Scotland Genealogy: Shetland Census & County Records

SHETLAND, insular county of Scotland [map shows location], 50 miles NE. of Orkney, 352,876 ac., pop. 29,705; Mainland, pop. 20,821; it consists of about 100 islands, 29 of which are inhabited -Mainland, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsay, and Bressay being the largest. Mainland, comprising more than half the area of the whole group, extends N. and S. for 54 miles, and has an extreme breadth of 21 miles, but the coast-line is so irregular and deeply indented that no spot is 4 miles from the sea. The surface of Shetland is generally bleak and moorish, and rises to a maximum alt. of 1475 ft., but only in a few places higher than 500 ft. The rock scenery around the coasts is exceedingly grand and interesting. The climate is humid and comparatively mild, but severe storms are frequent. Large numbers of cattle and sheep of native breeds are reared, and the small Shetland ponies are remarkable for their strength and hardiness. Barley, oats, turnips, and potatoes are grown. The fisheries, especially the herring fishery, are of the greatest importance, and afford the chief employment. The knitting of woollen articles is also a great industry. Shetland comprises 12 pars., and the police burgh of Lerwick. It unites with Orkney in returning 1 member to Parl. [Bartholemew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887]

Parish & Probate Records

Shetland, Scotland: Parish and Probate Records
A collection of parish and probate records in Scotland, from the 1500s to the 1800s.

Parish Index

Aithsting Bressay Burra Cunningsburgh Delting Dunrossness Fetlar Foula Lerwick Lunnasting Mid Yell Nesting Northmavine

North Yell Papa-Stour Quarff Sandness Sandwick Skerries South Yell Tingwall Unst Walls Weesdale (now Weisdale) Whalsay & Skerries Whiteness & Weesdale/Weisdale

 

Shetland Archives

Shetland Archives, 44 King Harald Street, Lerwick ZE1 0EQ; phone 01595 696247.