Some Anthropo-toponym Structures in D&G

I was recently having a look at Sofia Evemalm’s PhD thesis Theory and practice in the coining and transmission of place-names: A study of the Norse and Gaelic anthropo-toponyms of Lewis. It has a very useful introduction to anthropo-toponyms, i.e. place-names containing personal names. Her observation that “perhaps the most significant result of this study is the fact that it has been able to demonstrate that event-naming [[as opposed to e.g. ownership]] has been seriously underestimated in the analysis of anthropo-toponyms” (p. 272) is certainly borne out in the Name Book entries for Dumfries and Galloway place-names. Evemalm also proposes an useful ‘name-semantic classification of anthropo-toponyms’ (pp. 219-238, summarised at p. 238).

I thought it might be interesting to gather together some anthropo-toponyms from Dumfries and Galloway. There are a lot! So instead of listing them all, or classifying them using Evemalm’s criteria, I’ve pulled together the following according to their structure rather than their semantics. The stories behind the names (where they survive) are all interesting but there’s not the space to record them here.

Given Name + Surname + Generic

Names with this structure are infrequent and I imagine the motivations for including someone’s surname varied from case to case. Whatever the reasons, there’s something pleasing about Maggie Ireland getting her full name commemorated along with the considerably better known Paul Jones. Note that Mary Wilson is said to be the name of a ship wrecked on that part of the Stoneykirk coast (OS1/35/71/27). There’s no way to differentiate that name from the rest syntactically. It’s a good example of why a semantic classification system like Evemalm’s is important.

• Billy Diamond’s Bridge, Kirkmabreck KCB
• Jean Dunn’s Wood, Kirkpatrick-Durham KCB
• Jenny Hair’s Bridge, Durisdeer DMF
• Jenny Hair’s Wood, Durisdeer DMF
• Jenny Noble’s Gill, Langholm DMF
• Jenny Smit’s Well, Kirkmaiden WIG
• John Ewart’s Knowe, Kirkpatrick-Juxta DMF
• Lizzie Kinnear’s Garden, Middlebie DMF
• Maggie Ireland’s Wa’s, Kirkmabreck KCB
• Mary Wilson’s Slunk, Stoneykirk WIG
• Meg Tod’s Mote, Moffat DMF
• Nannie Walker’s Wa’s, Kells KCB
• Nanny Stott’s Well, Torthorwald DMF
• Paul Jones’ Cottage, Kirkbean KCB
• Paul Jones’s Point, Kirkcudbright KCB
• Rob McCornocks Well, Carsephairn KCB
• Rorie Gill’s Cairn, Minnigaff KCB
• Will Sharp’s Well, Moffat DMF
• Willie Wilkin’s Craig, Kirkpatrick-Juxta DMF

Epithet + Given Name + Generic

• Daft Ann’s Steps, Rerrick KCB
• Fair Helen’s Thorn, Kirkpatrick-Fleming DMF
• Fair Helen’s Tombstone, Kirkpatrick-Fleming DMF
• Kinmount Willie’s Grave, Canonbie DMF

Given Name + Epithet + Generic

I said I wouldn’t include the stories behind the names but poor Tibbie’s is too good to pass over: “A narrow road leading from White Road to the adjoining fields which are let out to different tenants. So named after an old woman who was nicknamed Tibbie Lugs, on account of her large Ears.” (OS1/10/35/112) Kitty Clatter’s Croft is a name recorded on the Queensberry Estate Plans. It appears on the OS as Katie’ Croft. I’ve taken Clatter as an epithet; it’s also a surname but it would be an unusual one for this area.

• Kitty Clatter’s Croft, Durisdeer DMF
• Tibbie Lug’s Entry, Langholm DMF

Nickname + Generic

• Scabby’s Loup, Leswalt WIG

Generic + Mac-Surname

There is no particular reason for restricting Generic + Surname anthropotoponyms to Mac-surnames other than space. Some of these, like Port McAdam, are relatively recent coinings. Others, such as Parkmaclurg which appears on Blaeu 1654 map of Galloway, are likely to have been influenced more directly by the word order of Gaelic Generic + (Mac-)Surname anthropo-toponyms like Balmaclellan. It’s worth bearing in mind that there are a few Gaelic place-names, such as Balyett and Culgrange, which include Scots words. I’ve wondered if Parkmaclurg might be another.

• Balmaclellan, Balmaclellan KCB
• Cairn Macneilie, Inch WIG
• Clint Maclun, Kells KCB
• Loch Mackie, Rerrick KCB
• Port McAdam, Anwoth KCB
• Port McGean, Sorbie WIG
• Parkmaclurg, Minnigaff KCB
• Rock McGibbon, Inch WIG

Miss + Given Name/Surname + Generic

• Miss Aitken’s Wood, Urr KCB
• Miss Mary’s Plantation, Kirkcolm WIG

Luckie (+ Surname) + Generic

Scots LUCKIE is “a familiar form of address to an elderly woman, freq. prefixed to a surname = (old) Mrs. —, and with a somewhat jocular connotation much like †Eng. Goody; often also implying a midwife.” Old Luckie on the Twynholm coast (NX 660 487) is very likely a separate word; it could be a reanalysed Gaelic place-name from ail ‘rock’ or allt ‘(steep-sided) burn’.

• Luckie’s Craig, Moffat DMF
• Luckie’s Craig, Tongland DMF
• Luckie Hargs, Anwoth KCB
• Luckie Hargs Brae, Anwoth KCB
• Luckie’s Pool, Terregles

My Lord’s + Generic

• My Lord’s Cleugh, Dalry KCB
• My Lord’s Well, Penninghame WIG

Female Given Name + ‘field’

This anthropo-toponym class is concentrated in Dumfriesshire and eastern Kirkcudbrightshire. It looks like this structure is more common than Male Given Name + ‘field’. However, it’s not always easy to distinguish male given names from surnames, so without a fair bit of effort it’s not possible to get the exact figures. The names below are taken from the OS. There will no doubt be more to be found on estate plans and in field-name surveys.

• Annfield, Annan DMF
• Annfield, Tinwald DMF
• Catherinefield, Tinwald
• Elizafield, Torthorwald DMF
• Gracefield, Kier DMF
• Hannahfield, Dumfries DMF
• Janefield, Troqueer KCB
• Jessfield, Kirkmichael DMF
• Margaretsfield, Mouswald DMF
• Maryfield, Dumfries DMF
• Maryfield, Kirkmahoe DMF
• Maryfield, Kirkpatrick Durham KCB
• Maryfield, Lochmaben DMF
• Maryfield, New Abbey DMF
• Maryfield, Kirkpatrick Irongray KCB
• Maryfield Cottages, Troqueer KCB
• Megsfield, Middlebie DMF
• Nellfield, Gretna DMF