Scottish Place Names F
FALKIRK OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Faukirke DATE: 1298 EARLIEST RECORD: Egglesbreth DATE: 1065 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH fàg `speckled' (stone) cirice `church'. The earlier record means the same in GOIDELIC .
FALKLAND OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Falkland DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Falleland DATE: c.1128 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH fealca `falcon' land `land' is attractive, but OLD ENGLISH folc `the people' is a more probable first element.
FARR OLD COUNTY: Sutherland NAME ON MAP: Far DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE far `passage for ships'.
FEARN OLD COUNTY: Ross & Cromarty NAME ON MAP: Noue Farine DATE: 1349 EARLIEST RECORD: Nova Farina DATE: c.1245 MEANING: GOIDELIC fearn(a) `alder‑tree'.
FETTERCAIRN OLD COUNTY: Kincardine NAME ON MAP: Ffetyrkern DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Fotherkern DATE: c.970 MEANING: possibly "GOIDELIC faithir `terraced slope' [with a] ceàrn `corner' or BRYTHONIC cardden `thicket'".
FIFE NAME ON MAP: Fif DATE: 1165 EARLIEST RECORD: Fib DATE: 12th century MEANING: although there is a traditional derivation from one of the seven sons of Cruithne, the legendary father of the Picts, it more probably derives from GOIDELIC fiamh `path'. In c.1153, it appeared rather endearingly as Fifi.
FOCHABERS OLD COUNTY: Moray NAME ON MAP: Fouchabre DATE: 1325 EARLIEST RECORD: Fochoper DATE: 1124 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC fothach `lake' BRYTHONIC abair `marsh'.
FORFAR OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Forfare DATE: c.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Forfar DATE: 1137 MEANING: GOIDELIC fothair `terraced slope' with, possibly, faire `watching', ie. "a lookout place".
FORRES OLD COUNTY: Moray NAME ON MAP: Forais DATE: 1283 EARLIEST RECORD: Fores DATE: 1187 MEANING: GOIDELIC fo `lesser' or `under the' ras `shrubland'.
FORTEVIOT OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Ferteuyoth DATE: 1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Fothuirabaicht DATE: c.1165 MEANING: GOIDELIC fothir `terraced slope' and, possibly, t'abachd `abbey'.
FORTH (FIRTH OF) NAME ON MAP: Forth DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Bodotria DATE: 2nd century (in Tacitus) MEANING: probably from OLD NORSE fjordr `estuary, bay' to which MIDDLE ENGLISH frith, which means the same, has been added. On the other hand it might be an old river name, related to BRYTHONIC byddar `deaf', meaning `the silent one'.
FRASERBURGH OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Faythlie DATE: medieval MEANING: uncertain - GOIDELIC fadhail `salt-water ford' is a possibility. The modern name comes from the Sir Alexander Frazer who developed the harbour here in the late 16th century. In 1597 it was recorded as `the toun and burghe of Faythlie, now callit Fraserburghe'.
FYVIE OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Fyvyn DATE: a.1300 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC fiamh `a track'.