Aber and Inver (placename elements)
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''Aber'' and ''Inver'' are common elements in place-names of Celtic origin. Both mean " confluence of waters" or "river mouth". Their distribution reflects the geographical influence of the
Brittonic Brittonic or Brythonic may refer to: *Common Brittonic, or Brythonic, the Celtic language anciently spoken in Great Britain *Brittonic languages, a branch of the Celtic languages descended from Common Brittonic *Britons (Celtic people) The Br ...
and
Goidelic The Goidelic or Gaelic languages ( ga, teangacha Gaelacha; gd, cànanan Goidhealach; gv, çhengaghyn Gaelgagh) form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages. Goidelic languages historically ...
language groups, respectively.


''Aber''

''Aber'' goes back to Common Brittonic. In Old Welsh it has the form ''oper'' (later ''aper'') and is derived from an assumed ''*od-ber'', meaning 'pouring away'. This is derived from the
Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. Its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-European languages. No direct record of Proto-Indo- ...
root ''*bher-'', 'carry' (English ''bear'', Latin ''fero'') with the prefix ''ad-'', 'to'. It is found in Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Place names with ''aber'' are very common in Wales. They are also common on the east coast of Scotland, where they are assumed to be of Pictish origin. They are found to a lesser extent in
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
and other parts of England and
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...
. It may be that the relative dearth in Cornwall is simply a result of there being fewer rivers on a peninsula. In Anglicised forms, ''aber'' is often contracted: Arbroath (formerly "Aberbrothick") for ''Aber Brothaig'', Abriachan for ''Aber Briachan''. In the case of ''Applecross'' (first attested as ''Aporcrosan''), it has been transformed by a folk etymology. (Its
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...
name, ''a' Chomraich'', has lost the "Aber-" element altogether) "Aber" is rendered into Scottish Gaelic as ''Oba(i)r'', e.g. ''Obar Dheadhain'' "Aberdeen", ''Obar Pheallaidh'' "Aberfeldy", and ''Obar Phuill'' "Aberfoyle." The Welsh names ''Abergwaun'' (
Fishguard Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two p ...
), ''Aberhonddu'' (
Brecon Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...
), ''Aberteifi'' ( Cardigan), ''Aberdaugleddau'' ( Milford Haven), ''Aberpennar'' ( Mountain Ash) and ''Abertawe'' ( Swansea) all contain Aber- in their
Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has ...
equivalent.


''Inver''

''Inver'' is the Goidelic or q-Celtic form, an Anglicised spelling of
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...
' (originally pronounced with /v/, though in modern Gaelic it has shifted to /j/), which occurs in
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
as ' or ', going back to Old Irish '. This is derived from the same Proto-Indo-European root ''*bher-'', but with the prefix ''in-'', 'into'. The word also occurs in Manx in the form ''Inver'

Place-names with ''inver'' are very common throughout Scotland, where they outnumber ''aber''-names by about 3:1. They are most common throughout the Western Highlands and the Grampians, the largest town containing the element being Inverness. Place-names with ''inver'' are, however, oddly seldom in Ireland, given that the form is originally Irish; Ireland tends instead to have names with ''béal'' ('mouth') in such locations, as ''Béal Átha na Sluaighe'' (
Ballinasloe Ballinasloe ( ; ) is a town in the easternmost part of County Galway in Connacht. Located at an ancient crossing point on the River Suck, evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of Bronze Age sites. Built around a 12th-ce ...
, Co. Galway), ''Béal an Átha an Fheá'' ( Ballina, Co. Mayo) or ''Béal Feirste'' (
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...
). The difference in usage may be explained by the fact that Gaelic names in Ireland are typically a thousand years older than those in Scotland, and hence the prevailing fashion could have been different. In Anglicised forms, ''inver'' occasionally appears as ''inner'', such as
Innerleithen Innerleithen ( gd, Inbhir Leitheann) is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale. Etymology The name "Innerleithen" comes f ...
. Innerhaddon is variant of Inverhaddon. In some cases, an "Inver" has been lost, e.g.
Ayr Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Subdivisions of Scotland, council area and the historic Shires of Scotlan ...
(Inbhir Air), which was recorded as "Inberair", and
Ayre Ayre ( ; gv, Inver Ayre) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man. It is located in the north of the island (part of the traditional ''North Side'' division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Andreas, Bride and (Kirk Chris ...
(Inver Ayre) in the
Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...
. Occasionally, the English name forms are entirely unrelated:
Dingwall Dingwall ( sco, Dingwal, gd, Inbhir Pheofharain ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest cas ...
(Inbhir Pheofharan) Scotland and
Arklow Arklow (; ; , ) is a town in County Wicklow on the southeast coast of Ireland. The town is overlooked by Ballymoyle Hill. It was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century. Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 re ...
() in Ireland both have "Inbhir-" in their Gaelic forms.


Syntax

Because Celtic languages place the generic element of a compound (what kind of thing it is) before the specific element (which one it is), the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' normally appear at the beginning of a place name, the opposite of the English (Germanic) pattern. Contrast: *Inverness (mouth of the river Ness) *Eyemouth (mouth of the river Eye) Since these names refer to rivermouths (or towns built on rivermouths), the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' are the generic elements, whereas the other element (typically the name of the river) is the specific element, telling us which rivermouth is meant. A variation occurs when the confluence or estuary itself is made the specific element. The names ''Lochaber'' and ''Lochinver'' mean 'loch of the rivermouth'; in both cases, these are sealochs which function as extended estuaries of medium-sized rivers. Here, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' answer the question "Which loch?" Similarly the name Rossinver refers to a promontary (Irish: ''ros'') jutting out into Lough Melvin just 200 meters east of the mouth of the Glenariff River. Kilninver (Cil an inbhir) means "rivermouth church". Cuan an inver means "estuary bay". In these cases, exceptionally, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' come second. This is consistent with the stress patterns of these names. Placenames, like other compound nouns, are generally stressed on the specific element. Therefore, the elements ''aber'' and ''inver'' never carry word-stress, except in the rare occasions where they are in final position: Inverness, Aberfan, but Rossinver.


Use in British colonies

Place names from the British isles were frequently exported to the colonies which became the British Empire, often without any thought being given to etymology. Thus there are many examples in the United States and in Commonwealth countries of places with names in Aber- or Inver- which are not located at a confluence. In Gaelic-speaking
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...
, however, the element Inbhir- seems to have been productive in its original sense.
Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...
in the South Island of
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
is a special case. It was first named Inverkelly in honour of an early settler called Kelly, and was then renamed in honour of Captain William Cargill, who was at the time the Superintendent of Otago, of which
Southland Southland may refer to: Places Canada * Dunbar–Southlands, Vancouver, British Columbia New Zealand * Southland Region, a region of New Zealand * Southland County, a former New Zealand county * Southland District, part of the wider Southland Re ...
was then a part. Since the city was indeed built at the mouth of the Waihopai River, the Inver- element was apparently chosen consciously.


List of place-names with ''Aber'' and ''Inver''


Australia

Aberdare, Aberdeen (New South Wales), Aberdeen (South Australia), Aberdeen (Tasmania), Abermain, Aberglasslyn,
Inverell Inverell is a large town in northern New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Macintyre River, close to the Queensland border. It is also the centre of Inverell Shire. Inverell is located on the Gwydir Highway on the western slopes of the ...
, Inverloch, Inveresk, Invermay, Inverleigh, Invergordon


Wales

Aberaeron Aberaeron, previously anglicised as Aberayron, is a town, community, and electoral ward between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, in Ceredigion, Wales. Ceredigion County Council offices are in Aberaeron. The name of the town is Welsh for ''mouth of ...
,
Aberaman Aberaman is a village near Aberdare in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales. It was heavily dependent on the coal industry and the population, as a result, grew rapidly in the late nineteenth century. Most of the industry has now ...
,
Aberangell Aberangell () is a village in Gwynedd, Wales. Geography Aberangell stands at the confluence of the Afon Angell and the Afon Dyfi, and lies within Dinas Mawddwy community. On the north side of the village, the long ridge of Pen y Clipau run ...
,
Aberarth Aberarth is a village in Ceredigion, Wales, in the community of Dyffryn Arth, on the southern end of Cardigan Bay between Aberystwyth and Cardigan at the mouth of the River Arth on the A487 road. The Wales Coast Path passes through the village. ...
, Aberavon, Aberbanc,
Aberbargoed Aberbargoed is a town in the Caerphilly County Borough, County Borough of Caerphilly, Wales. Aberbargoed once contained the largest ever colliery waste tip in Europe, although this has now been reclaimed and turned into a country park. The town i ...
,
Aberbeeg The small village of Aberbeeg () lies in both the county borough of Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly County Borough Council in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It is part of the community of Llanhilleth. The two main tributarie ...
,
Abercanaid Abercanaid ( cy, Abercannaid) is a small village in the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom with a population of about 5,060. It is situated south of Merthyr town centre and is west of Pentrebach, across the Ri ...
, Abercarn, Abercastle, Abercegir,
Abercraf Abercraf ( en, Abercrave) is a village within the historic boundaries of the county of Brecknockshire, Wales, administered as part of the unitary authority of Powys, and in the community of Ystradgynlais. Between 1965 and 1991, the village was t ...
, Abercregan, Abercych, Abercynon, Aberdare, Aberdaron, Aberdulais Aberdaugleddau (Milford Haven), Aberdulais, Aberdyfi,
Aberedw Aberedw is a village and community in Radnorshire, Powys, Wales. The community covers an area of . Its population was 229, according to the 2011 census; a 4.57% increase since the 219 people noted in 2001. The 2011 census showed 4.8% of the po ...
, Abereiddy,
Abererch Aber-erch (Welsh for "Mouth of the Erch") is a small village and former civil parish on the Llŷn Peninsula in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The village lies approximately east of Pwllheli. A river, the Afon Erch runs through the village. The ...
, Aberfan,
Aberffraw Aberffraw is a village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey ( cy, Ynys Môn), in Wales, by the west bank of the Afon Ffraw (Ffraw River). The community includes Soar and Dothan. Located near the A4080 and the neares ...
, berkenfig Aberogwr]
Abergarw Abergarw is a village in Bridgend county. It lies at the confluence of the River Garw (Rough River) and River Ogwr river valleys, about to the north of the town of Bridgend itself, between the villages of Brynmenyn Brynmenyn is a small villa ...
Aberthin] berffrwd, Ceredigion, Aberffrwd, Monmouthshire, Abergavenny,
Abergele Abergele (; ; ) is a market town and community, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough and in the historic county of Denbighshire. Its northern suburb of Pensarn lies ...
, Abergorlech, Abergwaun (Fishguard),
Aberkenfig Aberkenfig ( cy, Abercynffig, meaning "mouth of the Kenfig" (stream)) is a village located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town. It is in the community of Newcastle Higher. Location Aberkenfig is located in Sou ...
,
Abergwesyn Abergwesyn is a village in the Welsh county of Powys, in mid-Wales, at the start of the Abergwesyn valley and at the confluence of the Afon Irfon and the Afon Gwesyn. It is from Cardiff and from London. Abergwesyn Commons stretch between the N ...
,
Abergwili Abergwili () is a village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, near the confluence of the rivers Towy and Gwili, close to the town of Carmarthen. It is also an electoral ward. The community includes the settlements of Peniel, Llanfihangel-u ...
, Abergwynfi,
Abergwyngregyn Abergwyngregyn () is a village and community of historical note in Gwynedd, a county and principal area in Wales. Under its historic name of Aber Garth Celyn it was the seat of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. It lies in the historic county of Caernarf ...
,
Abergynolwyn Abergynolwyn ( en, Mouth of the River with a Whirlpool) is a village in southern Gwynedd, Wales, located at the confluence of the Nant Gwernol and the Afon Dysynni. The population of the community which is named after the village of Llanfihan ...
,
Aberhafesp Aberhafesp is a small village and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. The hamlet of Bwlch-y-Ffridd is within the community. It is situated about five miles west of Newtown on the B4568 close to the River Severn , name_etymology ...
, Aberhonddu (Brecon),
Aberllefenni Aberllefenni is a village in the south of Gwynedd, Wales. It lies in the historic county of Merionethshire/ Sir Feirionnydd, in the valley of the Afon Dulas, and in the Community of Corris. Government The village has a community council. The ...
,
Abermaw Barmouth ( cy, Abermaw (formal); ''Y Bermo'' (colloquial)) is a seaside town and community in the county of Gwynedd, northwestern Wales, lying on the estuary of the Afon Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. Located in the historic county of Merioneths ...
(Barmouth), Abermorddu, Abermule, Abernant, Carmarthenshire,
Abernant, Powys Abernant is a hamlet near Montgomery, Powys and is 75 miles (121 km) from Cardiff and 150 miles (242 km) from London. The spring forms above Abernant, near the summit of Banc y Celyn (472m), and runs through Abernant to join the River ...
, Abernant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Aberpennar (Mountain Ash), Aberporth, Aberriw (Berriew),
Abersoch Abersoch is a village in the community of Llanengan in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a popular coastal seaside resort, with around 800 residents, on the east-facing south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula at the southern terminus of the A499. It is about ...
,
Abersychan Abersychan is a town and community north of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales, and lies within the boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent. Abersychan lies in the narrow northern section of the Afon Lwy ...
, Abertawe (Swansea), Aberteifi (Cardigan - town),
Abertillery Abertillery (; cy, Abertyleri) is a town and a community of the Ebbw Fach valley in the historic county of Monmouthshire, Wales. Following local government reorganisation it became part of the Blaenau Gwent County Borough administrative area ...
, Aberthin,
Abertillery Abertillery (; cy, Abertyleri) is a town and a community of the Ebbw Fach valley in the historic county of Monmouthshire, Wales. Following local government reorganisation it became part of the Blaenau Gwent County Borough administrative area ...
, Abertridwr (Caerphilly), Abertridwr (Powys), Aberystwyth,
Llanaber Llanaber is a linear coastal village in north west Wales, about north of Barmouth on the A496 road. The Irish Sea lies directly to the west and the Rhiniog mountains directly to the east. Facilities Its main attraction is the large beach whic ...


Ireland

''An tInbhear Mór'' (
Arklow Arklow (; ; , ) is a town in County Wicklow on the southeast coast of Ireland. The town is overlooked by Ballymoyle Hill. It was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century. Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 re ...
,
Co. Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ga, Contae Chill Mhantáin ) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by ...
), ''Cuan an Inbhir'' (
Broadhaven Bay Broadhaven Bay ( ga, Cnocán na Líne) is a natural bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the northwestern coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The opening of the bay faces northward, stretching 8.6 km between Erris Head in the west and Kid Island/Oileá ...
), ''Inbhear'' (
Inver Inver () is a small village in County Donegal, Ireland. It lies on the N56 National secondary road midway between Killybegs to the west and Donegal Town to the east. It is also a civil parish in the historic barony of Banagh. History Inve ...
, Co. Donegal), ''Inbhear nOllarbha'' (
Larne Lough Larne Lough, historically Lough Larne (), is a sea loch or inlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies between the Islandmagee peninsula and the mainland. At its mouth is the town of Larne. It is designated as an area of special scientif ...
, Co. Antrim), ''Inbhear Scéine'' the traditional name for Kenmare Bay, Co. Kerry,
Rossinver Rossinver or Rosinver () is a small village in north County Leitrim, Ireland. The village is home to a retired monastery of the same name and is at the southern shore of Lough Melvin, home to two rare species of trout – the '' Gillaroo'' ...


Scotland

Aberarder,
Aberargie Aberargie ( gd, Obar Fhargaidh) is a village in the south eastern region of Perth and Kinross. It lies on the western edge of the old Abernethy Parish on the banks of the River Farg, from which it derives its name. Aberargie is around west of ...
, Aberbothrie, Abercairney, Aberchalder,
Aberchirder Aberchirder ( sco, Fogieloan, Gaelic: ''Obar Chiardair'') known locally as Foggieloan or Foggie, is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated on the A97 road six miles west of Turriff. Etymology The name Aberchirder, recorded in c.1204 a ...
,
Abercorn Abercorn (Gaelic: ''Obar Chùirnidh'', Old English: ''Æbbercurnig'') is a village and civil parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry. The parish had a pop ...
,
Abercrombie Abercrombie may refer to: People * Abercrombie Lawson (1870–1927), botanist and professor * Abercrombie (surname) (list of people with the family name Abercrombie) Places Americas * Abercrombie, North Dakota, United States, city in Richland ...
,
Aberdalgie Aberdalgie (Gaelic: ''Obar Dheilgidh'', 'Confluence of the Thorn-Stream') is a small village in the Scottish council area of Perth and Kinross. It is southwest of Perth, and lies between the B9112 road, to the north, and the River Earn, to the ...
,
Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
, Aberdour, Aberfeldy,
Aberfoyle Aberfoyle may refer to: *Aberfoyle, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland *Aberfoyle, Stirling, Scotland * Aberfoyle, Ontario, Canada *Aberfoyle, Texas Aberfoyle is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Hunt County, Texas, Hunt Count ...
, Abergairn, Abergeldie,
Aberlady Aberlady ( sco, Aiberleddy, Gaelic: ''Obar Lobhaite'') is a coastal village in the Scottish council area of East Lothian. The village had an estimated population of in . Etymology The name ''Aberlady'' has Brittonic origins. The first part of ...
, Aberlemno, Aberlour, Abermilk,
Abernethy Abernethy may refer to: Places Scotland * Abernethy, Perth and Kinross, a village ** Abernethy (NBR) railway station, a former railway station in this village * Nethy Bridge, Highland, a village formerly known as Abernethy * Abernethy Forest, ...
, Aberscross, Abersky, Abertarff, Abertay, Aberuchill,
Aberuthven Aberuthven (; Gaelic: ''Obar Ruadhainn'') is a small village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies approximately northeast of Auchterarder and southwest of Perth at an elevation of . It lies on the A824 road, formerly the A9, having been ...
,
Abriachan Abriachan (; Gaelic: ''Obar Itheachan''), is a village in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated high above the western shore of Loch Ness, 15 km to the south-west of the city of Inverness. The village has a population of a ...
,
Applecross Applecross ( gd, A' Chomraich) is a peninsula north-west of Kyle of Lochalsh in the council area of Highland, Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1,300 years old and is ''not'' used locally to refer to the 19th century village (which ...
, Arbirlot,
Arboll Arboll () is a place in the parish of Tarbat, Easter Ross, Highland, northern Scotland made up of several scattered farms. It is situated about to the east of Tain and a short distance inland from Dornoch Firth The Dornoch Firth ( gd, Caolas D ...
,
Arbuthnott Arbuthnott ( gd, Obar Bhuadhnait, "mouth of the Buadhnat") is a village and parish in the Howe of the Mearns, a low-lying agricultural district of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located on the B967, east of Fordoun (on the A90) and north-west ...
, Arbroath (historically Aberbrothick - ''Obar Bhrothaig''),
Fochabers Fochabers (; gd, Fachabair or Fothabair) is a village in the Parish of Bellie, in Moray, Scotland, east of the cathedral city of Elgin and located on the east bank of the River Spey. 1,728 people live in the village, which enjoys a rich musi ...
, Kinnaber,
Lochaber Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creatio ...
, '' Obar Neithich'' (Nethybridge), Slongaber Achininver, '' Inbhir Air'' (Ayr formerly "Inberair" etc.), '' Inbhir Bhrùra'' (Brora), '' Inbhir Chalain'' (Kalemouth), '' Inbhir Eireann'' (Findhorn), '' Inbhir Eighe'' (Eyemouth), '' Inbhir Ghrainnse'' (Grangemouth), '' Inbhir Nàrann'' (Nairn), '' Inbhir Pheofharain'' (Dingwall), '' Inbhir Theòrsa'', '' Inbhir Ùige'' (Wick),
Innerleithen Innerleithen ( gd, Inbhir Leitheann) is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale. Etymology The name "Innerleithen" comes f ...
, Innerleven, Innerwick (in Perth and Kinross), Inver,
Inverarnan Inverarnan is a small hamlet in Stirling (council area), Stirling, Scotland, near the village of Crianlarich and the hamlet of Ardlui, Argyll and Bute. It is the only settlement in the historical county of Perthshire which has a G postcode area, ...
,
Inverallan Inverallan is one of the parishes which formed the ecclesiastical (later civil) parish of " Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie" in Morayshire in Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the Unite ...
, Inveraldie, Inveralmond Inveramsay, Inveran,
Inveraray Inveraray ( or ; gd, Inbhir Aora meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is a former royal burgh, the traditional county town of Arg ...
,
Inverbervie Inverbervie (from gd, Inbhir Biorbhaidh or ''Biorbhaigh'', "mouth of the River Bervie") is a small town on the north-east coast of Scotland, south of Stonehaven. Etymology The name ''Inverbervie'' involves the Gaelic ''Inbhir Biorbhaigh'', ...
,
Inverclyde Inverclyde ( sco, Inerclyde, gd, Inbhir Chluaidh, , "mouth of the Clyde") is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the hist ...
,
Inveresk Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...
, Inverfarigaig,
Invergarry Invergarry ( gd, Inbhir Garadh) is a village in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Great Glen, near where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich Loch Oich (; gd, Loch Omhaich) is a freshwater loch in the Highlands of Scotland which forms p ...
,
Invergordon Invergordon (; gd, Inbhir Ghòrdain or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen. History The town built up around the harbour which was established in 1828. The area beca ...
,
Invergowrie Invergowrie () is a village on the northwest bank of the Firth of Tay to the west of Dundee. Historically part of Perthshire, it was formerly incorporated as part of the city of Dundee, but is now administered as part of Perth and Kinross. ...
, Inverhaddon (or Innerhaddon), Inverkeilor,
Inverkeithing Inverkeithing ( ; gd, Inbhir Chèitinn) is a port town and parish, in Fife, Scotland, on the Firth of Forth. A town of ancient origin, Inverkeithing was given royal burgh status during the reign of Malcolm IV in the 12th century. It was an imp ...
, Inverkeithney,
Inverkip Inverkip (Scottish Gaelic: ''Inbhir Chip'') is a village and parish in the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, southwest of Greenock and north of Largs on the A78 trunk road. T ...
,
Inverleith Inverleith (Scottish Gaelic: ''Inbhir Lìte'') is an inner suburb in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. Its neighbours include Trinity to the north and the New Town to the south, with Canonmills ...
, Inverlochlarig, Inverlochy,
Invermoriston Invermoriston (''Inbhir Mhoireastain'' in Gaelic) () is a small village north of Fort Augustus, Highland, Scotland. The village is on the A82 road, at a junction with the A887. The village's most visited attraction is the Thomas Telford bri ...
, Inverness, Inveroran, Invershin, Inversnaid, Invertrossachs, Inverugie, Inveruglas,
Inverurie Inverurie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Inbhir Uraidh'' or ''Inbhir Uaraidh'', 'mouth of the River Ury') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland at the confluence of the rivers Ury and Don, about north-west of Aberdeen. Geography Inverurie is in the va ...
, Kilninver,
Lochinver Lochinver (''Loch an Inbhir'' in Gaelic) is a village that is located at the head of the sea loch Loch Inver, on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. A few miles northeast is Loch Assynt which is the source of ...
''Notes'' - "Bail' Inbhir Fharrair"

is an uncommon name for
Beauly Beauly ( ; ; gd, A' Mhanachainn) is a village in the Highland area, on the River Beauly, west of Inverness by the Far North railway line. The town is historically within Kilmorack Parish of the Scottish County of Inverness. The land around B ...
, usually "A' Mhanachain"); Fort William was formerly known as Inverlochy, and a small district nearby is still referred to as such. Inbhir Ghrainnse and Inbhir Eighe may be of modern origin.


Brittany

, , Aber Wrac'h, L'Aber, Crozon


England

The Cornish names of Falmouth (Aberfal) and Plymouth (Aberplymm).
Aberford Aberford is a village and civil parish on the eastern outskirts of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,059 at the 2001 census, increasing to 1,180 at the 2011 Census. It is situated eas ...
in West Yorkshire has a different origin. Berwick may have had the ''aber-'' prefix originally. According to Llywarch Hên, an ''Aber Lleu'' near Lindisfarne was the site of Urien of Rheged's assassination.


Isle of Man

Inver Ayre (Ayre)


Canada

Italicised names denote usage in Canadian Gaelic. ''Loch Abar'' (Lochaber, NS) '' Baile Inbhir Nis'' (Inverness, NS), '' Siorramachd Inbhir Nis'' (Inverness County, NS), ''Inbhir-pheofharain'' (Dingwall, NS), Inverhuron, ON, Invermere, BC


New Zealand

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...


Sources

*David Dorward, ''Scotland's Place Names'', Mercat Press, Edinburgh, 2001. *


References


See also

* * * {{annotated link, Kirk (placename element), Kirk as a placename element Place name element etymologies Celtic toponyms English suffixes Prefixes