Edinburgh Road Name Meanings: 10 fascinating stories behind the names the Scottish Capital's streets
Edinburgh has a fascinating history dating back thousands of years, with evidence of a settlement in the Cramond area from around 8500 BC.
The city’s name comes from ‘Eidyn’, the name for the region in Cumbric – the Brittonic language spoken in the Northern England and Lowland Scotland in the Middle Ages.
At this time a stronghold on Castle Rock was called Din Eidyn, literally meaning ‘the hillfort of Eidyn’. As the Scots language evolved, the Din was replaced by ‘burh’, creating Edinburgh.
And there are plenty more clues to the Capital’s complex past in the names of the streets, roads, and lanes that make up the city, all of which come from a multitude of languages, backgrounds and people.
Here are 10 of them.
At this time a stronghold on Castle Rock was called Din Eidyn, literally meaning ‘the hillfort of Eidyn’. As the Scots language evolved, the Din was replaced by ‘burh’, creating Edinburgh.
9. Mary King's Close
Now a tourist attraction on the Royal Mile, Mary King's Close was formerly called Alexander King's Close. The name change was in tribute to a resident who lived there in the 17th century and had a stall selling clothes and cloth to support her family. Sadly she never knew that her name would live on, with the close not renamed until half a century after her death. Photo: Google Maps
10. Rose Street
Rose Street is named after the national flower of England - a pro-union decision by city planners to complement nearby Thistle Street, named after Scotland's equivalent. Photo: George Smith