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How Carnoustie got its name:
© David LloydThe origin of the name Carnoustie is uncertain, although it possibly derives from the Gaelic Càrn fheusta, meaning 'fort of the feast'. It is also possible that it has an earlier Pictish origin, predating the gaelicisation of Angus. Pictish is thought to have been a Brythonic language, and the Brythonic prefix Caer, found in Welsh, where it means 'fort' and also in Cumbric, where its meaning may be 'hamlet'.
Folk etymology suggests that the name has a later, Anglic origin. The name is supposed to derive from the scots 'Craws Nestie', referring to the large number of crows that inhabit the area. This tradition is alluded to in the coat of arms of Carnoustie, which includes a pair of crows.
Other, less likely possibilities include that it derives from 'Cairn of the Host' or 'Cairn of the Heroes' in memory of those who supposedly perished at the Battle of Barry. Another suggestion is that 'Carnoustie' is a combination of the Gaelic prefix 'Càrn' and the Old Norse term 'noust', meaning 'boat beaching place', presumably in reference to the rocky natural harbour at Westhaven. However, this does not take into account the fact that the original settlement that became known as Carnoustie was some distance inland from Westhaven and, indeed, in a different parish.
While it is a likely possibility is that the word 'Carnoustie' has a Gaelic origin, the town does not have an alternative Gaelic name. By the time the town was founded, that part of Angus was exclusively English-speaking, and the town of Carnoustie has only ever been known by its present name.
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