(from the May 1999 Conference)
EXPLORING THE PLACE-NAMES OF THE ANGUS GLENS
David Dorward is compiling a database of the place-names of north Angus comprising the whole of the parishes of Glenisla, Corachy and Clova, Lethnot and Navar, Lochlee and the upland parts of Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, Tannadice and Fernie, all of Angus north of the Highland Boundary Fault, most of which lies above the 500 foot contour line. Given its upland nature, names for relief features abound, especially those derived from Scottish Gaelic monadh ‘hill, muir, upland grazing'. This is a Pictish loan-word into Gaelic, but in one important name we know that it goes back to the Pictish period: the Mounth, the name for the whole upland area between Angus and Aberdeenshire. Some hill-names containing monadh have been assimilated to the related word in English, ‘mount', giving the somewhat inappropriate Mount Keen and Mount Blair. It is notable that beinn (‘mountain, (peaked) hill') is of infrequent occurrence, Ben Reid and Ben Tirran being the only two convincing examples. Other ‘ben' names may rather, because of their topography, represent the Gaelic being ‘bank, ridge', a loan-word from Scots bank, such as Benscravie and Bennygray. The characteristic hill-name in Angus is undoubtedly creag, of which there are over 100. This is followed in frequency by around 80 eminences with the Scots hill, while Gaelic càrn gives almost 50 hill-names.
The Glens of Angus show a rich layer of Scots as well as of Gaelic place-names, containing elements such as latch (‘bog-stream'), grain (‘side valley or stream'), and stripe (‘streamlet').
The database contains some 1200 headwords and since about half of these have one or more derivatives, the total runs to well over 2000 names, only a small fraction of the names that have existed in the past. Some exist in early boundary charters, but are no longer identifiable. Take a walk up any of the Angus Glens and you will come upon dozens of stone piles, representing some long-lost dwelling, which must at one time have had a name, and been surrounded by many names for small features such as fields and rocks. Many of these are irretrievable, but to find an elderly inhabitant who can recall one or two of them is, as you may imagine, one of the great delights in the game of toponymics.
As mentioned in the next item below, the Scottish Place-Name Society, through the efforts of David Dorward, and with kind permission of the estate of C. P. Will, has re-published Will's Place Names of Northeast Angus, (Arbroath, 1967), which covers in great detail the parishes of Edzell, Lethnot and Navar, and Lochlee, adding a full index by David Dorward and a short introduction by Simon Taylor. Requests for copies should be made, along with cash or cheque for £5 (which includes p. & p.), to the Scottish Place-Name Society.
(from SPNS Newsletter 6, Spring 1999)
While preparing a database of the place-names of the Angus Glens I was advised by a Society member to consult C.P. Will, Place Names of Northeast Angus, published by Herald Press, Arbroath, 1963, which covers in great detail the parishes of Edzell, Lethnot and Navar, and Lochlee. I had the utmost difficulty in procuring a copy, since it apparently had a short run and has long been out of print. The Committee has agreed to a suggestion that Will's book (68 pages plus a 6-page index compiled by me, with illustrations by the late Colin Gibson) be prepared for re-issue to interested Society members. It is estimated that £5 per copy would cover the production costs, including p. & p.
The late Mr Will was a solicitor who lived in Edzell, and a self-confessed aficionado whose hobby was the local place-nomenclature. Although his derivations can often be disputed, he gives many early forms and usually clearly states reasons for his conclusions. Will's local knowledge was prodigious, and there may be other members who will find his book as enjoyable and informative as I did.
David Dorward, St Andrews
(from Newletter 3, Autumn 1997)
Mr David Adams of Brechin informs Society members that there are two invaluable indexes of place-names available for consultation in the main Angus libraries of Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir and Montrose.
The first is an Index of the First Edition Ordnance Survey Six Inch map of 1865. Done by David Adams himself, it consists of 133 pages.
The second is an Index of Ainslie's map of Forfarshire of 1794. Done by John Sheriff, it consists of 64 pages.
Bibliography (to go to the full bibliography, click here)
Dorward, D., 2001, The Glens of Angus: Names, Places, People (with illustrations by Colin Gibson) (Balgavies).
Nicolaisen W.F.H., 1968 'Place-Names of the Dundee Region', in Dundee and District, ed. S.J. Jones.
Will, C.P. 1963, Place names of northeast Angus (a study of the parishes of Edzell, Lethnot and Navar, and Lochlee; with notes from the Brechin area and elsewhere in or around the county) (Arbroath) [reprinted by the Scottish Place-Name Society, with an introduction by Simon Taylor, 1999]