List of Ayrshire place-names beginning with 'H'
Habbieshow
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS572221
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 172m
Elements: pn Habbie + Sc howe
Description:
‘Habbie’ is a Scots diminutive form of Herbert. The segmentation of this name is uncertain, and local pronunciation will be the key to interpretation.
RN
Halfmerk
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS695165
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 329m
Elements: Sc half + Sc merk
Description:
‘Land valued at half a merk’. It last appears as a settlement on Bleau (Kyle) map of 1654. It has given its name to nearby Halfmerk Hill over which passes the boundary between New Cumnock AYR and Kirkconnell DMF.
Halfmerk Hill
Kirkconnel (KCL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS702163
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 447m
Elements: en Halfmerk + SSE hill
Description:
This takes its name from the lost settlement of *Halfmerk near Lethans NCU. It lies on the boundary of New Cumnock AYR and Kirkconnell DMF. It is first recorded as Mid Rig in the OS Name Book(1857), that being the name given by three of the informants (OS1/10/30/59). It is described there as: ‘A portion of the ridge of hills that bounds the valley of the Nith on the north, situated at the head of Willie's Burn. The boundary between the Counties of Ayr and Dumfries passes over its summit’.
Halfway
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS557209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 128m
Elements: SSE halfway
Description:
The settlement lay more or less halfway along the road between Auchinleck and Cumnock.
Hall Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS640147
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 224m
Elements: SSE hall + SSE burn
Description:
This takes its name from Mansfield Hall, beside which it meets the Mansfield Burn.
Note that Hall Burn on the New Cumnock History website refers to a different burn, which takes its name from Hall of Auchincross NCU (Hall burn – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY).
Hall of Auchincross
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS582140
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: Sc hall + Sc of + en Auchincross
Description:
'Hall or big house of Auchincross'. The eponymous hall is marked as Old Hall (an antiquity) on most OS map series. For a picture and details of its history, see:
Hall of Mansfield
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS639146
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: Sc hall + SSE of + en Mansfield
Description:
'The hall or big house of Mansfield'. Mansfield was formerly called Garrieve, the name-change occurring in the 1790s. See Mansfield and Garrieve for more details.
Hall Quarry
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS640149
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: en Hall of Mansfield + SSE quarry
Description:
Lying on the lands of Mansfield, it is named after nearby Hall of Mansfield. It is marked on OS 6 inch 1st edition (1860) simply as ‘Old Quarry (Limestone)’, with a Limekiln shown beside it. The modern OS Explorer map has 'Quarry (dis[used])'.
Hannahston
Ochiltree (OCH), Stair (STA)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS441190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 124m
Elements: pn Hannay or pn Hannah + Sc toun
Description:
‘Farm associated with an individual or family called Hanna or Hannay; or (less likely) with an individual called Hannah’? This probably contains the surname Hanna(h) or Hannay, which according to Black, Surnames occurs in the wider south-west. If it were the forename Hannah, it would be the only eponym which can be identified as female in a cluster of toun-names in the earlier parish of Ochiltree, which once included the parish of Stair (STA). The bulk of these names contain a surname, with a few probably containing the name of a male individual, although even those may be surnames e.g. Chalmerston STA, Dalrympleston STA, Davidston STA, Gibston STA, Henryston STA, Hoodston STA, Hunterston STA , Macquittiston OCH, Quilkieston STA, Reidston OCH, Sinclairston OCH, Speirston STA.
Hannahston was one of several farms which were switched from Stair parish to Ochiltree in 1892. Over the course of the 20th century the town of Drongan gradually encroached on the farm.
Hapland
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS536216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 126m
Elements: Sc halfpenny + Sc land
Description:
The origin of this name is uncertain, but it may be a reduced form of halpane-land 'halfpennyland', cf. the various spellings of halfpenny in DOST: 'halfpeny, -penney, -penne, halfepene, halpen(n)y, -penne, halpane'.
According to Simpson & Brown (2008, 26) this is Snaidsholm on Smith’s 1756 estate plan, but it is not clear which would be the earlier name.
Hapland Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS527209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 89m
Elements: en Hapland + SSE burn
Description:
This burn flows past Hapland farm (q.v.).
Hapland Plantation
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS534216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 125m
Elements: en Hapland + SSE plantation
Description:
OSNB: ‘A narrow plantation of Fir Trees west side of Hapland extending Southward from Barony Road’
Happoch Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS580219
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: ? + SSE hill
Description:
It is not clear what happoch is, but perhaps a version of Sc happock ‘a mound, a knoll’.
Hare Craig
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS468080
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 254m
Hare Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS654097
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 588m
Elements: Sc hare or Sc hare + Sc hill
Description:
‘A hill associated with (mountain) hares’ or ‘a grey (hoary) hill’. Given the upland nature of the terrain, the first suggestion is perhaps the more likely. Note that on Armstrong’s map (1775) the name is in the plural and is shown as applying to three hills stretching as far as the AYR/DMF county boundary.
Hare Stone
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS443090
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 279m
Elements: Sc hare + Sc stane
Description:
'Grey or hoary stone'. It has almost certainly nothing to do with hares, despite the OS Name Book entry, which reads: 'A Small rock on Green Hill. A number of hare burrows at its base has probably originated the name. Mr Walker of Drumgrange asserts that the name indicates the site of a standard, & points in support of his assertion to a castle which formerly stood on Dunsken Burn. The supposition is not very intelligible, and I cannot discover any foundation for it' (OS1/3/21/29).
Since the first element is Scots, and Sc stane is often rendered SSE stone, it has been analysed as being a Scots coining.
Harecraigs Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS528126
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 285m
Elements: Sc hare or Sc hare + Sc craig + Sc hill
Description:
‘Crags associated with (mountain) hares’ or ‘grey (hoary) crags’. Given the upland nature of the terrain, the first suggestion is perhaps the more likely.
Harperbank
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS559200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: SSE harper or pn Harper + SSE bank
Description:
‘A bank or slope associated with a harper or with an individual or family called Harper.’ The surname Harper is, according to Black, Surnames, fairly common in parts of Galloway. The OS Name Book no help in this regard, describing it simply as : ‘A plantation of forest and fir trees extending from Bridgend in a westerly direction to Terranzean Wood thence along the Lugar Water to Terranzean Castle’ (OS1/3/52/31).
Harthorn Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS514044
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 388m
Harthorn Hill
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS523044
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 503m
Hawk Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS625213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 274m
Elements: SSE hawk + SSE hill
Hayhill
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS462163
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 153m
Elements: SSE hay + SSE hill
Description:
The name only appears with the first OS maps. If Fogstown on Roy is the same place, it is not clear what motivated the name change. In the earlier name, Sc fog ‘Grass left in the field during winter; moss’ (see DoST) is possible. However, the presence of a -s after fog, suggestes instead a personal or family name. Fog (and also Fogg) are known surnames, but almost exclusively English. Fogo, on the other hand, is a well established Scottish name.
Hayholm
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS622197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 219m
Elements: SSE hay + SSE holm
Description:
‘A holm or low land by water good for the production of hay’. It later became part of Low Garleffan Farm.
Hayholm Bridge
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS624196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 205m
Elements: en Hayholm + SSE bridge
Description:
This is a bridge, on the minor road to Dalblair, which crosses over the Avisyard Burn close to the former settlement of Hayholm, from which it takes its name.
Head Mark Lane
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS505121
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 292m
Elements: en Headmark OCH + SSE burn
Description:
'A boggy or slow-moving burn associated with the lands of Headmark OCH.' It is a tributary of the Black Water. Just over the parish boundary in Dalmellington (DAL) about 1km south of its source is Headmark Moss.
Headmark
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS497124
Certainty: 3
Altitude: 347m
Elements: Sc heid + Sc merk
Description:
'Merkland at the head, end or top of a feature such as a burn, elevated ground or a larger unit of land'. A merkland is a piece of land valued at a merk (13 shillings, four pence). It is explicitly referred to as a merkland in 1630 (Retours AYR no. 264).
This settlement lay in the uplands of OCH, part of the lands of Knockguldron. There is a small cluster of buildings, unnamed, on the OS 6 inch 1st edn at the above NGR (NS497124), which may be the last remnants of this settlement. This identification is strengthened by the position of Head Mark on Roy's map c.1750. The position of Headmark on Armstrong's map places it too far to the east.
It has given its name to nearby Headmark Lane, a tributary of the Black Water.
Headmark Moss
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS487093
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 379m
Heart Rig
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS639205
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 295m
Elements: SSE heart + Sc rig
Description:
It may be that the first element is an adapted spelling of an original hart, cf. Hartrigg in Cumberland; Hartrigge in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.
Herrons Well
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS486057
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 216m
Elements: pn Herron + SSE well
High Barbeth
Ochiltree (OCH), Stair (STA)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS443194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 107m
Elements: SSE high + en Barbeth
Description:
Barbeth, with its divided farms, was one of a number of properties transferred from Stair parish to Ochiltree in 1892. See Barbeth for further details on the division of its lands.
High Boig
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS602125
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 199m
Elements: SSE high + en Boig
Description:
In its earliest appearance in the record the affix is Sc Over or Ovir. This was later replaced by SSE high. It is discussed in detail, along with the other Boig names, on the New Cumnock History website under Boig, North Boig, South Boig, High Boig – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. See also under Boig NCU.
High Brickhouse
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS575188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 151m
Elements: SSE high + SSE brickhouse
Description:
‘A house made of bricks’. It is high because of its position vis-à-vis Low Brickhouse almost 20 metres lower and a few hundred metres down the road into Cumnock. It is now part of the Netherthird area of Cumnock.
High Burnside
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS566172
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: SSE high + en Burnside
Description:
A settlement beside the Green Burn near its junction with the Netherton Burn. There was another Burnside OCU shown on early OS maps: this was at NS569187. This means that there were two quite separate places called Burnside in Old Cumnock parish (OCU).
It would appear that this Burnside was also known as Burnside of Glaisnock (see Ploughing Up Our Past – Blog – Cumnock History Group).
High Carston
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS514186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 170m
Elements: pn Ker(r) + SSE burn
Description:
'A burn associated with an individual or family called Ker(r).' This settlement-name may well have become Carston through the influence of two other separate settlements called Carston in Ochiltree parish. Once this change had taken place, it was given the affix high to distinguish it from these two other Carstons, both of which lie some 60 metres lower. While affixes such as high, low/laigh, easter etc. usually indicate that there has been a division of a farm or estate, this cannot be the case here as the nearest Carston lies 3.5km (a little over 2 miles) to the south-south-west.
It is possible that the eponymous burn was the earlier name of the Coachford Burn.
RN
High Chang Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS569072
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 529m
Elements: SSE high + en Chang Hill
Description:
This is named in contrast to Littlechang Hill (441m). Chang Hill itself is 461m.
High Dalblair
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS670198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 266m
Elements: SSE high + en Dalblair
Description:
This settlement is well up the Glenmuir Water from the main settlement at Dalblair. However, on Roy It is this which is called Dalblair and what is now Dalblair is called Hole (q.v.); the same perhaps is the case with Blaeu. Perhaps the distinction on Armstrong and Ainslie between this being Blair, and the lower lying settlement being Dalblair is clearer. On Blaeu, this settlement appears to be called ‘Dalblain Cruck’; it may be that ‘Cruck’ has been attached here from its proper location slightly further south, cf. Crook Brae AUK.
RN
High Garleffan
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS623177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 301m
Elements: SSE high + en Garleffan
Description:
'The higher division of the lands of Garleffan, in contrast to Low Garleffan, now Garleffan Farm, down beside the Glenmuir Water. The farm-steading lies about 80 metres higher than that of Low Garleffan.
It was also known as Upper Garleffan (Roy).
High Glenmuir
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS623207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 225m
Elements: SSE high + en Glenmuir
Description:
RN
High Grimgrew
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS533193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 158m
Elements: SSE high + en Grimgrew
High House
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS550215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 148m
Elements: SSE high + SSE house
Description:
'A high-lying or tall house'? Before 1780, when it was let to David Murdoch, who died in 1780, it is described as of medium size with parks [i.e. fields] at the Auchinleck kirk. It was then let to Jean Barry (d. 1782), “a person disordered in judgement and thought to be an Hundred years old”, in 1786 to Henry Gibb (d. 1793), and to his daughter Janet Gibb in 1808.’
It is marked but not named on OS 6 inch 1st edn (1860). It gave its name to High House Pit (coal) and the associated Highhouse Rows (now demolished), for a picture of which see Love 2015, 173.
High House Pit
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS549216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 150m
Elements: en High House + SSE pit
Description:
A coal pit which operated from 1894 to 1983 (Love 2015, 149) and took its name from nearby High House (q.v.).
‘In 1894 Wm Baird & Co. began work in constructing the new Highhouse Pit. ... The site chosen for the pit was Merlinhill farm, which was demolished, and six fields were taken over for the surface buildings and the spoil heap’ (Love 2015, 153).
High Mount
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS538141
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 367m
Elements: SSE high + SSE mount
Description:
Described in the OS Name Book of c.1857 as, 'A plantation of Fir on the summit of the lands of Knockdon the property of the Marquis of Bute' (OS1/3/52/133), it is named in opposition to the lower plantation Laigh Mount to its north-west.
High Park
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS626119
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 294m
Elements: SSE high + en Park
Description:
In its earliest appearance in the record the affix is Sc Over or Ovir, to contrast with *Nether Park, now Laigh Park. This was later replaced by SSE high.
High Pennyarthur
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS480045
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 218m
Elements: SSE high + en Pennyarthur
Description:
Note that the more usual English term 'High' has taken the place of earlier Scots 'Over', which has substantially the same meaning.
High Plyde
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS488176
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 172m
Elements: SSE high + en Plaid
Description:
High Plyde is 18m higher than Laigh Plaid. As with Laigh Plyde, this farmsteading was merged into the farm of Rottenrow at the time of the OS Survey c.1858. The relevant description for High Plaid is: ‘Once a farmsteading but now Merged into the farm of Rattenrow & occupied by a Cotter, dwelling & outhouses one Storey all thatched & in middling repair. Marquis of Bute proprietor’ (OS1/3/51/1/51).
This is presumably the settlement shown as South Paid 1654 Blaeu (Kyle).
High Polquheys
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS622164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 264m
Elements: SSE high + en Polqueys
High Polquhirter
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS633127
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 224m
Elements: SSE high + en Polquhirter
High Rigend
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS537104
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 246m
Elements: SSE high + en Rigend
Description:
This was one of the divisions of the extensive lands of Rigend, the others being Little Rigend q.v. and Nether Rigend (mentioned on NCH website). Presumably High Rigend was named in contrast to Nether (‘lower’) Rigend. It is probable that the original settlement of Rigend lay at or near High Rigend.
High Row
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS578220
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 189m
Elements: SSE high + SSE row
Description:
One of the miners’ rows in the vicinity of Commondyke and Birnieknowe.
RN
High Shaw
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS710208
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 353m
Elements: SSE high + en Shaw
Description:
A farm high up on Glenmuirshaw. In the OSNB of 1855-57, it is described thus: ‘A dwelling House the property of the Marquis of Bute occupied by Robert Reid shepherd.’ Being occupied by a shepherd seems appropriate to the location.
High Tarbeg
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS486206
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 157m
Elements: SSE high + en Tarbeg
Description:
For full details of Tarbeg and its various divisions, see under Tarbeg OCH. High Tarbeg is 11m higher than Laigh Tarbeg.
RN
Highmount Plantation
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS613164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 310m
Elements: SSE high + Sc munt + SSE plantation
Description:
Sc munt (SSE mount) is defined as ‘a low tree-covered hill’ (SND). It forms one of a cluster of munt-names in close proximity, namely Highmount Plantation, Lowmount Plantation and Lowesmuir Mount. Both Highmount Plantation and Lowmount Plantation are perfectly circular, and still visible in the landscape. Robert Guthrie, in his detailed discussion of these names, writes:
‘There is a multitude of mounts throughout Ayrshire, many of which are circular plantations of trees. The other example in the parish of New Cumnock is Dalleagles Mount, while just over the boundary in the parish of Ochiltree there is the neighbouring pair High Mount and Laigh Mount. In the neighbouring parish of Old Cumnock are Dettingen Mount, Stair Mount, Bland’s Mount , Cistern Mount and Crosshill Mount – all of which are circular, while [only] the square shaped Skares Mount breaks the mould. In the parish of Auchinleck there is a Treeshill Mount which is circular in shape and a Treeshill Plantation which is a belt of trees’.
HIGHMOUNT AND LOWMOUNT PLANTATIONS – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY
Both Highmount and Lowmount Plantations are named on the OS 6 inch first and second edition maps. While both are shown as circular features on the current OS Explorer map, neither is named. Highmount Plantation is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A Circular Plantation of mixed wood, near Lowesmuir Mount' (OS1/3/49/53). Lowmount Plantation is similarly described as: 'A Circular Plantation about 8 chains south of Lowesmuir Mount' (OS1/3/49/53). The contrastive elements high and low reflect that fact the former lies a mere 10m higher than the latter.
Hill
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS541188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: SSE hill
Description:
Windyraw is ‘a row (of houses) exposed to the wind’. This then became Windy Raw hill, then simply Hill. This may have been because windy raw was seen as a bit negative. It was divided into North Hill and South Hill by the late 18th century.
Hill Belt
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS536186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 191m
Elements: en Hill + SSE belt
Description:
‘A belt of trees on the farm of Hill’.
Hill Cottage
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS546218
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE cottage
Description:
One of the houses on the Barony Road approach into Auchinleck, on Merlinhill.
Hill Head
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS638128
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 238m
Elements: Sc hill + Sc heid
Description:
'(A settlement at the) head or top of a hill'. The name first appears as that of a settlement on Blaeu (Kyle) map (1654). By the time of the OS (1860) it is applied to a hill, described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A knowe 18 chains south of Burnton farm house’ (OS1/3/49/108).
Hill of Ochiltree
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS500213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 142m
Elements: Sc hill + SSE of + en Ochiltree
Description:
‘Hill’ is probably used here in the sense of ‘The uncultivated higher ground used for grazing, lying beyond and above the arable; a community's common moor’ (DoST), in this case the village of Ochiltree.
RN
Hillbank Wood
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS504216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 97m
Elements: en Hill + SSE bank + SSE wood
Description:
It must be presumed that the riverside north-east of the farm of Hill was called Hillbank, and that this was later incorporated into the name of this wood, but it is not as far as we can see recorded. The earliest name attached to these woods along the Lugar still extant, is Dyers Wood, presumably related to the presence of the Dye Mill nearby, recorded on the OS 6-inch 1st edn at NS506215. This is identified as a Saw Mill on later maps, and indeed even on the 1st edn it is labelled ‘Dye Mill (sawing)’.
Hillend
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS434091
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 194m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE end
Hillend
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS439098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 257m
Elements: Sc hill + Sc end
Hillend
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570037
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 318m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE end
Description:
‘(A settlement at the) end of a hill’. It lies beside the Ayrshire-Kirkcudbrightshire border, at the southern end of the hill called Hillend Hill. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A small house near the junction of Pockriegann Burn with the Deuch [Deugh] - occupied by John Wells Shepherd’ (OS1/3/49/152).
There is another Hillend in the parish, 13.5km (8.4 miles) to the north-east (NS661141), near Corsencon.
Hillend
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS661141
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 263m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE end
Description:
‘(A settlement at the) end of a hill’. The hill in question is probably Windy Edge, part of Corsencon Hill. It has given its name to nearby Hillend Knowe.
As is clear from the 1730 reference to Hillend of Corsencon, it was originally a devision of the lands of Corsencon, but later it became associated with Merkland. See NETHERTOWN, NETHERTOWN BURN – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY
There is another Hillend in the parish, 13.5km (8.4 miles) to the south-west (NS570037).
Hillend Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS573051
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 479m
Elements: en Hillend + SSE hill
Description:
This takes its name from the small settlement of Hillend (NS570037) at its southern end.
Hillend Knowe
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS663141
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 300m
Elements: en Hillend + SSE knowe
Description:
This takes its name from the small, now ruined settlement of Hillend (NS661141). It is described in the OS Name Book as follows: ‘A high knowe, about 8 chains E of Hillend farm house. This knowe is called "White Knowe" on the estate map, but is known by that name only to a very few old persons, and even these have discontinued it use. "Hillend Knowe" is the name by which it is commonly known’ (OS1/3/49/82).
Hillhead
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS510176
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 190m
Elements: Sc hill + Sc head
Description:
This farm occupies the other summit of a hill on which Knockshiffnock is also located. A series of adjacent houses have been created here, with names such as Augusta House, Pillingwood, and Primrose Cottage.
Hillhead
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS616213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE head
Hillhead Moss
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS622215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 248m
Elements: en Hillhead + SSE moss
Hillhouse
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS564170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 235m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE house
Description:
This small settlement had disappeared by the time of the OS 6 inch 2nd edn map (1897). It lay between High Burnside to the north and Muirdyke to the south.
Hillhouse
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569097
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 307m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE house
Description:
‘House on a hill’. It is described in the OS Name Book (1850) as: ‘A house situated on an eminence South of Knocknarran Hill, occupied by Andrew Lammie, Shepherd’ (OS1/3/49/142). Andrew Lammie ‘tenant’ was one of the informants.
Hillside
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE side
Description:
‘(Settlement on) the side of a hill’, the hill in question being Broom Hill on the east side of Cumnock up which the road from Cumnock to Muirkirk climbs.
Hillside Cottage
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: en Hillside + SSE cottage
Hilltop
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS493194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 151m
Elements: SSE hill + SSE top
Description:
A house constructed sometime between 1970 and 1990 in the footprint of the former Glenconner Belt (q.v.) plantation of trees.
Hindsward
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS529167
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 226m
Elements: Sc hind + Sc ward
Description:
‘An enclosed piece of land (chiefly for pasture) associated with a farm-worker’. See Elements under hind for more details.
Hindsward Colliery (Pit No. 1)
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS525169
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 225m
Elements: en Hindsward + SSE colliery
Hogstell Knowe
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS641245
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 276m
Elements: SSE hog's tail + SSE knowe
Description:
OSNB says: ‘A name applicable to an elevated portion of Rough Heathy pasture between Boghead Burn and Boghead Reeve.’
The first element, if it is parsed correctly here, may refer to the shape of the hill?
Holehouse
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS495199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 141m
Elements: Sc howe + Sc house
Description:
‘A house lying in a hollow’. Sc holl or how(e) ‘a hollow’. Compare the place-name Holemill (various spellings), ‘a mill lying in a hollow’ (3 in Fife alone).
Hollowsholm
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS594213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 146m
Elements: Sc howe + Sc house + SSE holm
Description:
‘House in a hollow’. SSE holm ‘holm, haugh; stretch of low-lying land beside a river’ has been added later.
Holm
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS582194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 145m
Elements: SSE holm
Description:
This was a small settlement taking its name from a holm or piece of low land beside a water-course. The water-course in question is the Holm Burn. The place had disappeared by the time of the OS 2nd edn map of 1896.
Holm Burn
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS573193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 124m
Elements: en Holm + SSE burn
Holm Pit (Ironstone)
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS576206
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 133m
Elements: SSE holm + SSE pit
Description:
An ephemeral pit for iron on a holm on the Lugar near Cumnock. It is not clear if the holm was simply named ‘Holm’, in which case that element is an existing name.
Holmhead
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS585205
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: Sc holm + Sc heid
Description:
‘Head or end of a stretch of low-lying land beside a river’, in this case the Lugar.
Holmhead
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS565206
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 135m
Elements: SSE holm + SSE head
Holmhead Bank
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS582205
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 150m
Elements: en Holmhead + SSE bank
Home Farm
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS505228
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 123m
Elements: SSE home + SSE farm
Description:
This refers to the main farming complex at Auchinleck House.
Home Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS540207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 93m
Elements: SSE home or pn Home + SSE plantation
Description:
It is uncertain whether this is the personal name Home (also written Hume) or whether it refers to the fact that it is near Dumfries House.
Horse Craig
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS639052
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 444m
Elements: Sc horse + Sc craig
Description:
‘A crag or rocky outcrop associated with a horse or horses’. Not found in the OS Name Books.
Horse Craigs
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS622049
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 466m
Elements: Sc horse + Sc craig
Description:
‘Crags or rocky outcrops associated with a horse or horses’. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A ledge of rocks on Craigdarroch farm, situated about 18 chains South of the rock Called castle William’ (OS1/3/49/194).
Horse Knowe
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS504022
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 323m
Elements: SSE horse + SSE knowe
Horsecleugh
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 142m
Elements: Sc horse + Sc cleugh
Description:
‘A cleuch or small gorge associated with horses’.
‘The farmhouse stands, next to the bypass, but it is no longer a farm. The land was used for opencast mining but is now restored to a grass field. Merged with Bowes’ (Ploughing Up Our Past: Bowes (farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com) accessed 27 05 22.]
RN
Horsecleugh Burn
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS572190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 131m
Elements: en Horsecleugh + SSE burn
Horsecleugh Glen
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS565182
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m
Elements: en Horsecleugh + SSE glen
House Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS526114
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 254m
Elements: SSE house + SSE burn
Description:
‘A burn associated with a house’. The house in question is Nether Beoch farmhouse. For more details see House Burn – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
House Cleuch
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS671196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 274m
Elements: SSE house + Sc cleugh
Description:
This ravine through which a burn runs is where the steading of High Dalblair is situated, and so the ‘house’ may be in reference to its presence. On either side of it are How Cleuch and Birch Cleuch.
House of Water
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS551121
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 218m
Elements: SSE house + SSE of + SSE Waterhead
Description:
‘A farmhouse on the land of Waterhead’. This is how Robert Guthrie interprets this name. For full details see House of Water – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
It is described in the OS Name Book (1850) simply as: ‘A small farm house on the River Nith occupied by William Kennedy the property of Sir J Cathcart’ (OS1/3/49/33).
House of Water and a large swathe of neighbouring land were destroyed by opencast mining towards the end of the 20th century, the mine in question being called ‘House of Water Surface Mine’.
How Cleuch
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS667198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 255m
Elements: Sc howe + Sc cleugh
Description:
Presumably named for the presence of a small hollow on this ravine.
Howe
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS545218
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 147m
Elements: Sc howe
Description:
'A hollow'. It has given its name to neighbouring Howefield. These are houses along the Barony Road as it comes into Auchinleck town, on Merlinhill.
RN
Howefield
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS546218
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: SSE howe + SSE field
Description:
Presumably linked to neighbouring Howe. These are houses along the Barony Road as it comes into Auchinleck town, on Merlinhill.
Humeston
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS549187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 175m
Elements: pn Hume + Sc stane or Sc toun
Description:
The first element is probably the family name Hume or Home. If the Johnson map form (1828) is reliable then the second element seems originally to have been Sc stane rather than + Sc toun ‘a farm'. It has no connection with Humeston Wood on Dumfries House Estate.
It is described in the OS Name Book (1857) as: ‘A small cottage So called near Garrallan Pit the property of Mr Boswell now occupied by David Hastings’ (OS1/3/52/44).
RN
Humeston Br.
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS549187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 179m
Elements: en Humeston + SSE bridge
Description:
A bridge over the Rose Burn beside Humeston. It has nothing to do with Homeston Wood on the Dumfries House Estate.
Humeston Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS537203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: en Humeston + SSE wood
Description:
This may be connected with the small settlement of Humeston by Garrallan/Changue OCU, about 2km to the south-east, but it is difficult to see what that connection might be. Given its proximity to Dumfries House, it may well be a name bestowed by the owners. The OS Name Book simply describes it as: ‘A wood of Forest and Fir trees extending from the Westgates north, to the Lugar Water’ (OS1/3/52/21).
Humestoun Park, shown on Smith's 1756 estate plan (Simpson & Wood 2008, 30) must be connected.
Hungry Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS586123
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 206m
Elements: Sc hungry + Sc hill
Description:
‘A hill with relatively unproductive land; an enchanted hill on which people feel unusually or suddenly hungry’. This latter meaning is based on the following citations from SND under hungry. John Jamieson, in his An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language (1808), writes: ‘(West of Scotland): Some tracts of country are believed to be so much under the power of enchantment, that he, who passes over any one of them, would infallibly faint, if he did not use something for the support of nature. It is therefore customary to carry a piece of bread in one's pocket, to be eaten when one comes to what is called the hungry ground’. While in Banff a hungry hillock was ‘a bewitched hillock, over which if one walks, he is seized with great hunger’, quoting an 1866-source “A'm sae yaap [‘hungry, starving’], a've surely gehn our a hungry-hillock.”’
See HUNGRY HILL – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for more details including photographs.