Dunfermline

This article is about the city in Scotland. For other uses, see Dunfermline (disambiguation).

Dunfermline
Dùn Phàrlain (Scottish Gaelic)[1] Dunfaurlin (Scots)[2]
City
Dunfermline Skyline
City Centre
Nickname: 
Auld Grey Toun[3]
Dunfermline is located in Fife
Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Location within Fife
Dunfermline is located in Scotland
Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Location within Scotland
Dunfermline is located in the United Kingdom
Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Location within the United Kingdom
Dunfermline is located in Europe
Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 56°04′19″N 3°26′21″W / 56.07192°N 3.43930°W / 56.07192; -3.43930
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaFife
Lieutenancy areaFife
Area
[4][5]
 • Locality
7.7 sq mi (19.9 km2)
 • Urban
 (Settlement)
11.1 sq mi (28.8 km2)
Population
 (2022)[6]
 • Locality
54,990
 • Density7,200/sq mi (2,800/km2)
 • Urban
 (Settlement)
76,210
 • Urban density6,900/sq mi (2,600/km2)
 • Language(s)
English
Scots
Postcode areas
KY11, KY12
Area code01383
OS grid referenceNT105875
Map

Dunfermline (/dʌnˈfɜːrmlɪn/ ⓘ; Scots: Dunfaurlin, Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phàrlain) is a city, parish, and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, 3 miles (5 km) from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. Dunfermline was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of Scotland between the 11th and 15th centuries.[7]

The earliest known settlements around Dunfermline probably date to the Neolithic period, growing by the Bronze Age. The city was first recorded in the 11th century, with the marriage of Malcolm III of Scotland, and Saint Margaret at Dunfermline. As Queen consort, Margaret established a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which evolved into Dunfermline Abbey under their son David I in 1128, and became firmly established as a prosperous royal mausoleum for the Scottish Crown. A total of eighteen royals, including seven Kings, were buried here between 1093 and 1420 including Robert the Bruce in 1329.

By the 18th century, Dunfermline became a regional economic powerhouse with the introduction of the linen industry, and produced industrialists including Andrew Carnegie.[8] Dunfermline was awarded city status as part of Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours in 2022. Today, the city is a major service centre, with the largest employers being Sky UK, Amazon, Best Western, TechnipFMC, Lloyds and Nationwide.[9] Dunfermline sits on the Fife Pilgrim Way. The city currently has an estimated population of 58,508 and the greater Dunfermline area has a population of 76,210.

  1. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Ian (2003). "Scottish Gaelic Placenames" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Scotslanguage.com – Names in Scots – Places in Scotland". www.scotslanguage.com.
  3. ^ Tours of Scotland, Nicknames of Scottish Towns and Cities Archived 10 January 2013 at archive.today, retrieved on 19 August 2008. Toun is a word in Scots which can refer to any form of settlement from farm estate to burgh or city (see headword toun in Scots National Dictionary) and the reference occurs most famously in the ballad Sir Patrick Spens: The king sits in Dunfermline Toun,/ Drinking the blude-reid wine...
  4. ^ "Thomas Brinkhoff: City Population, United Kingdom: Major Cities in Scotland". Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ "City Population, United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Scotland". Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Scotland's forgotten ancient capital". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pearson10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dunfermline Economy Presentation p.4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).