Placenames of the Shetlands
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:58 pm
This is a list of placenames of which I found their Norse origin.
When trying to translate them ON refers to the actual name in Old Norse, NYN for the Nynorn.
Names without proper translation shares norse origins and they contain parts of ON roots, but I haven't figured out thir meaning...
Aith - NYN *Eið (compare Far. Eiði, "isthmus")
Aithsetter
Aywick
Baltasound - ON Baltey
Brae - ON Breiðr, "broad"
Braewick - ON Breiðr + vík
Burrafirth - ON Borgafjrðr?
Burravoe - ON Borgavagr
Catfirth
Channerwickm
Cullivoe
Cunningsburgh - ON Konungsborg
Effirth
Esha Ness - ON Esjanes
Exnaboe - (called "bö", maybe cognate to Far. Bøur)
Firth - ON Fjrðr
Fladdabister - ON Flatibólstaðr, "flat farm"?
Freester
Garth - ON Garðr?
Girlsta - ON Geirhildastaðr, "Geirhild place"
Gloup - ON Glup
Gonfirth
Grutness
Hamnavoe - ON Hafnavagr
Haroldswick - ON Haraldsvík?
Hillswick
Hoswick - Far. Hósvík?
Ibister
Kirkabister - ON Kirkjuböstaðr, "church's cultivated field place"?
LERWICK - ON Lervík
Levenwick
Maywick - ON Maívík / Skerplavík (Skerpla is the Norse name of May)
Muckle Roe - ON Rauðey mikla, "big red island"
Nesbister - ON Nesböstaðr, "farm on the Ness"
Noonsbrough
North Roe - ON Norðr Rauðey?
Norwick - ON Norðvík?
Ollaberry - ON Olafrsberg
Otterswick - Far. Hattarvík?
Quendale - ON Kverndal
Reawick
Rerwick
Saltness / Salt Ness - ON Saltnes?
Sandgarth - ON Sandgarðr?
Sandness - ON Sandnes?
Sandwick - ON Sandvík?
Scalloway - ON Scalavagr
Scatness
Scousburgh
Silwick
Skeld - ON Skjöldr
South Scousburgh
Sumburgh - ON Sunnan Borgr, "southern town"
Tangwick
TINGWALL - ON Þingvöllr
Toab - ON Tollhóp
Toft - Far. Toftir?
Turniebrae
Urafirth
Vaivoe
Veensgarth - ON Víkingsgarðr / Vingarðr
Vidlin - ON Vaðilinn
Voe - ON Vagr
Walls - ON Vagar (pl.)
Waisdale
Westerwick - ON Vestrvík?
Whiteness - ON Hvitanes
Wormdale
INHAB. ISLANDS
Bressay - ON Breiðey
Burra - ON Borgarey
Fair Isle - ON Friðarey
Fetlar - ON Fetaland
Muckle Roe - as the settlement's name above
Out Skerries - ON Ut Sker
Papa Stour - ON Papey Stora
Mainland - ON Meginland
Trondra - ON Þrondaey
Whalsay - ON Hvalsey
When trying to translate them ON refers to the actual name in Old Norse, NYN for the Nynorn.
Names without proper translation shares norse origins and they contain parts of ON roots, but I haven't figured out thir meaning...
Aith - NYN *Eið (compare Far. Eiði, "isthmus")
Aithsetter
Aywick
Baltasound - ON Baltey
Brae - ON Breiðr, "broad"
Braewick - ON Breiðr + vík
Burrafirth - ON Borgafjrðr?
Burravoe - ON Borgavagr
Catfirth
Channerwickm
Cullivoe
Cunningsburgh - ON Konungsborg
Effirth
Esha Ness - ON Esjanes
Exnaboe - (called "bö", maybe cognate to Far. Bøur)
Firth - ON Fjrðr
Fladdabister - ON Flatibólstaðr, "flat farm"?
Freester
Garth - ON Garðr?
Girlsta - ON Geirhildastaðr, "Geirhild place"
Gloup - ON Glup
Gonfirth
Grutness
Hamnavoe - ON Hafnavagr
Haroldswick - ON Haraldsvík?
Hillswick
Hoswick - Far. Hósvík?
Ibister
Kirkabister - ON Kirkjuböstaðr, "church's cultivated field place"?
LERWICK - ON Lervík
Levenwick
Maywick - ON Maívík / Skerplavík (Skerpla is the Norse name of May)
Muckle Roe - ON Rauðey mikla, "big red island"
Nesbister - ON Nesböstaðr, "farm on the Ness"
Noonsbrough
North Roe - ON Norðr Rauðey?
Norwick - ON Norðvík?
Ollaberry - ON Olafrsberg
Otterswick - Far. Hattarvík?
Quendale - ON Kverndal
Reawick
Rerwick
Saltness / Salt Ness - ON Saltnes?
Sandgarth - ON Sandgarðr?
Sandness - ON Sandnes?
Sandwick - ON Sandvík?
Scalloway - ON Scalavagr
Scatness
Scousburgh
Silwick
Skeld - ON Skjöldr
South Scousburgh
Sumburgh - ON Sunnan Borgr, "southern town"
Tangwick
TINGWALL - ON Þingvöllr
Toab - ON Tollhóp
Toft - Far. Toftir?
Turniebrae
Urafirth
Vaivoe
Veensgarth - ON Víkingsgarðr / Vingarðr
Vidlin - ON Vaðilinn
Voe - ON Vagr
Walls - ON Vagar (pl.)
Waisdale
Westerwick - ON Vestrvík?
Whiteness - ON Hvitanes
Wormdale
INHAB. ISLANDS
Bressay - ON Breiðey
Burra - ON Borgarey
Fair Isle - ON Friðarey
Fetlar - ON Fetaland
Muckle Roe - as the settlement's name above
Out Skerries - ON Ut Sker
Papa Stour - ON Papey Stora
Mainland - ON Meginland
Trondra - ON Þrondaey
Whalsay - ON Hvalsey