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The Ardgrain Name

Ardgrain

From its earliest Celtic origins, the name Ardgrain has slowly evolved over time while remaining easily recognisable and totally unique

 

Celtic Origins

The name Ardgrain has gradually evolved and changed in spelling over the past centuries. With few people able to write, many references to Ardgrain were transcribed from word of mouth, and local accents and changing dialects have played a part in the various spellings.

The Ardgrain name itself has strong Celtic origins. The Celtic word for hill, point or store is 'ard' and Ardgrain is thought to mean either grain point, grain store or grain hill.

The hill behind the house is now known as "Hill of Ardgrain" on maps. Later houses were built near Ardgrain, and Ardgrain eventually became known as Nether (or lower) Ardgrain as neighbouring houses were named Upper Ardgrain and North Ardgrain.

Hill of ArdgrainHill of Ardgrain

The Evolution of 'Nether Ardgrain'

 

Popular Ardgrain history articles:

John Forbes Ratification (1669)

Ratification in favours of Sir Johne Forbes of Watertoun

Our soverane lord, with advice and consent of his majesties' estates of parliament, hes ratified and approven and, be thir presents, ratifies and approves ane charter and infeftment, granted be his majestie under the great seale, of the date the fourt day of August 1669 yeers, to Sir Johne Forbes of Watertoun, his airs maill and assignays whatsomever, heretablie and irredeimably, off all and haill the lands of Ardgrein and Broomefeild, with multers, sequells, houses, bigings, yeards, tofts, crofts, outsets, tennents, te  Read more » 

The will of Robert Innes (1534)

Ancient texts taken from the Charter Chest at Ellon describing the Ardgrain lands in 1534

Taken from Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff (Vol III) 1857 - Page 33.  Read more » 

Virgil Quotation and Ardgrain Motto

Discover why a quote from the Roman poet and author, Virgil, was carved above the Ardgrain doors

 

The Virgil Quote

Carved into a weathered stone, directly above the main double doors at Ardgrain, is a quotation taken from the classical Roman poet and author, Virgil.  Read more »