History of Dundee
History of Dundee
William the Lion granted the nascent town the status of burgh by royal charter in 1191. His brother, David, 8th Earl of Huntingdon is said to have named the town Donum Dei (’God’s gift’) upon narrowly escaping death during his return from the Crusades. However, this is probably folk etymology, as the name appears to come from the Gaelic Dun Dèagh meaning Fort on the Tay ("Dun” is a common prefix in Scottish placenames, cf Dunfermline and Dunkeld)