Originally Thurso was known by the #Celtic name of tarvodubron meaning "bull water" or "bull river". Similarly Dunnet Head was tarvedunum standing for "bull fort" and the name of the town name may have its roots there. Norse influence altered its name to Thjorsá, then Thorsá, based on the deity of Thor and translating as the place on Thor’s River.
The local Scots name, Thursa, derives from the Norse, as does the modern Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Theòrsa (The "th" is pronounced as "h" and the "bh" as "v".). Inbhir means a river mouth, and is generally found as "Inver" in many anglicised names. It is possible that there was also a pre-Norse Gaelic name as well, as "tarvodunum" is cognate with the modern Gaelic terms, "tarbh" (bull), "dobhran" and "dun".
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurso
/
RT @TheBrochProject@twitter.com
#Viking people:
Does Thurso mean 'Bull River' or 'Thor's River'?
Explain please.
And then also here's a vote for people who like to vote on such matters.
#Norse #Scotland #Caithness #Vikings #Norn #Norsemen