History of the Jews in Scotland

Scottish Jews
Iùdhaich na h-Alba
יהודים סקוטיים
שאָטישע ייִדן
Total population
5,847 – 0.1% (2022 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
East Renfrewshire1,511 – 1.6%
City of Edinburgh1,270 – 0.25%
Glasgow City973 – 0.16%
Languages
Scottish English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Hebrew, Yiddish
Religion
Judaism
Historical Population
YearPop.±%
20016,448—    
20115,887−8.7%
20225,847−0.7%
Religious Affiliation was not recorded in the census prior to 2001.
Source: National Records of Scotland
The location of Scotland (dark green) in the United Kingdom in Europe
Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow

The history of the Jews in Scotland goes back to at least the 17th century. It is not known when Jews first arrived in Scotland, with the earliest concrete historical references to a Jewish presence in Scotland being from the late 17th century.[2] Most Scottish Jews today are of Ashkenazi background who mainly settled in Edinburgh, then in Glasgow in the mid-19th century. In 2013 the Edinburgh Jewish Studies Network curated an online exhibition based on archival holdings and maps in the National Library of Scotland exploring the influence of the community on the city.[3]

According to the 2011 census, 5,887 Jews lived in Scotland; a decline of 8.7% from the 2001 census.[4] The total population of Scotland at the time was 5,313,600, making Scottish Jews 0.1% of the population.

  1. ^ "Scotland's Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion - Chart data". Scotland's Census. National Records of Scotland. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024. Alternative URL 'Search data by location' > 'All of Scotland' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Religion'
  2. ^ Daiches, Salis (1929). The Jew in Scotland. Scottish Church History Society. pp. 196–209. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Exhibition: Edinburgh Jews". Edinburgh Jewish Studies Network. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Scotland's Census 2011 – Table KS209SCb" (PDF). scotlandscensus.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2013.,