Poll Books
The 1696 Poll Books for 43 of the Paroch/Parishes in Aberdeenshire are published by the A&NES FHS. A full list of the 94 Parishes covered by the books can be viewed below or online in the publications section of the Society's website.
Each Poll Book contains one or more maps of parish or parishes in 1696 giving place names and a full list of occupations. The former, and to a lesser extent the latter, can be very helpful in trying to decipher OPR records.
All records that pertain to Anderson or Andersones have been extracted and loaded onto a database. We will be pleased to search this database for clues to help people researching early Anderson families. Please use the queries form.
About 20% of the Anderson records make specific reference to a named relative - usually a spouse
The total number of people covered by these booklets is 50,770 of which there were 25,958 males, 24,225 females and 587 others. There are 781 references to individuals with the name of Anderson or Andersone.
It is quite probable that there is an element of double counting both within individual booklets and across parishes.
The actual details in the Poll Books about people is relatively brief but can offer some very good clues to family history researchers who have got back that far in their research. The records cover the people of Aberdeenshire in the 1690s who were subject to a Poll Tax . It is suggested that the Poll covered all those aged 16 and over but not beggars!
However a number of books refer to children - sometimes by name - but it is unclear whether they have been included in the statistics. Some parishes DO however count the number of children so all statistics should be viewed with a degree of scepticism.
One such book covers Old Deer and Longside. In, for example, the Parish of Old Deer there were 3 named people called Anderson and 11 called Andersone. One - An Andrew Andersone - a grassman was living at Parkhouse and Windhill - as was Elspet Andersone who was a grasswoman.
(The OED shows the first use of Grassland in 1686 so presumerably a grass (person!) tended or cut the grasslands.)
We have come across a lot of occupations of which we were previously unaware. We hope to research these and in put a link on this page.
In regard to occupations, placenames and first/second the records themselves often use phonetic spelling - this Margaret/Margrat, Tayleor/Tailor/Taylor, Miln/Milne/Myln etc. Nevertheless these books do offer invaluable links to the past.
It is recommended that you consider purchasing the book(s) for the area(s) that are of particular interest to you as they are very reasonably priced and many would feel that the maps alone justify the cost. They are available from the usual outlets such as ANES FHS and the Scottish Genealogy Society.
Please click here to see an example of the type of information available.
We will be happy to look up our records to see if the Anderson you are researching are listed in any of these booklets and to point you in the right direction. Please use this link to the Queries and Feedback page
List of Poll Books - 1696
(The number of Andersons / Andersones in each parish is shown in brackets)
Aberdeen & Freedom Lands (56)
Aberdour (5) & Tyrie (13)
Alford (4) & Forbes (2) & Tullynessle (4)
Auchredie (New Deer) (21)
Belhelvie (6) & New Machar (5)
Clatt (14) & Kinnethmond (19)
Coull (3) & Lumphanan (1)
Crathie (0) & Braemar (0)
Cruden (16)
Daviot (8) & Bethelnie (2) & Bourtie (13)
Drumblade (5) & Forgue (9)
Drumoak (0) & Peterculter (2) & Half Banchory (0)
Dyce (6) & Fintray (8) & Newhills (8)
Ellon (12)
Foveran (11) & Udny (8)
Fraserburgh (10) & Pitsligo (9)
Fyvie (20)
Glen Tanar (0) & Aboyne (5) & Birse (12)
Glenbucket (1) & Cabrach (5) & Invernochtie (4)
Insch (27) & Culsalmond (27) & Rayne (8)
Kearn (4) & Kildrummy (1) & Auchindoir (5)
Keithhall (3) & Kinkell (6) & Kintore (9)
Kemnay(2) & Moneymusk(12)
Kincardine O'Neil (18) & Cluny (13)
King Edward (6) & Monquhitter (4)
Leslie (25) & Premnay (17) & Oyne (19)
Lochel (2) & Cushnie (2) & Kinbetach (Towie) (9)
Logie Durno (22) & Inverurie (14)
Lonmay (4) & Crimond (12)
Midmar (3) & Kinnernie (1) & Echt (1)
Old Deer (18) & Longside (3)
Old Machar & Old Toun Aberdeen (35)
Peterhead (2)
Rathen (4) & Strichen (1)
Skene (1) & Kinellar (1)
Slains (1) & Logie Buchan (0)
Strathbogie - Dumbennan (18) & Gartley (3) & Rhynie & Essie (10)
Strathbogie - Glass (3) & Kinnoir(1) & Ruthven/Botarie (3)
Tarland & Migvie (15) & Logiemar & Coldstone (10)
Tarves (10) & Methlick (7)
Touch (Tough) (15) & Keig (19)
Tullich (1) & Glengairdine (0) & Glenmuick (0)
Turriff (8) & Auchterless (11)
