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Do You Think You May Have
Scottish Ancestry?

Discover Scotland > Scottish Ancestry


Wherever you are in the world, there is a chance that you have Scottish ancestors, and wouldn't it be great if you could trace your heritage?

Following the Highland clearances in the eighteenth century, when many Highlanders were forcefully evicted from their homes to make way for sheep farming, many Scots emigrated to far off shores, to make a new life for themselves in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, and many other countries around the world.

Nowadays you will find Scots almost anywhere, and with them, Scottish culture. You see, many emigrants had taken the old customs and traditions with them, and that's the main reason that Highland Games events are now celebrated in many places the world over.

It is estimated that over 85 Million people worldwide claim to have Scottish Ancestry, and you may be one of them. So where do you begin your search to trace your ancestors?

If you have an interest in geneaology then you've probably made a start and traced back to your great grandparents and a generation beyond. Going further back, you may have to search Scottish records, and I will provide you with some helpful resources to assist you in your search.


Getting started ......


  • To begin with, you should look out any old documents you may have at    home, like birth, death and marriage certificates, or immigration papers.

  • The library can also be a good source of information on family history.

  • If you come to a dead end after exhausting all avenues, then it may be    time to start searching the records held by Scottish government offices.

  • You will normally find that you will have to pay a fee for searches, but    the good news is, the fees are usually very inexpensive.



    • Websites that should be helpful ......


    Thistle
    The General Register Office
    (GRO) All the records for births, marriages and deaths in Scotland are held at New Register House, West Register Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3YY. Tel: 0131 334 0380


    Thistle
    Scots Origins
    You can carry out some free Scottish ancestry searches on this site, like Scottish records from 1700 to 1990, and marriages, births and christenings from 1553 - 1875.


    Thistle
    GENUKI
    You'll find lots of good information here for getting you started on your geneaology trail, and loads of resources to help you get there. Covers the whole of the UK & Ireland.


    Thistle
    UKI Search
    You can search by county on this site, with loads of handy links, free access to most of the resources on offer, and genealogy records for the whole of the United Kingdom.


    Thistle
    Scotlands People
    This is the official government source for genealogical data for Scotland. You'll find good resources here for tracing your Scottish ancestry, with statutary records of births, marriages and deaths, dating back to 1855. There's old parish registers for births, baptisms and marriages from 1553, and census records from 1841. You can start searching here for as little as £6.


    discover the lands of your ancestors - borderart.co.uk


    This list is by no means comprehensive, as there are a great many websites offering professional searches. The trouble is, some of them charge an hourly rate for the service, and others an expensive fixed fee.

    I hope you found some of this information helpful. If you do have a Scottish connection, it's worth noting that people of Scottish ancestry from all over the world will be visiting Scotland in 2009, to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national poet, Robert Burns. The biggest event ever in Scotlands' history, Homecoming Scotland 2009, runs from 25th January (Burns Night) until 30th November (St Andrews day).


    Major Events in Scotland :

    Military Tattoo
    Edinburgh Military Tattoo
    Book your 2008 Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets now for this magnificent spectacle, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. An event not to be missed.

    Fringe Festival
    Edinburgh Fringe Festival
    One of the world's largest arts events, the Festival stages more than 2,000 shows in hundreds of theatres, with shows ranging from Shakespeare to modern works.

    Edinburgh Hogmanay
    Edinburgh Hogmanay
    Year after year the Hogmanay street party brings something new to the crowds: with a Torchlight Procession, Carnival, and indoor & outdoor events.


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