 Unlike most of the larger Orkney islands , the derivation of the name " Shapinsay " is not obvious . The final ' ay ' is from the Old Norse for island , but the first two syllables are more difficult to interpret . Haswell @-@ Smith ( 2004 ) suggests the root may be <unk> @-@ øy ( helpful island ) due to the presence of a good harbour , although anchorages are plentiful in the archipelago . The first written record dates from 1375 in a reference to <unk> , which may suggest a derivation from " judge 's island " . Another suggestion is " <unk> 's island " , although no one of that name is known to have been associated with Shapinsay . 
