Etymology
The Roman historian Tacitus refers to the Clota meaning the Clyde. The derivation is not certain but probably from the Brythonic Clouta which became Clut in Old Welsh. The name's literal meaning is "wash" but probably refers to the idea of a river goddess being "the washer" or "strongly flowing one". Bute's derivation is also uncertain. Bót is the Norse name and this is the Old Irish word for "fire", possibly a reference to signal fires. The etymology of Arran is no more clear—Haswell-Smith (2004) offers a Brythonic derivation and a meaning of "high place" although Watson (1926) suggests it may be pre-Celtic.
| Island | Derivation | Language | Meaning | Modern Gaelic name | Alternative Derivations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arran | Possibly Aran | Brythonic | high place | Arainn | Possibly pre-Celtic |
| Bute | Bót (see above) | Norse or Gaelic | Possibly "fire isle" | Eilean Bhòid or Bód | Possibly from Brythonic budh for "corn" and previously known as Rothesay meaning "Roderick's island" |
| Davaar | Eilean Dà Bhàrr | Gaelic | Barr's island | Eilean Dà Bhàrr | |
| Great Cumbrae | Cymri | English/Brythonic | place of the Brythonic people | Cumaradh Mòr | Gaelic literally means "place of the Cymric people". Previously known in English as Great or Greater Cumray. |
| Holy Isle | - | English | Refers to Molaise of Leighlin | Eilean Mo Laise | Previously known as "Lamlash", the English name was adopted in 1830 when the Arran village took this name. In Gaelic, the island is also known as "An t-Eilean Àrd" (the high island). |
| Sanda | Sandtange or Havin | Old Norse or Danish | sandspit or anchorage | Àbhainn | Also known as "Sanda Island" |
Read more about this topic: Islands Of The Clyde
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