Orkney
/ˈɔːrkni/noun
An archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland, consisting of about 70 islands.
Did you know?Classical writers called the islands the Orcades, but scholars still debate whether the name refers to a Pictish people, the meaning “boar,” or another lost pre-Norse term.
Etymological Timeline
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Greek/Latin
Orkades / Orcades
“Classical names used by Greek and Roman writers for the Orkney Islands.”
2nd Century CE
Latin
Orcades Insulae
““The Orcades Islands,” a Roman geographical designation for the archipelago.”
Early Medieval Period
Pictish/early Celtic
*Orc-
“A proposed pre-Norse element in the name; its meaning is uncertain, though connections with “boar” have been suggested but are not proven.”
Old Norse period
Old Norse
Orkneyjar
“The Norse name for the islands; the ending -eyjar means “islands.””
Middle English
English
Orkeney / Orkenay
“English forms adapted from the Old Norse name.”
Modern English
English
Orkney
“The established modern name of the Scottish island group.”