Scottish Place Names R
RAASAY OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Raasa DATE: 1263 MEANING: probably OLD NORSE rár `roe deer' áss `ridge' ey `island', or simply `roe deer island'.
RAIT OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Rath DATE: 1284 MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort'.
RATHEN OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Rathyn DATE: a.1300 MEANING: GOIDELIC rathain `ferny place'.
RATHO OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Rathou DATE: 1293 EARLIEST RECORD: Ratheu DATE: 1250 MEANING: possibly BRYTHONIC rathau `mounds, hills'.
RATTRAY OLD COUNTY: Aberdeenshire NAME ON MAP: Ratref (a probable spelling) MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort' with an earlier BRYTHONIC tref `farm, homestead'. A castle was here by 1314.
RATTRAY OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Retref DATE: 1294 EARLIEST RECORD: Rotrefe DATE: 1291 MEANING: see the previous entry.
REAY OLD COUNTY: Sutherland NAME ON MAP: Ra DATE: c.1230 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC rèidh `smooth, level', possibly ràth `fort'.
REDCASTLE OLD COUNTY: Inverness NAME ON MAP: Redcastell DATE: 1455 MEANING: MIDDLE ENGLISH . There was a stronghold here by 1314.
RENFREW OLD COUNTY: Refrew NAME ON MAP: Renfrew DATE: 1160 EARLIEST RECORD: Reinfry DATE: c.1128 MEANING: BRYTHONIC rhyn `point, headland' with frwyd which implies `flowing' and may refer to the River Gryfe or to a current in the River Clyde which the Gryfe joins.
RESTON OLD COUNTY: Berwick NAME ON MAP: Ristun DATE: 1098 MEANING: either "Ris') OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'" or "hris `brushwood' tun `settlement, village'".
RHUM, see the entry for RUM.
RHYND OLD COUNTY: Perth NAME ON MAP: Rindalgros DATE: a.1147 MEANING: GOIDELIC rhyn `headland'; the early record seems to include ros `headland'.
RHYNIE OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen NAME ON MAP: Ryny DATE: c.1230 MEANING: see the previous entry.
RICCARTON OLD COUNTY: Ayr NAME ON MAP: Ricardten DATE: 1208 MEANING: probably Richard's OLD ENGLISH tun `settlement, village'.
ROGART OLD COUNTY: Sutherland NAME ON MAP: Rothegorth DATE: c.1230 MEANING: OLD NORSE rauthr `red' garthr `enclosure'.
ROSLIN OLD COUNTY: Midlothian NAME ON MAP: Roskelyn DATE: c.1240 MEANING: the first record seems to be BRYTHONIC ros `moor' celyn `of holly trees', but GOIDELIC riasg `marsh' linn `pool' may well be correct.
ROSNEATH OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton NAME ON MAP: Rosneth DATE: 1225 EARLIEST RECORD: Neveth DATE: a.1199 MEANING: GOIDELIC ros `headland' with a second element which may derive from a BRYTHONIC river or lake name related to Neath (in Wales) meaning `shining'.
ROSYTH OLD COUNTY: Fife NAME ON MAP: Rossyth DATE: c.1170 MEANING: probably GOIDELIC ros `headland' with OLD ENGLISH hyth `landing place' added later, although GOIDELIC saighead `of arrows' is a possible second element.
ROTHES OLD COUNTY: Moray NAME ON MAP: Rothes DATE: 1238 MEANING: GOIDELIC ràth `fort' ‑ais `place of'.
ROTHESAY OLD COUNTY: Bute NAME ON MAP: Rothersay DATE: 1321 MEANING: probably "Rother's OLD NORSE ey `island'". The island was granted to Roderick (Rudri) of Clan Donald in the 13th century.
ROXBURGH OLD COUNTY: Roxburgh NAME ON MAP: Roxburgh DATE: 1158 EARLIEST RECORD: Rocisburc DATE: 1127 MEANING: "Hroc's OLD ENGLISH burh `fortified manor'". The personal name meant `rook'.
RUM OLD COUNTY: Inverness (Hebrides) NAME ON MAP: Rume DATE: 1292 EARLIEST RECORD: Ruim DATE: 677 MEANING: probably `spacious' from GOIDELIC rùim or OLD NORSE röm. The letter h was added by its English owner in the 20th century.
RUTHERFORD OLD COUNTY: Roxburgh NAME ON MAP: Rotherford DATE: 1296 EARLIEST RECORD: Rutherford DATE: c.1215 MEANING: OLD ENGLISH hryther `cattle' ford `ford'.
RUTHERGLEN OLD COUNTY: Lanark NAME ON MAP: Ruglyn DATE: 1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Rutherglen DATE: a.1250 MEANING: GOIDELIC ruadh `red' gleann `glen'. The 1300 spelling is still heard in local speech.
RUTHVEN OLD COUNTY: Banff NAME ON MAP: Rothven DATE: a.1300 EARLIEST RECORD: Ruthaven DATE: c.1200 MEANING: GOIDELIC ruadh `red' bheinn `mountain'.