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NU1434 : Waren Mill : B1342NU1434 : Entrance to Waren HouseNU1434 : Waren Burn estuary

Waren Mill / Burn /House

Though these are sometimes written as "Warren", it seems they have nothing to do with rabbits. The two signs pictured above confirm the spelling with a single R.

One contributor has written that the name recalls "the historic former port of Waren, which once traded with the continent. Waren translates as goods from some north European languages."

Goods (wares) are Waren in German, Varer in Norwegian, so there could have been trade with such places as Hamburg or Bergen across the North Sea. But the great authority on English place-names Eilert Ekwall says that the Warren [sic] Burn is "a British river name derived from Verno- (Welsh Gwern [also Gaelic Feàrna] "alder) - compare Bernède in France (recorded as Vernedus in 960). The name means Alder Stream."

Waren an der Müritz is a town in the German Land of Mecklenburg-Hither Pomerania. But as it lies some way inland from the Baltic coast it is unlikely to have engaged in much overseas trade The name of the town is believed to be of Slavonic origin implying a place of crows. A crow is Wrona in Polish, vrána in Czech, ворона (voróna) in Russian - and brân or frân in Welsh.

Goods, alders or crows - take your pick!