Scottish Place-names

Description

This book, the result of twenty years' meticulous research, remains the only comprehensive and systematic study of Scottish place-names. From names which date from the dawn of time - such as the river names Tay and Avon - to more modern place-names, such as Fort William and Helensburgh, W.F.H. Nicolaisen brings to life the rich tapestry of history which has shaped Scotland over thousands of years. When first published in 1976, Scottish Place-names was welcomed by reviewers for its innovative thinking and for setting new standards in place-name studies in Scotland. Three further printings within a few years responded to an obvious demand for the kind of overview and methodological guide it provided. The revised edition, first published in 2001, responded to the huge surge of interest in, and study of, Scottish place-names and included an updated preface and additional bibliography.

W.F.H. Nicolaisen was Head of the Scottish Place Name Survey in the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh from 1956 to 1969 and then Distinguished Professor of English and Folklore at the State University of New York in Binghamton. He received the American Folklore Society's lifetime achievement award in 2002, and was also an Honorary Professor of the Department of English in the University of Aberdeen.