Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland

Ordnance Survey and Gaelic Place-names

From Ordnance Survey, one of the partners in Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA) ~ Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland.

AÀA’s work started in 2000, when Ordnance Survey recognised that some Gaelic place-names on our maps were incorrect and in sometimes inconsistent across our scales of mapping. This arose because most names of natural features collected in the 19th century and revised in line with the Gaelic orthography (spelling system) of the late nineteen sixties and early seventies. Reviews of Gaelic orthography have taken place since then and it was decided to update our database.

We consulted a number of Gaelic experts: Roy Wentworth, Richard Cox, W.F.H. Nicolaisen, Ian Fraser, Peadar Morgan, Dr David Munro, Dr Ian R White and Dr Simon Taylor. They agreed that the Ordnance Survey should set up the Gaelic Names Liaison Committee (GNLC). The first meeting was held in July 2000.

With the aid of these experts, in November 2000 Ordnance Survey produced a Gaelic Names Policy (here and here). This provides the framework for Ordnance Survey's recording and depiction of Gaelic names. The Ordnance Survey website includes pages that explain in more detail the issues around Gaelic names on our products, e.g. the Guide to Gaelic origins of place names in Britain which includes a glossary of Gaelic place-name elements on our maps. The website also has information on the distribution of Gaelic place-names.

In 2005 Ordnance Survey carried out a pilot programme to review and update Gaelic place-names in our data. This covered approximately 9% of the relevant parts of Scotland. We have not set a timescale for extending this pilot to the rest of Scotland.

Ordnance Survey has encouraged the development of AÀA, recognising the benefits that one authoritative Gaelic place-names gazetteer will bring.

National Database
underline graphic

... More

Place-Names
underline graphic

Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA) ~ Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland ~ has been working wit ... More