Etymology of Aberdeen

Aberdeen

The area we know as Old Aberdeen today is the approximate location of the first and original Scottish settlement of Aberdeen. Originally the name was Aberdon which literally means "at the mouth of the Don", as it is situated by the mouth of the river Don.

"Aber-" prefix

see also Aber and Inver as place-name elements

In reference to Aberdeen, "Aber-" is pronounced locally as [ebər].

Meaning

The prefix; "Aber-" means the "confluence of waters", "river mouth" or

the "embouchure" of a river where it falls into a larger river or the sea. It can also be used as a metaphor for a harbour.

"Aber-" is used as a prefix in many placenames in Scotland and more often Wales.

Origin

"Aber-" is a common Brythonic element, meaning a "confluence". It is presumably that the Pictish language was at least partly P-Celtic as evidenced by various names. Other examples of this prefix in Scotland are Aberfeldy, Aberdour, and "Aberbrothick" (an old form of "Arbroath"). In Wales, there are frequent examples such as Aberystwyth and Abertawe (the Welsh for "Swansea") are examples. Other Brythonic examples include Falmouth (which is known as "Aberfal" in Cornish), and Aber Wrac'h near Plouguerneau in Brittany

Locations

"Aber-" can be found all over Scotland, predominantly on the east-coast. The alternate spelling of "Abhir-" may also often used.

As well as the east-coast of Scotland, places with the prefix "Aber-" or a variant are found all over Wales and the west coast of England and in Brittany. However they are not found on the east-coast of England or in Ireland.

"-deen" end element

The second element is more contentious. It probably refers to "Devona", which is a name of one or both of the Rivers Don and Dee, which may also have Brythonic etymologies (note also the River Dee, Wales).

Scottish Gaelic

Although Scottish Gaelic has not recently been a primary language on the north east coast, it was spoken in the region (cf Book of Deer) in centuries past, as is attested to by Goidelic placenames in the region such as Inverurie, Banchory, Kincorth and Balgownie.

The equivalent of "Aber-" in Goidelic is Inbhir, which is usually anglicised as "Inver-". However, the name is rendered into Scottish Gaelic slightly differently.

Two variant spellings of Aberdeen are;

Obaireadhain

Obar Dheathain

These are pronounced [ɔbəren] or [ɔbərjehɪn].

Roman (Latin)

see also List of Latin place names in North Atlantic islands

In Latin, the Romans referred to Aberdeen with various Canonical names;

Aberdonia

Aberdona

Verniconam

Aberdonum

Aberdonium

Abredonia

Devanha (a name references in modern times by the street, Devanha Gardens, and the now closed Devanha Distillery and Devanha Brewery)

Celtic times

Ptolemy wrote in 146 AD that in Celtic times Devana (the Roman name at the time) was the capital of the ancient tribal area Taexali- however although Devana is attributed to Aberdeen there is a possibility the capital could have been Barmekyne Hill in Banffshire.

River names

They referred to the settlement in approximation to its location at the sea mouths of local burns and rivers, using the names;

Devana - for the Denburn (a stream/burn running through the city) and which featured in Ptolemy's "System Of Geography" of 146 AD

Deva - for the river Dee (and also the Roman name for other "river Dee"s in Scotland and Wales but also the name of the Deva River, Spain)

Devona - for the river Don (and also the name for a Celtic river goddess)

Nicknames

Aberdeen also has a number of nicknames, and poetic names -

"The Granite City" - the most well-known, due to the copious use of local grey granite in the city's older buildings.

"Furryboots City" - This is a humorous rendering of the Doric, "far aboots?" ("Whereabouts?"), as in "Far aboots ye fae?" ("Whereabouts are you from?")

"The Silver City by the Golden Sands" or often simply just the "Silver City". Less flatteringly, also "the Grey City". This again is partly due to the granite.

"Oil Capital of Europe" - There are numerous variants on this, such as "Oil Capital of Scotland" etc.

"Energy Capital of Europe" - the "politically correct" name now being used in the city as it tries to project a "greener" image, not based on oil.

Kennedy

William Kennedy proposes the spelling variations:

Aberdaen

Aberdin

Aberdene

Abrydene

Orkneyinga saga & Old Norse

The Orkneyinga saga records an Old Norse variant of the name, "Apardion", clearly cognate with the modern form.

Residents

Residents or natives of Aberdeen are known as "Aberdonians", whence Aberdeen F.C.'s nickname, "the Dons".