Old Coin - Groat

[slipnot]

Does anyone know if there is a connection between the groat coin and John o' Groats? I'm aware they were, at different times, used in England, Wales, Scotland and Roman times and that originate from Dutch word 'groot' meaning great. Thank you.

[jno]

The town takes its name from Jan de Groot, a Dutchman who obtained a grant for the ferry from the Scottish mainland to Orkney, recently acquired from Norway, from King James IV in 1496.

- from Wikipedia. no idea what 'de Groot' comes from, though; it might just mean 'big (ie great) Jan'.

[slipnot]

Thanks for your help jno. Yes it does mean 'great'. Looks like there's no other connection between the town and coin other than 'groot' .

[Quizmonster]

In Middle Dutch, 'groot' meant 'great'...it may well still do...in the sense of 'wide'. The coin got its name from the fact that it was a 'wide' (ie thick) one, so it would appear that there is a connection.

[slipnot]

Thanks to both of you (jno, quizmonster) for your help.