''Aber'' and ''Inver'' are common elements in place-names of
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
*Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Foot ...
origin. Both mean "
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...
of waters" or "river mouth". Their distribution broadly reflects the geographical influence of the
Brittonic and
Goidelic
The Goidelic ( ) or Gaelic languages (; ; ) form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages.
Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from Ireland through the Isle o ...
language groups, respectively.
''Aber''
''Aber'' goes back to
Common Brittonic
Common Brittonic (; ; ), also known as British, Common Brythonic, or Proto-Brittonic, is a Celtic language historically spoken in Britain and Brittany from which evolved the later and modern Brittonic languages.
It is a form of Insular Cel ...
. In
Old Welsh
Old Welsh () is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic around 550, ha ...
it has the form ''oper'' (later ''aper'') and is derived from an assumed ''*od-ber'', meaning 'pouring away'. This is derived from the
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. No direct record of Proto-Indo-European exists; its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-Euro ...
root ''*bher-'', 'carry' (English ''bear'', Latin ''fero'') with the prefix ''ad-'', 'to'. It is found in Welsh, Cornish and
Breton.
Place names with ''aber'' are very common in Wales, and are found to a lesser extent in
Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...
and other parts of England and
Brittany
Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
. It may be that the relative dearth in Cornwall is simply a result of there being fewer rivers on a peninsula. "Aber" names are also common on the east coast of Scotland, and to a lesser extent further west. The Scottish examples are often assumed to be of
Pictish
Pictish is an extinct Brittonic Celtic language spoken by the Picts, the people of eastern and northern Scotland from late antiquity to the Early Middle Ages. Virtually no direct attestations of Pictish remain, short of a limited number of geog ...
origin, then borrowed into Gaelic, though some have argued that these are native Gaelic coinages.
In Anglicised forms, ''aber'' is often contracted: Arbroath (formerly "Aberbrothick") for ''Aber Brothaig'', Abriachan for ''Aber Briachan''. In the case of ''Applecross'' (first attested as ''Aporcrosan''), it has been transformed by a
folk etymology
Folk etymology – also known as (generative) popular etymology, analogical reformation, (morphological) reanalysis and etymological reinterpretation – is a change in a word or phrase resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a mo ...
. (Its
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
name, ''a' Chomraich'', has lost the "Aber-" element altogether)
In modern Scottish Gaelic, "aber" takes the form ''obar'', e.g. ''Obar Dheadhain'' "Aberdeen", ''Obar Pheallaidh'' "Aberfeldy", and ''Obar Phuill'' "Aberfoyle."
The Welsh names ''Abergwaun'' (
Fishguard
Fishguard (, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,400 (rounded to the nearest 100) as of the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. Modern Fishguard consists of two parts, Lowe ...
), ''Aberhonddu'' (
Brecon
Brecon (; ; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the county town of Breck ...
), ''Aberteifi'' (
Cardigan), ''Aberdaugleddau'' (
Milford Haven
Milford Haven ( ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, an estuary forming a natural harbour that has been used as a port since the Middle Ages.
The town was ...
), ''Aberpennar'' (
Mountain Ash Mountain ash may refer to:
* ''Eucalyptus regnans'', the tallest of all flowering plants, native to Australia
* Mountain-ashes or rowans, varieties of trees and shrubs in the genus ''Sorbus''
See also
* Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, a town ...
) and ''Abertawe'' (
Swansea
Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...
) all contain Aber- in their
Welsh language
Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...
equivalent.
''Inver''
''Inver'' is the Goidelic or q-Celtic form, an Anglicised spelling of
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
' (originally pronounced with /v/, though in modern Gaelic it has shifted to /j/), which occurs in
Irish as ' or ', going back to Old Irish '. This is derived from the same Proto-Indo-European root ''*bher-'', but with the prefix ''in-'', 'into'. The word also occurs in
Manx in the form ''Inver''.
Place-names with ''inver'' are very common throughout Scotland, where they outnumber ''aber''-names by about 3:1. They are most common throughout the Western Highlands and the Grampians, the largest town containing the element being
Inverness
Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...
. Place-names with ''inver'' are, however, oddly seldom in Ireland, given that the form is originally Irish; Ireland tends instead to have names with ''béal'' ('mouth') in such locations, as ''Béal Átha na Sluaighe'' (
Ballinasloe
Ballinasloe ( ; ) is a town in the easternmost part of County Galway, Ireland. Located at an ancient crossing point on the River Suck, evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of Bronze Age sites. Built around a 12th-centur ...
, County Galway), ''Béal an Átha an Fheá'' (
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina ( ; ) is a town in north County Mayo, Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountains to the east and the Nephin Beg Ra ...
) or ''Béal Feirste'' (
Belfast
Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
). The difference in usage may be explained by the fact that Gaelic was spoken in Ireland long before it was brought to Scotland, and hence the prevailing fashion could have been different.
In Anglicised forms, ''inver'' occasionally appears as ''inner'', such as
Innerleithen
Innerleithen () is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale.
Etymology
The name "Innerleithen" comes from the Scottish G ...
. Innerhaddon is variant of Inverhaddon.
In some cases, an "Inver" has been lost, e.g.
Ayr (Inbhir Air), which was recorded as "Inberair", and
Ayre
Ayre ( ; ) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man.
It is located in the north of the island (part of the traditional ''North Side'' division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Andreas, Bride and (Kirk Christ) Lezayre.
T ...
(Inver Ayre) in the
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...
.
Occasionally, the English name forms are entirely unrelated:
Dingwall
Dingwall (, ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland.
Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north ...
(Inbhir Pheofharan) Scotland and
Arklow
Arklow ( ; ; ) is a town in County Wicklow on the southeast coast of Ireland. The town is overlooked by Ballymoyle Hill. It was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century. Arklow was the site of one of the Battle of Arklow, bloodiest battles ...
() in Ireland both have "Inbhir-" in their Gaelic forms.
Syntax
Because Celtic languages place the generic element of a compound (what kind of thing it is) before the specific element (which one it is), the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' normally appear at the beginning of a place name, the opposite of the English (Germanic) pattern. Contrast:
*Inverness (mouth of the river Ness)
*Eyemouth (mouth of the river Eye)
Since these names refer to rivermouths (or towns built on rivermouths), the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' are the generic elements, whereas the other element (typically the name of the river) is the specific element, telling us which rivermouth is meant.
A variation occurs when the confluence or estuary itself is made the specific element. The names ''Lochaber'' and ''Lochinver'' mean 'loch of the rivermouth'; in both cases, these are sealochs which function as extended estuaries of medium-sized rivers. Here, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' answer the question "Which loch?" Similarly the name Rossinver refers to a promontary (Irish: ''ros'') jutting out into Lough Melvin just 200 meters east of the mouth of the Glenariff River. Kilninver (Cil an inbhir) means "rivermouth church". Cuan an inver means "estuary bay". In these cases, exceptionally, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' come second.
This is consistent with the stress patterns of these names. Placenames, like other compound nouns, are generally stressed on the specific element. Therefore, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' never carry word-stress, except in the rare occasions where they are in final position: Inverness, Aberfan, but Rossinver.
Use in British colonies
Place names from the British isles were frequently exported to the colonies which became the British Empire, often without any thought being given to etymology. Thus there are many examples in the United States and in Commonwealth countries of places with names in Aber- or Inver- which are not located at a confluence. In Gaelic-speaking
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
, however, the element Inbhir- seems to have been productive in its original sense.
Invercargill
Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
in the
South Island
The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
is a special case. It was first named Inverkelly in honour of an early settler called Kelly, and was then renamed in honour of Captain
William Cargill, who was at the time the Superintendent of
Otago
Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...
, of which
Southland was then a part. Since the city was indeed built at the mouth of the
Waihopai River, the Inver- element was apparently chosen consciously.
List of place-names with ''Aber'' and ''Inver''
Australia
Aberdare
Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...
,
Aberdeen (New South Wales),
Aberdeen (South Australia),
Aberdeen (Tasmania),
Abermain,
Aberglasslyn,
Inverell,
Inverloch, Inveresk, Invermay, Inverleigh, Invergordon, Invergowrie
Wales
Aberaeron,
Aberaman,
Aberangell,
Aberarth,
Aberavon
Aberavon () is a town and community in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The town derived its name from being near the mouth of the river Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship. Today it is essentially a district of Por ...
,
Aberbanc,
Aberbargoed,
Aberbeeg,
Abercanaid,
Abercarn
Abercarn is a town and community in Caerphilly county borough, Wales. It is 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Newport on the A467 between Cwmcarn and Newbridge, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.
History
An estate at Abe ...
,
Abercastle,
Abercegir
Abercegir () is a small rural village in Powys, Wales.
It lies approximately 4 miles east of the town of Machynlleth and is 81 miles (131 km) from Cardiff and 172 miles (277 km) from London
London is the Capital city, capital a ...
,
Abercraf,
Abercregan,
Abercych,
Abercynon
Abercynon () is a village and community (Wales), community (and electoral ward) in the Cynon Valley within the unitary authority of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The community comprises the village and the districts of Carnetown and Grovers Field to ...
,
Aberdare
Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...
,
Aberdaron
Aberdaron () is a community (Wales), community, electoral ward and former fishing village at the western tip of the Llŷn Peninsula in the Wales, Welsh county of Gwynedd. It lies west of Pwllheli and south-west of Caernarfon; as of 2021, it h ...
,
Aberdulais,
Aberdaugleddau (Milford Haven),
Aberdulais,
Aberdyfi
Aberdyfi (), also known as Aberdovey ( ), is a village and community in Gwynedd, Wales, located on the northern side of the estuary of the River Dyfi.
The population of the community was 878 at the 2011 census. The electoral ward had a larger ...
,
Aberedw,
Abereiddy,
Abererch,
Aberfan
Aberfan () is a former coal mining village in the Taff Valley south of the town of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
On 21 October 1966, in the Aberfan disaster, a colliery spoil tip collapsed into homes and a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
...
,
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a village and community (Wales), community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. The village is 9 miles from the island's county town, Llangefni, and is on the west bank of the Afon Ffraw (Ffraw River). The com ...
,
Aberkenfig
Aberkenfig (, meaning "mouth of the Kenfig" (stream)) is a village located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town. It is in the community of Newcastle Higher.
Location
Aberkenfig is located in South Wales, just ...
,
Aberogwr,
Abergarw,
Aberthin,
Aberffrwd, Ceredigion,
Aberffrwd, Monmouthshire,
Abergavenny
Abergavenny (; , , archaically , ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a "Gateway to Wales"; it is approximately from the England–Wales border, border with England and is loca ...
,
Abergele
Abergele (; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough. It lies within the historic counties of Wales, historic county b ...
,
Abergorlech,
Abergwaun (Fishguard),
Aberkenfig
Aberkenfig (, meaning "mouth of the Kenfig" (stream)) is a village located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town. It is in the community of Newcastle Higher.
Location
Aberkenfig is located in South Wales, just ...
,
Abergwesyn,
Abergwili
Abergwili () is a village and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, near the confluence of the rivers River Towy, Towy and River Gwili, Gwili, close to the town of Carmarthen. It is also an Abergwili (electoral ward), electoral ...
,
Abergwynfi,
Abergwyngregyn,
Abergynolwyn
Abergynolwyn () is a village in southern Gwynedd, Wales, located at the confluence of the Nant Gwernol and the Afon Dysynni.
The population of the community which is named after the village of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant was 339 at the 2011 census ...
,
Aberhafesp,
Aberhonddu (Brecon),
Aberllefenni,
Abermaw (Barmouth),
Abermorddu,
Abermule
Abermule () is a village lying on the River Severn 6 km (4 miles) northeast of Newtown, Powys, Newtown in Powys, mid Wales. The A483 road, A483 Swansea to Chester trunk road, the Cambrian Line railway, connecting Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury, ...
,
Abernant, Carmarthenshire
Abernant is a hamlet and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The population taken at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 297.
Location
Abernant is a small hamlet (place), hamlet located four miles north west ...
,
Abernant, Powys,
Abernant, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Abernant (or Abernant-y-Wenallt) is a small village north-east of the town of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Like many in the South Wales Valleys, it was once a coal-mining village.
Etymology
Abernant is a shortening of the name "Abernant-y ...
,
Aberpennar (Mountain Ash),
Aberporth
Aberporth is a seaside village, community (Wales), community and electoral ward in Ceredigion, Wales. The population at the 2001 Census, was 2,485, of whom 49 per cent could speak the Welsh language. At the 2011 Census, the population of the co ...
,
Aberriw (Berriew),
Abersoch,
Abersychan
Abersychan is a town and community (Wales), community north of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales, and lies within the boundaries of the Monmouthshire (historic), historic county of Monmouthshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county o ...
,
Abertawe (Swansea),
Aberteifi (Cardigan - town),
Abertillery
Abertillery (; ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Blaenau Gwent County Borough, Wales. It is located in the Ebbw Fach Valley, Ebbw Fach valley, and the Monmouthshire (historic), historic county of Monmouthshire.
The surrounding lan ...
,
Aberthin,
Abertillery
Abertillery (; ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Blaenau Gwent County Borough, Wales. It is located in the Ebbw Fach Valley, Ebbw Fach valley, and the Monmouthshire (historic), historic county of Monmouthshire.
The surrounding lan ...
,
Abertridwr (Caerphilly),
Abertridwr (Powys),
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth (; ) is a University town, university and seaside town and a community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the largest town in Ceredigion and from Aberaeron, the county's other administrative centre. In 2021, the popula ...
,
Llanaber
Ireland
''An tInbhear'' (
Inver, County Mayo), ''An tInbhear Mór'' (
Arklow
Arklow ( ; ; ) is a town in County Wicklow on the southeast coast of Ireland. The town is overlooked by Ballymoyle Hill. It was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century. Arklow was the site of one of the Battle of Arklow, bloodiest battles ...
,
County Wicklow
County Wicklow ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606 in Ireland, 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces ...
), ''Cuan an Inbhir'' (
Broadhaven Bay), ''Inbhear'' (
Inver,
County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...
), ''Inbhear nOllarbha'' (
Larne Lough,
County Antrim
County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, County Antrim, Antrim, ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the c ...
), ''Inbhear Scéine'' the traditional name for
Kenmare Bay,
County Kerry
County Kerry () is a Counties of Ireland, county on the southwest coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is bordered by two other countie ...
,
Rossinver
Scotland
Aberarder,
Aberargie,
Aberbothrie,
Abercairney,
Aberchalder,
Aberchirder,
Abercorn
Abercorn ( Gaelic: ''Obar Chùirnidh'', Old English: ''Æbbercurnig'') is a village and civil parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry. The parish had a ...
,
Abercrombie,
Aberdalgie,
Aberdeen
Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
,
Aberdour,
Aberfeldy,
Aberfoyle,
Abergairn,
Abergeldie,
Aberlady
Aberlady (, Gaelic: ''Obar Lobhaite'') is a coastal village in the Scottish council area of East Lothian. The village had an estimated population of in .
Etymology
The name ''Aberlady'' has Brittonic origins. The first part of the name is t ...
,
Aberlemno
Aberlemno (, IPA: �opəɾˈʎɛunəx is a Civil parishes in Scotland, parish and small village in the Scotland, Scottish council area of Angus, Scotland, Angus. It is noted for three large carved Pictish stones (and one fragment) dating from t ...
,
Aberlour
Aberlour () is a village in Moray, Scotland, south of Elgin, Moray, Elgin on the road to Grantown-on-Spey, Grantown. The Lour Burn (landform), burn is a tributary of the River Spey, and it and the surrounding parish are both named Aberlour, bu ...
,
Abermilk,
Abernethy,
Aberscross,
Abersky,
Abertarff,
Abertay,
Aberuchill,
Aberuthven,
Abriachan
Abriachan (; Gaelic: ''Obar Itheachan''), is a village in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated high above the western shore of Loch Ness, 15 km to the south-west of the city of Inverness. The village has a population of ap ...
,
Applecross
Applecross ( , 'The Sanctuary', historically anglicized as 'Combrich') is a peninsula in Wester Ross, in the Scottish Highlands. It is bounded by Loch Kishorn to the south, Loch Torridon to the north, and Glen Shieldaig to the east. On its wes ...
,
Arbirlot,
Arboll,
Arbuthnott
Arbuthnott (, "mouth of the Buadhnat") is a hamlet and parish in the Howe of the Mearns, a low-lying agricultural district of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located on the B967, east of Fordoun (on the A90) and north-west of Inverbervie (on ...
,
Arbroath
Arbroath () or Aberbrothock ( ) is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the Subdivisions of Scotland, council area of Angus, Scotland, Angus, Scotland, with a population of 23,902. It lies on the North Sea coast, some east-northeast of ...
(historically Aberbrothick - ''Obar Bhrothaig''),
Fochabers,
Kinnaber,
Lochaber
Lochaber ( ; ) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig. Lochaber once extended from the Northern shore of Loch Leven, a distric ...
, ''
Obar Neithich'' (Nethybridge),
Slongaber
Achininver, ''
Inbhir Air'' (Ayr formerly "Inberair" etc.), ''
Inbhir Bhrùra'' (Brora), ''
Inbhir Chalain'' (Kalemouth), ''
Inbhir Eireann'' (Findhorn), ''
Inbhir Eighe'' (Eyemouth), ''
Inbhir Ghrainnse'' (Grangemouth), ''
Inbhir Nàrann'' (Nairn), ''
Inbhir Pheofharain'' (Dingwall), ''
Inbhir Theòrsa'', ''
Inbhir Ùige'' (Wick),
Innerleithen
Innerleithen () is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale.
Etymology
The name "Innerleithen" comes from the Scottish G ...
, Innerleven, Innerwick (in Perth and Kinross),
Inver (Highland),
Inverarnan,
Inverallan,
Inveraldie,
Inveralmond Inveramsay,
Inveran,
Inveraray
Inveraray ( or ; meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Located on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, Inveraray is a former royal burgh and known affectionately as "The Capital of Argyll." It is the ...
,
Inverbervie
Inverbervie (), also known simply as Bervie, is a small town on the north-east coast of Scotland, south of Stonehaven, in the Kincardineshire, Mearns.
Etymology
The name comes from Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic and means "mouth of Bervie Water". Hi ...
,
Inverclyde
Inverclyde (, , , "mouth of the Clyde") is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire, which ...
,
Inveresk,
Inverfarigaig,
Invergarry,
Invergordon
Invergordon (; or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland (council area), Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen.
History
The town built up around the harbour which was established in 1828. The area ...
,
Invergowrie
Invergowrie () is a village on the northwest bank of the Firth of Tay to the west of Dundee. Historically part of Perthshire, it was formerly incorporated as part of the city of Dundee, but is now administered as part of Perth and Kinross.
H ...
,
Inverhaddon (or Innerhaddon),
Inverkeilor
Inverkeilor is a village and parish in Angus, Scotland. It lies near the North Sea coast, midway between Arbroath and Montrose, Angus, Montrose. The A92 road now bypasses the village.
The population of Inverkeilor parish in the United Kingdom Cen ...
,
Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing ( ; ) is a coastal town, parish and historic Royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, northwest of Edinburgh city centre and south of Dunfermline.
A town of ancient origin, Inverke ...
,
Inverkeithney,
Inverkip
Inverkip (; ) is a village and parish in the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, southwest of Greenock and north of Largs on the A78 trunk road. The village takes its name from ...
,
Inverleith
Inverleith (Scottish Gaelic language, Scottish Gaelic: ''Inbhir Lìte'') is an inner suburb in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. Its neighbours include Trinity, Edinburgh, Trinity to the north a ...
,
Inverlochlarig,
Inverlochy,
Invermoriston,
Inverness
Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...
,
Inveroran,
Invershin,
Inversnaid,
Invertrossachs,
Inverugie,
Inveruglas
Inveruglas () is a hamlet on the west shore of Loch Lomond, fairly near the north end of the loch and is within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It is situated on the A82 road (Great Britain), A82 trunk road, connecting Glasgow t ...
,
Inverurie
Inverurie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Inbhir Uraidh'' or ''Inbhir Uaraidh'', 'mouth of the River Ury') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland at the confluence of the rivers Ury and River Don, Aberdeenshire, Don, about north-west of Aberdeen.
Geography ...
,
Kilninver,
Lochinver
Lochinver (''Loch an Inbhir'' in Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic) is a village at the head of the sea loch Loch Inver, on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, Highland, Scotland. A few miles north-east is Loch Assynt which ...
''Notes'' - "Bail' Inbhir Fharrair",(is an uncommon name for
Beauly, usually "A' Mhanachain");
Fort William was formerly known as Inverlochy, and a small district nearby is still referred to as such. Inbhir Ghrainnse and Inbhir Eighe may be of modern origin.
Brittany
, ,
Aber Wrac'h,
L'Aber, Crozon
England
The Cornish names of
Falmouth (Aberfal) and
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
(Aberplymm).
Aberford
Aberford is a village and civil parish on the eastern outskirts of the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,059 at the 2001 census, increasing to 1,180 at the 2011 Census. It is situated east, north east of Leed ...
in West Yorkshire has a different origin.
Berwick may have had the ''aber-'' prefix originally.
According to
Llywarch Hên, an ''Aber Lleu'' near
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parishes in England, civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th centu ...
was the site of
Urien of Rheged's assassination.
Isle of Man
Inver Ayre (Ayre)
Canada
Italicised names denote usage in
Canadian Gaelic
Canadian Gaelic or Cape Breton Gaelic (, or ), often known in Canadian English simply as Gaelic, is a collective term for the dialects of Scottish Gaelic spoken in Atlantic Canada.
Scottish Gaels were settled in Nova Scotia from 1773, with the ...
.
''Loch Abar'' (Lochaber, NS)
''
Baile Inbhir Nis'' (Inverness, NS), ''
Siorramachd Inbhir Nis'' (Inverness County, NS), ''Inbhir-pheofharain'' (Dingwall, NS),
Inverhuron, ON,
Invermere, BC,
Invermay, Saskatchewan
New Zealand
Invercargill
Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
Sources
*David Dorward, ''Scotland's Place Names'', Mercat Press, Edinburgh, 2001.
*
References
See also
*
*
* {{annotated link, Kirk (placename element), Kirk as a placename element
Place name element etymologies
Celtic toponyms
English suffixes