Quick Research Links - Scotland

Research Sites[edit | edit source]

The above site takes you through the basic research sites for Scotland and seems to be very thorough.

Using the Scottish Church Records CD[edit | edit source]

This CD is an alphabetical index representing the entire Church of Scotland old parish registers (OPR’s) ranging from 1564 to 1864. Note: Civil Registration began in 1855.
It is used on the old DOS system in the Family Search Centers. When you insert it into the computer, you will have a choice of 5 programs to use and one of them is the Scottish Church Records.
You have a choice of searching for an individual record or a marriage record.
When you enter the individual name, the entire list for that name and variations for spelling that name appears and you can arrow or page down until you arrive at the year and father’s name you want.
When there, use the enter key and you will see further details such as the mother’s name and place of birth and/or christening and if you arrow down, you will find additional details such as the film number for that record.
When you find the correct record with the parents’ names, you can then search for additional children by using the F8 key. Usually, all of the children will be gathered to these parents, but sometimes some children are missing (the indexer missed them or they died and death records are scarce for some areas) and that is when you go back to the film and search for them the old fashioned way.
Also, with the names of the parents, you can search for their marriage, based on the birth year of the first child* and using the naming custom (following) you can determine the names of the parents’ parents.
First son is named after the father’s father.
First daughter is named after the mother’s mother.
Second son is named after the mother’s father.
Second daughter is named after the father’s mother.
The third son and daughter can be named after the father or mother abut it is usually up for grabs.
You can filter by going to the F10 tab in the lower right hand corner and enter how you want to filter, by location etc.
Explore these buttons – that is the only way you will get to understand it.

Quick Links[edit | edit source]

Scotland Old Counties pre 1974

Collections[edit | edit source]

Scotland births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 - https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1771030

Learn More: Scotland Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records

Scotland Marriages, 1561-1950 - familysearch.org/search/collection

Learn More: Scotland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

General[edit | edit source]

Wiki – this page displays a county map of Scotland where you can click on any county and be taken to the pages with the parishes listed.

Poorhouses - Scotland Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc

Workhouses.org.uk

The Statistical Accounts of Scotland, 1791-1845 at Edina, University of Edinburgh. General information and background.

The Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-1799. Ed. by John Sinclair. Wakerfield, England: EP Publishing Limited, [197?]. FamilySearch Library books 941 B4sa; FamilySearch Library films, 6026527-6026545(*) - images. Online at: Electric Scotland.
The New Statistical Account of Scotland, 1834-1845. Edinburgh, Scotland: William Blackwood and Sons, 1845. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Vols. 1-15.
Mather, Alexander S., ed. The Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Glasgow, Scotland: Collins of Glasgow, 1987. FamilySearch Library books 941 B4sa - 3rd Series

Scotland’s People: The official online source of parish register, civil registration and census records: Scotlands people.gov.uk

Talking Scot – list of useful sites: Talking scot.com

Deceased Online - Deceased online.com

Note: The Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild Brethren 1406-1700 contains a glossary of even older names of occupations eg capillicarius (wigmaker); sartor (tailor); fosser (grave digger); faber ferrarius (blacksmith) etc., etc. Publ. 1929, Edinburgh, Scottish Record Society. (For individual queries on the Roll contact Scots Family).

Curious Fox - CuriousFox, the village by village contact site for anyone researching family history, genealogy and local history in the UK and Ireland. Curiousfox.com

Cyndi’s List – is free and very comprehensive. Cyndi's List - Scotland

Happy Haggis - The content of HappyHaggis is free and any advertising is subtle, so it doesn't distract you from what is important - finding the information you need. Happy haggis.co.uk

UKGDL – genealogical lists on the internet - UKGDL.org.uk

National Archives - National archives.gov.uk

Irregular Marriages[edit | edit source]

Irregular marriages - those not performed by the Church were outlawed in England in 1754 . The age when couples could marry without Parents consent was raised to 21. In Scotland the minimum age of marriage remained at 16.Scottish law only required the couple to declare they were Husband and Wife before two witnesses . English couples began to cross the border to take advantage of this and runaway marriages became common around border Towns especially Gretna Green on the Western border and Lamberton Toll on the Eastern border . Irregular marriages continued in Scotland until the law was changed in 1940.

The runaway marriage trade led to many offering their services and making a lucrative living as self styled "Priests". Very few were ordained Ministers . Couples were eager to pay to be married as quickly as possible before Parents in hot pursuit crossed the border and tried to stop the Wedding.

Scottish irregular and runaway marriage records information can be found at National Records of Scotland.

Scotland Record Finder:

Scotland Record Finder

Subdivisions of Scotland[edit | edit source]

Aberdeenshire – 8[edit | edit source]

Parishes -Aberdeenshire, Scotland Parishes

Map of Parishes – (at bottom of page) Aberdeenshire, Scotland Parishes

GENUKI

Websites

Angus (or Forfarshire) - 10[edit | edit source]

Parishes - Angus (or Forfarshire), Scotland

Map of Parishes – (at bottom of page) Angus (or Forfarshire), Scotland

GENUKI - Genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ANS/index.html

Websites

Argyll – 12[edit | edit source]

Wiki – Parishes and Map of Parishes - Argyllshire, Scotland [:Category:Argyll]]

GENUKI - Genuki.org.uk

Websites

Ayrshire – 14[edit | edit source]

Wiki – Parishes and Map of Parishes

Ayrshire, Scotland

GENUKI - Genuki.org.uk

Websites

Banffshire – 7[edit | edit source]

Wiki – Parishes and Map of Parishes -

Banffshire, Scotland

GENUKI - Abd net.co.uk

Websites

Berwickshire – 27[edit | edit source]

Wiki - Parishes and Map of Parishes - Berwickshire, Scotland

GENUKI - Genuki.org.uk/big/sct/BEW

Websites

Bute – 13[edit | edit source]

Note: The Isle of Bute, in the Firth of Clyde, is only 15 miles long and 3 miles wide. Bute is separated from the mainland of Scotland by a narrow channel called the Kyles of Bute. Much of the island consists of low hills, more reminiscent of Dorset than the Scottish Highlands. The south of the island is flatter than the north, and more fertile. Bute benefits from the warm Gulf Stream that enables palms and other tender plants to grow. In its heyday the Isle of Bute, and Rothesay in particular, was a magnet for tourists from Glasgow. Wiki – Rothesay parish comprehends the whole of the northern part of the Island of Bute which gives its name to the county. The population of Rothesay in 1837 was 6089 including 4924 in the burgh. Rothesay, Bute, Scotland

GENUKI - Genuki.org.uk/big/sct/BUT

Websites