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Daviot

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

Etymology
In Keith's Catalogue of Scottish Bishops, the name is spelled Davot, and may have been so named after David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother to King William the Lion. Earl David, having had conferred upon hin the lordship of the Garioch, he conveyed by charter (date about 1178), to the rich Abbey of Lindores, the church lands of Fintray--Fintrichi, Inveriu and Monkegiu, Durno--Durnach, Culsamond--Culsamuel, Insch-Inchemabanim, and Premnay--Prame. Davot, or Daviot, at that time, was only a small prebend in the diocese, and although this etymology may appear somewhat forced, it is the same as that given for the parish of Daviot in Inverness-shire. Some writers say that the name is derived from a Davoch of land (Scot., Davache), which is equal to four plough-gates, or "as much land as four ploughs could till in a year." The name has no Gaelic in its composition.

Boundaries
It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Rayne and Fyvie; on the east by the parishes of Meldrum and Bourtie; and on the south and west by Chapel of Garioch.

Extent
The greatest length of the parish, measured in a direct line from south-east to north-west, is 5 miles, and the greatest breadth, also in a direct line, from north-east,, to south-west, is 3 miles; and the whole area is computed to be 4,454 acres.

Topography
The central and highest ridge in the parish runs from Mill of Lethenty, by Lumphart, by the mansion house of Glack (426 feet), to the hill of Old Craig, which is the highest point of land in the parish, and 515 feet above sea level, the lowest point being upon the Lochter burn, and it. is 200 feet. The church of Daviot is 415 feet above sea level, andl from this point, a lateral ridge descends, in a north-easterly direction, by Cuttle Craigs, towards Fingask (240 feet), and from the house of Glack another ridge descends in a south-westerly direction to the valley of the Ury at Pitcaple. These ridges, which are undulating in outline, form the chief configuration of the central parts of the parish, while, on the north and north-east, it is bordered by the valley of Lethenty, Fingask, and Mounie, rising up to Pitinnan, and to the point bordering on the moss of Wartle, where the Inverurie and Forgue turnpike road crosses the Old Meldrum and Sheelagreen road,which is 420 feet above sea level.

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