Ardnamurchan is a large highland parish on the west side of the mainland of Argyleshire and Inverness-shire. It contains the promontory of Ardnamurchan, and takes name from it. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Acharcle, Arasaig or Arisaig, Ardnafuaran, Ardnamurchan, Ardtoe, Arivegag, Branault, Camusines, Glenbeg, Glenborodale, Gortenfern, Kilchoan, Kinlochmoidart or Kinlochmoydart, Laga, New York, Scotstown, Shielfoot, Strontian, Ressipoll, Rhifollan
No change has been made on the county boundary which runs through the parish of Ardnamurchan. The parish remains partly in the county of Argyll and partly in the county of Inverness. See details. (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 parishes of Ardnamurchan and Eilean Finain were united in or about 1614. At the same time Arisaig was joined with them, but it was severed again in 1919. There are still two churches, the one at Kilchoan and the other at Kilmorie.
Ardnamurchan. The church of Ardnamurchan was dedicated to St Coan. There was a chapel of St Mary at Kilmorie. At Tobar Fhinain there was a Well of St Finain, and at Tobar Cholmcill there was one dedicated to St Columba. There is now a mission chapel at Achosnich.
Eilean Finain. This parish is named from the island of St Finan in Loch Shiel. Upon it the ancient parish church still stands in ruins. It was dedicated to St Finan.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Acharacal, or Acharacle. A parliamentary chapel built here was opened on 25 May 1833. The parish of Acharacal was disjoined from Ardnamurchan on 16 March 1859. There is a mission chapel within the bounds at Glenborrodale.
Arisaig. The church of Arisaig was dedicated to St Malrubh. The parishes of Ardnamurchan, Eilean Finain, and Arisaig were united about the year 1614. The parish of Arisaig was disjoined from Ardnamurchan on 18 July 1919. The parish was transferred from the Presbytery of Mull to that of Abertarff 26 May 1920. There is a mission chapel at Mallaig.
Strontian. The parish of Strontian was disjoined from Ardnamurchan on 8 June 1859. The church was built in 1827 as a parliamentary chapel.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Ardnamurchan and Eilean Finain (QO)
Acharacal, or Acharacle (QS)
Arisaig (QS)
Strontian (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 |
| 1777-1854 | Ardnamurchan | 505 | OPR |
| 1855-1969 | Acharacle | 505-1 | RD |
| 1855-1899 | Arisaig | 505-2 | RD |
| 1855-1930 | Strontian | 505-3 | RD |
| 1855-1930 | Ardnamurchan, Western | 505-4 | RD |
| 1931-1969 | Strontian | 505-2 | RD |
| 1931-1969 | Ardnamurchan, Western | 505-3 | RD |
| 1970-1971 | Strontian | 521 | RD |
| 1970-1971 | Western Ardnamurchan | 537 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Strontian | 521 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Western Ardnamurchan | 520 | RD |
| 2007-2008 | Strontian, Highland | 521 | RD |
| 2007-2008 | Western Ardnamurchan, Highland | 520 | RD |
| 2009 | (Acharacle) Highland, Ardnamurchan | 521 | RD |
| 2009 | (Arisaig) Highland, Mallaig and Knoydart | 238 | RD |
| 2009 | (Strontian) Highland, Ardnamurchan | 521 | RD |
| 2009 | (Western Ardnamurchan) Highland, Western Ardnamurchan | 520 | RD |
| 2026 | (Ardnamurchan) Highland Council; West Ardnamurchan Community council | ||
| 2026 | (Acharacle) Highland Council; Acharacle Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Arisaig) Highland Council; Arisaig and District Community Councill | ||
| 2026 | (Strontian) Highland Council; Sunart Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Western Ardnamurchan) Highland Council; West Ardnamurchan 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
Ardnamurchan: Cameron, Campbell, Fraser, Gillies, Henderson, Kennedy, Livingston, MacDonald, MacPherson, Stewart
Arisaig: Campbell, Gillies, Livingston, MacDonald
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 Campbell, Minister.
"In 1795 there were 4542 in the parish, of whom 2126 were males, 2416 were females, and 1210 persons under 10 years. There were 845 families. There were 2452 members of the Established church, 2053 Roman Catholics, and 37 Episcopalians.
There were 332 farmers, 3 drovers, 9 merchants, 9 petty shopkeepers, 9 whisky-house keepers, 7 smiths, 9 masons and cowans (i.e. builders of stone without mortar), 19 house and boat carpenters, 43 weavers, 47 weaveresses, 6 shoe and brogue makers, 35 tailors, 6 millers, 1 gardener, 1 distiller of whisky, 46 miners, 30 labourers in mines, 15 seamen, and 126 soldiers. There were 696 emigrants to America in 1790 and 1791, by whole families, of all ages."
(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 20, p. 286
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 117
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
