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List of Spellings

(For use alongside our Gaelic Place-Name Policy)

Last updated: March 2020

Executive Summary

These are recommendations for spelling common words used in place-names and signage.

You can download a PDF of this document here.

1.    List of Spellings

1.1    Elements

FormNotes
Àirdwhen meaning ‘height’ or ‘headland’
Annaidnot Annait
Bacnot Bachd (from Norse bakkr or Old Irish bacc)
Bodhanot Bogha (in sense of submerged rock)
Cairnot Cathair [1]
Geàrraidhnot Gearraidh
Geodhawhen as a discrete word (but –geo when as part of a name of Norse origin)
Giuthasnot Giubhas (from Old Irish giús, with ‘inorganic hiatus’)
Leac, Leacainnnot Leachd, Leachdain(n) (from Old Irish lecc)
Sìtheannot Sìdhean or Sidhean
Slocnot Slochd
Srathnot Strath
Rubhanot Rudha or Rugha (from Old Irish ruba)

1.2    Variant Spellings

The following variant spellings are to be used according to local practice or dominance:

Acairseid or Acarsaid
Laimhrig or Laimrig [2]
Siadar or Seadar
Uamh or Uaimh

2.    Spelling of Individual Place-names

The following place-names occur multiple times and should be spelled accordingly:

Aineortnot Ainort
Grianamulnot Greanamul

3.    Spelling of Individual Surnames

MacfeeMac-a-phì
MacInroyMac-an-Ruaidh

4.    Place-names from GOC 2009

The following is a list of all place-names and related words mentioned in GOC 2009. The forms below are for clarification only. AÀA do not necessarily recommend these forms.

3a: Sgalpaigh; Gramasdal, Lacasdal, Loch Baghasdail
4h: Àird Àsaig, Ìle, An t-Òban, Ùig
7a: Iorc ~ York
10a: bàta Mhalaig; rugbaidh na h-Alba
11f: Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Dùn Èideann, Inbhir Nis, Obar Dheathain, Earra-Ghàidheal, Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh, Èirisgeigh, Pabaigh, Sgalpaigh, Tarasaigh
11h: Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Eòrpa, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Sabhal Mòr Òstaig
12a: A’ Ghearmailt, Àird Àsaig, Alba, An Eadailt, Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh, Beinn na Fadhla / Beinn a’ Bhadhla, Breatannach, Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Ceinia ~ Kenya, Coiria ~ Korea, Earra-Ghàidheal, Èirisgeigh, Èitseal, Gàidhealtachd, Gramasdal, Hiort, Ìle, Inbhir Aora, Inbhir Nis, Iorc ~ York, Loch Baghasdail, Na Hearadh, Òban (An t-), Obar Dheathain, Pabaigh, Rùm, Sealtainn, Sgalpach, Sgalpaigh, Sgarpach, Sgitheanach, Spainn(t)each, Spainn(t)is, Sràid na h-Eaglais(e), Tarasaigh, Tiridheach / Tiristeach, Tobar Mhoire, Ùig / Ùige, Ulapul


[1] Cathair and *cair are in fact two distinct Scottish Gaelic words which have been confused over a long period in ways not yet fully understood. Cathair is most common in Wester Ross and denotes a perceived ‘fairy seat’ or some other naturally occurring seat. (E.g. A’ Chathair Dhubh (NC826626)) *Cair is a separate term generally used to denote ‘an enclosed, defensible site’ (E.g. Kirkcaldy ~ Cair Chaladain (NT277913)). Cf. Taylor with Márkus, Place-names of Fife vol. 5, p. 316-318 and James 2011, 63

[2] “There are several variant forms of this word. Laimrig seems to have a north-westerly distribution and occurs in Lewis, Skye and South Uist. A closely related form, lamraig, with non-palatal -r-, is found in Wester Ross… it is also recorded in dictionaries along with laimrig” Cox 1997, 53-4.

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