That is, if it is actually DNP and not DSP or DVP or DHP!
It occurs on several pages of the New Monkland baptism register in the 1780s and 1790s. The register is laid out in rough columns, for date, parents' names, child's name and parents' residence. When it occurs, D?P is written above the place of residence.
I wondered if it might be 'Did Not Pay' but there seem to be rather a large number of such listings, and they mostly, if not all, pre-date the introduction of the short-lived fee for recording baptisms in the parish register.
Also wondered about 'Decessit vivendo patre' ('died during father's lifetime') but (a) in some of the entries it is a clear 'N', and (b) I know for certain that some of the children with the mystery annotations did not predecease their father. (Specifically, Elizabeth Waddell's brother Matthew, in his will dated 1820, describes Elizabeth as widow of John Bisset of Caldercroox, and he leaves money to these three Bisset children.)
I've attached a page so you can see what I mean. (Moderator - I considered cropping it but I think you need the whole page to see the variations.)
It has just struck me that all the annotated entries on this page are out of their chronological order - the page is dated 1792 but most of the entries are earlier.
Ideas, anyone?