What category should a parish in Forfarshire Scotland be allocated to?

Question

An individual was born in 1891 at Aberlemno, Forfarshire, Scotland. There is a Forfarshire, Angus category but should I use that or create an Aberlemno, Scotland category? Or something else - Aberlemno, Forfarshire or Aberlemno, Angus or ?

Comments

John, This was a good question as the names Angus and Forfarshire stand for the same county of Scotland. Angus was the ancient name indeed very early it was often linked with the fertile area immediately North -East of it which together were referred to as Angus cum Morne  = Angus and The Mearns. From early Scots time there were the Mormars of Angus who about 1200 became Earls of Angus. Forfar was a Royal Burgh and was the county town but Dundee was the largest settlement and was also a burgh , (pronounced burrow). Around 19th Century the name Forfarshire was predominant ( and there was no longer an Earl of Angus) From  early 20th Century the name reverted to Angus. Thus Angus is the correct county name for Aberlemno. Should you visit it, do not miss the wonderfully inscribed Pictish stones by the roadside and in the churchyard.

Jack

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Thanks, Jack.

My query arose because [[Simpson-7976|Allan Hay Simpson]] was born at Aberlemno around 1891, when the county name would have probably been Forfarshire?

I thought WikiTree's policy was to record places according to the contemporary names?

Answer 1

Hi John,   Please use Aberlemno, Angus.   Thank you.