English / Map Form: Lairg
Gaelic Form: Luirg
Location: Sutherland, Highland
Post Town: ROGART
County: Sutherland
Local Authority: Highland
English / Map Form: Lairg
Gaelic Form: Luirg
Element Meaning
G lorg ~ shank
Sources
Larg 1223-1245 Constitutio Capituli Ecclesie Cathedralis cathanensis a Gilberto Episcopo
Dauatis de Largge 1275 Sutherland Charters 7
Landis of Larg 1518 Sutherland Charters 68
Largis 1563 RSS v 1463
Lairgis 1564 RSS v 1704
Leargis 1566 Sutherland Charters 103
Largis 1566 RSS v 2718
Lairg 1574 Book of Assignations (from OPS II, part I, 697)
Lairg c. 1650? Macf. Geog. Coll iii, 104
Lairg c. 1630 Sutherland Charters130
‘Lairg, Lorg a shank’ Watson 1926,522
Lûirg a locative Luirg of lorg track (route) larg in local Gaelic at present day: Robertson MS359a, 93
Luirg: S. Grannd Ainmean-àite ann an Gàidhlig Dhùthaich Mhic Aoidh
Luirg: Watson in Dwelly
“Lairg in Sutherland written Larg and Largge before 300 is in Gaelic Luirg, a locative of lorg, a track which is pronounced larg in the local Gaelic. The word is rare in our own place names though in this volume is noticed Sliabh Lorgach in Lochaber so named from its moraine “tracks” or lines. Lorg staff, shank of an influenced seems less suitable. Learg from which MacBain derived Lairg, gives a few names elsewhere and lurg or lurga, shank, leg, quite a number which are often Lurgainn in speech even where the map has Lurga.” Robertson MS411 p. 86
“Lairg pr n Luirg [¢[uãruã]k¤]. Its the Lairg minister who’s going to be there, ’s e ministeár Luirg a tha gho bhi ann. There was the best price for lambs there’s been for a long time at the Lairg sale yesterday, bha ’phrìs a b’ fheàrr a bh’ ann bho chinn fhada air na h-uain aig féill Luirg an-dé.” Wentworth (2003)
Additional Information
Lairg Railway Station ~ Stèisean Rèile Luirg