The core of this thesis is divided into three sections: 1) linguistic and historical analysis of parish- and certain settlement-names of Fothrif (west Fife), within the boundaries of the medieval sheriffdom of Fife i.e. 39 parish-names, both obsolete and extant; and all settlement-names, both obsolete and extant, which contain the habitative elements <I>baile, bý(r), caer, dùn, pett, ràth</I> and <I>toun</I>, and the settlement-related element <I>dabhach</I>. These names are set out alphabetically under 33 headings, each heading a pre-Reformation parish. Each of these parishes is prefaced by a set of <I>Introductory Notes</I>, which give a brief history of the development of the parish as an ecclesiastical unit, and relate it to the parish boundaries shown on the O.S. 1" (7<SUP>th</SUP> Series) Map. 2) linguistic and historical analysis of all settlement-names recorded before c. 1650 in the combined medieval parishes of St Andrews and St Leonards, (east) Fife. 3) Elements Index containing an alphabetical list of all elements which occur regularly in the place-names listed in sections 1) and 2). Under each element are listed all names which contain that element through the medieval sheriffdom of Fife. The whole is preceded by three introductory chapters. <I>Chapter 1</I> discusses the geology, geography and history of the whole of Fife, with special reference to place-names; it also defines Fothrif and the medieval sheriffdom of Fife. <I>Chapter 2</I> contains a linguistic history of Fife, as revealed by the onomastic evidence. Special attention is paid to the interaction between Pictish and Gaelic, and between Gaelic and Older Scots. It also discusses a range of Gaelic linguistic features manifested by the place-names. <I>Chapter 3</I> discusses the habitative elements <I>baile, pett, dùn, caer, ràth </I>and <I>lios</I>, especially the relationship between <I>baile </I>and <I> pett,</I> and the phenomenon of <I>Pit-/Bal</I>-substitution; attempts some conclusions about the nature of early medieval settlement in Fife; and adumbrates areas of further research in other parts of former Pictland not yet subjected to detailed onomastic analysis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:662786 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Taylor, R. Simon |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/21565 |
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