Balmacaan
Baile Mac Cathain
Meaning
the farm of the sons of Cathan
Location
Inverness-shire
Highland
NH501284
English / Map Form: Balmacaan
Gaelic Form: Baile Mac Cathain
Location: Inverness area, Highland
Post Town: INVERNESS
County: Inverness-shire
Local Authority: Highland
Nearest Main Roads: A82
English / Map Form: Balmacaan
Gaelic Form: Baile Mac Cathain
Language Notes
G nom. sg. baile, masc. `town' + gen. pl. Mac Cathan, patronymic = `the town of the sons of Cathan'.Element Meaning
G baile ~ farm; Mac Cathain ~ the sons of Cathan
Sources
| Baile Mac Cathain | Watson 1926, 238 |
| Baile MacCathain | Dieckhoff 1932 |
Additional Information
GNLC principle 5.11 says that this should be Mac Cathain, with a space, if considered a patronymic, or it is not clear. In this case it is not clear. Watson 1926 considers it a patronymic `stead of the sons of Cathan’.
