Place Names in Assynt
No satisfactory derivation has been give of the name Assynt. Possibly Norse, a-synt, seen from afar, but equally possible of Gaelic origin.
Place names which I have come across are:
ACHADHANTUIER
ACHMELVICH (Auchmelvich, Auchinmalvich, Achmalvich) – Norse, sandbank bay
ACHMORE (Auchmore) – near Skiag Bridge
ACHNACARNIN (Auchna Cairn, Auchincairn, Achincarnie, Achnakarnan, Achnacarnan)
ACHNA H’EAGLAIS (Kirkton), (Achnahegleish) – cleared 1819
ALTNABRADHAN
ARDROU – inhabited in 1667
ARDVAR (Ardvair, Ardivar, Ardvare) – cleared in 1820s - near the village of Nedd - Ardvar Woods are the remnants of the once extensive north-western forests - as you drive through this area towards Lochinver you will see what many consider to be the best views in the north west Highlands
ARDVRECK (Ardvrack)
AUCHNAHEAGLISH (Auchinhegliss, Achnahacglash)
AULDAN NA KALKACH
AULDNACHY (Aultnachie)
AULTNACEALAGACH – part of Ledmore
BADDIEDARACH (Badidarech, Baddy-darroch, Baddydarach) – west of Lochinver
BADDYGRINAN (Bad a’Ghrianan) – cleared in 1821
BADDYLELAID
BADNABAN (Baddynaban) – Gaelic, nun’s place - south of Lochinver
BRACKLACH – of Ledbeg
BALCHLADICH (Balcladich, Balchladick) – Gaelic, sea-side village
BRACHLOCH (Bracklach) – Gaelic, trout loch – old pendicle of Inver
CAMORE – part of Kirkton
CLACHMEIR – recorded in 1667
CLACHTOLL (Clach Toll, Cloichtoul, Claichtoill, Tlachtoill, Clachtole) – Gaelic, stone with holes, opening in a rock
CLASHMORE (Claishmore, Clasmore)
CLASHNESSIE (Cloichnessy, Classnassie, Clashnessy) – Gaelic, Clais an Easaidh, the ditch by the small waterfall
CNOCANEACH
CROMALT – south of Elphin
CULAG (Culack) – Gaelic, small wood, recess
CULKEIN (Culkin, Culkine) – Gaelic, back of the head
DIPANRAIRIE
DOIRCULLEN
DOUGLASH (Duchlash)
DRYNACH
DRUMBEG (Drumbaik) – Gaelic, small ridge
DRUMSWORDLIN (Drumsuardilen, Drumsuaderland, Drumswordland, Druim Suardalain) – no inhabitants by 1812
DUBHARLANN (Durlan) – cleared in 1821
DUBH CHLAIS
EDRACHALDA (Eadar a’Chalda) Gaelic, between the two Caldas refrring to the land between the rivers Calda Beag and Calda Mor, the river name being Norse for cold river – cleared
ELPHIN – (Elvin, Elfin, Elphine) Gaelic, Ailbhinn, the island or meadow of Aigas
FEADAN
FELIN (Phyline, Philane, Philine, Feilane, Filin) – Gaelic, marshy pool
GLACBAIN
GLENBAIN
GLENRERAIG (Glenlyrig, Glenlerag, Glenlerock, Glenlerag) – cleared in 1812
IMERFADA
INCHNADAMPH (Ichindamph, Inshnadaff, Inchdauf) – Gaelic, stags’ pasture – cleared 1819
INVER
INVERKIRKAIG (Inverkirkak, Inerchirkak, Inverkirkag) – see Kirkaig - south of Lochinver
INVERUPLAN
KINTRAIT – inhabited in 1691
KIRKAIG – Norse, church land
KIRKTON – see Achna h’eaglais
KNOCKAN - Knockan Cliff is to geologists one of the most important sites in the UK - visitor centre and car park here
KNOCKINEACH (Knockinach)
KNOCKNACH
KYLESKU
LEDBEG (Leadbeg, Ledubeg, Ledinbege)
LEDMORE (Leadmore, Ledumore)
LITTLE ASSYNT (Little Assint)
LOCH AN ORDAIN – site of the poor house at Torbreck
LOCHBANNOCH (Lochbeanach) – cleared in 1821
LOCHINVER – a planned village founded by the Sutherland family in 1812
LOCHKAINIACH – inhabited in 1667
LOCHKROKACH
LYNN (Lyn, Lyne) – cleared 1812
NEDD (Nead, Ned, Neid) – Gaelic, from ‘nead’ meaning nest’
NEWTON
OLDANAY (Oldiny, Oldini) – Norse, oldan island
POLGARVAR
POLLACHAPUILL
POLLAN (Polan)
POLL TIGH a’CHARRAIGEIN – cleared in 1806
PRESNAYAN
RAFFIN – Gaelic, circle white
RHICHARN (Rycairn)
RHISALACH
RIENACHAIT
RIENCREIUCH (Riancrevich) – in Ledmore area
RINTRAID (Ryantraid, Rhientraid)
RYANCRAICH (Riencreich) – cleared by 1819
STOER (Store, Stoir) – Gaelic, a high steep cliff
STRATHAN (Straan) – native Gaelic speaker refers to it as ‘Na Strathan’ or ‘the straths’ – south of Lochinver
STRATHCROY
STRONCHRUBIE (Stroonchruby, Strathrubie, Stroncrubie, Stronechrubie) – Gaelic, nose, crouching, bent
SULAG – a disused shepherd’s dwelling on the path leading from Locinver to Elphin
TORBRECK (Torbreak)
TOTAG
TROMPAG – recorded 1746
TUBEG – close to Inchnadamph
TUMORE – on edge of Loch Assynt
UNAPOOL (Unliboull) – Norse, Una may be a proper name as in Ullapool, Olave’s town – cleared in the 1820s
Last updated 24th April 2008