Place Names in Dornoch Parish
Dornoch is the only royal Burgh in the county, being erected in 1628 by a charter of Charles 1. It was formerly the seat of the Bishops of Dornoch, who date from the 12th century. The parish is not a large one; its extreme length and breadth being fifteen and nine miles respectively.
I have tried here to give you the names of the places in the parish with an indication of where they are. If anyone can add information to this list especially the last known date people actually lived in these places and I will be happy to add the information.
If you can visualise looking at a map of the area – driving from the south (Inverness) you approach Sutherland over the Dornoch Firth. The main road over the bridge is the A9 which goes all the way north hugging the coast in to Caithness. I have indicated here where places are in relation to that road. If you do not have a map you will find one in our map album. I have also added in names which show on the 1822 labour list.
Place Names are:
ACHAVANDRA (Achvandra) & ACHAVANDRA MOOR – Gaelic, Andrew’s field – west side of A9 north of Dornoch town
ACHDADUAIG - 1822 labour list
ACHINAEL (Achinal) – 1772 part of the tack of Little Torboll – in Strath Carnaig, road from Mound to Loch Bhuidhie
ACHINCHANTER – between Dornoch and Embo towards the coast
ACHINTRESALICH - in Embo - 1822 labour list
ACHLACH - 1822 labour list
ACHLEY – just to the north of Balloan
ACHOSNICH (Achuschosnich) – Gaelic, cornered field - part of the Rearquhar estate
ACHTERDUAIG – 1772 part of the tack of Little Torboll
ACHUAN (Achuoine) – part of the Rearquhar estate
ACHVAICH
AIRE - part of the Rearquhar estate
ARDACHU - 1822 labour list
ARDNACALK - 1822 labour list
ARDSHAVE– west side of A9 north after Poles
ASDALE (Astle) Norse, ash dale – part of the Rearquhar estate
AULTAN RIAVACH – part of the Rearquhar estate
BADNINISH – west side of A9 north of Dornoch town
BALCHERRY - 1822 labour list
BALLOAN (Ballone) – on road into Dornoch
BALVRAID – Gaelic, high township
BIRICHEN (Berrichen) – Norse, edge of birch wood – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
BRAE OF DALNAMAIN (Brae, Brea) – in Strath Carnaig, north of Rearquhar – from 1787 held by Col. Geo. Sutherland – in Strath Carnaig, road from Mound to Loch Bhuidhie
CAMBUSAVIE – east side of A9 north of Embo
CAMBUSMORE (Cambusoure) – An Camas Mor, the large bay – part of the Rearquhar estate – in Strath Carnaig, road from Mound to Loch Bhuidhie
CAMORE (Caamore) – An Cadha Mor, a large steep ascent – leaving A9 towards Dornoch
CLASHBUY - 1822 labour list
CLASHFLUICH - 1822 labour list
CLASHMORE – An Clais Mor, the big ditch or large hollow – as you cross into Sutherland on A9 left turn at junction with road to Bonar Bridge to Clashmore
CLASHMUGACH – turn left at Clashmore
CLASHNAGRAVE – Gaelic, hollow of trees – west side of A9 north of Dornoch town
CLASH-NA-LARACH - 1822 labour list
CULNICROCK – part of the Rearquhar estate
CUTHILL – Norse, Ketil’s field – near Lonemore
CYDERHALL – the English form of the name was Sydera before the ornate creation of Cyderhall – Norse, Sigurd’s howe – this is the burial place of Sigurd Eysteinson who subjugated Caithness and Sutherland for the Norse – to the right of A9 soon after entering Sutherland
DALCHIEL – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
DALINLINE – part of the Rearquhar estate
DAL LIATH (Dalaidh?) – part of the Rearquhar estate
DALMORE – 1772 part of the tack of Little Torboll
DALNAMAIN – see Brae of Dalnamain
DALVRAY - 1822 labour list
DAVOCHFIN – near Eaglefield
DORNOCH – Gaelic, horse’s hoof
DOW ELLAM – part of the Rearquhar estate
DRUMDIVAN (Drimdivan) – near Camore
EAGLEFIELD – Norse, Helgi’s field – near Lonemore – south of Dornoch
EMBO – Norse, Eyvind’s big farm or pebbly beach town – just north of Dornoch on coast
EMBO HILTON - 1822 labour list
EVELIX – Gaelic, Eibhleag – ember, referring to a sparkling stream – west side of A9 above Dornoch
FERRYTOWN - also known as Little Ferry
FLEUCHARY (Flewchary) – Gaelic, wet sheiling - part of the Rearquhar estate – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
FLOAD – Norse, flood tide
FOURPENNY – east side of A9 north of Embo
FORSALAG – 1772 part of the tack of Little Torboll
GASHAGAICH – see Kessagich
KESSAGICH (Gashagaich) – part of the Rearquhar estate – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
KNOCKGLASS – east side of A9 north of Embo
LEDNABIRICHEN – Gaelic, slope of heights – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
LEDNACLAY - 1822 labour list
LITTLE TORBOLL – north of Rearquhar – from 1772 held by Col. Geo. Sutherland – in Strath Carnaig, road from Mound to Loch Bhuidhie
LITTLETOWN – below Dornoch town on coast
LONDUY - 1822 labour list
LONEMORE – near Cyderhall
PITFOUR – Pictish, township pasture
PITGRUDY – Gaelic, common place – just to the north of Balloan
POLES – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
PRONCY – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
PRONCYCROY – right of A9 north of Evelix
PRONCYNAIRD - 1822 labour list
REARQUHAR (Riarchar) – Gaelic, rhi, declivity, last part may be a proper name - pre 1787 part of the Skelbo estate – 1787 till 1815 held by Col. Geo. Sutherland – west side of A9 between Evelix and Poles
RESTOCKAH - 1822 labour list
RINEMORE – part of the Rearquhar estate
SANDYCROFT - Cyderhall - 1822 labour list
SKELBO – Norse, shell sand big farm or shell town – east side of A9 north of Embo on coast
SKELBO MUIR – east side of A9 north of Embo
SKIBO – turn left at Clashmore
TRENTHAM – east side of A9 north of Embo
TORBOLL – Norse, turf big farm or township – near Little Torboll on north side of River Fleet
last updated 7th January 2008