THE NORSE PLACE-NAMES OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS
HIGHLAND NORSE PLACE-NAMES
(Non-Norse place-name elements will be given in italics).
Notes:-
The following place-name elements have here been translated as ‘farm’ for the sake of brevity, however they have slightly differing meanings as follows:-
Bae/Bu:- A principal, primary settlement or farm, not unlike a Home farm
Stadr: - A farm
Bolstadr: - A portion of a farm or a divided farm
Saetr: - A seat, in the sense of being someone’s home, frequently a farm.
Some of the place-name meanings given below are best guesses and I lay no claim to be a place-name expert. Many, however, have been drawn from a variety of existing sources and studies among which the following were especially useful.
Pllace-names of Scotland by James B Johnston 1892
Place-names of Ross and Cromarty by W J Watson 1904
Gaelic placenames by Iain mac an Tailleir 2003
EASTER ROSS AND BLACK ISLE
Alcaig............Alka-vik.............................Auk bay
Arboll............Ar/Ork/Orkn-bolstadr.........Bounty farm, Ark farm, or Seal farm
Bindal............Bind-dalr...........................Sheaf-dale
Cadboll..........Kattar/‘cath’-bolstadr........Wildcat farm or battle-farm
Culbo............Kula/ ‘cuil’-bolstadr............Ball farm or nook farm - (‘Kula’ names something that is ball or knob-shaped, perhaps a hill).
Dingwall.........Thing-vollr........................Parliament field
Eskadale........Askr-dalr..........................Ash dale
Obsdale.........Hops-dalr.........................Creeks dale
Scatwell.........Skat-vollr/val...................Tax field or clearing or far-end field or clearing. (Skat means either tax or ‘far-end’ as in modern ‘scut’
meaning tail.)’
Shandwick.....Sand-vik.........................Sand bay
Swordale.......Svard-dalr.......................Sword dale
Udale.............Y-dalr..............................Yew dale
SOUTH-EAST SUTHERLAND AND STRATH OYKEL
Alladale...........Olr-dalr...........................Alder dale
Amat..............A-mot............................River meet
Arscaig...........Ar-skiki...........................Bounty strip
Backies...........Bakki..............................Banks
Borrobol.........Borgr-bolstadr................Fort farm
Brora..............Brur-a............................Bridge river
Carbisdale.......Kjarr-bolstadr-dalr..........Copse-farm dale
Colaboll...........Kol’s/Kula-bolstadr.........Kol’s farm or Ball-(shaped hill) farm
Diebidale.........Djup-dalr.......................Deep-dale
Embo.............Eyvind’s-bolstadr...........Eyvind’s farm
Golspie............Gils-bae ?......................Ravine farm ?
Griunards........Grunn-fjordr..................Shallows (of the) firth
Helmsdale........Hjalmund’s-dalr.............Hjalmund’s dale
Invercassley.....Inbhir Hasl-a................Mouth of the Hazel river
Langwell...........Lang-vollr.....................Long field
Linsidemore......Lin-saetr mor...............Big Flax or Lin farm
Merkland..........Mark-land.....................Forest land or Tax land
Migdale............Mig-dalr ?.....................Bog dale but possibly Gaelic mag-dal = place of the meadow
Navidale...........Naefr-dalr ?..................Birch-dale ?
Overscaig........Ofra-skiki......................Upper strip
Rosehall...........Hross-vollr....................Horse field
Rossal..............Hross-vollr....................Horse field
Shinness..........Skin-nes.......................Shining headland from name of adjacent Loch Shin but both possibly from Gaelic ‘seun’ = charm
Skelbo.............Skel-bolstadr.................Shell-farm
Soyal...............Sauda-vollr...................Sheep field
Spinningdale....Spanzi-dalr....................Spinning dale
Torboll.............Thor’s/Thorrir’s-bolstadr...Thor’s or Thorrir’s farm
Torroble..........Thor’s/Thorrir’s-bolstadr...Thor’s or Thorrir’s farm
CAITHNESS
Achvarasdal......Achadh Borgrs-dalr......Fort dale field
Ackergill............Aker-gil ?.....................Acre ravine ?
Auckengill.........Hakon’s gil...................Hakon’s ravine
Berriedale.........Beru-dalr......................Dale of the rock
Borgue.............Borgr...........................Fort
Braal.................Breida-vollr..................Broad field
Brabster............Breida-bolstadr............Broad farm
Broubster..........Bru-bolstadr................Bridge farm
Brough.............Borgr...........................Fort
Canisbay...........Conan’s bae................Conan’s farm
Corsback..........Kjarrs-bakki.................Carrs bank (carrs are wooded marshes)
Crosskirk...........Cross-kirkju................Cross church
Dorrery.............Thorrir’s aergi.............Thorrir’s shieling
Duncansby........Dungal’s bae..............Dungad’s farm
Forse.................Fors...........................Waterfall
Forss.................Fors...........................Waterfall
Freswick............Thras-vik....................Fresh-water bay
Gills....................Gils.............................Ravines
Greenland..........Groen/Grunn-land......Green land or shallow land
Haimer...............Hammar.....................Rock-face or crag
Halcro...............Hallr-grof....................Slope pit/quarry
Halkirk...............Ha-kirkju....................High church
Ham..................Hofn/Hvamm.............Haven or Grassy slope
Haster................Ha-bolstadr................High farm
Hempriggs.........Hemp-rig...................Hemp ridges
Howe.................Haugr........................Burial mound
Huna.................Hofn..........................Haven/Harbour
Keiss..................Keis...........................Bulky (place) - (referrring to land-shape)
Kirk....................Kirkju........................Church
Langwell.............Lang-vollr..................Long field
Lieurary..............Leur-aergi.................Muddy/clayey shieling
Lybster...............Leir/Hlid-bolstadr........Muddy farm or Slope farm
Lyth...................Hlid/Lide....................Slope or Levy place
Mireland..............Myrr-land..................Mire land
Murkle................Myrk-holl...................Murk-hollow
Mybster..............Myrr-bolstadr.............Mire farm
Nybster..............Ny-bolstadr................New farm
Ousdale.............Eysteinn’s dalr ?.........Eysteinn’s dale ?
Rattar................Rauda........................Red (place)
Reisgill................Ris-gil.........................Rising ground gil
Reiss..................Ris.............................Rising ground
Sandside............Sand-saetr.................Sand farm
Sarclet aka Scarclett...Sker/Skari-kletter...Skerry stone or Young gull stone
Scarfskerry........Skarfs-sker.................Shag/Cormorant skerry
Scrabster...........Skari-bolstadr.............Young gull farm
Sordale..............Saur-dalr....................Muddy dale
Stain..................Stein..........................Stone
Staxigeo............Stakksar-gja...............Sea-stacks geo
Stemster............Stein-bolstadr.............Stone farm
Swiney...............Svin-ey......................Pig isle
Thrumster..........Thruma/Thrym-bolstadr....Thunder farm or Thrym’s farm
Thurso...............Thjor’s/Thor’s-a.........Bull’s river or Thor’s river
Ulbster................Ulf-bolstadr................Ulf’s/Wolf farm - The personal name Ulf or Ulfr derives from the word for wolf.
Watten...............Vatn..........................Water (i.e loch)
Westerdale.........Vestr-dalr....................Western dale
Weydale.............Vegr-dalr....................Way (i.e.routeway) dale
Whaligeo............Hvallar-gja.................Whales’ geo
Wick..................Vik.............................Bay/Inlet
NORTH AND WEST SUTHERLAND
Armadale............Armr-dalr....................Arm (of land) dale
Arnaboll..............Arni’s/Aerne-bolstadr...Arni’s/Eagle farm
Borgie.................Borgr..........................Fort
Coldbackie..........Kald-bakki...................Cold banks
Durness..............Dyra-nes....................Deer headland
Eriboll..................Eyrar-bolstadr............Gravel beach farm
Farr......................Far.............................Passage
Geardail...............Geira-dalr....................Triangular dale
Hope...................Hop...........................Creek
Inverkirkaig.........Inver kirkju-vik...........Church-bay river-mouth
Kearvaig..............Kjarr-vik.....................Copse bay
Keisgaig...............Keis-skiki.....................Bulky strip
Keoldale...............Kjolen-dalr..................Keel-shaped (hill) dale
Kinlochbervie.......Ceann loch Ber/Bjor/Boer-vagr....Gaelic head of loch of and Bear bay, Fort bay or Farm bay
Kirkiboll................Kirkju-bolstadr............Church farm
Laxford...............Lax-fjordr...................Salmon firth
Melvich................Melr-vik......................Dune bay - Melr can name a dune, sandhill, the bent-grass that grows on dunes or a dune-shaped hill
Mudale................Mjor-dalr.....................Narrow dale
Reef....................Rif...............................Reef
Ribigill..................Rib or Rif-gil................Rib ravine or reef ravine
Sandwood..........Sand-vatn..................Sand water (i.e loch)
Skail....................Skali...........................Hall or shieling - Skali can mean either a hall or a shieling.
Skerray...............Skerja........................Skerries (a skerry is a sea-girt rock)
Tongue..............Taing...........................Tongue (of land)
Torrisdale............Thorrir’s dalr...............Thorrir’s dale
Traligill.................Trolla/Thrall-gil............Troll ravine or Slave ravine
Unapool..............Hunn/Huna-bolstadr....Mast-top farm or Huna’s or Bear cub farm - ‘Huna’ is a personal name derived from the word for bear-cub.
WESTER ROSS
Ardheslaig...........Ard Hasla-vik.............Hazel bay headland
Attadale...............At-dalr......................Fight dale
Coulags...............Kjolen.......................Keel-shaped (hill)
Cuaig...................Ku-vik......................Cow bay
Diabaig................Djup-vik...................Deep bay
Duirinish..............Dyra-nes..................Deer headland
Erbusaig..............Erp’s-vik...................Erp’s bay
Gruinard..............Grunn-fjordr.............Shallow firth
Inverasdale..........Inbhir As-dalr............River mouth of Ridge dale
Inverlael...............Inbhir Lag-holl..........Law/Low hollow river-mouth
Kanaird................Kann-fjordr...............Can (shaped) firth
Kerrysdale............Kyrra/Kjarra-dalr.......Quiet dale or Copse dale
Kishorn................Keis-horn..................Bulky cape
Laide....................Lede........................Water course but also ‘lad or laid’ in Gaelic with the same meaning
Mellon Udrigle.......Meallan Uttar-gil........Outer Gill hill
Melvaig.................Melr-vik....................Dune bay
Mial.......................Mjor val/vollr............Narrow clearing or Narrow field
Mungasdale..........Munks-dalr...............Monk’s dale
North and South Erradale....Eyrar-dalr....Gravel-beach dale
Ormiscaig.............Ormr’s skiki..............Ormr’s strip or Snake strip - The personal name Ormr derives from the word for snake.
Rieff......................Rif...........................Reef
Russel...................Hross-vollr...............Horse field
Scoraig.................Sgor-vik..................Rift bay
Shieldaig...............Sild-vik....................Herring bay
Slattadale..............Slettr-dalr................Smooth dale
Slumbay...............Slaemr-bae..............Slim farm
Strome................Straumr...................Tidal race
Talladale................t-Hallr/Hjalli-dalr........Slope dale or Ledge dale - The 't-' is a gaelic prefix
Toscaig.................t-Haugr-skiki............Burial mound strip - The ‘t-‘ is a Gaelic prefix.
Ullapool.................Olr-bolstadr.............Alder farm
LEWIS AND HARRIS
Aird Asaig...............Ard A-skiki................River strip headland
Aird Uig..................Ard vik.....................Bay headland
Bayble....................Papar-dalr................Preist’s dale - (In gaelic the 'p' sound can be rendered as a 'b' sound)
Bhaltos/Valtos.........Vatn-lausa...............Waterless place
Borve/Borgh...........Borgr......................Fort
Bru.........................Bru/Brur..................Bridge
Callanish..................Kali’s-nes................Kali’s headland (Kali is a Norse personal name)
Carlabhagh/Carloway....Karlar-vagr........Yeoman’s bay or Karl’s bay - The personal name Karl derives from the word for ‘man’/’youth’/’freeman’.
Cearsiadar................Kjarr-saetr ?..........Carr-farm ?
Crosbost.................Cross-bolstadr........Cross farm
Cross......................Cross.....................(Place of the) Cross
Einacleit...................Enni-klettr..............Brow crag or Brow boulder - Klettr can mean ‘stone’, ‘rock’, ‘boulder, ‘outcrop’.’
Eorodal....................Eyrar-dalr..............Gravelbeach dale - Eyrar means gravel-beach, gravel-spit.
Eoropaidh................Eyrar-bae..............Gravel-beach farm
Eye..........................Eid........................Isthmus
Finsbay....................Finn’s-bae..............Finn’s farm
Garrabost................Geira-bolstadr.........Triangular-(land) farm
Geisadar...................Ga/Gja-saetr...........Goose farm or Geo farm (a geo is a cleft in a sea-cliff and the 'g' is a hard g sound as in get)
Greosabhagh...........Gras-bae................Grass farm
Grimshadar...............Grim’s-saetr...........Grim’s farm (Grim is a Norse personal name)
Griomarstaidh...........Grim’s stadr...........Grim’s farm
Hacklete/Tacleit.........Ha-klettr................High stone or High crag (with gaelic 't-' prefix in Tacleit)
Harbost/Tabost.........Ha-bolstadr...........High farm (with gaeoic 't-' prefix in Tabost)
Holm........................Holmr....................Islet (Holm can derive from Norse Holmr meaning islet where it is pronounced 'home' or from Norse
hvamm meaning grassy slope where it ispronounced 'ham' - it is the pronunciation and the geographical context that is important).
Huisinis.....................Husa-nes..............House headland
Iarsiadar....................Iar-saetr...............West farm
Islibhig......................Is-hlid-vik..............Ice-slope bay
Laxdale.....................Lax-dalr................Salmon dale
Leurbost...................Leir-bolstadr.........Muddy/clayey farm
Linsiadar....................Lin-saetr...............Flax/Lin farm
Lundale.....................Lund-dalr.............Grove dale
Manish......................Ma-nes.................Gull headland
Marbhig....................Maer/Ma-vik..........Maiden bay or Gull bay
Mangurstadh............Magnus’s staedr....Magnus’ farm
Maraig......................Mar/Ma-vik............Maiden bay or Gull bay
Mealabost.................Melr-bolstadr.........Dune farm
Mealasta...................Melr-saetr..............Dune farm
Melbost....................Melr-bolstadr..........Dune farm
Miavaig.....................Mjor-vik................Narrow-bay
Ness.........................Nes.......................Headland
Reef..........................Rif........................Reef
Rodel/Roghadal........Roak-dalr..............Whitewater dale
Sandwick..................Sand-vik..............Sand bay
Scalpay.....................Skalp-ey..............Ship isle
Scealascro................Skali-grof.............Hall quarry or sheiling quarry
Seilebost...................Skel-bolstadr........Shell farm
Shiphoirt..................Ship port .............Ship port
Sildinis......................Sild-nes................Herring headland
Siulaisiadar................Sula-saetr.............Gannet farm
Stenis.......................Stein-nes..............Stone headland
Stornoway...............Stjornar-vagr........Steerage bay
Strannda..................Strand-a...............Strand (i.e.beach) river
Suardail....................Suar-dalr................Muddy dale
Swainbost................Sveynar-bolstadr...Svein’s farm
Tolastadh.................Toli’s-staedr............Toli’s farm
Tunga......................Taing.....................Tongue (of land)
Ungisiadar.................Ungi’s saetr............Ungi’s farm
NORTH UIST and BENBECULA
Carinish.....................Kjarr/Kari’s-nes........Copse headland or Kari’s headland
Chircebost................Kirkju-bolstadr..........Church farm
Gramisdale (Benbecula)....Grim’s-dalr.........Grim’s dale
Griminish (Benbecula).......Grim’s-nes........Grim’s headland
Hacklet (Benbecula)....Ha-klettr.................High rock-face/boulder
Malacleit....................Melr-klettr.................Dune crag or Dune boulder
Otternish..................Ottar/Ottar’s nes......Otter headland or Ottar’s headland (Ottar is a Norse personal name)
Scolpaig....................Skalp-vik.................Ship bay
Uiskevagh (Benbecula)....Uisge vagr........Water bay
SOUTH UIST, BARRA AND VATERSAY
Askernish...................Askr-nes..................Ash headland
Borgh........................Borgr.......................Fort
Breivaig......................Breida-vik................Broad bay
Bruernish...................Brur-nes..................Bridge headland
Cleat..........................Klettr.......................Rock-face/large boulder
Drimsdale..................Druinnein-dalr..........Back of the ridge dale
Geirinis......................Geira-nes..................Triangular headland
Kisimuil......................Keis-myl...................Bulky headland
Loch Sgioport/Skipport....Loch Skip-fjordr....Ship firth
Ormacleit...................Orms-kletter.............Snake crag or boulder or Orm’s crag or boulder
Smerclet....................Smjor-klettr..............Butter crag or boulder
Snishival....................Snea-fjall..................Snow fell (i.e. hill although a fell or more correctly a hillside)
Staoinebrig................Steinr-briggja...........Stone bridge
Vatersay....................Vatns-ey...................Water (i.e. loch) isle
SKYE, RAASAY AND SMALL ISLES
Armadale.....................Armr-dalr................Arm (of land) dale
Arnish (Raasay)...........Aerne-nes...............Eagle headland
Bernisdale....................Bjorn’s-dalr.............Bjorn’s dale
Boreraig......................Borgr-vik................Fort bay
Bornasketaig...............Borgr skut-vik ?.....‘Cut/divided’ Fort bay ? - Skut means ‘cut’, ‘sliced’ etc
Borve.........................Borgr.......................Fort
Bracadale....................Brekkr-dalr..............Braken-dale
Broadford...................Breida-fjordr............Broad firth
Camastianavaig..........Camus Tjorna-vik....(Bay of) Tarns bay
Carbost......................Kjarr-bolstadr..........Copse farm
Cleadale (Eigg)............Klif/Kliufr/Klett-dalr....Cliff dale, Cleave dale or Rocky dale
Colbost.......................Kula-bolstadr...........Ball-shaped hill farm
Duisdealmor................Dyrar/Djup-dalr mor.....Big Deer dale or Big Deep dale
Elishader......................Alla/Olr-saetr............Eel farm or Alder farm
Eynort........................Eyrar/Eyin-fjordr.....Gravel-beach firth or isles firth
Eyre...........................Eyrar.......................Gravel beach/spit
Flashader....................Flatr-saetr................Flat farm
Galmisdale (Eigg)........Galmr’s dalr..............Galmr’s dale
Galtrigill......................Goltr-gil ?.................Boar’s ravine ?
Garrisdale (Canna).....Geira-dalr.................Triangular dale
Greshornish/Grisinis....Gris-nes..................Swine headland
Halistra.......................Hallr-stadr...............Slope farm
Harrapool...................Herad/Tharra-bolstadr....Herad farm or seaweed farm
Harris (Rum)..............Herad......................A type of administrative district
Husabost...................Husar-bolstadr.........‘Husar’ farm - Husar was an administrative division
Idrigil..........................Utar-gil....................Outer ravine
Isleornsay..................Isle of Orfiris-ey.........Tidal isle
Kirkibost.....................Kirkja-bolstadr..........Church farm
Leallt..........................Leir-holt....................Muddy/rough ground
Lorgill.........................Lorca/Hlodver’s-gil ?....Deer-call ravine or Hlodver’s ravine (Hlodver was a Norse personal name)
Lyndale......................Lin-dalr......................Flax/Lin dale
Marishader..................Ma-saetr....................Gull farm
Merkadale...................Mark-dalr...................Forest dale or tax dale - ‘Mark’ could refer to a unit of tax or to a forest
Milovaig......................Milli-vik.......................Mid/Between bay
Monkstadt..................Munk’s stadr..............Monk’s farm
Orbost.......................Orkn-bolstadr............Seal farm
Oskaig (Raasay).........Os-skiki.....................Outlet strip
Rigg...........................Rig............................Ridge
Romesdal...................Hraums-dalr..............? -dale - In Norway there is the place-name Romsdal in which the element ‘roms’ is of unknown
origin. In Iceland there is notice of a Hraum haven, again the ‘hraum’ element is of unknown origin.
Saasaig......................Sudr/Sar vik ?...........South bay or Cask-bay ?
Skeabost...................Skeid/Sja-bolstadr......Shipfarm or Sea farm
Skulamus..................Skuli’’s mosi...............Skuli’s moss (i.e. boggy moor)
Staffin (Island)...........Stafr-ey.....................Stave isle
Stein.........................Stein..........................Stone
Talisker......................t-Hallr-sker..................Slope skerry
Tarskavaig................Thorskr-vik................Cod bay
Teangue...................Taing.........................Tongue
Totaig.......................Toft-vik ?...................Ruin bay ?
Tote.........................Toft............................Ruin
Uig...........................Vik..............................Bay/inlet
Uiginish....................Vik-nes........................Bay/inlet headland
Uigshader.................Vik-saetr......................Bay/inlet farm
Ullinish......................Ulfr-nes......................Ulf’s headland or Wolves headland
Vatten......................Vatn..........................Water (i.e loch)
COLL AND TIREE
Arnabost (Coll)...........Arni’s-bolstadr...........Arni’s farm
Barrapoll (Tiree)..........Borgr-bolstadr...........Fort farm
Baugh (Tiree).............Vagr..........................Bay. (Vik named a narrow bay or inlet, whereas vagr named a broader bay and is the origin of the
name elements '-wall' and '-way' as in Kirkwall and Stornaway)
Brock (Tiree)..............Borgr........................Fort
Crossapol (Coll)..........Cross-bolstadr..........Cross-farm
Crossapoll (Tiree)........Cross-bolstadr.........Cross-farm
Grishipoll (Coll)............Griss-bolstdar ?........Piglet farm ?
Heanish (Tiree)............Ha-nes ?.................High headland ?
Hynish (Tiree).............Ha-nes....................High headland
Sandaig (Tiree)...........Sand-vik..................Sand bay
Scarinish (Tiree)..........Skerja-nes...............Skerries headland
Sorisdale (Coll)............Saur-dalr..................Mucky dale
Uig (Coll).....................Vik..........................Bay/Inlet
MULL, IONA, ETC
Assapol.......................Ass/Aspi-bolstadr.......Rocky ridge farm or Aspen farm
Burg...........................Borgr........................Fort
Carsaig.......................Kjarr-vik...................Copse bay
Eorabus.....................Eyrar-bolstadr...........Gravel-beach farm
Fishnish.....................Finnugs/Finn’s nes.....Heath-rush headland or Finn’s headland
Langamuil..................Lang-muli..................Long headland
Sunipol......................Svein’s bolstadr.........Svein’s farm
Tenga........................Taing........................Tongue
LORN ISLANDS – JURA – ISLAY – COLONSAY - GIGHA
Ardminish (Gigha).......Ard mjor-nes............Narrow headland. (The gaelic 'ard' also means headland)
Cattadale (Islay)..........Kattar-dalr...............Wild-cats dale
Conisby (Islay)...........Conon’s-bae............Conon’s farm
Cornabus (Islay).........Korn-bolstadr..........Corn farm
Cullipool (Luing)..........Kula-bolstadr...........Ball-shaped hill farm
Glenegedale (Islay).....Gleann Eikir-dalr........Oak dale (with the additional gaelic 'glen')
Glengarrisdale (Jura)..Gleann Geira-dalr.......Traingular dale (with the additional gaelic 'glen')
Leckgruinart (Islay).....Leckr-gruinn-fjordr....Sports-field of the shallow firth
Lyrabus (Islay)............Lyra-bolstadr...........Shearwater farm
Port Askaig (Islay).......Port A-skiki..............River strip port
Port Ramsay (Lismore)....Port Hrafn’s-ey....Raven’s isle port
Portnahaven (Islay)....Port of the Hofn......Port of the haven (i.e. harbour port)
Risabus (Islay).............Hrisd/Hryssa-bolstadr....Brushwood farm or Mare farm
Sannaig (Jura).............Sand-vik.................Sand bay
Scalasaig (Colonsay)....Skalar-vik................Shieling bay or Hall bay
Tormisdale (Islay).........Thormod’s dalr........Thormod’s dale
GARMORAN
Ard tornish...................Ard Thor/Thorrir’s nes....Thor's or Thorrir’s headland (with additional gaelic 'ard' also meaning headland)
Arisaig..........................Ari’s-vik...................Ari’s bay (Ari is a Norse personal name)
Arnipol.........................Arni’s bolstadr..........Arni’s farm
Arnisdale......................Arni’s dalr.................Arni’s dale
Barrisdale.....................Bergr/Borgr-dalr.......Cliff dale or Fort dale
Coire Mhorgil...............Coire Mhor gil..........Corry of the big ravine - This place-name lies far inland with no other obviously Norse names about and
it may well be that the ‘gil’ element is simply a loan word into Gaelic
Eignaig........................Eikir/Eing/Egg-vik.....Oak bay, Meadow bay or Notched bay
Glenaladale..................Gleann Olr-dalr..........Alder dale (with additional gaelic 'glen')
Glenborrodale.............Gleann Borgr-dalr.......Fort dale (with additional gaelic 'glen')
Glengalmadale............Gleann Galmr’s dalr.....Galmr’s dale (Galmr is a Norse personal name).
Glensanda..................Gleann sand-a............Sand river glen
Glenuig.......................Gleann vik.................Bay glen
Grigadale/Griogadal......Grjotgardr’s/Griogar’s dalr ?....Grjotgardr’s dale or Gregor’s dale ? (Grjotgardr is a Norse personal name)
Inversanda.................Inver sand-a..............Sand river mouth
Liddesdale...................Hlids-dalr....................Slopes dale
Mallaig.........................Melr-vik.....................Dune bay
Meoble........................Mjor bolstadr.............Narrow farm
Ormsaigmore..............Ormr’s-vik mor.........Big Orm’s bay
Resipole......................Hryssa-bolstadr.........Mare farm
Sandaig......................Sand-vik...................Sand bay
Sanna.........................Sand-a.....................Sand river
Scaddle.......................Skat/Skutr-dalr.........Tax dale or far-end-dale
Scamodale..................Skamr-dalr................Short-dale
Smirisary.....................Smidrs/Smjors-aergi...Smith’s shieling or Butter shieling
Swordland..................Svordr-land...............Sward-land
Swordle......................Svordr-dalr................Sward-dale
ARGYLL (LORN-KNAPDALE)
Ardrishaig...................Ard Hriss-vik ?.............Brushwood bay headland
Asknish.......................Askr-nes.....................Ash (tree) headland
Finart..........................Finn’s/Fionn fjordr.......Finn’s firth or white firth
Ledaig.........................Leid/Hlid-vik................Levy bay or slope bay
Lunga.........................Lung-ey.....................Ship isle
Melfort........................Melr-fjordr...................Dune firth
Minard........................Megin- or Mid- fjordr....Main firth or Mid firth
Musdale......................Mjor-dalr......................Narrow dale
Ormidale.....................Ormr’s/Ormr dalr.........Orm’s dale or snake dale
Ormsary.....................Ormr’s/Ormr aergi.......Orm’s shieling or snake shieling
Seafield.......................Sea-field / Sja fjall........Sea-field / Sea fell - Seafield is one of the commonly given modern names but could also be Norse
Turbiskill......................Thorvidr’s/Thorfidr’s skali....Thorvid’s hall or shieling or Thorfid’s hall or sheiling (Both Norse prsonal names)
Ulva............................Ulfr-ey.........................Ulf’s/Wolf’s isle
KINTYRE
Carradale....................Kjarra-dalr....................Copse dale
Crossaig.....................Cross-vik......................Cross bay
Glenramskill................Gleann Hrafn’s skali........Raven’s hall glen or Raven's shieling glen (Hrafn could also be a Norse personal name)
Muasdale....................Mjor-dalr.......................Narrow dale
Saddell.......................Saudr-dalr.....................Sheep dale
Skipness.....................Skip-nes.......................Ship headland
Sunadale....................Sunna/Sjonar dalr.........Sun dale or Observation (lookout) dale
Torrisdale....................Thorrir’s-dalr.................Thorrir’s dale
BUTE AND ARRAN
Ascog (Bute)...............A-skiki...........................River strip
Brodick (Arran)...........Breida-vik......................Broad bay
Kiscadale (Arran).........Kistu-dalr.......................Coffin dale
Rothesay (Bute).........Rauda-ey......................Red Isle