Tain and Morinnis
Tain is a parish on the northern border of Ross-shire. It is bounded by the Dornoch Firth, and by the parishes of Tarbat, Fearn, Logie-Easter, and Edderton. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Inver, Tain, Tarlogie
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Tain and Morinnis were united before the end of the sixteenth century.
Tain. The church of Tain was dedicated to St Duthac. In it the Saint's relics were kept, and many pilgrims came to see them. A collegiate foundation was given to this parish, on 12 September 1487, by Thomas, Bishop of Ross. In the Cathedral Chapter at Fortrose there was a prebend of Tain, held by the sub-chantor of the Cathedral. At Tarlogie, in this parish, there was a chapel of St Talorgan. Fairs were held at Tain at Midsummer, Lammas, and MIchaelmas, as well as on the feasts of St Duthac, St Berchan, and St Cormac. Near the church was a Well of Our Lady.
Morinnis. In the Chapter of Fortrose Cathedral there was a prebend of Morinnis.
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 |
| 1719-1854 | Tain | 82 | OPR |
| 1855-1856 | Tain Burgh | 82-1 | RD |
| 1855-1856 | Tain Landward | 82-2 | RD |
| 1857-1971 | Tain | 82 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Tain | 193 | RD |
| 2009 | Highland, Tain | 193 | RD |
| 2026 | Highland Council; Royal Burgh of Tain 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, Fraser, MacDonald, MacKay, Mackenzie, MacLeod, Munro, Skinner, Ross, Urquhart
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 Douglas.
"There have been no emigrations from the parish; but several young people go yearly to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, the West Indies, and North America, some of whom have prospered well, and been of service to their relations. A good many go to the army, chiefly to regiments who wear the Highland dress. Hardly any go to the navy.
There are 12 merchants and shopkeepers in the town, and 80 tradesmen and artificers. There are six dealers in the town, licensed to sell spiritous liquors and ale, and one of them has a wine license. The inhabitants of the town speak the English, and also the Gaelic or Erse. Both languages are preached in the church. Few of the older people, in the country part of the parish, understand the English language; but the children are now generally sent to school, and taught to read English.
The people, in general, are sober. About 30 cottages have been built in the country part of the parish, within these 10 years, and 20 houses in the town, some of them 2 and 3 stories high. The only manufactures carried on here, are the spinning of flax, and the tanning of leather. It is generally believed that a thread factory might succeed."
(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 3, p. 389
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 14, Section II, p. 280
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
