Maps are observed through an anglicised lens nowadays, but the influence of native languages can still be felt. For example, anyone who has visited Scotland will know that Scottish place names can be difficult to pronounce which is partly due to our lingual heritage of Old Norse, Pictish and Scottish Gaelic influencing the composition of words.
The capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, is rooted in the Gaelic ‘Inbhir Nis’ (mouth of the River Ness) and this place name can be found across the USA too. Just as similar folklore appears over different cultures, similar words from different languages are linked to modern terms, thus the etymology is often debated.
That said, here are 13 place names in the USA linked to Scottish Gaelic and where you can find them.
13. Culloden (West Virginia)
Culloden is a community in Cabell County in the state of West Virginia. Following the Battle of Culloden in Scotland in 1746 the name became very well-known and featured in many famous songs and poems. The first part ‘cull’ comes from ‘cùl’ which means ‘back part’ while the lodan is connected to ‘lodair’ which translates to ‘little pool’. So, the overall meaning is often translated as "back of the small pond". Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Wow Video Tours