Croick, Croich and antlers

Gaelic, Norse, Brittonic? A look into the history 
and origins of place names in and around our area

Croick in Strathcarron is widely accepted as deriving from the Gaelic phrase A' Chròic, which translates to 'a branching or side glen'. William Watson states that gillean na cròic occurs in a Strathcarron song, so it may be a locative of cròc, 'an antler', possibly referring to a branch in the glen or river, which would suit the locality.

In Glencassley, we find Croich across from Badintagairt on the western bank of the river Cassley. It was recorded by J. Mackay in 1897 OS, as Croich a Crois (with the meaning of 'cross' or 'gallows'). He said that "on a tump in the meadow the priest erected a cross, whence probably came the name."

Some place names nearby, however, seem to corroborate the relationship with 'antler' rather than 'cross': Cròic Uachdarach, a flat level piece of pasture ground meaning 'upper antler', and Allt na Cròice, a large stream flowing North East into the River Cassley meaning 'burn of the antler'.