Scottish Ancestry Research

Where to start your search

  Spend some time with your elders.

Speak with older relatives, listen to and note what they have to say about the past.

Too often we do not pay attention to what they tell us.

When they have gone we realise that their knowledge has died with them.

Once you have found as much information as you can then it is time to call on my services » ».

The archives I use include:-

STATUTORY RECORDS

1855 was the year when Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths became compulsory in Scotland.

CENSUS RETURNS

A Census of the population is taken every ten years. The years open to the general public are from 1841-1901. These census returns are an interesting and important source of social history.

OLD PARISH REGISTERS

Prior to 1855 the main source of information is the Parish Registers of the Established Church of Scotland. They contain births, marriages and deaths.

If your ancestors belonged to a different religion from the Church of Scotland it may be more difficult to locate them.

OTHER USEFUL SOURCES

International Genealogical Index.

Kirk Session Minutes; Post Office Directories.

Wills; Maps; Memorial Inscriptions.

Minor Church Records; Register of Deeds.

Register of Sasines (transfer of heritable property).