Saga Places
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
Shetland Placenames of the Orkneyinga saga
Despite Shetland itself the Orkneyinga Saga mentions 11 other placenames or topographical names from Shetland. Five of them refer to various waters around Shetland, two of them to particular islands.
Three placenames refer to particular farms or settlements, whereof Sumburgh (Head) named as Dynastarhöfði might indicate a farm or a small settlement but is definitely used for the headland as well.
Only one gives us the name of a specific building: Moaseyjarborg, the Broch of Mousa.
| Modern Name | Norse Name | Mentioned As | In Chapter N°. |
| Baliasta | Bollastaðir | a farm in Shetland | 57 |
| Barth Wick | Barðsvik | - | 94, 95 |
| Burra Firth | Borgarfjörðr | - | 46 |
| Gulberwick | Gullberuvik | a farm in Shetland | 85 |
| Horse Island | Hundhólmi | - | 85 |
| Mousa Broch | Moseyjarborg | - | 93 |
| Shetland | Hjaltland | - | passim |
| Sumburgh Head | Dynrastarhöfði | - | 85 |
| Sumburgh Roost | Dynröst | - | 85 |
| Sumburgh Voe | Dynrastarvágr | - | 85 |
| Unst | Ömstr, Örmstr | - | 57 |
| Yell Sound | Álasund | - | 64, 65 |
It is interesting to see that nearly all the stories of the Orkneyinga saga, which mention Shetland placenames, are closely related with two of the great saga heroes and their background: Earl Magnus Erlendsson (St Magnus) and Earl Rognvald Kali Kolsson (St Rognvald).
Ordnance Survey Glossary of Scandinavian origin of placenames.
