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Orkney

Mess/Mass/Maes/May

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wideford W
wideford Apr 20, 2005 17:12:43
Replying to Lianachan

Hugh Marwick was our greatest etymologist and an expert in Norse. In his paper on plausible Celtic elements in Orcadian names he does mention that the particular penchant seemed to be for Gaelic loan-words. As regards the maes names he was adamant that whatever else they represent they are specifically not of Norse derivation.

L Lianachan
Lianachan Apr 21, 2005 09:04:04
Replying to wideford

So you personally would be prepared to accept the Celtic source of the name as a possibility? It does seem too fitting to be an absolute coincidence to me, and none of the seriously considered name-sources I've read take the other "maes" places into account particularly well.