Browse Items (39 total)
St Kilda Archipelago, Scotland (Boreray)St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely…
St Kilda Archipelago, Scotland (Hirta and Soay)St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely…
St Kilda Archipelago, Scotland (Hirta)St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely…
Photos of Surtsey in the Westman IslandsSurtsey is an island that was formed during an eruption in 1963-67. It was named Surtsey (Surt's Island) after the fire giant (or jötunn) Surtr, who…
Smoo Cave, DurnessSmoo Cave in Durness in the north of Scotland. Archaeological investigation has identified Neolithic, Norse and Iron Age artefacts. 'Smoo' is thought…
Map of Calf Sound in the Isle of Man, with several Norse place namesDetail from a map in the Calf Sound Cafe & Visitor Centre, detailing several Norse names, including Kitterland, the Calf, and the Cletts, deriving…
Kitterland Island in the Calf SoundPhoto of Kitterland, a small island in the sound between the main Island of Man and the Calf of Man. The second element of the name probably derives…
The Calf of ManThe Calf of Man is an Island lying off the south coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from Old Norse kalfr, meaning both a calf and (as in this…
Seagaet House in Lerwick ShetlandIn addition to many streets bearing Norse names, some buildings also have Norse roots. This example of a house named 'Seagate' (or sea street) may…
Ingólfshvoll sign in IcelandMany place names in Iceland reference the earliest Norse settlers, such as this example of Ingólfshvoll (Ingólfr's Hill), referring to the first…
Jötunheimar House in HeimaeyThis is a photo of a building named Jötunheimar in Heimaey, the only permanently inhabited island in the Westman Islands. Jötunheimar refers to the…
Leaflet on Shetland's Norse PlacenamesA leaflet produced by Shetland Amenity Trust, giving information about Shetland's Norse place names
Shetland Place Name Elements ReferenceA handy guide to Norse place name elements, produced by the Shetland Place Names Project, and available to download on the Shetland Amenity Trust…
Photo of Tait's Closs Sign in Lerwick, ShetlandTait is a common Scottish surname derived from the Old Norse 'teitr', meaning cheerful. Many surnames and place names in Shetland have a Norse origin.
Photo of Twageos Road Sign in Lerwick, ShetlandTwageos is a place name incorporating the common Norse place name element 'gjá', meaning 'ravine' and rendered in Shetland as 'geo' or 'gjo'. Twageos…
Photo of Copeland Pier Sign in Lerwick, ShetlandCopeland is a common placename and surname deriving from Old Norse kaupa land, meaning 'bought land'. This example is from Lerwick in Shetland.
Photo of Midgarth Crescent Sign in Lerwick, ShetlandMidgarth is a common Norse placename, and Anglicisation of Miðgarðr, meaning in this case 'Middle Enclosure / Farm' . Miðgarðr is also the 'Middle…
Runes at Kirkwall AirportThis is the entrance of Kirkwall Airport, Orkney. The placename Grimsetter is written in the runes "krimsitir" in the younger futhark. The new…
Photo of St Olaf's Wynd Street Sign in OrkneyPhoto of the street sign 'Olaf's Wynd' in Kirkwall, Orkney. Wynd is a placename element from the Norse verb venda, meaning 'to turn' or 'to wind'. St…