Stronsay is a parish in the North Isles of Orkney. It lies to the south-east of Eday, and comprehends the islands of Stronsay, Papa-Stronsay, and Holm of Midgarth, and four pastoral islets of the kind called holms. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Holland, Whitehall
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
In the sixteenth century these three parishes and that of Eday were all united. In 1882 Eday was severed from the three others.
The Lady Kirk of Stronsay. The church of this parish was dedicated to St Mary. Within the bounds there was a chapel of St Margaret.
St Peter's. On the island of Papa Stronsay, in this parish, there were chapels of St Nicholas and St Bride.
St Nicholas'. St Nicholas' in Stronsay was a prebend of Kirkwall.
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 |
| 1743-1854 | Stronsay | 31 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Stronsay | 31 | RD |
| 1972-2003 | Stronsay | 136 | RD |
| 2009 | Orkney Islands, Stronsay | 136 | RD |
| 2026 | Orkney Islands Council; Stronsay 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
Chalmers, Croy, Harcus, Miller, Peace, Reid, Shearer, Sinclair, Stevenson, Tulloch
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 John Anderson.
"The inhabitants are, in general, of an obliging, kind, hospitable disposition to one another, and also to strangers; especially when, on particular occasions, as at weddings, baptisms, &c. they have it in their power to gratify the spirit of importance, which they possess, by furnishing entertainments in a style superior to what might be expected from their stations and circumstances in life. On these occasions, the highest compliment which the guests can confer on their entertainer, is to sit to a very late hour, and to partake freely of the best things set before them. The common people of this district remain to this day so credulous, as to think that fairies do exist; that an inferior species of witchcraft is still practised, and that houses have been haunted, not only in former ages, but that they are haunted, at least noises are heard, which cannot be accounted for on rational principles, even in our days."
(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. 387
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 15, Section III, p. 156
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
