Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X, list of Scottish personal names).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RORY. Also Rorie. Sc. forms of the Gael. male name Ruairidh, Ruaidhri, ‘the red-haired one’, still chiefly with Highland associations in Scot. (Sc. 1746 Lyon in Mourning (S.H.S.) I. 328; Ayr. 1789 Burns Whistle viii.; Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xiv.; Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xiv.; Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 135).
[In Eng. the name derives prob. from Ir. rather than Sc.]
