Durness, Sutherland, Scotland Genealogy

Parish # 48

History
The name Durness, or, as it is pronounced by the natives, Duirinish, is evidently of Gaelic origin. By some it has been derived from Dorrain, meaning storms or tempest, and nis or nen, a promontory. Others derive the word from Dubh, black; roan, field; and ness or nis, a promontory, Dubh-thir-nis. Formerly the parish of Durness comprehended the whole of the district known by Lord Reay’s Country, or as it is called in Gaelic, Duthaich Mhic Aoi, meaning, The Land of the Mackays. Since 1724, it has been divided into three parishes, namely Edderachillis, Durness, and Tongue; with the parish of Farr, it was disjointed from the presbytery of Caithness, and by Act of Assembly attached to the presbytery of Tongue. It is bounded on the north by the Northern Ocean; on the east by the parish of Tongue; on the south and south-west by Eddrachillis; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The nearest market-town is 65 miles away. There are no villages, the population all residing in hamlets along the shores, containing from 4 or 5 to 20 families.

Among the most eminent characters who were natives of this parish are: General Mackay, who distinguished himself in the civil wars in the reign of King Charles ll. Robert Donn or Calder, as he is sometimes called, Mackay, the celebrated Reay country bard, was a native of this parish.

The principal clans in the parish are, Those of M’Kay, Sutherland, Campbell, Morrison, and Gunn; the two former generally distinguished by fair hair and blue-eyes, the Campbells and Gunns, by dark eyes and dark complexion.

Crops produced in the parish are; grains of all kinds, turnips, potatoes, and hay. One of the more important changes since the last Statistical Account has been the introduction of sheep farming that has been very successful.

By a census taken in 1724, the population did not exceed 1000 souls. In 1790 the population was 1182, and by the 1831 census, the population was 1153.

The church is situated within half a mile of the manse, at Balnakiel Bay. About three-fourths of the population, who are all within six miles, attend. It was built in 1619, and the aisle added in 1629; it has no galleries, and contains 300 sittings, which are all free. The practice of burying within the walls has been discontinued for nearly a century. There are no Dissenters or Roman Catholics.

The earliest date of the parochial register is 4th of November 1764. It does not contain any register of deaths.

This account was written September 1834.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 b4sa, series 2, vol. 15

Also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages under ‘For non-subscribers,’ then search for the parish report.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Records are carefully kept prior to 1811. Some pages of the record are certified by the minister. Pages 447–450 contain a list of the baptisms for West Moine Mission, August 1794–December 1796 and October 1802–September 1804. No record appears to have been kept after 1846. There is a separate record for West Moine, 1808–1819 with irregular entries to 1841. Marriages: Records are not regularly kept after 1810. At that date is inserted a list of marriages for West Moine, December 1802–December 1804. There is a separate record for West Moine, 1808–1823. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1764–1782, 1766–1781, 1800 Baptisms 1845–1933 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/876.

Durness Free Church
History— William Findlater, minister of Durness, and nearly all his people, adhered to the Free Church in 1843. At first no reply was given to an application for a site. The congregation worshiped in a tent pitched near the shore, and the minister's family had to live in Thurso. Church and manse were erected in 1845. Membership: 1855, 300; 1900, 28. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including ministers.

Records— Baptisms 1843–1933 Cash Book 1853–1897 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/852.

See also Tongue parish.

Return to Sutherland parish list.