Burra, Shetland

Burra (Old Norse: Barrey [1]) is the collective name for two of the Shetland Islands, West (pop. 753) and East Burra (pop. 66), which are connected by bridge to one another, and to the Shetland Mainland via Trondra. They form part of the Scalloway Islands

Not to be confused with Burray.
The bridge connecting East and West Burra

In addition, Burra was an ancient Civil parish that included smaller additional islands such as South Havra, Little Havra, Papa and the tidal island West Head of Papa. The civil parish of Burra was merged into the civil parish of Lerwick, along with Quarff and Gulberwick, in 1891. It continues to exist as Quoad sacra parish of the Church of Scotland.

Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland suggests that the name is a corruption of "Borgarey" (island of the broch),[2] and while this is unlikely, and no broch is extant, the place name Brough, on West Burra lends some support to this case. However, the form used in the Orkneyinga saga is "Barrey".

References
  1. Anderson, Joseph (ed.) (1873) The Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. Edmonston and Douglas. The Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.


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