Birsay and Harray Parish through time

Birsay and Harray Parish

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.

Alternative names

The following alternate names exist for this unit:

Name	Status	Language	Authority
BIRSAY AND HARRAY	Preferred	English	1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
BRISAY	Alternate	English	1871 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Scotland in Civil Counties and Parishes, showing the Acreage, the number of Families, of Houses Inhabited, Uninhabited, and Building; the number of the total Population and of Persons of each Sex; the number of Children from 5 to 13 years of age in the receipt of Education; the number of Rooms with Windows; the number of Persons temporarily absent or present in each Parish or subdivision thereof on the 3d April 1871. For comparison's sake, there is added the number of Families, Persons of each Sex, Houses, and Rooms, with Windows in 1861'.
HARRAY AND BIRSAY	Alternate	English	1861 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Scotland in Civil Counties and Parishes, showing the numbers of Families; of Houses Inhabited, Uninhabited, and Building; of Males, Females, and Both Sexes; of Children at School the first week of April 1861; of all in the receipt of Education; of Rooms with Windows; and of the Temporarily Absent and Temporarily Present. The Parishes arranged alphabetically under each County'.

Other related units

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association	Other unit involved	Type of unit	Authority
was preceded by	BIRSAY	Scottish Parish	1831 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
was preceded by	HARRAY	Scottish Parish	1831 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.

Higher level units

This unit was part of the following units:

Name	Type	Start	End	Authority
ORKNEY	Scottish County	1845	1975	1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
ORKNEY AND SHETLAND	Scottish County			1831 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
ORKNEY	Scottish Poor Law Combination			Higginbotham, History of the Workhouse

Boundaries and changes

Base layer:

Show boundary:

If the boundaries of the Scottish Parish changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Birsay and Harray Parish through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10036197

Date accessed: 08th April 2026