Auchtermuchty is a parish in the north-west of Fife. It is bounded on the north by the Perthshire portion of Abernethy parish; on the east by Collessie; on the south by the River Eden, which separates it from Strathmiglo; and on the west by Strathmiglo and Abernethy. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson)
Auchtermuchty, Daneshalt or Dunshelt, Jamaica, Pleasance
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Auchtermuchty was dedicated to St Serf. It belonged to the Abbey of Lindores. (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 |
| 1649-1854 | Auchtermuchty | 406 | OPR |
| 1855-1855 | Auchtermuchty Burgh | 406-1 | RD |
| 1855-1855 | Auchtermuchty Landward | 406-2 | RD |
| 1856-1971 | Auchtermuchty | 406 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Auchtermuchty | 418 | RD |
| 2009 | Fife, Auchtermuchty | 418 | RD |
| 2026 | Fife Council; Auchtermuchty and Strathmiglo 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, Duncan, Ford, Gray, Millar, Reid, Scott, Smith, Suttie, Williamson
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 James Lister, Assistant Minister.
"The number of souls in 1792 was 1439, of whom 663 were males and 776 were females. In the town there were 527 males and 607 females, total in the town 1134. In the village of Daneshalt there were 61 males and 86 females, total inhabitants 147. In the country there were 75 males and 83, total in the country 148.
There were 205 linen manufacturers, 20 tailors, 7 blacksmiths, 15 wrights, 1 saddler, 18 shoemakers, 3 wheel-wrights, 3 coopers, 2 heel-makers, 2 dyers, 6 bakers, 4 butchers, 2 barbers, 2 surgeons with 4 apprentices, 6 merchants, 10 shopkeepers. Of the established church, not including children, there were 620; of the Relief church, not including children there were 284; of Burghers, not including children there were 189, of Antiburghers not including children there were 93.
There are four considerable fairs in the year, the one held on the 13th of July, was to continue 8 days. It is now one of the most considerable in Fife, for the sale of black cattle, horses, sheep, wool, &c.
It is worthy of remark that the youth in this place have been, and now are, ruined with bad schoolmasters; and to this may be attributed in a great degree the narrow and uncharitable dispositions of the inhabitants, and that bigotry and party spirit which manifests itself in all the actions of those who are given to divisive courses.
The inhabitants of this parish, with a few exceptions, are very industrious, and rather economical than otherwise; in so much that there are only 6 on the poor's list. There is here a society distinguished by their social habits, their hospitality, and their benevolence to the poor."
(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 6, p. 338
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 9, Section I, p. 781
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
