Trifter

Airdrie

This name comes from the Gaelic airde ruighe, which means ‘high hill slope’.

Annan

The actual history behind the name Annan is unknown, although it has been argued that it simply comes from an old Brythonic name for ‘water’. It is the birth place of Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen.

Ballater

Originally a spa town with connections to the royal family from the 19th century. Although the origin of the word Ballater is unknown it could derive from the Gaelic word bealach, meaning ‘mountain pass’.

Blair Atholl

The name means ‘the field of new Ireland’. In Gaelic blair means ‘field’ and Atholl historically meaning ‘New Ireland’.

Bonnybridge

This is the place where most UFO’s are spotted in Scotland but alas the name doesn’t have anything to do with bridges that are bonny. It does however come from the Gaelic buam which means ‘swift’ and was used to describe the water that ran beneath a bridge.

Carnoustie

Famed for having hosted the Open Golf Championship seven times. There are two schools of thought as to where the name comes from. One is from the Gaelic carn fheusta (meaning ‘cairn of the feast), the other from carn ghiutasiach (meaning ‘cairn of the pine trees).

Coatbridge

The town itself grew massively in the 19th century due to the coal, iron and steel industries. Its name literally means ‘bridge built next to cottages’.

Cumnock

The name probably derives from the Gaelic cam cnoc, meaning ‘crooked hill’.

Dingwall

Takes it name from the Norse thing vollr. thing meaning ‘assembly’ and vollr meaning ‘field’. A similar name Tynwald is the name of the parliament of the Isle of Man.

East Kilbride

Originally a village but re-development started in 1947 to start to turn it into one of Scotland’s largest towns. (Only the four major cities have a larger population).
The name Kilbride comes from the Gaelic meaning ‘the church of Saint Bride’.

Elgin

Not to be confused with the much larger Elgin in Illinois. It probably takes it name from the Gaelic word elg which means Ireland. Therefore Elgin would translate as ‘Little Ireland’.

Fort William

Due to its close proximity to Ben Nevis, Fort William has become a popular tourist destination. Originally it was named after King William III in the 1690’s. It later changed its name to Gordonsburgh and then Duncansburgh before changing back to Fort William (this time in honour of Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland).

Haddington

Haddington was one of Scotland’s first royal burghs, way back in the 12th century. Its name derives from a personal name (Hada) which is either Old English or Danish in origin, and the old English word inga meaning ‘people’.

Hawick

The name comes from two Old English words, haga (meaning ‘hedge’) and wic (meaning ‘settlement’). Ergo Hawick means hedge settlement.

Iona

Iona has been a spiritual centre ever since 563 when Saint Columba established the first monastery. The name comes from the Norse ey meaning ‘island’ combined with an Irish word eo meaning ‘the yew tree’.

Jedburgh

The town is built on the Jed Water, from which it takes its name. The inventor of the kaleidoscope, David Brewster, was born in Jedburgh.

Kinross

The name Kinross derives from the Gaelic name Ceann roswhich translates as ‘head promontory’.

Kirkintilloch

Self titled as the ‘Canal Capital of Scotland’, the name derives from the Brythonic caer meaning ‘fort’ and the Gaelic cinn tulaich meaning ‘at the head of the hill’.

Laurencekirk

Takes its name from a parish called Kirkton of St Laurence, named after the Christian saint.

Lewis

Because the Gaelic name for Lewis is Eileann Leodhas, it is often thought the name comes from the Gaelic leoghuis (meaning ‘marshy’). However, it may derive from the Old Norse ljodhus (meaning ‘homes of the people’).

Markinch

The name derives from the Gaelic words marc meaning ‘horse’ and innes meaning ‘island’ or ‘meadow’. It is believed that the original settlement was built on an island in a lake that was later drained.

Milngavie

The name derives from the Gaelic muileann meaning ‘mill, it is unknown whether the mill was owned by someone called Gavin or someone called David. These days Milngavie is pronounced ‘mill-guy’!

Orkney

The site of Skara Brae on Orkney dates back to 3000BC, making it the oldest evidence of human settlement found in the United Kingdom. The name comes from the Norse word orkn meaning seal, thus Orkney means ‘seal island’.

Penicuik

Until recently, Penicuik was known for its paper mills. The name itself derives from the Brythonic pen y cogwhich translates roughly as ‘hill of the cuckoo’.

Rum

This island is managed by the Scottish National Heritage as a National Nature Reserve because of its flora and fauna. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word rum meaning ‘spacious’.

Skye

The Gaelic name for Skye is An t-Eilean Sgitheanach which means ‘winged island’. The Norse name was Skuyo meaning ‘island of mist’.

Stirling

Stirling achieved city status in 2002. Although the actual meaning behind the name is unclear, it is believed that it may derive from an old Gaelic phrase which meant ‘enclosed land by the stream’.

Thurso

The nearest town to the now decommissioned Dounreay nuclear plant. Its name derives from the Norse thjors aa (meaning ‘bull’s water’).

Troon

Famed for its world famous golf courses. The name Troon either comes from the Brythonic trwyn, meaning ‘headland’, or from the Gaelic name An t-Ston, meaning ‘the nose’.

Wishaw

Although the shaw part of the name derives from the Scots word for wood, there is no definitive answer to what the wi stands for.

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Click here for Scottish Place Names – Part One

Click here for Scottish Place Names – Part Two

Click here for Scottish Place Names – Part Three

Click here for Scottish Place Names – Part Five