May Williamson: The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border ...

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Similar in form is the “lost” *Rainpatrick, which is marked on Blaeu’s Atlas on Redkirk Point
(Grt). Spellings are: Renpatric, 1165-1214 LSMM; Rein-, 1214 ib; Reyn-, Raynpatrik, 1304
CDS; Royn-, c 1305 HMC (Drml), to which can be added Ekwall’s Rein-, Raynpatrik, Reyn-,
Rainpatrick, c 1200 (Sc & C, 92-3). These forms indicate a long vowel or diphthong in the
first element which does not agree with Watson’s derivation from OBrit *rindo, W rhynn,
“promontory” (CPNS, 496), and makes Ekwall’s suggestion of OIr rainn, “part, share”,
preferable. This term must have been brought from Ireland by the Norse settlers, unless the
whole formation is Irish, and has merely been transplanted in Dumfries.
Torthorwald may be another construction of the same type: Torthorald, 1214-18 LSMM;
1215-45 CDS; Thor-, 1215-45 CDS, from OCelt *torr, “rock”, and the ON personal name
Þóraldr: cf Torvean, Inverness, a /324/ Gaelic formation from torr Beathain (PNS, 313).
A possible example is Watcarrick (Esk) (85, 4 G): Weitkerroc, 1165-1214 LSMM; Weid-, ib;
Wat- 1214-49 ib; Watkerroch, ib; Wathkerrock, 1249-96 ib. The first element is ON veiðr,
“place for fishing or hunting”, later confused with ON vað. The terminal seems to be OIr
carric, OW carrecc, “rock”, for which cf Blindcrake, Cu: Blankeryk, 1237 (SC & C, 105).
There is only one example of two Norse words combining to form an Inversion Compound in
this area, Westerkirk, the name of a parish in Dumfries: Westerkerk, 1298 (probably a late
copy) DIHS; Wathstirkir, 1304 LSMM; Wastirker, 1309 ib, Wadsterker, 1316 ib; Westirker, c
1316 ib; Wathstirker(e), 1319 CDS; 1347 RS. Ekwall interprets this satisfactorily as ON vað,
“ford” and the personal name Stryrkárr (Sc & C, 59). ME vaðst- > MSc wast- with loss of
medial ð, and this was equated with MSc wast for ME west. Westerker Rig (Wstk) retains the
original ending which was early associated with -kirk.
Compounds with Kirk- plus a personal name:
KIRKBLAIN (Crl): Kirkeblan, 1264-6 Rot Scac. The ruins of an ancient church here are
known as Kilblain: Kilblein, Blaeu, which shows that the Celtic form of the name was equally
common. Compare Kilblane /325/ (Kmh). For Bláán who is commemorated in the name, see
Watson (CPNS, 164-5).
KIRKBRIDE (Keir): Kirkbridis, 1556 HMC (Drml). Church of St Bride: cf Kirkbride, Cu (Sc
& C, 54).
KIRKCONNEL (Kcl), (Hod) or (Tyn): Kirconnel, 1296 CDS; Kirk Coneval, 1303-4 ib:
Kirkconevel, 1304 ib; Kirkconwel, 1335-6 ib. Church of St Convallus: cf CPNS, 169.
NETHER KIRKCUDBRIGHT (Glc): Kirkcudbrecht, 1549 RMS. Church of St Cuthbert, OE
Cūðberht.
KIRKMAHOE (Kmh): Kirkemaho, 1257 (c 1500) LSMM; -mogho, 1319 CDS; K Maho,
Blaeu. Church of St Mochoe: cf CPNS, 162.
KIRKMICHAEL (Kkm): Kermyghkel, 1296 CDS. Church of St Michael.
KIRKPATRICK (KF): Kirkepatric, 1189 CDS; Kilpatrick, 1296 CDS; Kyrkepatrik, 1306-29
HMC (Drml). Church of St Patrick. Note that the Celtic prefix Kil- interchanges with the
Norse Kirke-. This is seen in the double form of the surname today.