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OF THE

BANFFSHIRE FIELD CLUB.

THE STRATHMARTINE BanffshireTRUST Field Club

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www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk 34

considered unusually loud and rapid. At Muir of Kinellar and Dryston, a mile distant from Greenale- house, the sound was very distinctly heard, and is described by one person as resembling the noise made by the fall of an old rubble dyke and by another as being like the firing of a feu-de-joie by volunteers. After some conversation on the subject of ' Earth Sounds/ a vote of thanks was awarded to Rev. Mr Tindal for the paper. PLACE NAMES IN BANFFSHIRE. Mr JOHN MACDONALD, banker. Buckie, read the third and last of a series of papers on Place Names. He said —Having in the previous papers treated of the topo- graphy of the lower districts of the county, I propose in the present to refer to the more prominent names in the districts of Boharm, Mortlach, Cabrach, Kirk- michael, and Inveraven. The name Boharm, in its present form, is far removed from what the old name is said to be, viz., Buchairn. In the Statistical Account of the parish, the following explanation (which appears to me to be a correct one) is given:—* The name, Bucharin, Bucharn, Boharme, Boharm, is said in the former Account and in Shaw's History to signify in Gaelic • the bow round the hill,' and this is very descriptive of the parish as now consti- tuted, for, the Spey being the boundary on the west, and the mountain Benagen rising almost abruptly from the bed of the river, the cultivated part of the parish consists chiefly of a circular valley on the south, east, and north sides of the hill. But as this description is only partially applicable to the district so named of old, the old parish containing only one-half of the bow, one is rather inclined to seek another derivation, and to suppose that the castle, whence, we have seen, the parish had its origin, took its name from its own situa- tion, and bestowed it on its dependent district. It stood on the point where the brook Altarn, now Aldernie, that is "the burn of alders," flows into the Fiddich, which just at that point takes a very singular turn in its course. Hence, perhaps, Bucharn or " the bend of the alder stream," for the name of the castle, and so from the castle to the parish which it originated.' Auchlunkart was a name which always refused its secret to me, until I learned that ' Achelnathork' was the old name. The derivation of this name is perfectly clear, and is no other than A-choill-na-tore, which means 'the wood of the Boars.' Arndilly also is a modern form of the old name ' Ardentol,' which is a corruption of the Gaelic roots Ard-an-t-sul, which means ' the height of the view.' Arndilly is most probably a corruption of Ard-an-t-sheall-idh (pronounced Ardenthelly,) which has a similar meaning. Benaigan, as already noticed, is from Bein and Eagan, which means * a notch or hollow,' and therefore this name Banffshiremeans the hill with the notche Fields or crevices. Knock Club- 35

more, from Cnoc-mor, meaning 'the big hill' or ' eminence.' Knockan, a diminutive of Knock, means ' the little hill.' There are several Towies, sach as the Hill of Towie, Towiemore, and Towiebeg. Towie is derived from Tuath (pronounced Tua.) which means a Township or Peasantry. Berryleys from Bar, 'a height," and liath (pronounced lea,) and meaning gray, is ' the gray height." A similar name occurs in Grange. Belnagarrow is from Beul, * a mouth or pass,' Garrow is a corruption of Garbh, so that Belnagarrow.Beul-na- garbb means ' the pass of the rough places.' Tanzie is from Teanga, a tongue, which no doubt is descriptive of the piece of ground in that locality. Balnacoul, from Bail-nacul, which means 'the town at the back, and of course has reference to the back of Benaigan. Dowalls from Dubh.alt, which means the 'black burn. Hot far from this place we find Knockandow-Gaelic of which is Cnoc-an.dubh, which means thehillock of the black stream.' We find Aultdearg, which means the red stream,' and near Boat of Bridge, there is a place called Auchroisk-Gaelic Ach-ruadh-uisg. which means ' field of tho red stream.' Balnellan from Bail-an-eilean ' the town of the island.' This spot may at one time have been surrounded by a swamp, and hence the name. Shians is a corruption of the Gaelic Sithean, pronounced very like the modern name, and which means 'a fairy hillock.' Dinnyhorn seems to be a corruption of Teine (fire) and Chuirn, the genitive of Carn, which means ' the cairns of the flre,' probably having reference to signalling by fires in olden times. Tombain, from Tomban, the white hillock,' and Torbay, from Tor-buidhe, means •the yellow hillock.' Kininvie, from Ceann-amhn- bhuidhe (pronounced Kenanvue), means ' the head of the yellow stream.' Cannahead is a duplicate of Ceann, 'a head." Tomnachty, from Tom-nochti, means 'the exposed eminence." Tombraik, from Tom.breac, means ' the speckled eminence or hill.' Coldhome, from Cul- thom, * the eminence at the back.' Cruach means ' a stack,' and is generally applied to a round hill. The river Fiddich, which falls into the Spey at Craigellachie, is evidently derived from Fiadh-ich, which means' wild' or * rugged,' the word being in this case used adjectively, and has reference to its steep and rugged sides. Killi- more, from Coille, * a wood,' and Mor, which means ' tho large wood.' Bogmuck, from Bog-muc, * the hollow of the boar.' Loch Liesk is from Loch and lusag, and which means * the loch of the herbs;' and Curluske from from Corrie.lusag, • the corrie of the herbs.' Delmore, from Dalmore, means the large field.' Ardoch, a name Banffshirecommon to many places, mean Fields 'a habitation,' andClub literally a high field. Tauchers, a corruptioh of Tuath, 'peasantry,' and Tir, 'land;' thus Tuath-thir (pro- nounced Tuahir) means ' the common people or peasants' land.' Passing over to Botriphnie, we find a name, Bellyhack, (Gaelic Baile-ach), which means ' the field of :36

or near the town.' Lynemore, from Linne-mor, which means 'the great lynn or pool/ Myrieward, from Mir-a-bhaird, 'the bard or poets' portion.' Besides Corrie, a name which is frequently met with in other localities, we find Sluggan, which means ' the gullet or neck/ evidently descriptive of a narrow gorge or pass. Sheals, which is derived from Sil, ' rain or water/ is a name found in this locality as well as other districts of Banffshire. Drummuir, from Druim-iubhar, means ' the hill of the yews/ Tenrood, from Tigh-an-roid, means * the house of the highway.' Drumgrain, from Druim-grain, means * the hateful hillock.' Glack, from Glac, ' a narrow deep hollow/ This root enters into a number of the names in the high-lying districts, as, for instance, Glackmuck, from Glac-muc, ' the hollow of the boar/ also Glack of Cluniemore and Glack of Midthird. Arbraick, from Ar, ' ploughed land, and Breac, ' speckled,' means ' the speckled ploughed land/ Ardwellhow, from Ard-bhaile, means 'the height of or above the town.' Bogallie, from Bog-ail-idh, means ' the beautiful bog/ Sheaus, which we also find in the parish of Boharm, is from Sithean, ' a fairy hillock/ Ardgaithney, from Ard-gaoth-anach, means ' the windy height/ Scurrack, from Scurach, ' the painted height/ Passing over to the Cabrach district, which name is from caber, ' a tree' and ach, ' a field,' it follows that its meaning is 'the wooded field or district/ Dalriach, from Dal, 'a field,' and Riabhach, 'brown red/ means ' the red brown field or dale. Pyke, from pioc, means ' a separate piece.' Auldtown in almost all cases is a corruption of Alltan, the ' streamlet/ Tomnavon— Tom-na-amhuin, 'the hillock of the river.' Inverchar- roch—Inver-char-ach—' the crooked meadows.' Tomna- voun—Tomna-bhothain—'the hillock of the booth or cabin.' Bothan is generally applied to those erde or beehive houses common in prehistoric times. Ardwell, Aird-a-bhaile, ' the height of or above the town. Ach- mair, Ach-more,' the large field.' Badchiar, the Gaelic spelling of which is still correct, means ' the brown coloured place. Beldorney, Beul.dorn, ' the pass of the hill' Dorn, as, for instance the Hill of Durn, although it literally means ' a clenched fist,' is frequently applied to describe a hill. Belchory, Beul ghearaidh, ' the pass of the hill pasture.' Craigliue, Creag.laoidh (pronounced Cregliu), 'the rock of the calves or young deer/ Baliochford, Bealoch-bhord, 'the pass into the table land.' Tomballie, Tom baile, 'the town hillock.' Tom- bain, Tomban, ' the white hillock.' Finduaran, from BanffshireFionn and uaran,'the clear welFieldl spring.' Rhinturk Club, Roinn, a field, and tore, a boar, means the field of the boars' Ardlonie, Ard-laoigh, ' the hill of the calves.' Bodiemullach, Bad-mullach, ' the marked spot on the top. Cairnie is a corruption of Cairoidh, ' the hills or cairne,' indicative of the undulating character of the country. Ardoinannoch, Ard-mannoch, 'the hill of the 37

monks.' Gàrtly has clearly some connection with Gart, corn, hat I am unable to offer a satisfactory explanation of it. Corskie is from Cor-sgiath,' the wing of the hill,' and Faichhill is from faich, a field. Sanquhar appears to be a corruption of Sean ghearr, ' the old garden or cultivated place.' Glass is from glas, 'green pas- ture.' Achinandoch, generally pronounced Achinynoch, is from Ach-anaonach, ' the field of the moor pasture.' Beldorney, which has been already noticed, is from Beal-dorn—and Craigdorney—both from Dorn, 'around hill.' Ardgaily is from Ard-gabhal, ' the high forked land.' The same root 'gobhal' occurs in Meikle and Little Goul, as also in Gouls. Glagshalloch, Glac- shallach, ' the dirty hollow.' Coming to the district of Inveravon, we find the names less corrupted both in sound and spelling than those in the lower parishes where Gaelic has ceased to be the common speech of the people for many centuries hack. Thus Craggan-more, Creagan-mor, ' the big boulders or rocks.' Ballachuirn, Baile-a-chuirn, the town of the cairn.' Mornish, Mor-innis.' the extensive pasture.' Coull, Cull, ' the Back ' Millach-ard, Mullach-ard, ' the high top.' Corshillach, Cor-sielach, • the hill of the willows." Ach-fad, ' the long plain. Balnapiet, Balnapit, ' the town of the hollow. Ach- break, Ach.breuc, "the speckled field." Downan, a diminutive of Dun, 'a fort." Line, Linne, 'a pool. Lynbeg, Linbeg, ' the little pool.' Glack, Glac, a narrow hollow.' Cowlatt, from Gobhal-ait, the forked field or place.' Lngnvaich, Lag-fiadhaich. 'the rough or wild hollow.' Tomnareave, Tom-na-riabh,' the lark's hillock,' and Tom-na-chlaven, • the hawk's hillock, lying near it. Dualts, Dubh-alt, 'the black stream.' Ueskie, da-uisge, ' the two waters,' which is descriptive of the confluence of the Tervie with the Livet. Tom- breckachie, Tom-breac-achadh, ' the hillock of the speckled field.' Achbreck again has the same root. Achoraohau, ' the field of the pointed knolls or stones.' Nevie, from Neamhaidh (pronounced uevie), ' high as the sky ' Tombae, Tomhuidhe, ' the yellow hillock.' Allanreid, Alanradhad, 'the rock of the highway.' Achdregnie. Achdroighinn, ' the field of thorns.' Cor. dregnie, from the same root, ' the ravine of thorns. Drumin, Druim.meadhan, 'the middle ridge.' Bog- arrow, Bog-garbh, 'the rough bog.* Minmore, mead- hon.mor, ' the large centre district.' Blairfindy, Blar- Fiountaidh, ' the battle-field of the Fingalians,' the only solitary trace in this district of the heroes of the Ossianic poems. Belloan, Bail-loin, the town of the Banffshireloch. Quirn, Cuirn, ' means cairn Fields or mounds.' Del - Club handy, Del-amhu-dubh, the field of the dark river. Achnarrow_, Ach-na-ruadh. * the field of the deer or roes. Claishnoir, Claie-an-oir. the ditch of the edge or division. Lettoch, Leacht-ach, the field of the stone. Several instances might he quoted where this word Leacht ' drops the guttural, and gets 38

changed into Let. Tom-na-lienan, the hillock of the green meadows or swamps/ Lagual, Lag.gheal, the white hollow. Bolnaclaish, Pol-na-clais, ' the pool of the hollow or ditch/ Eskimore, Uisge-mor, ' the large water.' Demickmore, Damhachmor, ' the large cattle pasture/ Achnascraw, Ach-na-sgrath, ' the field of the divots or turf/ Rhindhu, Rouinn-dout, ' the black meadow' Belno-Balnaudh, Newtown. If the locus of this name is a pass or opening leading into a kind of a cavernous ravine, the true etymology in that case would be Beal-an-namh, the cavern's mouth. Lagan- shirroch, Lagan sherrach, ' the foal's glen.' Scalan, Sgath-lan- ' shelter.' Con-vin, Coinbhein, ' the dogs' or wolves' hill' Culphoich, Cul-bhoidhich, ' the beautiful back.' Ferrechdhu, Fearrach-dhubh, ' the grassy moss.' Ayeon, Aimhn, the river. Tervie Tirbuidh,' the yellow land' Near Benrinnes there are other eminences named Knocknashalgar' the hunting hill' Mulgainich the sandy top. Cairn-Guish,' the cairn of the fir trees.' Baby's-hill, a corruption of the old word Bab a-tuft, meaning 'a lesser hill/ Boy's hill, Ruadh, ' the hill of the roes'; and Cairnocay, Carnna-gaoith,' the hill of the wind or windy cairn.' For the meaning of Aberlour I may refer you to Robertson, who says:—' Aberlour, in the county of Banff, is from the Gaelic ; Abhir-luath-ir (bhir). This last word ir is a common contraction from the obsolete word 'Bior," meaning " water." The aspirated form is bhir, and occurs, as already men- tioned, in the Gaelic speaking of Inver. as " Inbhir"; in that of the "Aber" we are considering " Abhir- lnath-ir." The signification is " the confluence of the strong water or stream."' Drumfurrich, Drumfurach, ' the look-out or watching ridge.' Ruthrie, Ruadhreidh * the red field/ Derrybeg, Doirewood, ' the small oak wood.' Kinermony, Ceann- ar-monadh, ' the head or end of the cultivated moss.' Beatshaugh, Pit-ach, ' the field in the hollow/ Boginduie, Bogandubh, ' the black river bog. Arna- garrow, 'the rough east flowing stream/ Shenval, Sean-bhail,' the old town/ Shiendow, Sethean-dubh, ' the black fairyhillock.' Polduie, Pol-dubh,' the black pool/ Blairnain, Blar-n.aimhn, ' the river plain. Lynetain, Linn-t-aimhn, ' the linn of the river/ Braigach, Breacach, ' the speckled field/ Shank, Seang, ' a narrow pass, or strip of land.' Carron, Car-amhn, ' the tortuous river/ Eskibuie, Uisg-buidhe, ' the yellow water.' Balliemulloch, ' the town on the top/ Edinville, Aodan-bhail, ' the town on the face of the Banffshirehill/ Craigellachie Creag-gheal-achie Field, ' the field of thClube white rock.' Robertson says that it is from Creageaga- lach, meaning ' the rock of alarming/ which is the war cry of the ancient clan Grant of Strathspey. This rendering appears to me to be somewhat fanciful. I am rather inclined to adhere to my own derivation, as it is descriptive, and certainly nearer to the modern form of the name. 39

The writer of the Statistical Account of the Parish of Mortlach states, ill reference to this name, ' that, from the situation of the church, which is in a deep and hoi. low valley, some naturally enough think it is a corrup- tion of the Gaelic word Morlay, " great hollow " ; while otbers derive it from Mortis-lacus, " the lakeof death," alluding to a battle which was fonght here." My own idea is that Mort, which means a massacre, and leac, ' a tombstone,' is the derivation of this name—thus Mort-leac would mean the stone marking the scene of death or massacre, and, in support of this, we find still a leac or an upright stone with carvings thereon marking this spot. History records that Malcolm II. fonght a battle with the Danes about the year 1010. The name of Tullochallum — Tulloch-challum, -Malcolm's Hil- lock '—gives corroborative evidence of Malcolm's pre- sence being at some time in this locality. Auchin- down—Ach-an-dun, ' the field of the fort' ; H&rd- augh—corrupted formt Ardach, 'high field or dwell- ing-place'; Pitglassie—Pitglas, 'the grassy ravine ; Auchinandoch—Ach-an-aonach,' the field of the steep moor.' Enoch, aonach, means a steep moor. Tom- noan—Toman-uan, ' the hill of the lambs'; Altna- boyle, Alt-na-bevil, the burn near the hill passes. Coldhome, from Cul Thom knoll at the back. Corse- maul, Cor-maol. ' the rounded hill-tops. Raebraik, Reidh-breac, • the speckled plain.' Cluniemore and Cluniebeg, the large and small pasture. Laggan. the little hollow. Achlochrach, 'the field of the small pools. Bellandy, Beal.amhn-dubh, ' the pass near the black river. Tomnagylocb, Tom-na-gaolach, the knoll of the beloved, or of the heroes. Corhabbie, a corrup- tion of Corrie-abh, the river ravines. Achnastank, Ach.na-stang, ' the field of pools or marshes." Elli- vreid, Alt-a-bhraighed, the burn of the brae. Shean- dow sithean-dubh means ' the black fairy hillock.' Balvenie, Bal bhein, the town of the hill. Buchromb. Bogha.chrom, the bent bow, indicative of the rounded sweep of the river at that place. Pittyviach, Pit- fiadhach, 'the rough hollow.' Balliemore means 'the large town.' where the chief resided. Beatshaugh, Pit- ach, 'the field of the hollow.' Glackenronach, Glac- an-rouich, ' the hollow of the brackens.' Lettoch, Leactach, ' the field of the stone.' Conval, from Coin-wolves and mheal, the genitive of meall, a rounded or conical hill. Coin-mheal,' the wolves hill.' Bonfail- Bunfail, the bottom of the wolves' lair. Cottown is from Cotan, 'the small cot.' Glenaughter, Glen- muchter, 'the upper glen.' Tininver, Tigh-an-Inver, ' the house of the meadow.' Kirkmichael is from the Banffshirechurch dedicated to St Michael Field, and is comparativel yClub modern. Altnaha is pure Gaelic, and means ' the stream of the ford.' Balnellan, Baile-an-eilean, * the town of the island.' Badnafrave, Bad-na-freumh, 'the place of roots.' Wild roots formed a common article of food in these old times. Knockandhu occurs in this district 40

also, but it has been already explained, and so have the names of Cults, Tombreck, Dalmore, Torbain, Leichs, Lynavor, and Ballenloan. Tom-an-toal was stated to be Tom an t sabhail, ' the hillock of the barn.' Another derivation has been suggested to me by a gentleman, who not only knows the old language but also the natural features of the place, and his rendering was Tom an t suil, "the hill of the view.' This village being situated on the ridge of high ground com. manding a view of Banffshire and Aberdeen- shire, it is obvious that this name is highly descrip- tive. inverlochy, is the pasture near the loch, or water.' Balneedan, Bail and feadan, ' town of the steep-banked river.' Torrans, torran, mounds or towers. Fodderletter, Fodar-leiter, 'pasture on the hillside.' Urlarmore, urlar-mor, ' the large floor or plaiu.' Balla- corrach, town or the serrated ridge. Ardgeith, ardgaoith, ' the windy height., Bal-intruan, Bail-an-t-sruan, • the town of the swift flowing stream.' Bnllintomb. Bail- an-tom, ' the town of the knoll.' Delavorar, Dol-a- rnhorir. 'the lord and chief'sfield.' Torullin, a corruption of tor-mhullin, 'the hill of the mill.' Delvaichaw, Dal-bheathaich, ' the wild beasts' plain.' Knockanvae, cnocan-bhuidhe, the yellow hillock. Blairnamarrow, blar.na-marbh, the plain of the dead. Gleumullie, Glen- mullich, the glen on the height. Delnalvue, dal-na.linne, the field of the pool or swamp.' Laggau-a-voulin, the hollow of the mill. Crouchley, Cruachliath, ' the grey round hill.' Rhynamarst, Rionnamart, the mea. dow of the cows.' Delavrogat, dal-a-bhraghat, • the field of the brae.' Lyna chork. Liona chorc, ' the meadow of the oats.' Wheat and barley seem to have been un- known to the agriculturists of these days. This concludes the catalogue of place names in Banff- shire. The derivations given are, I venture to say, in the main accurate, but much remains yet to be done in the way of clearing up difficulties in the case of the more doubtful explanations. The subject matter of the paper of which this forrus the third and concluding instalment, did not admit of much literary finish, and that must serve as an apology for the baldness of the style. Fromth e large ground covered, my treatment of the words are necessarily brief, being simply of the nature of question and answer, the interesting process of how the answer is obtained being omitted. The effort of wandering over this wilderness of dry bones, which required patience and caution to enable one to get a clear glimpse into the remote past, has not altogether Banffshirebeen devoid of interest and instruction Field. Club On the motion of Mr James Forbes, seconded by Mr James Morrison, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Macdonald. After the transaction of some routine business, Mr Nicol proposed thanks to Sheriff Scott Moncrieff for presiding, and the meeting separated.