Genitive Form: Chamas Long

Language Notes

Element Meaning

G camas ~ loop (in a river); long ~ ship

Sources

Camboslane 1296 Ragman Roll
Cameslong 1319 Bain’s calendar
Cambuslange 1379 x 1381 RMS i no. 645
Camyslang 1394 Reg. Passelet
Cambuslang 1581 Glas. Charters no. 72
Cambuslang 1755 Roy
Cambuslang 1816 Forrest
Cambuslang 1864 OS 1^st edn

“…representing camas long, ‘bight of ships.’ There is an exceptionally fine camas on Clyde at the village of Cambuslang; the tide comes right up to it, and boats can come to it on a rising tide. At the period when the name was given the conditions probably permitted the light vessels of those days to come so far on a high tide and no further.” Watson 1926, 202

Additional Information

Many thanks to Pete Drummond for the early forms.

Alternative Forms