Craiginch
Craignish is a parish on the west coast of Argylieshire, bounded by Loch Craignish, the Atlantic Ocean, and the parishes of Melfort, Dalavich, and Kilmartin. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ardfern
Barbreck
The parish of Craignish had a detached part situated at Lagalochan, a short distance north of the north-east corner of the parish. This detached part has been transferred to Kilninver and Kilmelfort. See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Craignish was dedicated to St Malrubh.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1755-1854 | Craignish | 508 | OPR |
| 1855-1969 | Craignish | 508 | RD |
| 2009 | Argyll and Bute, Lochgilphead | 533 | RD |
| 2026 | Argyll and Bute Council; Craignish Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Campbell, Craig, Crawford, Ferguson, Johnston, Morrison, Paul, Shaw, Sinclair, Turner
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr Lachlan M'Lachlan.
"The population in 1791 was 770, of whom 375 were males, and 395 were females; there were 211 children under 10 years. There were 53 farmers, 1 innkeeper, 1 smith, 2 carpenters, 17 male farm servants, 31 female farm servants, 8 weavers, 4 shoemakers, and 5 tailors.
The Gaelic or Celtic is the only language of the inhabitants, though they, in general, can speak a little English. The people are simple and frugal in their mode of dress and living. They are attentive and prudent in the management of their business; discreet and judicious in their conversation; hospitable, as far as their circumstances will admit; and addicted to no vice in a remarkable degree. No capital crimes; no banishments; seldom a quarrel, which last circumstance may be much owing to the want of public houses. There is but one, but that one is unluckily too near the church."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 7, p. 436
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 45
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
