Lindisfarne

The story

1. Old Irish · derived fromlind“lake”
2. Old English · inherited fromfarena
3. Old English · inherited fromLindisfarena
4. English todayLindisfarne

Uncertain (but cf. Farne Islands). From Old English Lindisfarena. It is thought the first element refers to the Lindsey area of Lincolnshire (from Old English Lindesēġe). The second element -farne may be from Old English farena, genitive plural of fara (“traveller”). Thus a plausible translation of the full name would be, "island of the travellers to and from Lindsey". Coates argued for an Old Irish origin with from fearann (“territory”), with the first part being Old Irish lind (“lake”) + -as; perhaps based on an equivalent Proto-Brythonic formation.

Words from the same roots