~ Gregor Lamb ~
A—Z of Orkney Placenames

Gregor Lamb's A-Z of Orkney Placenames, published by Orkneyology Press

Gregor Lamb ~ conserving language and lore

Gregor Lamb, Orkney Islands, Scotland

Gregor Lamb has been delighting Orkney folk and far-flung lovers of the Orkney Islands for decades. He's written and co-written an abundance of valuable books and articles, all working together to preserve Orkney history, dialect and lore.

His latest study traces the origins of the placenames of Orkney - hills, coastal forms, farms, cottages and fields  - to a degree never before attempted. The descriptions Gregor provides are both scholarly and hugely entertaining, including elements of local and ancient history, geology, customs and folklore throughout.

Gregor's A—Z of Orkney Placenames is a glossary that reads like a chat with a knowledgeable and humorous friend. An introduction and an appendix round out the more specific main glossary with extra articles of related interest.

What's in a name?

Orkney-parish-island-map

Ever wonder who Cubbie Roo was? Or where the name Maeshowe came from? And who was this "Fin" of Finstown?

Have you been charmed and intrigued by the placenames you've come across on Orkney maps: Dwarfie Hammars; Fokkers Gill; Gump o Spurness; Gentlemen’s Ha; Kame o Stews ...?

Gregor Lamb's A-Z most likely has an answer to these Orcadian curiosities ... altough by his own admission, he's "limited" the entries to 8,000!

A review of A-Z of Orkney Placenames


‘In this extensive collection of Orkney placenames, Gregor Lamb traces the etymology of common Orkney names, such as quoy, geo, fiold and bister, and considers as well the significance of those relating to battles, to people and even to the supernatural.’

In a time of immense change to island life, placenames preserve a rich store of Orkney’s remarkable history and culture. In this respect Orkneyology Press aims to publish ‘stories that deserve to be heard’; none more so than Gregor Lamb’s latest work, ‘A–Z of Orkney Placenames’.

Over the past half-century Lamb has produced a stream of works – stories and historic novels, placenames and family names, an Orkney dictionary, Orkney in wartime and more. Much had been achieved by Dr Hugh Marwick, rector of Kirkwall Grammar School, in the study of Orkney placenames. It was during the ‘lockdown’ of the Covid Pandemic that Gregor set himself the monumental task of completing the record of the whole archipelago. The resulting volume contains no less than 8,000 names and derivations of hill and loch, burn, bog and bay, rock and skerry, croft and farm and field enclosure. Most reflect 600 years of Norse occupation, but occasionally there are hints of earlier times, and descriptive nicknames. Here are a few:

Rantan Birsay, Swanney: [a house named after the occupant who had the nickname ‘Rantan’ i.e. carousing].
Lyking Holm; Sandwick; Rendall: [Old Norse leik play, eng meadow: sport was very popular for the Norse and special fields were usually set aside for this purpose: the tradition was kept up in Orkney.]
Gump o Spurness, Sanday: the highest part of the hill to the west of Stove [Old Norse gumpr rump: (see ‘Spurness’)].

Gregor Lamb is of the pantheon that have made an immense contribution to Orkney history and culture. This book is well presented, with an amusing cover by Britt Harcus. Every page is full of delights and useful references, an essential for the Orkney bookshelf. It will be well thumbed.

~ Bryce Wilson

Divider-Flowers2


~ Also from Orkneyology Press ~


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