From about 800 Vikings from Scandinavia became active in the British Isles and Ireland. Some settled in the Rhins and became farmers or land owners. Place-names bear witness to their presence. The old form of the name Stoneykirk, for instance, is Stennaker, Norse for 'field of stones, stony field.'

The farm-name Float, in Meikle and Little Float, means 'a piece of flat ground.' Another, Cailliness, near Drummore, means 'promontory where kail grows.' The old name for Port Logan was Port Nessock, and Nessock is 'bay of the nose,' i.e., the Mull of Logan, which protrudes like a nose into the sea.

The people of Drummore and the area round about are still known as Fingauls, a Gaelic word meaning 'Norsemen.' The principal local landowners were the McDoualls of Logan. Douall represents the Gaelic word for 'Dane.'