Durness Genealogical Records
Durness Birth & Baptism Records
Prior to civil registration in 1855, the baptism registers of Duss are the most common place to turn for details on births. Entries usually contain the parents' forenames and surnames.
The registers of baptisms for Sutherland provide details on parentage and are the primary source for such information before 1855.
An index to all foreign, domestic, air-borne, consular, High Commission, marine and military births registered by the Scottish government. The index is linked to images of birth registers from 100 or more years ago. They contain a great deal of information, including parent's full names, date and place of birth, date and place of parent's marriage and more.
The baptism registers of Scotland provide details of births from to . Entries usually record parents' names (with mother's maiden name) and date of birth and/or baptism.
A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.
Durness Marriage & Divorce Records
The marriage registers of Duss are the primary source for marriage details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between 1765 and 1854.
Index to names and images of the original marriage registers of Sutherland. They commonly record the bride and groom's names and their parishes. Occasionally parents' names and witnesses may be recorded.
An index to all foreign, domestic and military marriages recorded by the Scottish government. The index is linked to digital images of records more than 75 years old. Details given include date & place of marriage, full names of all parents and more.
The marriage registers of Scotland are the primary source for marriage details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between and .
A collection of indexes and transcripts of marriage records that cover over 160 million people. Includes digital images of many records.
Durness Death & Burial Records
The burial registers of Sutherland provide details of deaths from to . Entries usually record no more than the deceased's name; occasionally an age and cause of death are given.
An index to all foreign, domestic, air-borne, consular, High Commission, marine and military deaths registered by the Scottish government. The index is linked to images of death registers from 50 or more years ago. They contain a great deal of information, including parent's full names, date and place of death, age and more.
Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.
The burial registers of Scotland provide details of deaths from to . Entries usually record no more than the deceased's name; occasionally an age and cause of death are given.
A collection of indexes and transcripts of death and burial records that cover over 140 million people. Includes digital images of many records.
Durness Census & Population Lists
Documents listing households and residents throughout Scotland. The records include family relations, gender, age, occupation, place of birth, employment status, number of years married, number of children living and deceased, nationality, whether an individual could speak Gaelic, number of windows in property and some infirmities.
The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
Documents listing households and residents throughout Scotland. The records include family relations, gender, age, occupation, place of birth, employment status, whether an individual could speak Gaelic, number of windows in property and some infirmities.
Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.
The 1891 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
Newspapers Covering Durness
A newspaper publishing local news, shipping intelligence, family notices etc. for Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney & Shetland.
A London newspaper that later became The Sun.
A popular Scottish tabloid.
A left-wing, British daily that sold up to 2 million copies a day at its peak.
Digital images, searchable by text, of a British daily tabloid.
Durness Wills & Probate Records
An index to testators and the subject's of other testamentary documents. The index is linked to digital images of the documents. An account is required to search the index.
A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.
An index and digital images of PCC wills, available on a subscription basis.
A collection of indexes, abstracts, transcripts and digital images of over 5.5 million wills, administrations and other probate records.
An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.
Durness Immigration & Travel Records
A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.
A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.
An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.
Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.
A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.
Durness Military Records
A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.
Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.
Index and original images of over 5 million medal index cards for British soldiers It can be searched by individual's name, Coprs, Unit and Regiment. Due to the loss of many WWI service records, this is the most complete source for British WWI soldiers
This rich collection contains contains records for 1.9 million non-commissioned officers and other ranks who fought in WWI. Due to bomb damage in WWI, around 60% of service records were lost. Documents cover: enlistment, medical status, injuries, conduct, awards and discharge. A great deal of genealogical and biographical documentation can be found in these documents, including details on entire families, physical descriptions and place of birth.
An index to nearly 900,000 military personnel who were awarded the Silver War Badge for sustaining injures. Records include rank, regimental number, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, and reason for discharge.
Durness Court & Legal Records
Digital images, searchable by a name index, of registers recording the admittance and discharge of over 840,000 people to insane asylums.
The Privicy Council dealt with a wide spectrum of issues pertaining to administration, the economy, politics and social affairs.
Details on the parole and revocation thereof, of over 4,400 female prisoners.
A publication giving brief details of bankruptcies, including the names of parties and companies involed.
A list of over 81,000 Presbyterian opponents of the Catholic church. Entries may list name, occupation, residence, names of relatives and other details.
Durness Taxation Records
Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.
An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.
An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.
A report detailing the manner in which customs and excise are dealt with in Scotland.
Durness Land & Property Records
Inventories of all land and buildings in Scotland. They give a description of the property, the name of the owner, tenant & occupier and the rates due on the property.
A list of people who owned more than one acre of land in Scotland. Lists a landowner's residence, acreage and estimated gross yearly rental.
An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.
A collection of various land valuation documents extending as far back as 1650, but primarily covering the period after 1884. Useful for establishing the ancestry of land owners and their tenants.
Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.
Durness Directories & Gazetteers
A detailed gazetteer of localities, geographic features, buildings and other features in Scotland.
Breif details of companies engaged in or related to the engineering, metal and motor trades industries. Organised by trade and place.
Historical and contemporary descriptions of settlements, detailing their governance, churches, schools etc.; to which is appended lists of residents, with their occupations.
A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in the British Empire.
A directory of the Church of England, its institutions and ministers.
Durness Cemeteries
Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.
Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.
Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.
Photographs and descriptions of Scotland's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.
Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.
Durness Obituaries
The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.
A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.
A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.
This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.
A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.
Durness Histories & Books
Photographs and images of churches in Highland.
A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.
Ariel photographs of the British Isles. Browsable by location.
Over 19,000 postcards depicting places in the UK & Ireland.
A collection of 220,000 professional photos covering most towns and villages in Britain, and parts of Ireland.
Durness School & Education Records
Contains dates and information (and photographs of the fallen where available) for members of Edinburgh University who served and fell during The Great War. Also includes a section on orders, decorations and dispatches.
A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.
Details of around 60,000 alumni who fought in WWI.
Durness Occupation & Business Records
An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.
Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.
A rich collection of records documenting those who worked for railway companies that were later absorbed by the government. Records include: staff registers, station transfers, pensions, accident records, apprentice records, caution books, and memos. Records may include date of birth, date of death and name of father.
Indexed medical journals from British ships containing personal and medical details of patients. The journals list names, ages, rank/status, diseases, illness duration and notes on symptoms and treatment. Contains details on military men as well as people immigrating or being deported to colonies.
This collection gives brief details on the appointment of over 1.4 million people who worked for the Post Office. Includes references to corresponding data in the Postmaster General’s minute books and is a starting point for research in the rich archive of the British Postal Museum.
Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Durness
Digital images of registers recording those who are eligible to bear coats of arms in Scotland. The records can contain genealogical tracts and renderings of the arms.
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Durness Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records
Digital images of registers recording those who are eligible to bear coats of arms in Scotland. The records can contain genealogical tracts and renderings of the arms.
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.
Lineages of Britain and Ireland's untitled landed families; supplemented with biographical sketches.
Durness Church Records
Index to names and images of the original old parish registers of Duss. They commonly record mothers' maiden names.
The baptism registers of Sutherland are the primary source for birth details before civil registration. A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between and . Entries usually contain date of birth and/or baptism, parents' names (with mother's maiden name) and occasionally father's occupation and witnesses.
Prior to civil registration in 1855, the parish registers of Scotland are the most common place to turn for details on births, marriages and deaths.
Index to names and images of the original baptism registers of Scotland. They commonly record the date of birth or baptism with parents' names (often including the mother's maiden name).
The parish registers of Scotland are a collection of books documenting baptisms, marriages and burials from 1817 to 1934.
Biographical Directories Covering Durness
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.
A compendium of biographies of thousands of Scottish Jacobites.
Durness Maps
Images of maps covering Sutherland.
Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.
Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.
An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.
Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.
Durness Reference Works
A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in Scotland.
A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.
A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.
A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.
A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.
Historical Description
Durness parish stretches along the shore from Tongue to Cape Wrath, the principal part standing on a peninsula formed by Loch Eribole, and the bay of Durness: it is fifteen miles in length and thirteen in breadth, and contains 217 houses, and 1208 inhabitants, viz. 494 males and 714 females; nearly the whole of whom were returned as being employed in agriculture. Where ground is almost wholly cultivated with the spade, agriculture can be of but little consequence, except only to the individual labourer. Although this district be chiefly occupied in pasturage, yet it is not spread out in green meadows, and broad savannahs, but the country is every where deformed by the rocky mountain, the sterile moor, and the dangerous brown morass.
Dun Dornadilla, in this parish, is said to be the most entire of those round towers to be seen in many places all over the western coast; they were constructed before the use of mortar was known in the north; they enclose an open circular area, and the accommodation may be conceived as a vacuity carried round, in the middle of a pretty thick wall."The round edifices of the internal part of Scotland (says Mr. Pennant), and those of the coast, seem to have been erected for the same purpose, but probably by different architects. The former are the labours of much less skilful workmen; the stones more rude, the facings less exact and elegant, but not inferior to the manner now in use in the common drywalled houses of the country."I cannot but think that all these buildings were originally constructed by the natives; and that those so frequent in the islands, and of such superior workmanship, might have been rebuilt by the Danes and Norwegians, on the same model, but more artificially than those they found on the spot. From all the enquiries I have made among the natives of Scandinavia, I do not learn that any such buildings are known there, a single instance excepted on the Sanlesberg, a mountain half a Norwegian league distant from Drontheim. If no more are discovered, it is probable that the invaders did not bring this mode of building with them. But they might have considered the use and convenience of these structures, and adopted the plan, making such improvements as appeared to them necessary. Thus, in some they formed walls, with galleries within; and in others erected small buildings in the areas, to protect them from the inclemency of the weather; for being in an enemy’s country, the Danes were obliged to use them as little garrisons: on the contrary, the natives never might consider them in any other light than as short and temporary retreats from an invading enemy. It is also pretty certain that, the Danes either never reached some of the places where we now see these buildings, or, at least, never made any more than a short inroad. On the other hand, they possessed the islands and some of the coasts for a long series of years, and had ample time to form any improvements that were agreeable to them." The greatest curiosity in this parish is a cave called Smow. It is a stupendous arch or vault, and runs under ground so far that the extremity of it was never found. Donald Lord Reay, the first of that family, made an attempt, and we are told that he proceeded very far, meeting with lakes, and passing through them in a boat; but, after all, was obliged to satisfy himself with seeing only a part.
Here are several caves that run far under ground, but Smow is the most remarkable.
On the hills of Durness is said to have been the best forest in Scotland of old; our ancient Scots kings hunted there frequently, and it appears that this was a custom as far back as the time of King Dornadilla.— There is, on the side of a hill called Bui spinunn, a square piece of building, about three feet high, and twelve square, well levelled, called Carnnri, or King’s-carn, which probably was the place where his Majesty sat, or stood, and saw the sport, as he had from hence an extensive prospect. Torfoeus mentions that one Suenus, from Orkney, waited on the king of Scotland as he was diverting himself in the hunting season in the hills of Durness.
At Loch Eribole, on the north side, there is a plain rock, which is called Lechvuaies, where they say that Hacon, king of Norway, slaughtered the cattle that he took from the natives in his return to Orkney, after the battle of Largis, in the year 1263. Torfoeus gives a journal of that expedition, and mentions King Hacon landing there: but there is a tradition that a party of Norwegians, venturing too far into that country, were cut to pieces; and that the place is called Strathurradale, from the name of the Norwegian commander; a custom very common of old.
Loch-Eribol is called by Torfoeus Goasfiord, or the Frith of Hoan, an island opposite to it. This is one of the finest and safest roads for shipping in Europe; the navy of Great Britain can enter it at low water, and find good anchorage.
Durness is ail upon the limestone, and abounds in marble: the part strictly called Durness is a plain, the sail good, and therefore capable of the highest improvement. The lakes are stored with the finest fish, and full of marle. The hills afford good pasturage for sheep, and the seas abound in fish. But the great disadvantage to this country is, that it is exposed to the northwest storms, which drive the sand upon it, and have by that means destroyed several good farms.
This parish was anciently a grass-room, or shealing, to the Bishop of Caithness, and was disposed of to the family of Sutherland, by Bishop Andrew Stuart, and the family of Sutherland gave it to Lord Reay’s family.
Most Common Surnames in Durness
| Rank | Surname | Incidence | Frequency | Percent of Parent | Rank in Sutherland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKay | 271 | 1:4 | 6.31% | 1 |
| 2 | Campbell | 105 | 1:9 | 20.00% | 10 |
| 3 | Sutherland | 72 | 1:14 | 4.28% | 3 |
| 4 | Morrison | 70 | 1:14 | 15.59% | 11 |
| 5 | Munro | 48 | 1:21 | 5.59% | 7 |
| 6 | McDonald | 43 | 1:23 | 4.84% | 6 |
| 7 | Gunn | 30 | 1:33 | 7.08% | 12 |
| 8 | McLeod | 27 | 1:37 | 1.48% | 2 |
| 9 | Stewart | 25 | 1:39 | 21.01% | 22 |
| 10 | McIntosh | 21 | 1:47 | 8.14% | 16 |
| 11 | McKenzie | 19 | 1:52 | 1.58% | 4 |
| 11 | Ross | 19 | 1:52 | 1.59% | 5 |
| 13 | Whyte | 17 | 1:58 | 85.00% | 91 |
| 14 | Grant | 16 | 1:62 | 5.25% | 14 |
| 15 | Mather | 12 | 1:82 | 100.00% | 127 |
| 16 | Swanson | 11 | 1:90 | 100.00% | 135 |
| 17 | Sinclair | 10 | 1:99 | 21.74% | 44 |
| 18 | Kerr | 9 | 1:110 | 4.15% | 17 |
| 19 | Matheson | 8 | 1:123 | 1.44% | 9 |
| 20 | Taylor | 7 | 1:141 | 21.21% | 63 |
| 20 | White | 7 | 1:141 | 77.78% | 159 |
| 20 | Anderson | 7 | 1:141 | 6.86% | 27 |
| 20 | Murray | 7 | 1:141 | 0.88% | 8 |
| 20 | McPherson | 7 | 1:141 | 3.43% | 18 |
| 20 | McNicol | 7 | 1:141 | 100.00% | 203 |
| 26 | Nicolson | 6 | 1:165 | 37.50% | 104 |
| 27 | McCallum | 5 | 1:197 | 62.50% | 178 |
| 27 | Dingwall | 5 | 1:197 | 31.25% | 104 |
| 27 | Brydon | 5 | 1:197 | 45.45% | 135 |
| 30 | Levy | 4 | 1:247 | 100.00% | 282 |
| 30 | McGill | 4 | 1:247 | 80.00% | 256 |
| 30 | Bremner | 4 | 1:247 | 23.53% | 99 |
| 30 | McDie | 4 | 1:247 | 100.00% | 282 |
| 34 | Armstrong | 3 | 1:329 | 6.52% | 44 |
| 34 | McIntyre | 3 | 1:329 | 15.79% | 92 |
| 34 | McCulloch | 3 | 1:329 | 12.00% | 76 |
| 34 | Dunlop | 3 | 1:329 | 100.00% | 335 |
| 34 | Driscoll | 3 | 1:329 | 100.00% | 335 |
| 34 | Ormiston | 3 | 1:329 | 25.00% | 127 |
| 34 | Dunnet | 3 | 1:329 | 100.00% | 335 |
| 41 | Roberts | 2 | 1:494 | 66.67% | 335 |
| 41 | Robinson | 2 | 1:494 | 50.00% | 282 |
| 41 | Lewis | 2 | 1:494 | 100.00% | 368 |
| 41 | Harris | 2 | 1:494 | 100.00% | 368 |
| 41 | McArthur | 2 | 1:494 | 20.00% | 148 |
| 41 | Scobie | 2 | 1:494 | 28.57% | 203 |
| 47 | Jones | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Davies | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Evans | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Edwards | 1 | 1:987 | 33.33% | 335 |
| 47 | Scott | 1 | 1:987 | 10.00% | 148 |
| 47 | Cooper | 1 | 1:987 | 25.00% | 282 |
| 47 | Morris | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Mitchell | 1 | 1:987 | 3.33% | 67 |
| 47 | Clarke | 1 | 1:987 | 4.17% | 80 |
| 47 | Shaw | 1 | 1:987 | 11.11% | 159 |
| 47 | Owen | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Fraser | 1 | 1:987 | 0.27% | 13 |
| 47 | Oliver | 1 | 1:987 | 12.50% | 178 |
| 47 | Kennedy | 1 | 1:987 | 6.25% | 104 |
| 47 | McMillan | 1 | 1:987 | 8.33% | 127 |
| 47 | Griffith | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Tait | 1 | 1:987 | 16.67% | 231 |
| 47 | Burnett | 1 | 1:987 | 11.11% | 159 |
| 47 | Stuart | 1 | 1:987 | 5.56% | 94 |
| 47 | Stephen | 1 | 1:987 | 33.33% | 335 |
| 47 | McLennan | 1 | 1:987 | 2.78% | 56 |
| 47 | McInnes | 1 | 1:987 | 6.25% | 104 |
| 47 | Greig | 1 | 1:987 | 50.00% | 368 |
| 47 | Montgomery | 1 | 1:987 | 50.00% | 368 |
| 47 | Calder | 1 | 1:987 | 1.03% | 28 |
| 47 | Buchan | 1 | 1:987 | 50.00% | 368 |
| 47 | Hannah | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Falconer | 1 | 1:987 | 3.33% | 67 |
| 47 | Edward | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Gow | 1 | 1:987 | 2.13% | 41 |
| 47 | Masson | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Gilbertson | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Mathison | 1 | 1:987 | 11.11% | 159 |
| 47 | Carle | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Carry | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Third | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Coldstream | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Duthy | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Patherson | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | Eliason | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |
| 47 | McKiltrick | 1 | 1:987 | 100.00% | 459 |