Surnames give us a sense of identity and belonging. Even in today's mobile society they can have strong links with particular areas. They are keys to our family history. And they always have an original meaning. This new collection of some 400 names, gathered from Shetland to Galloway, provides an informative and reliable  guide to Scottish surnames from Abercrombie and Abernethy to Younie and Yuill.

In each case the original meaning is given, along with the original location and its first recorded appearance. Historical details of particular interest are also noted.

Scottish Surnames informs, entertains and may even settle (or start) some arguments. It's an essential item for any Scottish-interest bookshelf.

David Ross has written numerous books on aspects of Scottish history and culture, some serious and some less so. His most recent is The Killing Time, a study of Scotland between the Covenant of 1638 and the Union of 1707. Scottish humour is a particular interest, and he is compiler and editor of the best-selling Awa' an' Bile Yer Heid, an anthology of choice Scottish insults.