Blairgowrie and Rattray - The Name

The Name

The name Blairgowrie means "Plain of Gowrie" in Scottish Gaelic, in which language it is spelt Blàr Ghobharaidh or Blàr Ghobhraidh. The name Rattray is Raitear in Gaelic, and may derive from an English language cognate of Gaelic ràth meaning "fortress" plus a Pictish term cognate with Welsh tref meaning "settlement".

Unusually – given its location – the town features bilingual street signs (in English and Gaelic). This feature dates back to 1996, when a local campaign persuaded An Comunn Gàidhealach to hold the National Mod in the town despite its location in the Lowlands area of the country. The bilingual signs were part of this campaign.

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