In Memoriam: Ian Fraser (1941-2025)

School of Scottish Studies

 It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Ian Fraser (Iain Mhurchaidh Alasdair), a foundational figure in Scottish name studies and long-serving contributor to the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Ian died on June 11, leaving behind a rich legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and collegial generosity that has shaped generations of researchers in onomastics, Scottish ethnology, and beyond.

A Gaelic Voice in Geography and Onomastics

Born into a Gaelic-speaking family in Gairloch and Strontian, Ian brought with him to Edinburgh not only his native fluency in Gaelic, but a deep, intuitive connection to the landscapes, traditions, and oral histories of the Highlands. He studied Geography as an undergraduate, a discipline that proved essential to his life's work: the study of place names and their cultural meanings.

Appointed to the School of Scottish Studies in the 1960s, Ian joined a vibrant group of young scholars during the department’s second decade. Working closely with Dr. W. F. H. (Bill) Nicolaisen, he helped lay the methodological foundations of Scottish onomastics, combining fieldwork, recording, and local storytelling into a systematic and enduring body of research.

A Builder of Institutions and a Mentor of Many

Ian Fraser didn’t only conduct research - he built communities. He was instrumental in creating the Place-Name Survey at the School, introduced onomastics into the undergraduate curriculum for Scottish Ethnology, and supervised postgraduate students with kindness and insight. He played a central role in founding both the Scottish Society of Northern Studies and the Scottish Place-Name Society, ensuring that scholarship in the field would flourish for decades.

His talks, publications, and tireless involvement in conferences helped bring name studies to wider audiences across Scotland and internationally.

A Scholar of Friendship and Humanity

Those who worked with Ian often remarked that friendship was not merely part of his professional ethos - it was his guiding principle. He was, as the School of Scottish Studies has written, "a genial and generous colleague" and a man who embodied the founding spirit of the School: collaborative, curious, and deeply humane.

He will be remembered not only for his scholarly contributions but also for his warmth, humility, and commitment to community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Jean and to their family, to whom Ian was a deeply devoted husband and father.

🕊️ Ian Fraser’s funeral service will be held on 3rd July at 11:30, at Craiglockhart Parish Church, Edinburgh.