Across the lands of Scotland we find many place names which begin with "Ard" a Celtic prefix whose meaning has been described as high, elevated and lofty and one which is seen within names such as Ardbroath, Ardgay, Ardeer, Ardchattan, Ardwell, Ardmaddy and many more.

 

The original meaning of 'Ard' may be seen within the Middle Iranian 'Ard' whose meanings are righteous, noble and truth, from which the Celtic 'high' and 'lofty' seems to be an extension, and this Ard comes from the Avesta Iranian 'Arta' meaning 'righteous' whose source is the Sanskrit 'Rta' meaning 'righteous'.

 

Ard meaning high, lofty and elevated, is seen within many Scottish place names such as Ardmore, Ardbroath and Ardwell, in the same manner the Iranian prefix 'Ard' meaning 'righteous' is seen within Iranian place names such as Ardakan, Ardahal, Ardalan, Ardabil and Ardastan.

 

 

Ancient Celts may have made their way from the Middle East through Istanbul and into Europe and just as the Sanskrit 'Ap' meaning 'water' becomes the Iranian 'Ab' meaning 'water' which becomes the Celtic 'Abh' meaning 'water' so the Sanskrit 'Rta' meaning 'righteous' becomes the Iranian 'Arta' and 'Ard' meaning 'righteous' and this may be the same Celtic 'Ard' meaning 'high' 'lofty' 'elevated'.

 

As evidence we have the Irish 'Ard' which also means 'noble' and of course its a common occurrence for a word to have a primary and secondary meaning as we see with the Celtic 'Mor' meaning 'ocean' which also means 'great' and similarly it seems the primal and secondary meanings of 'Ard' may have been 'noble' as well as 'lofty' 'elevated' and 'high'.

 

Ard becomes 'Ardmore' a place name found in the counties of Argyle, Dumbarton, Ross, Aberdeen, Inverness and also the Isles of Bute, Arran and Skye, its name meaning great ( mor ) height ( ard ) a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Mira' meaning 'ocean' which becomes the Celtic 'Mor' meaning 'ocean' and by extension 'great'.

 

 

Ard becomes 'Ardvolich' a region of Dumbarton and Perth and its name means 'the great ( mor ) height ( ard ) of the loch' a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Mira' meaning 'ocean' which becomes the Celtic 'Mor' meaning 'ocean' and by extension 'great'.

 

Ard becomes 'Airdrie' a region which is found in Fife, Strathclyde and Lanark, although disputed its name seems to mean the kings ( righ ) height ( ard ) a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Raja' which means 'King'.

 

Ard becomes 'Ardnamurchan' which is found in the county of Argyle and its name means the height ( ard ) of the great ( mor ) headland ( chinn ) a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Mira' meaning 'ocean' which becomes the Celtic 'Mor' meaning 'ocean' and by extension 'great'.

 

 

Ard becomes 'Ardmanach' which is found in Argyle, Inverness, Ross and also the Isle of Mull, its name meaning the middle ( meath ) height ( ard ) and a name which possesses the Sanskrit 'Madhya' whose meaning is 'middle'.

 

Ard becomes 'Ardentinny' which is found in the county of Argyle and its name means the height ( ard ) of fire ( teine ) a name describing the fires which were once lit by the Druids in honour of 'Bel' the god of fire and the god of the Sun. Its a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Tapas' meaning 'heat' which becomes the Indo/euro 'Tep' meaning 'hot' the Irish 'Tene' meaning 'hot' and this Celtic 'Teine' meaning 'fire'.

 

Ard becomes 'Aberarder' which is found in the Scottish Highlands and its name means the confluence ( aber ) of the high ( ard ) waters, a name which also possesses the Sanskrit 'Ap' meaning 'water' and the Sanskrit 'Bhara' meaning to 'bear' to 'bring' to 'carry' and this forms the Celtic compound 'Aber' meaning that which pours into ( ber ) the waters ( abh ).