Celtic Scotland

by W. F. Skene

REMAINS OF THE PICTISH LANGUAGE.

The proper names, epithets, and words of the Pictish Language are mainly taken from the Pictish Chronicle (PC), the Pictish names in Tighernac (T), the Pictish Legends annexed to the Irish Nennius (IN), and Adamnan’s Life of Saint Columba (Ad). The Welsh forms of the names from the Welsh Genealogies annexed to Nennius (WG), and the Book of Llandaff (BL). The Cornish from the Bodmin Manumissions (BM). The Breton forms from the Chartulary of Rhedon (CR). The Irish names from the Index to the Annals of the Four Masters (FM).

A

• Achivir, PC; Achiuir, IN; father of Talore or Talorc.
• Aithicain, T, 686, epithet of Tolair.
• Aniel, PC; Ainel, IN; father of Talore or Talorc.
• Arcois, PC; Artcois, IN; father of Cimoiod or Cinioiod.
  • Art enters into Irish names, and Arth into Welsh.
• Ardivois, epithet of Deo, PC; Deordiuois, IN.
• Artbrannan, Ad. I. 27.
  • Artbran appears in FM as an Irish name.

B

• Bargoit, PC, IN, father of Wrad or Uurad.
• Bede, Cruithneach (a Pict), Mormaer of Buchan, Book of Deer.
  • Irish form Beoaidh, FM.
• Bile, PC; File, IN; father of Brude.
  • Welsh form Beli, WG. Brude was paternally of British descent.
• Bliesblituth, PC; Blieblith, IN; Pictish king.
• Bont, PC; Pont, IN; epithet of Brude.
• Bred, Breth, PC, IN, Pictish king.
  • Corn. Brethoc, BM; Bret, Britou, CR.
  • Perhaps Irish Breas, FM, showing interchange of T or D for S.
• Broichan, name of the Pictish Magus, Ad. II. 34, 35.
  • Irish form Brocan, Brogan, FM; Welsh Brychan, BL.
• Brude, Bridei, Breidei, Bredei, PC; Bruide, Brei, Brete, IN; Bruidi, Bruidhe, T; Pictish kings.
  • Irish form Bruaideach, FM.
• Buthut, PC; Buthud, IN; father of Breth.
  • Corn. Budig, BM; Welsh Budic, BL; Bret. Budic, CR.

C

• Cailtram, PC; Cailtarni, IN; Pictish king.
• Caitminn, IN, name in Pictish legend.
• Cal, epithet of one of thirty Brudes.
• Canaul, PC, IN; Pictish king.
  • Irish equivalent Conall, An. Ult.
• Canatulachama, PC; Canutulalima, IN.
  • Probably same as Catinolachan in Pictish legend.
• Canonn, T, father of Nechtan.
• Cartit, id est, Delg (a pin), id est, Berla Cruithnech, a Pictish word; Cormac’s Glossary.
• Carvorst, PC; Crautreic Crutbolc, IN; Pictish king.
• Cathluan, IN.
  • An Irish form. Cath enters into Irish names in combination.
• Catinoladar, IN, name in Pictish legend.
• Ce, PC, IN, one of seven sons of Cruidne.
• Cennaleph, PC; Cenamlapedh, Cennaleph, IN; Cendaeladh, T.
  • Ceann, a head, in Irish enters into proper names as in similar form of Ceannfaeladh, FM.
• Cennfota, T; epithet of Nechtan.
  • Ceann, a head, Fota, long, in Irish.
• Cinge, PC; Cind, IN; father of Cruidne.
• Cinid, PC; Cind, IN; epithet of one of thirty Brudes.
• Cinioch, PC; Ciniod, IN; Cinaetha Cinaed, T.
  • Irish form Cinaedh, FM; Cornish Cenoc, BM.
• Cinioiod, PC; Cimioïod, IN.
• Cint, PC, IN, epithet of one of thirty Brudes.
• Circinn, Circin, PC; Cirig, IN; one of seven sons of Cruidne.
• Congusa, T, father of Talorcan.
  • Irish form Congus, FM.
• Cras, Crus, IN; son of Cirigh in Pictish legend.
• Cruidne, PC; Cruithne, IN; eponymus of race.
  • Irish, Cruth, colour, form.
• Cruithnechan, IN, in Pictish legend.
  • Ad. has (III. 2) Cruithnecan, a priest in Ireland.
• Cumascach, T, son of Aengus.
• Custantin, PC, IN; genitive Constantin.
  • Irish form Cu, dog; forms Chon in genitive. Compare Milchu, Milchon.

D

• Dargarto, Doirgart, T.
• Dectotreic, PC; Deototreic, IN, in list of kings.
  • Seems to be the Decdric, Deodric, or Deoric, son of Ida, king of Bernicia, of Nennius.
• Denbecan, PC; Oenbegan, Onbecan, Aenbecan, IN.
  • Aen or Oen enters into Irish names, as Oenacan, FM.
• Deo, PC, IN.
  • Diu enters Irish names as Diucolla, Diumasach, FM; Deo appears in two following names.
• Deocilunon, PC; Deocillimon, IN.
• Deo Ord, PC, IN.
• Derelei, PC, IN; Derile, T; father of Drust, Nechtan, and Cinaeth.
  • Cornish Wurdylic, BM; Welsh Guordoli, Gwrtheli, GW.
  • Shows interchange of G and D in Welsh and Pictish.
• Diu, PC; Tiu, IN; brother of Dectotreic.
  • Seems Saxon Tiu, God of War.
• Deleroith, T, father of Findgaine.
• Dobur, fluvius, in Sky, Ad.
• Domelch, PC; Domnach, IN.
  • Domh enters Irish names, as in Domhnall.
• Donnel, PC; Donuel, IN; Domnall, T; father of Gartnaidh.
  • Welsh form Dyfnwall; Irish form Domhnall, FM.
• Drest, Drust, PC; Drosto, Druist, Druxst, T.
  • Welsh form Gwrwst or Grwst. Shows interchange of G and D between Welsh and Pictish.
• Drostan, IN; Drostain, T; Drosten on St. Vigeans Stone.
  • Drostan, son of Cosgrech, nephew of Saint Columba, Book of Deer. Drostan Daerthighe, FM.
• Duiberr, PC; Duiperr, IN. Latin equivalent, Dives.
  • Irish form Saoibher, rich, shows interchange of D and S.
• Duidb, T, mac Gartnaidh.
  • Duibh enters into Irish names, FM.