Urquhart is a parish on the coast of the east side of Morayshire. Its outline is nearly that of an equilateral triangle of 5 miles on each side, the coast side extending from the Spey to the Lossie, and the interior sides being bounded by respectively Speymouth and St Andrews Lhanbryde. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Burniestripe, Garmouth, Innes, Kingston, Kingston-Port, or Kingston on Spey, Urquhart
Leuchars
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Urquhart belonged to the Abbey of Inchcolm. It was dedicated to St Margaret, but an earlier dedication was to St Irchard. Inveraven and Urquhart together made a prebend of Elgin Cathedral, held by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Moray. The Benedictine Priory of the Holy Trinity of Urquhart was founded here in 1125. (1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
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 |
| 1708-1854 | Urquhart | 144 | OPR |
| 1855-1889 | Urquhart | 144 | RD |
| 1890-1966 | Urquhart | 144-1 | RD |
| 1890-1966 | Garmouth | 144-2 | RD |
| 2009 | Moray, Elgin | 280 | RD |
| 2026 | Moray Council; Innes 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
Anderson, Brander, Duncan, Geddie, Milne, Morrison, Reid, Shand, Simpson, Taylor
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 William Gordon, Minister.
"The number of souls in 1793 is 506 males, 544 females, 1050 total. There are 6 gardeners, 3 smiths, 5 tailors, 6 joiners, 6 masons, 6 weavers, 3 shoemakers, 5 millers, and 8 ale and spirit dealers.
Though the progress of agriculture has not been so rapid as might be wished, the increasing comfort of the people is very observable. Within these 20 years, a great difference to the better may be remarked in their clothing, their cleanliness, and every other circumstance that tends to make life more agreeable. Their habitations have likewise been very much improved; within less than the period above mentioned, there have been upwards of 50 near farm houses built in this parish, either by the landlord or the tenant.
Though the number of ale-houses mentioned may, at first appearance, seem to bear hard upon the sobriety of the people, it is to be remarked, that only two of these houses retail any considerable quantity of ale or whisky. The people in general are very sober, and diligent in their several occupations; their efforts of industry being as well directed as their situation and circumstances will permit."
(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 15, p. 93
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 13, Section II, p. 44
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
