Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Aberdeenshire” come from?

Aberdeenshire is an English place name derived from Aberdeen, itself from Scots and Scottish Gaelic Obar Dhèidh, meaning "mouth of the Dee River."

Aberdeenshire (English): Of or pertaining to the county of Aberdeen in...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to the county of Aberdeen in...

Ancestry of “Aberdeenshire”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshirePhysical area administered by a sheriff; Former...
2Middle EnglishschireAlternative form of shire; Alternative form of...
3Old Englishsċīrbright; shire; county
4Old Englishburnastream
5Proto-West Germanicbrunnōwell, spring
6Proto-Germanicbrunnôsource; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰréh₁wr̥well, spring, source
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →