Alness

Alanais

Settlement

Location

Ross and Cromarty

Highland

NH652696

English / Map Form: Alness

Gaelic Form: Alanais

Location: Easter Ross, Highland

Post Town: ALNESS

County: Ross and Cromarty

Local Authority: Highland

English / Map Form: Alness

Gaelic Form: Alanais

Language Notes

 

Sources

Alenes 1227 Moray Reg. 75
Alnes 1547 RSS
croftum de Alnes 1566 RMS iv no. 1744
Alnes 1589 RMS iv no. 1625
capellanie de Alnes 1590 RMS iv no. 1767
capellaniam de Alnes (vel Alves) 1621 Retours (Ross and Cromarty) no. 60
lands of Alnes 1651 Retours (Ross and Cromarty) no. 101
Anes 1654 Blaeu Map (Moray)
in villa et terris de Alnes 1691 Retours (Ross and Cromarty) no. 151
Alness 1820 Thomson
G Alanais Watson Watson 1904, 75 and Watson 1926, 468

Additional Information

This is an obscure name. Watson says this is not Norse ‘nis’ but G Allan as a river-name + f(h)as, ‘station, stance’. This seems unlikely however, given the original name of the Alness River, the Averon. Moreover, in this area Norse names are primarily confined to the coast, and the site of Alness is typical of a site which might have a Norse name.

Alternative Forms