Turnberry Lighthouse marks a dangerous part of the Ayrshire coast, off which lies Bristo Rock which was responsible for many wrecks. No one was more aware of the toll than the Receiver of Wreck, Ayr and it was he who in 1869 suggested to the Board of Trade that a light should be erected on Bristo Rock. The matter was referred to the Commissioners, whose Engineers David and Thomas Stevenson examined the rock and reported on 18 May 1869 that it was inadvisable to erect a lighthouse on the rock itself but suggested that the best place would be on Turnberry Point, where it now stands. It is situated close to the 9th hole of Turnberry Golf Course in what was once the moat of Turnberry Castle, which disputes with Lochmaben the honor of being the birthplace of Robert Bruce (1274 -1329).

There does not seem to be satisfactory derivation for the name Turnberry, but the last syllable suggests burg or fort. The name is probably from Norman French, taurnei, tornei, tounrey or tournament, and old English, byrig, burg-fort or castle of the tournaments.