English / Map Form: Laphroaig
Gaelic Form: Laphraoig
Location: Islay, Inner Hebrides
Post Town: ISLE OF ISLAY
County: Argyll & Bute
Local Authority: Argyll & Bute
English / Map Form: Laphroaig
Gaelic Form: Laphraoig
Language Notes
ON hlað breiðr-vík 'slope of broad-bay'Element Meaning
ON hlað ~ slope; breiðr-vík ~ ‘broad bay’
Sources
| Laphroaig | 1849 Admiralty Chart 2515 |
| Lag-Phraoig | 1882 Thomas |
| Doubtful possibly Norse | Lands of Lordship |
| [La:froig̥] | (Port Ellen). |
Additional Information
Henderson 1910, 194 suggests a derivation of the second element as the same as Proaig, from N breiðr-vík. ‘broad bay, whilst the first element seems to contain ON hlað, barn, pile, stack, or slope”.
Elsewhere on Islay there is Proaig (NR4557) with Abhainn Phroaig which appears to contain the same element as in this name. MacNiven 2006 gives for this name: [prɔə̆g̥ʲ] and suggests a derivation of ON Breiðvík, ‘broad bay’ which seems reasonable.
The Port Ellen informant understood this name as Latha Phroaig, ‘the day of Proaig’.