1. Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1881-2001: numbers and proportions in areas of different intensity Source: Census Scotland 1881, Gaelic Return; Census Scotland 1891, Part 1, Table 1 pp 2 – 18; Duwe, K.C. 2005 Scottish Gaelic local studies Vols 21, 22, 26, 27; Census Scotland 1931, Table 54; Gaelic Reports 1961-2001. Copyright © 2007 K. MacKinnon: SGRÙD Research

2. Table 1A: Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1881 - 1911 Incidence of Gaelic speakers 1881 Census No % 1891 Census No % 1901 Census No % 1911 Census No % 70% + 154,89666.88123,84848.68104,26845.18 98,78948.81 50-69% 31,29713.51 40,58815.95 29,83212.93 24,45312.08 25-49% 20,239 8.74 25,373 9.97 30,56913.24 25,34012.52 Nat rate - 24% 6,419 2.77 9,839 3.87 8,617 3.73 11,258 5.56 Below nat rate 18,743 8.10 54,76721.53 57,52024.92 42,55821.03 Total 231,594100.0254,415100.0 230,806100.0202,398100.0 National rate 6.76% 6.84% 5.57% 4.56%

3. Table 1B: Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1921 - 1961 Incidence of Gaelic speakers 1921 Census No % 1931 Census No % 1951 Census No % 1961 Census No % 70% + 74,18646.72 64,54547.41 38,17540.00 32,77040.47 50-69% 8,258 5.20 4,0412.97 9,67410.13 5,179 6.39 25-49% 22,09813.92 16,68012.25 5,8846.16 6,238 7.70 Nat rate - 24% 14,2438.97 14,89210.94 14,97415.69 12,44315.37 Below nat rate 40,00325.19 35,97726.43 26,74028.02 24,34830.07 Total 158,779100.0136,135100.0 95,447100.0 80,978 1.66 National rate 3.47% 2.97% 1.98% 1.66%

4. Table 1C: Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1971–2001 Incidence of Gaelic speakers 1971 Census No % 1981 Census No % 1991 Census No % 2001 Census No % 70% + 16,69018.88 13,04016.44 10,32915.66 4,7748.14 50-69% 12,93514.63 13,68617.26 10,73716.27 1,77720.08 25-49% 6,350 7.18 6,0167.59 4,733 7.17 3,220 5.49 Nat rate- 24% 14,31016.18 14,05417.72 13,37620.27 13,14022.40 Below nat rate 38,13043.13 32,51140.99 26,80340.63 25,74143.89 Total 88,413100.0 79,307100.0 65,978100.0 58,652100.0 National rate 1.79% 1.64% 1.37% 1.20%

5. Fig. 1A: Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1881 – 2001

6. Fig. 1B: Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1881 – 2001

7. Table 2A: Gaelic speakers in Highland and Lowland areas 1881-1931 Area / Census year 188118911901191119211931 Argyllshire 46,50343,76237,74131,69525,18821,234 Buteshires 3,725 3,511 2,784 2,081 1,453 934 Caithness 3,422 4,144 2,896 1,685 1,003 633 Inverness 64,04161,36055,00348,78039,89234,455 Nairnshire 1,980 2,540 1,335 929 537 410 Perthshire Hld+Wn Dist 8,70210,331 8,335 6,636 4,835 3,741 Ross & Cromarty 56,08656,01451,46346,92640,33934,455 Sutherland 17,60015,90114,55211,839 8,867 6,794 Total Highld counties &% 202,059 87.23% 197,563 77.65% 174,109 75.44% 150,571 74.39% 122,114 76.91% 102,656 75.41% Total Lowld counties &% 29,535 12.75% 56,852 22.34% 56,697 24.56% 51,827 25.61% 36,665 23.09% 33,479 24.59%

8. Table 2B: Gaelic speakers in Highland and Lowland areas 1951-2001 County area /Census year 195119611971 Cncl area / Cnsus yr 198119912001 Argyllshire 13,099 9,770 7,825 Argyll &Bute less Lomond 6,155 4,583 3,847 Buteshires 421 240 245 Arran & Cumbrae 88 84 93 Caithness 270 233 410 Eileanan Siar 23,44719,54615,723 Inverness 24,67220,51818,740 Highland Council 16,632 9,998 8,670 Nairnshire 140 144 175 Perthshire Hld+Wn Dis 1,653 1,096 775 Perth & Krs Hld parishes 516 433 429 Ross & Cromarty 26,41022,65219,510 Stirling Hld parishes 252 190 219 Sutherland 3,286 2,422 1,815 Total Highld counties &% 69,951 73.29% 57,075 70.48% 49,495 55.98% Total Highld counties &% 47,090 59.38% 34,834 52.80% 28,981 49.41% Total Lowld counties &% 25,496 26.71% 23,903 29.52% 38,920 44.02% Total Lowld counties &% 32,217 40,62% 31,144 47.20% 29,671 50.59%

9. Fig 2A: Gaelic speakers in Highland and Lowland areas 1881-2001 - numbers Source: GROS 1931 Census, Table 54; 1961 Gaelic Report Table 3; 1971 Gaelic Report, Table A; 1981 Census LBS, p. 9, Table 40; 2001Gaelic Report, Tables 1, 3.

10. Fig 2B: Gaelic speakers in Highland and Lowland areas 1881-2001 - numbers Source: GROS 1931 Census, Table 54; 1961 Gaelic Report Table 3; 1971 Gaelic Report, Table A; 1981 Census LBS, p. 9, Table 40; 2001Gaelic Report, Tables 1, 3.

11. Gaelic speakers by area of incidence 1881 - 2001 Tables 1A-C and Figures 1A and 1B indicate the numbers and proportions of Gaelic speakers at successive censuses resident in areas of differing Gaelic incidence. Incidence of 70% + of Gaelic speakers indicates areas where Gaelic is likely to predominate in everyday speech encounters. Incidence of 50% + of Gaelic speakers indicate areas where they comprise a local majority. Areas at or above the national rate for Gaelic speakers define the extent of the traditional Gaidhealtachd or Gaelic-speaking area. In 1881 two-thirds (66.9%) of all Gaelic speakers lived in areas of Gaelic predominant everyday speech, and four out of five (80.4%) in majority areas - in 1891 almost half (48.7%) and two-thirds (64.6%) respectively. By 2001 the language-group had contracted to just under a quarter (23.1%) of its size in 1891. In 2001 only 8.1% of Gaelic speakers lived in Gaelic-predominant parishes, or one in ten (10.4% ) at census ward level. and only just over a quarter (28.2%) lived in Gaelic-majority parishes.

12. Gaelic speakers in Highlands and Lowlands 1881 - 2001 Tables and Figures 2A and 2B indicate the numbers and proportions of Gaelic speakers at successive censuses resident in Highland and Lowland areas. At the end of the 19 th Century over three-quarters of all Gaelic speakers lived in the traditional Highland area or Gaidhealtachd. At the beginning of the 21 st Century, the language group had contracted to under a quarter (23.1%) of its size in 1891, with under half (49.4%) of all Gaelic speakers living in the Highland area. In the Western Isles 12 of the 16 census wards had Gaelic-speaking majorities. Of these only 6 were regenerating speech-communities. The majority of Gaelic speakers (50.6%) resident in Lowland areas calls for policy initiatives effectively to promote:- 1) Gaelic transmission in families with Gaelic speakers; 2) accessible Gaelic education to back up initiatives in the home; 3) local Gaelic social networks; and 4) quality Gaelic-medium media available throughout Scotland.