The Counties or Shires of Scotland were geographical subdivisions of the country established in the Middle Ages. They ceased to be used for local government purposes after 1975 when they were replaced with larger administrative regions. For the present purposes, given the time frame of the major Italian emigrations to Scotland, the shires provide a useful way of indexing the geographical distribution. 

Glasgow, although then part of Lanark, given its scale, is listed as a separate category. At the other end of the spectrum, Orkney and Shetland are listed together.

AberdeenAngusArgyllAyrBanff, Berwick,

Bute, CaithnessClackmannanDumfries, 

Dunbarton, East Lothian, FifeGlasgowInverness

Kincardine, Kinross, KirkcudbrightLanark (excluding Glasgow)

Midlothian (inc. Edinburgh

Moray

 NairnOrkney and Shetland

Peebles, PerthRenfrew, Ross and CromartyRoxburgh

Selkirk, Stirling, Sutherland, West LothianWigtownshire.