English / Map Form: Kinlocheil
Gaelic Form: Ceann Loch Iall
Location: Lochaber, Highland
Post Town: FORT WILLIAM
County: Inverness-shire
Local Authority: Highland
Nearest Main Roads: A830
English / Map Form: Kinlocheil
Gaelic Form: Ceann Loch Iall
Genitive Form: Cheann Loch Iall
Language Notes
G nom. sg. ceann, masc. ‘head, end’ + gen. sg. loch, masc. ‘loch’ + gen. sg. Iall obscure element = ‘head of loch Iall’.Element Meaning
G ceann ~ head, end of; loch ~ loch; iall obscure element
Sources
| Chanlaycheil | 1495 RMS ii no. 2281 |
| Loch Eil: Lochille | 1516 RSS i no. 2872 |
| Loch Eil: Loch Yell | c. 1590 Pont map 22v |
| Keand lochyiell | c. 1620 Pont text 85v |
| Chanlocheill | 1608 Retours (Inverness) no. 21 |
| Loch Eil = Lochyeld | 1630 Geog. Coll. ii, 221 |
| Loch Eil = Loch – Iol | 1654 Blaeu Map (Breadalbane) |
| Loch Eil = Loch en Yell | 1654 Blaeu Map 34 |
| Loch Eil = Lochzeld | 1695 Retours (Argyle) no. 93 |
| Lochiall | 1874 TGSI vol.III, 125 who? |
| Ceann Loch Ial | MacMillan, 261 |
| Ceann Loch Iall | MacKinnon, 18 |
| Ceann Loch Iall | previous signage |
| Ceann Loch Ial | TM |
Additional Information
The meaning is obscure, but the Gaelic form is established. The old forms point to Iall ~ (thong, strap, which may refer to the shape of the loch) rather than Ial.