Township: Sandaig

Map Reference: Sandaig 63

Name Type: shore

Meaning: This is likely to come from OI snös 'projecting rock, pot-hook' (CV, 577): 'De Snøs is the name of a headland in Foula, snøs being the word 'nose' in its pure form.' (Jakobsen 1897, 92) Snøsen occurs twice, while Snøs- is an extremely common specific in Norway, as in Snøsvika (NG).

The element Bheir may derive from OI vigr 'spear ... a local name of an island (in shape like a spear's head) in northwestern Iceland ... in Orkney the modern Veir [Wyre or Viera (OS1/23/16/261)], the island where Kolbein Hrúga lived, after whom is named 'the Castle of Cuppi Row')' (CV, 705). There is an Icelandic farm name Vigur (SAM).

Other Forms:

Related Places:

Information:

Local Form:

Languages : Gaelic, Obscure

Informants: Donald MacNeill (Dòmhnall an Tailleir), The Land, 12/1995