XVII.—On the Celtic Topography of Scotland, and the Dialectic Differences indicated by it

Abstract

The etymology of the names of places in a country is either a very important element in fixing the ethnology of its inhabitants, or it is a snare and a delusion, just according as the subject is treated. When such names are analysed according to fixed laws, based upon sound philological principles, and a comprehensive observation of facts, they afford results both important and trustworthy; but if treated empirically, and based upon resemblance of sounds alone, they become a mere field for wild conjectures and fanciful etymologies, leading to no certain results. The latter is the ordinary process to which they are subjected. The natural tendency of the human mind is to a mere phonetic etymology of names, both of persons and of places. It is this tendency which has given rise to what may be called punning etymologies, in which the King of Scotland plays so facetious a part, when the first Guthrie had that name fixed upon by the king, from his proposing when asked, how many fish should be prepared, to gut three; and when Rosemarkie received its name because the king, on asking what land he neared, was answered, Ross mark ye. This illustrates the natural tendency to suggest a mere phonetic etymology, in which the sounds of the name of the place appear to resemble the sounds in certain words of a certain language, the language from which the etymology is derived being selected upon no sound philological grounds, but from arbitrary considerations merely.