Scottish Genealogy Guides & Resources
Here are some handy family history guides and useful websites to help you find your Scottish ancestry.
Scottish Surnames
Do you have a Scottish family name and you’d like to find out more about its meaning, its origins, its history and lots of other interesting information?
Click here to see my growing resource on Scottish surnames.
Handy Guides
Download one of these handy free guides to help you grow your family tree:
Starting Your Scottish Family Tree
7 helpful tips to get you started with your family research
A Guide To The ScotlandsPeople Centre
Learn how to use the official government source of genealogical data for Scotland
Useful Websites
Here is a selection of websites that can help you with your Scottish family history research:
Ancestry
is one the largest genealogical database available online. Many Scottish records have been indexed and there is a 14-day free trial.
British Newspaper Archive
Many Scottish newspapers have been digitised and your ancestor may appear in an article, family notice or obituary.
Visit British Newspaper Archive here.
Family Search
is free to register and it has a huge collection of worldwide records, inluding Scottish records. Visit Family Search here.Findmypast
With over 2 billion records, this genealogical database has indexed Scottish records that may help with your search. You can try their website for free for 14-days.
Forces War Records
Forces War Records is the military genealogy specialist website for the UK, including Scotland. Visit Forces War Records here.NOT FORGOTTEN
Archive your memories and stories professionally. Create a unique online memorial for your loved one and secure your memories in a real library.
ScotlandsPeople
The ScotlandsPeople website is the official Scottish Government site for searching government records and archives. Visit ScotlandsPeople here.Here is a handy guide on useful websites to help you research your Scottish ancestry.
Upcoming Family History Virtual Events
Just scroll down to find a date that suits you. By the way, this is regularly updated so keep checking.
28 November 2023 (6.30pm): The British Army in Scotland, 1746-60
Price: £10
This online conference is an opportunity to learn new research skills, discover diverse records and see how others have put these into practice. If you want to trace your Scottish family tree, this is the event for you.
The talks include:
- Scottish Civil Registration Records
- Highland Archive Service
- Housing the Farm Worker
- Medical Records
Click here for more information.
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1 December 2023 (12-130am British time): Enslaved Christians: Black Church Members in the Era of Cotton Mather
Price: $15
This online conference is an opportunity to learn new research skills, discover diverse records and see how others have put these into practice. If you want to trace your Scottish family tree, this is the event for you.
Historian Dr. Richard Boles’ explores the role of Puritan theology in New England slavery, and the way that enslaved people shaped the society around them.
Click here for more information.
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10 February 2023: The Genealogy Show
£7
Watch this space when information about this online conference become available.
Click here for more information.
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