Scottish Place Names G
GAIRLOCH OLD COUNTY: Ross & Cromarty NAME ON MAP: Gerloch DATE: 1366 EARLIEST RECORD: Gerloth DATE: 1275 MEANING: GOIDELIC gearr `short' loch `loch'.
GALASHIELS OLD COUNTY: Selkirk NAME ON MAP: Galuschel DATE: 1237 MEANING: "OLD NORSE skali‑s `temporary huts' on Gala Water". The river name comes from GOIDELIC geal `white, shining'.
GALLOWAY OLD COUNTIES: Kirkcudbright/Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Galeweia DATE: c.1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Galweya DATE: c.970 MEANING: "GOIDELIC gall `stranger' Ghóidil `Gaels'": the newcomers, of mixed Irish and Norse descent, who came here in the 9th century.
GALSTON OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Gauston DATE: c.1260 MEANING: GOIDELIC gall `the stranger' (with OLD ENGLISH 's added) OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement'.
GARTLY OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Garentuly DATE: 1237 MEANING: GOIDELIC garan tulaich `thicket on the hill'.
GELSTON OLD COUNTY: Kirkcudbright NAME ON MAP: Gevelestone DATE: 1296 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village' with a personal name, possibly Gebhild or Gebweald.
GIGHA OLD COUNTY: Argyll (Hebrides) NAME ON MAP: Gug DATE: 1309 EARLIEST RECORD: Gudey DATE: 1263 MEANING: as it also appears as Gythe, Geday, Gya and Gigha, any interpretation is speculative. OLD NORSE God, Guth ey "God's island" and OLD NORSE gjá ey "rift island" have been suggested.
GILMERTON OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Gyllemorton DATE: c.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC ghille Mhoire `servant, follower of the Virgin Mary' with OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'.
GIRVAN OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Gervan DATE: 1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Girven DATE: 1275 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC gearr abhainn `short river'.
GLAMIS OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Glemmis DATE: 1251 EARLIEST RECORD: Glames DATE: 1187 MEANING: GOIDELIC glamhus `wide gap', referring to Strathmore.
GLASGOW OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Glascu DATE: 1156‑78 EARLIEST RECORD: Glasgu DATE: 1116 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC glas `green' cau `hollows'.
GLEN GARRY OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Glengarech DATE: 1307 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann `glen' with the river name derived from the root of modern garbh `rough'.
GLENCOE OLD COUNTY: Argyll NAME ON MAP: Glenchomure DATE: 1343 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC gleann `glen' comhann `narrow'.
GLENELG OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Glenelg DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Glenhelk DATE: 1282 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann `glen' possibly with Ealg `Ireland'. See the entry for Elgin.
GLENLUCE OLD COUNTY: Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Glenlus DATE: 1220 MEANING: GOIDELIC gleann `glen' with lus `herb'.
GOGAR OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Gogger DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Goger DATE: 1233 MEANING: uncertain.
GORDON OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Gordun DATE: 1315 EARLIEST RECORD: Gordin DATE: 1250 MEANING: BRYTHONIC gor `great, spacious' din 'hill'.
GOURDON OLD COUNTY: Kincardine NAME ON MAP: Gurdon DATE: 1315 MEANING: see the entry for Gordon.
GOVAN OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Govan DATE: 1275 EARLIEST RECORD: Guven DATE: c.1134 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC gobhann `blacksmith'.
GRANTON OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Grendun DATE: c.1200 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH gréne `green' dún `hill'.
GREENLAW OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Grenlawe DATE: 1250 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH gréne `green' hlaw `mound, hill'.
GREENOCK OLD COUNTY: Renfrew NAME ON MAP: Grenok DATE: a.1400 MEANING: GOIDELIC grianaig (derived from GOIDELIC grian, grèine `the sun') `sunny' or `the sunny hillock'.
GRETNA OLD COUNTY: Dumfries NAME ON MAP: Gretenhou DATE: a.1245 EARLIEST RECORD: Gretenho DATE: 1223 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH greoten `gravelly' with either hoh `hill, spur' or halh `nook, sheltered spot'.
GULLANE OLD COUNTY: East Lothian NAME ON MAP: Gollyn DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Golin DATE: c.1200 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC gollan `small loch'; one is believed to have existed here. Or GOIDELIC guallan `a shoulder'.
GUTHRIE OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Gutherie DATE: 1359 MEANING: GOIDELIC gaothair `windy place'.