Rheghead
04-Dec-07, 12:47
I have always understood that Thurso town had its etymological roots with the Norse god Thor. However, according to the Historical Gazetteer of Scotland Vol. 1, Thurso gets its name from River Thurso which is an anglicised translation for 'Avon-Horsa'.
There are no navigable rivers in this county. The principal river is the water of Thurso, which originates from springs in the mountains bounding with Sutherland, and partly from the Latheron hills; thence it passes through several, lakes and small Lochs, 24 of which are in one flat bog in Strathmore, in the parish of Halkirk, and all send their tributary streams to this river and after traversing a distance of about 20 miles, discharges itself into the Pentland frith at Thurso bay. Its ancient name, in the Gaelic language is ‘Avon.Horsa'—that is, ‘Horsa’s river;’ and the town of Thurso is called Bal-inver-Horsa, _that is, ‘the town of Horsa’s harbour.’
Horsa is a 5th century warrior (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsa) and pre-dates the Scandinavian God.
Could this rewrite people's widely held misunderstanding of the etymological origins of Thurso?:confused
EDIT I have had a think about it, and Horsa himself may be the origin of the Thor myth, I am not an expert on this though, lol.
There are no navigable rivers in this county. The principal river is the water of Thurso, which originates from springs in the mountains bounding with Sutherland, and partly from the Latheron hills; thence it passes through several, lakes and small Lochs, 24 of which are in one flat bog in Strathmore, in the parish of Halkirk, and all send their tributary streams to this river and after traversing a distance of about 20 miles, discharges itself into the Pentland frith at Thurso bay. Its ancient name, in the Gaelic language is ‘Avon.Horsa'—that is, ‘Horsa’s river;’ and the town of Thurso is called Bal-inver-Horsa, _that is, ‘the town of Horsa’s harbour.’
Horsa is a 5th century warrior (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsa) and pre-dates the Scandinavian God.
Could this rewrite people's widely held misunderstanding of the etymological origins of Thurso?:confused
EDIT I have had a think about it, and Horsa himself may be the origin of the Thor myth, I am not an expert on this though, lol.