Kirk is found as an element in many place names in Scotland, England, and North America. It is derived from kirk, meaning "church". In Scotland, it is sometimes an English translation from a Scots Gaelic form involving cille or eaglais, both words for 'church'. Rarely it is found in Anglicisations of Continental European placenames which originally had Dutch kerk or a related form.
Kirk by itself is the name of two places:
Kirk, Caithness, HighlandKirk, Colorado, a US townMore usually it is an element in a compound name. The remainder of this article is a list of some of these.
In Scotland
Ashkirk, Scottish BordersFalkirkHalkirk, Caithness, HighlandKirkbuddo, AngusKirkburn, Scottish BordersKirkcowan, Dumfries and GallowayKirkcudbright, Dumfries and GallowayKirkconnel, Dumfries and GallowayKirkfieldbank, South LanarkshireKirkhill, HighlandKirkhill, South LanarkshireKirkhope, Scottish BordersKirkliston, EdinburghKirkmaiden, Dumfries and GallowayKirkmichael, South AyrshireKirkmuirhill, South LanarkshireKirknewton, West LothianKirkoswald, South AyrshireKirkton of Skene, Aberdeenshire, and many other Kirktons, all tiny, and mostly matched with a Castleton or a Milton.Kirk, Caithness, HighlandKirkton (various)Kirkwall, OrkneyKirkwood, CoatbridgeKirkwood Estate, East AyrshireKirk Yetholm, Scottish BordersPrestonkirk, East LothianSelkirk, Scottish BordersIn certain situations however, apparent instances of Kirk are, in their first element, from the Scots Gaelic word Cathair meaning a seat or fortress.
Kirkcaldy, FifeKirkintillochIn England
Kirk Merrington, County DurhamKirkbride, CumbriaKirkburton, West YorkshireKirkby, MerseysideKirkby-in-Ashfield, NottinghamshireKirkby-in-Furness, CumbriaKirkby Kendal, CumbriaKirkby Lonsdale, WestmorelandKirkby on Bain], LincolnshireKirkburn, East YorkshireKirkbymoorside, North YorkshireKirkdale, MerseysideKirkdale, North YorkshireKirkham, CambridgeshireKirkham, LancashireKirkham, North YorkshireKirkhamgate, West YorkshireKirkharle, NorthumberlandKirkhaugh, NorthumberlandKirkheaton, NorthumberlandKirkheaton, West YorkshireKirkholt, LancashireKirkland, Allerdale, CumbriaKirkland, Copeland, CumbriaKirkland, Eden, CumbriaKirkland, LancashireKirkleatham, North YorkshireKirklees, West YorkshireKirklevington, Stockton-on-TeesKirkley, SuffolkKirklington, North YorkshireKirklington, NottinghamshireKirknewton, NorthumberlandKirkoswald, CumbriaKirkstall, West YorkshireKirkstead, LincolnshireKirkstone Pass, CumbriaOrmskirk, LancashireChurch Kirk, LancashireColkirk, NorfolkPeakirk, NorthamptonshireKirkgate, CambridgeshireChadkirk, CheshireRomaldkirk, DurhamFelixkirk, North YorkshireIn France
Dunkirk, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (from Dutch Duinkerke; French Dunkerque)In North America
Kirkpatrick, Oregon, United StatesNewkirk, Oklahoma, United StatesKirkland, Washington, United StatesSelkirk, Manitoba, Canada, named after Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk