The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster (Irish Cúige Laighean, "province, lit. 'fifth', of the Laigin"; the English word "Leinster" derives from Irish Laigin and Old Norse staðr, "place, territory"). Laigin is a plural noun, indicating an ethnonym rather than a geographic term.