On 27 February 2004 00:51, alan@hepburn.com wrote: > Looking at various censuses (censii? :-) ) I see that my > family is shown as residing at "Leverness" or "Liviness" on > Shapinsay. Can someone tell me exactly what that is? Is it a > village, a farm, a building, or a state of mind? :-) I know > that my GGrandfather was a farmer, continuing a long-standing > family tradition, but I know little more than that. Livaness is a farm that takes its name from the headland (ness) by which it is situated. It lies on by the shore to the east of Elwick farm. The name itself probably derives from the Old Norse "hlifarnes" meaning "ness of shelter" which neatly describes the shelter offered by the headland. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk