<P> The evidence of place - names may also reveal the advance of Gaelic into Pictland . As noted, Atholl, meaning New Ireland, is attested in the early 8th century . This may be an indication of the advance of Gaelic . Fortriu also contains place - names suggesting Gaelic settlement, or Gaelic influences . A pre-Gaelic interpretation of the name as Athfocla meaning' north pass' or' north way', as in gateway to Moray, suggests that the Gaelic Athfotla may be a Gaelic misreading of the minuscule c for t . </P> <P> Medieval Welsh tradition credited the founding of Gwynedd to the Picts and traced their principal royal families--the Houses of Aberffraw and Dinefwr--to Cunedda Wledig, said to have invaded northern Wales from Lothian . </P>

Who were the picts and where did they come from