Banff is a parish in the north-east corner of Banffshire. It is bounded on the north by the Moray Firth, and on other sides by the parishes of Gamrie, King Edward, Alvah, Marnoch, and Boyndie. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Backlaw, Banff, Boyndie, Bridgefoot, Colleonard, Culbeuchly, Culburnie, Deer Park, Deershaw, Fiskaidly, Hilltown or Hilton, Inchdrewer, Lochagan, Ord, Peterden, Ragowan
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Banff was dedicated to St Mary. It belonged to the Abbey of Arbroath. The Grey Friars had a priory in the town dedicated to St John the Evangelist. Banff had three fairs of St Mary, held on Lady Day, Marymas, and Our Lady Day in Lentron. There was also here a fair of St Jerome, which lasted for six days. Within the bounds there were Wells of Our Lady and St Ranald.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Ord. A chapel was built here in 1836. The parish of Ord was disjoined from Banff, Alvah, Boyndie, and Marnoch, 5 July 1869.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Banff (QO)
Ord (QS)
(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 |
| 1620-1854 | Banff | 147 | OPR |
| 1855-1866 | Banff Burgh | 147-1 | RD |
| 1855-1866 | Banff Landward | 147-2 | RD |
| 1867-1892 | Banff | 147 | RD |
| 1893-1967 | Banff | 147a | RD |
| 1893-1967 | Boharm | 147b | RD |
| 1968-1971 | Banff | 147 | RD |
| 1972-2004 | Banff | 293 | RD |
| 2009 | Aberdeenshire, Banff | 293 | RD |
| 2026 | Aberdeenshire Council; Banff and Macduff 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
Duncan, Mair, Milne, Pirie, Simpson, Smith, Watson, Watt, Wilson, Wood
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 Abercromby Gordon.
"By a very accurate roll made up 1797, the numbers in the town are 2860; country district 650, total 3510.
The thread and linen manufactures were carried on here, a few years ago, to a very great extent. In the several departments of the work, about 560 persons of different descriptions are constantly engaged. A soap and candle work employs a manager and four men. The brewing of ale, beer, and porter, is carried on here to a considerable extent; the number of hands employed amount to 8. A rope and sail manufacture has for some time been carried on here, though not to great extent.
Banff has been for several years the general residence and occasional resort of many genteel, opulent, and respectable families; and in few provincial town are the inhabitants more distinguished for general information, social intercourse, and urbanity of manners. In their general conduct they are both pitiful and courteous, deserving the praise of beneficence to the poor, and hospitality to strangers. In their attendance on the ordinances of divine institution, all ranks are highly regular and exemplary."
(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 20, p. 319
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 13, Section I, p. 1
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
