Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #578

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Ayr. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the Scotland: Research Strategies.

= History =

In all probability, the parish derived its name from the river at whose mouth it stands. The word Ayr probably means clear because the river runs clear. By far the most celebrated character that the parish of Ayr has produced was Robert Burns, the Ayrshire poet. The population in 1791 was 4100 and in 1836 was 7475.

In 1837 the religious affliations of the citizens of Ayr were:

Establishment---4136 Reformed Presbyterians60 United Sessions Church -264 Associate Original Seceders ---288 Relief --1144 Scottish Epis Communion --193 Roman Catholics ---203 Indepen. Congregational Union -39 Methods ---140 Moravians ---85 Universalists -7 Baptists --1

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol. 5)

Available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages via the parish reports.

= Census Records =

A census is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about census records.

Here is a list of the Family History Library microfilm numbers for the census records of Ayr as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

The 1901 census of Scotland is indexed on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. To use it, you must register and pay a small access fee. All available censuses, 1841-1901, are indexed on this website. It may be easier for you to pay to use the website rather than access indexes through the library.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about church records.

Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.

Condition of Original Registers—
Births: There are none January 1720–June 1721. Three pages of omitted entries are found after December 1790 (dated 1780–1791) and nine pages of the same type of entries dated 1791–1827 occur after July 1813. Marriages: There are none February 1708–August 1714, except for one entry for October 1708 and one for October 1711. Deaths: There are none for November 1786–January 1789, except three entries October–December 1787; also there are none for September 1806–January 1817 except one entry for 1816. There are three entries dated 1808, 1812 and 1815, respectively, after December 1818. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The session was made up of the minister and the land owners and business men of the parish, chosen to serve on the session. The Kirk session dealt with moral issues, minor criminal cases, matters of the poor and education, matters of discipline, and the general concerns of the parish. Kirk session records may also mention births, marriages, and deaths.

Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish: 

Old Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1604–1718, 1727–1813, 1834–1894 Roll of Masters of Ships in Ayr who gave their Poors' Silver 1613–1645 Poors' Accounts 1664–1709, 1730–1749 Note:Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/751.

Wallacetown Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1849–1858 Managers’ Minutes 1834–1863 Accounts 1834–1880 Seat Letting Book 1836–1847 Letter Book 1847–1856 Note:Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/768.

Nonconformist Church Records
A nonconformist church is any church that is not the Established church. Read more about nonconformity in Scotland in the article on the Scotland Church Records Union Lists.

First United Presbyterian, Original Secession Church of Ayr
History— The first secession congregation in Ayr had a common origin with that of Auchinleck. The first supply of sermon was afforded to the seceders in Ayr in 1755, at which time it was difficult for them to obtain a piece of ground on which to erect a tent, and it was not until 15 years afterwards that they were disjoined from Kilmaurs, 14 miles off, and formed into a separate congregation. The first church built in 1770, the second was built in 1799. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source, including a list of ministers.

Records— There are no known pre–1855 records.

Darlington Place United Presbyterian Church
History— This congregation, formerly known as Wallacetown, originated with members of the secession congregation of Tarbolton, resident in and about Ayr, who, on account of distance from their accustomed place of worship, petitioned the Associate Burgher Presbytery of Kilmarnock to be disjoined and formed into a separate congregation, which was granted in 1797. A church was built in 1799. A new church was opened in 1860. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source, including a list of ministers.

Records— FHL Microfilm Number Baptismal Register 1850–1865 0889482 item 2 X Note: The X means the records have been extracted. Other: Session Minutes 1824–1933 Managers Minutes 1798–1815 Account Book 1799–1848 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/435.

Cathcart Street Relief, later United Presbyterian Church
History— Many who lived in Ayr and St. Quivox parishes used to attend the ministry of Dr. Peebles of Newton, who was evangelical and decidedly popular. However, when they wanted baptism for their children, they had to seek permission from the minister of Ayr, a moderate, to allow Dr. Peebles to dispense this ordinance for them. The parish of Ochiltree, 12 miles east of Ayr, had the ministrations of Rev. Mr. Thomson, a Relief Church minister. Many earnest people used to go there on sacramental occasions. Feeling the hardships that pressed them, it is said that they consulted Mr. Thomson as to the course they should follow, and his advice was to apply to the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow for a dispensation of ordinances. This counsel, so agreeable to their own inclinations, was speedily followed. A meeting of all friendly to the movement was held on the 26th of October 1814, and a petition drawn up accordingly. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records— Minutes 1817–1929 Manager’s Minutes 1830–1929 Baptisms 1832–1935 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/753.

MartyrsFree Presbyterian Church
History— This congregation, originally Reformed Presbyterian, joined the Free Church in 1876. They had been formed as a Reformed congregation in 1830, having been separated off from the Kilmarnock congregation. Their church, at the junction of George Street and John Street, Wallacetown, was built in 1832. Before the 1876 union the fortunes of the congregation were very low. In 1850 the membership stood at only ninty and by the union it had fallen to forty. About 1880 new industries were opened in the town, bringing the opportunity, which was eagerly embraced, of work as a mission church. From that time the membership gradually improved. In 1900 the number on the Roll was one hundred ninety. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Wallacetown Free Church
History— William Grant, minister of Wallacetown quoad sacra church, and the bulk of his congregation, "came out" in 1843. At first they were called the Ayr and Wallacetown congregation. About two months after the Disruption they were deprived of their church and for a time they worshiped in a timber yard in the morning and in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the afternoon and evening. In1844, Mr. Grant and his congregation were transferred to Ayr. Services were held here under the Newton congregation, until in 1854 the charge was sanctioned. They worshiped in the "Wooden Kirk" until 1860, when their new church on John Street was opened. A house for a manse was purchased near the church. Membership in 1859 was 233 and in 1900 it was 302. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland,1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

West Free Church
History— Neither of the ministers of Ayr "came out" in 1843. Charge of this parish and that of St. Quivex was entrusted to William Grant, minister of Wallacetown, and James Stevenson, minister of Newton. On being deprived of the church at Wallacetown, Mr. Grant and his congregation were transferred to Ayr. A wooden building was erected and opened in October 1843. Here the congregation worshiped till November 1845, when the new church was opened. Subsequently a house was purchased for a manse. A hall for mission purposes was built in 1880. Removal of the population from the centre of the town to the outskirts, accounts for decline in membership. Membership: 1848, 600; 1900, 459. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. This source includes a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of pre–1855 records is unknown.

Ayr Congregational Churches
History— A church was formed in Ayr in 1804, by converts of Richard Penman who apparently became the first minister in that year. The church seems to have been a struggling one from the first, and had a chequered history until its dissolution in 1878. The Wallace Street church was formed in 1844. It was admitted to the Evangelical Union in the following year. The Wallace Street building was opened in 1865. A split in the membership in 1897 resulted in the formation of Morison Church. In 1898 the minister and many of the members of the Wallace Street church joined the United Presbyterian Church. The minority began to meet again in 1900 and was admitted into the Congregational Union as Wallace Street Church in 1905. In 1901 the Morison Church obtained the Original Secession Church building on George Street where it still meets. Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, pub. 1960. FHL British book 941 K2es.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For more information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

Ayr Roman Catholic Church
History— According to an 1834 report from the priest in Ayr, there were 5000–6000 Catholics in the county and 200 Catholic families within the city of Ayr. The church of St. Margaret opened in 1822. No further history is available.

Records— Baptisms 1822–1857 Marriages 1822–1857 Note: Available at National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record RH21/51. For later records write to: The Parish Priest at: St. Margaret’s 27 John Street Ayr KA8 0BS, Scotland

Ayr Moravian Church
History— Moravian preaching in Scotland really began with James Caldwell’s mission to Ayr in 1765. A small society of 42 members was formed. Caldwell left in 1767 and four years later members of the society applied for congregational status. Services continued in Ayr until 1916. A school for girls was founded in 1816. Source:Sources for Scottish Genealogy and Family History, by Don J. Steel, pub. 1970. FHL British Ref. book 942 V26ste vol. 12.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Ayr Episcopalian Church
History— A congregation was established in 1832, but there was an earlier congregation for which no history is available. In the early 1790s there were little more than 50 members.

Records— Baptisms 1776–1780, 1787–1800, 1826–1839 Marriages 1777–1779, 1788–138 Note: Available at National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH12/26.

Ayr Wesleyan Methodist Church
A Wesleyan Methodist Church is known to have existed in Ayr, but its history and The extent of records is unknown. For information write to: The Reverend Rector 12 Barns Terrace Ayr KA7 2DB, Scotland.

You may also write to: The Methodist Church Archives c/o The John Rylands University Library of Manchester 150 Deansgate Manchester M3 3EH England

= Civil Registration Records =

Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths (also called statutory records) began on January 1, 1855 in Scotland. Each parish has a registrar's office and large cities have several. The records are created by the registrars and copies are sent to the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Annual indexes are then created for the records for the whole country. See the article on Scotland Civil Registration  for more information and to access the records.

= Probate Records =

Ayr was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Glasgow until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Ayr. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills &amp; Testaments,' is free. You may then purchase a copy of the document or, if the document is before 1823, it will be on microfilm at the Family History Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library catalog for the 'Place' of Ayr and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Glasgow. The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Ayr.Look in the library catalog for the 'Place' of Ayr and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Return to the Ayrshire Parish List