Scotland Counties: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Map of Scotland Counties.jpg|thumb|left|Pre-1974 counties of Scotland]]  
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[[Image:Map of Scotland Counties.jpg|thumb|right|<center>Pre-1974 Counties</center>]]  
[[Image:Scotland1974+.jpg|thumb|right|Post-1974 Scotland counties]]  


[[Image:Scotland1974+.jpg|thumb|right|<center>Modern Counties</center>]]
== County changes made in 1974  ==


__TOC__
In 1974 the British government reorganized the counties of Scotland. Twelve areas called ''regions'' were created from the original thirty-three counties.


== Introduction ==
These changes should not seriously affect genealogical research, but be aware of the following issues:
 
*Current maps show the new boundaries.
*Current addresses are located in the new counties. The addresses use the current county structure.
*If you are looking for a parish, city, or regional office that houses records, you will need to know the current address and the areas covered by the repository.


Scotland was divided into geographic subdivisions (called counties or shires) during the Middle Ages. Originally, these counties were established for juridical purposes but beginning in the 17th century, they started to be used for local administration purposes.<ref>Wiki contributors, "Shires of Scotland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shires_of_Scotland, accessed 30 August 2018.</ref> These boundaries remained in use for local government until 1974, after which they were substantially reformed into regions and since 1996 into council areas. Genealogical contexts use the old pre-1974 boundaries.  
However, you should still&nbsp;use the pre-1974 county name when you start your genealogical research.&nbsp; For a list of the pre-1974 counties, with links to their Wiki article pages, see below.  


Long before the 1974 reorganization, some counties had alternate names by which they were at times known. These include: Edinburghshire or Midlothian, Elginshire or Moray, Forfarshire or Angus, Haddingtonshire or East Lothian, and Linlithgowshire or West Lothian.
== Use of the suffix 'shire'  ==


=== Use of the suffix 'shire' ===
'Shire' is an old Anglo-Saxon word designating a county or district, which was&nbsp;integrated into Scotland by the English. A shire was policed by a 'shire reeve' or sheriff.  
'Shire' is an old Anglo-Saxon word designating a county or district, which was integrated into Scotland by the English. A shire was policed by a 'shire reeve' or sheriff.  


The word 'shire' is usually used on the end of a county name when there is a parish or city (burgh) of the same name within the county, such as the city or burgh of Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire. When referring to 'the county of Aberdeen', you do not use 'shire' on the end of the name as that would be redundant.  
The word 'shire' is usually used on the end of a county name when there is a parish or city (burgh) of the same name within the&nbsp;county, such as the city or burgh of Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire. When referring to 'the county of Aberdeen', you do not use 'shire' on the end of the name as that would be redundant.  


One exception worth noting is that of Fife, which has never actually been a county in the true sense of the word, but anciently was a kingdom. It is still referred to as "the Kingdom of Fife" and should not at any time be given the -shire suffix.  
One exception worth noting is that of Fife, which has never actually been a county in the true sense of the word, but anciently was a kingdom. It is still referred to as "the Kingdom of Fife" and should not at any time be given the -shire suffix.  


== History ==
== Alternate names  ==
There were significant changes to Scotland counties in 1974 and 1996.


In 1974 the British government reorganized the counties of Scotland. Twelve areas called ''regions'' were created from the original thirty-three counties.  
Long before the 1974 reorganization, some counties had alternate names by which they were at times known. These include Edinburghshire or Midlothian, Elginshire or Moray, Forfarshire&nbsp;or Angus, Haddingtonshire or East Lothian, and Linlithgowshire or West Lothian.  


In 1996 the regions were replaced by 32 Council Areas. Often their names and boundaries are similiar to the original Counties, but not exactly the same.  
== County list ==


These changes should not seriously affect genealogical research, but be aware of the following issues:
Here is a list of the old counties with the new (post-1974) county or counties they are primarily a part of. Click on an old county name to see a list of historic parishes with further links to information on parish records.&nbsp;&nbsp;


*Current maps show the new boundaries.
{| style="width: 463px; height: 822px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="463" border="1"
*Current addresses are located in the new counties. The addresses use the current county structure.
*If you are looking for a parish, city, or regional office that houses records, you will need to know the current address and the areas covered by the repository..
 
== Maps  ==
*[http://maps.nls.uk/townplans/index.html Ordnance Survey Scottish town plans], 1847-1895 (62 towns, including 1900 sheets of detailed maps)
 
== Counties  ==
Here is a list of the historic counties with the new (post-1974) county or counties they are primarily a part of. Click on an old county name to see a list of historic parishes with further links to information on parish records. (The codes are the standard 'Chapman Code' abbreviations for the historic counties.)
 
{| style="width: 25%; margin-left: 20px;" class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Historic County
| '''Old County'''
!Code
| '''New County'''
!Post-1974 County
|-
|-
| [[Aberdeenshire, Scotland Genealogy|Aberdeenshire]]  
| [[Aberdeenshire, Scotland|Aberdeenshire]]  
| ABD
| Grampian
| Grampian
|-
|-
| [[Angus (or Forfarshire), Scotland Genealogy|Angus]] (or Forfarshire)  
| [[Angus Parishes|Angus]] (or Forfarshire)  
| ANS
| Tayside
| Tayside
|-
|-
| [[Argyllshire Parishes|Argyllshire]]  
| [[Argyllshire Parishes|Argyll]]  
| ARL
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| [[Ayrshire Parishes|Ayrshire]]  
| [[Ayrshire Parishes|Ayrshire]]  
| AYR
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| [[Banffshire, Scotland Parishes|Banffshire]]  
| [[Banffshire, Scotland Parishes|Banffshire]]  
| BAN
| Grampian
| Grampian
|-
|-
| [[Berwickshire Parishes|Berwickshire]]  
| [[Berwickshire Parishes|Berwickshire]]  
| BEW
| Borders
| Borders
|-
|-
| [[Buteshire Parishes|Bute]]  
| [[Buteshire Parishes|Bute]]  
| BUT
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| [[Caithness Parishes|Caithness]]  
| [[Caithness Parishes|Caithness]]  
| CAI
| Highland
| Highland
|-
|-
| [[Clackmannanshire Parishes|Clackmannanshire]]  
| [[Clackmannanshire Parishes|Clackmannanshire]]  
| CLK
| Central
| Central
|-
|-
| [[Dumfriesshire Parishes|Dumfriesshire]]  
| [[Dumfries-shire Parishes|Dumfries-shire]]  
| DFS
| Dumfries &amp; Galloway
| Dumfries &amp; Galloway
|-
|-
| [[Dunbartonshire Parishes|Dunbartonshire]]  
| [[Dunbartonshire Parishes|Dunbartonshire]]  
| DNB
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| [[East Lothian Parishes|East Lothian]] (or Haddingtonshire)  
| [[East Lothian Parishes|East Lothian]] (or Haddingtonshire)  
| ELN
| Lothian
| Lothian
|-
|-
| Edinburghshire (see Midlothian)  
| Edinburghshire (see Midlothian)  
| ---
| Lothian
| ---
|-
|-
| Elginshire (see Moray)  
| Elginshire (see Moray)  
| ---
| Grampian
| ---
|-
|-
| [[Fife, Scotland Genealogy|Fife]] (Kingdom of)
| [[Fife Parishes|Fife]]  
| FIF
| Fife
| Fife
|-
|-
| Forfarshire (see Angus)  
| Forfarshire (see Angus)  
| ---
| Tayside
| ---
|-
|-
| Haddingtonshire (see East Lothian)  
| Haddingtonshire (see East Lothian)  
| ---
| Lothian
| ---
|-
|-
| [[Inverness-shire Parishes|Inverness-shire]]  
| [[Inverness-shire Parishes|Inverness-shire]]  
| INV
| Highland
| Highland
|-
|-
| [[Kincardineshire Parishes|Kincardineshire]]  
| [[Kincardineshire Parishes|Kincardineshire]]  
| KCD
| Grampian
| Grampian
|-
|-
| [[Kinross-shire Parishes|Kinross-shire]]  
| [[Kinross-shire Parishes|Kinross-shire]]  
| KRS
| Tayside
| Tayside
|-
|-
| [[Kirkcudbrightshire Parishes|Kirkcudbrightshire]]  
| [[Kirkcudbrightshire Parishes|Kircudbrightshire]]  
| KKD
| Dumfries &amp; Galloway
| Dumfries &amp; Galloway
|-
|-
| [[Lanarkshire, Scotland Parishes|Lanarkshire]]  
| [[Lanarkshire, Scotland Parishes|Lanarkshire]]  
| LKS
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| Linlithgowshire (see West Lothian)  
| Linlithgowshire (see West Lothian)  
| ---
| Lothian
| ---
|-
|-
| [[Midlothian (Edinburghshire), Scotland Parishes|Midlothian]] (or Edinburghshire)  
| [[Midlothian (Edinburghshire), Scotland Parishes|Midlothian]] (or Edinburghshire)  
| MLN
| Lothian
| Lothian
|-
|-
| [[Moray Parishes|Moray]] (or Elginshire)  
| [[Moray Parishes|Moray]] (or Elginshire)  
| MOR
| Grampian
| Grampian
|-
|-
| [[Nairn Parishes|Nairnshire]]  
| [[Nairn Parishes|Nairnshire]]  
| NAI
| Highland
| Highland
|-
|-
| [[Orkney, Scotland Parishes|Orkney]] Islands
| [[Orkney, Scotland Parishes|Orkney]]  
| OKI
| Orkney
| Orkney
|-
|-
| [[Peeblesshire Parishes|Peeblesshire]]  
| [[Peebles-shire Parishes|Peebles-shire]]  
| PEE
| Borders
| Borders
|-
|-
| [[Perthshire, Scotland Parishes|Perthshire]]  
| [[Perthshire, Scotland Parishes|Perthshire]]  
| PER
| Tayside, Central
| Tayside, Central
|-
|-
| [[Renfrewshire, Scotland Parishes|Renfrewshire]]  
| [[Renfrewshire, Scotland Parishes|Renfrewshire]]  
| RFW
| Strathclyde
| Strathclyde
|-
|-
| [[Ross & Cromarty, Scotland Parishes|Ross &amp; Cromarty]]  
| [[Ross & Cromarty, Scotland Parishes|Ross &amp; Cromarty]]  
| ROC
| Highland
| Highland
|-
|-
| [[Roxburghshire, Scotland Parishes|Roxburghshire]]  
| [[Roxburghshire, Scotland Parishes|Roxburghshire]]  
| ROX
| Borders
| Borders
|-
|-
| [[Selkirkshire, Scotland Parishes|Selkirkshire]]  
| [[Selkirkshire, Scotland Parishes|Selkirkshire]]  
| SEL
| Borders
| Borders
|-
|-
| [[Shetland (or Zetland), Scotland Parishes|Shetland]] (or Zetland) Islands
| [[Shetland_(or_Zetland),_Scotland|Sheltand]] (Zetland)
| SHI
| Shetland
| Shetland
|-
|-
| [[Stirlingshire Parishes|Stirlingshire]]  
| [[Stirlingshire Parishes|Stirlingshire]]  
| STI
| Central
| Central
|-
|-
| [[Sutherland, Scotland Parishes|Sutherland]]  
| [[Sutherland, Scotland Parishes|Sutherland]]  
| SUT
| Highland
| Highland
|-
|-
| [[West Lothian (Linlithgowshire), Scotland Parishes|West Lothian]] (or Linlithgowshire)  
| [[West Lothian (Linlithgowshire), Scotland Parishes|West Lothian]] (or Linlithgowshire)  
| WLN
| Lothian
| Lothian
|-
|-
| [[Wigtonshire, Scotland Parishes|Wigtonshire]]  
| [[Wigtonshire, Scotland Parishes|Wigtonshire]]  
| WIG
| Dumfries &amp; Galloway
| Dumfries & Galloway
|}
|}


=== Parishes in each county  ===
[Return to the [[Scotland|Scotland Portal page]].]
The [https://web.archive.org/web/20080722002809/http://www.scotsfamily.com:80/parish.htm Parish List for Scotland] shows all of the parishes in alphabetical order, giving the parish number, county in which it is situated, and the date when the Old Parochial Records (Presbyterian Church records) began. You may also see maps of Scotland through this link.
 
== Parishes in each county  ==


== References ==
The [http://www.scotroots.com/parish.htm Parish List for Scotland]&nbsp;shows all of the parishes in alphabetical order, giving the parish number, county in which it is situated, and the date when the Old Parochical Records (Presbyterian Church records) began.&nbsp; You may also see maps of Scotland through this link.


[[Category:Scotland Maps and Gazetteers]]
[[Category:Scotland]]

Revision as of 10:33, 12 January 2009

Pre-1974 counties of Scotland
Post-1974 Scotland counties

County changes made in 1974[edit | edit source]

In 1974 the British government reorganized the counties of Scotland. Twelve areas called regions were created from the original thirty-three counties.

These changes should not seriously affect genealogical research, but be aware of the following issues:

  • Current maps show the new boundaries.
  • Current addresses are located in the new counties. The addresses use the current county structure.
  • If you are looking for a parish, city, or regional office that houses records, you will need to know the current address and the areas covered by the repository.

However, you should still use the pre-1974 county name when you start your genealogical research.  For a list of the pre-1974 counties, with links to their Wiki article pages, see below.

Use of the suffix 'shire'[edit | edit source]

'Shire' is an old Anglo-Saxon word designating a county or district, which was integrated into Scotland by the English. A shire was policed by a 'shire reeve' or sheriff.

The word 'shire' is usually used on the end of a county name when there is a parish or city (burgh) of the same name within the county, such as the city or burgh of Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire. When referring to 'the county of Aberdeen', you do not use 'shire' on the end of the name as that would be redundant.

One exception worth noting is that of Fife, which has never actually been a county in the true sense of the word, but anciently was a kingdom. It is still referred to as "the Kingdom of Fife" and should not at any time be given the -shire suffix.

Alternate names[edit | edit source]

Long before the 1974 reorganization, some counties had alternate names by which they were at times known. These include Edinburghshire or Midlothian, Elginshire or Moray, Forfarshire or Angus, Haddingtonshire or East Lothian, and Linlithgowshire or West Lothian.

County list[edit | edit source]

Here is a list of the old counties with the new (post-1974) county or counties they are primarily a part of. Click on an old county name to see a list of historic parishes with further links to information on parish records.  

Old County New County
Aberdeenshire Grampian
Angus (or Forfarshire) Tayside
Argyll Strathclyde
Ayrshire Strathclyde
Banffshire Grampian
Berwickshire Borders
Bute Strathclyde
Caithness Highland
Clackmannanshire Central
Dumfries-shire Dumfries & Galloway
Dunbartonshire Strathclyde
East Lothian (or Haddingtonshire) Lothian
Edinburghshire (see Midlothian) Lothian
Elginshire (see Moray) Grampian
Fife Fife
Forfarshire (see Angus) Tayside
Haddingtonshire (see East Lothian) Lothian
Inverness-shire Highland
Kincardineshire Grampian
Kinross-shire Tayside
Kircudbrightshire Dumfries & Galloway
Lanarkshire Strathclyde
Linlithgowshire (see West Lothian) Lothian
Midlothian (or Edinburghshire) Lothian
Moray (or Elginshire) Grampian
Nairnshire Highland
Orkney Orkney
Peebles-shire Borders
Perthshire Tayside, Central
Renfrewshire Strathclyde
Ross & Cromarty Highland
Roxburghshire Borders
Selkirkshire Borders
Sheltand (Zetland) Shetland
Stirlingshire Central
Sutherland Highland
West Lothian (or Linlithgowshire) Lothian
Wigtonshire Dumfries & Galloway

[Return to the Scotland Portal page.]

Parishes in each county[edit | edit source]

The Parish List for Scotland shows all of the parishes in alphabetical order, giving the parish number, county in which it is situated, and the date when the Old Parochical Records (Presbyterian Church records) began.  You may also see maps of Scotland through this link.

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