Scottish Place Names P-Q
PAISLEY OLD COUNTY: Renfrew NAME ON MAP: Passelet DATE: 1163 EARLIEST RECORD: Passeleth DATE: 1157 MEANING: probably from a GOIDELIC paislig, a corruption of LATIN basilica `church', but "BRYTHONIC pasgell `pasture' llethr `slope'" or "Pælli's OLD ENGLISH leah `settlement in wooded area'" would both fit.
PANBRIDE OLD COUNTY: Angus NAME ON MAP: Pannebrid DATE: c.1200 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC pen `hill, headland' of [St] Bridget. See the entry for East Kilbride.
PARTICK OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Pertheck DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Perdeyc DATE: c.1136 MEANING: from BRYTHONIC pert `thicket', `bushy place'.
PAXTON OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Paxtun DATE: c.1098 MEANING: "Pace's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'".
PEEBLES OLD COUNTY: Peebles NAME ON MAP: Pebbles DATE: c.1141 EARLIEST RECORD: Pobles DATE: 1116 MEANING: BRYTHONIC pabell `tent, temporary shelter' with OLD ENGLISH ‑s added. (The same root gives `pavilion').
PENCAITLAND OLD COUNTY: East Lothian NAME ON MAP: Penkatland DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Pencatlet DATE: a.1150 MEANING: BRYTHONIC pen `head, hill' cet `wood' with lann `field, enclosure' or OLD ENGLISH land `land'.
PENICUIK OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Penycoke DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Penicok DATE: 1250 MEANING: "BRYTHONIC pen `hill' y `of' cog `the cuckoo'".
PERTH OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Perth DATE: a.1150 EARLIEST RECORD: Pert DATE: c.1128 MEANING: BRYTHONIC perth `thicket'. For many centuries it was known as St Johnstoun.
PITCAIRNGREEN OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Peticarne DATE: 1247 MEANING: "GOIDELIC pet `portion of land' [of the] cairn `cairn'". OLD ENGLISH grene `green' was later added.
PITTENWEEM OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Petnaweem DATE: a.1150 MEANING: "GOIDELIC pet `portion of land' [of] na `the' uamha `cave'".
PLEAN OLD COUNTY: Stirling NAME ON MAP: Plane DATE: 1215 MEANING: probably BRYTHONIC plane, plen `plain'.
POLLOKSHAWS OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Pollock DATE: 1158 MEANING: diminutive of GOIDELIC poll `pool'. OLD ENGLISH scaga `wood' has been added later.
POLWARTH OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Poulwrd DATE: 1250 EARLIEST RECORD: Polwrth DATE: a.1200 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH pol `pool' worth `enclosure, homestead'.
PORTREE OLD COUNTY: Inverness (Skye) DATE: the first record, Portri in 1549, is too late to appear on this map. MEANING: traditionally GOIDELIC port righe `royal harbour' from the visit of James V in 1540, but more probably port with ruigheadh `of the slope'.
PRESTONGRANGE (at PRESTONPANS) OLD COUNTY: East Lothian NAME ON MAP: [Grangia de] Preston DATE: c.1240 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH preost `priest' tun `settlement, village'. There were salt pans here at 1200 belonging to Newbattle Abbbey.
PRESTWICK OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Prestwick DATE: 1158 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH preost `priest' wic `farm, settlement'.
QUEENSFERRY OLD COUNTY: West Lothian NAME ON MAP: Queneferie DATE: c.1295 EARLIEST RECORD: Passigium S. Marg. Regi DATE: 1183 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH quenes `queen's' ferien `ferry'. Named after Margaret, wife of King Malcolm.