← Culture & Heritage

Cronk-y-Keeillown

Language
Also known as: Cronk-y-Keeillown

The Manx name for Tynwald Hill: the hill of the church of John. The name preserves the pre-Norse Christian chapel dedicated to St John that stood at the site before the Vikings established their thing-vollr there. Three layers of meaning in one place name: the Celtic sacred site, the Christian keeill, and the Norse assembly. The etymology demonstrates the accommodation already operating inside the constitutional structure.

Place Name Etymology

Sources

  • Moore
  • Kneen, Proceedings IoM NHAS (1935-37)
← Back to Culture & Heritage