Groatland Explained

A groatland, also known as a fourpenceland, fourpennyland or “Còta bàn” (meaning "white coat") was a Scottish land measurement. It was so called, because the annual rent paid on it was a Scottish “groat” (coin).

See also

• Obsolete Scottish units of measurement
  • In the East Highlands:
    • Rood
    • Scottish acre = 4 roods
    • Oxgang (Damh-imir) = the area an ox could plow in a year (around 20 acres)
    • Ploughgate (?) = 8 oxgangs
    • Daugh (Dabhach) = 4 ploughgates
  • In the West Highlands:
    • Markland (Marg-fhearann) = 8 Ouncelands (varied)
    • Ounceland (Tir-unga) =20 Pennylands
    • Pennyland (Peighinn) = basic unit; sub-divided into half penny-land and farthing-land
    • (Other terms in use; Quarterland (Ceathramh): variable value; Groatland (Còta bàn)