Scottish Genealogy Resources
Scottish civil registration (birth, marriage and death certificates) began 1855, before that see Old Parish Records(OPR) for baptisms, marriages and (a small number of) burials, some back to 16th century.
Essential Scottish sources
- Scotland's People – https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (BMD, parish registers, 1841-1901 censuses, will index- costs)
- Scotland's Places – https://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk
- Ancestry.co.uk – https://www.ancestry.co.uk (costs)
- British History Online – https://www.british-history.ac.uk
Lewis Topographical Dictionary – https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/scotland (1846 - detailed "topographical accounts of places")
Scottish Documents – https://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue/scotland (historical documents, maps, burgh records) - FamilySearch – https://www.familysearch.org/en/ (free family history website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
FamilySearch Research Wiki – https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page (free family history guide)
Scotland Court Records – https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Scotland_Court_Records
Scottish records on FamilySearch – https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1986318?region=Scotland - findmypast.com – https://www.findmypast.co.uk (costs)
- Gazetteer for Scotland – http://www.scottish-places.info/ (geographical encyclopaedia, historical & modern, also photos & links)
History Timeline – https://www.scottish-places.info/timeline.html (access gazetteer by time) - GENUKI Scotland – https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ (contains info & is also a gateway - info about all Scotland as well as individual counties)
also Church of Scotland History – https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/Church - Historic Environment Scotland, Canmore database – https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/archives-and-collections/canmore-database/ (digital photos, maps & more)
- (The) National Archives (London) – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/results/?_q=scotland (Scottish holdings)
Catalogue search – https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk - National Library of Scotland Digital Gallery – https://digital.nls.uk/gallery/ (digitised items, documents, photos & more)
Archived books – https://archive.org/details/nationallibraryofscotland
Family history – https://digital.nls.uk/gallery/category/family-history (multiple collections)
Maps – http://maps.nls.uk/index.html (1560 to 1928)
Military lists – https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/97343435 (British Army, Navy & Air Force Lists)
Moving Image Archive – http://movingimage.nls.uk (historic films & film clips, many downloadable)
Newspaper Indexes – https://www.nls.uk/collections/newspapers/ (newspaper titles that have an index)
Post Office directories – http://digital.nls.uk/directories/ (1773 to 1911)
Scottish directories – https://archive.org/details/scottishdirectories (1773 to 1940 on Internet Archive)
Scottish history in print – https://digital.nls.uk/print/ (Scottish historical documents & transcriptions)
Valuation and voters' rolls – https://www.nls.uk/family-history/voters-rolls/ (guide) - National Records of Scotland – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk (formerly National Archives of Scotland)
Church Court Records Online – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-court-records-online (guide, with links)
Crime and Criminals – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/crime-and-criminals (guide, with links)
Education Records – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/education-records (research guide)
Irregular Border Marriage Registers – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/birth-death-and-marriage-records/irregular-border-marriage-registers (guide)
Military Records – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/military-records (guide, 1603-WWII)
Poor Relief Records – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/poor-relief-records (guide)
Sasines – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/sasines (guide)
Scotland in the First World War – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/first-world-war/ (araticles) - Scottish Archives Network (SCAN) – http://www.scan.org.uk ('internet access to the written history of Scotland', includes knowledge base FAQ)
Directory of Scottish Archives – http://www.scan.org.uk/Directory/contactdetails.htm (websites & contact details)
Highlands & Islands Emigration Society passenger lists – https://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/emigration.htm (1852-1857)
Poor Relief Registers – https://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/poor_registers_topic.htm (guide) - Registers of Scotland – https://www.ros.gov.uk (public registers of land, property and other legal documents in Scotland)
- Scottish Association of Family History Societies – https://www.safhs.org.uk (find local family history societies, pre-1841 population lists & Scottish burial grounds database)
- Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1791-1845 – https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/home (historical descriptions of places, can be browsed for free)
also http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/statistical_accounts.htm (can be downloaded and searched for free)
Other 'All Scotland' sources
- Births, Deaths & Marriages Exchange Scotland – http://www.sctbdm.com/index.php
- Clans and tartans
Clan Associations of Australia – http://www.scotsofaus.org.au/clan-associations/
Clan Mackenzie Society – http://clanmackenziesociety.co.uk
Clans – https://www.scotclans.com/pages/scottish-clans (clan information, links to clan societies, marketing)
Tartan – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan (Wikipedia)
The Scottish Register of Tartans – https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs – https://www.clanchiefs.org.uk - Deceased Online – https://www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch (tombstone information, some parts cost)
also Memento Mori – https://headstonesymbols.co.uk/memento-mori/ (headstone meanings and symbols) - Discussion - blogs, magazines, forums, general resources
Celtic Guide – http://www.thecelticguide.com (free electronic magazine about Scotland and Ireland)
Electric Scotland – http://www.electricscotland.com/ (clans, tartans, history, pictures, online books)
Happy Haggis – http://www.happyhaggis.co.uk ("Keeping genealogy free")
History Scotland – https://www.historyscotland.com (magazine, events, articles) - Dusty Docs – http://dustydocs.com/country-show/2/Scotland.html (free sites containing parish records, links to dedicated town sites)
- Scots Language
Dictionary of the Scots Language – http://www.dsl.ac.uk/ (words used 12th century to 1970s)
Glossary – http://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/glossary.htm (archaic words & phrases, mostly law terminology)
Scottish Handwriting – https://www.scottishhandwriting.com (tuition in palaeography) - Emigration
Emigration Database – http://www.abdn.ac.uk/emigration/
Highland Clearances – http://sites.rootsweb.com/~pictou/clearncs.htm (article by Iain Kerr)
Highlands & Islands Emigration Society passenger lists – https://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/emigration.htm (1852-1857)
Migration to NZ – https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/home-away-from-home/the-scots (NZ History website, origins of Scottish migrants) - Genealogy Links – http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/scotland/index.html (by region, links to databases & history & family history info)
- Geograph Britain & Ireland – https://www.geograph.org.uk/explore/places/ (by town and county, photographs)
- (The) genetic landscape of Scotland and the isles – https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/08/27/1904761116 (research report)
- Glasgow University projects
A History of Working-Class Marriage, 1855-1976 – https://digital-humanities.glasgow.ac.uk/project/?id=96
Paradox of Medieval Scotland database 1093-1286 – https://blog.history.ac.uk/2011/11/scottish-poms-the-paradox-of-medieval-scotland-1093-1286-database/
People of Medieval Scotland database 1093-1314 – http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/98809/
Redress of the Past: Historical Pageants in Britain, 1905-2016 – http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk
Scottish Way of Birth and Death – https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/ - Heraldry Society of Scotland – http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk
Court of the Lord Lyon – https://www.courtofthelordlyon.scot/index.htm (Public Register of All Armorial Bearings in Scotland) - Historic Environment Scotland – https://www.historicenvironment.scot (archives, publications, events at historic buildings)
- History of Scotland – https://www.scotland.org/about-scotland/history-timeline
- History of Unemployment – https://scottishunemployedworkers.net/history-of-unemployment/ (Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network)
- Kirk History – https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/kirk-history.html (Chris Paton, blog post)
- Jewish
Jewish Communities and Congregations in Scotland – https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Scotland.htm (JCR-UK)
Scottish Jewish Archives Centre – http://www.sjac.org.uk - Land
Land inheritance in Scotland – http://chrispatonsblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/land-inheritance-in-scotland.html (Chris Paton, blog post)
Registers of Scotland – https://www.ros.gov.uk (Public registers of property) - Lighthouses museum – http://lighthousemuseum.org.uk
- Maps
Charting the Nation – http://www.chartingthenation.lib.ed.ac.uk (University of Edinburgh)
Maps – https://maps.nls.uk (National Library of Scotland) - Military
Civilian Interment in Scotland during WWI – http://publications.aston.ac.uk/id/eprint/5613/1/YearbookIntern5.pdf (case study article)
Military lists – https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/97343435 (British Army, Navy & Air Force Lists, NLS)
National War Memorial – http://www.snwm.org
National War Museum of Scotland – https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-war-museum?item_id=
Regimental museums in Scotland – https://www.scottishmilitarydisasters.com/index.php/titles-sp-26803/64-guide-to-scottish-miliitary-museums (Scottish Military Disasters website)
Scottish Military Research Group – http://scottishmilitaryresearch.co.uk
War Memorials Project – http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com - Mining – http://www.scottishmining.co.uk
Comparative Cultural History of British Coalfields, 1780-1948 – https://pure.aber.ac.uk/ws/files/10164582/Statistical_Compendium_complete.pdf (various UK coalfields, including Scottish) - National Museums Scotland – https://www.nms.ac.uk
- Newspapers
Edinburgh Gazette – https://www.thegazette.co.uk (government newspaper from 1699, complete since 1793)
Guide to Scottish Newspaper Indexes – https://www.nls.uk/collections/newspapers/ (newspaper titles that have an index)
The Scotsman Digital Archive 1817-1950 – http://archive.scotsman.com (newspaper, free to search, costs to see articles) - Old Scottish – https://www.oldscottish.com (indexes and lookups)
- Poorhouses – http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Scotland/ (Workhouse website)
- Rampant Scotland – http://www.rampantscotland.com (links to "all things Scottish", also photos & feature articles )
- Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles – http://www.buildinghistory.org/images2.shtml (sorted by county)
- Scotland's Family – http://www.scotlandsfamily.com (free online Scottish family history records)
- Scottish Catholic Archives – https://www.catholic-heritage.net
- Scottish Genealogy Society – http://www.scotsgenealogy.com (includes online information articles)
- Scottish Gypsies – http://www.scottishgypsies.co.uk
- Scottish Indexes – https://www.scottishindexes.com/recordsets.aspx (Mental Health Records, Criminal Database, Paternity Index, Register of Deeds, Register of Sasines, pre-1841 censuses & much more)
- Scottish Marriage Index – https://www.mlfhs.uk/anglo-scots (Anglo Scots Family History Society, Marriage strays)
- Scottish Monumental Inscriptions – https://scottish-monumental-inscriptions.com (headstone photos & transcriptions, costs)
- Scottish Place-Name Society – http://spns.org.uk (articles about places, also list of parishes in Scotland)
- Scottish Record Society – http://www.scottishrecordsociety.org.uk (many publications, including electronic)
- Scottish Records – https://www.clanmacthomas.uk/pages/genealogyarticlesgtscottishrecords.html? (Clan MacThomas Genealogy)
- Scottish Witchcraft – http://www.shca.ed.ac.uk/Research/witches/ (1563-1736, University of Edinburgh project)
- Talking Scot – http://www.talkingscot.com (discussion group and information)
- Tracing Scottish ancestors – https://www.scotclans.com/tracing-your-scottish-ancestry/
- Tracing Scottish ancestors at Kew – http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/tracing-scottish-ancestors.mp3 (The National Archives UK podcast, large audio file)
- University of St Andrews Photographic Collection – https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/special-collections/photographs/ (includes Scottish photographers 1839-1870)
- Visit Scotland: experience Scotland like your ancestors – https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/research-your-ancestry/ (Genealogy website of the Scottish Tourist Board)
Regional websites
- Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire & Moray
Aberdeen & North East Scotland Family History Society – https://anesfhs.org.uk/guest-home
Aberdeen City Archives – https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/aberdeen-city-and-aberdeenshire-archives/catalogues-and-indexes/ (city archives)
Aberdeenshire & Moray records – https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/registrars/aberdeenshire-and-moray-records/ (county archives)
Moray Burial Ground Research Group – http://www.mbgrg.org
Moray Local Heritage – http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp - Argyl
Early Scottish Monarches – https://www.royal.uk/early-scottish-monarchs
History of Argyll and Bute – https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-community/local-history-and-heritage/history-argyll-and-bute
Inveraray Jail – http://www.inverarayjail.co.uk (includes database of prisoners & also of transported prisoners) - Ayrshire
Ayrshire Archives – http://www.ayrshirearchives.org.uk (county archives)
Ayrshire History – http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk
Ayrshire Roots – https://www.ayrshireroots.co.uk (databases - newspapers, poor relief, surnames & more)
Ayrshire Working Lives – https://www.workinglives.org.uk (photographs)
Beith Cultural & Heritage Society – https://beithtownhouse.co.uk
British County Flags: A Flag for Ayrshire – https://britishcountyflags.com/2016/11/16/a-flag-for-ayrshire/ (blog post)
Cumnock History Group – https://cumnockhistorygroup.org
East Ayrshire Family History Society – https://eastayrshirefhs.co.uk
East Ayrshire History – https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/TourismAndVisitorAttractions/LocalHistoryAndHeritage/History.aspx
Gazetteer of Ayrshire (1750-1800) – https://aanhsorg.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/gazetteer-of-ayrshire.pdf
Kilmarnock & District History Group – https://www.kilmarnockhistory.co.uk
Kilwinning Heritage – https://www.kilwinningheritage.org.uk
Maybole Historical Society – http://www.maybole.org
North Ayrshire Council Yesterdays – https://www.flickr.com/photos/44850481@N05/sets/ (photographs)
North Ayrshire Family History Society – http://northayrshirefhs.org.uk
Three Towners – http://www.threetowners.com (Ardrossan, Stevenston & Saltcoats in Ayrshire)
Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society – https://www.troonayrshirefhs.org.uk (Ardrossan, Stevenston & Saltcoats in Ayrshire) - Borders Family History Society – http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk (for Berwickshire, Peebleshire, Roxburghshire & Selkirkshire)
- Central Scotland Family History Society – http://www.csfhs.org.uk
- Clackmannanshire Archives – https://www.clacks.gov.uk/culture/archives/ (county archives)
- Dumfries, Galloway & Wigtownshire
Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society – http://www.dgfhs.org.uk
Dumfries Historical Indexes – https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/HistoricalIndexes/ (county archives)
Dumfries Poor Board Minutes – https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/HistoricalIndexes/Home/IndexDescription/9 (county archives)
Wigtownshire Families – http://www.wigtownshirefamilies.co.uk - Dundee
Dundee Family History – https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/fh_guide.pdf (county archives)
Dundee Poorhouse Records – https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Poorhouses.pdf (county archives)
Tay Valley Family History Society – https://tayvalleyfhs.org.uk (Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and North Fife) - Fife
Fife Family History Society – http://www.fifefhs.org
ONFife – https://www.onfife.com/libraries-archives/archives (county archives) - Highlands
Am Baile (Highland History & Culture) – https://www.ambaile.org.uk
also Jacobites – https://www.ambaile.org.uk/search/?searchQuery=jacobites
Badbea Clearance Village – http://www.badbeafamilies.com (Caithness)
Clan Donald, Isle of Skye – https://www.armadalecastle.com/?/heritage/category/C16/ (Armadale Castle & Museum of the Isles)
High Life Highland – https://www.highlifehighland.com/archives-service/ (county archives)
Highland Destitution Report – https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008685184 (1848)
Raasay Heritage Trust – http://www.angelfire.com/il2/raasayheritagetrust/genealogy.html (Isle of Raasay, Ross-shire)
Skye Roots – http://www.skye-roots.co.uk (Isles of Skye and Raasay) - Lanarkshire
Family History at the Mitchell – https://www.glasgowfamilyhistory.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Mitchell Library)
also Poor Law from 1845 – https://www.glasgowfamilyhistory.org.uk/ExploreRecords/Pages/Poor-Law.aspx
also Virtual Mitchell – http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/virtualmitchell/ (historical photos)
Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society – http://www.gwsfhs.org.uk
The Glasgow Story – http://www.theglasgowstory.com (Illustrations, history, maps)
Lanarkshire Family History Society – http://www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk
North Lanarkshire Archives – https://culturenl.co.uk/museums/archives-and-local-history-museums/north-lanarkshire-archives/ (county archives)
Thomas Annan's Glasgow – https://digital.nls.uk/learning/thomas-annan-glasgow/ (NLS, photos) - Lothians
Capital Collections – https://www.capitalcollections.org.uk (photos & stories)
Library Museum Archive Archaeology (John Gray Centre) – https://www.johngraycentre.org/about/archives/ (Archives & Local History, East Lothian)
Linlithgow Poorhouse Records 1859-1912 – https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/scotland-linlithgowshire-west-lothian-poorhouse-records-1859-1912 (West Lothian)
Lothian Health Services Archive – http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/family/index.htm (patient, nurse, doctor, hospital employee records)
Lothians Family History Society – http://www.lothiansfamilyhistorysociety.co.uk
Old and New Edinburgh – http://www.oldandnewedinburgh.co.uk (digitised periodical from 1880s)
Poor Law Guide – https://www.johngraycentre.org/about/archives/poor-law-research-guide-3/ (East Lothian)
West Lothian Family History Society – http://www.wlfhs.org.uk - Orkney
Orkney Genealogy – http://www.cursiter.com (including Caithness & Shetlands Isles)
Orkney Library & Archive – https://orkneylibrary.org.uk (county archives)
Sib Folk – http://www.orkneyfhs.co.uk (Orkney Family History Society) - Perth & Kinross Archives – https://www.culturepk.org.uk/archive-local-family-history/ (county archives)
- Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire Archives – https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/archives (county archives)
Renfrewshire Family History Society – http://www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk - Shetland
Shetland Family History Society – http://www.shetland-fhs.org.uk
Shetland Museum & Archives – https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk - Stirling Council Archives – https://www.stirling.gov.uk/libraries-archives/archives/