Urr is a parish in the south-east part of Kirkcudbrightshire. The parishes which march with it on the east side are Kirkpatrick-Irongray, Lochrutton, Kirkgunzeon, and Colvend, and those which march with it along the west side are Buittle, Crossmichael, and Kirkpatrick-Durham. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bridgeston, Crocketford, Dalbeattie, Hardgate, Haugh of Urr, Milton, Springholm
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The ancient church, which stood at Meikle Kirkland, was dedicated to St Constantine. It belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood. A new church was erected in 1915.
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 |
| 1769-1854 | Urr | 884 | OPR |
| 1855-1968 | Urr | 884 | RD |
| 2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Dalbeattie | 864 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries and Galloway Council; Urr 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
Brown, Campbell, Clark, Gillespie, Grierson, Johnstone, Maxwell, Smith, Thomson, 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 James Muirhead of Logan, Minister of Urr.
"The number of souls in Urr, at Whitsunday last, above 10 years of age was 997, and under that period of life, 357, in all 1354. Of the 1354 persons, who compose the population, there are about 30 families of Antiburgher Seceders, and 28 families of Roman Catholics.
About 12 or 13 years ago, the village of Dalbeaty (See: Dalbeattie) was begun. In other places of Urr parish, villages are begun, but they advance slowly. In 10 years, the want of fuel might drive a great proportion of the people in this parish, to America, where indeed a great number of families, that emigrated from hence, are already settled.
Though agriculture is the chief object of industry, yet there are a considerable number of people who follow mechanical professions. There are about 20 weavers in the parish. Other tradesmen too, such as masons, joiners, smiths, shoemakers, &c. hold fully as great a proportion to the total population, already stated as could well be expected. Enlistments in the army are very rare; not above 2 or 3 of the natives of Urr having disposed of themselves in the military line for these 20 years. At present, few characters much tainted with idleness or dissipation are to be found here; of absolute profligacy, there is not one known at present.
Only one manufacture has been hitherto established in Urr; it is that of paper. The necessary machinery and repositories were erected at Dalbeaty some years ago, and this work has prospered abundantly. There is also a lint mill at Dalbeaty.
With equal truth and satisfaction it is asserted, in the face of the public, that the behaviour of the inhabitants of the parish of Urr hath been, for several generations past, (and still is) sober, inoffensive and dutiful."
(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. 61
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section II, p. 247
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
