Language Notes

Element Meaning

Sources

Srath-athfhinn: Diack correspondence to Robertson
Aven = À’ainn, familiar with Uisg à, Beinn à, Loch à, Inbhir à & strath-à (th = ‘h’)
Srath Athfhinn: Watson in Dwelly

uisg ān, strah-ān. ‘There is a difference between abhainn and aven, but it is difficult to explain. abhainn is av-eng (short) and Aven would be aww-eng’ (Mitchell 1915) Ben Avon. Ping auinn, auing: Diack Ms2276

Additional Information

In the Gaelic, the vernacular idiom; it is called Strath-ath-fhin, from “Strath,” a dale, “ath,” a ford, and “Fin,” the hero Fingal, so highly celebrated in the Poems of Ossian. It is generally written Strath-avan, avan being the appellative for a river; but the former etymon approaches much nearer to the provincial pronunciation. It is further confirmed by a stanza, which is still recited by the old people of the country.

Chaidh mo bheans bhatha’,
Ain uisg ath-fhin, nan clachan sleamhuin;
‘S bho chaidh mo bheans’ bhatha’,
Bheirmeid ath-fhin, ainm an amhuin.

[My wife was drowned
On Aven Water of the slippery stones
And since my wife was drwoned,
We will give in the name ‘Ath-fhin’ (Aven)]

Old Statistical Account, Kirkmichael, County of Banff, OSA, Vol. XII, 1794

Alternative Forms