Gaelic place names and meanings. Examples (with grid references) are given for each element.


  1. Gaelic place names and meanings. Ireland gained its freedom. This Gaelic name has no direct translation in English but is one of the most popular Irish first names globally. Mar 1, 2024 · Female Gaelic Dog Names. Meaning: Rock. Here are some of the more common elements of Irish place names, with their Irish Gaelic origins and their meanings: Ard/Ar: Ard – High/height. It is a beautiful name for a girl. Means "Hugh's town", from the given name Hugh and Old English tun meaning "enclosure, town". Examples (with grid references) are given for each element. wikimedia. ” Thus Early Celtic or British magos, a plain (stem mages-), gives Welsh ma, a place, Gaelic magh, a plain; vernos, alder, gives W. We had a Place Names Commission. It has led to uncertainty as to whether a place name coined in the last 200 or so years should be defined as Scots or Scottish English. Aileen – fresh and vibrant, Aileen means “bright light. Pronunciation: Eac-h-an; Meaning: Horse lord; Famous Eachans: Eachann Mac Goraidh MacAlasdair (chief of Clan MacAlister) 40. +44 (0) 1471 888 120. This is a female Irish name meaning Pleasant in English. (Baile Phúca, the official Irish name, is a translation. According to British government definitions, there are only eight Scottish cities; [1] they are Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling. Here you search for matches of a place-name plus place-names starting with that word. Find out more about Flanders Moss. Donald m Scottish, English From the Scottish Gaelic name Dòmhnall meaning "ruler of the world", composed of the Old Irish elements domun "world" and fal "rule". Sleat. Examples are Lourdes Road in Dublin and Pic du Jer Park in Cork. Examples are East and West Kilbride, where Scottish Standard English east and west have been added to identical place-names from Gaelic cill ‘church’ and the name of St Feb 15, 2024 · You can visit places with ‘Wemyss’ in their name all over Scotland. More historical research went on. Here are 13 examples that reveal this lingual diversity in Aug 16, 2023 · Below are 25 popular and unique Gaelic baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information. Gaelic Place-names of Scotland. IV44 8RQ. Saoirse (ser-sha)This name means "freedom" or "liberty. scot. Don’t know much about Gaelic? Check out our video Scottish Gaelic: Explained for a fun and informative introduction. Jan 7, 2024 · Classically, Roderick is considered to be an ancient Germanic name, meaning “fame” or “glory. ie # 56008) in north Dublin (now the modern estates of Grace Park and Celtic Park either side of Collins Avenue) which is of English-language origin. A list of place names in which the usage is Celtic. ” Ennis is located in County Clare, Ireland, and is a shortened form of Inis Cluana Ramhfhada, meaning “island of the long rowing meadow. Gaelic baby names pay homage to the unique and rich traditions of this land. fios@ainmean-aite. Gaelic is a fascinating language and you probably know that many place names in Scotland have Gaelic origins. S. expand search to include search narrower synonyms: attempt to include subclasses of the meanings. This is a glossary of the elements from Scottish Gaelic most frequently found in the place names of Britain. So, do you want to bless your daughter with a Gaelic name? Oct 17, 2023 · Today, Gaelic names are still widely used in Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the world. Illustration: Momjunction Design Mar 15, 2024 · Credit: commons. Mar 13, 2024 · Loch Eck –from Gaelic each, horse –so, horse loch. The Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway. Thus, many of the new town names were anglicised spellings of Gaelic region names, rather than the names of actual towns. Description clear help? ignore name meanings: the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name Dec 20, 2023 · 100 Strong Scottish Names for Girls. ” It was given this name because there is a small island in the River Fergus near Ennis where the famous Franciscan Abbey was built. Jul 13, 2023 · In the second part of our series exploring Glasgow’s connection with the Gaelic language through place names, we take another look at the city and some of its well known locations. " It has strong patriotic Mar 14, 2022 · The beautiful country of Ireland has produced some of the world’s most beautiful human names, many of which are perfect dog names!. Barna/Varna: Bearna – Gap. Discover the prettiest Scottish girl names for your Gaelic girl. Irish last names often reflect clan names, religious ideals, and the Irish Gaelic language. Other suggestions incude derivation from a corrupted form of old Gaelic word urrin, meaning place of torment Scottish Gaelic form of the Old Irish name Cainnech, derived from caín meaning "handsome, beautiful, good". ” Furthermore, some non-Goidelic place-names in mainly Northern and Midland England reference Irish personal names, due to Norse-Gaelic settlement Britain during the 10th century. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Cuthbert of Lindisfarme was an Anglo-Saxon saint who lived in the seventh century. For example, Strangford [Strang Fjord] (county Down), Dublin [Dubh Linn] and Wexford [Weis Reeves Castle and the townland of Reeves near Celbridge take their name from Anglo-Norman rive, meaning "riverbank. The name derives from the Gaelic word uiamh, meaning ‘cave’, and is thought to refer to the caves in Wemyss in Fife. gwern, Ir. Just this week, I was travelling through the north Cork village of Castlelyons. It is often Anglicized as Kenneth . Jul 17, 2014 · The word Fearta means a burial place, often used in reference to a site of pre-christian burials, so the name means “High Burial Place”. Verno-magos gives Fernmag, now Fearnmhagh, alder-plain. Aug 10, 2023 · Look for Inspiration in Gaelic – Scotland is known for its ancient language, and many Scot’s names have their origins in Gaelic. g Carrickfergus, Carrickarone, Carrigcastle. Thus Early Celtic or British magos, a plain (stem mages-), gives Welsh ma, a place, Gaelic magh, a plain; vernos, alder, gives W. Meaning. Aug 2, 2024 · 2. Ath/Aha: Átha – Ford. The settlers tried to preserve the place names by writing them phonetically in English. ” Ailis – a pretty Scottish form of Alice, meaning “noble. They are derived from the ancient Gaelic language, a Celtic language spoken by the Gaels. ”; Ailis – a pretty Scottish form of Alice, meaning “noble. Names are a great cultural identifier and, in an increasingly globalized world, when parents choose a name for their babies, they are making a small statement about how they see themselves and their family. Nov 7, 2019 · Also, many Scandinavian words were borrowed into Gaelic as loanwords and were then used to create place names by Gaelic speakers. Jul 5, 2024 · Here are some old Gaelic names for boys that have been around for hundreds of years. Beg/Begs: Beag Jun 17, 2023 · Scotland has many intriguing place names with their meanings rooted in a variety of languages like Gaelic, Pictish and Old Norse. com The surname Puck (var. “Carrick Sometimes a name is made up of a word from each language, for example ‘Glendale’ – ‘dale’ being a Norse name with the same meaning as ‘glen’ (Gleann in Gaelic). Each element is cited in its radical form, any common dialectal variant, its feminine form (in the case of an adjective), its plural (if found in place‑names) and its gender. With a baby name like Eabha or Clodagh, your little one will have a name unlike anyone they know — and you’ll be honoring your Irish roots. Consider looking for inspiration from traditional Gaelic words and phrases, as these can make a beautiful and unique house name. The Ordnance Survey and the Gaelic Place-Names Liaison Committee also Irish Gaelic names are not only still popular at home in Ireland, but are also particularly popular among the Irish diaspora abroad. The Gaelic word dùn (pronounced doon) means ‘fort, castle, fortified hill’. Pook) appears in many others, as in the name of the townland Puckstown (logainm. This page has curated lists of common Irish last names and meanings by category. Many of the place names in Ireland are anglicised versions of the way the original Irish (Gaelic) name was spoken. org. For example the Gaelic word ‘sgarbh’ is derived from the Old Norse ‘skarfr’, meaning ‘cormorant’. For example, Performing an element search with "stow*", would find, in addition to all "stow" place-names, other place-names starting with the word "stow", such as Stowmarket, but NOT not Walthamstow. fearna. His remains were taken to Kirkcudbright after the Viking invasion before being returned to England. Gaels are the local inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland where their native tongue is Gaelic, a branch of Celtic languages. The American city of Houston is named after the Texas president Sam Houston (1793-1863), whose surname is derived from the Scottish town. 3. Nov 7, 2019 · For example, places ending in Scots haugh have often been depicted as hall, or similarly the Scots word fa(w) rendered as fal. Lake Mioira It was over a whisky at New Year 2017 that the idea of creating a map of the Gaelic place names of Heaste, a small crofting settlement in the south of Skye, was hatched. ” However, it is actually also an Anglicized version of many other unrelated names, one of which being the Gaelic name Ruairidh. These elements are simply the words people used to describe a place or their response to their environment. Unusual Gaelic boy names: what you need to know about the name Eachan. Isle of Skye. The meaning given is that which occurs in place names. Mar 4, 2024 · Ennis is a Gaelic place name meaning “island. Other nearby horse related names include Echaig and Inverchapel (from Gaelic capall, a mare) Loch Katrine –perhaps ceiterein ‘loch of the furies; from Welsh cethern. The meaning of this name is ‘high’, ‘noble’, and ‘strong’. See full list on irishfamilyhistorycentre. You will see them on the east coast of Fife as well as on the Firth of Clyde west of Glasgow. You’ll find place names involving “Carrick” more common in the rockier parts of the country. With a melodic and lyrical quality, Gaelic boy names have an enduring appeal that transcends generations and borders. A Gaelic name meaning “happy,” Narah is certain to bring light to all those who hear it. Caoimhe (kwee-va or kee-va)From the Gaelic word "caomh," this name means gentle, beautiful or precious. Read on to find our lists of common Gaelic names and popular Gaelic baby names, ordered by theme. Continue Reading. Dec 22, 2023 · It’s believed that the name means ‘Horse lord’ (each meaning ‘Horse’ and donn meaning ‘Lord’). Description clear help? ignore name meanings: the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name Jul 24, 2024 · Numerous figures, myths, and tales from Gaelic cultures offer abundant inspiration for baby names. Place names in Scotland that contain the element BAL- from the Scottish Gaelic 'baile' meaning home, farmstead, town or city. Iain (Ian) Jul 21, 2012 · Some Irish name roots. fearn, Scot. Discover the allure of Gaelic baby boy names, where nature's beauty and majesty serve as an inspiration. Place names are made up of components which are referred to as elements. This is the name of a town in Scotland . Bruce the man Bruce as a person is referred …. Viking names being Anglicised Many places in Ireland had been named by the Vikings, and these also evolved into English spellings. Place names in the United States tend to be more easily traceable to their origins, such as towns simply named after the founder or an important politician of the time, with no alterations except a simple suffix, like You see, you often see an original Irish tribal name spring up within a place name. Viper Pit Afric’s Approach: Pronunciation – Af-rick. Aila — Meaning “from the strong place” or “bringer of light,” pronounce Aila “Ay-lah. Aidan Origin : Gaelic, Scottish This article lists a number of common generic forms in place names in the British Isles, their meanings and some examples of their use. ; Bríd – Pronounced “breed,” it means “exalted one,” suitable for a noble and dignified female. Gaelic names are indigenous to Scotland and Ireland and have been in use long before the development of modern English. From well-known old Gaelic names like Ciarán, which means “little dark-haired one,” to more unique choices like Éibhear, which is said to be the Irish version of the name Harry, you’re sure to find an old Gaelic name you love on this list. Explore our infographic featuring a collection of captivating Gaelic baby names. Research has found that the ancient language has been spoken in the city for a millenium with it making up an important part of Glasgow’s fibre and is an There are still many names which exist only in oral tradition and a number of individuals and organisations have been maintaining the tradition of recording these as well as undertaking other research, for example,The Scottish Place-Names Society. Structure of Scots place names. It is also used as a modern Scottish Gaelic form of the unrelated name Cináed . ” Nolan is strong yet sophisticated, making it a high contender on our list of Gaelic names for boys! In Scotland and the U. Gaelic Names and Meanings. Many parents choose Gaelic names for their children as a way of connecting with their heritage or simply because they like the sound of the name. The other locations may be described by such terms as town, burgh, village, hamlet Nov 7, 2019 · A more complete background to Scottish Gaelic in place names, pronunciation and spelling can be found preceding Introduction. If your dog has Irish roots, or you own an Irish breed, such as an ‘Wolfhound’ or ‘Terrier’, then our list might contain the perfect Irish dog name to match your dog’s heritage! In some cases the native meanings of a place name are wholly lost, despite guesses and theories, for example Tampa and Oregon. May 12, 2022 · Maeve (Gaelic origin), meaning ‘intoxicating,’ is inspired by the warrior queen of Connacht. This was the name of two 9th-century kings of the Scots and Picts. A good way of getting around and getting to know a place is by bicycle. Although this resulted in some beautiful sounding place names, it lost the meaning behind them. Introduction From Irish Gaelic Ciarraí meaning "Ciar's people". The study of place names is called toponymy ; for a more detailed examination of this subject in relation to British and Irish place names, refer to Toponymy in the United Kingdom and Ireland . The Scottish family name Drummond is derived from the Scottish Gaelic form of the village's name. Terminal place-name search Nov 7, 2019 · This is a glossary of the elements, generic and qualifying, most frequently found in the place names of Wales. These names reflect the culture and history of Ireland and Scotland. The Picts and the Gaels founded the Kingdom of Scotland in the 9th Century, and thus many place names in the country have strong origins in the ancient languages of Pictish and Gaelic, as well as Norse. Niamh (Gaelic origin), meaning ‘bright,’ is inspired by the daughter of the sea god. Gaelic names often have deep meanings rooted in history, mythology, and geography. Meaning “red king,” Ruairidh is also the name from which Rory stemmed and makes for a strong, fiery name for a boy. Oscar (Gaelic origin), meaning ‘dear friend,’ is a great option to name your child. Ardmore Aird Mhór Mor or mhor means big or great, taken with Ard this means ‘great height’. Gaelic still preserves inflection in a modified form, and distinct traces of the old declensions. From there, the name spread across Scotland with members of Jun 15, 2022 · Its original name was Kilcudbrit, which derived from the Gaelic Cille Chuithbeirt meaning 'chapel of Cuthbert'. Bally/Balli: Baile – Town or place (also sometimes from Béal – River mouth) Bar/Barra: Barr – Top. A more complete background to Scots in place names, pronunciation and spelling can be found preceding Introduction. Narah is a unique alternative to the more commonly-heard name Sarah, or even Tara or Cara. Meaning this was the place where the head of the Drummond Clan presided. Nov 7, 2019 · Scots place names glossary. It is a popular name. Names. This is the name of an Irish county. 1. I learnt from Ali MacPherson, the Clerk of the Common Grazing, that the Gaelic names of the landscape features surrounding the… Jul 24, 2024 · Gaelic baby names have become popular with the English-speaking population, and most of the names are derived from the names of flowers, trees, and plants from the lands of the Gaels. Place names can consist of a single generic element The partnership has been working with Ordnance Survey, local councils, roads authorities and other public bodies since 2000 to provide Gaelic names for maps and signs. The place type in the list for Scotland records all inhabited areas as City. Carperby, Yorkshire containing the Irish Gaelic given-name Cairpe [40] Dovenby, from personal name Dufan of Irish origin (OIr 'Dubhán') Hybrid place-names are generally rare, but it is not unusual for a later term to be added to an existing place-name, often to differentiate two places with the same name. " [20] [21] A further source of place names of other origin is places names after religious sites outside Ireland. ” 2. For example, the Gaelic word gobha means ‘a smith, a blacksmith’, and is found in many place-names across Scotland, including Ballygown ‘smith’s farm’ on the islands of Arran and Mull, Balnagown also meaning ‘smith’s farm’ in Easter Ross, Port nan Gobha ‘port of the smiths’ on the isle of Islay, Allt Gobhainn ‘the smith May 2, 2024 · Gaelic names have a deep-rooted history and are commonly associated with Scotland, Ireland, and the broader Celtic region. Dec 20, 2023 · 100 Strong Scottish Names for Girls. example: reptile includes turtle; expand search to related names: allow related names to inherit the meaning of the main form. Castlelyons is “Caisleán Ó Liatháin” in Irish and is named after the Gaelic tribe who were prominent in this area up to the 1200s. ) Sep 10, 2023 · Carrick/Carrig/Carraig e. Since 1880 a fair bit has happened. Dec 17, 2008 · They, like the book, only deal with place names of Irish or Gaelic origin, pretty much ignoring those places whose names are Anglo-Norman or Norse or English. This data gives some indication of the extent of medieval Gaelic settlement in Scotland. . Apr 11, 2023 · For a bubbly, cheerful little girl, Narah would be the sweetest choice of name. Jul 5, 2024 · 20 Gaelic Girl Names. The Gaelic name is A' Mhòine Fhlànrasach meaning literally ‘The Flanders Peat Moss’. These Gaelic place names often reveal stories about the places they describe. Gaelic names are unique, lending them a remarkable charm; this can be a desirable attribute many parents may expect from a baby name. G. Gaelic girl names are beautiful and unique, and they definitely stand out. Aisling – Meaning “dream” or “vision,” a poetic choice for a dog with a whimsical spirit. It is found in place-names including Dundonald ‘Donald’s fort’ in Ayrshire, Dunbeg ‘small fort’ near Oban on the west coast of Scotland, An Dun Mhor ‘the big fort’ on the island of Arran, Dunduff ‘black fort’ in Ayrshire and Dun an Ruigh Ruadh ‘fort of the red slope’, beside Loch Broom in Jul 24, 2024 · Infographic: Glittering Gaelic Baby Girl Names With Meanings. Mar 4, 2024 · Nolan is a masculine Gaelic name with two possible meanings: “noble” or “famous. To meet the growing demand for reliable information on Gaelic place-names, it is setting up the national Gaelic place-name gazetteer referred to in the National Plan for Gaelic. , Nolan is a popular choice, ranked #305 and #61, respectively. The name is a reminder that many Flemish people settled in Eastern Scotland between the 11th and 17th centuries. What are Irish Last Names? Irish last names reflect Ireland’s deep-rooted culture, which has experienced cultural shifts, migration, and periods of intense persecution. iyhbi gkd trpbw aihgaw mzmez aaoj cvmot oueaobi ifmiz esohvy