Egilsay

Egilsay

Gaelic name	?Eaglais (see meaning)
Norse name	Egilsey
Meaning of name	Disputed - either Norse "Egil's island" or Norse "ey" + Celtic "eaglais" - "Church island"
Egilsay from Rousay with St Magnus Church on the skyline
Location
Egilsay Egilsay shown within Orkney
OS grid reference	HY470301
Coordinates	59°09′00″N 2°54′58″W / 59.15°N 2.916°W / 59.15; -2.916
Physical geography
Island group	Orkney Islands
Area	650 hectares (2.5 sq mi)
Area rank	67
Highest elevation	35 metres (115 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Orkney
Demographics
Population	26
Population rank	62
Population density	4 people/km2
References

Egilsay is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, the Island of Egilsay is lying east of Rousay. The island is largely farmland and St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint Magnus, who was killed on the island in 1117 by an axe blow to the head. For hundreds of years the story of St. Magnus, part of the Orkneyinga saga, was considered just a legend until a skull with a large crack in it, such as it had been stricken by an axe, was found in the walls of St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

Unusually for the Northern Isles, it has been suggested that Egilsay may have a partly Gaelic name. While at first sight, it appears to be Egil's island, "Egil" being a Norse personal name, the Gaelic eaglais (Celtic "eccles") meaning church, may be part of the root, as the island is dominated by a church of pre-Norse foundation. The island of Kili Holm just to the north, may represent cille, a monastic cell.

The island's population was 26 as recorded by the 2011 census a drop of almost a third since 2001 when there were 37 usual residents. During the same period, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.

Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland via Wyre and Rousay.

Coordinates: 59°09′N 2°55′W / 59.150°N 2.917°W / 59.150; -2.917