An analysis of toponyms and toponymic patterns in eight parishes of the upper Kelvin basin

Drummond, Peter John (2014) An analysis of toponyms and toponymic patterns in eight parishes of the upper Kelvin basin. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis examines a small but unfashionable area of Scotland, invisible to tourist guidebooks, heavily urbanised, and whose towns have won environmental ‘Carbuncle awards’ from the Scottish media. Yet it is deep in Gaelic and Scots place-names which reveal a landscape that past inhabitants perceived to be a green and relatively pleasant land, if perhaps not flowing with milk and honey. Part Three belies its numeration, in that it is the core of the study, examining in detail the place-names of eight (modern) parishes, listing old forms and attempting a sound etymology for each. Part One, based on the data gathered for Part Three, attempts to seek patterns among these names, both between and within the languages concerned. Inter alia, it seeks to explore the degree to which the choice of elements for a particular name, from any language’s toponymicon, is conditioned by cultural, political and social influences ranging from feudal and parochial authorities, through the influence of Scots-speaking merchants, to onomastic local farming customs. The lessons derived from Part One were then used to shed light on some etymologies in Part Three: and hopefully will be of value to researchers in other areas of the country.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Place-names, toponyms, upper Kelvin valley, Monklands, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld, Cadder, Baldernock, Campsie, Kirkintilloch
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General); G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GR Folklore; P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics; P Language and Literature > PD Germanic languages
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities
• Supervisor's Name: Clancy, Professor Thomas and Taylor, Dr. Simon
• Date of Award: 2014
• Depositing User: Mr Peter Drummond
• Unique ID: glathesis:2014-5270
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 23 Jun 2014 10:12
• Last Modified: 23 Jun 2014 10:25
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/5270