Robert the Bruce in Place-names

In order to celebrate his 750th birthday, this piece is a very brief survey of names referencing Robert the Bruce. There are many names of this type, so for the purposes here, I have limited the dataset to those names appearing in the Ordnance Survey Namebooks.

Bruce the man

Bruce as a person is referred to in place-names several times:

ROBERT THE BRUCE’S TREE
A small scotch yew near “Stuckd-an-tiobairt” traditionally reported to have been the resting place of King Robert 1st, while on one of his expeditions. It is of very remarkable appearance and seems to be very ancient. The root has so interwoven itself with a small rock as to give it the appearance of being composed of stone. The trunk is about 4 feet in diameter and the branches cover a space of 90 feet in circumference. The tree is about 15 feet in height, but, as the branches are regularly pruned with a view to its spreading, its growth is stunted. [source] [location]

A place where Bruce was supposed to have sat, however briefly, are popular:

EILEAN A’ CHOMHRAIDH
“the island derives its name from circumstance of Robert the Bruce having landed near” [source]

KINGSCROSS POINT
“A point of land on a farm of the same name being the South eastern extremity of Lamlash Bay. Tradition assigns this as the place where King Robert the Bruce took his departure from Arran to the shore of Carrick,” [source]

PORT RIGH
“A pretty Port South of Airds Cottage it is easy of access and can be entered with safety at all times it is said Robert the Bruce landed here hence its name.” [source]

KING’S CAVE
“Towards the western base of Torr Righ Mòr are the caves consecrated by tradition to Fingal and King Robert the Bruce. The King’s Cave is a larger water-worn recess about 100 feet in length by 50 feet in width and about 50 feet in height, scooped out in the sandstone cliff. Several Rude Representations of goats sheep stags & dogs are covered over the southern side of the cave. Adjoining the King’s Cave are his Kitchen & Stable” [source]

KING’S FORD
“The intersection of what appears to have been a Cart-track (long since in disuse) and a Small Stream flowing from a marsh – It is Said That Robert Bruce passed here on his retreat from Turnberry Castle, from which circumstance it takes its name.” [source]

KINGHOLM
“This Field is supposed to have received its present name from King Robert Bruce, in connexion with his having Slaughtered Comyn- And so to have at one time been called Comyn’s- holm which has been gradually Contracted into Kingholm” [source]

KING’S HOLM
“A portion of meadow land on the farm of Forrest, Situated on the northers side of ‘Pulharrow Burn’ the authorities here given State there is a tradition in the locality viz. that King Robert Bruce when residing in Dundeugh Castle (now in ruins) got his hay from this meadow.” [source]

BRUCE’S STONE
“A flat circular stone in a field about 8 chains to the East of Ugadale farm steading. On the outer edge of it is a circle cut, said by Messrs Robertson and McIntosh to represent the Sun and in the centre is a smaller carving said to represent the moon. Robert Bruce King of Scotland is said by the authorities quoted to have rested on this stone when he was either going to or coming from the Carrick shore.” [source]

KING’S SEAT
“This name is applied to a small rock on the summit of Kingshill Wood. Robert Bruce is said to have sat on it when on his way to Inveruray, but no Authentic information can be got regarding the real origin of this name & none of the Authorities will recognize it as an antiquity.” [source]

KING’S SEAT
“A large boulder stone lying on the surface on the west slope and near the top of King’s Seat Hill. It is about four feet long, two deep and three wide. Tradition says that King Robert Bruce sat on this stone on one occasion, from which circumstance the name is derived.” [source]

KING’S STONE
“A small granite rock on the farm of Garryhorn and situated near to “King’s Well”. It is traditionally handed down that King Robert Bruce sat upon it while refreshing himself at the well.” [source]
also
“Small granite rock standing beside ‘King’s Well’ at the N. [North] East base of a large mountain called ‘Meaul’ it is said King Robert Bruce sat upon it whilst refreshing himself at the Well. This is merely traditional.” [source]

KING’S CHAIR
“An upright Rock with a projection at right angles, And bearing a slight resemblance to a chair, Tradition says that Robert Bruce Sat in it,”

Wells, as a place where Bruce drank appear several times:

BRUCE’S WELL
“A small spring situated on the east side of the River Annan issuing from a rock a little below Gala Burn It is supposed to have recieved this Name at the period that Robert the Bruce resided at Annan Castle.” [source]

BRUCE WELL
“A good spring well a little to the North of the farm house of Brucewell. There are several houses of this name, all derived from the Name of the Well. There is a tradition in the district, that this Spring was used by King Robert the Bruce when travelling this part of the Country, hence the name. The well is now covered and the water conveyed by pipes to the farm house of Brucewell.” [source]

KING’S WELL
“A Spring, out of which, tradition says that King Robert Bruce drank,”

KING’S WELL
“A small clear spring, on the farm of Garryhorn, and situated near to the “King’s Stone”, it is traditionally handed down that King Robert Bruce drank out of it, when passing over these Mountains to visit “Loch Doon Castle”.” [source]
and
“A Small clear spring Situated at the N. [North] East base of ‘Meaul’ tradition says that King Robert Bruce [drank] thereupon, when passing over these [ridges] to visit Loch Doon Castle hence the name.” [source]

Bruce of course was supposed to have hidden in a cave, and this is referred to several times:

BRUCE’S CAVE
“A crevice in a shelving rock at the Junction of the Parishes of Kintore and Kemnay in the river Don, is Called Bruce’s Cave, and is said to have Concealed the person of King Robert after being defeated by some Highland Clan and previous to his Encamping on Shaw hill” [source]

SGIATH AN RIGHE (ROBERT THE BRUCE’S ROCK)
“A large projecting rock on “Sron na h-Uaidh”, supposed to have been used by King Robert Bruce as a place of concealment after his defeat Argyleshire by John, Lord of Lorn.” [source] [location]

Bruce is referred to by his first name only twice:

MOUNT ROBERT
“A small thatched farmhouse in middling repair with outhouses and Thrashing mill attached, situated in the N.E. [North East] part of the parish,. Tradition says, that this place has its name from Robert Bruce, having mounted his horse there during a battle fought in the neighbourhood.” [source]

ROBIN’S HEIGHT
“A small cultivated hill rising above Slioch the property of His Grace the Duke of Richmond. It is called Robin’s Height after King Robert Bruce who had an encampment here.” [source]

Army

Bruce also seems to stand as a name for his army:

BRUCE’S HOWE
“A name applied to faint traces of an artificial hollow, situated on the North-East side of Cot Hill, from 30 to 40 links wide. Tradition records it to have been excavated by Robert the Bruce’s army, about the year 1300 or 1400.” [source]

BRUCE’S CAMP
“An enclosure of irregular dimensions, on the summit of Shaw Hill It is surrounded by a single embankment composed of stones and earth The Donside Guide Book says:- “On the Hill of Crichie are the remains of an old scotch Camp, where it is said King Robert lay ill of a distemper before his victory over the Cummings on the Hill of Barra.”” [source]

BRUCE’S ACRE
“This name applies to a portion of land in a field a little to the east of the farm house of “Broom”, where it is said there was a battle fought between the English and Scotch, the latter being under the command of Robert Bruce, A number of Swords and other weapons were found at and near this place” [source]

ACHADH DEIREADH CATHA
Site of CONFLICT between Robert the Bruce and McDougall of Lorn A.D. 1308
“In the small enclosure in which is shewn on Trace, there is said to have been an engagement between Robert the Bruce and the MacDougalls of Lorn. The date of the conflict is said by Mr Clark to be 1308. He also states that Bruce landed at at small island in the sound of Seil called Eilean a Chomhraidh (Sheet 121) where he was met by the MacDougalls. A skirmish took place which lasted until they came to this field which is called Achadh Deireadh Cath, or Field of the end of the battle.”

SRÒN NAN COLAN
A considerable hill on the County Boundary & South West of Clifton. There is a lead mine near the top of it on the north side & in Perthshire; which was wrought several years ago, but at the present time abandoned. Tradition gives the name of the hill (“Sron nan Colan” Signifying the Corpse hill or promontory”) from the bottom of or near it having been the Scene of an engagement between the “Macdougals of Lorn” & “King Robert the Bruce” when the latter was defeated.
Sig [Signification] “The Corpse promontory”

KING’S FORD
“The remains of a Camp are still visible near to the “King’s Ford,” and said to have been occupied by King Robert Bruce. It is situated about 2 miles north of Daviot Village.” [source]

KING’S BURN
CAMP (Remains of) [King’s Ford]
“Applies to a native Camp situated near to the Kings Ford & said to have been occupied by King Robert Bruce, the ditches attached to the Camp are still very entire & are about 12 inches in depth & the artificial banks are still visible.
From Collections of the Shires of Aberdeen & Banff p [page] 580. “Of Ancient fields there was none fought here; only King Robert Bruce kept a camp here, at a straight place Called the Kings Foord lying on the north of the Church one and a half miles, from which the Kings Burn takes its name because it runs exactly by the same.”” [source]

KING’S HOW
“A hollow portion of ground about 12 chains in length situated a short distance south east of the farm of Knowhead, deriving its name from the fact of King Robert Bruce having encamped in the immediate vicinity, the stream called Kings Burn flows through it” [source]

KING’S FORD
“A ford across the King’s Burn in the King’s How, said to have been used by King Robert Bruce, and subsequently by the Pretender in the ’45.” [source]

CAMP FIELD
“This name is applied to a field bordering the ornamental ground of Monymusk House, which is traditionally associated with the movements of King Robert Bruce.
“About half a mile east from Monymusk House, and close on the bank of the Don, there is a field called Campfield, on which it is said, King Robert Bruce’s army lay immediately previous to the battle of Inverury, which was the beginning of his good fortune, when contending for the crown of Scotland.” New Statistical Account” [source]

KING’S HILL
“A small hill mostly arable immediately west of Kirkton farm house. King Robert Bruce stood here during a match between some favourite hounds of his and of Sir William St. Clair of Roslin. This tradition has been made popular by its being noticed in Sir Walter Scotts “Lay of the Last Minstrel, a ridge further east is pointed out as the place where the Knight of Roslin stood during the match, and the place bears the name of Knightfield Rig.” [source]
and
KNIGHTFIELD RIG
“Tradition says that Sir William St. Clair of Roslin stood here during the celebrated match between King Robert Bruce’s hounds and his, and which led to the erection of St. Catherine’s Church, the vestiges of which are still visible when the Reservoir a little South is unusually low. This affair is mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in the “Lay of the Last Minstrel”.” [source]

BLOODY FAULDS
“A low nearly level piece of land between Small Burn and BannocKburn House And on the Margin of the former Covered with Furze and Scattered trees. it is said that the after battle fought between Edward II and Robert Bruce took place here” [source]

Family

Bruce’s wife and brother are also referred to:

QUEEN’S BRIG
“There is no vestige of this bridge remaining now. It takes its name from Sir Robert Bruce’s Queen having concealed herself under the Arch in A. D. 1306, when flying from Kildrummy Castle, pursued by the Earl of Pembroke & his rabble. “ [source]

Finally, Robert’s brother Edward is also referred to in Aberdeenshire:

CAMP [East Brucehill]
“A circular, but now somewhat dilapidated rim of earth, about 30ft. [feet] in diameter and 2ft [feet] in height situated a little north of East Brucehill farmhouse. And generally known in the locality by the term ‘camp’. popular tradition supposes it to be one of the many held by “Edward, brother of King Robert the Bruce 1306, who encamped on this hill when in pursuit of Comyn after the battle of Inverury”. [source]

BRUCE HILL
“Applicable to a small eminence a short distance west of Corsehill. So called from the circumstance of a brother of Robert the Bruce encamping there after a battle.
“About a mile west of the village there is an extensive piece of Moor called Bruce Hill named after a brother of Robert the Bruce. There he is reported to have encamped after the battle of Inverury and from this to have gone in pursuit of Cummins to a place near Old Deer called Aiky Brae.” [source]

Folk Etymology

Finally no such piece on pace-names would be complete without some folk-etymology:

CADDERLIE
“A farm house & outbuildings. The property of Mrs. Popham Ardchattan. Robert the Bruce is said to have slept here on his way up the country after the Battle at Brander.” [source]

This is a pun on Gaelic cadal ‘sleep’ and Cadderlie. [location]

POW BURN
“”Pow Burn” which is said to be derived from Robert the Bruce calling on his men, when in pursuit of an enemy, to pull up about the Burn.” [source]

This is a pun on Scots pow, pol ‘pool’ and Scots pull.

It is interesting to note that there is no evidence of ‘giganticisation’ of Bruce; that is, there are no landscape features referring to Bruce as a giant. This occurs many times with Fingalian heroes, and also with William Wallace, who was said to have used the Lomond Hills in Fife as goal posts.