Sotan

Berneray was inhabited from prehistoric times until the 20th century; Historic Scotland have identified eighty-three archaeological sites on the island, the majority being of a pre-medieval date. There are four chambered tombs, five cists and five other sites assumed to be burial cairns, suggesting a significant settlement in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The fort of Dùn Briste (the broken fort) lies to the north west and a second site nearby dating to the Iron Age was largely destroyed during the construction of the lighthouse. A century later Edward MacQueen wrote that he believed it had served "as a pharos or watch tower". There is also the presumed site of a chapel near MacLean's Point…

<div style="float:left; margin-right: 1em;"> {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Population (a) ! Population (b) |- | 1764 | 20 | |- | 1794 | 3 families | |- | 1841 | 21 | 30 |- | 1851 | 28 | 44 |- | 1861 | 20 | 33 |}</div><div style="float:left;"> {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Population (a) ! Population (b) |- | 1871 | 20 | 38 |- | 1881 | 21 | 56 |- | 1891 | 17 | 36 |- | 1901 | – | 17 |- | 1911 | 0 | 5 |}</div> Notes: