It derives from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine and Angus in north-eastern Scotland.

[citation needed] The cattle have been exported to many countries of the world; there are large populations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South America and the United States,[6] where it has developed into two separate and distinct breeds, the American Angus and Red Angus.

[7] For some time before the 1800s, the hornless cattle in Angus were called "Angus Doddies", while those in the historic province of Buchan (later part of Aberdeenshire) were known as "Buchan Humlies",[8]: 12  both "doddie" and "humlie" meaning “polled.”[8]: 36 In 1824, William McCombie of Tillyfour, later the Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire, began to improve the stock and is regarded today as the father of the breed.

[10] As stated in the fourth volume of the Herd Book of the UK's Angus, this breed was introduced to Argentina in 1879 when "Don Carlos Guerrero" imported one bull and two cows for his Estancia "Charles" located in Juancho, Partido de General Madariaga, Provincia de Buenos Aires.

The OAC went on to import additional bulls and cows, eventually began selling Aberdeen Angus cattle in 1881.

However, in 1917 the Association barred the registering of red and other coloured animals in an effort to promote a solid black breed.

It was formed because the breeders had had their cattle struck off the herd book for not conforming to the changed breed standard regarding colour.

[17] Because of their native environment, the cattle are very hardy and can survive the Scottish winters, which are often harsh, with snowfall and storms.

This has led to many markets, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom to adopt it into the mainstream.