I attended a talk by professor Donna Heddle of the University of the Highlands and Islands on Norse placenames in Scotland - and beyond. Viking is not a correct name, it is an action, not a descriptor. They referred to themselves as Northmen.
Did you know that Istanbul was known as Miklagarðr (Large Fort) by the Northmen, and that Russia was founded by the Vikings?
The talk was entitled Bolstering Bolstaðir, Bolstaðir being Norse for farm or homestead. Quite a few Bolstaðir about, it would appear. All indicative of Norse influences. The names are often corrupted, such as Bosta and Embo; Habost (high farm) and Swainbost (Swain's Farm). Leurbost is Muddy Farm; compare to Lerwick in Shetland, which means Muddy Bay.
We all know Shader, such as the village near Barvas, Shulishader (Sea Farm), Grimshader (Grim's Farm); favourite Viking boy's names being Grim and Glom. Hm.
The word Vik means bay, and is also incorporated in many placenames, often corrupted such as Stornoway. Steerage Bay. The town of Wick in Caithness speaks for itself, as does Uig in Skye; and the district in Lewis.
The suffix -øy denotes an island, such as Pabbay (priests' isle), Ensay, Killegray &c.
Fascinating stuff.
More info in this article
Quite interesting!
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