Aberchirder

The name Aberchirder, recorded in as Aberkerdour means 'mouth of the Chirder'. It is formed from the Pictish word aber 'river mouth' and the stream-name Chirder which is itself formed from the Gaelic words ciar 'dark, brown' and dobhar 'water'. This stream name is probably an adaptation of an earlier Pictish name. == History ==

The village of Aberchirder was founded in 1764 by Alexander Gordon, the 5th Laird of Auchintoul. Until 1823 its official name was, in fact, Foggieloan after a small farm community on the site of which it was built. There is some uncertainty as to how the name Foggieloan originated. There are various theories; the most likely is that there is a stretch of moorland north of where the farm town existed (and, now, north of the village) which was named Foggieloan Moss from two Gaelic words (peat moss) and (meadow), so Foggieloan means peaty or boggy meadow. Kinnairdy Castle, now belonging to the Innes family is 2 miles to the south west, where the River Deveron joins the Auchintoul Burn. In 1823, the village is said to have been renamed 'Aberchirder' by the landowner, John Morison MP (later the 6th Baron of Bognie and Mountblairy), after the 13th century Thanes of Aberkerdour of Kinnairdy Castle. == Transport ==

The town is served by the 301 service between Huntly and Macduff, and the 303 between Huntly and Turriff. The town was formerly served by the 308 to Inverurie. This service was withdrawn in 2021. == References ==