North Ronaldsay (, also , ) is the northernmost island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. With an area of , it is the fourteenth-largest. It is mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga; in modern times it is known for its historic lighthouse, migratory bird life and unusual breed of sheep.
Etymology
The earliest written reference to the island appears in the thirteenth century Orkneyinga saga where it is called Rínansey. Schei states that the name means ‘the island of St Ninian’. However, according to Thomson, although Christianity existed in Orkney prior to the arrival of the Norse, and a possible derivation of the name is ‘St Ringan’s island’,