Frazerburgh, Faithlie, Philorth
Fraserburgh is a parish in the north-eastern extremity of Aberdeenshire. It is bounded by the German Ocean (North Sea), and by the parishes of Rathen, Strichen, Aberdour, Tyrie, and Pitsligo. A considerable district of it on the south-west is detached from the main body, to the distance of 1½ miles, by the intervention of Rathen. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Broadsea, Fraserburgh
Craighill, Hatton, Kersehill, Marno, Montsolie, Philorth
The parish of Aberdour had a detached part which was situated on the north border of the parish of Strichen. On the east of this detached part lay a detached part of the parish of Fraserburgh, which also adjoined the parish of Strichen. These two detached parts were transferred to the parish of Strichen. See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Philorth was dedicated to St Medan. Philorth was a prebend of Aberdeen. In 1571 the church of the parish was removed from Philorth to Faithlie, which is now called Fraserburgh. Fairs of St John the Baptist and St Michael were held at Philorth. There is a mission chapel within the bounds at Techmuiry.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
West Fraserburgh. The church was opened on October 1876. The West parish of Fraserburgh was disjoined from Fraserburgh on 19 March 1877.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Fraserburgh (QO)
West Fraserburgh (QS)
(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 |
| 1733-1854 | Fraserburgh | 196 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Fraserburgh | 196 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Fraserburgh | 311 | RD |
| 2009 | Aberdeenshire, Fraserburgh | 311 | RD |
| 2026 | Aberdeenshire Council; Fraserburgh 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
Anderson, Buchan, Burnett, Duthie, Mitchell, Noble, Smith, Stephen, Taylor, Watt
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 Simpson.
"Population has been increasing sensibly for more than ten years past. In 1780, there were about 2000 souls in the parish; at present the number amounts to about 2200. Of which, about 1000 reside in the town, 200 in the fishing village of Broadsea, and the rest in the country part of the parish."
(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 6, p. 1
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 12, p. 249
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
