Fyvie

A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875

Etymology
The origin of the name of this parish seems to be uncertain. Fyvin is the name written in some of the ancient charters connected with the district, but especially in those relating to a perambulation held in 1325, in virtue of a brieve from King Robert Bruce, to fix the marches between the "King's park of Fyvin and our burgh of Fyvie," with the "lands and peat moss of Ardlogy, belonging to the Abbey of Arbroath." There is no record of those circumstances which first gave rise to the name by which the parish is now known; therefore, conjecture alone must supply the place of more certain knowledge. Nothing is more arbitrary and capricious than the origin of the names of places, and nothing is for that reason less attended to, or understood; owing, most probable, their origin to mere fancy ancient tales which may be believed; although in sound names may be admitted in relation, but as matter of fact they are not sufficient to settle every etymological enguiry of this kind In the Statistical Account of Fyvie, 1840, it is stated that the name is Gaelic, and derived from "Fia chein, signifying, Deer Hill," a most marvellous and improbable derivation, as Fia chein has no Gaelic in the root, or prefix, or in combination, and is not applicable to "Deer Hill," and has only a fabulous application to Fyvin, Fyvie, or the "Villa seu burgum de Fyvie," but it has reference to Reginald le Cheyne, or Chein, otherwise Pater Chein (Fia Chein), who, in 1285, renewed the charter of the Priory of Fyvie, and grant made by Fergus, Earl of Buchan, in 1179, of the lands of Leuchendy and Ardlogy, to Abbey of Arbroath.

Boundaries
Fyvie is bounded on the north by the parishes of Turriff and Monquhitter; on the east by part of Monquhitter, and the parishes of Methlic and Tarves; on the south it is bounded by Meldrum, Daviot, and Rayne; and on the west by part of Rayne and the parish of Auchterless.

Extent
The extreme length of the parish, measured in a direct line from Mounie, in the parish of Daviot, on the south, to Rushhead of Greens in Monquhitter, on the north, and including the interjecting portion of Meldrum, is about 11 miles; the extreme breadth, also in a direct line, from Braikley, in Tarves, to Rothmaise, in Rayne, is about 8 miles, and the whole area is computed to be 28,830 acres.

Topography
The external outline of the parish of Fyvie is very irregular and undulatory. In regard to the south-west division, it may be now stated, that, like all greywacke districts, the hills present a smooth, flowing outline, and the north-east a more irregular surface. The valley of the Ythan divides the parish nearly into two equal parts, and the lowermost point on the river, at the influx of the Blackwater, below the braes of Gight, is about 88 feet above sea level, and the highest point (158 feet) is near the old castle of Towie, in Turriff. The den of Rothie, which divides the southern half of the parish, runs from the Lewes of Fyvie, to Blackford and Rothmaise, in Rayne. The hills of Petty, Cranna, and Eastertown form the western round-backed ridges of the hill of Bethelnie, in Meldrum parish, which is 830 feet above sea level, and the highest land in the district. The Windy-hills, the Monkshill, and others in the muirs of Fyvie, lie in the division north of the Ythan, the Windy-hills being 430 feet above sea level, and is the highest land on this division. The church of Fyvie is about 128 feet above sea level; the Rothie Norman Railway Station is about 302 feet, and the chapel of St. Rule, at Meikle Folla, is 385 feet. The lowermost point on the burn of Saphoch, which falls into the Lochter burn, and the Ury, is 270 feet; the parish boundary in the moss of Wartle, at Little Folla, is 370 feet, and the hill of Rothmaise, in Rayne, bordering on this parish, is 836 feet above sea level.

[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875]