Scotland Census: Difference between revisions

=== Census Indexes ===

All existing Scottish census records are indexed.  There are both surname indexes and street indexes for larger cities.  You should always search an index before searching the census. 

Census indexes ar online at these sites:

[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ http://www.ancestry.co.uk].  This site provides indexes to the 1841 through 1901 censuses, but no images of the documents.  Many options are available to narrow search results including name, place, residence, birth year, birth place, occupation, and the names of relatives.  

As you search any database, you need to keep in mind that the more information you put into a search, the more you limit the  search results, and you could end up missing the person you are actually looking for. So try your search with the least amount of needed information and then if you need, add more if the number of search results is too great.

==== ''Scotlands People'' ====

[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk].  This is a subscription website and you buy 30 credits at a time for a minimum cost of 6 GBP.  As you use this site, any search result or document you pay to view is saved in your personal account and you never have to pay for that item again. This site has the 1841 through 1901 census years available for you to search.

The Census year 1881 has only the transcription with no image and this will only cost 1 credit to navigate back and forth for each navigation.  

When using this site you search by name and many names will come up. You get to decide whether to choose any of the names or not. If you choose a name then it will tell you how many credits it will cost you to look at that image. You can then decide to look at the image or continue searching.  

Some information will be needed to use this site such as:

*First and Last Name of the individual

*Parish number ( if you have it and it is available to you)

*County.

This is all needed because many people in Scotland tend to have similar names and marry people with similar last names, so having a Margaret Cunningham married to James Tassie could render many results and you may not know which one is yours.

NOTE: for women, the maiden surname is on birth records and usually follows them in records this will show as M.S. (Maiden Surname). If the person had been previously married then it would say 'Formerly'. This is important for you to know as you search these records. This becomes helpful while searching Census records.  

The following source lists some surname and street indexes:

Gibson, Jeremy, ed. ''Marriage, Census and Other Indexes for Family Historians''. 6th ed. Birmingham: Federation of Family History Societies, 1996. (FHL book Ref 942 D22m 1996.)

The Family History Library has some surname and street indexes. To find them, look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

SCOTLAND - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES  

SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH or TOWN] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

'''1881 Surname Indexes.''' The entire 1881 Scottish census has been indexed. Each county has:

'''Indexes by surname, birthplace, and census place.''' A transcription of the census as it appears on the microfilm. The indexes and transcriptions are available on microfiche at the Family History Library, Family History Centers, the Registrar General, and at record offices and family history societies in the British Isles.

To find the numbers for the 1881 census indexes, look in the Family History Library Catalog under:

SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], - CENSUS - [1881] - INDEXES

'''Street Indexes.''' If possible, find your ancestor’s street address for the time period of the census you are searching. In larger towns or cities, an address will help you find your ancestor in a census, especially if a street index exists for the town. Knowing the address can also help you search other records.  

You might find an address in letters, directories, civil registration certificates, church records, court records, and tax records.

Street indexes are available for some towns and cities in Scotland. You can find the indexes and the census film numbers in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES.  

 

 

Additional information on the census is available by [[Census Images|clicking here]].