Databases

genealogy Databases

Scotland is a great place to do family history research because of the country's large number of archives, libraries and other repositories. A variety of records can also be found locally at registry offices, courthouses, public libraries, historical societies and elsewhere. Websites like Ancestry.com, Findmypast, ScotlandsPeople, and FamilySearch also provide access to many unique online databases relating to Scottish genealogy.

In addition to these great resources, we have compiled a large number of links that should prove helpful to your search. Many of these are listed below and on our other pages relating to all parts of Scotland. If you would like a professional genealogist to help you with your quest, please click below.

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cemeteries

Billion Graves - Scottish Gravestone Photos
Cyndi's List - Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in Scotland
Deceased Online - Database of UK Burials
Find A Grave - Find a Grave in Scotland
Findmypast - Scotland Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records

census records

Ancestry.com - UK Census Collection
FamilySearch - Scotland Census
Findmpast - Scottish Census Records
ScotlandsPeople - Census Returns

church records

The Church of Scotland - Historical Records
FamilySearch - Scotland Church Records
National Records of Scotland - Church Records
ScotlandsPeople - Church Registers
ScotlandsPeople - Kirk Session Records

court records

Findmypast - Scotland Court & Criminal Database
National Records of Scotland - Crime and Criminals
ScotlandsPeople - Legal Records
ScotlandsPeople - Prison Registers
Scottish Courts - Court Records

Digital Archives

National Archives of the UK - Digitized Manuscripts
National Library of Scotland - Digital Gallery
ScotlandsPeople - Online Databases
Scottish Archive Network - Digital Archive
Scottish Genealogy Society - Online Resources

directories

Ancestry.com - UK City and County Directories
FamilySearch - Scotland Directories
National Library of Scotland - Directories
National Library of Scotland - Scottish Post Office Directories
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Directories

emigration records

FamilySearch - Scotland Emigration and Immigration
GenGuide - Emigration Records
Findmypast - Early Emigration from Britain 1636-1815
Findmypast - Emigration to Barbados 1678-1680 and 1715
Findmypast - Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960
Findmypast - Register of Licences to Pass Beyond the Seas 1573-1677
Ships Transcribers Guild
The National Archives of the UK - Emigration and Emigrants
ScotlandsPeople - Emigration and Immigration
ScotlandsPeople - Poor Relief and Migration Records
Scottish Archive Network - Emigration Records
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Scottish Emigration
University of Aberdeen - Scottish Emigration Database

estate files

Ancestry.com - Scottish Calendar of Confirmations
FamilySearch - Scotland Estate Records
Mygov.scot - Finding a Will
The National Archives of the UK - Wills and Administrations after 1858
Scottish Land and Estates - Document Library
ScotlandsPeople - Inventories of Estates

heraldry records

The Armorial Register - International Register of Arms
ScotlandsPeople - Coats of Arms
Court of the Lord Lyon - Edinburgh, UK
The Heraldry Society of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Scotland's Heraldry - Scottish Tartans Authority

military records

Ancestry.com - Scotland, National War Memorial Index, 1914-1945
Ancestry.com - UK, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920
Ancestry.com - UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
Ancestry.com - UK, Women’s Royal Naval Officers' Service Records, 1917-1919
FamilySearch - British Military Records Online
Findmypast - British Army Service Records
Findmypast - Royal Artillery Service Attestations 1883-1942
Fold3 - Airmen Died in the Great War
Fold3 - Biographies of British Casualties Who Fought in India
Fold3 - Biographies of Fallen British Officers
Fold3 - Biographies of Fallen British Officers, Afghan War
Fold3 - British Army Recipients of the Military Medal
Fold3 - British Army Lists 1882-1962
Fold3 - British Army WWI Pension Records
Fold3 - British Army WWI Service Records
Fold3 - British Battle Casualties of the Crimean War
Fold3 - British Companions of the DSO Awards 1923-2010
Fold3 - British Jewry Book of Honour
Fold3 - British Military Discharge Indexes
Fold3 - British Recipients of the Military Cross
Fold3 - British WWI Honourable Women
Fold3 - British WWI Stories of Heroism
Fold3 - British WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards
Fold3 - British WWI Service Women Casualties
Fold3 - British WWI Wounded and Missing
Fold3 - British WWII Commando Gallantry Awards
Fold3 - Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations
Fold3 - Roberts Commission Protection of Historical Monuments
Fold3 - Royal Air Force Muster Roll
Fold3 - Royal Navy Registers of Seaman Services
Fold3 - Scottish Roll of Honour 1914-1919
Fold3 - UK, Allied Prisoners of War 1939-1945
Fold3 - UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects
Fold3 - UK, Courts Martial Registers
Fold3 - UK, Household Cavalry 1799-1920
Fold3 - UK, Imperial Yeomanry
Fold3 - UK, Military Deserters 1812-1927
Fold3 - UK Military Records of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Burials 1813-1957
Fold3 - UK Military Phone Directory
Fold3 - UK Militia Attestation Papers 1806-1915
Fold3 - UK Navy Lists 1888-1970
Fold3 - UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records 1918-1940
Fold3 - UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admission and Discharge Records
Fold3 - Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records
Fold3 - UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals
Fold3 - UK, Royal Navy Officer Patrol Service Cards, 1904-1970
Fold3 - UK, War Office: Records of Officers' Services
Fold3 - UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards 1914-1923
Fold3 - WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium, and Germany)
Fold3 - WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli-Dardanelles)
Fold3 - WWII Distinguished Flying Medals for British Soldiers
Fold3 - UK, WWII Royal Artillery Tracer Cards 1939-1948

newspapers

The British Newspaper Archive
Findmypast - British Newspapers
National Library of Scotland - Newspapers Online
Newspapers.com - Scotland
Scotsman Digital Archive

obituaries

Findmypast - Death Reports & Obituaries
The Herald - Death Notices & Obituaries
Obits Index - Scotland
Obituaries News - Press and Journal
The Scotsman - Obituaries

photographs

Historic Environment Scotland - National Collection of Aerial Photography
National Galleries of Scotland - The MacKinnon Collection
National Library of Scotland - Photographs in the Collections
National Records of Scotland - Image Gallery
Photographs of Scottish Castles and Manor Houses

property records

FamilySearch - Scotland Land and Property Search
Land Register of Scotland - Land and Property Information
Land Searches Scotland - Land Registers and Conveyancing Searches
Registers of Scotland - Scotland's Land and Property Registers
ScotlandsPeople - Valuation Rolls
Scottish Genealogy Society - Land Records

school records

FamilySearch - Scotland School Records
GenGuide - School Records for the UK and Ireland

tax records

FamilySearch - Scotland Taxation
The National Archives of the UK - Records of Taxation
ScotlandsPlaces - Historical Tax Rolls
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Taxation Records

vital records

FamilySearch - Scotland Civil Registration
National Library of Scotland - Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages
ScotlandsPeople - Statutory Registers

Scottish Council Areas

Many Scottish family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the United Kingdom. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at courthouses, historical societies, churches, council offices, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Scotland. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in Scotland. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Scotland have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Scotland's 32 council areas along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.