Coinne

Coinne is a term used in Scottish Gaelic with several uses. Most prominently, it functions as a noun meaning “meeting” or “assembly.” In historical, legal, and ecclesiastical Gaelic texts, coinne denotes a gathering for discussion or decision-making, such as a local assembly or council. The form is related to verbs meaning “to meet” and to nouns describing acts of meeting or gathering, and it appears in compound phrases and place names reflecting communal gatherings.

As a given name, Coinne is encountered in Gaelic contexts as a shortened or affectionate form of Coinneach, the Gaelic form of Kenneth. In some genealogical records or literary works, Coinne may appear as a standalone name; it inherits the cultural associations of its root with community and meeting.

Geographic and cultural context: The term is most closely tied to Scottish Gaelic but appears in Irish and other Gaelic-influenced sources in historical records, with spellings varying regionally. In modern Gaelic usage, coinne remains part of the vocabulary for describing meetings and assemblies and is recognized by speakers as a traditional word with civic and communal connotations.

See also: Coinneach, Kenneth (name); Coinne (Gaelic verb forms).