Buteshire, Scotland Genealogy



Buteshire is a county on the western coast of Scotland consisting of the isles of Bute and Arran and the small isles of Inch-Marnock, and Great and Little Cumbray [mostly uninhabited], in the Firth of Clyde. It is separated on the north from Argyllshire by the straits called the Kyles of Bute, and on the west, from the penisula of Cantyre, by the Kilbrannan Sound. It comprises an area of about 257 square miles or 164,480 acres.

The Isle of Bute was for centuries the property of the Stuarts, descendants of Sir John Stuart, son of King Robert II. The Isle of Arran was for centuries the property of the Hamiltons. The civil business of the county is transacted at the royal burgh of Rothesay on the isle of Bute, which is the only town in the county. [There are several villages.]

Bute is diversified with hills for pasture and valleys for cultivation. Arran is rugged and mountainous, interspersed with glens. Both islands have fine bays.

The population in 1851 was 15,740.

(Source: Samuel Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, 2nd ed., 1851.  FHL book 941 E5L, 2 vols.)

Parishes
Here is a list of the historic parishes of Buteshire with their parish numbers. Click on the parish name to see its history and information about records.

Maps
Click on the map of Berwickshire to see a larger version. Click on the larger map, then click the 'Expand' button when it appears in the lower right-hand corner of the map.



Click here to see an outline map of the parishes of Bute.

[Return to county list.]