Family history | National Library of Scotland

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class="searchQuery" value="any,content,"> <input type="hidden" name="displayField" value="all"> <input type="hidden" name="search_scope" value="SCOPE1"> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="q" class="sr-only">Search Query</label> <input type="text" class="form-control w-100 tempSearchQuery" title="Keyword" name="q" value="" size="35" placeholder="Keyword"> </div> <input title="Search" type="submit" tabindex="0" class="btn btn-primary searchNLSSubmitBtn" value="Search" tabindex="5" aria-label="Search"> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="breadcrumb-wrapper" aria-label="breadcrumb"> <div class="container"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">Family history</li> </ol> </div> </nav> <div class="page-heading " id="pageTop"> <div class="container"> <h1 class="mb-0">An introduction to Scottish family history</h1> </div> </div> <div class="bar-page-content "> <div class="container"> <div class="row "> <div class="col-md-4 col-lg-3"> <nav class="nav flex-column sidebarNav"> <a class="nav-link parentNode active" href="/family-history/" target="">Family history</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/starting-research/" target="">Starting research</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/births-deaths-marriages/" target="">Births deaths marriages</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/census-records/" target="">Census records</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/clubs/" target="">Clubs</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/directories/" target="">Directories</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/emigration/" target="">Emigration</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/films/" target="">Films</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/gravestones/" target="">Gravestones</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/india-papers/" target="">India Papers</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/local-history/" target="">Local history</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/manuscripts/" target="">Manuscripts</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/maps/" target="">Maps</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/military-lists/" target="">Military lists</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/newspapers/" target="">Newspapers</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/state-papers/" target="">State Papers</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/surnames/" target="">Surnames</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/traditional-culture/" target="">Traditional culture</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/voters-rolls/" target="">Voters rolls</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/questions/" target="">Questions</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/links/" target="">Links</a> <a class="nav-link" href="/family-history/contact/" target="">Contact</a> </nav> </div> <div class="col-md-8 col-lg-6"> <div class=" main-content-item" id="mcItem-richTextEditor-1"> <section class="nested-content-item richtexteditor " > <div class="content"> <div class="floatright"><img src="/media/hrllraip/family-group-74491722-200crop.jpg?width=200&height=290" alt="Young Victorian boy" width="200" height="290"><br> <div class="imgcap"><a href="/family-history/family-portrait">Victorian family<br>photograph</a></div> </div> <p>This section is a general guide to starting family history research.</p> <p>The National Library of Scotland has a wide range of genealogical resources that may interest you. These pages provide a brief overview of some of the types of material we have available.</p> <p>Our page of <a href="/family-history/questions">frequently asked questions</a> might help if you are not sure where to begin. If you still can't find what you are looking for in this section, please <a href="/family-history/contact">contact us</a>. For <strong>English, Irish or Welsh</strong> family history material, please see our <a href="/family-history/links">useful links</a> page.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://blog.nls.uk/category/family-history/" title="External site link">Family history posts on the Library blog</a></li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> <div class=" main-content-item" id="mcItem-richTextEditor-2"> <section class="nested-content-item richtexteditor " id="in-this-section" > <h2 class="sectionHeader mb-4">In this section</h2> <div class="content"> <ul> <li><a href="/family-history/starting-research">Starting your family history research</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/births-deaths-marriages">Births, deaths and marriages</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/census-records">Census records</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/clubs">Historical clubs and societies</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/directories">Directories</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/emigration">Emigration and passenger lists</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/films">Films</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/gravestones">Gravestone inscriptions</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/india-papers">India Papers collection</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/local-history">Local history</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/manuscripts">Manuscripts</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/maps">Maps</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/military-lists">Military lists</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/newspapers">Newspapers</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/state-papers">State Papers</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/surnames">Surnames, histories and biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/traditional-culture">Scottish traditional culture</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/voters-rolls">Valuation and voters' rolls</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/questions">Frequently asked questions</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/links">Useful links</a></li> <li><a href="/family-history/contact">Contact us</a></li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> <div class=" main-content-item" id="mcItem-richTextEditor-3"> <section class="nested-content-item richtexteditor " id="using-our-resources" > <h2 class="sectionHeader mb-4">Using our resources</h2> <div class="content"> <p>Visitors to the National Library must have a library card to use our resources. Visit our <a href="/join/" title="Join">Join section</a> for more information about library cards and becoming a member. See our <a href="/visit/" title="Visit">Visit section</a> for information about our opening hours at each site. If you cannot visit, we can provide brief information from sources within our collections. We may also be able to point you in the right direction to continue your research. <a href="/family-history/contact">Contact us</a> for details.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/whats-on/" title="Whats On">Family history workshops for new Library readers</a></li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> <div class=" main-content-item" id="mcItem-richTextEditor-4"> <section class="nested-content-item richtexteditor " id="other-useful-organisations" > <h2 class="sectionHeader mb-4">Other useful organisations</h2> <div class="content"> <p><strong>Please note:</strong> The National Library of Scotland is not the main location for original records in Scotland. This means that we cannot carry out extensive family history research on your behalf.</p> <p>For original documents such as birth, death and marriage and census records you should contact the <a href="https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/" title="External site link">National Records of Scotland.</a> You will also find sources such as wills, trial papers and some estate and church records there.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/" title="Home">Home</a></p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="d-flex justify-content-end mb-3 top-link-wrapper"> <div class="top"><strong><a href="#pageTop">top<i class="icon-gecko-chevron-up"></i></a></strong></div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-lg-3"> <h2 class="sr-only">Additional </h2> <div class="sidebar-content-item"> <section class="nested-content-item promos h-100"> <div class=" mb-3"> <div class="card shadow-sm promo bg-gray-700 card-type h-100"> <picture> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="/media/vg5fz230/macfarlane-page.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=550&height=240&rnd=132520692203930000"> <img src="/media/vg5fz230/macfarlane-page.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=360&height=240&rnd=132520692203930000" class="card-img-top" alt="Detail from a digitised text"> </picture> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="card-title h3 " data-mh="cardTitle"> <a href="http://digital.nls.uk/" target="_blank" class="promoLink headerh2"> Digitised from the collections </a> </h2> <div class="card-text"><p>Family history resources in our digital gallery</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="sidebar-content-item"> <section class="nested-content-item promos h-100"> <div class=" mb-3"> <div class="card shadow-sm promo bg-blue card-type h-100"> <div class="card-body"> <h2 class="card-title h3 " data-mh="cardTitle">Case studies</h2> <div class="card-text"><p>Read our case studies to see how we have helped other family history researchers:</p> <p>'I discovered furniture crafted by my ancestors in castles all over Scotland'<br />— <a href="/media/lxfjq2si/family-history-case-study-1-2.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 1">Case study 1 (PDF)</a> (426 KB; 1 page)</p> <p>'I discovered my ancestors' royal connections'<br />— <a href="/media/fp3nlr0h/family-history-case-study-2-2.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 2">Case study 2 (PDF)</a> (789 KB; 1 page)</p> <p>'I discovered my ancestor served in a militia regiment'<br />— <a href="/media/0akptcio/family-history-case-study-3-2.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 3">Case study 3 (PDF)</a> (474 KB; 1 page)</p> <p>'I discovered my ancestors farmed in Stirlingshire'<br />— <a href="/media/fozn31yx/family-history-case-study-4-2.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 4">Case study 4 (PDF)</a> (611 KB; 1 page)</p> <p>'I discovered the WW1 trench in which my grandfather was killed'<br />— <a href="/media/elnpiid3/family-history-case-study-5-2.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 5">Case study 5 (PDF)</a> (624 KB; 1 page)</p> <p>'I discovered why my ancestors' village now lies in ruins'<br />— <a href="/media/s3nl4h0k/family-history-case-study-6.pdf" title="Family History Case Study 6">Case study 6 </a> (106 KB; 1 page)</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="BodyAfter" > </div> <footer id="bar-footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row no-gutters mt-4"> <div class="footer-links col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md "> <div class="footer-links-inner h-100"> <div class="footerLinksHeader">About this site</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/find/site-map/">Site map</a> </li> <li> <a href="/guides/">Guides for users</a> </li> <li> <a href="/website-accessibility-statement/">Site accessibility</a> </li> <li> <a href="/privacy/">Privacy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/cookies/">Use of cookies</a> </li> <li> <a href="/copyright/">Copyright</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer-links col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md "> <div class="footer-links-inner h-100"> <div class="footerLinksHeader">Quick links</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/guides/subject-browse/">Subject a-z list</a> </li> <li> <a href="/family-history/">Family history</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://maps.nls.uk/" target="">Online maps</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://digital.nls.uk/" target="">Digital gallery</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://movingimage.nls.uk/" target="">Moving Image Archive</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/what-we-do/partnerships/research/">Research</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer-links col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md "> <div class="footer-links-inner h-100"> <div class="footerLinksHeader">Practical information</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/visit/visit-george-iv-bridge/">Visit George IV Bridge</a> </li> <li> <a href="/visit/visit-maps-at-causewayside/">Visit Maps Reading Room</a> </li> <li> <a href="/visit/visit-kelvin-hall/">Visit Moving Image Archive</a> </li> <li> <a href="/find/copying-services/">Copying services</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer-links col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md "> <div class="footer-links-inner h-100"> <div class="footerLinksHeader">Stay informed</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://media.nls.uk/">Media centre</a> </li> <li> <a href="/support-nls/">Support us</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer-links col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md "> <div class="footer-links-inner h-100"> <div class="footerLinksHeader">About us</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/about-us/who-we-are/">Who we are</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/what-we-do/">What we do</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/jobs/">Jobs and opportunities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/policies-and-reports/">Policies and reports</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/policies-and-reports/freedom-of-information/">Freedom of Information</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-us/policies-and-reports/procurement/">Procurement</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-flex justify-content-between align-items-baseline social-smallprint mt-4"> <div class="social-links order-md-12"> <div class="share-icons"> <ul class="list-inline"> <li class="list-inline-item"> <a class="youtube btn btn-share" target="_blank" title="Youtube" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/NLofScotland"> <div class="glyphicon icon-gecko-youtube"></div> </a> </li> <li class="list-inline-item"> <a class="facebook btn btn-share" target="_blank" title="Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalLibraryOfScotland/?v=wall"> <div class="glyphicon icon-gecko-facebook"></div> </a> </li> <li class="list-inline-item"> <a class="instagram btn btn-share" target="_blank" title="Instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/natlibscot/"> <div class="glyphicon icon-gecko-instagram"></div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="small-print"> © 2025 National Library of Scotland, registered Scottish Charity, No. SC011086 </div> </div> </div> </footer>  </div> <script src="https://cc.cdn.civiccomputing.com/9/cookieControl-9.x.min.js"></script> <script> var config = { accessibility: { highlightFocus: true }, apiKey: '3d9230ebba83d7ae7c0ddd3135c1ba1fe3b8af77', product: 'PRO', initialState: "notify", notifyDismissButton: "false", subDomains: true, logConsent: true, consentCookieExpiry: 90, necessaryCookies: ['JSESSIONID', 'UID', 'PSET', 'CF*', 'SSA*', 'NLS*', '_sg*'], optionalCookies: [ { name : 'analytics', label: 'Analytical Cookies', description: 'Analytical cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. 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Family history | National Library of Scotland