Isle Of Bute
The Isle of Bute, referred to as Bute, is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, United Kingdom. It is split into highland and lowland locations by the Highland Boundary Fault. Previously a basic island of the larger Area of Bute, it is currently part of the council location of Argyll and Bute. Bute's resident population was 6,498 in 2011, a decline of just over 10% from the number of 7,228 recorded in 2001 against a history of Scottish island populations in its entirety expanding by 4% to 103,702 for the same period. The name "Bute" is of unpredictable origin. Watson as well as Mac an Tàilleir support a derivation from Old Irish bót ("fire"), probably of signal fires. This recommendation to beacon fires may date from the Viking period, when the island was possibly recognized to the Norse as Bót. Various other possible derivations include Brythonic budh ("corn"), "victory", St Brendan, or both, his reclusive cell. There is no most likely derivation from Ptolemy's Ebudae. The island was also recognized during the Viking age as Rothesay, potentially describing the personal name Roth or Roderick as well as the Old Norse suffix ey ("island"). This name was eventually taken by the primary community on the island, whose Gaelic name is Baile Bhòid ("town of Bute").
