Inverkunglas
Inverkunglas *
Innerkynglasin 1162 x 1169 Inchcolm Chrs. no. 1 [15th c. copy]
(Geoffrey of) Inuirkunglas 1195 x 1208 Dunf. Reg. no. 167 [witnesses a west Fife charter by Robert of London]
(Geoffrey son of Richard of) Inuerkunnigglas 1202 x 1206 RRS ii no. 451 [o.c.; royal confirmation of grant of Balwearie to Geoffrey by Dunfermline Abbey]
(Geoffrey of) Inuirkunglas 1215 x 1225 Dunf. Reg. no. 168 [witnesses a west Fife charter by Robert of London]
G inbhir + en *Kunglas
‘Mouth of the *Kunglas Burn’. Although this place has been associated or identified with Kinglassie KGL (e.g. Inchcolm Chrs. no. 1, RRS ii no. 451, p. 419), this cannot be the case. However, it is likely that the Inchcolm Chrs. form, which is probably the same place, has been influenced by early forms of Kinglassie such as Kinglassin. All the other forms agree that the second element is *Kun(i)glas/*Con(i)glas or the like. Given its combination with G inbhir, it is safe to assume that it is originally the name of a water-course.
W. J. Watson analyses this burn-name as G conghlais ‘dog stream’ mentioning as examples not only the Dunf. Reg. Inuirkunglas, but also the Conglass, a tributary of the Avon BNF and of the Orchy ARG (the latter giving rise to Glenkinglas, earlier Glenquhonglas 1387). He also notes a burn called Conglas in East Kilbride LAN (1417 Glas. Reg. ii, no. 328) (1926, 458). To Watson’s list can also be added an example from Keig ABD: two acres of their lands of Keig around the cemetery, between the two burns of Conglassy and Puthachin, stretching to the south as far as the Don (Don), are granted by Bishop David of Bernham to Monymusk Priory 1239 × 1254 (St A. Lib. 366).
Alternatively it may contain the element con ‘together’, which can also signify a combination or group of similar features (see for example Contle BGY, below).
Geoffrey of *Inverkunglas can be identified with Geoffrey son of Richard, the beneficiary of grants in Kinnaird in Gowrie PER confirmed by King William 1205 × 1211 (RRS ii nos. 470–1; C. A. Chrs. i no. 44).[20] In both these charters he is described as Geoffrey son of Richard steward of Kinghorn (Galfrido filio Ricardi senescalli de Kingor). He is also likely to be the Geoffrey sheriff of Fife (Galfrido vicecomite de Fif) who witnesses a charter dated 1212 (the earliest reference of a sheriff of Fife, St A. Lib. 316);.and probably the Geoffrey son of Richard who appears as sheriff of Crail in two undated charters of the early thirteenth century (St A. Lib. 274–5, RRS ii no. 563).[21]
Where was *Inverkunglas? Were it not for the Inchcolm context of one of the early forms, it could plausibly have been at the mouth of the Banffshire Conglass, tributary of the Avon, given the strong Fife connections with that area in the late twelfth century, when the earls of Fife were granted large tracts of land here. However, if the Inchcolm Innerkynglasin is the same place, then this locates *Inverconglas south of the Mounth, and within the diocese of Dunkeld. It was probably somewhere in west Fife, although possibly north of the Tay, as the next place mentioned in the Inchcolm list of lands is probably Tealing ANG (Tellin, for which, see ABO Introduction). Neither Innerkynglasin nor Tellin are mentioned again amongst Inchcolm’s possessions, and were probably only temporarily granted until the priory was more securely established.
This place-name appeared in printed volume 1