Largo is a parish on the south coast of Fife. It is bounded by Largo Bay on the Firth of Forth, and by the parishes of Sooonie, Ceres, Kilconquhar, and Newburn. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Backmuir of Gilston, Carhurlie, Drumochie or Drumochy, Hatton Law, Kirkton, Largo, Lower Largo, Lundin Mill or Lundinmill, New Gilston, Temple, Upper Largo, Woodside
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Largo belonged to the Benedictine Nunnery of North Berwick. A fair of St Leonard was held at Largo. The church was restored by Sir John Gilmour, Bart., in 1894. (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 |
| 1636-1854 | Largo | 443 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Largo | 443 | RD |
| 1968-1971 | Leven | 443 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Leven | 415 | RD |
| 2007-2010 | Fife, Leven | 415 | RD |
| 2011 | Fife, Methil | 415 | RD |
| 2026 | (Largo) Fife Council; Largo Area Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Leven) Fife Council; Leven 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, Bell, Bruce, Gillies, Kidd, Laing, Methven, Simpson, Thomson, White
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 Spence Oliphant.
"At present (1791) the population is 1913, of whom 438 are under 10 years of age. The number of souls belonging to the Establishment is 1211; belonging to the Separatists, including 3 of the Episcopal persuasion, 702.
The principal manufacture is weaving. No woollen cloth indeed is wrought, but for a partial supply to the lower ranks of people. Linen and checks are the great articles. Almost every weaver, and a good number of others, have their bleaching ground, where they prepare linen. Those who can afford to purchase yarn, work check and green linen, which they sell in Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Cupar, and Dundee. Others, of less stock, are employed in these branches by manufacturers in the above towns.
Notwithstanding the jarring opinions in matters of religion, which may sometimes occasion a distant and reserved behaviour, the people in general have a kind and obliging turn. They are honest, sober and industrious; more forward to sympathise with their neighbour in distress, than to rejoice with him in his prosperity."
(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 4, p. 534
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 9, Section I, p. 434
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
