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Explanatory note
- Gaeilge
Tá an Brainse Logainmneacha tar éis plé le han-chuid comhfhreagrais faoi logainmneacha ón Lochlannais thar na blianta, agus ar na mallaibh fuaireamar fiosrúchán an-suimiúil faoin chomhchuma atá ann idir Heilbhic/Helvick i bPort Láirge agus Hellvik san Iorua.
Sa chéad dul síos, is fiú a lua gur díol spéise thar cuimse é nach bhfuil ach fíorbheagáinín logainmneacha sa tír seo a thagann ón Lochlannais ― is amhlaidh gur gaelaíodh a n-áitribh go gairid i ndiaidh dóibh cur fúthu anseo. Bíodh mar atá, is léir gur logainm de bhunús Lochlannach é Heilbhic/Helvick. Tagann an dara heilimint ó vík .i. ‘bá, cuan’ na Lochlannaise, ach ní cinnte bunús an chéad eilimint (féach Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, ‘L’influence scandinave sur la toponymie irlandaise’ in L’Héritage maritime de Vikings en Europe de l’Ouest (Caen, 2002)). Is cinnte, áfach, gurbh fhiú é a chur i gcomparáid leis an logainm Hellvik san Iorua, a d’fhéadfadh a theacht ó Helluvík na Sean-Ioruaise .i. ‘cuan geal’ (féach Inge Særheim, Stadnamn i Rogaland (Stavanger, Fagbokforlaget, 2007)), nó b’fhéidir Helgavík .i. ‘cuan naofa’ (féach O. Rygh, Norske Gaardnavne (Universtetet i Oslo); Aamund Salveson, Jubileums- og bygdebok for Eigersund herad lch.218 (Stavanger, Eirik Gjøsteins Boktrykkeri, 1937)). Tagann an eilimint Ioruaise seo helga- ón phréamh a thug an focal Sean-Bhéarla hal “healthy, sound, safe” (cf. hale, healthy sa Nua-Bhéarla): b’fhéidir gur ‘cuan slán (.i. sábháilte)’ a bhí idir chamáin ó cheart. (PÓC, CÓC, AMGC)
- English
Over the years the Placenames Branch has received quite a volume of correspondence pertaining to Norse placenames, most recently concerning a very interesting possible parallel between Helvick in Waterford and Hellvik in Norway.
At the offset, it is particularly interesting to note that despite Norse settlement in coastal regions, which has been well-documented, there are in fact very few toponyms from their language in Ireland―this reflects early gaelicisation of their settlements. Be that as it may, the aforementioned Helvick/Heilbhic is doubtless one of the few placenames of Norse origin. The second element is from Norse vík “bay”, but the etymology of the initial element is uncertain (see Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, ‘L’influence scandinave sur la toponymie irlandaise’, in L’Héritage Maritime de Vikings en Europe de l’Ouest (Caen, 2002)). It is, however, worth comparing the place-name Hellvik in Norway, which may derive from Old Norse Helluvík “bright bay” (see Inge Særheim, Stadnamn i Rogaland (Stavanger, Fagbokforlaget, 2007)), or Helgavík “holy bay” (see O. Rygh, Norske Gaardnavne, (Univeristetet i Oslo); Aamund Salveson, Jubileums- og bygdebok for Eigersund herad, p.218 (Stavanger, Eirik Gjøsteins Boktrykkeri, 1937)). This Norse element helga- comes from the root that gave the Old English word hal “healthy, sound, safe” (cf. hale, healthy in Modern English): perhaps the original meaning may have been closer to “safe bay”. (PÓC, CÓC, AMGC)
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Archival records
Please note: Some of the documentation from the archives of the Placenames Branch is available here. It indicates the range of research contributions undertaken by the Branch on this placename over the years. It may not constitute a complete record, and evidence may not be sequenced on the basis of validity. It is on this basis that this material is made available to the public.
Archival and research material provided on this site may be used, subject to acknowledgement. Issues regarding republication or other permissions or copyright should be addressed to logainm@dcu.ie.
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