The Burgar/Burgess families in Shetland

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Population and distribution of the people of Shetland.

Population Numbers

In 1600, the population of Shetland was estimated to be 10,000, but by 1750 the population had grown to about 15,000. At the present time the population of Shetland is about 22,000.  In the past century, the population was much the same, sometimes a little higher.

Towns in Shetland

There are only 2 major towns in Shetland;  Lerwick, the capital, which now has a population of about 7,000; and Skelloway, with a population of about 1000. 

Originally, Skelloway was the main town in Shetland and was the seat of Government and Lerwick was smaller.  In 1700 Lwerwick had a population of only about 700.

In earlier times the main bulk of the population lived in scattered small hamlets, but in Shetland they are referred to as ‘townships’.  A township comprises the housing and surrounding land.  The land usually comprises cultivated land for crops and rough land on the hillsides used for the grazing of sheep and cattle.  In addition there are the bleaker hills which are used as a source of peat, necessary for heating and cooking.  A township may have had about 10 to 50 houses, but in the latter case, they would be widely dispersed.

In past centuries most Shetlanders would have been crofters and fishermen. 

Where did the population come from?

In 1600, it was estimated  one third of the Shetland population of 10,000 were Scotsmen.  In Dunrossness it is thought that half the population were Scots. 

The patronymic method of naming used in Norse times always added 'son'  or 'dochter' to a persons name.

See Patronymic method of naming children.

In 1694 the Baillie Court rolls showing persons living in the parish of Dunrossness, only about 15% of the tenants had a 'son' ending to their name.   This maybe suggests that the Scots proportion of the population had increase considerable during the 17th Century.

See surnames in the Ballie Court Rolls of 1694.

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