Etymology
The name "Bute" is of uncertain origin. According to Mac an Tàilleir (2003) it may be derived from the Old Irish bót, meaning "fire". This opinion is supported by Watson (1926), who argues that signal fires may be the origin. He also states that there is no likely derivation from Ptolemy's Ebudae. This reference to beacon fires may date from the Norse period.
Probably originally known to the Norse as Bót, later during the Viking period the island was known as "Rothesay", possibly referring to a personal name "Roth" or "Roderick" with the Old Norse suffix ey, meaning "island". This name eventually came to refer to the main town on the island, which was also known in Gaelic as Baile Bhòid, literally "the town of Bute".
Haswell-Smith (2004) states that the original derivation was from the Brythonic budh meaning "corn". It has also been suggested that the name may mean "victory isle" or have been named after St Brendan, although this is unlikely.
Read more about this topic: Isle Of Bute
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