Wikipedia:WikiProject Scottish Islands/Monro's Hebrides

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The following draft is now in mainspace as Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. This page is retained as a reference as it contains ye "original research", the use of which is restricted by the powers to quolm Wikipedia is pertained.

Your most obedient servant,

Ben MacDui 20:03, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]


In the tables a linked "WP Name" is given where possible. The others are Ordnance Survey names.

Likelihood that Monro's island has been identified:

A - Certain
B - Probable
C - Possible
S - Sheer Speculation
U - Unknown

Quotes are Monro unless otherwise noted. The 1774 Auld version was used as a basis for this project page, and various sections are missing from this that are retained in the Sibbald MS, which is the basis of the mainspace article.

R. W. Munro (1961) states that "of the 251 islands listed by Monro, I have been unable to identify 27, and a further 23 cannot be regarded as certain". The modern names of the islands he believes he has identified are listed in the index in alphabetical order, making coordination with the numerical list tiresome.

Referencing

The following is an example of a mainspace entry for Muck:

In 1549, Dean Monro wrote: "Be ane haffe myle of sea to this ile, lyes ane ile of twa myle lang, callit in Erische Ellannaneche, that is the Swynes ile, and very fertill and fruitful of cornes and grassing for all store, and verey guid for fishing, inhabit and manurit, a good falcon nest in it. It perteynis to the Bishope of the iles, with ane guid heighland haven in it, the entrey quherof is at the west cheik".[1]

The reference appears in the footnote section as: Monro (1549) "Swynes Ile" no. 102

and the Template:Monro provides the reference of: Monro, Sir Donald (1549) Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. William Auld. Edinburgh - 1774 edition.

Firth of Clyde and vicinity

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
1 Isle of Man Isle of Man Isle of Man A "of old called Dubonia" according to Monipennie.
2 Elsay Ailsay Ailsa Craig B
3 Arran Arran Arran A
4 Flada Flada Pladda B With lenition, Plada(igh) yields f- in Gaelic
5 Molass Molas Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde A Modern Gaelic is Eilean Mo Laise
6 Buitt Isle of Bute Bute A
7 Inche Mernoche Isle Mernoca Inchmarnock A
8 Cumbra Great Cambra Great Cumbrae A
9 Cumbray Dais Little Cambra Little Cumbrae A[2]
10 Avoyn Porticosa Avona Sanda A Modern Gaelic is Àbhainn
11 Carrith Skeathe Carraig Sgeith B "one the shore of Kintyre, layes ane iyle with a castle". Tiny island at NR656071. Munro does not list it in his index.
12 Rachlaiun Rachuda Rathlin Island A

West of Kintyre

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
13 Caray Caraia Cara A
14 Gigay Gigaia Gigha A
15 Duray Jura Jura A Translation: Youngson (2001) pp. 144-6.
16 Skarbay Scarba Scarba A
17 Veliche Isle Ballach Eilean a Bealach A NM712065

Slate Islands (1)

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
18 Gilbrastol Genistaria Guirasdeal B "a very little iyle" probably Guirasdeal at NM693079.[3] Monipennie has two islands here, the second called "Gearastilla".
19 Lungay Longaia Lunga A
20 Fidlachaille Fiola Meadhonach[3] B Monipennie has the "two Fidlais".
I'd be tempted to read that as Fiola + something, same below. In many southern Gaelic dialects dark L has overtones of d and in some places (Islay for example) some initial dark L's have become d per se. So from a Gaelic POV, Fiola/Fidla are very close. Fiola Meadhonach is part of the Lunga group.
21 Fidlavirow Rubha Fiola[3] B Northern island of the Lunga group.
  • Missing: Insh, Eilean Dubh Mòr, Eilean Dubh Beag
  • Note: At high tide the northern tip of Lunga, Firth of Lorn becomes several separate islets with Rubha Fiola to the north, then Fiola Meadhonach, Eilean Ìosal and finally Fiola an Droma closest to Lunga proper. It is not clear how any of those names could become "Fidlachaille or " Fidlavirow"

Garvellachs

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
22 Garrowhellach Sheain Garbh Eileach S " in Eriche namit Garowhellach Skean." - the Sgeiran Dubha rocks are just offshore from Eileach an Naoimh.
23 Garowhillach-Nanronow Eileach an Naoimh S Monipennie has the "three Barbais" here.
24 Nanaose U "Narrist to this iyle of Garowhellach-Nanronow layes ther a verey little iyle," - there is an unnamed islet between Eileach an Naoimh and A Chuli
There's a genitive in there, that's all I can say; nan (n)aoise/aosa or something like that.
25 Culibrenyn Culbremna A Chuli S
26 Dunchonill Dunum Dùn Channuill A

Slate islands (2)

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
27 Madie Coilp? Ulva Islands? S "layes betwixt Lungay, and being callit in Englishe the Wolfiis iyle." Monipennie has "Cuparia" here. The Ulva Islands are in Loch Sween at NR727824 which are tidal and therefore more likely to have been inhabited by wolves than a small offshore island.
May not have been wolves. Madie > M(h)adaidh, and that has undergone semantic change from dog to various canines, including madadh-allaidh wolf and madadh-ruadh "fox"
28 Belnachna Beluahua Belnahua A See Gillies
29 Vickeran Vickerana U
30 Nagawnwa Vitulina Eilean Gamhna B Element missing, presumably Eilean - the rest looks like na(n) Gamhna "of the stirks". Eilean Gamhna is in Loch Melfort.
31 Lunge Lumga Luing A
32 Seill Seila Seil A
33 Seunay Scana Shuna, Slate Islands B
34 Sklaitt Sklata Eilean-a-beithich C Now a drowned island - See Gilles
35 Nawissoge Naguigosa Looks like a genitive in there; if pushed I'd reckon the first is (Eilean) na(n) Uiseag (Island of the Larks), the second is either a whossename, letters the wrong way or na(n) Guigeas but that looks weird. Anyone know a Lark Island?
36 Eisdcalfe Eisdalsa Easdale B See Gillies
Is this a bad transliteration? If we read c > e and lf > ll, we get Eisdealle which is very close to Gaelic Èisdeal

Craignish, Taynish and Jura

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According to Youngson (2001) Monro's "island lists normally seem to deal with a central island and its surrounding islets. However, islands 37-52 defeat all attempts to identify with Lorn and turn out to be near Jura." Youngson bases this on research by Malcolm MacArthur, but the numbers he uses are either from a different version of Monro's list or in error.[4] A problem here is that while the candidates provided by Youngson/MacArthur are credible, for most of this section there are also credible, and in some cases much larger and better known, candidates that lie off the Craignish and Taynish peninsulas. Two lists are therefore presented. The identification of the Small Islands of Jura are more satisfactory. Youngson also states that the islands "to the south of Jura are all easily identified" in Monro although he does not make the connections explicit. He does say that Glas Eilean, Sound of Jura means "grey island" but that it "is really a very green island", hinting perhaps at a connection with Greine Ilye and that Brosdale Island is Monro's "Ellan na cravich" i.e. Hasil Iyle. Youngson's analysis has the advantage of verifiability but seems to involve various leaps of faith.

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name Youngson[5] Likelihood Alternative Likelihood Comments
37 Inche Kenyth Skennia Not addressed No obvious candidate U
38 Inchian Isle Thiania Shian Island north of Loch Tarbert B Inchaig in Loch Craignish NM810044 S
39 Uderga Uderga "An unnamed island offshore from Glenbatrick" C Rocks or skerries between Shian Island and the shore C - "ane uther verey small rock". Glenbatrick is on the south shore of Loch Tarbert.
40 King’s Iyle King's Island Eileanan Gleann Righ, Loch Tarbert C Eilean Rìgh B
41 Black Isle Duffa Eilean Dubh a' Chumhainn Mhóir, Loch Tarbert B Eilean Dubh, Loch Criagnish NM792019 A
42 Kirke Isle Island of the Church Eilean na h-Eaglais C Eilean na Cille NM752969 S Youngson does not identify the location of Eilean na h-Eaglais (which Monro refers to as "callit in Erisch Leid Nahagleis") but he implies it may be Eilean an Easbuig (island of the bishop) in inner Loch Tarbert
43 Chrearache Triaracha Eilean Chraoibhe chaorinn C Creagach Chrosgach S Youngson's translation is "hazel wood island" although is not clear where it is - Loch Tarbert? Tiny Creagach Chrosgach is at NM768033
44 Arde Ardua Eilean Ard, Loch Tarbert B No obvious candidate
45 Laich Ile Humlis Eilean Iosal, Loch Tarbert B No obvious candidate "callit in Erisch Leid Ellan Esill"
Ah, brainwave. Laich = Humilis > Eilean Ìosal/Ìseal. Is there an Eilean Ìosal nearby? - Yes - in Loch Tarbert, Jura and see 44.
46 Greine Ilye Viridis Glas Eilean, Sound of Jura C Eilean Glas, Loch Crinan C "namit in Erish Leid Glassellan". Glas Eilean in Loch Caolisport and Eilean Glas in Loch Crinan are contenders with the latter more likely.
Greine looks like an ecplised form of An Crìona(n) anyway (which would make it sound like ang grìona(n). So the one in Loch Crinan looks better to me too. There is a Glas Eilean in the Sound of Islay.
47 Heddir Iyle Ericca Am Fraoch Eilean, Sound of Islay? C Eilean Fraoch S Although Monro is almost certainly referring to Eilean Fraoch, the question is - which one? There is one on the west coast of Luing, another in the Cuan Sound off Torsa, a third at Croabh Haven and another west of the Taynish peninsula at NR712860. This last is near Eilean nan Coinean - see 50 below. There is also Am Fraoch Eilean in the Sound of Islay.
48 Hasil Iyle Arboraria Brosdale Island, Sound of Islay C No obvious candidate Monro states that " in the Erish is callit Ellan-na-Crawiche"
Younsgson translates this as "wooded island", although it is not clear what the connection with Brosdale is. Any ideas on Hasil? Anyway, looks very much like Eilean na(n) Craobh- something with trees or shrubs. It would suggest craobhaiche, craobh with an agentive suffix though I can find no record of such a word. If it existed, it could men "forestry person"
49 Gatis Iyles Capraria Eilean nan Gabhar, Small Isles of Jura B Eilean nan Gabhar, south of Eilean Righ C NM791003 "callit in the Erishe Leid Ellan Nagonre"
Yup, that screams goat, Eilean na Goibhre
50 Conings Ile Cunicularia Eilean nan Coinean, Small Isles of Jura B Eilean nan Coinean C NM776967 west of Taynish or at NM782974 just north of Crinan. "callit in the Erish Leid Ellan Nagenin"
Yup again, rabbit island or Eilean nan Coinean with eclipsis of c > g
51 Idyle Iyle Isle of Idlemen Eilean Diomhain, Small Isles of Jura B No obvious candidate "callit be the Erish Ellan Dravin". Youngson's translation is "idle or useless island" - a perhaps apt description of this very small islet in comparison to the four larger Small Isles.

Missing: Eilean Mhic Chrion; Eilean Bhride (conceivably Eisell /Abridita below) and Pladda of the Small Isles, Jura;

Other Argyll

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Abridita is mentioned in Habakkuk Bisset's Rolment of courtis, Volume 13. This quotes a note which implies proximity to Lismore, but the likelihood is that Monro is the source.

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
52 Eisell Abridita U
53 Uridithe U
54 Lismoir Lismora Lismore A

Islay

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Johan Blaeu's 1654 atlas of "Ila Insula"

Under 56 Monro states "Her begin to circkell Iyla, sune gaittis aboute with litle iyles." The percentage of islands listed is high and must include several very small islets. This apparently comprehensive coverage contrasts with the later absence of Coll and Tiree. Some islands may surround Jura, although there is no hint of this in Monro's text. There are correspondences with Johan Blaeu's 1654 atlas, and either various islets have changed their names in subsequent years or possibly Blaeu knew of Monro's work and added in a few islet's on this basis?

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
55 Ila Yla Islay A
56 Earne Isle Eilean a' Chùirn B "At the mouth of Kyle Ila, betwixt it and Duray, lyes ane ile, callit in Erische Leid Ellan Charne, in English the iyle of Earne". Only Am Fraoch Eilean, Brosdale Island and Glas Eilean fit the geography exactly. Monipennie has "a little island, taking the name from a cairne of stones".[6]
Eilean a' Chùirn is a bit further south, cùirn being the genitive of càrn.
57 Hessil Iyle Colurna Eilean Craobhach B "callit in Erish the Leid Ellan Natravie"
I'd say Eilean na Tràighe/Tràghaidh (/v/ can be a reflex of gh in Gaelic). Eilean Croabhach is the only island of substance not otherwise mentioned here and is identified by Munro with an accompanying "?".[7]
Craobhach is "pertaining to trees". Ellan na caltin blatantly is Eilean na Calltainn "Hazel Island" which oddly brings us to Hessil because my Scots Dictionary lists hissel(l)/hessill etc for "hazel". Now that we have that, Colurna clearly colurnus/colurna/colurnum "made of/pertaining to hazel"!
58 Mulmoryris Iyle Mulvoris Eilean Mhic Mhaolmhoire B "Ellan M’luray"
Eilean Mhic MhaolMhoire, no? The -s crops up Scots versions sometimes, so Mulmory < MaolMhoire. Blaeu has a Mallmoirie in this general area.
59 Ofrum Ossuna Outram C
60 Brydes Iyle Brigidana Eilean Bhride C NR463481
I'd say yes. Blaeu has a Brydi west of here.
61 Cors Ker Corskera Corr Sgeir B Korskyr in Blaeu's atlas west of Dounowaig
62 Eisilache the Low island Iseanach Mòr S Unlikely, the variation very strongly points to two different informants, one using ìosal (with s), the other ìseal (with sh), both meaning "low".
63 Imerska Imersga Eilean Imersay B
64 Bethey Beathia U There is an unnamed peninsula or tidal islet on the west of Imersay that could fit the bill. Every other contender in the area is a skerry. Blaeu has Bethidh near here.
65 Tisgay Texa Texa A Blaeu's Ylen Teghsa
66 Scheipis Iyle Ovicularia Eilean nan Caorach B
67 Myresnypes Iyle Noasiga U "by the Erishe namit Ellan na Naoske"
Eilean na Naosg - Snipe Island but pass as to where it is
68 Ness Poynte Iyle Vinarda U "the yle at the west poynt"
69 Lyart Iyle Cava U There is a tiny Eilean Liath near Kilchiaran Bay, west of the Rhinns.
70 Tairskeray Tarsheria S Eilean an Tannais-sgeir, which is north-east of Eilean Liath.
71 Achnarra Auchnarra U Blaeu offers Achnar
72 Grait Iyle The great island S Probably Eileanan Mòra near the Mull of Oa. (Eilean Mòr is a peninsula at NR212697, which is north-east of Eilean an Tannais-sgeir on the northwest coast.) Blaeu has Ylen Moir.
73 The Iyle of the Man’s Figure the island made like a man U Sgeirean Buidhe Ghil near Eileanan Mòra? There are various other small islets here not named by the OS.
Conjecture but Buidhe Ghil doesn't make sense in Gaelic on so many levels. If there's a person in there, it could be Buidhe Ghill(e) "lucky lad" but it looks more like a crazy spelling of Buachaille "cowherder". Blaeu has Ylen Dealbhdhuin here.
74 Jhone’s Iyle The isle of John U "Ellan Ean" and Ylen Ean in Blaeu's atlas
75 Starbeades Slakebadis U "the Erische calls Stackbeades". Blaeu has Stackchabhada somewhere near the Oa and the next named island on the map is Orsay/Oversa
76 Onersay Oversa Orsay B
77 Merchands Iyle The Marchants island Eilean Mhic Coinnich B "callit by the Erische Ellan Kenyth"
78 Usabrast Usabrasta Frenchman's Rocks S Just north of Eilean Mhic Coinnich between it and Eilean an Tannais-sgeir.
Hm Uspraig ... could be but unsure. Usab/Usp can be taken as identical from the Gaelic phonological POV but the change in the ending is odd unless it went Usabrast > Usabraist (genitive, resulting in -ishch [ɪʃtʲ]) > hypercorrection to -aig because SW Scotland Gaelic slender g was often /tʲ/, cf ciamar [kʲ] vs [tʰʲ].
79 Tanefte Tanasta Eilean an Tannais-sgeir S NR188639
80 Nese Nesa Nave Island A "beside the entresse of Lochgrunord"
81 Vebster The Weavers island Na Badagan S "callit by the Erische themselves Ellan Nabaney". The Na Badagan rocks lie just off Ardnave point near Nave Island.

Colonsay and Mull

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In the earlier part of this table Monro and Monipennie seem to travel side-by-side. Here they diverge company for a while. The linguistic relationships between "Moroan" and "Rudana" (91) and "Reringe" and "Bernira" (92) are not clear. Both writers seem to refer to Inch Kenneth at 93. After Frosa (94) Monipennie states that "all their isles are subject to Sanct Colme's abbey" and all seems well. At 95 Monro has "Calfa" which could be Calve Island, but Monipennie has "Vilua, five miles of length", which can only be Ulva, "Toluansa" (which could be Little Colonsay) and "Gomatra", which is clearly Gometra. Monipennie then continues with "Staffæ", the two "Kerimburgæ" and other islands that are more easily understood, whilst Monro remains silent. Monro's 96-99 are harder to place but at this point Monipennie is once again congruent with the earlier list.

It is reasonable to conclude from his comment about Eilean Mòr, Lochbuie that Monipennie had not been entertained by, or perhaps even heard of, "M’Gillayne of Lochbuy".

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
82 Ornansay Ornansa Oronsay, Inner Hebrides A
83 Ellan Namuche Swines island U "half ane myle lang"
Gaelic is indeed Eilean na(m) Muice, Island of the Pig(s).
84 Colnansay Coluansa Colonsay A
85 Mull Mule Mull A
86 The Dow Iyle Columbaria Eilean a' Chalmain? C "ane little ile, by the Erische namit Ellan-chane". Eilean à Chalmain is southwest of Erraid.
Columbaria does suggest Eilean a' Chalmain but Ellan-chane is a bit... far fetched from that.
87 Erray Era Erraid A
88 Colmkill Island of Sanct Colme Iona A
89 Soa Soa Soa Island A
90 Naban Isle of Women Eilean nam Ban A Looks good, he has this habit of dropping Eilean...
91 Moroan Rudana U
92 Reringe Bernira U
93 Inche Kenzie Skennia Inch Kenneth B Yes, the Skennia will be the last -s in In(n)is
94 Eorsay Frosa Eorsa B There's a lot of f <> vowel variation in Gaelic as lenition of f leads to a zero and thus often an initial vowel
95 Calfa - Calve Island B "Upon the narrest coste of Mull layes ane iyle callit Calfe, ane myle of lenthe, full of woods, with ane sufficient raid for shipes, perteyning to M’Gillayne of Doward."
The lbh (An Calbh) often devoices to f.
96 The Glasse Iles Glassæ Glas Eileanan B Glas Eileanan is just off Rubha an Ridire. Possibly Eileanan Glass NM596450
The former looks more likely, bearing in mind the prefixed adjective.
97 Ardin Rider Arden Eider Eilean Rubha an Ridire B NM724405
It looks more like Àird an Ridire, is it possible that he accidentally got the name for the hill behind Rubha an Ridire?
98 Ellan Madie Luparia or "Wolfe island" Eilean a' Mhadaidh, Loch Don B
99 Ellan Moir A great isle Eilean Mòr, Lochbuie B "upon the shore of Mull, lyes ane ile, callit by the Erishe Ellan-moir, guid for store and for fishing, pertening to M’Gillayne of Lochbuy."

Staffa is missing from Monro's list, but it is a small island and in his day it had not achieved its later fame, which did not occur until its late 18th century "discovery". It is fleetingly mentioned by Monipennie and it is clear from his remarks he knows nothing of its actual nature.

Monipennie's additions

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Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
Vilua Ulva B "five miles of length"[8]
Toluansa Little Colonsay C
Gomatra Gometra A "about 300 paces from this island"[8]
Staffæ Staffa A "four mile southward, lye the two Staffæ both full of havening places"[8]
the two Kerimburgæ Cairn na Burgh Mòr and Cairn na Burgh Beag A
Longa Lunga, Treshnish Isles B
Bacha Bac Mòr B Bac Beag is also a possibility
He may well have recorded a plural, i.e. Na Bacan, if there's two of them.
Tiria Tiree A
Yes, it has a final syllable in Gaelic Tiriodh
Sunna Gunna B
Bearing in mind the similarity of Goidelic capital G and Continental capital S, that's likely a transcription error
Colla Coll A
Culsa U
Mekle Viridis U
Little Viridis U

Small Isles

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Blaeu's 1654 Atlas of Scotland - The Small Isles
Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
100 Ronin Ruma Rùm A
101 The Horse Iyle Horse island Eilean nan Each A Off Muck
102 Swynes Ile Swine island Muck A
103 Kannay Canna Canna A
104 Egga Egga Eigg A

Skye

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
105 Soa Urettil Soabrittella Soay, Skye B Blaeu's atlas also uses this name.
106 Sky Skye Skye A
107 Oransay Oronsa Ornsay? C "at the west syde of Sleit lyes ane callit Oransay, ane myle lange" - Ornsay is east of Sleat and not of this size.
108 Nagoyneyne Cunicularia U "Fornent Loche Alshe lyes ane iyle, callit in Erishe Ellan Nagoyneyne, that is to say, Cunings ile"
Rabbits again... Eilean nan Coineanach is what we're looking for but pass as to location.
109 Pabay Paba Pabay B
110 Scalpay Scalpa Scalpay B
111 Crowling Crulinga Crowlin Islands A
112 Raarsay Raorsa Raasay A
113 Ronay Rona South Rona A
114 Ellan Gearlochie Gerloch Longa Island S Possibly Eilean Horrisdale
115 Fladday Flada Staffin Island C "To the north fra Ronay, be sex myle of sea, lyes ane ile namit Fladday, ane maine laiche ile, half ane myle lange, inhabit and manurit fruitfull in corne and gerssing, perteining to Donald Gormesone." Apparently also known as Fladdaidh.[9] See also Fladda-chuain at 174, which is a possible candidate, although more like 20 miles from South Rona.
116 Tuilin Euilmena Tulm Island C Yes, I'd say. The in could be badly copied m or the helping vowel. The initial vowel Euilmena can be explained too, as genitive of Tulm yield Thuilm where the initial /h/ could easily go astray and sound like /ulim/.
117 - - "Four myle of sea fra this ile Tuilin, northwart, lyes an ile callit -----."
118 Cransay Oronsa Oronsay, Loch Bracadale A
119 Buyamoire Kyna Pabra Wiay B "Be ane myle of sea to this ile of Cransay, layes ane callit Buyamoire, guid for corne and store, perteining to M’Cloyd of Herray". Various candidates
But only one that's fits Buay(moire). I'd bet money it's Wiay. Wiay is Norse and Gaelic dislikes initial fricatives intensly, frequently de-leniting them to stops. w/v > b is a common rule (cf vervain > bearbhain, votum > bòid, walla > balla etc). Wiay > Buaigh/Buidheigh is perfectly reasonable. -moire points to a masculine first element, which fits nicely as all Norse -ey islands lead to a masculine reflex -aigh/eigh w/e.
120-26 - Great Bina and five little islands U
127 Isay Isa Isay A Monipennie adds "beside it is Ouia"
128 Askerin Askerma Ascrib Islands B
129 Lindill Lindella Eilean Mor, Lyndale Point S NG362573

Barra and the Barra Isles

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Campbell (1936) states that Monro "apparently had visited Barra, but is is clear that he writes of the smaller islands from hearsay alone".

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
130 Lingay Linga Lingeigh A
131 Gigarun Gigarmena Greanamul B[10] "Backwart to the north, besydes the ile of Lingay, lyes ane ile callit Gigarun, halfe myle lang, perteining to the bischop of the iles".
Looks odd. Based on the two names I'd be looking for a Gaelic name like Gighearum/Gighearam/Giorum/Gioram.
132 Berneray Benera Barra Head A
133 Megaly Megela Mingulay A[11]
134 Pabay Paua Pabbay, Barra A
135 Fladay Flada Flodday near Vatersay B
136 Scarpnamutt Scarpa Muldoanich[11] A Monipennie adds "Vernecum" here
137 Sanderay Sandera Sandray A
138 Wattersay Vatersa Vatersay A
139 Barray Barra Barra A

Sound of Barra

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
140 Orvansay Oronsa Orosay C There are two tiny Orosaighs off Barra
141 Nahacharrach Onia U "Besides this ile lyes Ellan-Nahacharrach, by the Erishe so callit, and in Englishe the Sheipes ile, ane little ile full of gerssing and store, perteining to M’Neill of Barray." "Not known" according to Campbell[11], but conceivably Fiaraidh, which means 'grass' or 'pasture' island and which Campbell assigns to 151.
142 Nahakersait Hakerseta U "Not known"[11] That looks very much like na h-acarsaid "of the anchorage". Presumably Eilean/Innis is missing again. Possibly Sheileam/Healam at "An Acarsaid" at the end of the Bruairnis peninsula.
143 Garnlanga Garnlanga Garbh Lingeigh A[11]
144 Flada Flada Flodday, Sound of Barra C
145 Bwyabeg Little Buya U "Not known"[11] But the mòr/beag is a bit... well, where's the second one? There are numerous candidates but none have this name today.
146 Bywa-moir Great Buya U "Not known"[11] See note above about Wiay.
147 Hay Haya Fuiay B[11] Based on his habit of dropping Inis/Eilean, I'd say Heinish
148 Hettesay Hell sea Hellisay B
149 Gigay Gigaia Gighay A[11]
150 Lingay Lingaia Lingeigh C Conceivably Lingay, Fiaray or Garbh Lingeigh off Fuiay.
151 Feray Foraia Fiaraidh A[11] See 141.
152 Fuday Fudaia Fuday A

Missing: Calvay

Uists

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
153 Eriskeray Eriscaia Eriskay A
154 Ywst Vistus Uist A
155 Blank
156 Helsker Nagaillon Helsther Wetularum Monach Isles C "ane ile four myle and haff myle braid". Haskeir Eagach south west of Haskeir hardly fits this description, but the Monach Isles also known as Heisker (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Heisgeir / Heisgeir fit the description. The second part looks like na gaillinn "of the storm" or na cailin of the lass".[Note 1]
157 Haysker Haneskera Haskeir B "northwast fra this Kentnache of Ywst, be twalve myle of sea"
158 Hirta Hirta Hirta A
159 Valay Velaia Vallay A

Missing: Numerous islands including Ronay, Stuley, Baleshare, Kirkibost etc.

Benbecula: Monro does mention Benbecula and North Uist. In No 154 he begins by describing "this south part of Ywst" and goes on: "and in the north syde of this there is ane parochin callit Buchagla, perteining to the said Clandonald. At the north end thereof the sea cuts the countrey againe, and that cutting of the sea is called Careynesse, and benorth this countrey is called Kenehnache of Ywst, that is in Englishe, the north head of Ywst." A search for "Buchagla" you will provide google hits stating it is Benbecula and according to the Jan 1866 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, Beandmoyll, Beanweall, and Benvalgha are other variants found "in charters".

Lewis and Harris (1)

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
160 Soa Soa
161 The Pigmies Ile island of the Pigmeis The "dry island" of Luchraban[12] "At the north poynt of Lewis", "with ane little kirk in it of ther awn handey wark". An extraordinary story.
162 Fabill Fabilla Eilean Mòr Phabail C NB524302 - although supposedly "at the southeist shore of the Lewis"? Lenited p does yield /f/.
163 Adain Adams island U Tiny Eilean à Chrotaich is in roughly the right place.
164 Na-naun Lambe island Eilean nan Uan A NB459307
165 Huiture Hulmetia Eilean Thuilm S "Betwixt this ile and Stornaway ther lyes Ellan Huiture". Eilean Thuilm appears as "Holm Island" on old maps.
And tulm, tuilm is the Gaelic form of Norse holm.
166 Vic-couill Viccoilla U Are there any MhicSomebody islands in the area? Eilean MhicThormaid near Loch Erisort is hard to fit into the phonetics. I'd expect something like MhicCumhail/MhicCuil/MhicCoil(l)
167 Haleuray Hana Tannaraidh C Monipennie adds "Rera" here. Possibly intended "Hana Rera" as one island?
Initial H points us to Th and thus T, so I'd say Tan(n)araigh.
168 Laxay Laxa Eilean Mòr Lacasaidh, Loch Erisort B Yes, Norse Laxay > Lacasaigh is a regular development.
169 Err Era Eire A "which is in English Irland". Just north of Grodhaigh in the Sound of Harris
170 St. Colmes Ile Dove island Eilean Chaluim Chille B
171 Tooray Tora Eilean Thoraidh C NB419204. Tabhaigh Mòr and Tannaraidh also lie near Eilean Chaluim Chille.
Thòraidh though; and it looks like the oo is trying to show length.
172 Ellan Hurte Affurta Eilean Liubhaird C*
173 Scalpay of Harray Scalpa Scalpay, Outer Hebrides A
174 Fladay Flada Fladda-chuain C "Towards the northeist frae [Scalpay] ... be 20 myle of sea". See also 115.
175 Senta Senta Garbh Eilean B "that is in English a Saw, ane ile mair than twa myle lang". In Gaelic the Shiant Isles are Na h-Eileanan Seunta. The description of the strong currents through the Toll a' Roimh natural arch is vivid.[13]
176 Senchastle Old Castle Eilean Mhuire B Seann Chaisteal (old castle) is the name of southern promontory on Eilean Mhuire. See also talk page.

Missing: Seaforth Island, Eilean Mhealasta, Eilean Molach & Greineam, on the NW coast

North Highland coast

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennies Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
177 Ellan Ew Ew Isle of Ewe B "Upon the shore of Lochebrune"?
178 Gruynorde Grumorta Gruinard B
179 Na-clerache Priests island Priest Island B Yes, nan cléireach "of the priests"
180 Afuil Afulla Bottle Island S Eilean a' Bhotail in Gaelic
181 Hawrarymoir Great Habrera Tanera Mòr? S
182 Hawrarybeg Little Habrera Tanera Beag S
183 Naneache Horse isle Horse Island B Clearly Eilean nan Each "island of the horses" with the eilean missing
184 Mertarye Marta Ika U

Missing: Isle Ristol, Handa, Oldany Island

Sound of Harris

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Monipennie and Monro diverge in the order of their listings in this section and the above, with Monipennie's making more sense geographically as he starts with the Sound of Harris after Uist and then goes to the isles surrounding Lewis and Harris. He also adds a few islands in the section below that Munro does not have that are listed separately below. The correspondence between Monipennie and Monro in this section is less clear than most e.g. 190 and 191. Monipennie also adds Soa (160) to this section.

Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
185 Soya-Moir Great Soa Soay Mòr A
186 Ellan IIsa Isa Ìosaigh C Monipennie has "Isa" in his Sound of Harris list (below).
187 Senna-Beg Little Saga Saghaigh Beag S The Saga spelling suggests this and vocalisation of nn is not uncommon.
188 Senna-Moir Great Saga Saghaigh Mòr B See also Great and Little Seuna in section below
189 Tarandsay Taransa Taransay A
190 Sleyein Slegana Sleicham B Off Ensay. See [1]
191 Tivein Tuemon U The second half of either suggest -mountain Xbheinn/Xmon(s) to me.

Missing:

Monipennie's additions

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"All these islands are fruitfull in cornes and store" according to Monipennie and lie between "Velaia" and the "island of Harea". This latter is accurate enough although he includes in his version Monro's 185-191, which are off the west coast of Harris rather than in the Sound of Harris as such.

Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
Stroma Stromay A
Pabaia Pabbay, Harris A
Barneraia Berneray, North Uist A
Emsaia Ensay, Outer Hebrides B
Kelligira Killegray A
Harmodra Hermetray C
Scaria Sgarabhaigh B
Grialinga Groaigh S Possibly Gilsaigh
Cillinsa Ceallasaigh Mòr S Ceallasaigh Mòr is in Loch Maddy, North Uist, not the Sound of Harris proper.
Hea U Possibly Tahay
No suggestions as such but bear in mind that with lenition, the actual island name may start with s or t (same goes for Hoia)
Hoia U Iosaigh?
I can't see that working soundwise
Little Soa Soay Beag A
Great Seuna U Could these two be Saghaigh Mòr and Saghaigh Beag off the south coast of Harris?
Unlikely. Seuna looks like fairly orthodox Gaelic spelling which means it would be /ʃiənə/ /she-uh-nuh/ or something similar. Saghaigh is /sɤː.aj/ /suh-aye/. How about 187 and 188 above?
Little Seuna U

Missing: Boreray, Sursaigh, Shillay

Lewis and Harris (2)

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
192 Scarpe Scarpa Scarp A
193 Seven Haley Iles Flannæ Flannan Isles A
194 Garvellan Garn-Ellan Garbh Eilean B At NB125325 in Loch Ròg. There is another in Loch Erisort on the other side of Lewis. Blaeu also has Garvellan, Lamba, Flada and Kellasa, all west of Gt. Berneray
195 Lambay Lamba U At the moment only Langay looks even vaguely close. Or, if lambs are involved, it might have ended up as Eilean nan Uan or something.

Loch Roag

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
196 Fladay Flada Flodaigh, Outer Loch Ròg B Although there is also Flodaigh, Lewis, which is not so close to "Kealnsay" which is described as "Besydis this lyes Kealnsay". However the other outer islands are completely missing. There is a Fladaigh at NA993152 near Scarp (192).
197 Kealnsay Kellasa Cealasaigh B
198 Berneray-Beg Little Bernera Little Bernera A
199 Berneray-Moir Great Bernera Great Bernera A
200 Kertay Kirta Eilean Chearstaidh S
201 Buya-beg Little Bina Fuaigh Beag B
202 Buya-Moir Great Bina Fuaigh Mòr B
203 Vaxay Vexaia Vacsay A
204 Pabay Pabaia Pabaigh Mòr C
205 Sigrain-moir-Nagoinein Great Sigrama Siaram Mòr C Siaram Mòr is south of Pabaigh Mòr. Monipennie adds "Cunicularia" here - the ungarbled Gaelic is Siaram Mòr na(n) Coinean
206 Sigrain-Beg Little Sigrama U "ane myle of lenthe"
Siaram Mòr, just off Cnìp has that little bit off the northern end that looks like it might be a tidal island and it's a lot smaller - it could be Siaram Beag.

Missing: Outer islands including Bearasaigh, Campaigh, Cealasaigh and Seanna Chnoc. Flodaigh, Outer Loch Ròg is also in this group - see above.

Lewis and Harris (3)

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Monro's No. Monro's Name Monipennie's Name WP Name Likelihood Comments
207 Harrey Hary and Lewis Lewis and Harris A
208 Ronay Rona North Rona A
209 Suilskeray Suilkeraia Sula Sgeir A

Notes

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  1. ^ In the 18th century Lady Grange was kidnapped and conveyed to the Monach Isles. She wrote that "I was in great miserie in the Husker"

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Monro (1549) "Swynes Ile" no. 102
  2. ^ Monipennie p. 182
  3. ^ a b c Munro (1961) p. 165
  4. ^ Youngson (2001) p. 11, based on "Malcolm MacArthur's research".
  5. ^ Youngson (2001) pp. 10-11
  6. ^ Monipennie p.184
  7. ^ Munro (1961) p. 166
  8. ^ a b c Monipennie p.186
  9. ^ "Fladdaidh" Staffin Community Trust. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  10. ^ According to Campbell (1936) P Hume Brown made this identification in his 1893 publication Scotland before 1700.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Campbell (1936) pp. 26-30
  12. ^ Pymies Isle Virtual Hebrides.
  13. ^ Nicolson (2002) p. 217, who writes that Monro was "coming north from Skye".

References

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See Google Books

  • Campbell, John Lorne (ed) (1936) The Book of Barra. Acair - reprinted 2006.
  • Patrick Hunter Gillies Netherlorn, Argyllshire, and its neighbourhood
  • Monipennie, John (1818) An Abridgement, or Summarie of the Chronicles of Scotland with a Briefe description of Scotland, to which is added The description of the Western Isles of Scotland &c. Edinburgh. David Webster. Probably first published c. 1612. (For some reason this is appended to Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee. (1818) Edinburgh, by Google Books.)
  • Monro, Sir Donald (1549) A Description Of The Western Isles of Scotland. Appin Regiment/Appin Historical Society. Retrieved 3 March 2007. First published in 1774.
  • Munro, R. W. (1961) Monro's Western Isles of Scotland and Genealogies of the Clans. Edinburgh and London. Oliver and Boyd.
  • Nicolson, Adam (2002) Sea Room. London. HarperCollins. ISBN 0006532012
  • Stevenson A.? (1818) Miscellanea Scotica. : A collection of tracts relating to the history, antiquities, topography, and literature of Scotland
  • Youngson, Peter (2001) Jura: Island of Deer. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1841581364