Scottish Place Names K
KAMES OLD COUNTY: Argyll NAME ON MAP: Cameys DATE: a.1204 MEANING: GOIDELIC kamas `bay'.
KEIG OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Kege DATE: 1200 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC caidhe `quagmire'.
KEITH OLD COUNTY: Banff NAME ON MAP: Ket DATE: 1220 EARLIEST RECORD: Geth DATE: 1187 MEANING: BRYTHONIC chet, cet `wood'. See the entry for Keith under Clan Names.
KELSO OLD COUNTY: Roxburgh NAME ON MAP: Kelcou DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Calkou DATE: 1126 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH calc, cealc `chalk, limestone' hóh `hill‑spur'.
KELTY OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Quilte DATE: 1250 MEANING: either GOIDELIC coillte `woods' or caled `hard'.
KENMORE OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kenmore DATE: 1258 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceann `head, top' mór `big', possibly because it was the larger of the two settlements at either end of Loch Tay.
KENNOWAY OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kennachyn DATE: 1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceann `head, chief' achadh `field'.
KILCONQUHAR OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kilkunekath DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Kilconcath DATE: 1228 MEANING: probably "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Conchobar". The name derives from GOIDELIC `hound' and `desiring', and is now found as Connor, but there are no recorded saints of the name.
KILDONAN OLD COUNTY: Sutherland NAME ON MAP: Kyldonane DATE: 1332 EARLIEST RECORD: Kelduninach DATE: c.1230 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Donnan"; the saint, a follower of St Columba, founded a monastery on Eigg and was martyred there with his 52 monks by the Vikings c.618.
KILDRUMMY OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Kildrummy DATE: 1280 EARLIEST RECORD: Keldrumin DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC coil `wood' or ceann `head' with druim `ridge'.
KILLEARN OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Kynherin DATE: 1320 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynerine DATE: c.1250 MEANING: originally GOIDELIC ceann `chief, head' and later cill `church' with earrain `of the district'.
KILLIN OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kyllyn DATE: 1318 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC cill `church' fhiom `white'.
KILMACOLM OLD COUNTY: Renfrew NAME ON MAP: Kilmacolme DATE: 1205 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' [of] ma `my' Colm [Columba]". See the entry for Iona.
KILMARNOCK OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Kelmernoke DATE: 1299 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' [of] ma `my' Ernanoc `little Ernan"; St Columba had a nephew of this name.
KILMUIR OLD COUNTY: Ross & Cromarty NAME ON MAP: Kilmor DATE: 1296 MEANING: originally probably GOIDELIC cùl `back' mòr `big' referring to a hill; it is now cill `church' of Mhoire `Mary'.
KILPATRICK OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton NAME ON MAP: Kylpatrick DATE: 1283 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Patrick". There is no obvious connection with the St Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland. He was originally called Sucat, but adopted a name meaning `nobleman'.
KILRENNY OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kilrinny DATE: c.1160 MEANING: GOIDELIC cill `church' with what may be a diminutive of the saint's name Irenaeus, or possibly GOIDELIC rathain `ferns'.
KILSPINDIE OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kynspinedy DATE: c.1250 MEANING: uncertain. The early forms are GOIDELIC ceann `chief, head' rather than cill `church'. The second element might be GOIDELIC spùinneadaire `plunderer' or the saint's name Pensandus.
KILSYTH OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Kilsyth DATE: 1239 EARLIEST RECORD: Kelvesyth DATE: 1210 MEANING: uncertain: GOIDELIC cill `church', either with the personal name Syth or GOIDELIC saighde, the genitive of saighead, `of the arrows'.
KILTARLITY OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Keltalargyn DATE: 1279 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Talorgain or Talarican"; he was an early 7th century saint. The name means `bright‑browed'.
KILWINNING OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Killvinin DATE: a.1160 MEANING: "GOIDELIC cill `church' of Vinin or Wynnin". The name is an early form of Finian. See the entry for Chapel Finian, but in this case the name might be that of a later Finian who founded a monastery here.
KINBUCK OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kinbucche DATE: 1266 EARLIEST RECORD: Kenbuc DATE: c.1208 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] boc `buck'".
KINCAPLE OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kincapel DATE: 1212 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] capuill `horse'".
KINCARDEN OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kyncardin DATE: 1239 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] BRYTHONIC cardden `thicket'".
KINCARDEN OLD COUNTY: Clackmannan NAME ON MAP: Kincardyn DATE: 1277 MEANING: see the previous entry.
KINCARDINE OLD COUNTY: Kincardine NAME ON MAP: Kynge Carden DATE: 1295 MEANING: see the previous entry.
KINCLAVEN OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kynclevin DATE: 1264 EARLIEST RECORD: Kinclething DATE: 1195 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] cliathain `slope'" or "[of the] clamhain `kite'".
KINFAUNS OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Kinfaunes DATE: c.1230 EARLIEST RECORD: Kinfathenes DATE: c.1200 MEANING: possibly "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' fathan `coltsfoot' ‑ais `place of'".
KINGARTH OLD COUNTY: Bute NAME ON MAP: Kengarf DATE: 1204 EARLIEST RECORD: Cindgaradh DATE: 737 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] gàradh `enclosure, yard'", although BRYTHONIC cardden `thicket' is also possible.
KINGHORN OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kinkorn DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Chingor DATE: c.1136 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' [of the] gronn `marsh'".
KINGLASSIE OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kinglassin DATE: c.1153 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' [of the] glas `stream'".
KINGUSSIE OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Kingussy DATE: c.1237 EARLIEST RECORD: Kinguscy DATE: c.1210 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' giùthseach `of the pine‑trees'".
KINLOSS OLD COUNTY: Moray NAME ON MAP: Kinlos DATE: a.1200 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynloss DATE: 1187 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' lussa `of herbs'".
KINMUNDY OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Kynmondy DATE: 1137 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' monaidh `of the hill'".
KINNAIRD OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Kinard DATE: 1183 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' aird `of the crag'".
KINNEFF OLD COUNTY: Kincardine NAME ON MAP: Kinneff DATE: 1361 MEANING: possibly GOIDELIC cinnaibh `at the headlands'.
KINNEIL OLD COUNTY: West Lothian NAME ON MAP: Kinel DATE: 1250 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, end' [of the] fhàbhail `wall'". The ROMAN Antonine Wall ended nearby.
KINROSS OLD COUNTY: Kinross NAME ON MAP: Kinross DATE: c.1214 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynros DATE: c.1144 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' [of the] ross `promontory'".
KINTORE OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Kyntor DATE: 1273 EARLIEST RECORD: Kynthor DATE: c.1190 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head, summit' [of the] torr `hill'".
KINTYRE OLD COUNTY: Argyll NAME ON MAP: Kintyre DATE: 1266 MEANING: "GOIDELIC ceann `head' [of the] tir `land'".
KIPPEN OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Kippen DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceapan `little stump'.
KIRKCALDY OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Kirkaldin DATE: c.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirkaladunt DATE: a.1093 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC caer `fort' [of the] caled `hard' din `hill'."
KIRKCOLM OLD COUNTY: Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Kyrkrum DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Kerkecolemm DATE: 1186 MEANING: kirk, a SCOTTISH ENGLISH word derived from OLD ENGLISH cirice or OLD NORSE kirkja must often have been a replacement for an earlier GOIDELIC cill `church, monastic cell' in place‑names. "Church of [St] Columba". See the entry for Iona.
KIRKCONNEL OLD COUNTY: Dumfries NAME ON MAP: Kyrkconwelle DATE: 1347 MEANING: "kirk of [St] Conan or [St] Conghall". See the entry for Kirkcolm. There is no certain candidate for the dedication.
KIRKCUDBRIGHT OLD COUNTY: Kirkcudbright NAME ON MAP: Kirkudbrid DATE: 1278 MEANING: "kirk of [St] Cuthbert". A 7th century monk and Prior of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, the saint spent much time in Galloway. He is buried in Durham Cathedral. The name means `famous bright'. See the entry for Kirkcolm.
KIRKINNER OLD COUNTY: Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Ste Kenere DATE: 1326 MEANING: "kirk of (probably) [St] Kennera"; he was a 5th century recluse educated by St Ursula. See the entry for Kirkcolm.
KIRKINTILLOCH OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton NAME ON MAP: Kirkintolauche DATE: 1288 EARLIEST RECORD: Kirkentulach DATE: c.1200 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC caer `fort' [at the] ceann `head, summit' [of the] tulaich `hill'".
KIRKLISTON OLD COUNTY: West Lothian NAME ON MAP: Listun DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Lyston DATE: 1230 MEANING: "kirk of Liston". The village name was "Lisa's (a man's name) OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'". See the entry for Kirkcolm.
KIRKMADRINE OLD COUNTY: Wigtown NAME ON MAP: Kirkmadroyn DATE: Medieval MEANING: "kirk of GOIDELIC ma `my own' Draigne". He may have been an early CELTIC saint. See the entry for Kirkcolm.
KIRKPATRICK DURHAM OLD COUNTY: Dumfries NAME ON MAP: Kirkepatrike DATE: 1248 MEANING: "kirk of [St] Patrick". See the entries for Kilpatrick and Kirkcolm. Durham may have been added in honour of an early proprietor.
KIRRIEMUIR OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Kerimure DATE: 1229 MEANING: GOIDELIC ceathramh `quarter' mòr `big'. A caethramh, a quarter of a dabnach, measured 48 Scots acres and was judged sufficient to support a household.
KISMUL OLD COUNTY: Inverness (Outer Hebrides) NAME ON MAP: Kismul MEANING: uncertain: OLD NORSE kistu `glen' or mùli `bare' might be elements.
KNOCKDOLIAN OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Knokdolian DATE: a.1328 EARLIEST RECORD: Knoudolyan DATE: 1296 MEANING: GOIDELIC cnoc `hill' with, possibly, `the blinded one': from GOIDELIC dall `blind, mislead'. (Or the BRYTHONIC equivalents.)