contraction of Alpin; and the farm on the south of the glen is named after a large stone upon it, Laichtàlpin-lecht Alpin, Alpin's grave. The other Alpin, king of the Scots, had some bloody encounters with the Picts in 834, and Pitèlpie near Dundee pett Alpin, Alpin's farm, not because he owned it, but because he died there, is traditionally pointed out as the place where he was killed and beheaded by them. Rathèlpie near St Andrews is supposed to have been his centre of operations-rath Alpin, Alpin's fort. The establishment of the feudal system in the Lowlands brought individuals into closer connection with the land as proprietors and tenants, and then, doubtless, such ground as had not yet been named would often receive the name of the cultivator. On the whole, however, you will find that Celtic landnames, as a rule, are formed to denote some peculiarity of surface, position, product, or some incident occurring or occupation carried on there. It is otherwise with Teutonic names. Personal names are exceedingly frequent in their formation. A large proportion of names ending in A.S. ton or ham, and in the Norse by or bólstaðr, indicating settled dwelling, have a personal name as a prefix. Surnames may be said to have been unknown until the thirteenth century. A very good instance of their origin is given by Camden, who says: In late times, in the time of Henry VIII., an ancient worshipful gentleman of Wales, being called at the pannel Land owners named from their lands. of a jurie by the name of Thomas Ap William Ap Thomas Ap Richard Ap Hoel Ap Evan Vaghan, &c., was advised by the judge to leave that old manner; whereupon he afterwards called himself Moston, according to the name of his principal house, and left that surname to his posterity. Men in possession or occupation of lands generally took their surname in this way, and then arose a curious process when such names were conferred afresh upon other lands. I cannot give you a better instance of this than is afforded by my own surname-a tolerably common one in Scotland. In the eleventh century, Maccus the son of Unwin became possessed of certain lands on the Tweed. Here there was an excellent salmon - pool, just below Kelso bridge, which became known as Maccus' wiel, the A.S. for a pool, now Màxwheel. This name got attached to the surrounding lands, hence members of the family became known as Aymer, John, or Herbert de Maccuswell, for apparently they thought more highly of their salmon-pool than of the house near St Boswells, Màxton-Maccus tún. As time went on, the preposition was dropped and the family became simple Maxwells. But they prospered and obtained other lands, and so we find the name, which was originally a place-name, having become a surname, becoming a place-name once more, as Maxwellton, Maxwellfield, and Maxwellheugh. And now, ladies and gentlemen, having led you sion. thus far, you may turn to me and say, What does Concluit all mean? to what conclusion have you brought us? Well, so far as any new light upon history or any novel theory or confirmation of former theory is concerned, the conclusion is a lame and impotent one. We may listen in land-names to the voices of successive races that have peopled our country; we may understand from them much concerning the landscape of a bygone age and the creatures that lived in it; we may obtain from them evidence confirming what we have learnt from history; they may even, in a few instances, help to set right mistaken readings of history, as in the notable example of the Arthurian topography so luminously and cautiously elaborated by the late Mr Skene. But beyond that they are vox et præterea nihil. And But one lesson we have learnt, that much confusion is thrown into history by clumsy or corrupt spellings of place-names, and in the present advanced state of science it will be discreditable to this generation if it passes away without something having been done to prevent further corruption of names. in attempting to do this, let me add a few words as to the right method of investigation. I am only repeating what I have already said; but this is a matter indispensable to progress in this branch of archæology—a branch, I believe, far behind any other in scientific method. Let students avoid construing names merely on the ground of similarity of syllables to words. Letters are very deceptive things, and guessing etymology is of all pursuits the most deceptive. If there could be found some one in every county of Scotland to prepare lists of all the land-names therein, giving the earliest spellings, and the exact local pronunciation, and carefully marking the stressed syllables, we should soon arrive at a degree of knowledge in the matter which it is beyond the power of any single man to accomplish. This has been done already for some of the islands by the late Captain Thomas, a valued Fellow of this Society. His MS. lists are in our possession, and form a perfect model of the way that kind of thing should be done. I will only say, in conclusion, that I am gratified by the degree of attention which this subject has already received; and I beg to thank you warmly for the patience with which you have followed me in an intricate and perhaps tedious inquiry. The stress syllable in each name is indicated by the accent, as Kilmòry. Achnabà-G. achadh na ba, the cow's field. Achnacàrry-G. achadh na coraidh (corry), field of the Achnacòne-G. achadh na' con, field of dogs Aden-G. aodann, the forehead, brow of a hill Æ (river)-N. á, a river PAGE 125 133 127 150 86 Affleck-G. achadh na leac (leck), field of the flagstones. 133 Alket Altket } A.S. ác wudu, oak wood 107 Air-N. eyrr, the beach Airdrie G. ard ruith (rew), high pasture-run Airds-G. ard, the height Airie G. airidh (airy), a shieling, or mountain pasture. 87 166 147 153 Airieglàssan-G. airidh glasain, shieling of the streamlet 153 153 |