Oronsay (disambiguation)

The view from Colonsay to Oronsay

Oronsay and varients on it is a popular name for islands amongst the Hebrides. The equivalent in Scottish Gaelic is Orasaigh. The name in each case is from Old Norse, and believed to come from the Norse Örfirisey, which means "ebb island" ('tidal island'). The largest and best known island of this name is Oronsay adjoining Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides, and joined to the latter at the ebb.

The many islands of the name include:

Inner Hebrides

• Argyllshire:
  • Eilean Ornsay, off Coll
  • Oronsay, off Colonsay
  • Oronsay, Loch Sunart (enclosing Loch Drumbuie), Morvern
• Inverness-shire:
  • Ornsay, by Isleornsay (Eilean Iarmain), Sound of Sleat
  • Oronsay, Loch Bracadale, Skye

Outer Hebrides

Ross-shire

Lewis

• Orasaigh off Leurbost (NB368253)
• Eilean Orasaigh near Cromor (NB414212)

Inverness-shire

North Uist

• Orasaigh (NF775775) N of Vallay
• Oronsay, Outer Hebrides (NF845755) by the hamlet of Greinetobht (approx 210 acres; 25 yd)
• Orasaigh (NF835645) head of Loch Euphort
• Orasaigh (NF945735) Loch Amhlasaraigh (west of Tobha Beag)
• Orasaigh (NF965735) Sound of Harris, by the hamlet of Bagh a Chaise

Benbecula

• Orasaigh Uisgeabhagh (NL865505)
• Orasaigh (NF845515) Loch Uisgebhagh
• Orasaigh (NF865525) N of Meanais

South Uist

• Orasaigh (NF725175) South-west (30 yd)
• Orasaigh (NF825435) North-east

Barra

• Orosay (NF715065) North (40 yd)
• Orasaigh (NL645975) Castlebay (west)
• Orasaigh (NL665975) Castlebay (east)
• Orasaigh (NL705995) East

References

• Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-454-3
• Ordnance Survey maps
• Watson, W J (2004) The History of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland. Reprinted with an introduction by Simon Taylor. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-323-5