PUPILS across Scotland are learning the hidden history behind place names in the Wee County as part of a University of Glasgow project.

Experts have been surveying the origin of place names through the ‘Scottish Toponymy in Transition’ project which began in May 2011.

They are currently producing detailed place-name volumes on Clackmannanshire, Kinross-shire and Menteith (which includes the Trossachs).

A previous project completed a five-volume series entitled The Place-Names of Fife.

Now the resource has been developed online to be used by schools across Scotland.

Called Scotland’s Place Names, the course is aimed at upper primary and early secondary school pupils and explains what languages various place-names are from, what they might mean and the stories that are attached to them.

Dr Simon Taylor, Chief Researcher of Scottish Toponymy in Transition at the University of Glasgow, said, “Scotland is a country where many different languages have been spoken over the last 1500 years, and its place-names reflect this rich and varied history.

“We are pleased to be working with Education Scotland on such a unique project and we hope that it will encourage young people to learn more about the different languages and peoples that have created the modern namescape, and to appreciate the rich cultural legacy embodied in their place-names.” What's in a name?

Clackmannan: A Gaelic name meaning ‘stone of Manau’, Manau being an ancient province straddling the Forth, including much of modern Clackmannanshire as well as east Stirlingshire as far south as Slamannan, also Gaelic, meaning ‘moor or upland of Manau’. The stone itself was clearly very important, and was probably used as part of the inauguration ceremony of the ruler of Manau. In the 19th century the stone thought to be the one in the name was found near Clackmannan and mounted on a large stone plinth in the centre of the town, where it can be seen today.