10 Scottish Family History Websites
10 Scottish Family History Websites of use when researching Scottish family history.
A few of the sites are portals which take you to other useful and interesting collections of information, while others are Record Offices and Archives. I hope you find what you are looking for. Sites are listed in no specific order.
- Scotlands Family – The site in their words is a ‘one-stop’ shop for all do-it-yourself Scottish family historians, with their aim being to point you to free on-line data. Well worth a look!
- ScotlandsPeople – The on-line face of the National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon. Look here for births, marriage and deaths; Old Parish Registers; Catholic Registers; Census; Service Records; Wills and much more. This site is a pay-per-view site – credits being purchased in 30 credit vouchers to allow both searching and viewing. Sadly, even a search costs. On the plus side your purchases and searched are remembered, so going back to view your purchases is not a problem. I do wish they would do an annual fee!
- Genuki Scotland – A site that has been around for years but still worth a look as its pages are always updated with new information and websites links.
- National Library of Scotland (Family History) – What would you expect from a library….books, books and more books. With the libraries collection covering various topics including: local history; newspapers; voters rolls, gravestones, emigration, clubs. There is also an India collection – did your family have a commercial or military connection to India, if so this may be the place to look.
- Scotland – Although the focus of this website is about Scotland in general, there is a handy little section entitled ‘Getting started in Scottish genealogy’. A question and answer based help page giving hints, tips and useful information for beginners and veteran researchers alike. Other pages on the site are full of information about visiting, living and working in Scotland plus a features page of informative articles
- FamilySearch (Scottish Genealogy – No matter where you are researching in the world FamilySearch has a section for you. The Scottish page is packed with information and links to useful and informative websites to aid your research. If you are looking for a map or a specific surname look no further.
- GlobalGenealogy – Again, a collection of useful websites, but this time there are one or two that seem to not only aid research but help with deciphering that newly found data.
- Old Maps – Search for a town or village and view the map but to view in detail there is a subscription cost. Depending on your needs you may find the fee worthwhile but the amount of maps available is worth a look.
- The Federation of Family History Societies or Scottish Association of Family History Societies – Joining a family history society could be the next step in your research. Their members may be able to assist your further research, or connect you with researchers who have the same or similar interests. The local knowledge of these local societies is outstanding.
- The Happy Haggis – Another collection of links divided and indexed by subject, well worth a look.