Scotland's Place-names - Softcover

Dorward, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0851581323 ISBN 13: 9780851581323

Publisher: Imprint unknown, 1979

Synopsis

David Dorward's book on Scottish place-names is a fascinating volume that offers insight and intrigue into the myriad of wonderful place-names found across Scotland. Much more than simply a dictionary of place-names, Dorward makes the subject accessible to the general reader, with explanations of hundreds of names that are clear and concise, and often witty, and as well as meanings, David Dorward gives the correct pronunciation of Scottish names. This new edition is a mine of information for the inquiring schoolchild, the hill-walker or mountaineer, the local historian - everyone, in fact, who has ever wondered about the origins of the marvelous variety of place-names in Scotland. With many parts of names tracing their roots back to their Celtic, Gaelic or Old English origins, it presents an opportunity for readers to unravel for themselves the meanings of hundreds of local area and landscape names - leading them into fascinating by - ways that anyone who looks up one name will be irresistibly led to explore more deeply.

About this title

From the Publisher

WHAT'S IN A SCOTTISH PLACE-NAME?
DESCRIPTION:

David Dorward’s earlier book on Scottish place-names has long been popular. It makes the subject accessible to the general reader, with explanations of names that are clear and concise, and often witty. This new, greatly expanded version of Scotland’s Place-names goes much further. It explores the subject in far greater depth and explains hundreds more names. The style, however, is the same—readable and entertaining, as well as educational. It is a mine of information for the enquiring schoolchild, the hill-walker or mountaineer, the local historian—everyone, in fact, who has ever wondered about the origins of the marvellous variety of place-names in Scotland.

This is more than just a dictionary, though almost any name you can think of will be found here. Parts of names are traced back to their Celtic, Gaelic or Old English roots, so that it becomes possible for readers to unravel for themselves the meanings of hundreds of local area and landscape names. The detective work leads into fascinating by-ways. Anyone who looks up one name will be led irresistibly on to explore more deeply, so that the book becomes difficult to put down. As well as meanings, David Dorward gives the correct pronunciation of Scottish names.

Did you know that:

inver, as in Inverness, means ‘a meeting of waters’

strath, as in Strathclyde, means ‘a broad valley’

shee, as in Glenshee, means ‘hill of the fairies’

crom, as in Cromarty, means ‘bend’ or ‘twist’

dun, as in Dundee, means ‘fortress’ or ‘castle’?

EXCERPT:

Saint

Scotsmen and women in the early mediaeval period were deeply preoccupied with saints, of whom there were large numbers, especially in the Gaelic-speaking parts of the country. The name Brigid for example was borne by no fewer than fifteen saints, and is commemorated in the numerous churches and monuments styled ‘St Bride’s’. Many kil- and kirk-names contain the name of a saint; but in this section we shall be concerned only with the more important place-names which actually incorporate the term ‘Saint’.

Scotsmen and women in the early mediaeval period were deeply preoccupied with saints, of whom there were large numbers, especially in the Gaelic-speaking parts of the country. The name Brigid for example was borne by no fewer than fifteen saints, and is commemorated in the numerous churches and monuments styled ‘St Bride’s’. Many kil- and kirk-names contain the name of a saint; but in this section we shall be concerned only with the more important place-names which actually incorporate the term ‘Saint’.

Of these the most notable must be St Andrews. The cult of the Apostle Andrew spread from Constantinople to Italy, France and Britain, arriving in Pictland some time during the tenth century. According to legend, of which there exist two separate versions, several of the saint’s bones were brought to a little settlement known as Cill rimhinn on the coast of Fife, where a church of St Andrew was formed along with a reliquary. The town of St Andrews was founded in the twelfth century, the building of the great cathedral started at about the same time, and the University began to take shape two centuries later. (Since the modern form of the name derives from the vernacular Sanct Androis an apostrophe at the end is wrong). It was during the Wars of Independence that the cult of St Andrew first became of great national importance; his saltire cross provided the motif for a patriotic flag, and his adoption as the patron saint of Scotland led in due course to the establishment of a ‘St Andrew’s Church’ in most towns in Scotland, England and the Commonwealth.

On a much smaller scale this scenario is repeated all over Scotland. Moinnen, who died about 571, was first bishop of Clonfert in Ireland; his relics were brought to Fife, and the church of St Monan was founded in his honour. Nearby Kilrenny is named for another Irish saint, Ethernan.

Fergus was a Pict who for many years was a bishop in Ireland; after many wanderings in Scotland he settled in Buchan; St Fergus is only one of many places named in his honour. Fechan was an Irish monk who died of the plague in the seventh century; the Latinised form of his name gives us St Vigeans near Arbroath; he has already been noted under eccles and gart, where he inspired the names Ecclefechan and Lesmahagow. Ninian, a Rome-trained Briton, was traditionally resonsible for bringing the gospel to the southern Picts; his principal foundation was Candida Casa in Dumfries, now known in its Old English form of Whithorn (‘white house’), but he is commemorated by name in St Ninians near Stirling.

St Abbs Head takes its name from Aebba, sister of King Oswald of Northumbria and first abbess of Coldingham in the seventh century. St Boswells comes from Boisil, prior of Melrose at the same period; the -well ending is a vernacular version of Norman ville, and the name has nothing to do with Dr Johnson’s biographer (who was of course no saint).

Fillan succeeded St Mund as abbot at the Holy Loch; he gives his name to St Fillans and also to Strathfillan in Perthshire.

Our place-names record some completely bogus saints however. The name St Kilda is a nonsense, for there was and is no such person; a recent suggestion in The Scots Magazine that the name may be a corruption of the Scandinavian words sunt kilde (‘source of fresh water’) is intriguing. Hirta, the largest islet of the archipelago, may mean ‘deadly’ (an accurate enough description of its dangerous coast). St Fort in Fife is a grandiose and silly version of ‘sand ford’. Canonisation must have been a painless process in these parts, for the nearby St Michaels is named after a disreputable Irishman, Michael Kelly, and in St Andrews the street known as St Gregory’s commemorates the inventor of Gregory’s Mixture.

REVIEWS:

‘A revised, much expanded paperback edition which explores our map derivations in greater depth. Celtic, Gaelic and Old English roots are traced, enabling hundreds of area and landscape names to be fully understood in a most lively and enjoyable way.’—The Scots Magazine

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

David Dorward was born and educated in Dundee and now lives in retirement near St Andrews. He enjoys gardening, golf and music-making. He is glad of the leisure to pursue his lifelong interest in the meanings of names—personal and of place. Scottish Surnames and Dundee: Names, People and Places are two others of his publications.

About the Author

David Dorward practiced as a solicitor before joining the staff at the University of St Andrews. He is the author of several other books, including Scottish Surnames (also published by Birlinn) and Dundee, Names, People and Places.

Edition details

• Publisher: Imprint unknown
• Publication date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0851581323
• ISBN 13: 9780851581323
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 75