Frequently asked questions

news updated: 11 Jun 2007

Where does the name Lochmaben come from?

It has been suggested that the town’s name is derived from Mabon, or Maponus, a pre-Christian Celtic deity who was later associated with Apollo by the Romans. References to Apollo/Maponus have been found in the north of England and at Hadrian’s wall, the defensive fortification build by the Romans on the border between Scotland and England.
The name is also seen in the Lochmaben Stone – a traditional meeting point near the border town of Gretna, south of Lochmaben.