Why did your Ancestors settle in Kirkintilloch

Old Kirkintilloch

Old Parish Records

OPR's began in Kirkintilloch in 1656. Kirkintilloch is Parish no 498 in the County of Dunbarton.


The Name

Kirkintilloch is derived from 'Caer-pen-tulach', a Celtic name (unusual for being an Old Welsh and Old Gaelic compound) translating as 'Fort at the end of the hillock'


The Early Years

A fort was established at Kirkintilloch in Roman times. The Burgh was created in 1211 and local weekly markets were held thereafter. The parish church was moved from the Old Aisle to central Kirkintilloch in 1644.


The 1700 and 1800s

In 1773 the Forth and Clyde canal came through the town establishing it as a shipbuilding area.


The establishment of the railway in the 1820s saw Kirkintilloch grow as an industrial centre for weaving and canal boating.

Another industry of note was iron founding, with the Lion Foundry and Star foundry achieving some repute. The most important products of the Lion Foundry were the famous red postboxes and phoneboxes.

Kirkintilloch was a 'dry town' for much of its recent history, with the sale of alcohol on public premises banned from 1923 until 1967.




If you would to know where your ancestors came from and what they did there then we offer three packages to suit all needs and budgets.


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