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Type Settlement
Usage Scottish
Other Forms FormsDinn Eidyn (Cumbirc)

Meaning & History

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It was first attested in the Cumbric form Dinn Eidyn, meaning 'castle of Edin', hence the Gaelic name Dùn Èideann.

It may also have been known as Car Eidyn, 'Edin's fort', hence the Welsh name 'Caeredin'.

The name was altered at some point prior to the 11th century to the Anglo-Saxon translation. In c.1170, King William refered to the town as Edenesburch, with the burch element being related to the German burg, 'castle, fort'.

The current form Edinburgh was likely to have settled in the 14th century. However, other forms occasionally appeared thereafter.
Added 6/28/2016 by McLeeds
Edited 3/4/2020 by Mike C, SeaHorse15 and McLeeds