Inverness etymology

Etymology

The name "Inverness" is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Inbhir Nis," meaning "mouth of the River Ness."

Meaning

The name Inverness accurately describes its geographic location at the point where the River Ness flows into the Moray Firth, an inlet of the North Sea.

Origin

Inverness has a long and rich history dating back to the Iron Age. It is believed that the first settlement in the area was established by the Picts, a Celtic people who inhabited northern Scotland from the 3rd century BC to the 9th century AD.

  • The Picts: The Picts established a hillfort on Craig Phadrig, a hill overlooking the present-day town, and named their settlement "Altirio."
  • The Romans: The Romans invaded Scotland in the 1st century AD and established military outposts throughout the area, including one at Inverness. They referred to the settlement as "Alauna."
  • The Gaels: In the 6th century AD, the Gaelic-speaking Scots from Ireland invaded Scotland and established their own kingdom. They renamed the settlement "Inbhir Nis."
  • The Vikings: The Vikings raided and settled in Scotland from the 8th to the 11th centuries. They established a settlement at Inverness and called it "Inver Nis."
  • The Normans: William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066, bringing Norman influence to Britain. The Normans eventually extended their control into Scotland and gave Inverness its present-day name.

Inverness relate terms

  • Aberdeen

    Aberdeen Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology Aber from Proto Celtic aber mean

  • Inverness

    Etymology The name Inverness is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Nis meaning

  • Aberdeen

    Aberdeen Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology Aber from Proto Celtic aber mean

  • amphora

    Etymology Greek amphoreus from amphi both pherein to carry Meaning A two

  • anaphora

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά anaphora meaning a carrying back refe

  • aquifer

    Etymology The word aquifer comes from the Latin word aqua which means water and t

  • auriferous

    Etymology From Latin auriferus from aurum gold fer bearing Meaning Produci

  • bairn

    Etymology Middle English barne Old English bearn Proto Germanic barnaz Proto Indo E

  • barrow

    Etymology Middle English barewe from Old English beorg bearuwe a tumulus a mound

  • bear

    Etymology and Origin of Bear Proto Indo European PIE bʰr̥tos or bʰortós meanin

  • bearing

    Etymology The word bearing derives from the Old English verb beran which meant to

  • Berenice

    Etymology The name Berenice comes from the Greek word Berenike Βερενίκη whi

  • bier

    Etymology The word bier originates from the Old English term bīere which in turn l

  • birth

    Etymology Indo European root bʰer meaning to bear carry Origin Old English by

  • bring

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how their meaning has changed over time

  • burden

    Etymology The word burden comes from the Old English word byrðen meaning load or

  • carboniferous

    Etymology The term Carboniferous is derived from the Latin words carbo coal and fe

  • Christopher

    Etymology Greek Christophoros Χριστόφορος Meaning Christ bearer

  • chromatophore

    Etymology The word chromatophore comes from the Greek words chroma χρώμα mean

  • circumference

    Etymology The word circumference traces its roots to Latin circum meaning arou

  • confer

    Etymology The word confer comes from the Latin word conferre which means to bring

  • conference

    Etymology of Conference The word conference is derived from the Latin word conferre

  • conifer

    Etymology The term conifer is derived from the Latin words conus meaning cone and

  • cumber

    Etymology Cumber comes from the Middle English word combren meaning to encumber b

  • cumbersome

    Etymology The word cumbersome derives from the Middle English term combresome which

  • defer

    Etymology and Meaning The word defer comes from the Latin word de meaning away or

  • differ

    Etymology Origin Late Latin differre meaning to put off defer From Latin dis apa

  • difference

    Etymology Difference comes from the Old French word dif f érence which in turn deriv

  • differentiate

    Etymology Refers to the study of the historical development of words including their or

  • efferent

    Etymology The word efferent comes from the Latin root effero which means to carry a

  • esophagus

    Etymology Origin Greek Root word οἰσοφάγος oisophagos Meaning Literal

  • euphoria

    Etymology Greek εὐφορία euphoria Literally meaning easy bearing Meaning

  • ferret

    Etymology The word ferret comes from the Middle French word furet meaning little t

  • fertile

    Etymology The word fertile is derived from the Latin word fertilis which means fru

  • Foraminifera

    Etymology The term Foraminifera is derived from the Latin words foramen meaning h

  • forbear

    Etymology Old English forberan Proto Germanic fra beranan Proto Indo European w e

  • fossiliferous

    Etymology From Latin fossilifere meaning bearing or containing fossils Fossilis

  • furtive

    Etymology Old French furtif stealthy sly Latin furtivus stolen secret Sansk

  • indifferent

    Etymology The word indifferent comes from the Latin indifferens which means not ma

  • infer

    Etymology Origin Latin infero meaning to bring in introduce produce Meaning 1

  • Inverness

    Etymology The name Inverness is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Nis meaning

  • Lucifer

    Etymology Latin Lucifer Meaning Light bringer or Morning star Origin Luci

  • metaphor

    Etymology The word metaphor comes from the Greek word μεταφορά metaphorá whi

  • odoriferous

    Etymology Latin odoriferus Root odor smell ferens carrying Meaning

  • offer

    Etymology Old French offrir Latin offerre meaning to bring before to present Mean

  • opprobrium

    Etymology The word opprobrium comes from the Latin word opprobrium which itself is a

  • overbear

    Etymology Late Middle English from over excessive bear carry Meaning

  • paraphernalia

    Etymology of Paraphernalia The word paraphernalia is derived from Late Latin paraph

  • periphery

    Etymology The word periphery comes from the Greek word περιφέρεια peripher

  • pestiferous

    Etymology The word pestiferous comes from the Latin word pestis meaning plague or

  • phoresy

    Etymology Phor Greek To carry esy Greek State or condition Meaning Phoresy

  • phosphorus

    Etymology The word phosphorus originates from the Greek word φώσφορος phosp

  • Porifera

    Etymology The word Porifera is derived from Latin and has two parts Porus Meanin

  • prefer

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the history of words and their origins It helps us

  • proffer

    Etymology The word proffer comes from the Middle English profren which is itself de

  • proliferation

    Etymology Late Latin proliferat from pro forth ferre to bear French prolif

  • pyrophoric

  • refer

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

  • reference

    Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words and their meanings It exami

  • semaphore

    Etymology Derived from the Greek words sema sign and phorein to bear meaning l

  • somniferous

    Etymology The word somniferous is derived from Latin Somnus Meaning sleep ferus

  • splendiferous

    Etymology Latin splendidus shining brilliant Middle French splendide Old English

  • suffer

    Etymology Old French sofrir Latin sufferre Proto Indo European kwe bher kwe bhr i

  • transfer

    Etymology The word transfer comes from the Latin word transferre which means to car

  • vociferate

    Etymology Late Latin vociferāre to cry out from vox voice ferre to carry

  • vociferous

    Etymology Latin vociferus from vocem voice fer carrying bearing Mean

  • teetotal

    Etymology The word teetotal is a compound of two words Tea From the Chinese word

  • fiscal

    Etymology The word fiscal comes from the Latin word fiscus which referred to a baske

  • poignant

    Etymology Middle English poynaunt from Old French poignant meaning pricking sharp

  • program

    Program Etymology Etymology Latin programma Greek programma Meaning Plan s

  • Catholic

    Etymology The word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective katholikos meaning

  • argument

    Etymology The word argument derives from the Latin word arguere meaning to make cl

  • casserole

    Etymology The word casserole has French origins It is derived from the Old French wor

  • metastasis

    Etymology The word metastasis is derived from the Greek word μετάστασις meta