Scottish Place Names C
CADDER OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Cader DATE: 1186 EARLIEST RECORD: Chaders DATE: 1170 MEANING: BRYTHONIC cadair `fort, hill‑fort'. Hill‑names such as Cader Idris in Wales are now believed to have come into BRYTHONIC from LATIN cathedra `throne', and it is noteworthy that Cadder is close to the ROMAN Antonine Wall.
CADZOW (now HAMILTON) OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Cadyow DATE: c.1360 EARLIEST RECORD: Cadihou DATE: c.1150 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC cadair `fort' with OLD ENGLISH holh `hollow'.
CAERLAVEROCK OLD COUNTY: Dumfries NAME ON MAP: Caerlaverock (probable spelling) MEANING: GOIDELIC caer `fort' leamhreaich `in the elm trees'. A castle was here by 1314.
CAIRNBURG OLD COUNTY: Argyll (Mull) NAME ON MAP: Cairnburg (a probable spelling) MEANING: from GOIDELIC carn `cairn' and, possibly, OLD NORSE borg `fort'. A castle was here by 1314.
CAITHNESS OLD COUNTY: Caithness NAME ON MAP: Catness DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Kathenessia DATE: c.970 MEANING: from OLD NORSE köttr `cat' (referring either to a geographical feature or the inhabitants) and nes `promontory'. Why the local tribe should call themselves `the cat people' is a mystery.
CALDER OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Kaldor DATE: 1250 MEANING: a river name probably derived from GOIDELIC caled `violent, hard' and dobhar `water'.
CALLANDER OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Calendrate DATE: 1451 MEANING: probably same as Calder.
CALLY OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kalathin DATE: a.1214 MEANING: possibly from GOIDELIC caladh `ferry'.
CAMBUSBARRON OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Cambusbarrun DATE: c.1270 EARLIEST RECORD: Cambusbarroun DATE: 1215 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `bend' [in the] barran `little hill'".
CAMBUSKENNETH OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Cambushenel DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Cambuskenneth DATE: 1147 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `bend' [in the River Forth] associated with Caioneach". St Canice (c.515‑99) was an Irish monk who worked under St Columba in Scotland. Kilkenny in Ireland takes its name from him. The modern form of his name, which means `fair', is Kenneth.
CAMBUSLANG OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Cameslong DATE: 1319 EARLIEST RECORD: Cameslank DATE: 1296 MEANING: "GOIDELIC camas `river bend' of the luinge `ship'".
CANONBIE OLD COUNTY: Dumfries NAME ON MAP: Canenby DATE: 1290 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH `the canon's' OLD NORSE by `settlement'. The priory was demolished in 1542.
CARDROSS OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton NAME ON MAP: Cardrois DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD: Cardinros DATE: 1208‑33 MEANING: BRYTHONIC cardden `wooded' ros `promontory'.
CARGILL OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Carghill DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Kergill DATE: c.1180 MEANING: BRYTHONIC caer `fort' or carr `rock with, possibly, GOIDELIC gill (the genitive form of geall) `of the pledge' or `of the wager'.
CARLUKE OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Carneluke DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Carlug DATE: 1304 MEANING: either BRYTHONIC caer `fort' or GOIDELIC carn `cairn' with, probably, BRYTHONIC lwch `marsh'.
CARMUNNOCK OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Cormannoc DATE: c.1177 MEANING: GOIDELIC coire manaich `corrie or glen of the monk'.
CARMYLE OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Kermill DATE: 1223 MEANING: GOIDELIC càrr `rock, crag' with maol `bare, bald'.
CARNBO OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Carnbo DATE: c.1210 MEANING: "GOIDELIC càrr `rock, crag' [of the] bo `cow'".
CARNOCH OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kernoch DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Carnock DATE: 1215 MEANING: either a diminutive of GOIDELIC carn `cairn', thus `little cairn', or cànach `rocky place'.
CARNWATH OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Charnewid DATE: c.1165 MEANING: possibly a VIKING personal name such as Kærandi with OLD NORSE vath `ford'.
CARRIDEN OLD COUNTY: West Lothian NAME ON MAP: Karreden DATE: c.1140 EARLIEST RECORD: Caer Eiddyn DATE: a.1000 MEANING: BRYTHONIC caer `fort' eiddyn `on the slope or hillside'.
CARSTAIRS OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Castrotharis DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Casteltarres DATE: 1170 MEANING: "OLD ENGLISH castel `castle' of Tarres".
CASTLE LACHLAN OLD COUNTY: Argyll NAME ON MAP: Lachlan (probable spelling) MEANING: see the entry for MacLachlan in Clan Names. A castle was here by 1314.
CASTLE SWEN OLD COUNTY: Argyll NAME ON MAP: Swen MEANING: see the entry for MacQueen in Clan Names, although there may not be a connection. A castle was here by 1314.
CASTLECARY OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Castelcarris DATE: c.1200 MEANING: probably tautological ‑ OLD ENGLISH castel `castle' and BRYTHONIC caer `castle'.
CATHCART OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Katkert DATE: c.1170 EARLIEST RECORD: Kerkert DATE: 1158 MEANING: either BRYTHONIC caer `fort', cet `wood' or, just possibly, cath `battle' with the river name Cart, which may mean `cleanser'.
CAVERS OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Cauers DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Kauirs DATE: 1291 MEANING: possibly from an OLD ENGLISH personal name, Cafhere, which derived from caf `bold' and here `army'.
CAWDOR OLD COUNTY: Nairn NAME ON MAP: Kaledor DATE: c.1280 MEANING: from a river name probably derived either from GOIDELIC caled `violent, hard' or call `hazel' and dobhar `water'.
CERES OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Syreis DATE: 1199 MEANING: BRYTHONIC siar‑ais `western place'.
CHAPEL FINIAN OLD COUNTY: Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Finian MEANING: There are several saints of this name: the most likely candidate is the Irishman, St Finian of Clonard, (died c.552) who may have spent time at Candida Casa, now Whitehorn, under St Ninian, before returning to Ireland where he founded many monasteries including Clonard. It was there that he instructed St Columba. His name means 'white‑haired'.
CHEVIOT OLD COUNTY: Northumberland NAME ON MAP: Chyviot DATE: 1239 EARLIEST RECORD: Chiuiet DATE: 1181 MEANING: the range is named after the the single mountain The Cheviot. The name may be PRE‑CELTIC and the meaning is unknown.
CHIRNSIDE OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Chirnside DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Cirnside DATE: c.1098 MEANING: possibly "OLD ENGLISH side `[hill]side' [like a] cyrin `churn'".
CLACKMANNAN OLD COUNTY: Clackmannan NAME ON MAP: Clacmanan DATE: c.1133 MEANING: BRYTHONIC clach `stone' of Manau. The glacial rock can be seen in the middle of the town.
CLATT OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Clat DATE: 1137 MEANING: GOIDELIC cleit, from OLD NORSE klettr, `cliff, rock‑face'.
CLEISH OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Cleth DATE: c.1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Kles DATE: 1231 MEANING: GOIDELIC clais `narrow valley, ditch'.
CLOVA OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Cloueth DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC cloidh `paddock' with ‑ach `place'.
CLUNIE OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Clony DATE: 1291 EARLIEST RECORD: ad Cluanan (in LATIN ) DATE: a.1000 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cluain `meadow' ‑an `little'.
CLYDE, see the entry for STRATHCLYDE
CLYTH OLD COUNTY: Caithness NAME ON MAP: Westerclithe DATE: 1377 MEANING: GOIDELIC cliath `the slope of a hill'.
COCKBURNSPATH OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Colbrandespade DATE: c.1128 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH paeth `path' of Colbrand. The personal name might have meant `black or cold sword'.
COLDINGHAM OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Coldingham DATE: c.1098 EARLIEST RECORD: Coludi Urbs (in LATIN ) DATE: c.720 MEANING: originally "fort of Colud". Later "OLD ENGLISH ham `settlement' of Colud's people".
COLDSTREAM OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Coldstreme DATE: 1290 EARLIEST RECORD: Kaldestrem DATE: a.1178 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH cald `cold' stréam `stream'.
COLINTON OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Colgyntone DATE: 1296 MEANING: "Colgan's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'".
COLL OLD COUNTY: Argyll (Hebrides) NAME ON MAP: Coll DATE: 1449 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC coll `hazel‑tree'; possibly OLD NORSE kollr `hill‑top, summit'.
COLMONELL OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Colmanel DATE: c.1240 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirke colmanele DATE: 1179 MEANING: `church of Colmonella'. The saint died in c.611. See the entry for Kirkcolm.
COLONSAY OLD COUNTY: Argyll (Hebrides) NAME ON MAP: Colowsay DATE: 1376 EARLIEST RECORD: Golwonche DATE: 1335 MEANING: probably "Kolbein's OLD NORSE eg `island'", from an OLD NORSE personal name; an alternative is `St Columba's island'.
COMRIE OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Comry DATE: c.1268 MEANING: GOIDELIC comar `confluence, junction of waters'.
CORSTORPHINE OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Crorstorfin DATE: c.1140 EARLIEST RECORD: Crostorfin DATE: c.1130 MEANING: "GOIDELIC crois `cross' of Thorfinn".
CORTACHIE OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Carcathie DATE: c.1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Cortachyn DATE: 1257 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cor tathaiche `frequented turning', but at 1320 it seems to be GOIDELIC cathair catha `fort of the battle'.
COUPAR ANGUS OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Coupre [in Angus] DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Cubert DATE: c.1169 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC comh‑pairt `common land'.
COWIE OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Collyne DATE: 1147 MEANING: possibly coille `wood', or it may be cuidhe `cattle‑pen', an adaption of an OLD NORSE word.
CRAIGIE OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Craigie MEANING: GOIDELIC creag `the crag'.
CRAIGMILLAR OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Craigmillar DATE: 1212 EARLIEST RECORD: Cragmilor DATE: c.1130 MEANING: "GOIDELIC creag `crag' [of the] maol `bare' ard `height'".
CRAIGO OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Craggow DATE: 1359 MEANING: GOIDELIC creagach `rocky place'.
CRAIL OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Carrail DATE: 1195‑1639 EARLIEST RECORD: Cherel DATE: c.1150 MEANING: GOIDELIC carr `rock' with ail, an obsolete word that also means `rock'.
CRAMOND OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Cramunde DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Caramonth DATE: 1178 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC caer `fort' [on the] Almond". The river name is a corruption of GOIDELIC amhainn `river'.
CRANSHAWS OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Craneshawes DATE: 1250 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH cran `crane' and either scaga `wood' or haga `fenced enclosure'.
CRAWFORD OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Croweford DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Crauford DATE: c.1150 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH craw `crow' ford `ford'.
CREICH OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Creyh DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC crìoch `boundary, region'.
CRICHTON OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Krektun DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Crechtune DATE: c.1145 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC crìoch `boundary' OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'. See under Clan Names.
CRIEFF OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Crefe DATE: 1218 EARLIEST RECORD: Creffe DATE: a.1178 MEANING: dative form of GOIDELIC craobh `[at the] tree'.
CRIMOND OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Crechmond DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Creymund DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC crìoch monadh `boundary hill'.
CROMARTY OLD COUNTY: Ross & Cromarty NAME ON MAP: Crombathie DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Crumbathyn DATE: 1257 MEANING: GOIDELIC crom `crooked' ard `promontory'.
CROMDALE OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Crumbdol DATE: 1237 EARLIEST RECORD: Cromdol DATE: 1224 MEANING: GOIDELIC crom `crooked' dail `dale'.
CROSSRAGUEL OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Crossraguel DATE: 1306 EARLIEST RECORD: Cosragmol DATE: a.1200 MEANING: probably from GOIDELIC crois `cross`, rathaig `fort' and maol `bare'. It might have meant `untowered'.
CRUDEN OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Invercrwdan DATE: 1163 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC inbhir `confluence' crùidein `of the kingfisher'.
CULLEN OLD COUNTY: Banff NAME ON MAP: Colane DATE: 1260 EARLIEST RECORD: Inverculan DATE: c.1190 MEANING: GOIDELIC cùilan `little nook'. The Cuillin Hills in Skye, incidentally, do not derive their name from this; their derivation is unknown, although tradition associates them with the CELTIC hero and giant, Cuchullin.
CULLICUDDEN OLD COUNTY: Ross & Cromarty NAME ON MAP: Culicuden DATE: 1227 MEANING: GOIDELIC cùil `nook, recess' and, probably, a'chudainn `of the cuddies' (small fish).
CULROSS OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Culneross DATE: 1295 EARLIEST RECORD: Culenross DATE: 12th century MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cuilean `holly` ros `wood', but cùl `ridge' and ros `promontory' are also possible.
CUMBERNAULD OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton NAME ON MAP: Cumbrenald DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC comar‑an‑allt `confluence of the streams'.
CUMBRAE ISLANDS OLD COUNTY: Bute NAME ON MAP: Kumbrey DATE: c.1270 EARLIEST RECORD: Cumberays DATE: 1264 MEANING: from the tribal name Cymri and OLD NORSE ey `island'. Cymri was supplanted by the word Welsh in ENGLISH , as the Anglo‑Saxons referred to the earlier inhabitants of Britain as Walas `foreigners'.
CUMNOCK OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Cumnock DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Comnocke DATE: 1297 MEANING: uncertain; both a diminutive of GOIDELIC cuman `shrine' and GOIDELIC cumhann `strait' have been suggested.
CUPAR OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Coper DATE: 1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Cupre DATE: 1183 MEANING: see the entry for Coupar.
CURRIE OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Currie DATE: c.1230 MEANING: from GOIDELIC currach `marsh, wet plain'.