Place Names

Derivation of the Name Orkney

The name “Orkney” derives from ON Orkneyjar, Seal Islands, however the “Ork” part is much more ancient. Diodurus Siculus, in about 59BC, referred to Orkney as the “Orcades”, quoting from a much earlier report by Pytheas from about 320BC. Writing in c.70AD, Pliny the Elder referred to the “Orcades” and stated that “Cape Orcas lies across the Pentland Firth from the Orcades...there are 40 Orcades separated by moderate distances.” Cape Orcas is probably Dunnet Head in Caithness.

The Old Irish name for Orkney was Innse Orc, Isles of the Orks. The Vikings also referred to Maeshowe as “Orkahowe”, suggesting is that “Orc” was the totemic name of the inhabitants in former times and was recognised as such by the Norse.

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