Language Notes

Sources

This name was gathered as part of a local research project on the place-names of the Rough Bounds of Lochaber and was published in a booklet by SNH and AÀA. The Following quote appears in that booklet:

“Coming up the south-east side of the loch we fist come to Gorstanvorran or Goirtean (a’) Mhoirein. This is the enclosure of MacMhoirein or just Moirean, known in English as Murray. Indeed an old map from 1733 gives the name as Gorten Murry. Roy’s map gives the name as Loinavoren, probably Lòn (a’) Mhoirein, ‘Murray’s meadow’. Dòmhnall Dubh Làidir MacMharais or Donald MacVarish, a native of Moidart, lived there with his brother. Dòmhnall had been working away from the place for months. On his return he decided to play a trick on his brother. He banged on the door, but when his brother came to try to open the door from the inside there was no way he could pull the door open, no matter how he tried because Donald was holding it shut. He cried out “That can be only be one man; that must be my brother!”

Gaelic in the Landscape: The Rough Bounds of Lochaber (Scottish Natural Heritage 2013): 18

Alternative Forms