Ardnamurchan
Àird nam Murchan
Meaning
the headland of the seals
Location
Argyll & Bute
Highland
NM495674
English / Map Form: Ardnamurchan
Gaelic Form: Àird nam Murchan
Location: Lochaber, Highland
Post Town: ACHARACLE
County: Argyll & Bute
Local Authority: Highland
Nearest Main Roads: B8007
English / Map Form: Ardnamurchan
Gaelic Form: Àird nam Murchan
Language Notes
G nom. sg. àird, fem. ‘headland’ + gen. pl. masc. def. art. nam (before labials) + gen. pl. murchan, ‘seal’ = ‘the headland of the seals’.Element Meaning
G àird ~ headland, promontory; murchan ~ seal
Sources
| Ardenmurich’ | 1292 RPS [1293/2/17] |
| Ardnamurchane | 1505 RMS ii no. 2895 |
| Ardmurchan | 1516 RSS i no. 2872 |
| Ardnamurchane | 1516 RSS i no. 2872 |
| Ardnamurquhan | c. 1620 Pont text 85v |
| Ardnamurquhan | 1630 Geog. Coll. ii, 156 |
| Poinct of Ardna Murchye | 1654 Blaeu Map (Hebrides) |
| Ard-na-Murchein | 1654 Blaeu Map (Hebrides) |
| Àird nam Murchan | Dwelly 1912 |
| Aird na(m) Murchan | Dieckhoff, 181 |
Additional Information
An established name. See Watson 1926, 93 for more discussion of the name in a historical context.
