These are the rivers of the Clyde and the South Calder Water, with the Clyde running near Overton and Netherton and the Calder further north, near Coltness and Newmains. It is not certain how Wishaw's name came into being. The town is possibly named after Wishaw House, built in the woods by the South Calder Water. The house was probably built some time after the sale of the lands of Coltness, Wishaw, Watstein and Stain to the predecessor of Lord Belhaven: Hamilton of Uddsten. It was probably then that the estate was named. Other theories exist; it may be from the Old English for "Willow Wood". Others believe the name was originally "Viashaw", meaning way or road through the wood, which would make sense as an ancient Roman road was built through the modern town. Yet another theory is that the name derives from "Wee Shaw", meaning small wood. The name may come from the Scottish Gaelic word """uisge""," meaning water (which is where whisky derives its name), Therefore Wishaw could mean simply "water". However all these theories have equal likelihood. The area of what is now Wishaw once lay on important Roman roads that ran through the areas of the Clyde (Latin - "Cluta)" and South Calder Water. In fact, the current Main Street is based on a road built by the Romans. Another such road ran close to Wishaw House. The Roman fort at nearby Bothwellhaugh (now Strathclyde Park) means the area would have been vital for supplying soldiers fighting the native Caledonians in the Highlands. The exact dates of the Roman occupation range from the first Roman invasion around 70 AD, and the final retreat of Roman legions from Scotland around the year 210 AD. Wishaw was in the region of the Brittonic Celts of ancient Britain. It is likely that at this time the site of the modern town was covered by woodland, marshes and meadows. A small Celtic farming settlement may have existed in the area. Lanarkshire has been inhabited almost continuously since around 6500 BCE, so it is possible that Wishaw could have been inhabited before the Roman arrival, but no such evidence has yet been found. In the Early Middle Ages, where is now Wishaw fell under the rule of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, however no settlement was recorded. Strathclyde then unified with Alba around 1000 AD, forming modern Scotland. Due to its proximity to Glasgow and Lanark, it was most likely in the area of Cumbric speakers at some point.