1961 in Scotland

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – John Maclay

  Law officers

• Lord Advocate – William Grant
• Solicitor General for Scotland – David Colville Anderson

  Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Clyde
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Thomson
• Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Gibson

  Events

• 3 March – Holy Loch becomes the United States Navy's FBM Refit Site One and home base to its Submarine Squadron 14 with the arrival of tender USS Proteus.
• 10 May – St. Andrew's Catholic Cathedral in Dumfries is destroyed by fire.
• 17 May – Rangers F.C. become the first British team to reach a European final but lose the first leg of the Final of the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup at Ibrox, 2:0.
• 27 May – Rangers lose the second leg of the Final of the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup, 2:1, to lose over the two legs by 4:1.
• 1 September – Border Television goes on air.
• 16 September – three people die and 35 are injured when a stand collapses during a Rangers F.C. football match at Ibrox Park.
• 16–17 September – remnants of Atlantic Hurricane Debbie track across Scotland.
• 30 September – Grampian Television goes on air.
• 13 October – the British Motor Corporation's Bathgate Lorry Plant begins production.
• 16 November – Glasgow Bridgeton by-election: Labour retains the seat although the Scottish National Party achieves 18%, only narrowly failing to take second place.
• Completion of Howford Bridge carrying the A76 road over River Ayr near Catrine ; and new Ness Bridge in Inverness.
• Remains of Rosneath House blown up.
• Release of short documentary film Seawards the Great Ships, which will be the first Scottish film to win an Academy Award.
• Caithness Glass established in Wick, Caithness, by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso.

  Births

• 20 January – Janey Godley, comedian and writer
• 14 February – Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions
• 1 April – Susan Boyle, singer
• 6 April – Rory Bremner, impressionist, playwright and comedian
• 14 April – Robert Carlyle, actor
• 22 April – Ann McKechin, Labour MP from 2001
• 6 May – Tom Hunt, entrepreneur and philanthropist
• 7 May – Sue Black, forensic anthropologist
• 13 May – Ralph Milne, footballer
• 16 May – Sarah Boyack, Labour MSP from 1999
• 5 June – Rosie Kane, born Rosemary McGarvey, Socialist MSP from 2003 to 2007
• 22 June – Jimmy Somerville, pop singer
• 24 June – Iain Glen, actor
• 10 July – Carol Anne Davis, crime writer
• 18 September – Michael McMahon, Labour MSP from 2011
• 22 September – Liam Fox, Conservative MP from 1992
• 9 November – Jackie Kay, poet and novelist
• 23 December – Carol Smillie, television presenter
• 29 December – Jim Reid, alternative rock singer-songwriter
• 2 December – Richard Quinn, jockey
• 30 December – Charlie Nicholas, international footballer
• W. N. Herbert, poet
• Kevin Williamson, political activist

  Deaths

• 30 January – John Duncan Fergusson, Scottish Colourist painter
• 1 October – Sir William Reid Dick, sculptor
• 13 October – John MacCormick, lawyer and advocate of Home Rule

  The arts

• Muriel Spark's novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is published.
• Marmalade formed as The Gaylords in Baillieston.