The Counties of Scotland may trace their origins to the mormaerdoms, stewartries and sheriffdoms of the High Middle Ages. Many of these early entities, while sharing a root of a name with a later county, represent a greater or smaller area. The case of the Mormaerdom of Moray, which included parts the county of Moray, and of Nairnshire, Banffshire and Inverness-shire is a striking example of this difference.[1] The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the medieval Kingdom of the Scots. ... List of Constituencies in the Parliament of Scotland at the time of the Union is a list of the constituencies of the Parliament of Scotland (the Estates of Scotland) during the period shortly before the Union between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England. ... A sheriffdom is a judicial district in Scotland. ... Dunnottar Castle in the Mearns occupies one of the best defensive locations in Great Britain. ... The Mormaerdom or Kingdom of Moray (Middle Irish: Muireb or Moreb; Medieval Latin: Muref or Moravia; Modern Gaelic:Moireabh) was a lordship in High Medieval Scotland that was destroyed by King David I of Scotland in 1130. ... Moray, or the anglified Morayshire or Elginshire (Mhoireibh in Gaelic) was a county of Scotland, bordering the former Nairnshire to the west, Inverness-shire to the south, and Banffshire to the east. ... Nairnshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Narann in Gaelic) is a small traditional county of Scotland, centred around Nairn, the traditional county town. ... Banffshire (Siorrachd Bhanbh in Gaelic) is a small traditional county in the north of Scotland. ... Inverness-shire (Siorrachd Inbhir Nis in Gaelic) is one of the traditional counties of Scotland. ...

The counties became the basis of local government when 34 county councils were created in Scotland by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889. About 90 years later, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, these county authorities were abolished as local government bodies and were replaced with regions and districts and island council areas. Areas for Lieutenancy, areas similar to those of the counties, were created at the same time. Local government was reorganised again under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to create the currently existing council areas. The local government of Scotland is organised into 32 unitary authorities covering the mainland and islands of Scotland. ... In the British Isles, a county council is a council that governs a county. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1888 (52 & 53 Vict. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (1973 c. ... The nine Regions of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as the uppermost tier of local government in Scotland. ... There were three island council areas of Scotland: Orkney Shetland Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) The island council areas date from 1975, but unitary council areas were not created throughout the rest of Scotland until 1996. ... The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lords-lieutenant, the monarchs representatives, in Scotland. ... The Local Government Act etc. ... The council areas of Scotland form the local government areas of Scotland, all of them unitary authorities. ...

Although the counties themselves no longer fulfil any administrative function, the boundaries of the majority remain in use by the Scottish Land Register as the registration counties - the only differences being that Glasgow forms a separate county from Lanarkshire and Orkney and Zetland together form a combined county for these purposes. The boundaries also remained in use in an adapted form as postal counties until 1996. Registers of Scotland is the Scottish Executive agency responsible for compiling and maintaining records relating to property and other legal documents in Scotland. ... A registration county was, in the United Kingdom, a statistical unit used for the output of census information. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland. ... The Orkney Islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and are a Lieutenancy Area. ... The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... The postal counties of the United Kingdom, now known officially as the former postal counties, were subdivisions of the UK in routine use by the Royal Mail until 1996. ...

Some of the names, such as Aberdeenshire, have been revived for the post-1996 council areas. Some also remain in use for lieutenancy areas and for area committees of the present councils. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The council areas of Scotland form the local government areas of Scotland, all of them unitary authorities. ... The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lords-lieutenant, the monarchs representatives, in Scotland. ... Many large British councils have a system of area committees, with responsibility for services in particular part of the area covered by the council. ...

Counties until 1890

It may be noted that the map depicts a large number of exclaves physically detached from the county that they were politically deemed to be part of. Cromartyshire's borders, a particularly fragmentary example, were achieved as late as 1685, although at that time the word "county" was not applied to the sheriffdom. D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... Cromartyshire (Siorrachd Chromba in Gaelic) was a county in the north of Scotland, consisting of a series of enclaves within Ross-shire. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... A sherrifdom is a judicial district in Scotland. ...

The process whereby the patchwork of early mormaerdoms, sheriffdoms and stewartries became the later counties may be linked to the expansion, then concentration of sheriffdoms. Perhaps the earliest counties are those of the south-east, such as Haddingtonshire and Berwickshire, whose form was larger established in the High Middle Ages. For some northern counties, the process continued through the Late Middle Ages and beyond. In England, the term shire, as in Northamptonshire, the county associated with Northampton, can be considered a synonym for county, the same is not true for Scotland. Many small shires, of which Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire are the only surviving examples, existed until modern times. Examples are many. Proceeding downstream from Clackmannanshire on the north shore of the River Forth, the shires of Culross, Dunfermline, Kinghorn, and Crail, all lay within the traditional county, so-called, of Fife. East Lothian or Haddingtonshire is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. ... Berwickshire (Siorrachd Bhearaig in Gaelic) is a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council and a Lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. ... The history of Scotland in the Late Middle Ages might be said to be dominated by the twin themes of crisis and transition. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... A shire is an administrative area of Great Britain and Australia. ... Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ... Northampton Guildhall, built 1861-4, E.W. Godwin, architect Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in central England upon the River Nene, and the county town of Northamptonshire. ... Look up Synonym in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look Aboot Ye Clackmannanshire (Siorrachd Chlach Mhannainn in Gaelic) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife. ... Kinross-shire was a county of Scotland. ... The River Forth meanders over fertile farmlands near Stirling The River Forth, 47 km (29 miles) long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland. ... Culross Culross (pronounced Coo-ros) is a burgh in Fife, Scotland. ... The Royal Burgh of Dunfermline (in Gaelic, Dùn Phàrlain), is a town and burgh in Fife, Scotland, that sits on high ground 3 miles from the shore of the Firth of Forth, northwest of Edinburgh. ... Kinghorn, Fife Kinghorn is a burgh in Fife, Scotland. ... Crail is a burgh in Fife, Scotland. ... Fife (Fìobh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ...

By the reign of James IV, the sheriffdoms were used to select Commissioners (MPs) to the Parliament of Scotland, forming the basis of the "landward constituencies", which existed distinct from the burgh constituencies until the Representation of the People Act 1918. Prior to the Union of 1707, Commissioners could represent multiple counties, or, on occasions, a part of one. After Union, eight counties were paired, electing a member at alternating elections to the Unreformed House of Commons. A number of sheriffdoms, such as those of Ross and Cromartyshire were also merged during the 18th century. As a result of the 1832 Reform Act the pairing system ended, and Elginshire and Nairnshire were merged into a single constituency, as were Ross and Cromartyshire and also Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire. Bute and Caithness, previously paired, became separate constituencies. James IV (March 17, 1473-September 9, 1513) - King of Scots from 1488 to 1513. ... The parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the independent Kingdom of Scotland. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland. ... The Representation of the People Act 1918 widened suffrage by abolishing practically all property qualifications for men and by enfranchising women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications. ... The Acts of Union were two Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 1 May) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The House of Commons in the 18th century The unreformed House of Commons is the name generally given to the British House of Commons as it existed before the Reform Act of 1832. ... Ross (Ros in Gaelic) , also anglicised to Ross-shire (Siorrachd Rois), is a region of Scotland and a former Mormaerdom, Earldom and county. ... Cromartyshire (Siorrachd Chromba in Gaelic) was a county in the north of Scotland, consisting of a series of enclaves within Ross-shire. ... The Reform Act of 1832 (known also as the Great Reform Act and The Parliamentary Reform Act 1832) introduced wide-ranging changes to electoral franchise legislation in the United Kingdom. ... Morayshire or Elginshire is one of the traditional counties of Scotland, bordering Nairnshire to the west, Inverness-shire to the south, and Banffshire to the east. ... Nairnshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Narann in Gaelic) is a small traditional county of Scotland, centred around Nairn, the traditional county town. ... Ross (Ros in Gaelic) , also anglicised to Ross-shire (Siorrachd Rois), is a region of Scotland and a former Mormaerdom, Earldom and county. ... Cromartyshire (Siorrachd Chromba in Gaelic) was a county in the north of Scotland, consisting of a series of enclaves within Ross-shire. ... Look Aboot Ye Clackmannanshire (Siorrachd Chlach Mhannainn in Gaelic) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife. ... Kinross-shire was a county of Scotland. ... The County of Bute (Siorrachd Bhòid in Gaelic) is one of the registration counties of Scotland. ... Caithness (Gallaibh in Gaelic) is a committee area of Highland Council, Scotland; a lieutenancy area; and a registration county, Caithness was formerly a district within the Highland region from 1975 to 1996 and a local government county with its own county council from 1891 to 1975. ...

Orkney and Zetland (Shetland) were generally treated as a single county, with Orkney being described an 'Earldom' and Zetland being described as a 'Lordship'. They constituted a single Orkney and Shetland constituency in the House of Commons, as they had done in the Scots Parliament, and were counted together in the census. [2] An Earl as a member of the British peerage ranks below a Marquess and above a Viscount. ... A lord is a male who has power and authority. ... Orkney and Shetland is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

From the seventeenth century the counties started to be used for local administration. In 1667 Commissioners of Supply were appointed in each "shire" or "county" to collect the land tax. The commissioners eventually assumed other duties in the county. In 1794 Lords-Lieutenant were appointed to each county, and in 1797 county militia regiments were raised. In 1858 police forces were established in each county under the Police (Scotland) Act 1857. It should be noted, however, that burghs were largely outside the jurisdiction of county authorities. // Events January 20 - Poland cedes Kyiv, Smolensk, and eastern Ukraine to Russia in the Treaty of Andrusovo that put a final end to the Deluge, and Poland lost its status as a Central European power. ... Commissioners of Supply were established in each of the counties of Scotland in 1667, originally to collect the Land Tax. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Flag of a Lord Lieutenant The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarchs personal representatives around the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. ... 1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Police (Scotland) Act 1857 (20 & 21 Vict. ... A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland. ...

Following the 1889 act, Elginshire became known officially as Morayshire or the County of Moray.

Dunbartonshire was also spelt 'Dumbartonshire' - the latter form would be more regular, as the county town remains Dumbarton. Kirkcudbrightshire is commonly called the 'Stewartry of Kirkcudbright', or just 'the Stewartry'. Dumbarton (Dùn Breatainn in Scottish Gaelic) is a burgh in Scotland, lying on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. ...

Counties from 1890 - 1975

Main article: History of the local government of Scotland

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 established county councils in Scotland. Unlike in England and Wales, where corresponding legislation created new entities called administrative counties, the Act amended the existing counties for local government purposes, including merging Ross and Cromartyshire into Ross and Cromarty, and setting up a boundary commission to make further changes as necessary. Generally speaking, exclaves were abolished, the only significant exclave left untouched being the part of Dunbartonshire between Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire. History of the local government of Scotland is an account of the history of local government in Scotland. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1888 (52 & 53 Vict. ... In the British Isles, a county council is a council that governs a county. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Motto: (Welsh for Wales for ever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd... An administrative county is an administrative area in the British Isles. ... Ross (Ros in Gaelic) , also anglicised to Ross-shire (Siorrachd Rois), is a region of Scotland and a former Mormaerdom, Earldom and county. ... Cromartyshire (Siorrachd Chromba in Gaelic) was a county in the north of Scotland, consisting of a series of enclaves within Ross-shire. ... Ross and Cromarty: administrative county (1889-1975) Image:RossCromDistrict. ... D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... Dunbartonshire is one of the Traditional counties of Scotland, in that part of the country formerly called Lennox (which was a title of nobility). ... Stirlingshire (Siorrachd Sruighlea in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the traditional county town. ... Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland. ...

These local government counties excluded from their area the 'counties of cities' in Scotland. Originally only the city and royal burgh of Edinburgh had this status, but Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen were added in 1893, 1894 and 1900 respectively. Each of these counties of cities were enlarged on a number of occasions at the expense of the surrounding counties. These are not shown on the map below as separate entities. Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78... A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Dundee (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dèagh) located on the North bank of the river Tay, is a royal burgh and the fourth largest city in Scotland. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday. ...

In 1921 the county of the city of Edinburgh was enlarged by the City of Edinburgh Extension Act 1920. The three counties adjoining the city were renamed as follows: 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

• The County of Edinburgh became Midlothian
• The County of Haddington became East Lothian
• The County of Linlithgow became West Lothian

In 1928 Forfarshire was renamed Angus. 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1930, the county councils were re-constituted, including two joint county councils covering Perthshire and Kinross-shire, and Morayshire and Nairnshire by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929. [3] 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Perthshire (Siorrachd Pheairt in Gaelic) is a traditional county in central Scotland, which extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south. ... Kinross-shire was a county of Scotland. ... Morayshire or Elginshire (Siorrachd Mhoireibh in Gaelic) is one of the traditional counties of Scotland, bordering Nairnshire to the west, Inverness-shire to the south, and Banffshire to the east. ... Nairnshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Narann in Gaelic) is a small traditional county of Scotland, centred around Nairn, the traditional county town. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 created two joint county councils covering Perthshire and Kinross-shire, and Morayshire and Nairnshire, but retained residual Nairnshire and Kinross-shire county councils. ...

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947 created new administrative areas named 'counties', 'counties of cities', large burghs and small burghs. Although these had benn established by earlier legislation, the Act listed the various counties and other divisions for the first time. These administrative areas existed until 1975 when they were abolished with the coming into force of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. From this point on the counties played no part in local government. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. ... In 1930, the Scottish burghs were split into two types, large burgh and small burgh. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (1973 c. ...

County constituencies

Scotland still has county constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster), and the same term is used in reference to constituencies of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), created in 1999. A County constituency is a constituency in the United Kingdom that covers a predominantly rural area. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. ... Clock Tower and New Palace Yard from the west The Palace of Westminster, on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, London, is the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which form the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... The Scottish Parliament building in April 2006 The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Edinburgh. ...

Historically, county constituencies did represent specific counties (minus parliamentary burghs within the counties). Now, however, county in county constituency means predominantly rural. Similarly, burgh constituencies are predominantly urban constituencies. A burgh constituency is a type of parliamentary constituency in Scotland. ... Rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China Rural areas are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities and towns. ... A burgh constituency is a type of parliamentary constituency in Scotland. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ...

References

See also

• List of burghs in Scotland
• Regions of Scotland
• Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
• Subdivisions of Scotland
• List of places in Scotland
• List of Scottish council areas by population