Kilmarnock - a Historical Survey
KILMARNOCK - A HISTORICAL SURVEY by Dr John Strawhorn A paper on the general history of Kilmarnock. The complete paper was presented by the late Dr. Strawhorn at our first evening class on October 8th, 1974. The original manuscript (complete with references) is held by the Dick Institute. PART ONE - ORIGIN OF THE NAME Of the origins and early history of Kilmarnock, hardly anything is known. Around 1605 Timothy Pont wrote: ‘It hath a pretty church from vich ye village, Castle, and Lordschipe takes its name. It was built by the Locarts, Lord of it and dedicat to a holy man Mernock as vitnesses ye Records of Kilwinin abbay.’ In the long period of more than three centuries since these words were written, various writers have elaborated on this statement, but added in fact no further information. In the Old Statistical Account, Rev. James Mackinlay declared (1792): ‘The name Kilmarnock, or Cellmarnock, is evidently derived from St. Marnock, who is said to have been a bishop or confessor in Scotland. He died, A.D. 322, and probably was interred here.’ George Robertson wrote (1820): ‘The name is supposed to be derived from a St. Marnock, whose cell or kil, a residence or place of sepulture, is thought to have been here. Such a Saint is stated to have died A.D. 322. But Kilmarnock, as a place, is not mentioned in history till near 1000 years after.’ In the New Statistical Account, Rev. David Strang (1839) reiterated the same facts, and doubts: ‘The name Kilmarnock evidently means the cell of Marnock, who is said to have been a bishop or confessor in Scotland in the beginning of the fourth century.’ Alexander McKay in the first edition of his History of Kilmarnock (1848) elaborated the same theme: ‘The origin of Kilmarnock, like that of many other towns of importance, is involved in considerable obscurity ..
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