Product Description

SCOTLAND'S PLACE-NAMES have fascinating and wide-ranging origins. Although many are thousands of years old, place-names have been assigned and developed throughout every historical period, right up to the present day. Despite coming from a variety of languages - Norse, Brythonic, Anglian, Gaelic, Pictish, and English - many of Scotland's place names derive from a surprising small number of roots - rath, pit, baile and so on. In this handy pocket book, David Ross gives an alphabetical listing of hundreds of Scottish place-names, their derivations, how they were recorded in early times, as well as the history and tradition associated with them. An extensive introduction discusses the different elements associated with different periods and also the recording of names.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #630318 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
DAVID ROSS was born in Dingwall and educated at St Andrews University. He is the author of numerous books on Scottish history and culture, including the best-selling Awa' an' Bile yer Heid and Scottish Quotations. He is also the author of numerous books with Appletree. He currently lives in Herefordshire.

Customer Reviews

What's in the name???
Having recently moved from the South of England to Scotland, I am intrigued by a lot of the strange names I come across. "Scottish Place - names" is great to take along on a car journey and look names up as you see them. The place names are listed in alphabetical order - so easy to find. The book covers a hugh range of names - from Glasgow the biggest city in Scotland to a tiny place like Pitblado in Fife.
Each entry is well explained, with different possibilities mentioned when the origin of a name is not certain. Where appropriate historic notes are added. I find it fascinating how some place names mean something completely different from what you'd expect - Applecross, for example, has nothing to do with either apples nor crosses! It is quite amazing from how many different languages Scottish place names have derived. The presence and influence of different cultures and races from the past are preserved in those names.
I would highly recommend this book to anybody interested in the meaning and history of local Scottish place names and Scottish history.
Don't miss reading the excellent introduction, full of interesting information!