Rosscolban, County Fermanagh
Origin
perhaps Ir. Ros Scolbán ‘wood for thatching pegs’
Background
The element ros in place-names is ambiguous and can mean either ‘promontory/point’ or ‘wood’, and consideration of the landscape can usually rule out the former. While there are no obvious ‘points’ in the townland, it does sit on the shore of lower Lough Erne and ‘promontory’ is still a possible interpretation.
The second element is indeed scolb, here with a diminutive -án ending as proposed in a previous NIPNP form. A scolb is a piece of wood used to peg down thatch, and the word has been borrowed into English as scollop (OSM xxvii 1b). The same element appears in the townland name of Coillidh Scolbán ‘wood for thatching pegs’ (Skillyscolban in Co. Down), and its appearance elsewhere as a qualifier of ‘wood’ might tip the odds in favour of an interpretation of ‘wood of the scollops’ forRos Scolbán.
References
FK (2019)Additional Information
Historical name form
| Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| ~Ros Scolbán ""point of the scollops"" | 1833 | J O'D (OSNB) 54 B141 |
| Rossculbin | 1834c | OSM xiv 105 |
| Rossculbin td Kesh town | 1834c | OSM xiv 105 |
| Ros Scolbán ""promontory of scollops"" | 2002 | Culture NI PNN PMcK/JP |
- Barony
- Lurg
- Parish
- Magheraculmoney
- Parish in 1851
- Magheraculmoney
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 7062
- Place name type
- T