Alves is a parish on the seaboard of Morayshire. It is bounded on the north by the Moray Firth, on the east by the parishes of Duffus and New Spynie, on the south by Elgin, from which it is separated by Pluscardine Hill, and on the west by Kinloss and Rafford parishes. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Alves, Coltfield, Crook of Alves, Newton
Newton House
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Alves was a prebend held by the Chantor of the Cathedral of Elgin. In 1593 this parish was assigned to the Presbytery of Forres, but in 1608 it was transferred to that of Elgin. (1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
(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 |
| 1648-1854 | Alves | 125 | OPR |
| 1855-1965 | Alves | 125 | RD |
| 2009 | Moray, Elgin | 280 | RD |
| 2026 | Moray Council; Heldon 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, Davidson, Dunbar, Fraser, Grant, Miller, Robertson, Ross, Smith, Stewart
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 William M'Bean, Minister.
"The present population, in 1793, is 1111. Of the present inhabitants there are 128 under 7 years of age. The people, in general, are very sober and industrious, regular in their attendance upon public worship, and fully equal to their neighbours in point of knowledge and information. They have lately acquired a taste for greater neatness in their houses, furniture, and dress, than formerly prevailed."
(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 11, p. 508
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 13, Section II, p. 101
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
