[Image: Fragment of the Gough Map]
[Image: Fragment of the Gough Map]

The Gough Map of Great Britain

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Full record: Caithness

County Caithness
Transcript

Catnesse

Icon description

two buildings, spired church

Icons
  • buildings (multiple)
  • church
Description
Appearances
Etymology Cats, Celtic tribal name + ON ness, 'headland'
Translation
Earlier editors There is no town named Caithness today. Yet it appeared on Mercator's British Islands 1564, on Speed's map of 1610, and on Camden's Britannia for 1637, as north or north-east of Wick. Speed narrows the area for Catnesse t. between Girnego Castle and Wick. In all probability it refers t. Castle Sinclair, chief stronghold of the earls of Caithness (Parsons).
Early Maps

Cathanesia (Angliae Figura); Catnesse (Totius Britanniae; two buildings, spired church)

Overwritten

no

Attested spelling