Stonehaven (; ) is a town in
Aberdeenshire,
Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 11,602 (Scotland's Census 2011). After the demise of the town of Kincardine, which was gradually abandoned after the destruction of its Royal castle in the Wars of Independence, the Scottish Parliament made Stonehaven the successor
county town of
Kincardineshire. Stonehaven had grown around an
Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" ("old town"), and expanded inland from the seaside. As late as the 16th century, old maps indicate the town was called
Stonehyve, Stonehive,
Pont also adding the alternative
Duniness. It is known informally to locals as
Stoney.