Your family history
Does your family originally hail from Scotland? Genealogy, the term associated with family ancestry, is one of the three most regularly requested search topics on the Internet. Although genealogy researchers and professionals are exact about the terminology they use, the amateur enthusiast will often use the term ‘genealogy’ to mean ancestral research.
Perth & Kinross Council Archives
A K Bell Library, York Place, Perth, PH2 8EP Tel: 01738 444949
Holds local authority records; records of former burghs of Aberfeldy, Abernethy, Alyth, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie & Rattray, Coupar Angus, Crieff, Kinross, Perth, Pitlochry; customs records for Perth & Blairgowrie; records of local businesses.
Tay Valley Family History Society
Research Centre, 179-181 Princes Street, Dundee, DD4 6DQ Tel: Dundee 01382 461845
Visitors are encouraged to carry out their own research making use of the facilities available. Volunteer staff will offer help, advice and guidance.The Centre collects items primarily concerned with the Tay Valley area (the former counties of Angus (Forfarshire), Fife, Kinross and Perthshire), but has a growing amount of other Scottish and Irish material.
Dunning Parish Historical Society an excellent local history group and source of local historical data.
An opportunity exists in Edinburgh to explore your Scottish roots in the Scottish Genealogy Society Library and Family History Centre. Or by appointment with the Scottish Roots Ancestral Research Service.
For anyone who wants to research thier family’s background and find their own place in our country’s history, there is a new resource available at the ScotlandsPeople website.
Scotlands Family is a new genealogy portal for Scotland which offers everyone doing their own Scottish family tree research, at home or overseas , an impressive number of free on-line sources of data and information.
Genealogy research can be conducted privately, by scanning online databases, or by visiting archive and record collections, such as New Register House in Edinburgh. Alternatively, it can be contracted out to professional genealogists who will compile the information required and produce a report for a fee.
Archives in Edinburgh
There are two principal archives offices in Edinburgh, the General Register Office for Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland. They are situated next door to each other.
- General register Office for Scotland, New Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT Tel: 0131 334 0380
Holds birth, Marriage and Death certificates form 1885 to the present day for all Scotland; the old parochial Registers (Church of Scotland); cencus returns for the whole of Scotland
- The National Archives of Scotland, HM General Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY Tel: 0131 535 1314
Holds church records other than Church of Scotland registers; extensive collection o government and local authority records; testaments; court records; land records; business, estate and family records. Maps and plans, courts records and business records are housed at West Register House, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Many of the records held by NAS are actually stored off-site so you will have to find out what you want and the order it for delivery in 48 hours.
Scottish Clans provide information on Scottish Clans, Scottish Tartans and historical information.
Scottish History provides information about Scottish history, battles, culture, literature, music and Scots abroad. Links to information on bagpipes and highland dress.