Nigg is a parish forming the most southern part of the district of Easter Ross, on the east coast of Ross-shire. The greater part of it is peninsulated between the Moray Firth and the upper part of the Cromarty Firth, and the rest is bounded by the parishes of Logie-Easter and Fearn. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ankerville, Balnabruach, Balnapaliug, Balnapellin, Cullis, Nigg, Shandwick
Bayfield
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Nigg was a mensal kirk of the Bishop of Ross. In the parish there were chapels at Culliss and Shandwick. Also within the bounds were two holy Wells, Tobar Chormaig and Tobar Eoin Bhaiste, dedicated respectively to St Cormac and St John the Baptist. Nigg Cross is considered the best specimen of the ancient scupture stones of Scotland. [Photo]
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 |
| 1730-1854 | Nigg | 78 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Nigg | 78 | RD |
| 2009 | Highland, Tain | 193 | RD |
| 2026 | Highland Council; Nigg and Shandwick 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
Fraser, Graham, MacDonald, Mackenzie, MacLeod, Morrison, Munro, Ross, Skinner, Vass
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 Alexander Macadam.
"The population is rather on the decrease, owing to the union of farms, and several places where cottages once stood, being now enclosed and planted. At present, the examination rolls of the parish contain 933 souls, in which are inserted all who are 6 years of age and upwards. The principal part of the inhabitants is employed in husbandry. In this parish there are 4 blacksmiths, 8 wrights, 2 coopers, 7 millers, 12 weavers, 9 tailors, 12 shoemakers, 1 flax-dresser, and 31 fishermen. This last class of men have, for 6 years past, subsisted themselves and families chiefly by raising crops of potatoes, the fish on the coast having mostly left it."
(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 13, p. 13
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 14, Section II, p. 18
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
