Place-name: | Blubber Well |
Suggested Meaning: | ‘blubbering, bubbling well’ |
element | Old Scots blubber ’emits bubbles’ |
element | Standard Scottish English well ‘well’ |
Blaeu Coila (1654): | No Entry |
OS Name Books (1855-57): | Blubber Well |
Location: | Ordnance Survey (1892-1960) |
Blubber Well
Old Scots blubber ’emits bubbles’ S.S.E. well ‘well’
The Ordnance Survey Name Books (1855-57) entry for Blubber Well reads –
A spring 16 chains S. S. E. [South South East] of Garclaugh Pendicle
The entry for Scots ‘blubber’ included the following footnote [1] –
O.Sc. blubbir, bluber, to blubber, emit bubbles’ to besmear (D.O.S.T.). Mid.Eng. blober, bluber, n.; dial. Ger. blubbern, of water, to cast up bubbles (N.E.D.).]
Blubber Field takes its name from the well, farmer Andy McClounie explains –
My sheep graze the Blubber’s field at Meikle Garclaugh. A good dry field with area fenced off and a constant run of water running from the spring out the bottom giving my sheep the best drinking water.
Blubber Well has given its name to the adjoining field – Blubber’s Field.
Photos of Blubber’s Field along with those of Garclaugh Burn and its environs, courtesy of Andy McClounie.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Photographs and Video |
Many thanks to Andy McClounie for photos and video |
References |
[1] Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd| blubber |
Maps |
Reproduced with the permission of National Library of Scotland |
https://maps.nls.uk/ |
Map 1: Ordnance Survey Maps – Six-inch 2nd and later editions, Scotland, 1892-1960 | Blubber Well |
Ordnance Survey Name Books |
By Permission of Scotland’s Places |
scotlandsplaces.gov.uk |
Ayrshire OS Name Books (1855-57) Vol. 49| Blubber Well |