ee D k M o Ber ry l ey . this word the parish of y e and y .

’ a n —W m R ea s te . here the Norse en had settlements this word

S teen k or n , literally a roc sto e , but in topography sometimes a k k of on e pplied to a roc fortress, often mar s the site the grave of

The k or f i . s o the r heroes red roc or stone fortre s .

r olz l —The D a l l l a s b a . s Da . y first part is from , a plain or di trict

' D eel G T/zez l ri D a l Dutch , erman , I sh , and is also applied to the T river which flows through the district . he secon d part is E a s or

E s s , literally a waterfall , but by extension applied to a rapid

‘ The B r a c/ . n i s G stream or river third part , y , from the aelic

' B r a zo/z or B r a e/z a n d , malt, literally fermented grain , often applied

Bra k to places where illicit stills were erected . c l a Dis tillery gets i t s name from this word .

' v l — The old on - a Con zoa e . form of this word was C g

n n h which lets us at o ce into the sig ification of the word . T e word

l n Cong is an o d Gaelic word for a habitation . It was a commo E DE N K I L L I E 2 . 1 7

nk s of on e Th word with the old mo in the form G g l . e modern

' l an d is n Ca z bea l G Ca . aelic is , fou d in the next part, , a chapel k ’ The church habitation or the mon s habitation .

' r een —The S n M ezkl eg . initial part of this word is from the ca di

' ’ M z okl a an d M oel S M a ckl e 111 zokl e an d navian y , cotch or , signifies

i s n on C n an d great . It freque tly met with the o tinent , particularly

a s . pplied to fortres es, mountains , and marshes

' ’ B e a ll G l R ez a lz or g is from the ae ic , a plain level field , and more

n s commonly employed to signify a mountain flat , and A glici ed

R ea R e an d R a s is G A l l , , y , and the econd part from the aelic , a k or k The . hill roc . smooth hill or roc

B o ne — The of w as B o na e/z g y old form this word g , which comes

or N a /z G Bo s . e from the aelic g , ignifying soft marshy , the latter

d n part, is an a jectival termi ation formed from substantives , and

A n has N e T in the nglicisi g process assumed the new form y . hus ’ M ’ M nl a a is G . nl a a a olz is the aelic substantive sorrow sorrowful ,

a ol a ol /z The G G ae . . , love , , lovely soft place

' zc/z nk or n —Th Ol e/z O g . e first part is from the obsolete Gaelic

' Oz elze as Oich r Oichel word , water, found in the rive , the , and Loch

' 05 k Oek er ok e E ek n / Q . O a Th d Uz o z . e ich It is also found as , , , ,

of G Ga r n n latter part the word is from the aelic , a mou d , and by

t o k - k The extension applied a stac li e hill . genitive form is

' C/z n z r n ; hence the old form of the word would have been Ol en- a

' k n z r n The r C . o k mountain stream the mountain la e , as the case might be .

' ' B a l n a z n a Ba zl e or The , from the G elic , a town residence .

’ s n i s G A z n The eco d part from the aelic word , a stranger. old form

' ' ’ B a z l e- a n - N a z n Th s n was . e strangers re ide ce .

’ ' B el u a s m G R el a lze s L o a zs g , fro the aelic , a mooth hillside , and g , u neven r ou h fu ll f n a nd Th o . e s , g , hi drances obstructions rough hill ide . 1 2 8 THE PLACE NAMES OF E L G I N S H I R E .

P r ess l e G P r eas u or ou t b y , from the aelic , a f rrow ground up y

L e n The . run ing water, and y , a meadow. furrowed meadow land

' e z e i s G L a L n G L nok e n L g derived from the aelic g, g , erman , Lati

k a kk s r k a ons G o o . L , ree L , a hollow la e In topography the word

' s L o z e i s assumes various form , but the form g more common in

an d P Aberdeen erth than in any of the other counties . In Ireland

L a L eg and g are frequently found . In Ayrshire we have it as

Logan , signifying the little hollow.

lzow —The of i s B r a ek en . first part this word from the Anglo

B a k B r B r a eee G r e. a ceen S axon , erman is the plural form , signify

’ B nr k n z S B r a k en D B r e ne ing ferns . Icelandic , wedish , anish g . Sk eat says it was s o called because growin g on rough or brok en

The - S H eak H e/z ground . second part is from the Anglo axon , ,

o H a r D H or The o H o . f Dutch g , Icelandic , anish original sense

is k - k bill or . these words bent , hence rounded , nob li e , as a mound Th k e . H ow e is the E nglish form . fern hilloc

’ l a s s el a Gl a s or G fi , from the Gaelic , grey, blue , green , and

as G s frequently applied an adjective to local names . la gow is said

’ W Gl a s - Coea by a elsh author to be a corruption of , the green

We Gl ass r e en E a wood . have g , near lgin , which is actually

The tautology. green field .

/za el/za ll a a ell a K a ell a a r e C p , from the L tin C p , German p , which

a a a k n e derived from the L tin root C p , a hooded cloa ; he ce a shrin

or of t M The in which was preserved the cape hood S . artin . word

S an d e is common in cotland, indicates where these shrines wer

of K k originally erected . Another form the word is ir hill .

'

K nook z n G noc or k n k . K nock ie is efi , from the aelic C , a hill oc

' The G F z on n the diminutive form . latter part is from the aelic ,

F i n Gw nn P W . s white . It is also frequently found as , elsh y erhap

of s is P o x P k the most extravagant form thi word found in h eni ar ,

1 0 TH E S O F E L I N S H I R E 3 PLACE NAME G .

a Cnoc- na - S l ea /z to t ll trees , and is met with in such words as g ,

' ' D a z l - na - S l a k B - - e r na z e/z na S l ea k . The w s g , and g ord was fir t applied from the fact that in olden times warriors used to cut

e their spears from these woods in a green state, as they were mor k pliable and less liable to be bro en .

R onz a elz G R nnz a e/z or e , from the aelic , a marsh quagmir .

' of R mna ze/z is Another form the word is , and the adjective form

' a a ek a z l m or , arshy boggy.

' To na 7n o —Th l Tom - a - M oz ne m o n . e o d n G c form was , from the aeli

To m . N a o and M aine G for , a hill is the genitive f , is the aelic

The f . peat . hill o the peat moss

' F a lk z r k is an imported word after the place s o called in S tirling

' 1 3 8 2 F a w k z r e e shire . In it was , but the word prior to that dat

' E l a zs bk r ea e 1 000 w as E l es br et/z in was g . About the year it gg ;

“ ' ’ ” ' 1 1 a E es e E a l a zs t he 60 it was La tinised E eel es z a e ggl br e. g is Th G B r ea c k or . e aelic for church , and signifies spec led mottled

S F a w - 1 3 8 2 ed cotch , vari coloured, was about the year substitut

B a k s for r e c ; hence Fal irk signifies the church of the mottled tone .

L na /z one r i nne W nn k y g , f om the Gaelic L , elsh Ly , a pool , a la e,

N a t he and sometimes applied to a depression in the ground . is

'

o The G Goo/za znn . genitive f latter part is from the aelic , a smith

’ The smith s hollow or pool .

' / r ek A z t noelz G A it ionn or . N oe o O , from the aelic , broom gorse z

N a e or A ck The n s is the adjectival te rmination k . word sig ifie

n abou ding in gorse . ' — n a z r n Cnl or a ll k or . C lf . From the Gaelic C , the bac corner

The is G F ea r n as latter part from the aelic , the alder, and is found

' The Fer n E a r n F a z r n Ver n Va r n Va r na . , , , , , and alderwood corner.

’ Tor ek r ozs k —The is Tor r W . prefix here from the Gaelic , elsh E DE N I L L I E K . I 3 I

' Tw r a r zs G k P r os or , Latin , ree y g , a mound , heap , conical hill .

We on Cont in t e nt T - T s find it the reduplicated as in orres orre , the

of a nd Tu rri s - C fortification the mountains , remata, the burned

' The C/z r ozs k i s of Cr a s tower. latter part , , the oblique form g, a

s L r ux . n cros , which is cognate with the atin C In olde times it was usual among the people of the country t o mark the spot where

” P a k or any rovidential visit tion too place , where any great event

d of happene , by the erection of a cross in commemoration the f The o . event . hill the cross

' B ow zes or zl —The old of Bot/t a r t he f form this word was , without

’ f F r Bot/za r G r o a . o a fix is the aelic , for a lane, a road , passage ;

t o Th E n also stepping stones by which cross a stream . e glish

’ F or a being affixed , the word forms a tautology signifying passage .

T r — or nz o e. T his is quite a common word , and is frequently met

w . is m Tor r ith throughout the country It fro the Gaelic , a

or n a l r The mound , a heap , co ic l hill , and , big . big hill .

S t r z e a S t r en k or p , from the G elic p , strife , contention, a s irmish ,

The a of or k or n s . of i urrection pl ce the battle s irmish , the place

T s w as contention . radition ays that in olden times there a battle fought in close proximity t o this place .

Ozz tl a w ell —Th of Ont is word is composed three parts, the first , ,

H a n t or i n being from the Norse , a hill promontory, and is found

h - S F a nt Ou t I t . T e d is S cotland as , , and secon the Anglo axon

The L a w . , also a hill , and with the former word forms a tautology

E for f The of r Well o . last wo d , , is the nglish a spring water well the hill .

Tonz eor k G Tom k or k , from the aelic , a round hilloc noll , a rising

r The f G o ea . or ground , and the aelic C , oats ground suitable

on growing oats, which thrives well rough land , and feeds upon c oarse decayed vegetable matter. 2 TH E F E L H R E 3 PLACE NAMES O G I N S I .

’ A e/za a lz Da i r from the Gaelic , a field or plain , and ,

D a r Dor o D e n n a B r a s S k , , and ry , cog ate with the L tin and ans rit

D r k h ak D a m e/i n oa T e o or . , the . wood , field plain is the

n t n ak er ee i n o . adjective form , and glosses g , signifying an grove

S k en o' a l S ea n l Th n f h G o d. e o t e , from the aelic , applicatio

of or n word old in topography refers to date occupation cultivatio , those places first occupied or cultivated being considered as of f o . older date than more recent places , hence the use the word

The Va l G Ba il e second part , , is from the aelic , a town or residence . In this word the initial 6 is eclipsed by its equivalent

’ ’ ’ A r a oe/z r G A r a A elza a lz , f om the aelic , a height , and , a field or

The on T n plain . plain the height . his word is freque tly met with

f n in the topography o S cotla d .

P i t n is k G P i t t or P i tt en - S P t t , from the aelic , Anglo axon y ,

P nt ens n T s cognate with the Latin , a well , signifyi g a hollow . hi

A n o word occurs frequently as a prefix . is the genitive f , and

is e s k I s k Uis e . U s m of E g , water g is found in the variou for s , ,

' sk e is Th w r k E . e a t e Us U . , , and g y hollow

Cor s /zell oek G ai r e u , from the aelic C , a hollow or deep g lly, and

S eil ea e/z . , abounding in willows It is cognate with the Latin

ix s H el M k e T l W S l he . S a l . , el h gy , anx willow hollow

’ The A ek inl oe/z a n r l A elza a lz . , f om the Gae ic , a field or plain

I n a n second syllable , , is the oblique form of the genitive , signify

/t a l The or of in o L oo n . g f . is a ittle loch plain field the little

loch .

K er r ow Cei t/z r ea nz/t K er r ow a , from the Gaelic (pronounced ) ,

i n quarter. It was a custom in olden times to divide the land

of w as Cei t/z divisions , and the fourth part that division called a

r ea m/i T n or quarter. his custom was first instituted duri g the

of C k d on n time the olumbian mon s , and carrie until the begi ning

1 E E L I N H R E 3 4 THE PLACE NAM S or G S I .

in Va ne Wa ne Ba ne Ba w n with the forms and , , , and its pure form ,

B a n .

Bel ol a i r G Ba il e Bl a ir Bl a r , from the aelic , a residence , and , , a

f The n or 3. d o . o plan field , and by extension fiel battle residence plain.

R en il nr z G R eid/w a r g, from the aelic , a hillside stretch , and L g, f a ridge o hill gradually declining into a plain . Applied in the same sense to the leg of an animal as it tapers downward .

A e/zna a ir n —The of G g . first part this word is from the aelic

’ A e/za a lz a ir n old or . G , a field plain is an Gaelic word for a

or is S Gova k mountain a hill , and cognate with the lavonic , Gree

Or os n H or a The or o C . , and is found the ontinent as hill plain

field .

B n e — el r ea k The is G Ba il e . . prefix here from the aelic , a residence

The G R ia é/z a e/z or latter part is from the aelic , grey, brindled ,

The bit swarthy . is dropped in several districts of the country ,

W n d R . and hence the wor becomes each, as found in this word he applied to land it in dicates dun - coloured appearance or land torn

u The on . p by running water. residence the brindled hillside — — L ongs k ea e/z This is a very old word one of the few words k t - The a nn w as nown to belong o pre Christian times . word L first

of applied to a house or dwelling. After the advent the Christian

t o faith it was applied a church , and retains that application to

n t has o S W . the present day, so much in cotland as in ales It

s o n ow undergone several changes , that we find it as Lann, Lang ,

Th n The . e . and Long oblique forms are Leng, Ling, and Ly g terminal g is a modern addition affixed somewhere about the year

1 1 Th k ea /2 l 66 . e latter part S t is also from a very o d Gaelic word

S eea e/t or , signifying the white thorn haw tree . In the latter word

e d k T the is eclipse by in the former. his plant, by its wide E DE N KI L L I E . 3 5

r diffusion all over the count y, has given names to a large number

f of S k e S k ea in S k ea bos t o places , and is found in the forms , , as , in

k Th e n w . t he island of S ye . dwelli g in the ha thorn wood

— f e Th H a lf B a nach For the signification o this word se Dava . e

H of or of prefix alf signifies a ploughgate land , half a measure

land .

A ldr is lz a G A ll t or igy from the aelic , a burn stream , and the

D r is ea di of Dr is or Gaelic g , the minutive , the bramble , brier,

The . t horn . bramble wood burn — /z it e T is . The S loew . his a modern word first part is from the

- S S l a S l a S l a n S l ee S l a a e n Anglo axon , , plural , Dutch , Danish ,

n The of k S l a . S wedish fruit the blac thorn , resembling in colour

n Th ffi e . e x the juniper berry, havi g a purple app arance a here d e ff d o s not mean white , but it is an entirely di erent word derive f V d of W W rom itu , woo , and found in the forms hit , hite , as here ,

i The sl w ood or ck nd W t oe . a . the bla thorn wood

L oe/z nna n G L ook k G (f a n , from the aelic , a la e , and the aelic , a l W Oen amb , cognate with the Latin Agnus, elsh . As is usually t he case , it occurs here in the genitive plural with the preposition

f N an u an of a na n o . U prefixed , forming the word , the lambs is

he Th of e c . t diminutive form . lo h the lambs

B a n t r a e/z or The is the Gae lic for a widow widower. word e a nd nters into several place names throughout the country,

of f of an d indicates pieces land given to widows ree rent taxes , a c w as ustom which quite common in bygone times .

F oeonie G F eit lz or , from the aelic , a marsh , a boggy stream , a s n n The B a ie tream flowi g through a tre ch . latter part is yellow, w t B a The n E s B . i h which is cognate the Latin adi s, ngli h y yellow

D ns a ek —T . i of Ga Gintka s a e/z h s is a corruption the elic , abound 1 6 E L N H I R E 3 THE PLACE NAMES OF G I S .

fi ' rw ood . n ot a ing in trees It is often that g is eclipsed by , and it can only be accounted for by the eccentricities of different writers

of his ow n before the art printing, when each scribe adopted

in f s /z ns Dk ni o s . D s prov cial mode pelling word It is found as , , B u s The firw ood . and , as here . residence

’ Cr a i r o C or C k R na a k g y , from the Gaelic raig arrig, a roc , and , k red . The red roc .

B nr nt a ek —The fi of t he old G . pre x here is a corruption aelic

B r n n G B n word y , a hill ridge , moder aelic ron , a rou d hill , and

' n on C W B freque tly found the ontinent , and in ales as ryn , in

S B S T k of cotland as ron , and the cotch word ac , literally a lease land from the superior, and by extension became to be applied to

k The on : on e s . a farm hence tac sman , who holds the lea e farm the hill .

B r l a ek —The t of old y . firs part this word is an word from the

G B r i or s an d is n S aelic , a hill ri ing ground , equivale t to the cotch

B on of E - k rae, to which evidently the incoming nglish spea ing people they added the ol d word Lagh for the modern Anglo - Saxon m Th e . Law, a hill , thus for ing a tautology. hill ridge

T% §T

PARISH OF E L GIN .

H I S P s of ari h is irregular form , and extends about ten miles

ha s in length and s ix in breadth . Its superficial area been

The of estimated at about 1 8 square miles . surface the

ri is fl of M oss t ow ie Pl u s car den pa sh at, but the vales and are s s n eparated by a teep hilly ridge , and the district rises ge erally

from the vicinity of the town towards the Bl ack hill s . The only

of t f n u river any impor ance is the Lossie , which lows ge tly thro gh

k . the level lands , but frequently overflows even its artificial ban s I n very remote times tillage seems t o have been far advanced in t s as of hi parish , the scattered facts collected by the writer the old statistical account from the political and m ilitary history s T of M ufficiently indicate , and acitus writes that the people oray d o n ot dwell together in towns but cultivate the land separately, a s n or The a fountai , a plain , grove pleases them . hilly ridge between Pl u s car den a nd M oss t ow i e consists of strata of a peculiar

- of i n 1 8 26 n hard and pale coloured sandstone , which , , a co siderable q uantity w as exported to London for the buildin g of London

B Th n i n ridge . e chief place of i terest the landward part of the

P l u scarden i n parish is Abbey, situated the secluded glen of that n Th . e ol d s ame names of this pari h have been greatly lost ,

1 37 1 8 E L I N H I R E 3 THE PLACE NAMES or G S .

i i of particularly those places near the town , wh le in the d stricts

M osst ow i e P l u scar den of old n and , a few the names still remai , and are mostly of Gaelic origin .

E l in — T , t g radition ascribes two derivations to this word . Firs

k eil z k el ia r lzel r — an d as from the Dutch g, Icelandic g , g holy, found k e lza l D n e H el a i . d Th . u n . e ly and y , and , a hill or fortress , , y second traditional meaning ascribed to is that it comes from

H el of of S orw ei ian E of gy , a general the army igurd , the N g arl O k 927 d C S r ney, who , in the year , conquere aithness and uther

n T la d . hat the origin of the name is from this source may be

E w as of n dismissed at once as a fable , because lgin a town co sider H S able note before elgy ever frequented the cotch coasts , and

“ ” because Sk ene in his Celtic S cotland tells us that H elgy never

k The H el n came further south than the Or ney Islands . word gy being in the inscription on the Corporation S eal has had a great H deal to do with the fixing or attributing the word t o elgy.

” Y of E oung, in his Annals lgin , although he does not attempt any

P R s C . derivation , says that doubtless it is a eltic word rofessor hy

k - C or I ver nian k thin s it is pre eltic , and others thin it is from

E M of s a lga, a character in the ythic history Ireland, and al o

f r s o . poetic name Ireland All these ources are purely conjectural , and do not consider the fact that the early inhabitants of t he country when the R omans circumnavigated Britain were Celtic .

S t k n of t he uch being the case , and a i g into account the antiquity

k C . town , we must loo to the eltic source alone for its meaning Another importan t fact that must be borne in mind is that t he e arly inhabitan ts gave names chiefl y from the configuration of t he i place . All pr mary place names have been given from this source , or k from some other natural aspect , and it is not li ely that the

of or e e place would retain the name a devastator plunder r, whos

H E F E L I H I E 1 40 T PLACE NAMES O G N S R . — a t e r a z n - a s t el C s l e . S C g From the A glo axon C , Latin astellum , a f G Cr a i a r r i or a r r ick k ortified place , and the aelic g, C g C , a roc

E n t The k . stronghold in the roc vide tly an impor ed name , or if t n o t here had been such a place , there are vestiges lef to d s istingui h it.

G r eens ide —The old of w G r a ens i de i s . form this ord was , which

ia n su n n e G r . vidently from the aelic g , the , and is a feminine nou

The n n genitive form is grei e , and whe found appended to another

Th n . e word it invariably assumes the genitive form sun y side .

l a ek nza r r a s —The ol d of Cl a ek in ot/za r a ek C . form this word was

l The Cl eo/z l a ck C achm orr a ch . (pronounced ) first part is from or C ,

s i s on e of s a stone , large or mall , and the mo t common topographical

n E n find root terms in the cou try . In the glish forms we the

It n k terminal almost invariably cha ged into , and frequently the

The r ou t . M ot/za final guttural is dropped altogether latter part , , i s G n r a t/z ek nr elz a nd an old aelic word sig ifying a ruined or , by

n f extension used to mea the ruins o any building . In modern

G s a aelic the word is used to signify a high or swelling e . It will

a ek The s be observed that is the adjective form . stone of the

n n or rui ed buildi g , the stoney undulating ground . — ol ebn r n oll G l za el C . z C is the aelic for , with which is cognate

Cor l ns G ea ll t ni nn the Latin y and the modern aelic , and when it

n i s forms the i itial part, as in the word under review, it usually

oll ol ol e a ll C . The z n found as C , , C , and C ha elwood bur .

e s —The ld f Oldw ll . o o E l dw ell form this word was , which was e v k A - S E a ld M E idently ta en from the nglo axon , iddle nglish old ,

’ D ona t o a d—nl t ns - u utch , and allied the Latin , signifying grown p .

The old well .

S t one/t om a —The old of S tein/i ons form this word was , which

G S t ei n D indicates that the word is Norse , from the erman , utch PARISH OF ELGI N . 1 4 1

S teen n S t ei n n G k S t ia s a nd A - , Icela dic , ree , a tone , the nglo Saxon

k ns D k n is k ns . t , utch , Icelandic , an abode In the early ages , he

i a n d h s pr mitive occupants of the country built mud wooden ouse ,

a n d n s n s s ener a l whe to e were used , the house were given the g

n h name of S t o e ou ses .

L o n n —The old f s w as L a nn nza r n eor . o a n g form thi word . The

a nn G s word L is from the aelic , and signifies an enclosure , a hou e ,

an d n Sk n and a church , , accordi g to e e , comes from the Latin

P l a na nt n G l a n a P l enns , a plai , as the aelic comes from the L tin .

The m n i n W n S : word is ore commo elsh ames than in cotland , and

it s s in ignification of a church enters into a large number of names . All the instances k nown in the north of S cotland apply to church

The ZI/[a r a n of E r a n . E r na n names latter part is a corruption or , h M n 7 t h . T e M o a sai t who lived in the century initial , and , and

M a are frequen tly in the Celtic lan guage prefixed to names t o

. T s Kil er n an or signify endearment he e are not found in , in

il arn h K t e . T E n e S t . church of rna .

Wk it e r ea t/z —The m of w as W/z i w . t r a it/z old for this word , from — Mi E n w hit D w i t n k w it e t o the ddle glish , utch , Icela dic white,

Th a / . e G r t shine latter part is from the aelic z , primarily a mound or bill n s s , and by exte ion a round earthen fort or tronghold , a

n /za t/ The W s r z . or circle , and cog ate with the el h white hill ,

s white hill fortre s or stronghold .

Gl a s s — r een . T Th g his is a tautology . e first part is from the

G Gl a s T i t s s aelic , and commonly translated green . his is u ual

n n i s . s i terpretatio It also used to ignify grey, or sometimes blue , as G ss S nil G/z l a s — a i n in the aelic expre ion greyish blue eye , but its topographical application it is exactly as used in the word under review.

B o ie a r n —The s B o ea r na g fi . oldest form of thi word was gf , then 1 2 TH E O F E L GI N S H I R E 4 PLACE NAMES .

w as B o a n ea r na it g f , from which latter came the present form .

B o G B o or The ea r na g is the aelic for a g marsh . latter part f is G S the aelic for alder, and is frequently found in cotch topography .

r The alderwood marsh o bog .

M il bow ies — T l . his word has little resemblance to its primary

M ea l bu id/ze G M ea ll form , which was , from the aelic , literally a lump, but by extension applied to a hill , and applied very often in

B d/ze— T e u i . p lace names . h latter part is from the Gaelic yellow

The s o yellow hill , given from the appearance presented by decayed moss .

r —The C M i nb eek . first part of this word comes from the eltic

M en— a k or Th M i n M en or a . e , , high roc the brow of a hill latter

B a c— n Th G r e . e part is from the aelic greyish or bri dled grey hill .

s ca de w Ca is a modern name , and was so called when a sa mill was erected there in order to get the advantage of water power to drive the mill ; and as there is a considerable rush of water at

i . c erta n seasons , the place is well named

s —The of Cow s l a ek . latter part this word is from the Middle

E S l a k G S l oe/zd— a nglish , cognate with the aelic hollow, and is f n S l a ck S l a S l o reque tly met with in the form of , g, and g, in the

- f Th o S . e n orth eastern counties cotland cow hollow.

—The old of A n r / A n ns lzonze. a za nz g form the word was g , which

N s A n er or i s evidently from the or e g , a meadow field . It is not

s n C c ommon in thi country , but is very often fou d in ontinental — Th lza i n . e n topography and , a dwelling meadow dwelli g. — Cock nz ni r The s of D K ok fir t part this word is from the anish ,

K okk r G o . C e Coe a heap Icelandic , a lump , a ball , aelic , as

S k r ona e/o—cock n osed M or M oer — a or , and the Norse , , moor, hill . l The moory hil .

lz n —The old of l Vf a en ee M a n ee . n form this word was p , which is

1 T H E O F E L I N H I R E 44 PLACE NAMES G S .

H oll — S H oll From the candinavian, , an elevation, cognate with

G H n el W the erman g , and corrupted into wool , as in oolwich , l T he . anciently H ol w i ch . high town

R edonne—The G R eid/z first part is from the aelic , smooth , and

R e R ea also used as a noun to signify a level field, and found as , ,

R e The D a /t r D el . G na e o a vo z and y latter part is from the aelic , ,

Da va t D a not Da v D a vie D i zz and found in topography as , , y , , and y , f a meas ure o land equal to four ploughgates .

— The ld L o n ot L oek ie ot s . o p form was g yp , which is evidently

G L eoz a L nt nm from the aelic g, cognate with the L tin , a marsh .

The of P u t et ia - P a r is ior nnz n first name aris was L , the marshy la d

The f P ots of the P arisii . su fix has been added to indicate hollows or depressions in the marsh .

r a —T i s Cr oie C y his word found as , which is evidently the

Cr ois — r a cow of Cr ux French word , a cross Latin C , the accusative ,

The k of n a cross . mon s in olden times were in the habit erecti g cros ses in places to commemorate some providential events, and in consequence the word is frequently met with throughout the country .

i —The of S S a ne/zenbog e. first part this word is from the cotch

a ne/z E S a l z S a lk S a l ix . B o ie S , nglish g, , Latin , the willow g , the

G B o or has latter part , is from the aelic g, soft marshy, and given

W n f x k e names to many places . he found as an a fi to names it ta s

B o Bo ie Vo Vo n the forms of ggy , g , ggy , and gy , and by exte sion

The sluggis h streams are called by the same name . willow marsh or stream .

—The old Tor s t a n Tor r is t on . form of this word was g, which is

G Tor r or a n d evidently from the aelic , a mound, heap, conical hill ,

The bill or S ta n of n . g, a pool stagna t water, a ditch by the pool ditch . PARISH or ELGI N . I 45 — Ca ll in a ek . The G oill e d an y first part is from the aelic C , a woo , d

m oll oll oll ie a ll a ll a ll ie found in various for s as C , C y , C , C , C y , and C .

The M a ek G M no T latter part is from the aelic , a pig . his is an

old w as word , and the name given when the animal was running f The o . wild in the country . wood the wild pig

H a r die/z ill oek —The of s A r doe/z . old form thi word was , which

G A r d an d A ek a dk or comes from the aelic , a height , , a field plain .

The f The hillock was subsequently affixed . height o the field or

plain .

F os t r s ea —The ld of w as P a s t r a e t . o form this word , from the

G F a s s F a s a ek . Tr a Tr e or aelic , growth , hence al o , a wilderness , , Th Tr n . e r edu li ef sig ifies a dwelling recent terminal , seat , is a p

Tr a The G Tr ea t /l a i r cation of . modern aelic is (pronounced

trear) .

-A O er t on l er t on . Ov nciently the word was f , from the Ang o

O er D Over S Or e or S axon f , utch , candinavian , a border, boundary,

The n . point . boundary dwelli g

/zea d — G Tor r Tor e From the aelic , a height , with which is Th W t u rri s G k . e or cognate elsh tur, Latin , ree pyrgos head top

of the hill . — M os s t ow ie The M E n M os prefix here is from the iddle glish ,

- S flf eos D M os M os i M a s ea s Anglo axon , utch , Icelandic , Latin ,

The t ow ie a n moss or swamp . latter part , , has the s me sig ification

Tow ie Toa /z as and g , parishes in Aberdeenshire , which come from G Tna t/z The t . the aelic , the north . nor h moss

S t onew ell s —The of S t eenw ell . old form this word was , from the

D u S t een G S t ei n A n - S S t a n k or tch , erman , glo axon , a roc stone .

The of k spring water issuing ou t of the roc .

H illk a ll —The ol s H olll i s . d form of thi word was , which k G l A il l or . evidently from the ae ic , a ridge roc In some parts of K 1 6 E L N H I R E 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF GI S .

F a ill k F oil the country it is found as , and ta es the form of and

F o l e The b y , as in Aberfoyle . prefix ill was superimposed about

1 7 1 8 A ill a the year , and is cognate with the root , thus forming

The tautology. hill ridge .

S l ack/zea d —The x S l a na S l a prefi here is from the Icelandic g , g,

S l a i or or G S l o . g , wet damp , marshy, and is allied to the aelic g Th e head or end of the marsh . — E ldon The E l S H ell H ell e H el e prefix is the candinavian , , g ,

H eil and k is and , holy, frequently, as in this case , the aspirate

an E l E l l E an E The d l d il . dropped , the word is found as , , g,

f Don G D a n su fix is from the aelic , literally a fortress, but applied

The to a hill . holy hill .

dda elz —T a da Cl o . Cl elz Cl oda ek his is a pure Gaelic word from , or , a flat stony place , but more particularly applied to the seashore , as

T a z The r /z . distinguished from g , a sandy beach word is in general

d k s use throughout the country, and , when use inland, to the ban

f r n k o a river o the margi of a la e .

L on /z i l —Th m a nn or l . e a g first p rt here is fro L , a house church ,

The or on S ee o . also an enclosure . L ngmorn church inclosure the hill .

R ed/z ill —The - S R ea d Du prefix here is the Anglo axon , tch

R ood R a a dr G k E r a t/z r os G R u a t/z W h , Icelandic , ree , , aelic, , els

R k a dd a R a er — t The . , L tin red . red hill

— The t r oss le The of Cr ossl aw . C y . old form this word was firs

is r ax and t he part from the Latin C , plays a prominent part in

f T l of topography o the country. hey were put up as memoria s

r Th bill f or . great events o monuments . e o the cross memorial

— - Ts w a na I n the north east of Scotland the word Ta ck is

t o t he applied a farm , particularly a hill farm, and is derived from

a k k r t T c t o o o . verb , ta e , rent

1 8 E L I N S H I R E 4 THE PLACE NAMES OF G .

t P l a t ea Gr eek P l a t eia n to the La in , , and originally sig ified a court or Ca i r dea n n or or u Th . e square , and , frie ds , tribe , comm nity

or of place valley the brotherhood . — [nelza r n oek The of G I nnis first part this is from the aelic , an

The . S t . island , and pastureland near water latter part is from

M or M arn ock M B ffs arnoch , which is found in arnoch in an hire , M K k on C . Inch arnoch the lyde , and ilmarnoc In this word the

M of k initial the proper name is dropped to ma e a distinction .

Ca l ooek /z ill oek —The of G . first part the word is from the aelic

Ca l k r f Th o o . e , the bac other side anything second part was

B a ck i s G Boe D Bok formerly , and from the aelic , utch , Icelandic

B a kk r S B ook he - W B w e/z , wedish , a goat , cognate with the elsh ,

B oe T w s B k of Irish . his ord is usually applied to hill , as in the uc H k i Th k f s u . e o the Cabrach . illoc a s perimposed addition bac k k the buc hilloc . — Tei ndl a nd The first part of this word comes from the Anglo

T S n t S Teotk e einda . axon , Frisian , the tenth part In cotla d cer ain portions of the landed property in every parish which have been

s s s fixed and valued, and from which pari h mini ter obtain their

H Teindl ands stipends , are called teinds . ence means church lands .

—The 01d M oa n ts w t . Ma m m al if form of this word was , which is W M a en k or s evidently from the elsh , a roc tone , and comes

F M ont through the rench , which in its turn comes from the Latin k M ons or . S ni tk G , a mountain hill is a aelic word for blac , and is

E oot Th k S . e allied to the nglish blac hill .

a t t —The old of F i Wid w . form this word was , and indicates

N S Vie Ve that the word is purely orse , from the candinavian , ,

W s u ffixed F P ie Fi y , when to words , and y , , and , when pre

The is S n Wid lVidr fixed . second part from the candi avian , PARISH OF ELGIN . I 49

t Wa t t A a nd Vit a Vit Va o . , , , and , wo d wood in which there

might have been a church or cell .

S t r oa nk ill — F m G S r on S t r on ro the aelic , and frequently , a

W s Tr w n nose , promontory , or headland , el h y , as found in such

as S S words tronachlachar (stony headland), trontian (the little

d S in s on hea land), orn Ayr hire , named from the ancient castle the

k T s T . roc y promontory, and also roon and Duntroon hi word is

in h n T e . frequently found S cotch topography. poi ted hill

0l ds /z iel ds —Th f ca . e S n S l e su fix here is from the candi avian ,

S k a /i S k ol bu t , Icelandic j , a temporary summer , and found as

S /t eilds S k eil / ei in S a S t l S /zeel in . as c ll , , , and It is also found , as

S l S as Ga l a as G S ca ld, in ca loway in hetland, and , in alashiels , as

S The l n as in caldwell . o d sheali gs .

Bo en/t er nie —The s a of g . fir t p rt this word is from the German

Bo en or how t o g , a bend , and in topography applied the bend of a

or d of river, ben in a road , or bend in the configuration the land ,

H or n - S H r ne H oor n and the German , Anglo axon y , Dutch , a k or or or . projection cape , a valley between hills , curved li e a horn

T i s a T or he . his a t utology. curved valley land

I n ver l ock t —The I n ver I nbk i r y prefix here is from the Gaelic , ,

or I n ner or k of . , a river confluence , a cree at the mouth the river

The W A oer on elsh equivalent is , and is generally found the east

f n F r o S I n ner n n . o cotla d, while is chiefly co fi ed to the west the

he of of L ock t see of . T signification y , the parish Dallas confluence

L ocht the y and the Lossie .

L oek in ve — rl ht n For this word s ee I nve oc y . ' — P i t t endr ez ck The first part of this name is from the P ictish

P i t te P i t t P it P et t i The n ot , , , and . letter p is found in modern

G n of n aelic in co nection with the names mountai s , but is eclipsed

6 bei n n ben n by its equivalent , as in and , conseque tly all the I SO TH E PLACE NAMES O F E L GI N S H I R E .

P n P W s n e . words begin ing with this letter, such as , ette , are el h

We P i t t en P et t n . find the word also as , a hollow, and y It is

- S P t t P ea t ea s allied to the Anglo axon y , Latin , a well , hollow, or

The Dr eie/z P D r u id/z cavity. latter part , is from the ictish

De dd The old D r a i k d W r w . elsh y form was , and ta es a at the

of end its oblique cases , and was borrowed in this form by the

D r nid D /t E . G r u id nglish , whence the word In modern aelic

D r a ia ek on e or The would be , that is, who augurs foretells .

’ or Druid s hollow, abode

- Th f D a nk in . e o G D a n ty first part this word is from the aelic ,

D z n A s W . a stronghold, a hill fort, and is cognate with the elsh

. or an adj ective it signifies strong It also signifies a hill mound ,

D a ne D ow n The e n and under this meaning is found as and . s co d

old G a ei nt ib/z K i n a part is from the aelic word Q (pronounced ty ) ,

or The meeting assembly . word , therefore , would appear to mean

or the moot hill , the meeting hill .

—The f a /t T oek . o D b a y ancient form this word was the Gaelic g,

D nbk k A n i from , blac , and g, a diminutive termination , and sig fies

r he . o or u . T a stream pool , a deep g lf small stream

a t e/zen —The of i s of B . first part this word another form the

P P et t e of Ba t ictish word , which is found in the double forms

Th li ca of W B a t t . e latter part C , is a corruption the elsh word

Ca en G k K /t a l e an d f , a ridge , and cognate with the ree en , a head ,

Clzen or Ck ev C by mutation it becomes , as in the heviot hills ,

i n k or k en Th f C/z ev Y C . e o in or , in Derby hollow at the end the ridge .

r ss —F M E F a l mer e ne P a l nze cr o . s o rom the iddle ngli h , who bore

of H or a palm branch in memory having been in the oly Land , a T f i he o or of r . pilgrim . cross the pilgrim , the abode the pilg m

n —The of i s A a clz tee . traditional signification given this word ,

2 F E L I N H I R E 1 5 T H E PLACE NAMES O G S .

F — m Fl ea r s —flow er l eu r s . s Fro the French , and cognate with

F F o l is n t o F of l os . l r a the Latin , belo ging lora, the goddess

flowers .

H a a kl a nd —I n S w H a a k H ea k H ow g . cotland the ords g and g , ,

H o e l ow - or on and p , denote a lying meadow between hills , the bank s of a river or stream ; though in some places the word

H a a k S H a a r k g is from the candinavian g , a mound , somewhat li e

so S the cairns common in cotland, the former is doubtless the

Th l w - e o . meaning here . lying land — B r a eel a nd T Br a e/ze S Bra k From the eutonic , candinavian , k or . land bro en up for tillage , the ploughed land

N or r is t on E S , both in lgin and tirling, is evidently a common S N cotch surname, as orris Law in Ayr.

F O R R E S .

The oa t of o f o in th on ffic C Arms F rres a re not r ecord ed e Ly O e .

I n a ea o t n n a th e a t S t . a ence e t e a s a eacon m d w wi h spri gi g p lms m r yr L wr , v s d d , o n i n e xt e a n t he oo o f t h e o e a nd ea n n t t he n t e u on h ldi g his d r h d B k G sp l , l i g wi h si is r p a bed of on a : in t he ext e c e t h e oon nc e cent a nd i n th e n t e t he ir b rs d r hi f m i r s , si is r su n in his spl end ou r .

The ot t o e o ah Tu u ee t . S t . a ence a t e e n m is J h v Mihi Q id D s L wr , f r b i g cou e w a s e a e on a o t o f a e irdiron o e a o fire u r n t he n t s rg d , grill d liv s r l rg g v r sl w d i g igh et een he t h a nd l oth u u The ea and oa t of c a re t t A . D . 2 8 . b w 9 A g s , 5 S l C Arms , whi h o f ea t a t t c e t e e e nt t he a n t t an n i n a ea o en ce a re n n gr r is i m ri , r pr s s i s di g m d w wh spri gi g a t a a t o be a of c and h o e ou ou t t o be t nct u e wh ppe rs p lms vi t ory . Th ese t e wh l gr p gh i r d o H e u e t e in a l b an a a t c ou t t o be r ed on e . d a at c . pr p r is f lly v s d d lm i This d lm i gh , a ccou nt o f e n a a t and in e e ent at on of a ence it e o t en his b i g m r yr , r pr s i L wr is v ry f o e th fla e of o p wd red wi m s g ld .

1 T H E F E L I N H I R E 5 4 PLACE NAMES O G S .

n of 1 l t h c ent u I l beginni g the y , and its traditionary name wou d

O s seem to support this theory. thers uppose that it com m em or at es K Du f u C of F the murder of ing f s , in the astle orres , and the exec u tion of the murderers ; and the character of t he

e figures s ems to favour the latter tradition .

’ ” The Witches S tan e was that on which the unfortun ate

s f n ff being accused o w itchcraft were wo t to su er. When the turn

k of n k k pi e road was in process bei g made , the wor men bro e this

of i n mass stone, but the townspeople d scoveri g this , and wishing

of s t o to preserve a relic the bygone times , immediately cau ed it

s On be cla ped with iron , in which state it still remains . the

- of s n k south eastern side the town is a mall gle , nown by the

’ of H - H - V On on e of t he sobriquet ell s ole alley. the heights of

C n H P of N lu y ills is a lofty haros , commemorative elson and the

’ B of Tr a fa l ar The attle g . town of Forres must have been a place of ou r some note at a very early period of history , and is in all

Va r r is P B s o r probability the of tolemy . oethius , early as the yea

5 3 5 k of ma es mention it as a burgh having merchants , who , for

s t he some cau e , were put to death , and their goods confiscated to

’ n u s s S k Ki g s e . It was frequently vi ited by the cottish ings

n a n d n D d son of duri g the ninth tenth ce turies . onal , the

n n F M C . o sta tine , was slain at orres alcolm frequently resided in

k 95 9 Ul er a old the vicinity, and was illed in at , the name for

ld arn K D s A e . ing uffus , as tated above , was murdered at the

C Donevald 966 astle by , the governor , about the year , and his

B w as u of body, according to oethius , buried nder the bridge

Kinloss .

— t F or r es I n 1 1 8 7 F 1 28 3 . k . , ores ; , Forais Li e all other ancien d si n ificat ion s . places, several g are given to this word It is suppose FORRES . 5 5

n P that it i s the F odr es a e/z mentio ed in the ictish chronicle of 97 0.

B t o H or es t ii or F or es t i y others it is supposed be from the tribe ,

n B mention ed by Tacitus in his A gricola as occu pyi g this place . y

G l F a r - i ns n n others it is supposed to be from the ae ic , sig ifying ear

A n d is S n n F or s a water . by others that it from the ca di avian ,

. The F or s or waterfall , which is the most probable word , the

n F os s w as n ot s o moder , trictly applied to a waterfall ; it als

ni The n F o s sig fied a cas ca de or turbulent water. combi ation r and

es s a s s es n ol d m of , or , or , formi g a tautology, and the for s the

s word , support this ignification .

M a ndol e - T i I VI n i zde r M . s s s o a nd hi a Nor e word from , , a river

r n k Th w a s o o of . e mouth , a valley the ban a river old form

M a nda - l Th D a e . . e S x l latter part is the Anglo a on , a tautology

The hollow land .

S a n a /za r —The old w as S a ne/a rr G c g . name , and is from the aeli

S ea n a t/l a i r W a er or The ol d C . , old , and , elsh C , castle , seat , fort

fort or castle . — S k er or a ex The old of w as S /z i r a br a e t he ifi form this word , from

G S ia r The s aelic , west . we t brae .

/za el t on —F l C . a ell a G a e p rom the Latin C p , aelic C p , a chapel or

c . C hurch hurch land .

coa r ie — F S u i r S . G S or S ei r N S k a er rom the aelic g , g , orse , g , or

S nr k g , common names for sharp roc s or mountain or scaur, and

l W s k e id a r a d S r Ys i S . a lied to the el h , and g , the caur

B a l l et /oa n —Th e n . e old B a ll a l oa n form was g , which is vide tly

G bol or ba il ba ll z from the aelic g g (pronounced g), and applied to

. The l oa n i s m G l on or soft places latter part fro the aelic , a marsh

. The is morass word a tautology.

M a nna ek —Th m k or y . e common Gaelic word for a on friar is 1 6 E L G I N H I R E 5 THE PLACE NAMES or S .

M a na e/z of M na /z ns e e . I n , which is the equivalent the Latin

is M a na k The of r k Ireland it g . land the friar o mon .

G r ees lze —F . r is D r ns S r i se p rom the Icelandic g , anish g , cotch g , a

' f . The T ni li e Du lzeez e pig latter part is from the euto c f , tch , and

’ f li a li e The or requently found as p and p, an enclosure . pigs fold e nclosure .

Bl er vie —I n 1 667 of Bl a i r ie the form this word was , from the

bl a i r or bl a r The Gaelic , a plain , originally a battlefield . latter

C ia or i e . part is the eltic , , land or country

a l er —Th K z a r t C . e a el D if old form was f , evidently from the utch

K a el G K a li l n - S a l e G , erman , A glo axon C , bald or bare , and the aelic

er t or t a The or f or f , a trench , and sometimes a grave . cold bare wet hollow.

I nver er ne —For of s ee . the first part this word the parish of E E r ne s ee s of A . lgin, and for the latter part , the pari h lves

B a ck t ill G bee k k G y , from the aelic , a buc , a roebuc , and the aelic t a l a c/z t u ll e t a ll t il or or The , found as , y , and ly , a hill mound ridge . d eer hill .

S t a r /a nds S S t er S t a dr , from the candinavian , contracted from , a

d n is S . welli g place , and met both in cotland and Ireland

D r a mda a n G dr a i ne or dr enz , from the aelic , a ridge , cognate

der s nnz The dna n G with the Latin . latter part is from the aelic d n da n u or . , a stronghold hill fort As an adjective means strong,

da na or as dk . and a verb , , it signifies closed , Shut in

1 A l t r 1 5 7 A l ter T k old A l r e 45 0 e 3 . ty . In it was , in a ing the

one i s form as the most approximately correct , the word derived

A il k or ff from the Gaelic , literally a roc cli , but more frequently a t o We G A l t pplied high land . have allied to it the aelic , or

W A l i t The C t elsh , a height . second part is from the el ic, or

FORRES . I 5 7

P s t r e W s t r w n or s . The icti h , el h ef, a d elli g , re idence modern

/za i r The n s Gaelic i s t r eb . reside ce heltered by the high land or rising groun d .

etk a ll —The of W s oed C first part this word is from the el h C ,

P s Coid a n d n oi t oa t a i t a n d Cot a icti h , variously fou d as C , C , C , ,

The n o . wood . reside ce in the wo d

r —F G B a il e or an h B a l na e . d t e f y rom the aelic , a town residence ,

F a i r a or old Ba il - na - a i r e G e . aelic , w tch guard , and the form was f

The place of watch or guard .

n — Th G noc K eek onz ie. e W prefix here is from the aelic C , elsh

h fi ie a e k . T e Om , a noll , hill , or mound suf x , , is a corruption

G A nza id/t i of . the aelic (pronounced Am e), trouble , sorrow, disaster

a The hill of sorrow or dis ster.

L i n ies t en - The D g . prefix here is from the Icelandic and anish

n The N Ta n A Ly g, heather. latter part is from the orse , nglo

S n Ton . axo , an enclosure

P il nz a i r —The C P il e or . first part of this word is from the eltic

P eel The of , a small fortress , word is not common in the north

S n E S t he cotla d , but on the border between ngland and cotland

i s n P e s of M an as e l . word freque tly met with , also in in the I le

The moor fortress .

B a l na eit/z — F B N a . G a il e . t he g rom the aelic , a residence is

Ga ot/z a it/z i f Ga et/z . G e s o . genitive , and , wind the genitive d — Cl ovens i e. F D Kl oven Kl n a rom the utch , Icelandic j f , Anglo

S Cl ee a n bill s . axon f , a hollow or passage between two

Ger s k e nea k — F . W s er s G Ca r N K er y rom the el h C , aelic , orse , ,

Cor a e/z s n n of Irish g , a mar h , and is freque tly fou d in the counties

A B n E Cer s k ie Gor s k ie berdeen , a ff, and lgin, in the forms of and .

The s n mar hy or wet cor er.

Cl a n - . F G Cl na n or l eon y rom the aelic C , a fertile piece of land , . 1 E L I N S H I R E 5 8 THE PLACE NAMES OF G .

a d n c a nes o s T n l u nie Cl a n l l ne . fou d as C , y , C , and C hese fertile pas tures were the favourite spots selected by the monk s in S cot

as of of land places retirement, and eventually became the sites m of onasteries and abbeys , although at first the names these m a eadows, in many inst nces, had no connection with religious T institutions . his is, however, more with reference to Ireland S than to cotland .

1 60 E L I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF G S .

' Ban fl B k z E B , Aberdeen , and erwic , was sei ed , and one dward ruce ,

of E i of S w as t o a commissary d nburgh and lord ession, appointed

k of 1 604 ta e charge the entire establishment, who in was elevated

n k of B n K 1 - to the ra and title aro inloss . In 63 3 the ill fated

C . of E of E a harles I raised his son to the higher dignity arl lgin ,

his title still enjoyed by descendants .

K n E of E n It was at i loss Abbey that dward I . gland , dismayed

of ss a n d R by the distant mountains Inverne oss , halted in his

S a nd n triumphal march through cotland , after stayi g at the Abbey

k K n . D ff for three wee s returned southward It is said that i g u us ,

C F 966 n who was murdered in the astle of orres in , havi g preserved his life by concealing himself in a covered ditch near the spot, reared a chapel on the Site of the A bbey in grateful commemoration B of his escape . oethius relates the matter thus

Kill os M flu ct ibu s omni s , in oravia, nomen habet a , qui , praeter

u l l u l aru n t Du ffi R naturam , derepente vicino in campo p , dum egis

D ff s r evel ar et u r . C corpus oenobium, post duo fere secula quam u u occu bu it fu ndat u m miracu l i cont i iss e , in memoriam quod ibidem g

” m em or at u r .

K i nl oss — B k 9 66 According to oethius , so far bac as the year

of Kill os a nd the original form this word was , apparently this form

n 1 1 8 7 K n l os s was retai ed till about , when we find it as y , and in

Kinl os D n f 25 1 w as . o 1 another change made to empster, writi g

B t he K m n . the sa e eve t above written by oethius, gives word as ilios

of Kill os It is evident that the first form the word was , which

n t el l ill Kil e plai ly indicates that here was a church or C , C , or ther T K il long before the famous Abbey . his was founded by S t . l Osburn from Dumfries , who , it is said , bequeathed to it the smal

B k t he heritage in erwic shire , from which at a later date part of

K ill es t he revenues of the Abbey were derived . therefore is KINLOSS . I 6 I

i O . s Church of S t . sburn It is ign ficant that in all the names given

S n K after this ai t , if the word ill is written in full , the latter

of is i s syllable the patronymic dropped, and if the patronymic written in full on ly the initial letter or a contraction of the word

K C n or n C - Osbu rn ie ill is written , as in losebur , ancie tly ella , and

K s K e es b Kill os of w as il e ba r n l er n . , both which and

—B of F i ndk er n . efore the inundation the sea and river in the

01 old F i nd/t er n F i nder n The 1 7 . x year , the names were and prefi

i s n Ga eli e F i onn as P i n appare tly from the , white , and found and

F ne i n S W as G w nn E as Von in y cotland , in ales y , in ngland , and

lz ee n i n V nt r P /z oen z For as P e lr . Ireland , as y and the latter part ,

f The r E r n s ee o . o . , the parish Alves clear white stream or river — D a ni /l ea d T s n ot ol d a n d hi is an word , is from the Anglo

S x D a nn n D D a i n D a nwa r or k a on , utch , Icelandic , a mound ban

o of as . against water ; hence dam , a po l water, a milldam

S t r u t/t or s S t r ot/zer s G S r u tk S r a t/l a i r , anciently , from the aelic , ,

S n k S r a a n d S r ot a n T S t r ea m a s rit , cog ate with the eutonic and

S t r a a or n as n F y , a river flowi g water, in A struther in ife and W B k estruther in erwic . — M a t t en/z ol e I n 1 M a t t e e - . 61 7 l S , evidently from the Anglo axon

M ot M eet of The of is or , a place assembly. latter part the word

of The or s probably a corruption hill . hill place where foreigner

of held their courts j ustice .

A r e/z i es t on — T an . d a his is a comparatively recent name , is A patronymic after a man rchibald .

S cot s bu r — n . The of S or C s so burn the cots elt , called from the fact that a band of Celts retained their position in this place when others were driven inlan d in the troublous times of the N ors e

n N or - ba r n N o- ba r n invasions , and is co tradistinguished from and ,

N s the burn of the or emen . 1 6 2 CE E L I N H I R E THE PLA NAMES or G S . — H a t t on . T n P of 970 his word is fou d in the ictish chronicle ,

A t k a n ni of t w o G , sig fying the ford the river, from the aelic words ,

A t k A bk ni nn Bu t , a ford , and , a river. more probably it is the

G A i tea nn z or aelic , the fur e , juniper, and frequently found as

H a t t in H a t t on The n and . ju iper field .

L a n — W eote. The a nn g prefix here is from the Gaelic L , elsh

l a n T a d r s k n n o . S L , eutonic L , an enclosure , a church , hou e e e

n n Th W l a P l a n i n . e says the elsh L is from the Latin , a plain su fli x t d eid n t Th Co e W Coe or C or C i . e is the elsh , , church wood or enclosed wood .

Gr a n e — Gr a n e or for g From the French g , a farm storehouse

n k f a G r a na r ia grai , which in its turn is ta en rom the L tin , and

ns ea with which is cognate the Gaelic G r a i n ek .

Wk it ei nek —The of l . latter part this word is from the Gae ic

I nnis k t o l ow - n , literally an island, but applied lyi g pastureland

The near a river. white meadow.

N w on N a t n e t e e i . T , anciently , sign fying the new dwelling his is a common name in S cotland .

S ea a r k S ea a r c m P a r e G P a i r e p , anciently p , fro the French , aelic ,

- S P ea r r ee G P er ck an Anglo axon , and erman f , and signifying

n or for n e closure for cattle deer, and also an enclosure the protectio

r of game o for pleasure .

n — m S M oer or M er M a M ni r te . S ir Fro the candinavian , cotch .

Waste land or heath .

n — M idr M M iddl et o . id From the Icelandic , Dutch , Anglo

S M idd M M edi a s G k axon , the iddle , cognate with the Latin , ree

M os es S k M a d/z a S Ta n , and ans rit y , and the candinavian , Anglo

T n or Saxon o . An enclosure town .

R E 1 64 THE PLACE NAMES or E L GI N S H I .

K nock a ndo — G noc W a e From the aelic C , elsh , a hill or

The Dba k . G mound latter part is from the aelic , blac , and is

D a an d D or D w o e . found as ,

Tonzdow — G Tem k or G . From the aelic , a noll hill , and the aelic

D/z a k , blac .

- M a ca ll a n M a /z E ll a n St . C s , anciently g , and olin , a corruption of T old fa r k the former . his is a very name , found as bac as the

of of S The time the introduction the Christian faith into cotland .

M a /i old G first part g is from the aelic, and signifies a plain or level

l anit i es . C or tract of land It is termed ampus p by Latin writers ,

M a /z M o M a M 0 as M a lt a nd M a c an d and found as g , y , , and , also ,

G i s M a o- k i r M a /i t i r in modern aelic it , from g and , the level land .

T t o hen by extension it has come signify a fertile spot , and in primitive ages churches were built in these fertile spots ; s o in

n The many places it has also come to sig ify a church . latter part

E a n a n Th i ll t F ill . e s is the genitive or oblique form of S . name

as E ll a n as Kill ellan found in several other places invariably , in in R oss . It is thought the saint w as led hither by the fact that prior

D s to his time there was a ruidical temple in the place , being thu k a fit place to establis h a church for his missionary wor .

e k a l ie —The l f w as D a il - a - bka ile D ll l . o d o form this word , from

G da il - S da l D deel an d da l the aelic , Anglo axon , utch , Irish , a

ba il e or . district , part , or hollow, and , a residence farm

Bor a ra —T n or t . G his is a pure aelic word , signifyi g a ridge

m et of . declivity, and also a patch arable land It is frequently with throughout the country.

v r t ow n —Th of Du Over O e . e first part this word is from the tch ,

U er as Ob Ober . pp , and found in the German form and

Da l nz eena ck —The of G . first part this word is from the aelic da il or or of c , a part district, a level tract land, and the Gaeli KNOCKANDO . I 6 5

M enad/z n M ona /z or n (pro ounced g ) , a heath , heathy expa se , or

n n mou tai .

B e r e — F G be - r a a dk s o g y . rom the aelic g , red bog, called from the

’ s s of r or e s fact that the alluvial deposit consi t clay , i on , fuller earth , and marl . ’ — K i r a a l s a n d K i r da lbegz The first part of this word is from the

G Ca r W er s S a n n K er an d i s aelic , elsh C , c ndi avia , a marsh , found i n or s e er s Ca r K er K i r K eer an d the various forms of C , C , , , , and , da l The B e , a hollow. marshy hollow. g at the end of the latter

n Th word sig ifies small or little . e little marshy hollow .

T — G T /t The en ded em l ia t . From the aelic , a hill , and , grey

Te nzl i a t/z k n A or . local pronunciation is , the grey hill oll very applicable name .

T m n /zer a — o a . Ga Tem N a From the elic , a hill . is the genitive o Th k r a s . e e of a i r e f latter part , , a sumes the oblique form f , to

li s The watch or guard , where the aspirate eclip es the initial f . sign al or watch hill . — L ne /z a - c r n . G i nne W L l nn n S y From the aelic L , elsh y , A glo axon

H l n n a k s lza r n . C y , a pool , la e , and sometime applied to a waterfall

u of ea r n of a s w a s n is the obliq e form , a heap stones such throw up by the ancient Briton s over t he graves of their heroes ; also a k conical roc or mount .

Ta i — l s k . F G Tn il a is or rom the provincial aelic g, a disaster a

n or mour ful event, a place of accident .

Ca t/z r i n a e —T - br . he old of Ca t/z a i r B r a idk e form this word was ,

G Ca t /za ir a n d B r a id/i e or from the aelic , a seat , or house , , the face f t O o . The s on of p a hill hou e the top a hill .

C a n — l e. F G Cl a a n or Cl ean of rom the aelic , , a fertile piece land

n ho The i n of surrou ded by a g. word is found the various forms

Cl a ne Cl u n ie Cl u n Cl a nes Cl ones , , y , , and . 1 66 E THE PLACE NAMES or L GI N S H I R E .

Ca r deokk ea d —For d The d of this wor see Cardow. hea the k k blac roc .

D el na et — . G da l or p From the aelic , a district hollow, and the

G oit The or of . aelic p , a caldron hollow dell the caldron

L a d er e t —T ol ur a of y f his is an d word . O L dy the Catholic

n V r M ritual sig ifies the i gin ary, and was so called because this

of of t . piece land originally belonged to the Church S . Fillan

B a — B a lt il oldow . The of G r first part this word is from the e man ,

n ba l bk a l ba ol b/z onl . The a hill , and fou d as , , , and latter part is da or dlz a k , blac .

B is k e er o —The f B k t . o p f croft the ishop, and indicates, li e Lady C or . roft, land set apart for church ecclesiastical purposes — H ea tkfi eld The initial part of this word is from the M iddle

E H a it/z i H etk D H eide d H eidr . nglish , utch , Icelan ic , Gothic W aste land or pasture .

E ek s - l ie T in . . his word is not the same as found Craigellachie

The old E l e/ze on e o of B form was . It is f the few words asque

k [1 Ur a t i n origin , li e and , both signifying water, tha we have left

Th E l he . e T the country first part is , a town or residence .

/l e The n C . o The x second part, , is a hill residence the hill . prefi

E l E i e as l E ll E ll e Ol . is met with y , , , , and —Th Wa a lk nz ill . e Wa l ek en prefix here is from the Dutch ,

S Va lk a D ni Va lk e wedish , a sh , to press , to full cloth , and allied to

Uer er e t o . The k the Latin g , bend , turn , incline mill for waul ing or pressing cloth . — R /z i never . The R lz i n C R k nn first part is from the eltic y , Irish

R i nn S d R a i n n or , can inavian , a promo tory peninsula, and is found

' S of R i n R l an both in cotland and Ireland in the various forms , ,

R R i n R i n The Over een e . , , and g second part is from the Dutch ,

S E r e or Or e or i . a boundary, candinavian y , a boundary po nt

1 6 E L I N S H I R E 8 THE PLACE NAMES or G .

a r a s —Th deb/t a r D l n . e x G g prefi here is from the aelic , water,

a nd a of dow er dever dnr da r is found in the v rious forms , , , , and

The P Gl a n W dw r . elsh latter part is from the ictish , a shore , a k Th n e . bri , a river side . water side

P r es ca l t en —The ol d G P r a is . prefix here is from the aelic word ,

or The s strong, and by extension a stronghold fortification . econd

r Ca l t on Ca il t a ne of G K n P pa t , , is , son irim , i g of the icts , whose

s The of stronghold was in this pari h . old form the word was

P r a s - eha l t a n f a il an e The or o C t e . . fort temple

Ger t ens — t n . T s G Ger n hi is a pure aelic word, signifyi g standi g

for n Gei r corn , and fields suitable growi g corn are usually called

t a n a n he Ge r t a n T u . in the plural . sing lar is

er le —The G oi r e C . or gy prefix here is from the aelic C , a ravine a

Th G Ga ll n e w . e t . G il hollo la ter part is from the aelic , a stra ger

or G l e of Ga ll an d old of y is the oblique form , the form the word

’ i r /zoi Th n w Ce e l . e t was g s ranger or lowla ders hollo .

a l e B f —The o . G C y , ridge latter part of this word is from the aelic

Coill e B o , a wood , and the name was borrowed from the ridge f P Cally in erth .

' R i nnz a ek —The s is G R i nn fi fir t part of this word from the aelic ,

n of n n a n d i n literally the poi t a ythi g, topography is applied to a

n r n k The F i a e/z promo tory o isolated mou tain pea . second part is

G l Th of n s e . the ae ic for raven . hill the rave

—F Te m Tonz br eek . G rom the aelic , a hill ; quite common through

ou t The B r ea c k the country. second part signifies spec led or parti

H n n k c oloured . illsides or dry uplands freque tly prese t spec led or

n T B r a ek s . potted appeara ce his word is also found as , as in

r a k l aw N r k c The s . B in ai n . pec led hill

Gr a eenz oa n t —T s k F . hi is a modern name , ta en from the rench

G r a ce or G r a t ns , pleasing beautiful , and allied to the Latin , and KNOCKANDO . I 69

- M M ea nt S n a n t M ons . The , a hill , Anglo axo , , and Latin beautiful hill .

e —T of 1 Ga r bk Ga r l i n be . g his word is composed three roots, ( ) ,

G 2 i n n G 3 Bea the aelic for rough , ( ) L , the aelic for pool , and ( ) g,

The n the Gaelic for little . little rough li n .

' m r — T0772 M Th Te o e. G k er e From the aelic , a hill, and , large . large hill .

K n ek a ndr — k e eiek F G n oc n . rom the aelic C , a hill , mou d , or noll

D r ei c/t is of A n here is a diminutive . a corruption the Gaelic

’

i Th D s . D r a e dk D . e , a ruid ruid hill

— lin n G a r l i n nzor e. S ee Ga r ebe . Th e g e big rough lin .

— i k n s n es . G nne a d Ly From the aelic L , a pool , or la e , sometime

W is W s L nn A a waterfall . ith which cognate the el h ly , and nglo

H l nna S axon y .

H a n /i s S n as H a n /z or H en li a n d g , found in cotla d g g , generally den oting a low - lying meadow between bills or on the bank s of a stream .

“ t c r o —The n i t n P i /z . P B k of D y i itial , fou d in the oo eer as

P et te f o . s , signifies a portion land It is al o applied to a dwelling,

has a n i n Bet/z s o and equivalent , a booth , and also in the

Be B f P it t S . i s n o candinavian and y It also fou d in the form ,

The P a t ens . signifying a hollow, and allied to the Latin , a well

li r e of G Or a eib/t or latter part C y is a corruption the aelic , trees

wood .

- The S r a tlz S t r a tlz ea n . m G g first part co es from the aelic , a

The Gea n i s of Gen valley. latter part another form , an

T M a en or M e en or n . abbreviation of the eutonic g g , a field plai

I s a tautology. — Ga ll This word ha s been used by the Gaels to denote a s s D an d tranger, u ually the anes , since then it has been applied to 1 0 TH E O F E L I N H I E 7 PLACE NAMES G S R .

E . is d bu t the nglish It more commonly foun with a prefix ,

’ ” on e without it signifies the strangers land .

B r a n t/a nds - . Land reclaimed by burning . In olden times m ossy or peaty land w as u sually brought under cultivation by

of burning, and in some parts the country this mode is adopted in the present time .

Ca r da na c/z G a r r k or k , from the aelic C , a roc , roc y, and the

D a na e/z in The k Gaelic , abounding . roc y land .

D a bneona ck —The old of w as D a l mei na ck form this word ,

or s G M eine signifying the peaty mos y dale , from the aelic , peat .

l a G Cl a a n C ne . , from the aelic , a fertile piece of land

n lk e n —The s G a il C e . C fir t part is from the aelic , a corner or T u of S n . angle , sed frequently in the place names cotla d here is

Cu l k another word , a bac , and in distinguishing between the two

The it is necessary to k now the configuration of the place . latter

i n r i nea l a d r G o G ek o . part is from , , a race family Land occupied

G Ci n nea dk by the race for generations . Also from the aelic , a surname .

— f n R i nn a a e The R i nn m o . g r r i . first part eans the point anythi g In its topographical application it sign ifies a promon tory or point

of of S . land , and is frequently met with in the place names cotland

k The The Ga r r ie G Ga r a d/z . second part is from the aelic , a di e

r f k point o end o the di e or boundary .

er s k el l ee/z —F G oi r e C . C rom the aelic , a deep hollow, and the

o ek The of . S eil e . Gaelic , abounding in willow hollow the willows

B m na e/z — B a i s a l e . G l e From the aelic , a town or re idence , and / m M M ea d/zena e z . , the iddle , iddleton

— Ba l N a F i e or . B a l na l a ck . g rom , a town residence is the Th of Gl a c or . e genitive , and , a hollow narrow valley residence in

the narro w valley.

1 2 TH E F E L I N H I R E 7 PLACE NAMES O G S .

f G a ld P Th o . Gn . e rom the aelic p, a little hill hill erhaps the name w as applied from the fact of early cultivation or residence n i t ear .

Cor l a ss — . G oi r e Gl a s s g From the aelic C , a deep hollow, and ,

or s k an Th d s G . e grey pec led, al o used in aelic to signify green green hollow.

B o k a — r . T g his is rather a curious corruption of the older form ,

B o a a r G B o s gf , from the aelic g, soft . In its original sen e it meant a or ho Bk e Ve peat moss , simply a g, and is found as g and gg , and

Fl i a e/z The . P a a r is equivalent to the word , wet latter part , , s n The . r ig ifies cold cold bog o marsh .

ek i n —F . G L ea ca nn L rom the aelic , steep , shelving ground or the s ea o n n ide of a hill . L , the root , origi ally mea s a large flat stone, a nd n t W L l eek a is G k is cog a e with the elsh , Latin L p , and ree

R i n er nz —F G R i n n of n g . rom the aelic , the point anythi g, a

or of Ger in point spit land, and , literally blue , but when used in topography it signifies green .

P k a ba ie — B a id/ze w e F it/z . . e From the Gaelic , a marsh , and , yello

The m yellow arsh .

r e t i nda k a r t — S a a r t S a eer dos C . f g , a priest , is only the Latin , and

n S i s quite commo in place names throughout the north of cotland .

The of w a s r oi t - a n - t a a r t n s old form the word C g , where the i itial

’ t The was eclipsed by the letter . priests croft .

l n n —T i s The G . D e ve va . his word made up of three aelic roots

D a il s first is , a valley, ometimes a field , and is frequently found

Del The n M i n prefixed to other words as . seco d root is , smooth ,

v The where the initial a i is eclipsed by its equivalent . third root

B/za n or Ba n b/z is , , white , where the combination is eclipsed by its

e v The or . quivalent . smooth white field valley xv11 .

D RAFFOR .

H I S s s of pari h is in the we t the County. Its length i s

of 8 s a n d 3 upwards mile , its breadth varies from to 5

s I t s s l ow an d mile . urface is partly , flat, fertile ; partly

an d k n elevated , moorish , roc y, and the la dscape much diversified . A 1 8 40 n d . now About sa stone and grey slate were quarried ltyre ,

' n R a fior d w as n n t a nexed to , formerly a distinct parish belo gi g o

1 661 of P the parsonage of Dallas , until in , by an Act arliament , it

R f The s old . n was joined to af ord wall of the church remai , and in the burying- ground the remains of the Cummings of L ogi c are

. The n Bl ervi e B of interred chief mansio s are , urgee , and Altyre ,

n n of n M S n which latter, in the begi ni g the ce tury, iss i clair wrote

Ou r s n of n A next step was through a ce e u earthly beauty to ltyre ,

an d n t o, the most lovely loveable place you can conceive , belo ging

S ir W G C n of C C n an d illiam ordon ummi g, chief the lan ummi g, l ” representative of the o d lords of Badenoch .

R e or d —The old of w as R a a r t t he f form the word fi , from

G R a tk W s R /za t/z a n aelic , and cognate with the el h , earthen fort

or n n bill n k s . stro ghold , also a mou d or . In modern spelli gs it ta e

The s as R a w R a R a k R a . various forms , such , y , , and econd part

A e as A r d - na - R a it/ t he r d . W is from , a height find the word z,

R - A r da of a tk . height the fort, and as , the high fort

1 7 3 T H E 1 . OF E L G I N S H I R E 74 PLACE NAMES .

ot/za ll — C Coed or eid C . C From the eltic , a wood , and variously

Coit Coa t Ca it Cot . of E n written , , , and In the south gland it is

u i te W Geed B K ea t Q , in ales it is , and in rittany it is found as and

u ie —I n 1 240 Bn r n G B a r id B r . a or B a r inn g g , from the aelic g , g ,

B a r n We a . muddy stream , from the root , water have also the

Ba a idiek r a r o . djective g , signifying muddy Silted

u —I t S cot s b r n . is said that this place was debatable ground

P S — s a between the icts and the cots that is to y , was claimed by b oth races or tribes that finally it came into the poss ession of the

S . cots , hence the name

s i - F G M a c M a r ca s e. r A i s rom the aelic , a horse, and , a covert,

a or n . . hill , stro ghold A tilting field — Gr a na ry This is a S cotch word Signifying a farm or store

n Gr a na r ia or Gr a n a m house for grain , from the Lati , , and cognate

Gr a nnisea ek with the Gaelic .

l es — S Ted T Tod/zo . eddi From the candinavian , a fox , Icelandic, ,

Z t e s o Z ot t e o . The G erman , Is called from his shaggy hair.

l airs or holes of the foxes .

Ter a — G Ter r W Tw r a Ta r r is From the aelic , elsh , L tin ,

k P r os or . G ree y g , a conical hill a tower

’ lz — B r ee/zl a e/z r B r ock l ee . o From the Gaelic , a warren a badger s

d en .

—T n E F i r F i r mes s . his is a moder name , from the modern nglish ,

- F a r /z n F a r a Da F r W x P r . Anglo Sa on , Icela dic , nish y , elsh y

The mos s where fallen fir is found .

—F A n - S Tlzer e /zor . P p rom the glo axon p , an assembly of people ,

or W t r e or D der . The a village , elsh f , Icelandic f p , utch p form

k or of i . p p is evidently Norse or gin, and was applied to a few houses

Ta r m s — old Ta r a From the Gaelic , a height , as found in

1 6 E L G I N S H I R E 7 THE PLACE NAMES or . — l u n G Cl u a n of T C y From the aelic , a fertile piece land . hese fertile pieces were favourite spots selected by the monk s for building purposes . — Wa r dend F T Wa r d Wa r t Wa r tk rom the eutonic , , and , a guarded place, a watchtower.

ie o — Ca ss r d. Ca s or Ca s s a ek n f From the Gaelic , steep , an asce t ; f n . T also, a di ficulty, an emerge cy, a trying situation he steep ford .

a w r encet ow n —T . as L his is not a patronymic, is generally sup I t / . G L ob za r e er posed is from the aelic , a L p , a place for the

— n or T seclusion of lepers the la d farm of the lepers . here are also

L e er E . L eb/z a r a ck L obk a r a na e/z p lands in lgin is the adj ective, and signifies one covered with leprosy . — K il a t The G Cill or nfl first part is from the aelic , a cell

- or The ol d burying ground , a church . form of the word was

- - The n K it it as K el . K il na vl a . prefix is more frequently fou d and

The D Vl eit or second part is from the utch , a stream of water, an

e The r n - arm of the sea or chann l . ch u rch o buryi g ground beside

k r or o . the stream , la e , marsh ' ' — L eek z ek zll For this word see L ocht y in the parishes of Dallas

n and E lgi . — f B i S ee o . Cl eda e/z . the parish irn e

nes — F Tem l znn G k Temenos a Tei n l es t e . p rom the Latin p , ree ,

z u l T or G Tea n l . temple sacred enclosure , aelic p hese temples were

P or D r u ids built by the ancient icts , by their priests , the ; and

k D k - or those remar able ruidical remains are termed roc ing stones ,

G Cl a clzb/zr a t/z of k in aelic , the stones nowledge , which had apparen tly been used for the purposes of divination .

— G Cl a sk F osse l a s /zdlzu . C From the aelic , a trench , or ditch , or ,

k The k or . a nd D/za . , blac dar hollow trench RAFFORD . I 7 7 — R ea de T W R k d his is the elsh word y , a ford, and is cognate

R a t/z G e d . with the aelic , a road

—The w F a r na l e . of F ea r n a l ia tk y old form this ord was , from the

n L a tk T F ea r na a d i he . G . aelic , alderwood , , grey grey alderwood — D ebi ns ba sk F G Da b/t a n k . rom the aelic , a hollow , a little la e

The shrubby hollow.

B o a — Th w eed F G B e a clz or . e g rom the aelic g , wet marshy d o or . wo in the marsh , usually alderwood willows

B edna a —Th l w B a dna a ek of ek . e o d as fi form fi , the hill the

n Ba d or F ia eh rave s , from , a tuft or cluster, little hill , and , a raven .

- lz r a i r e G a r r i k R u a d . C . C g y From the aelic g, a roc , and , red

The k red roc .

N ew t il e — N ile an u . eu t d N e t is l e Formerly , from the Gaelic

N u a dlt G N ea W N ew dd n , erman , elsh y , new, cognate with the Lati

N ova s G k N ees S n , and the ree , and the ca dinavian a

The or boundary. new boundary march . H I S parish is in the S trathspey district of M orayshire .

H - a r icu l eath clad hills surround this parish , and limit its g

of S w hich tural lands to the narrow valley the pey, L bounds

n On of of R it o the east . the hill to the west the village othes is

of a quantity white and red agate, uniformly smooth and finely

of On shaded in its colours , and capable high polish . the summit of a round hill in the vicinity of the village stand the ruins of

R C of of E othes astle , the ancient seat the noble family Leslie , arls

The on e of of R othes . castle is the most ancient ruins in the

1 23 8 E va De M r a ch M De P . o t country In , daughter of uriel olloc ,

D n R 1 263 s he a was omi a De othes, and in that capacity , in , m de gift by charter of the lands of I nver l ocht ie to the Cathedral of H M oray . It is said that the Leslies had come from ungary with

of M n 1 45 7 n C . Atheli g, the wife alcolm a more In they were

E a of R T created rls othes by J ames II . hey seem to have resided R 1 620 at othes till somewhere about the year , when they removed

1 700 M t o t o Fifeshire . In they sold their possessions in oray

f of Th Dr . W o W of E . e Grant lchies late ilson orcester, a native

t o s u m of £5 00 for the parish , bequeathed it a educational

of t o purposes , the interest which ought be enjoyed by the

s choolmaster.

1 8 0 E L I N S H I R E THE PLACE NAMES or G .

i s G Bea r r a d/z of or from the aelic , the top a mountain , hill , table

. T k of S land his place is a fertile terrace on the left ban the river pey.

A ik en a — w . A ik or E ik k d y From the Icelandic , , an oa woo ,

D n E e S E k A - S A e E a k Th O . e a ish g, wedish , nglo axon , nglish

f E n su fix is the adjectival form , and the word might be anglicised

Oak en Th w a . e k the y path through the oa wood .

Cl a e/zbr a ek —The old of l a ek r . C blz ea e form this word was , from

l u e/t B a e Th C r e or . e , a stone , and , grey brindled grey ridge .

da r eu s —The u D u n . G D n first part is from the aelic , a stronghold ,

n E n a s a hill fort , and also applied to hills, mountains fou d in gland

F n D The in Downs , and in la ders as in unes . second part is a

of G Ti or ea i s violent corruption the aelic , to save from danger, and f n r a The n o . an ol d form of the word was Du t o c s . stro ghold safety

S eu r denk oa d —The S vor dr first part is from the Icelandic ,

k n or literally the s i , rind , covering, and applied to the grassy

D en of . e covering the land is a hollow, and the word as a whol f signifies the head o the grassy hollow .

Or t on — F Or t D Oor t S Or d rom the German , utch , candinavian , Th n . e a point , cor er, and sometimes a place dwelling at the point f or corner ; here at the end o a hill .

B o i neu r —The B o is G i s g . first part g the aelic for soft, and

The r frequently met with in the place names of the county. latte

f a r The is a a r o C . part C is the oblique form , a marsh word

r or Ca r tautology signifying the ma shy soft place , being the first B o or . name , and latterly the prefix g was imposed, prefixed thereto

— - - D a nda l eitk I n 1 1 2 of D a n da l ee. . 6 the form this word was In

- - 1 7 00 Da n da l etlt . we find it as , and finally in its present form

du n da G L ea e i s From , a hill or stronghold ; is the aelic for two ,

The k s the Gaelic for a large smooth stone . hill with two roc y face or sides .

% % I .

N E W S PYN IE .

H I S parish is bounded on the north by the parishes of

i n - D Dr a n i e on S t . uffus and , the east by A drews Lhanbryd ,

E n on I n . t s o the south by lgi , and the west by Alves 2 length is four miles , and its mean breadth miles, and area about

The e 8 square miles . river Lossie traces almost the whol

The of S ni e of . the southern boundary Loch py , formerly a

of 3 1 beautiful sheet fresh water, miles long by broad , and

originally a marine bay, stretched along the northern boundary ,

of n an but, at the expense nearly has been converted i to — unsightly morass an impregnation of sulphur a nd iron or e athwart its bed having ruined the hopes which occasioned it to be

n drained and converted i to fertile land . In its lacustrine state it

k s richly ornamented the landscape , and attracted numerous floc of

and on z wild swans, drew to the woods its margin the capercail ie

k of i P n n or . S n e coc the wood py alace , the ancie t reside ce of the

B of M of 1 05 7 1 224 ishops oray, the Site whose cathedral , from till ,

S ni e was in py , now exists in massive, but irreparable ruin near

n k the east end of the bed of the o ce beautiful la e . It formed a

of 1 20 quadrangle about feet with strong towers at the corners , thus much resembling Du n st a ffn age Castle four miles north of

S nie of t o Oban. py formerly gave the title baron the noble family

182 N E w S P YN E I . 1 8 3

f The r w as 1 5 o . 90 Lindsay pee age created in , and became d on of G 1 67 2 ormant the death eorge , the third lord , in .

” T is a u arr w ood of his parish loc lly Q y , from the fact the church an d the manse being in the vicinity of the old castle of

Q u arry w ood . E arly in the present cen tury the Barons of the E xchequer expen ded £900 in plan tin g an d otherwis e improving a large

’ n is C n extent of bishop s land adjace t to the castle, which row property .

S n ie —I n 1 295 w as S n E py , the form py y . vidently this word is

old P s S i n e or or f derived from the icti h word p , a hill , point , cli f,

k an or d G S i nnea n . roc , is allied to the modern aelic p , a little hill

F i ndr a s s ie - The s is G Fi n . fir t part of this word from the aelic or F ionn Gw nn or Th n W . e , elsh y , fair white seco d part is from t he G or D D r eck t or D r eis ek erman utch , fallow ground or meadow

s The or pa ture . white meadow fallow ground .

R e u k —The of w es k a . as R osk a u k g first form this word g , from

R os G R os R ed k H u h s . a the Icelandic , aelic , signifying , li e a ro e g

k - r H eu S n The a . o g is the cotch for a low lyi g meadow . red me dow

K n oek br a e - F G noc . rom the aelic C , a little hill , and invariably f i n E as K k S B r a e ound the nglish form noc , and the cotch , an i Th e . ncline . hill incline

L ea nk ea d —F G L on m rom the aelic , a arsh , morass, meadow, or

n Th f e or o or . law . head end the meadow marsh

K i n t r a e — F ea n n or of an d . G C rom the aelic , the head end ,

T i k Th The Tr a i k r a e . g , the shore . head of the shore word g

r W Tr a etk C s Tr a it a n d cor esponds with the elsh , orni h , Latin

Tr a et u s . — Qu a r ry w ood The first part of this word is from the Gaelic

k nz Th k Cea t r a k Cea tk a i r . e , a quarter, from , four mon s in olden TH E L I N H I R E 1 84 E PLACE NAMES or G S .

n times were in the habit of dividi g the land into sections , and in

or Cea t k r a i nk consequence the word quarter , , is frequently met

n The . with in the place names of S cotla d . quarter wood

M r es ide G M a or M a ci r of y , from the aelic , Irish , an officer

' B a il or M o r M r e justice, a ifi messenger, and found as y , ey , and

M r e y . In olden times the word was applied to factors and ground h ff’ T e a . officers . b ili s land

k t - G A a l t or A l t a n d A ldr eu . g y From the aelic , a stream , found

d A u d t dr eie ea d Th A l l A ll k . e as , , , and , a bridge origin of stone

n bridges may be approximately fixed in the eighth ce tury, as the

of 7 26 7 5 2 Cill ine fourteenth Abbot Iona from the years to was ,

D r oiek t ea ek— - k — who was surnamed that is , bridge ma er from his

n M being the first to build bridges in Scotla d . any places through

n k n ou t the cou try ta e their ames from this word .

r e ick B u — Th Te k r n F G Teor a . e rom the aelic , a boundary

t eor s a an d er a nn The t e . oblique form is g, the genitive is terminal i ek of u is e is a corruption g , water ; the water boundary or the

t er iek a n t eor s a s a s deor s a . d . boundary burn It is found as g, al o g

h or deer or T e . root literal meaning is , a drop small quantity of water

7n l — G S r e k il n e or for S er o i e il . gg From the aelic g g, a , place

r e a dk Th n S of s i . e shrivelli g grain ; g g , the act hr velling mill for

or grindin g shrivelled dried grain . — L a ver ock L eek The gurgling nois e made by running water was

n L a bk a i r a ek L a bk a i r t o in ancie t times termed , from the root ,

k s a ver ock of old spea , and doubtle s L is a corruption this expression , a nd by exten sion it w as applied to a muddy place as L a ba r a n and

We L ew r a ek L ou r s k a ba r . i On L find it also as and . the

a r u s Continent it is found as L a b .

r a da — D w eor d vor dr G S u r l e. S S From the utch , Icelandic , erman

k r te da l r The S e w a . . , a sward , and , a dale green dale or valley sward

1 8 6 E L G I N H I R E THE PLACE NAMES or S .

M el a ee M a l o u e M u l la and M al in a s M ell u m ee , g , g, in Latin g , , and

M ol ein oe H n . e o 2ot h J 4 Th 66 . e died anuary, original nam e

u a or L eek ei n in was L g , and as we are told Irish histories of these saints the syllables m e (my) and do or da (thy) were frequently prefixed t o the names of saints as term s of endearment or

n d a R ev. reverence , are now substituted by the term , while the

a n i n an d e oe T s diminutives , , g and were affixed . hese addition v n n ot ery ofte greatly changed the names , and those who are acquainted with the u s es of these superimposed syllables are apt

The n to be misled . land which belonged to this church i cluded

n k Barm u ck it n Li wood and y , and exte ded in direction northwards on both sides of the Lossie to the shores of the M oray Firth below m I n chbr oo . — L k a n br d The of s G a nn W y first part thi word is aelic L , elsh

l a n T a nd n L , and eutonic L , origi ally an enclosure , a church , a

n S an d W i s s n n house . Its significatio in cotland ales trictly co fi ed A to church , but in Ireland it signifies a house as well . bout the middle of the fifth cen tury there were fifteen holy women in B Th n s . e Ireland , who were disti gui hed by the name of rigit

of B Du bht ha i most eminent them was ridget , the daughter of g, w ho n lived in the province of Lei ster, and who was thus descended

Fu a t hnair t a n d from , a famous prince , brother to the renowned

n he of s C nn of . T o , the hero the hu dred battles character thi

n n ot of pious woman exte ded only throughout the whole Ireland ,

of E s but throughout the whole urope , and the chronicle of the Irish saints tell us that many churches were founded

n i n S he by her a d honour of her in S cotland . was

I e de of an d S t . t I also called or , but as patron saint the northern

B and n of S she k S t . wester portion cotland is best nown as ridget,

M ol u a t . was succeeded by S g. W - 8 ST . ANDRE S LHANBRYD . I 7 — Tiendl a nd Well The first part is the ol d legal Scotch term for

B Ti tk e i s n Ti u nd the iblical term , and cognate with the Icela dic ,

h o S Tiende n . T e f wedish , a te th part part the land allocated for

k n . the up eep of the clergy , or commo ly church land

— G Cr a n n l a ek Cr a nl eek . From the aelic , woody, trees, a woody

The s Tea l - of place . word also signifie a , or web footed waterfowl k k n . the duc family, but the former is the more li ely correct meani g

u k mill —F see s The Wa l . or this word the pari h of Cromdale .

n or mill for pressi g fulling cloth .

Ba r mu ck i t —The of w a s B a r i n u cdk a ek y old form this word , and

of n G Ba r signifies the top the undulating grou d ; from the aelic , M . u ea ek bill s k the top , and , little or nolls .

a r t on —T is n in C his a patro ymic word , derived the original from

n ocea Ceeea r e fit the Italia C , the notch of an arrow ; whence also , to a n n n Cock arrow on the bowstri g ; whe ce also the word , a gun , by

s n old an tran fere ce of the archery term , archer became to be called

Cox an d s a r t on a n d s , a tronghold C , there are the ruin well preserved of s such a tower in thi place .

H a r es t a nes —F H er i S H a r e t he rom the Icelandic , wedish ,

n so ha s . common field a imal , called because it a divided upper lip

H a r es t a nes s n n s therefore ignifies a boundary wall , with ope i g

n s a s S s betwee the stones , ju t the common cotti h bluebell is called

H a r ebell s in . , on account of the notche the bell lip

a l eets —T C . is G oill his a tautology from the aelic C , a wood , and

W s oed s n Cei t oa t u i t the el h C , also a wood , and variou ly writte , C , C ,

Cot n d on C K ea t K ea d Gee . and , and fou d the ontinent , , and

D a r kl a nd —The old of s w as D form thi word orland, which

or G D a r D ebk r signifies the watery marshy land from the aelic or ,

n W D w r D w r B D ea r . cog ate with the elsh f , , and asque , water

P i t a ven —The of W or g y . first part the word is from the elsh 1 8 8 E L G I N S H I R E THE PLACE NAMES OF .

B i n n T P s . he rythonic , and commonly used olde times by the ict

G n B otk C n s B ed P i t aelic equivale t is , or i h , and the three forms , ,

B ot k Bed r T P i t o . , and , signify a tent , booth , hut his prefix , , is

G The s not found in pure aelic. word is found variou ly

P i t i t P t i et e P t t P t e e t P e . written as , , , , and y Its original

of b u t meaning was supposed to be a piece land , in the

“ ” Book of Deer its signification distinctly poin ts to a

n an d p lace of reside ce , the latter is the signification used in the

P it ave n The f Ga ven of word g y. a fix y is clearly a corrupted form

Gu a na n 1 200 G u a ne 1 260 Gu a en a n an d 1 421 the original , , ,

o Th B ot k find G bk a in . e prefix was primarily attached , and we

B e tk a a na n i n 1 1 7 5 B etk a a ne 1 1 90 the word as g , g in , and

’ B et k a a n n 1 Th s or e s . g a in 3 00. Smith re idence abode It must have been after the time that S hak espeare wrote the tragedy of

‘ M a h a n Dr . L u c l M a ebetk that the word w a s changed to Pit gaveny .

F G C E n nk B ea t k ( late of the ree aelic hurch , di burgh) thi s that in

N n B etk ew n a n air shire is the g of the dramatist, but this cannot

k w H ar dm oor be , as we now no the heath of , celebrated as the place i n which M acbeth was met by the weird sis ters while he

u n K D n n s j o rneyed from I verness to meet ing u ca at Forre , to be

B etk ow na n Sk n s u s west of g , and ri e tell that it is three miles east

of E n n e w Pit a ven lgi , so that there is little doubt that g y is the

t k w na n famous Be ge .

— B e The B t n F G or . o o . g rom the aelic g, soft marshy farm or

residen ce near the mars h or moss . — l h n 7n s s Cr an oc . Cr a e . For this word see in this parish — H a t t on For s e e S e m ou t h . . this word the parish of p y

- d The L es nzu r d e The w a s L osm u r . i . old form of this word y first

old G ies L is or L es part is evidently from the aelic L , , , a circular

r or M or dk a m ound o entrenchment earthen fortification, and ,

1 0 T H E O F E L G I N S H I R E 9 PLACE NAMES .

o f u the broom , which abundantly grows along the so thern shores of M F the oray irth .

S ea ba nk s — G S a r bk S rf From the aelic g , the cormorant, cotch

ea r t The of S ca rf and S . resort the cormorant .

G or dons w a r d —The T Wa r d latter part is from the eutonic ,

a or Wa r tk or - The W r t . , , a guarded place watch tower watch

o tower f the Gordons .

—The of i B L eek n a bo. s G e latter part this word from the aelic ,

B es i n c ognate with the Latin , and a Latin manuscript it is found

s The of as L a ca s B evi . loch the cows .

E r r el l —F G A r n rom the aelic , la d , or, literally, ploughed land ,

Th r a nd R eile . e o . , pebbles , stones pebbly stony land

t —Th old of F r es t ers ea t F or s t er s ea . e o form this was , hence the

’ The or n ame . forester s place farm . — u r n . Th S a u ek enb e willow burn .

z —Th l der b z Cl a t t er i nbr s . e o d Cl a n r gg form was gg, from the dd k Th W s Cl a k . e el h , an emban ment , or dy e , or ditch bridge over the ditch .

i — F er s ill nz k . Gill evor de. G Ge rom the aelic , yielding , submission f T bill The o . act doing penance , obedience his is sometimes

’ c alled the confessor s hill .

—T W L l w e k L eu ek a r s . k his is the elsh , a la e or marsh , and the h T e . G A r . aelic , ploughed land soft or wet cultivated land

—For s see P i a The P i t a i r l ie t ven . . the fir t part g y latter part is t he E so one of nglish early, given from the fact that it is the first

n farms in S cotla d on which the crops ripen. XXI .

SPE YM OUTH .

H E paris h of Speym ou t h occupies the north - east corner of

E l i ns hir e on S g , and is bounded the east by the river pey,

is 6 from which it gets its name . It 4 miles long , and has a m of 1 s of ean breadth 4 miles , and consist the suppressed parishes

of E s D on e 1 7 43 . s il and ipple , which were united into in

E s s il or of old was the lower, nearer the sea , the two parishes,

I s a l or n G e . and is from the aelic , low lowlyi g It is also found as

I s ea l E esk a l is as in E , , and frequently found in topography, ssel

M o s el M - i osa l mount , the low mountain, y agh , the low plain .

l e w as s p an ancient rectory , and comprehended the southern

r f The of o o . D highland part the parish church ipple , now

w as H G demolished , dedicated to the oly host, but the burying

u s of ground is still in e . At the style the churchyard there

“ formerly stood a small house called the H ouse of the H oly G ” k host , around which the people wal ed with the corpse at burial ,

n which custom was strictly observed u til the house was demolished .

The n old G D 0 word is evide tly from the aelic word i pal, literally

i of of or sign fying the side the roof a house, the side of a hill .

The an d two were thus called upper lower, a very appropiate

a as n of ppellation regards the co figuration both .

ne —F G i nne W L l nn k . and Ly rom the aelic L , elsh y , a pool , la e ,

of n w . often a pool stag ant water, hence a hollo

1 91 1 2 T H E O F E L I N 9 PLACE NAMES G S H I R E .

Wa r d Wa r t Wa r t k n Ver dr , , and , Icela dic , a watchtower,

or A n - S Wa er dia n beacon , a guarded place , glo axon , German

Wa r ten Wa er i n , thence g, a fortification .

r l is t on —Th f O b . e o S Or d first part this word is the candinavian ,

of of f a point or corner, and on account the initial letter the a fix

d or b The the has been supplanted eclipsed by . second part is

T L s t or from the eutonic y , applied in topography to a large house

n The n r o h ma sion . house or dwelling at the poi t o corner f t e rising ground .

M es s t edl a ek M es i S M os s a D ni . From the Icelandic , wedish , a sh

M es n an d G Tu dl a ek an d t o , moorla d , the aelic , a heap , applied

The places having irregularities on the surface . irregular moor land .

ek a l e —For s ee D el l a pp . this word the parish of Cromdale .

' k lk zll —For Tr ochail s of B ni Tr oe e . this word see , in the pari h ir e

k a u k —M E nn or a n h Wk i nn . e W y g iddle nglish k Q y , els

- Ck w n l ow . y , gorse , and haugh , a lying meadow

Bi r n ies t r i e —The is W B r on p first part of the word from the elsh ,

f The n B r einn o . Gaelic , the side a hill seco d part is from the

i e E t r e k Th S t r S . e or Dutch jp , modern nglish ijp , a strea striped k strea ed hillside .

en t/i — The of Garm ach t he Ga r m old form this word was , from

Ga r bk W Ga r w M a ek or . Gaelic , elsh , rough , and , outlet mouth

V s of The rough outlet or mouth of the river Spey. ery de criptive the place .

—The D Bl i nk bonny . first part of this word is from the utch

n D Bl ink e S Bl i nk a t he Bl i nk e , anish , wedish , and cognate with

k P kle ei n t he Gree g , to burn , to shine , with which also is allied

Bl a ne Bl a nee or . French , Italian , white, and bonny, fair, beautiful

D k Mo S ee . The beautifu l spot . parish of y e and y

XXII .

’ ’ UR QUH A R I .

H I S parish stretches along the M oray Firth from the Spey

k or an d to the Lossie, without any cree landing place , in

The . C olden times, as now, water was scarce Loch of ots ,

The formerly a conspicuous feature , has been completely drained . mineral well of Fintan has had about the beginnin g of the century

as n s a n some provincial fame a medici al p , but its waters , havi g

s of been analy ed , were found not to possess any the qualities

The A W n attributed to them . bbey ell , the fou tain which supplied

k k s of the mon s with water, mar the site a demolished ancient A 1 1 25 I . of of priory built in by David , and made a cell the bbey

of U Du . nfermline Its endowments , the lordship rquhart , the lands of F M fishin s on ochabers , other lands in oray, and part of the g the S C pey, were distributed among patriots and ourt favourites at the P R . eformation reviously , however, the priory had decayed when

ni D n disu ted from unfermli e in the fourteenth century, and almost

s P l u scar din e The n of M s uppres ed by its union to , insurge ts oray

’ 1 1 i n s of U K in 60 were met the moor rquhart by the ing s army, and were defeated with great slaughter .

u k a r —The Ur q t . local meaning given to this word is that it is

Oi r e or F a d A nzk a i nn the Gaelic words , a coast border, , long, and ,

i of A damn an T s o. a river. his is not In the writ ngs it is

1 94 URQ UHART . 9 5

ka r t a n 1 1 00 Ur chard i n 1 28 7 U w r ha A i r c O c r d. , in , rquhart , and

’ It will be observed that in subsequen t forms to that of A da mnan s

P i r a n is . a r or a w as the terminal dropped In ictish times land ,

a r t a n or Cea r t a i n w as or A i r eea r t a n and Ce friends , tribes ; then

The G would mean the tribal lands . modern aelic for Cea r t a i n is

a i r dea n is or C , which strictly confined to signify friends relations,

fin d n in P l u scar din e t and we the same word doi g duty , where the

d in Kin cardin es has been eclipsed by , as also the throughout

n n n S cotla d. It was an ancie t custom to divide the land amo g tribe s in this manner.

i r — F S i M or M oer M i r M u . S a rom the cand navian and , cotch .

Waste lan d or heath .

—The of G a ck Cl oek ea s ie. l first part the word is from the aelic C ,

I s a u The old of lock an d e S . C , a stone, , the avio r form the word

’ l a ck - I s a l a ck N i oba i r t P was C , and signifies the same as C in erth

ff n The S . shire . stone for o eri g a sacrifice to the aviour

— D r u imbi nns The x ns The old w as . Bin . form of the word prefi w as 1 700 i is or omitted about , and the local sign fication little hills k s k on e of noll , but it is nown that the ridge is the places selected

M n of by the issio aries Iona for worship , and particularly for the

n i n of D r a i ni bi nnea s of si g g their hymns ; hence , the hill ridge m G Bi nnea s . melody, from the aelic , elody — a nl eek For of St . Cr . this word see the parish Andrews Lhan

The a . bryd . woody pl ce

Tr ie la nd The of Tk r i a tl a nd p . old form the word was , which is

G Tr ia tk or T f. he of evidently the aelic , a lord , noble , chie land the noble or chief.

F lds — A - F a ld F a l ed F a l a d n o . S a d nglo axon , also and , allied to

n F ol F a l er or the Icela dic j and f , an enclosure a pen for sheep or cattle . 1 6 E L I N H I E 9 THE PLACE NAMES or G S R . — L eeks Where there was once a loch which is now completely

u drained, and the site agric ltural land .

co —M E t Wa t er s t . Co e D K ot Kot iddle nglish , , utch , Icelandic , a s w n ot t a r or at t - er ott -a e The mall d elling ; he ce C , C , and C g . small dwelling by the water.

F er n eld — - S F ea r n D Va r en S k P a r na yfi Anglo axon , utch , ans rit ,

The n . a family of cryptogamic plants . field aboundi g in ferns

F in a n —The is G F i n or F i onn f . prefix here from the aelic ,

W Gw n n or t he F a nu nz or elsh y , fair white , and Latin , a temple

u s The church , having the ltimate yllable dropped . white church

r of o place worship . — l a nes This is a patronymic name .

— G Fl eu ek or A r or L ea ek a r s . From the aelic , wet marshy, and

The or The A i r . . , land wet marshy land initial f is omitted in the adjectival form .

M a itk e M e t G or . f , from the aelic , a chieftain , a noble , ruler, hero This is elevated ground on which was once a house belongin g to f some personage o importance .

—For s e e E E i ns k ill . lg . this word lgin

— The e w of ee . Sp y l a . For the first part this word s Spey latter

- S H l ea w part is from the Anglo axon , a hill , and cognate with the

L a k The bill k S . Irish g . overloo ing the pey — ff n t n For of D . U k a k . this word see the parish u us — B u r n ie S t r ipe A stri p of land along the course of a small stream .

oi nt u r e —T ni ni j . his is a modern name , and sig fies a commu ty or land held conjointly.

Br a nds t en — F B r a ndr D B r a nd . rom the Icelandic , utch , a burn

of The or . ing wood . beacon place hill — B r em il ee of . e k l . S the parish Cromdale

r E L N H I 1 98 THE PLACE NAMES o GI S R E .

It is difficult to mak e ou t how the word w as changed t o its presen t form .

— r T The ls a D a il o a il W . D ou b r n . . From ater streamlet

r s k i — of m ou h Ce e For this word see the parish Spey t . — Cou na eda l e For of . g . this word see the parish Abernethy L ALPHABETI CA I N DE% .

A be m éthy A bbé t shil l Achadh Ach adh - gobharach A chgbu n sh A chmdfir A chi nl ochan A chinréa t h A chnagairn A ch - na - gall en ' A ch - na - goulan A ch - na -hamm et A chr é isk A chv6 ck ie Advi e A i k enw ay Ai l eu ’ A irchét rt dan A i rdbeg A it endé w A it enl éa A i t ionn A it nach Alat a A l dé rni e A l dri shaig 2 00 ALPHABETICAL INDEX .

— ’ B Cont i n u ea .

Caesa r -o-m agu s C al cot s C al ey Califer Callan der Cal li ndfiim Call ymfick Cal t anach Ca mriac h C a mfiS -e u -fhefirna Cannabum

2 0 2 ALPHABETICAL INDEX .

D— nt u d Co i n e .

P age . 74 6 1 3 0 1 9 1 I 77 1 1 4 1 1 4 I S 2 9 30 I 3 3 60 1 2 9 1 8 1 94 64 2 4 8 0 2 4 76 2 ALPHABETICAL INDEX . 0 3,

I anet sfiel d 94 I J oint fi re 2 0 4 ALPHABETICAL INDEX .

Knock angé re ‘ Knock anhigl e Knock ans Knock granish Knock iefin Kn ock -na -cardich Knock - na -ki st Knock 6 mie

‘ Knock t fi l chitn K no w ehead

K ré ck r Kfi chanrfiy Kfi riak e Kyl eant ra

L achl anw el l s 35 L ack glfi ie 1 0 8 L ad I 7 L adycr oft I 66 L a ss 7 5 Laggan t I gh a -go wn 1 09 L angcot e I 62 L annt i chan 3 0 L averock l och I 84 La wrencet on I 7 6 Lax ia 3 3 L earg 2 9 Lei t ir -ai t en 2 6 Leki n 1 7 2 L é smii rdie I 88 Let h davoch 3 1 L é théndry 7 9 L e t hendry I 1 0 L et t 6 ch 3 0 L e t t 6 ck 7 3 Leuch ars 1 90 Leu ch a rs 1 96 Lhanbryde I 86 Lian 2 5 L i ngi est on I 59

M a- bh ar 43 M acall an 1 64 M a ggi ek nock att er 5 8

2 0 6 ALPHABETICAL INDEX .

Q uarryw ood ALPHABETICAL INDEX . 2 0 7

s _Cont i n u ed

P a ge . 7 0 1 69 I 3 1 I 39 1 49 1 67

T ack side T ai ng Ti m

’ Tami a. Tan dagfirt T anl ie Ta pp Tarland Tarv i s T é a ri e Templand T émpl est one Té rchick bu rn Te ussis Thi ng Thist l eflat Th6 r Th6 1 Tiendland Tiendlan dw el l Tiene - sié nnachan Ti ppe rt ait T i ri bég T fiber - Erie Toberl uag T odhé l es 2 0 8 ALPHABETICAL INDEX .

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