SHETLAND ISLANDS SURNAMES |
1804 with electoral lists from 1954, and determined that 24 surnames (many with spelling variations) made up half of the population of the Shetland Islands. They are as follows: Anderson, Jamieson, Robertson, Smith, Williamson, Irvine, Tait, Johnson, Leask, Halcrow, Henderson, Laurenceson, Manson, Mowat, Nicolson, Peterson, Sinclair, Thomason, Galdie, Fraser, Hughson, Hunter, Sutherland, and Tulloch. An additional 53 names brought the total to 75% of the population. These names are: Abernethy, Arthurson, Blance, Burgar, Brown, Bruce, Clerk, Duncan, Garrioch, Georgeson, Goodlad, Gray, Leslie, Malcolmson, Moncrieff, Morrison, Redland, Sandison, Aitken, Bain, Bairnson, Cogle, Davidson, Erasmuson, Gilbertson, Harper, Linklater, Murray, Ollason, Rendal, Scollay, Shewan, Stewart, Stout, and White. Also, Cheyne, Christie, Couper, Coutts, Dalziel, Eunson, Gifford, Hutchison, Inkster, Isbister, Moar, Pole, Pottenger, Priest, Simpson, Scott, Spence, Watt. Less common were, Adamson, Archibald, Bartleson, Charleson, Danielson, Dickson, Donaldson, Edwardson, Erickson, Evanson, Frederickson, Gavinson, Garthson, Grierson, Harrison, Hectorson, Herculson, Hoseason, Jacobson, Jeromson, Mattewson, Neilson, Ninianson, Rogerson, Samuelson, Theodorson, Turvelson, Walterson plus others not recorded by Sandison but with ancient ties to Shetland such as Arcus, Barclay, Beattie, Copland, Guthrie, Hay, Henry, Mail, Mann, Moodie, Nisbet, Slater. Garster |
Note: Names in black are presently represented in the Project. For further information: |
For a comprehensive review of the surnames of Shetland, see Dr. Alan Beattie's book, "The Surnames of Shetland", published by the Shetland Family History Society and available also from The Shetland Times. |
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