Kirriemuir is a large parish in Forfarshire, locally called Killamuir. It consists of two detached parts, 2½ miles asunder at their nearest points, separated from each other by the parish of Kingoldrum, and lying respectively among the Grampians and in Strathmore. The northern, or Grampian, district is bounded by Clova and Cortachy, Kingoldrum, Lintrathen, and Glenisla. The southern, or Strathmore, district of the parish is bounded by Cortachy, Tannadice, Oathlaw, Rescobie, Forfar, Kinnettles, Glamis, Airlie, and Kingoldrum. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ellinorton, Kirriemuir, Maryton, Northmuir, Padanaram, Sledmuir, Southmuir, Westmuir
Achlishie, Balnaboth, Shielhill
The parish of Kirriemuir had a detached part situated in Glenprosen, and bounded on the east by the parish of Cortachy and Clova, and on the west by the parishes of Lintrathen and Glenisla. This detached part was transferred to Cortachy and Clova. 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 Kirriemuir was dedicated to St Mary. It belonged to the Abbey of Arbroath. There were in the parish three chapels, St Colmog's near the town, St Ninian's at Balinscho, and St Neachtan's at Chapeltown. The church was erected in 1787, and a spire afterwards added by Charles Lyell of Kinnordy.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Glenprosen. The parish of Glenprosen was disjoined from Kirriemuir and erected quoad sacra by decree of the Court of Teinds on 12 January 1874. Pitcarity Chapel occupied the site of Glenprosen Church.
South Church. Opened as an extension church in 1835. The parish was disjoined from Kirriemuir, 28 February 1870.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Kirriemuir (QO)
Glenprosen (QS)
South Church (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 |
| 1716-1854 | Kirriemuir | 299 | OPR |
| 1855-1947 | Kirriemuir | 299 | RD |
| 1948-1968 | Kirriemuir and Cortachy and Clova | 299 | RD |
| 1969-1971 | Kirriemuir | 299 | RD |
| 1972-2004 | Kirriemuir | 361 | RD |
| 2009 | Angus, Kirriemuir | 361 | RD |
| 2026 | Angus Council; Kirriemuir Community Council Kirriemuir Landward East Community Council Kirriemuir Landward West 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, Duncan, Irvine, Lindsay, Milne, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Wilkie, Wilson
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 Thomas Ogilvy.
"The population at present amounts to between 4000 and 5000."
(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 12, p. 187
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 11, Section I, p. 158
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
