South Uist is a parish in the part of the Outer Hebrides which belongs to Inverness-shire. It comprehends the islands of South Uist, Benbecula, Eeiska, Eladda, and some smaller islands. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
South Uist: Ardivachar, Ardnamonie, Askernish, Balivanich, Boisdale, Bornish, Bualadubh, Carnan, Crossdougal, Daliburgh, Drimore, Dreumasdal or Drimsdale, Eochar, Frobost, Garryhallie, Geirinish, Gramisdale, , Grogarry, Howmore, Kenary, Kilaulay, Kilbride, Kildonan, Kilpheder, Laskir, Lochboisdale, Ludac, Mingarry, Nenthorn or Nunton, North Boisdale, North Glendale, Ormiclate, Peninerine, Rossinish, South Boisdale, South Glendale, Stoneybridge, Trossary
Benbecula: Balivanich, Creagorry, Griminish, Hacklett, Kenary, Liniclate, Nunton, Petersport or Peter's Port, Rarinish, Torlum, Uachdar, Uskavagh
Bornish
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Kilpheder. Kilpheder embraced the district known in old charters as Kendess and extended northwards to Locheynort. Its church was dedicated to St Peter. Within the bound were at least two chapels, St Bride's on Loch Boisdale, and St Donan's at Cill Donain. There are mission chapels at Loch Boisdale and Iochdar.
Howmore. Howmore extended northwards from Locheynort to Iochdar and the South Ford. It appears as Skirhough in old records. In the old burial ground are the remains of two churches, Teampull Dhiarmaid dedicated to St Columba, and Teampull Mhuire dedicated to St Mary. There were also chapels of St Kenneth at Kilchoinnich, St Michael near Aird Mhicheil, and others at Kilvandin, Kilaulay, Kilbride, and Kildonan.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Benbecula. The ancient parish of Benbecula was united to South Uist, Kilpheatair, and Barra in or before the sixteenth century. The church of Benbecula, known as Teampull Chaluimchille, was dedicated to St Columba. It is said to have been built and endowed by Amie MacRuari, proprietrix of North and South Uist, and wife of the Good John of Isla, Lord of the Isles, in the middle of the fourteenth century. On Benbecula are the remains of a nunnery of Benedictines or Black Nuns at Nunton. The island was erected a parish and disjoined from South Uist by the Court of Teinds, 31 May 1895. The present church was built in 1854. Previous to that date there had been none for many years, the population being largely Roman Catholics.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
South Uist (QO)
Benbecula (QO)
(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 |
| 1839-1854 | South Uist | 118 | OPR |
| 1855-1857 | South Uist | 118 | RD |
| 1858-1970 | Benbecula | 118-1 | RD |
| 1858-1970 | Howmore | 118-2 | RD |
| 1971-1971 | Benbecula | 118 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Bebencula | 252 | RD |
| 2009 | Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Benbecula | 252 | RD |
| 2026 | (South Uist) Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Council; Bornish Community Council Iochdar Community Council Eriskay Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Benbecula) Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Council; Benbecula 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
Campbell, MacDonald, MacIntyre, MacKinnon, MacMillan, MacPhee, MacPherson, Morrison, Steel, Walker
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 George Munro.
"The population of the parish has of late years considerably diminished. Its inhabitants may now amount to 3450, of which number there are 500 Protestants, and the remaining 2950 Roman Catholics. The great cause of the decrease of population in the parish, is owing principally to the vast numbers that have emigrated of late years to the island of St John's, Nova Scotia, and Canada. Emigration from the parish commenced in 1772; and again, no less than 400 stout young fellows since that period, have gone as recruits to the army and navy from the parish. The inhabitants are industrious, and a very hardy set of mankind, able to undergo great fatigue; they are particularly attached to the Royal Family, and the Established Constitution."
(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 13, p. 292
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 14, Section I, p. 182
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
