Edinburgh Burgh (Burgh) through time

Edinburgh Burgh (Burgh)

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

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.

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.

Formal status

The unit has had the following statuses:

Status	Abbreviation	Start	End	Authority
Royal Burgh	RoBu	between 1124 and 1127	1975	1851 Census of Great Britain, Population tables 2, Table [1] , 'Population Abstract'
Police Burgh	PoBu	1800s	1975	1911 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 3 , 'Population of Civil Parishes since 1801'

Lower level units

This unit contained the following units:

Name	Type	Authority
CANONGATE	Scottish Parish	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
EDINBURGH	Scottish Parish	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
NORTH LEITH	Scottish Parish	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
SOUTH LEITH	Scottish Parish	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
ST CUTHBERT	Scottish Parish	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.

Higher level units

This unit was part of the following units:

Name	Type	Start	End	Authority
EDINBURGH ScoCofC	Scottish County	1911	1975	The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
MIDLOTHIAN	Scottish County		1930	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.

Boundaries and changes

Base layer:

Show boundary:

If the boundaries of the Scottish Burgh/District 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, Edinburgh Burgh (Burgh) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10359340

Date accessed: 08th April 2026