6.1 Gazetteer of Fearann Names

GAZETTEER

The names are arranged from east to west and from north to south, using the former counties as a reference. These old counties match very closely with the Pictish provinces and presumably with earlier divisions. Four-figure OS grid references have been given where known. Names have been taken from the OS Gazetteer of 1:50,000 maps, checked against the Pathfinder series of maps, and from a variety of place-name books and local histories. An interesting and unexpected result of this method of listing is the different dialect forms which are found as one moves from north to south and from the coast into the interior.

North: Caithness & Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Moray
East: Aberdeenshire, Angus & Kincardine, Fife & Kinross, Lothian, Borders
West: Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides, Wester Ross and Argyll
South-West: Dunbartonshire & South Stirling, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway
South-Centre: Perthshire, Menteith
BRN Names
FRN Names in England

NORTH

Caithness & Sutherland
The old province of Caithness stretched from the Pentland Firth to the Dornoch Firth. Despite contact with Norway and the loss of names due to depopulation, a sketchy but coherent picture emerges.

Durness (NC4067), c.1542 Ardurness, at Cape Wrath in the extreme north-west.
Strathmore: Dornadilla or Dornaigil (NC4545), a broch.
Clais Fearna (NC8362), Strathy.
Feranelan (ND0358), with hut circles, a broch, and a chambered cairn, Carn Liath. Port an Eilean (ND0559) also refers to a missing island. Latheron (ND1933): 1275, Laterene, 1515, Latheroun. The first element is probably ‘beacon’ or ‘light’. cf Lorne.
Dunbeath: Cnoc Fuaran (ND1134). Cnoc na Maranaich (ND1333), with chambered cairn. Achorn (ND1330). Brochs and a variety of cairns. Bad Fearna (ND1229) looks like an alder grove.
Helmsdale: Culfern (NC8958) in Strathhalladale. Feranach (NC8327) in Strath na Frithe ‘the strath of the deer trap’, with chambered cairn (NC8728), hut circles, cairns, and a broch. Kilearnan in Strath Ullie (NC9218).
Brora: Meall Horn (NC8107) and Ben Horn (NC8006) may represent a fearann at Brora or Golspie, bordering on Ferincoskry at the Fleet. Cill-Mearain in Strathbrora, unlocated.1
Dornoch (NH8089) on north shore of Dornoch Firth, a.1145 Durnach. Lòn Doirneach (NH7494), a hill-slope.
Ferincoskry in the parish of Creich extended for 30 km (18 miles) on the north side of the Dornoch Firth and the river Oykell.2 This parish, which marked the border with Ross, began four miles west of Dornoch and stretched west for forty miles, as far as Assynt. Ferancestgrayges was granted by Donald, Lord of the Isles, to Angus Mackay of Strathnaver in 1415.3 Fearann casgrach ‘the land of slaughtering (hunting)’, G. casgraiche ‘victor, sanguinary person (hunter)’. There are many cairns, chambered structures and other signs of prehistoric activity. The centre at Creich is marked by a fort (NH6588) and fairies (hunters) once met on or lived in Migdale Rock (NH6591).4 Ferincoskry was also known as Chilis or Kyles, no doubt referring to the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet which marked its boundaries.
Ferinbeuthlin. G. butelach 'a big fire'.5 Barrow says that it was in the parish of Creich and thought it might be another name for Ferincoskry6 but Ferinbeuthlin is more likely to be the western half of Creich. At the western end of this overland route through Strathoykel to Assynt we find an isolated group of Orkney-Cromarty chambered cairns (NC2908 to NC2325). To the south is the Coigach with Clais Fearna and Dornie (below). North of Assynt are Claisfern and Durness. It must be one of the oldest and most unaltered settlement areas in Europe.
Claisfern (NC1946) near Scourie, with burnt mound and chambered cairn (NC2146).
Killearnan (unlocated), a township in Sutherland. Mackinlay 1914, 73.

Ross & Cromarty
Dounie (NH5690), Easter Ross, once Donylawren ‘the dun of the fire of the fearann’ (cf Lorne). The dun was a broch. Lubfearn (NH3870) in the interior, to the west of Ben Wyvis (NH4668).
Lochalsh: Arnisdale (NG8410) in Glen Elg (G. seilg ‘hunting’). Dornie (NG8826) on Loch Long at Eilean Donan (seat of the Seaforth Mackenzies). Inchnairn, 1548 Inchnarn7. Letterfearn (NG8823).
Wester Ross: Coigach (G. cog ‘warfare’, AG. ‘hunting’): Clais Fearna (NC1016). Dornie (NB9810), Lochalsh, was a district of Loch Broom but never a parish.
Fearn, Easter (NH6486) and Wester (NH6287) on the south shore of the Dornoch Firth facing Ferindonald. Corriefearn (NH6285).
Fearn (NH8377), Farine 1349, Easter Ross. The name is said to be taken from Fearn at Edderton but such a borrowing would be very unusual. The use of the name Nova Farina c.1245 for the religious establishment here might equally reflect the coincidence of two similar names within a small area. Fearn is separated from Ferindonald by the Alness river and is topographically very similar.
Ferindonald in Easter Ross was the home of Clan Munro and occupies 20 km (12 miles) on the sunny side of the Cromarty Firth, ‘the district from the Alness river to the burn of Allt na làthaid to the east of Dingwall.’8 It now corresponds to the parishes of Alness and Kiltearn9 and faced Ferintosh across the Cromarty Firth. The feudal centre was at Foulis Castle (NH5864) but an older beacon site was at Cnoc an Teampuill (NH5863), not ‘temple’ but the P spelling of tiomchuill or tinchell, a group of hunters. The war cry of the clan was Caisteal Folais ‘n a theine! – ‘Fire at Castle Foulis!’ Acharn (NH5873) and Aultanfearn (NH5875) in the hinterland on river Alness, with many chambered cairns and a dun. River Averon at Alness (NH6173), àbh ‘water’ + fearann. Cnoc Mhàbairn (NH5563). Drynie (NH5360).
Ferintosh, Black Isle, is ‘the fire land of the toiseach, or leader’, once the name of a village and barony on the south side of the river Conan and the Cromarty Firth, in the parish of Urqhuart. The name survives only as Newton of Ferintosh (NH5753) and Newlands of Ferintosh (NH5954), both on Millbuie ‘the summit of the hunting troop’. Cairnurenan (NH5652) has several chambered cairns including Cairn Glas (NH5752). Drynie (NH5551). Dunvournie (NH5957). Farness (NH7364) was a.1272 Fernenes. Learnie (NH7560) on steep site on south coast. The Black Isle, G. Ardmeanach ‘height of the meeting’, had eight parishes but in earlier times probably had only two divisions, one to the north of Millbuie (later the parish of Urquhart) and one to the south, or may have been a single unit.
The neighbouring fearann to the west, between the river Beauly and Strathglass, is shown by Glen Orrin and by Inverferane on the river Orrin. South of Orrin was the parish of Killearnan, also known as Eddyrdor ‘between two burns’. Its patron saint was Ernan.
Carn Fearna (NH4261) in Easter Ross, a mountain of 432m in the Ben Wyvis range, is unlikely to mean ‘alder cairn’.

Moray
The sequence of fearann continues through Moray with Nairn, Findhorn and Deveron or Duverne, ‘deer portion’. Findhorn and Deveron are now names of rivers but most probably were originally the names of local districts. These divisions correspond quite closely to the later counties of Nairn, Moray and Banff while to the east the Deveron marks the boundary of the province of Buchan.

Farnua or Ferneway, Moray.
Ferenes or Ardclach, Moray, also known as Fotheray.
Beauly to Ness: The Aird. Aultfearn (NH5041).
Ness to Nairn, along the shores of the Moray Firth. Since Strathdearn, the valley of the river Nairn, is ‘stra-hern’ ‘the strath of the Earn’ in Gaelic,10 'Nairn’ is ‘an Earn name with the article incorporated’. W.C. Mackenzie 1931, 102. The town of Nairn was 1283 Inernarn ‘at the mouth of the Nairn’. It was once a grieveship. Allanfearn (NH7147). Cullernie (NH7347). Clach an Airm (NH6836) is perhaps for ‘Airn’ and may have been a boundary marker between this district and the following.
Nairn to Findhorn: the coastal unit was centred at Darnaway (NH9955) where the Earls of Moray had their seat. An older centre was Auldearn (NH9155), 1238 Aldheren, Allt Eireann ‘the burn of the earann’, which was earlier known as Eren or Eryn. It is surrounded by two mottes, a stone row, a cairn, and a stone circle and was replaced as a local centre c.1187 under William the Lion.11 Earnhill (NJ0160).
Upper Nairn: Inverarnie (NH6833), on river Farnach where it joins the Nairn. Achvaneran (NH6734). The name Farr (NH6832) may be a reduced form of Fearn. Strathnairn is known for its concentration of Clava cairns which may have functioned as local beacons (they have limited visibility). R. Bradley, Clava ref. Upper Strathnairn was one of the three fearann which marched at Carn nan Tri-tighearnan (NH8239), the cairn of the three lords. The others were probably Strathdearn and the upper Findhorn.
Findhorn to Lossie: Invererne (NJ0360), once at the mouth of the river, shows that the Findhorn is properly ‘the river of the Erne’. Survey of Moray 1798, 146. Cullerne (NJ0563). Earnside (NJ1062) is not on a river. Eren here was the name of a district. W.J. Watson 1926, 230. Findhorn was perhaps a name which distinguished it from other neighbouring fearann. Shian a’ Fearn (relief) (NJ0342) beside Knock of Brae Moray.
Upper Findhorn 1: Glenferness House (NH9443), on the Findhorn, home of the Earl of Leven has a Pictish symbol stone known as the Princess Stone. It may have been one of the three fearann associated with Carn nan Tri-tighearnan (NH8239), 'stony mountain of the three lords', 615 m. between the Nairn, Strathdearn, and the Findhorn, all probable fearann.. Local names include Ferness (NH9644) and Dunearn (NH9341) with a fort. From Glenferness it is a short step south over the hills to Strathspey and Castle Grant, where Shleanaferan (NH9930) is further evidence for a fearann.
Upper Findhorn 2: Glenernie (NJ0146) to the east on the river Divie was a separate parish and so perhaps a separate fearann. Culfearn (NJ0043).
Upper Findhorn 3: There was probably a fearann centred on Moy in Strathdearn, seat of Clann Mhic an Toisich or MacIntosh, presumably one of the three whose boundaries met at Carn nan Tri-tighearnan (NH8239). ‘cairn of the three lords’.
Upper Findhorm 4: Coignafearn (NH7017): now a very remote little place with a very imposing name. Watson believed it was an earann and quotes an old and quite obscure saying that one fifth (a coig) of The Éireann was worth the whole of Strath Éireann12
Lossie to Spey: In the parish of Birnie (NJ2058) on the Lossie river, 5km (3.5 miles) south of Elgin, there was a huge cairn, 100m in circumference, known as Kilforeman in which ‘fore’ represents fearann and ‘man’ is meadhon ‘to meet, gather’. Fulfern (NJ2153).
Upper Lossie: Aultahurn (NJ1448) on the route to upper Speyside.
Spey to Deveron (NJ6963): the river Deveron or Duffhern retains the name of a fearann in Moray, archaic dubh ‘deer’. It marks the boundary between Moray and Buchan. Tolachherene 1242 was hereabouts. Near the coast, Oran (NJ4161) and Arndilly (NJ2848) on the Spey. Durn (NJ5865), including Durn Hill (NJ5763) with its fort and Burn of Durn (NJ5661) with Arnbath (NJ5765) may represent a separate division.
Upper Speyside has links to Atholl as well as to Moray. Shleanaferan (NH9930) or Sliabh na fearann ‘the slope of the fearann’ is a north-facing hill near Castle Grant (NJ0430). This hill is not on the boundary with Ferness to the north which runs through Lochindorb. Earnfold (NJ3639) on the Fiddich, Ferndearn (NJ3044) in Strathspey near Craigelleachie, Carn Tighearn (NJ2329), Auchnafern (NJ0229). Ferntaggen (NJ2430) in Strathavon. Creag an Iaruinn (NJ1221) at Mains of Glenlochy, a davoch belonging to Abernethy parish, in upper Strathavon.
Carn nam Bain-Tighearna (NH8425), between Strathdearn and Strathspey, may mean 'fire lord' with G. ban ‘fire’ rather than ‘lady’.
Upper Deveron: includes Strathbogie and the Cabrach (see Aberdeenshire).

EAST

Aberdeenshire
Eastern districts were also defined by major rivers. Buchan lay between Deveron and Ythan and Formartin between Ythan and Don. This has been used to organising the following names, though it does not necessarily correspond to the prehistoric arrangement. Inland, settlement was limited to the river valleys.
Deveron to Ythan: Buchan, the old Pictish province, is 60 km (40 miles) wide and may have been subdivided by the river Ugie. Rathen parish was dedicated to the beacon saint Ethernan. His ‘hermitage’ was a hollow known as Eddran’s Slack on the east end of Mormond Hill (NJ9757), an outstanding local landmark.
Ardiffery (NK0536), small estate. Arnage Castle (NJ9337), 1348, Arnynche. Arnhall , Huntly (JBJ). Arnhead (NJ7042), with a stone circle. Arnhill (ref?), 1545 Ernehill. Arnybogs (NJ8638). Auquharney (NK0238), small estate or former township. Bogfearn (NJ7758). Coulterne (NJ8944). Earnhill (NJ8545). Edindurno (JBJ). Fernieslack (relief) (NJ8159). Ferniebrae (NJ9957) on slopes of Mormond Hill. Fernking (NJ4457). Gilkhorn (NJ9245). Horndaw (WMA). Inkhorn (NJ9239). Inverthernie (NJ7344), 1504 Innerny: Erny or Therny is said to be the original name of the stream here, a tributary of the Ythan, but cf Inverythan (NJ7540) which is not at at confluence at all. Ironhill (NJ9165), pron ‘eernel’. Ironreives (NJ9221), in early spellings Arnruffis, Earnerives. Ironside (NJ8752). Marno (NJ9460). Terryorn or Terryhorn (NJ4640). Tillyfar (NJ8545). Tillyfar (NJ8638). Tillyfer (NJ8638).
Ythan to Don: Formartin or Ferann martain is the name of this extensive district. Martin can be interpreted as ‘hunting beacon’. AG. mar ‘hunt’ and G. teine ‘fire’. The centre of Formartin was Fyvie castle (NJ7639) on the river Ythan, ‘an important place from time immemorial’. William the Lion held court there in 1214. N. Tranter, The Fortified House in Scotland, vol. 4, 1966, 48.
Arnyburn (NJ7441). Drumdurno (NJ7024), between Urie and Don, with the Maiden Stone. Fernie Brae (NJ7061). Balquhairn (NJ5618). Ferniebrae (NJ7126). Ironbrae (Tarves, WMA). Ironbrae, Udny (WMA). Kinghorn (NJ8721): the ceann or deer trap is no doubt the ‘small steep den’ there, noted by Alexander. W.M. Alexander 1952, 76. Marnoch (NJ5950).
Strathbogie: this inland district to the west of Formartin and south of Deveron was also a fearann known as Frendraught (NJ6140) 1283 Fferinderahe, G. fearann doireach ‘the fire-land of the deer forest’.13 It survived as an elite centre and as the name of a pre-Reformation parish which was also known as Forgue. The second element is also found in toiseach-dereth, ‘leader of the hunt’ or ‘master of the deer-forest’, an old native official. The Crighton Stone and the Federaught Stone on the Hill of Rothmaise (NJ6933) are said to mark an encounter between the families of Frendraught and Fedderate,14 and probably mark a boundary. Federaught is not Fedderate in New Deer (NJ8949) but might be a form of the name Frendraught. Culyarney (unlocated). Glen Dornach (NJ6243).
The Garioch is an inland district bounded by Formartin, Mar and Strathbogie. Evidence for a probable fearann in Garioch is given by the two stones on the Hill of Rothmaise (NJ6933), marking a boundary with the fearann of Frendraught to the north.
Durno (NJ7123) and Logie Durno (NJ7026) with a symbol stone. Ferniebrae (NJ7126). Horndoyne (NJ6624). Rayne (NJ6728), G. rainn ‘part, division’. Strathorn (NJ6827). Early forms of Inverurie are Inuerurin and Inverthurin. As Th is sometimes interchangeable with Wh and H it is possible that Urie was ‘the river of the fearann’. cf Inverthernie in Buchan.
Don to Dee: Mar was divided into three portions: Braemar, Midmar, and Cromar. Strathdon and Strathdee are linked by the Blue Cairn on Morven, which is equally visible to north and south.
Arnhaugh (WMA). Bogfern (NJ5207). Craigearn (NJ7214), where stands the Lang Stane o Craigearn. Fernhill (NJ8807). Fornet (NJ7613, 7813) with standing stones. The Hirn (NJ7300): Alexander says ‘frequent’ but gives only one example. Horn Burn, a tributary of the Dee, is the county boundary at Sluie (NO6297). The Horner (NJ7415), a group of small farms. Learney (NJ6304). Moulinearn (NJ6305), in Gaelic Muileann-fheàrna. Watererne (NJ4507), for uachdar earann ‘the height of the earann’.
Upper Strathdon: Allt Fuaranach (NJ3107) is shown on an estate map as Allt Fearnach (WMA). Ernan (NJ2812), a tributary of the Don, also Glen Ernan (NJ3112) and Inverernan House (NJ3210) with cairn. Tom Hearn, a knoll on Ladylea (WMA).
Upper Deeside. Gleney: Ben Iutharn. Also Ben Iutharm, Braemar, pron. ‘yoo-arn’.15
Clais Fhearnaig (NO0693), pron. ‘yarnaig’, a ravine between Glen Lui and Glen Quoich, probably a deer trap. The Corn Arn or Corrienearn (NO3994), 578 m in Glenmuick. Fafernie (NO2182), a hill of 1000 m. on the boundary between Mar and Gowrie, which like all such boundaries is marked by a series of beacon hills. Inchmarnock (NO4296), 5 km below Ballater.

Angus & Kincardine
Dee to North Esk: South Deeside and The Mearns (county of Kincardine). The Mearns was Moerne, G. A’Mhaoirn, the great fearann in Strathmore. The English plural suggests subdivision into three parts by the rivers South and North Esk.
Arnbarrow Hill (NO6578) and Arnbarrow (NO6577) are within the royal deer park at Kincardine. Arnot Boo (NO9497), a coastal feature. Arntilly Craig (NO5793) at Birse, has a long cairn (NO5993) (c.1180 it was Erbentuly). Boggiefearn (NO5496), a small farm in Birse. Cairn-mon-earn (NO 7891), 378m, has a second summit Mundernal (NO7893), for monadh fhearann. Darn Bay (NO8573). Darnford (NO7692). Earnsheugh Bay (NO9498). Fernyflatt (NO8577). Ferniebrae (NO8380). Fernybank (NO5378) on North Esk. Hill of Wirren (NO5273) between North Esk and West Water. Kinghornie (NO8372), at the mouth of the Bervie Water. St Arnty’s Cell, Kinneff (NO8574). St Marny’s Well, Benholm (NO8069).
North Est to South Esk: Arnhall (NO6169) near Edzell. Balquharn (NO4862). Bettywharran (hill) (NO4467). Brechin (NO6059), an old Pictish centre, had Tuetheren’s Fair, perhaps the eireann of the tuath or ‘folk’. Farnell (NO6255), with castle and mains farm, 1219 Ferneval, was a separate parish. Fern (NO4861), probably the original centre, with Fern Den, Hilton of Fern, a standing stone (NO4960). Ironshill (NO6750) on Lunan Water. Noran Water (NO4463). St Arnold’s Seat (NO4363) with summit cairn. St Arnold’s Seat, Tannadice (NO4758) on South Esk. Arnold either ‘height of the earrann’ or ‘stream of the earrann’ is also common in English place-names.
South Esk to Firth of Tay: Arnbog (NO3146), at the west end of Strathmore. Balluderon (NO3738), with stone circle and Martin’s Stone. Bothmernock in Panbride parish, Carnoustie. J.M. Mackinlay 1914, 75. St Ethernan’s Fair at Forfar. Arniefoul (NO4044) with a cairn, Ironharrow Well (NO4143), and Ironside Hill (NO4140) in the hinterland of Glamis Castle (NO3848), home of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, as well as several Pictish carved stones.
Glens of Angus: Acharn (NO2876) and Drumwhern (NO3368) in Glen Clova.
Turin Hill (NO5153).

Fife & Kinross
North-east Fife: Fernie (NO3115), originally part of the domain of the MacDuff Earls of Fife but property of Fernie of that Ilk by the fifteenth century. The Lairds of Fernie were also Foresters of Falkland and Constables of Cupar. N. Tranter vol.2, 1963, 36-7. Kilmaron (NO3516) in north-east Fife, is equipped with castle and beacon site, signalling south. Cairnie (NO3717), similarly equipped, signals north. Collairnie (NO3019), with hill and castle. Lindifferon (NO3216). Ironside at Lindores (NO2616), was Earnside, Hyrneside, Irneside. W.M Alexander 1952 under Ironside, New Deer. Ferniehall Cottages (NO3915).
South-east Fife: Arncroach (NO5105), near Kellie Castle (NO5205), once home to the Earls of Kellie, and Kellie Law (NO5106), a beacon site with a cairn. Aithernie (NO5704) is also a fearann name, retaining the aspirate. The church steeple at Kilrenny (NO5704) (G.16 ‘portion’) was known to fishermen as St Irnie. He was shown carrying a torch. Irniehill at Kilrenny was also significant to sailors; this is probably now Rennyhill (NO5704)
West Fife: Arngask (NO1310), c.1147 Arringrosk. Cockairnie (NT0999) at Kinross, 1178 Kincarnyne. Cockairnie (NT1685) at Aberdour. Dunearn (NT2187), a hill in the parish of Burntisland (Kinghorn), with a fort. Kilgour (NO2208), Kilgoueryn 1243 (WCM 119). Killernie (NT0392). Kinghorn (NT2787). Pitfirrane (NT0686) with feudal castle (but Johnston says fuarain ‘well’and the Pit element is probably anachronous). Purin (NO2606) to the south of Falkland, may retain an unaspirated form of fearann. Atharnaisc was patron of Lathrisk (NO2708), near the old royal palace of Falkland, and of Leuchars in East Fife.

Lothian
Midlothian: Arniston (NT3259), Temple parish, 1354 Arnaldistoun (uncertain). Balerno (NT1666). Dreghorn (NT2268). Wyndhorn17, a river name equivalent to Findhorn.
East Lothian: nothing noted.
West Lothian: Airngath, Erngath or Irongath Hill (Bo’ness). Arnlose or Arnloss (NS8771). Arnothill (Falkirk). Blawhorn Moss (NS8868). Darnrigg (NS8775). Fairniehill (NT0576).

Borders
On the Scottish side: Arniston (NT3259), Arnothil in Liddesdale, 1541 (JBJ), Chirnside (NT8756), Darnick, Darnock or Dernock, Roxburghshire (NT5334), Earnscleugh Rig (NT5653), Fairnilee (NT4533), Fairnyside (NT9461), Farndun 1098, Berwickshire (JBJ), Ferneycastle (NT8860), Ferniehirst (NT4441), Ferniehirst Castle (NT6517), Ferny Hill (NT5436), Ferneyhill Farm (NT7336), Ferneylea Farm (NT7469), Horn Burn (NT9160), Hornshill (NT5767), Yearning Flow (NY5587).
FRN names from the adjoining part of Northumberland include Fairnyflat (NT9653), Farne Islands (NU2336), Fernie (NT8233), Horncliffe (NT9249), Yarnspath Law (NT8813), Yearning Hall (NT8112). Findern (Derby) is cognate with Findhorn, Moray.

WEST

The scarcity of fearann names (except in Skye) could reflect the considerable loss of early settlement land to rising sea levels in this area since the initial land-taking (indicated by the 100m offshore level). We might expect to find surviving names in mountainous islands.

Outer Hebrides
Lewis: Airnistean, Cross (NB4962), at a small harbour. Arnish (NB4330), on a promontory controlling the entrance to Stornaway harbour and Arnish Moor, inland.
North Uist: Arnaval or Airneabhal (NF7825) is close to two chambered structures (NF7524, (NF7525). The second element is G. éibheall ‘flame, live coal (beacon)’, as in Applecross. Scrifearnach (NF7977) on Vallay. Remains of Teampull Orain (NF7777).

Inner Hebrides
Colonsay: Kiloran and Tobar Oran ‘Oran’s Well’ (NR3996). The island is said to be ‘sacred to St Oran. This may mean that there was a beacon on Colonsay known as Oran 'the singer'.
Jura: Ardfernal (NR5671) with standing stones. Kilearnadale, name of the parish. Port nam Furn (NM7000).
Rum: Fearann Laimhrige (NM4196) ‘fearann (beacon site?) of the landing-place', a highly visible coastal site on a steep slope, facing across the Sound of Rum to Sleat in Skye. It may not be an old name.
Skye: in 1549 Dean Munro said it had 12 parishes. The most important appear to have been Bracadale, Duirinish, Dunvegan, Miginish, Sleat, Snizort or Bernisdale, Strath or Drynoch, Trotternish, and Waternish.18 Neither Uig nor Trumpan apear to be old units and the Dean treats Raasay separately. All of them have fearann names.
1. Bracadale. Fearan nan Cailleach (NG3738) is an unadorned hill spur overlooking Bracadale or Dal na breac ‘deer dale’. The Cailleach here would be a tribal hunting beacon rather than a deer goddess. Two chambered cairns (NG3337) and three brochs (NG3438, NG3537, NG3638)
2. Duirinish. Feriniquarrie (NG1750), a hamlet on an inconvenient but very visible site halfway up a steep hill. The name may mean ‘beacon site of the circuit or expedition’ from G. cuairt ‘circle, circuit, circulation, expedition, general gathering of sheep’. The Macquarries of Ulva, a small island near Mull, derive their name from the same source and this name suggests another local group of the same name.
3. Dunvegan (NG2449) was the elite centre for the northern half of Skye. Horneval (NG2747) is a probable local beacon.
4. Miginish. Arnaval (NG3431), in Miginish, a beacon hill (cf Arnaval, North Uist).
5. Sleat. Ferrindonald (NG6507), Armadale, Sleat, the original seat of Clan Donald. Drumfearn (NG6715), at the north end of the penisula of Sleat.
6. Snizort or Bernisdalet. Arnisort (NG3453), between two brochs, on Loch Greshornish in Snizort. They share the element hornish or arnish. Berniesdale (NH4050).
7. Strath or Drynoch. Drynoch (NG4031), a DRN name, may be the original name of the parish. Fiurnean (NG5149). Udairn (NG5142).
8. Trotternish or Trouternes, an ERN name. Lonfearn (NG5162), on east coast of Trotternish, facing Gairloch and Applecross.
What about Fuirnean, Udairn?
9. Waternish or Vaternes, an ERN name.
Raasay, an island: Arnish (NB4203), coastal. Fearns, North and South (NG5835).

MAINLAND

Wester Ross and Argyll.
Plockton: Fernaig (NG8433).
Gairloch: Badfearn (NG8889), on Loch Ewe. Druim ma Fearna (NG8270). Meall Fearna (NH0161), unlikely to be ‘alder mountain’ but next to Meall Guibhas ‘pine mountain’.
Applecross: Na Fearnan (Dwelly), now Fearnmore (NG7260) and Fearnbeg (NG7359) are both in exposed and highly visible coastal positions facing across Loch Torridon to the mainland south of Gairloch. They would serve to communicate between hunters in the two areas and may also have marked a landing-place.
Lochalsh:
Glenmore: Leitirfearn (NH3201) on east side of Loch Oich facing Invergarry.
Glenelg: Dornie (grid ref) on Loch Duich. Arnisdale (grid ref) on Loch Hourn. Letterfearn on Loch Duich (?) (grid ref).
Morar: Arnipol or Arnabol (NM7483). Loch Hourn (NG8209), G. Shubhairne.
Moidart: Drynie Hill (NM7171).
Ardnamurchan: Gorteneorn (NM6367) ‘barley garden’ and Gortenfern (NM6069) are both probably reinterpreted fearann names. Gortoncherin (NN0538) on Loch Etive, Gortonchuirn (NR2561) and Cnoc a’ Chaorainn (NR2562) in the Rhinns of Islay appear to be the same name.
Sunart: Goirtein Mhoirein (unlocated), said to be a mermaid19
Morvern: G. a’ Mhorairne. The natives always understood this to be a’ Mhór-earran ‘great portion’. The first element is probably not ‘big’ but mar ‘to hunt, kill’. Acharn (NM7050) was a meeting place for hunters. Fernish (NM5751) on the Sound of Mull was perhaps a navigational beacon for hunters crossing from Mull. Rudha aird Earnaich or Éirionnaich (unlocated).20
Lochaber: Carn Clach na Fearna (NH4308) at south end Loch Ness; the cairn of the stone of the Fearann. Drumfern and Druim Fearna (NM9577) on south side of Loch Eil. Fassfern (NN0278) on the north side of Loch Eil. Sron na Fearnaig (NN0689).
Appin: Loch Creran (NN0044), was Creveren. The first element is a ‘fire’ word, as in Moncrieff.
Benderloch:
Lorne: Lathurna or Lagarne, for *Labh-fhearann ‘fire portion’, referring to its beacons (cf Latheron, Caithness). Acharn (NN1235). Ardfern (NM8004) on Loch Craigneish. Beinn Duirinnis (NN0234) and Eilean Duirinnis (NN0035). Cruach nam Fearna (NM8215). Fearnoch (NM9632). Fernoch Hill (NN0120), on the west side of Loch Awe. Iveroran and Allt Oran (NN2741). Kilmaronaig (NM9334), on Loch Etive. Muckairn (NM9733). Meall nan Tri-Tighearna (NN1442), between Glenetive, Glenorchy and Glenkinglas.
Craigneish: Acharonach (NM8207)?
Argyll: Drimfern (NN0814) in Glen Aray. Fearnoch (NM8797). Fernoch (NR8688) on Loch Gilp. Kirnan (NR8795). Fearnach Bay (NM8313) with hut stances. Gleann Fearna (NM9221). Meall nan Tighearn (NN2323), a prominent hill between Glenlochy and Loch Awe.
Cowal: West: Ardmarnock House and Bay (NR9172), Fearnoch (NR9279) with standing stone, cairn and dun. Camus Fernan (NS0275). East: Fearann Coille (NS1674) with Airigh nam Fearan (NS1374), platforms (NS1678-9) and a chambered cairn (NS1680). Fearnoch (NS0176) on Loch Riddon, with hut platforms and chapel. Kilmarnock (NS1073). Dornie (NS1494) on Loch Eck. Dornoch Point (NS1484) on Loch Eck.
Knapdale: Fearnoch (NR7074). Fernoch (NR7285) with standing stone, Dun Mhurich and many platforms. Loch na h-Earrain (NR 7278).
Kintyre: Arnicle (NR7135). Dhurnie (NR6822). Loch na h-Earrainn (NR7278). Rhuna h-Aorine (NR7048). Deucheran Hill (NR7644).

SOUTH-WEST

Bute: Kerryfern (NS0561). Port Dornoch (NS0853). Inchmarnock, an island off Bute.
Dunbartonshire & South Stirlingshire: Arnburn (NS3588) at Luss, Loch Lomond. Baldernock (2 km ENE of Milngavie), a former parish and hamlet. Blairnairn (NS3088) in Glen Fruin. Fruin, c.1225 Freone. Fernicarry Farm (NS2391). Inchmurrin (NS3887) with chapel of St Mirren and castle of the Earls of Lennox. Lorn (NS3985) at the south end of Loch Lomond, a probable beacon site. Laveran, Loch Lomond. W.J. Watson 1926, 431. Drumairn (NS6777) in the Kilsyth Hills. St Mirren’s Well at Kilsyth (NS7278). Kilmaronock (NS4587), a parish. River Earnan (WCM).

Renfrewshire: Mearns (NS5454) with castle; also name of parish, Mo-erne ‘large earann. It is on the Earn Water (NS5453). Watson derives Moerne from Irish maer or maor, W. maer (from Latin maior) 'steward' but admits that 'the old Scottish term for the office of a maor, however, was 'marnichty'.21 Levern Water (NS5261), Laberane 1539.22 Berfern (NS2071). Darndaff (NS2722), with moor and cairn.

Lanarkshire: Arns (NS8075). Balornock (NS6167). Cleghorn (NS8946) 1230 Clegerne. Cumbernauld (NS7674). Dalmarnock (NS6162) on the Clyde. Darnfillan (NS8541). Darngavel (NS8756). Darnhunch (NS7428). Darnley (SW Glasgow). Dern Craig (NS8907). Distinkhorn Hill (NS5833). Dornal (NS6319). Earn Law (NS9311), a beacon site on the slope of Earncraig Hill (NS9701), near Daer Reservoir (NS9707) where Mesolithic remains have been found. Earnock (NS6954), part of Hamilton. Fereneze Hills (NS4859). Ferniegair (NS7354). Fernieshaw (NS8159). Marnock (NS7168). Tincorn Hill (NS5827). Totherin Hill (NS9535).

Ayrshire: the three divisions of Ayrshire are Cunninghame, north of the river Irvine, Kyle between Irvine and Doon, and Carrick, all the county south of Doon. From the Brown Carrick (NS2916) one can see Ben Lomond.
Cunninghame: Dreghorn (NS3537). Kilmarnock (NS4237). Warnockland (NS4744).
Kyle: Cloquhairnan (NS4317). Darnconner (NS5723). Darnhay (NS5229). Darntaggart (NS5117). Dornal (NS6319). Knockmurran Farm (NS4416). Polquhairn (NS4716).
Carrick: Arnsow (NS3507). Auchenairney (NS3308). Clashverains (NX3799). Dalquhairn (NX3276). Dalquharran (NS2702). Darnaconner (NX2783). Drumfairn (NS3306). Drumfairn (NX1894). Duhorn (NX1086). Fernwell Farm (NX1087). Garryhorn (NS2913). Kilranny (NX1592) with G. rainn ‘part, division’. Linfairn (NS3001). Linfern (NX3698). Parkfairn (NS3306). Pinverains (NX3398). Pinverains (NX4199).

Dumfries & Galloway
The southern part of this region divides naturally from east to west into eight regions separated by major rivers. Certain of them are capable of being further divided into eastern and western parts.
Esk to Annan: Dornock (NY2366), parish and village on Solway Firth.
Annan to Nith: Ironhirst (NY0572). Hardthorn (NX9477)? Arnmannoch (NX8875), said to mean 'monks’ portion’ but monks had an interest in saying so. Alexander equates main/mean in place-names with G. meadhoin ‘middle, meeting place’. Arnimean, ‘the meeting place’, referring to hunters.23
Nith to Urr: Arnmannoch (NX8560). Dalquhairn (NX8979. Drumfern Hill (NX8661). Irongray (NX9179) ‘the portion of the herd’, on the Cluden Water. Ironhash Hill (NX 8656). Lavern Burn (NS9007). Lochfern (NX8662). Marwhirn (NX7973). Richorn (NX8357).
Urr to Dee: Blackerne (NX7964). Chapelerne (NX7767). Drumwhirn (NX7480). Ernambrie (NX7566). Ernanity at Crossmichael (NX7366) (JBJ). Erncrogo (NX7468). Ernespie (NX7764). Ernmenzie (NX7564). Ferngrove (NX7267). Halferne (NX7566). Kirkmirran (NX7954). Knocklearn Moor (NX7479). Marnoch Hill (NX8058). The Motte of Urr (NX8164) was a notable Dark Age elite site. As at Menteith one may suspect early clerical influence behind this concentration of names, particulary given the number of ‘Kirk’ names with fictitious saints.
Dee to Fleet: Dornell Hills (NX7065, 7066). Ironmacannie (NX6675). Ironlosh (NX6779). Kilfern Hill (NX6457).
Fleet to Cree: Killern (NX5858). Craigherron (NX5367).
Cree to Luce: Balfern North (NX4351), Balfern South (NX4450) with a fort between them. Barnearnie (NX3159). Barwhirran (NX4061). Darnow or Dirnow (NX2965). Dernaglar Loch (NX2658). Dirnean Moss (NX2557). Dirneark (NX2668). Drumfern (NX3971) with cairns, stone circle and The Thieves standing stone (NX4071).Gleniron (NX1960), with a chambered cairn (NX1860). Kilhern (NX2063); the Caves of Kilhern, a chambered cairn (NX1964). Whithorn (NX4440), early forms Hwiterne, Futerne.
Beyond the Luce in the Rhins of Galloway: Culhorn (NX0858). Ferntown Hill (NX0557).
In the interior: Arnimean (NX3080) ‘the earann of the muster or meeting (of hunters)’ is between Ayrshire and Galloway. It is marked by a cairn and is close to a chambered cairn (NX3179). Arnsheen (NX2676) is a beacon site (as E. shine). Carsphairn (NX5693). Dornal (NX2976). Knockwhirn (NX5995). Marwhirn (NX7492). Penwhirn Burn (NX1170).

SOUTH-CENTRE

Perthshire
Gowrie, Goueran or Gafran, gabh-earann ‘deer portion’, was in Perthshire between Stormont and Tay. Horn (NO2526) in the Carse of Gowrie.
Almond: Buchany (NN9328) was Buttendy. Dundornie (NN7632). Dronach-haugh, near Lyndoch.
Balquhidder: Lochan an Eireannaich (NN5124). Oirinn-Aenais (NN5320): by a pious pun, the oratory of St Angus – more probably the site of a gathering beacon. Meall na Frean (NN4923).
Dron: a hill in Longforgan.
Tummel: Balnarn (NN7857).
Sligearnach, Glentilt. (Diack, ref).
Upper Strathearn: Loch Earn, the river Earn. G. Eireann. The earann was probably the lands around Loch Earn, from which river and strath take their names, but Strathearn or Stradeern as a province may have gone as far as Comrie or Crieff. The fortified rock of Dundurn (NN7023), at the east end of Loch Earn, was probably the ‘Rath Erenn in Alba’ associated with St Fillan. St Fillan’s Well is below the rock. Saint Fillan represents archaic G. faoileann ‘gathering beacon’, from faoil ‘hospitality, feast (hunt)’, found also at Faoileann (NM4022) on an exposed hillside in the Ross of Mull, at Faoileann Ghlas (NM6243) on a coastal site on the Sound of Mull facing Morvern, and at Creag nam Faoileann (NN0700), a coastal site on Loch Fyne. All were beacon sites designed to call hunters from neighbouring parts to communal deer drives. The crannog (NN6924) at the east end of Loch Earn was home to Clan Neish into the nineteenth century. Meall na Fearna (NN6518) in Glenartney, home of the Macgrowthers until displaced by Campbells, is too high for alders. Fairness (NN7821). Lorne(N side of Loch Earn).24
Lower Strathearn: Arns (NN9714). Arngask (NO1310), was Arringrosk c.1147. Dornock (NN8818), on river Earn below Crieff. Dron (NO1415). Ferneyfold (NN9620). Ferntower (NN8723) on Knock of Crieff with standing stones. Fornought (NN9474), appears to be a pun on Ferenach; cf Forneth (NO0945) and Barneight (NX3263) in Galloway. Glenearn (NO1016) and Millearne (NN9317) are perhaps recent names. Fernyhill Cottages (NO0932).
Cluny: Forneth (NO0945). Lornty (NO1746). The Lornty burn runs through a medieval deer trap known as Buzzart Dykes.
Lochtayside: Acharn (NN7543), Balnearn (NN7043), Fearnan (NN7244). Fortingall parish included a property ‘of unknown extent’ known as Fearan na Craoibh or Moncrieff’s land. Ref. from Duncan Campbell. William Moncrieff sold his lands of Duneaves (which included the northern part of Drummond Hill) and Culdares in Fortingall to Black Duncan of Glenorchy in 1599. W.A Gillies 1938, 135. Monadh Craoibh or Moncrieff appears to be the original name of Drummond Hill, a beacon site at the east end of Loch Tay.
Glendochart: Acharn (NN5631).
Strathtay: Airntully (NO0935). Balquharn (NO0335). Camserney (NN8149). Cragganfearn (NO0053) at Tulliemet, the justice seat of Atholl. Dalmarnock (NN9945).
Glenfernal, Glenfernate, or Glenfearnach (NO0465) leads north to Loch Loch, the principal deer ambush in Atholl. It has standing stones, burnt mounds, Pictish stones, and other signs of prehistoric hunting. Watson identified the Fearnaid as ‘the river of the small fearnan’. W.J. Watson 1926, 445. The river is also given as Arnate or Ernate.
Madderty had as its patron S. Iphernan (= Ethernan or Ernan), developed by a clerical pun into G. aifrionn ‘Mass’.
Strathallan and the Ochils: Craighorn (NN8800). Earnieside (NO0105), a small hill farm. Frandy (NN9404) in Glendevon. Greenhorn Burn (NN8903). Rottearns (NN8407), on the south side of Strathallan.
South of the Ochils: Arndean (NS9998) at Muckhart. Arnot (NO2001) in the Lomond Hills. Arns (NS9190). Balquharn (NS8697). Cockairny (NT0999). Drunzie (NO1408). Fearns (NS8692). Killernie (NT0392). Lochornie (NT1094), presumably AG. loch ‘deer trap’.
Sidlaws: Arnbathie (NO1725) 5 km (3 m) from Old Scone, the Pictish capital. The site is marked by a fort, a prehistoric settlement (NO1726), and various cairns, one on Shien Hill (NO1726) (E. shine).
Trossachs: Frenich (NS4106), Loch Chon. Maol an Iaruirne (NS4599), Loch Ard.
Inverarnan (NN3118), at the top of Loch Lomond, is where the three counties of Perthshire, Argyll and Dunbarton meet. The boundary between Argyll and Dunbarton follows the Allt Arnan (NN3018) and the Lairig Arnan (NN2818) to the west.
Strathardle: Cnoc Eirionnaich (NO1157).
Glen Isla: Ferniehirst (NO2155), a high site.

Menteith
A very remarkable spread of ARN names exists to the west of Stirling in and around the mosses of Menteith. Before the area was drained in the eighteenth century these mosses extended from Arnhall in the east to Killearn in the west. The evolution and survival of these names may be attributed to the persistence of traditional hunting in this area, while their varied forms point to a long period of divergent local use. The names Arnvicar, Arnprior and Arnclerich suggest that in the medieval period the word arn or earann was still in active use in this area to define a portion or division. The following names are now attached to farms or small villages around its edges: Arnbeg (NS6294), Arnclerich (NS6099), Arngibbon (NS6094), Arngomery (NS6394), Arnieve (NS7096), Arnprior (NS6094), Arntamie (N(N5600), Arnvicar (NS5898), Balfornought (NS8293) on Forth near Stirling, Balfron (NS5488), Ballochearn (NS5888) on the Endrick, Blochairn (NS5875), Daldorn (NN6603), Drumquharn (NS5187), Earn (NN6301), Earn (NN7001), Gartocharn (NS4987), Killearn (NS5285), Offerance (NS5496) to the west of Flanders Moss, Offers (NS7195) on river Forth, Offerance Easter and Wester (NS5797, 5795) to the east of Flanders Moss, Offrins of Gartur (NS5696) on the river Forth. Arnhall Castle (NS7698) to the east of Teith probably represents the neighbouring fearann. As may also be proposed for the area south of Maybole, Ayrshire and at Crossmichael in Galloway, early literacy appears to have preserved many old names.

BRN Names

BRN names have not been included in the gazetteer but many of them appear to be valid 'division' names. One pointer is the existence of BRN saints which can be identified with local beacons. It is not easy to see any link with G. bearn 'gap, notch' but G. barnaig 'summons, warning' is the message sent by a BRN or beacon. This also explains Bearnach, the name of St Fillan's Bell (which survives), as the bell of the bearn or local district. As the name of a bell, 'gapped' makes little or no sense.

Baoirneach, a flat platform near the summit of Cairntoul, explained as Buidhearnach ‘yellowness’ but a BRN ‘beacon’ name. G. buidhe ‘troop (of hunters)’.
Beanock (NH4130): 'small gap'?
Bearranan (NF9176) (North Uist), a broad spur of Beinn Vreac. There is an island dun immediately below it (NF9177).
Berniesdale, Skye.
Birnie, Moray (NJ5028): the original seat of the bishops of Moray.
Branboth: an old parish in Glenlyon, Perthshire. It is apparently the name of a beacon site.
Brandanes: the men of Bute. Bute, again, is named for a prominent beacon.
Brannie, The (NN1713), a hill-spur overlooking Loch Fyne which was almost certainly a beacon site controlling the loch.
Brathens, The (NO6798), a visible site on small hill above river Dee.
Brown: Glen Brown, Bridge of Brown, Burn of Brown (NJ1220) are all between upper Strathavon and Abernethy parish.
Bruan (ND3139), a coastal site in Caithness.
Carn Bhrain (NH3870).
Dalabheairn (NH4951).
Dunbarnie parish on river Earn, Perthshire.
Kilbirnie, Ayrshire. St Birinus here.

FRN names in England

The OS Gazetteer has only 40 FARN names in the whole of England. In Wales there are at least 160 Wern names and a further 70 Gwern names. The object of searching control areas in northern England was to establish, if possible, the level of background noise created by irrelevant names. In the event this proved impossible. Furness (Lancs), Furneis.

The first control area was OS 1:50,000 sheet 87, covering Hexham in Northumberland. It produced five probable FRN names of a familiar type: Farnbury (NY7245), Farneyshield (NY7948), Farneyside (NY7851), Farnley (NY9963), and Fernhill (NY9567). There were also a number of names which would not have been out of place in Aberdeenshire including Annat Walls (NY7245), Banno Crags (NY8372), Cairn End (NY7160), Click ‘em in (NZ0072), Fairhill (NY7245), Farglow (NY6868), Glendue (NY8865), Moralees (NZ0474), Redpeth (NY6963), Tipalt (NY6968).

The second control area was OS 1:50,000 map sheet 98 covering Wensleydale and Wharfdale, North Yorkshire. It produced five names, two of them attached to prominent hills: Arncliffe (NY9372), a village in Littondale; Fornah Gill (NY8469) cf Fornought (NN9474); Balfornought (NS8293), Forneth (NO0945; Hern Gill (NY9975); Whernside (NY7381 and NX0277), two hills of 736 m. and 605 m. In the background, North Yorkshire also has some 'Gaelic' names, such as Balshaw (NY6764), Braida Garth (NY7077), Cam (NY8282), Caphill Moss (NY7193), Cosh (NY8578), Crummack (NY7771), Firth Fell (NY9275), Gibbon Hill (NZ0196), Leck Fell (NY6678), Oughtershaw (NY8681), Ure river (NY7996).

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