When a site had been selected for a new town the King’s surveyors would lay out an area for the town’s market. Bastides were established in France for much the same reason. These new towns were to be known as Burghs. These would be centres of Norman civilisation in a largely Celtic country, and would be established in such a way as to encourage the development of trade within their area. He decided to create a chain of new towns across Scotland. David I realised that greater prosperity could result from encouraging trade. Lanark has served as an important market town since medieval times, and King David I made it a royal burgh in 1140, giving it certain mercantile privileges relating to government and taxation. The town's name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning 'clear space, glade'.

There is a large modern livestock auction market on the outskirts of the town. Its shops serve the local agricultural community and surrounding villages. There is little industry in Lanark and some residents commute to work in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Lanark railway station and coach station have frequent services to Glasgow.

Notable landmarks nearby include New Lanark, the Corra Linn and the site of Lanark Castle. Lanark has been a royal burgh since 1140, and was historically the county town of Lanarkshire, though in modern times this title belongs to Hamilton. In 2016, the town had a population of 9,050. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. Lanark ( / ˈ l æ n ər k/ Scottish Gaelic: Lannraig Scots: Lanrik ) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton.

Lunark meaning