Parish Numbers in Scotland

Unlike any other country in the British Isles, each parish in Scotland has been assigned a number. These numbers were determined by arranging the parishes in alphabetical order within their respective counties, and then numbering them consecutively throughout all of Scotland. These numbers are a means of reference and are often needed when searching census records, parochial registers (Church of Scotland) and statutory registers (civil registration). By authority of the Registration Act of 1854, 901 civil and ecclesiastical parishes were recognized in Scotland. A list of parish numbers and their corresponding registration districts can be found at the General Register Office for Scotland.