Dunfermline / Dumferline

[Bookman]

I have come across an old poem 'Dumferline Toun' by Robert Gilfillan (1789-1850). I assumed that he is deliberately using the old spelling for Dunfermline but in Googling to check it looks as if 'Dumferline' might still be in use as and alternative spelling. Can someone from Dunfermline / Dumferline explain please?!
Bookman

[Hibee]

Hi Bookman

I've only come across Dumfermline used in error.

Dumbarton, however, is in Dunbartonshire, as the shire set thought "Dum"barton a trifle common.

Hibee

[paddyscar]

Hi Bookman:

This may help clarify http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst78.html

All the best,
Frances

[Currie]

Hello Bookman,

I’ve no idea really but according to this book “Historical and statistical account of Dunfermline” by Peter Chalmers, 1844. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=xaY ... &q&f=false

“Name.—The word Dunfermline, locally pronounced Dumferline, or vulgarly Dumfarline, is of Celtic origin. Dun, in Gaelic, signifies a heap, a hill, a mount, a fortified house or fortress, a tower, a castle, as places of strength were generally built on heights; faire denotes a watch or guard; and linne, a pool, a pond, and also a water-fall or cataract; or loin, a little stream or rivulet. Hence Dun-faire-linne or loin will mean, The Fort or Castle, which commands the pool or stream,—or shortly, The Watch-tower of or upon the stream. . . . . . . . “

Then it goes on later to say “The word, Dunfermline, was anciently written Dunfermelyn, Dunfermelyne, Dunfermling, Dunfermlyng, Dwnfermling, Domfermeling, Dounfranelin, and Dunfermlis; and in Latin, Dunum Fermilinum, Dunum Fermelini, Fermelinodunum, Fermalinodunum, Fermilodunensis and Fermilodunum.”

So, is Dumferline just a spelling of the way Dunfermline sounded when locally pronounced?

Alan