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523 resources · 13 types · Curated for UK & Irish research

Genealogy resources for Scotland

Regional archives from Shetland to the Borders, the Scottish family history societies, and the record sources and indexes specific to Scottish research.

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A resource that covers more than one nation appears under each of them. Each view has its own web address, so you can bookmark or share it.

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When the research is done

Turn your research into a framed six-generation circular chart

Every chart is hand-set from your own tree and printed on archival paper at 16 inches, with a choice of 72 heritage designs. Available as a complete or an incomplete six-generation lineage, single or couple: the ancestors you have found are drawn, and any you have not found yet are left as open space.

See the 72 designs Design your chart

Prefer a spreadsheet? Subscribers to The Genealogy Times, our monthly newsletter, can download the whole directory as an Excel file. Subscribe and download it.

Resources

Free records & indexes 2

Archives & record offices 28

  • Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives

    North-east Scotland burgh, poor relief and school records.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Aberdeenshire Free
    aberdeencity.gov.uk

  • Angus Archives

    Angus/Forfarshire archives, Restenneth.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Angus Free
    angusalive.scot/archives-move-to-arbroath-library-update

  • Argyll and Bute Archives

    Lochgilphead archive service.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Argyll and Bute Free
    argyll-bute.gov.uk

  • Ayrshire Archives

    Shared archive for the three Ayrshire councils.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Ayrshire Free
    ayrshirearchives.org.uk

  • Dumfries and Galloway Archives

    Ewart Library archive centre, Dumfries.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Dumfries and Galloway Free
    dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk

  • Dundee City Archives

    Dundee burgh records; Friends of Dundee City Archives indexes.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Dundee Free
    dundeecity.gov.uk/services/archives-%26-libraries

  • Edinburgh City Archives

    Edinburgh burgh and council records.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Edinburgh Free
    edinburgh.gov.uk/managing-information/edinburgh-city-archives-1

  • Falkirk Archives

    Falkirk district archives at Callendar House.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Falkirk Free
    falkirkleisureandculture.org/learning/archives

  • Fife Archives (OnFife)

    Fife county archives.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Fife Free
    onfife.com/visit-explore/libraries/archives

  • Glasgow City Archives (Mitchell Library)

    Glasgow poor law applications, burgh and school records.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Glasgow Free
    glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/city-archives

  • Highland Archive Centre

    Inverness, Lochaber, Skye and Caithness archives; family history service.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Highland Free
    highlifehighland.com/archives/highland-archive-service

  • Moray Local Heritage Centre

    Moray council archives and local heritage, Elgin.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Moray Free
    moray.gov.uk/learning-and-education/libraries-learning-centres-heritage/archives-local-studies

  • National Records of Scotland

    Scotland's national archive and registrar; catalogues and research guides.

    National archives Scotland Free
    nrscotland.gov.uk

  • North Lanarkshire Archives

    Motherwell-based archive service.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Lanarkshire Free
    northlanculture.co.uk/libraries/archives-local-history

  • Orkney Library and Archive

    Orkney archives, Kirkwall.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Orkney Free
    orkneylibrary.org.uk

  • Perth and Kinross Archive

    Perthshire archives at AK Bell Library.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Perth and Kinross Free
    culturepk.org.uk/archivelfh

  • ScotlandsPeople

    Official Scottish records: statutory registers, old parish registers, census, wills, Kirk Session records.

    National archives Scotland Pay-per-view
    scotlandspeople.gov.uk

  • ScotlandsPlaces

    Historic tax rolls, OS name books and maps searchable by place.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    scotlandsplaces.gov.uk

  • Scottish Borders Archive (Heritage Hub)

    Heritage Hub, Hawick.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scottish Borders Free
    liveborders.org.uk/scottish-borders-archive-heritage-hub

  • Scottish Emigration Database (Aberdeen Univ.)

    Passengers departing Scottish ports 1890-1960.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    abdn.ac.uk/emigration

  • Scottish Indexes

    Graham & Emma Maxwell's free indexes to Scottish prison, mental health, paternity and sheriff court records plus conferences.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    scottishindexes.com

  • Scottish Jewish Archives Centre

    Records of Jewish communities in Scotland.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    sjac.org.uk

  • Shetland Museum and Archives

    Shetland archives, Lerwick.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Shetland Free
    shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk

  • South Lanarkshire Archives

    Lanark and Hamilton records.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Lanarkshire Free
    southlanarkshire.gov.uk

  • Statistical Accounts of Scotland

    Old (1790s) and New (1830s-40s) parish-by-parish accounts.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    stataccscot.ed.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/index.html

  • Stirling Council Archives

    Stirlingshire archives.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Stirling Free
    stirling.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/libraries-and-archives/archives

  • Tasglann nan Eilean Siar

    Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) archive, Stornoway.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Western Isles Free
    tasglann.org.uk

  • Your Scottish Archives (successor to SCAN)

    Directory of Scottish archives, research tools and handwriting guides.

    Regional archive (Scotland) Scotland Free
    scottisharchives.org.uk/explore/your-scottish-archives

Family history societies 21

  • Aberdeen & North East Scotland FHS

    Large society with Aberdeen research centre and publications.

    Family history society (Scotland) Aberdeenshire Membership
    anesfhs.org/guest-home

  • Alloway & Southern Ayrshire FHS

    South Ayrshire society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Ayrshire Membership
    asafhs.co.uk

  • Anglo-Scottish FHS (part of MLFHS)

    For those researching Scots who moved to England.

    Family history society (Scotland) Scotland / England Membership
    mlfhs.uk/anglo-scots

  • Borders FHS

    Scottish Borders society with MI publications.

    Family history society (Scotland) Scottish Borders Membership
    bordersfhs.org.uk

  • Caithness FHS

    Far north society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Caithness Membership
    caithnessfhs.org.uk

  • Central Scotland FHS

    Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannan society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Central Scotland Membership
    csfhs.org.uk

  • Dumfries & Galloway FHS

    South-west Scotland society with research centre.

    Family history society (Scotland) Dumfries and Galloway Membership
    dgfhs.org.uk

  • Federation of Family History Societies (Scotland) SAFHS

    Scottish Association of Family History Societies; society directory and conference.

    Society Scotland Free
    safhs.org.uk

  • Fife FHS

    Fife society with online indexes.

    Family history society (Scotland) Fife Membership
    fifefhs.org

  • Glasgow & West of Scotland FHS

    Glasgow society with library and Mitchell Library presence.

    Family history society (Scotland) Glasgow Membership
    gwsfhs.org.uk

  • Highland FHS

    Inverness-based Highland society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Highland Membership
    highlandfhs.org

  • Lanarkshire FHS

    Motherwell-based society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Lanarkshire Membership
    lanarkshirefhs.org.uk

  • Largs & North Ayrshire FHS

    North Ayrshire society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Ayrshire Membership
    largsnafhs.org.uk

  • Lothians FHS

    Edinburgh and Lothians society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Lothians Membership
    lothiansfamilyhistorysociety.com

  • Moray & Nairn FHS

    Moray society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Moray Membership
    morayandnairnfhs.co.uk

  • Orkney FHS

    Orkney society with Sib Folk News.

    Family history society (Scotland) Orkney Membership
    orkneyfhs.co.uk

  • Renfrewshire FHS

    Paisley-based society.

    Family history society (Scotland) Renfrewshire Membership
    renfrewshirefhs.co.uk

  • Scottish Genealogy Society

    Edinburgh library and society for Scottish family history.

    Society Scotland Membership
    scotsgenealogy.com

  • Shetland FHS

    Shetland society, Lerwick.

    Family history society (Scotland) Shetland Membership
    shetland-fhs.org.uk

  • Tay Valley FHS

    Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife society with research centre.

    Family history society (Scotland) Tayside Membership
    tayvalleyfhs.org.uk

  • Troon @ Ayrshire FHS

    Ayrshire society with online records.

    Family history society (Scotland) Ayrshire Membership
    troonayrshirefhs.org.uk

Research tools 1

  • Scottish Handwriting

    Free palaeography tutorials for reading 1500-1750 Scottish documents.

    Research tool Scotland Free
    scotlandspeople.gov.uk/scottish-handwriting

Podcasts, video & courses 1

Newsletters & magazines 1

  • History Scotland

    Scottish history magazine with regular family history content.

    Newsletter / magazine Scotland Subscription
    mymagazinesub.co.uk/history-scotland

Forums & communities 1

  • Talking Scot

    Scottish genealogy discussion forum.

    Forum / community Scotland Free
    talkingscot.com

Nothing matches those filters. Clear them or try another nation above.

Common questions: Scotland

Where are Scottish records held?

Statutory registers from 1855, the old parish registers, census returns and wills are all on ScotlandsPeople, with the National Records of Scotland behind it. Local material such as kirk session minutes, poor relief and burial grounds sits with the regional archives listed here.

Are Scottish records free?

ScotlandsPeople is free to search but charges credits to view images. The regional archives and the family history societies listed here hold many free indexes, especially for monumental inscriptions.

What is special about Scottish research?

Scottish records name the mother's maiden name on most documents, and a woman keeps her own surname in many records, which makes lineages easier to prove than in England. The Scottish family history societies are strong on gravestone transcriptions.

About this directory

The list was compiled in September 2026 for people researching British and Irish ancestry, which is most of the people who order a chart from us. The regional layer is the point: every county record office, the local birth, marriage and death indexes, the online parish clerk projects and the county societies, which the big general lists leave out.

Cost labels are a rough guide only. Many archives are free to search but charge for copies, and society membership usually unlocks members-only indexes. Check the site itself before relying on a label.

Council archive addresses change often. Links are checked automatically, but if you find one that has moved or a resource we have missed, tell us and we will fix it.

Prefer a spreadsheet? Subscribers to The Genealogy Times, our monthly newsletter, can download the whole directory as an Excel file. Subscribe and download it.

Before you order a chart

A six-generation circular chart has room for 63 ancestors, but it does not need all of them: an incomplete lineage is drawn honestly, with the gaps left open. You choose a design and order first; we ask for your GEDCOM file or our simple spreadsheet afterwards, and nothing is printed until you have approved a proof.

How ordering works

Turn the research into a piece of fine art

Each chart is hand-set from your data, printed on archival paper at 16 inches, with your choice of heritage motifs. Complete or incomplete, single or couple.

Design your chart

Returns & Refunds Policy

Returns Policy Overview

Every product (digital files, unframed prints, or framed prints) available on this site is custom-made to order. To ensure the highest quality and fastest delivery, physical orders are fulfilled by regional print partners (LUMAPRINTS in the US, Artovo in the UK/EU). Because each piece is produced specifically for you upon ordering and data submission, our returns policy is tailored to bespoke manufacturing.

1. Damaged or Defective Items

If your physical order is damaged in transit or contains a manufacturing defect (such as a misprint or structural issue), you are entitled to a free replacement or a full refund.

  • Reporting Timeframe: Please report within 30 days of receiving your item.
  • How to Report: Email contact@markdmillican.co.uk with your order number and photographs of the damaged product and packaging.
  • Resolution: Free replacement expedited at no cost or a full refund to your original payment method.

2. Change of Mind / Buyer's Remorse

Because each design is custom-manufactured exclusively using your unique family data, we do not hold inventory. Therefore, we cannot accept returns or offer refunds for "change of mind" once an order is finalised and approved.

3. Order Cancellations & The Proofing Process

  • Data Pending (Full Refund): Cancel before submitting your GEDCOM or CSV data for a 100% full refund.
  • Proofing Stage (Partial Refund): If you cancel during the proofing stage before final print approval, a £45 processing fee is retained to cover design work, and the rest is refunded.
  • Final Approval (No Refund): Once final proof approval is submitted, printing begins immediately and orders cannot be cancelled or refunded.

4. Lost or Missing Packages

If tracking shows no updates or indicates your package has been delivered but is missing, allow 48 hours and check with neighbours or your local delivery office before contacting us for a replacement claim.

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