The Celtic Placenames of Scotland
By (Author) William J. Watson
John Donald Publishers Ltd
John Donald Publishers Ltd
2nd January 2026
United Kingdom
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
914.110014
Paperback
608
Width 135mm, Height 216mm, Spine 31mm
730g
First published in 1926, this book remains the best and most comprehensive guide to the Celtic place-names of Scotland and is essential reading for anyone interested in Scottish history and the derivations of place-names the length and breadth of the country. It is divided into sections dealing with early names, territorial divisions, general surveys of areas and also looks at saints, church terms and river names. As the standard reference work on the subject it has never been surpassed.
This edition contains a new introduction which includes biographical material about the author, together with corrigenda and addenda.
William J. Watson was professor of Celtic at the University of Edinburgh from 19114 to 1938. He is widely recognised as one of the greatest ever scholars in the field. Simon Taylor is a freelance historical researcher specialising in toponymics (the study of place-names). He is an honorary research fellow at the University of St Andrews.