Scotland Genealogy

John M. Kitzmiller, II, AG, FSG, FRSAI, FSA (Scot)

Welcome to our research page about Scottish family history and genealogy! There are great opportunities for success in tracing your Scottish ancestors. As with all genealogy research, many family historians working on their Scottish roots come to a point in their research where they need help. In this website, you'll find information on Scotland's genealogical records, information about how we can help you, and more. When you need help, we are your professional resource for Scottish genealogy research!

Some of the major record types pertinent to Scotland that we will search for you include (but are not limited to) the following: Church records, Testaments, Retours, Land Records, Estate Records, Court Records, Landed Gentry, Civil Registration, and Census records.

CHURCH RECORDS

Church of Scotland:

• Church of Scotland (the State church, Presbyterian) parish registers: main source of pre-1855 genealogical data. Includes births, baptisms, marriages, and death or burial information. All parishes have a unique number that identifies them. The earliest are in the 1500’s, but most start in the mid to late 1700’s. In the Highlands of Scotland, these registers may start as late as the early 1800’s.
• Church of Scotland Kirk Session records: focus on moral and to a lesser extent criminal issues within the parish. The minutes of the Session contain some very interesting reading! The Session also supervised poor relief and educational efforts
• Main information: child’s name, parent’s name (wife’s surname present), residence, occupation, and witnesses.

“Non-Conformist Churches:

• Seceding Presbyterian Churches: records similar to the above
• Episcopal Church of Scotland: most congregations do not have pre-1855 registers
• Independent Churches: such as the Brownists, Glasites, Daleites, and Congregational – record availability varies
• Baptists: also known as the MacLeanists, started in 1643, some records exist
• Society of Friends (Quakers): started in 1653 with the first Monthly Meeting in 1669. Records exist for some of these early Meetings
• Methodists: Several different varieties, some started as early as 1755
• Roman Catholics: early religion in Scotland, most Catholics in the Highlands. Very few records survive due to persecution
• Jews: very few until 1650’s, most records date from early 1800’s
• Other smaller denominations exist as well, not many records survive

TESTAMENTS

In Scotland, a rather unique differentiation between wills and testaments. Testaments related only to the transfer of moveable property. There were no Wills prior to 1868. Testaments were proved in Commissariat Courts prior to 1823, and Sheriff’s Courts after that. Contain name, date of death, who received bequests, and residences.

RETOURS

Also known as Service of Heirs and begin in 1544. To inherit property, one must prove they were the rightful heir. A Jury would decide if there were enough proof (usually of neighbors), and returned (retoured) a verdict. Would contain relationship of heir to previous landowner, death dates, ages, names, and places. Before 1848 they are in Latin, after that in English.

LAND RECORDS

Deeds:

• These are legal obligations that establish or prove obligations or rights
• Start in 1784, usually contain names of the parties involved
• Early deeds: Notarial Protocol Books, Acta Dominorum Concilii; Acta Dominorum Concilii et Sessionsis, and the Register of Acts and Decreets
• Register of Deeds: initially kept by Clerks of Session and later the Lord Clerk Register
• Three Series of Deeds available, as well as Minute Books, Warrants, and Minute Books of Decreets

Sasines:

The term is derived from the Latin word that means having possession of property. An official document was issued called a “Precept of Sasine”, and there was a ceremony of “taking Sasine” or possession of the property. Several types of sources exist:

• Notarial Protocol Books: earliest, record in abbreviated Latin
• Secretary’s Register: records of 7 of 17 districts exist
• Register of Sasines: comprised of the Particular Register of Sasines, the General Register of Sasines, and the New General Register of Sasines.
• Indexes available: Persons, Places, Abridgements, and Minute Books
• Burgh Register of Sasines, started in 1681

Tailzies:

This register contains property that has been “entailed”, or specifically set up to be inherited in an outlined descent.

ESTATE RECORDS

These are similar to English Manor or Estate records. These are viewed as personal business records by the owners both current and past, and many are still personally held. These contain such items as rentals with names, places, and amounts; taxes; and other personal information. This type of source is most used for pre-parish register research. One must know the name of the owner at the time in question, and then trace the descent of the property to the current owner. This is how it will be cataloged by the various archives.

COURT RECORDS

These records vary considerably. Some of the more unique are Hornings, Inhibitions, and Adjudications. Minute books are available.

LANDED GENTRY RECORDS

Honors, titles, and coats of arms are taken very seriously in Scotland in the past and today as well. The Heraldic Executive in Scotland is the Lord Lyon King of Arms. His legal duties are: establishing rights to arms and pedigrees (filed in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland); and has legal jurisdictions over the protection of armorial bearings (coats of arms). Records include:

• Birthbrieves: Letters Patent showing the descent, nobiliary status, and any feudal or social data of applicants
• Lineal Pedigrees: Approved by the Lord Lyon, legally binding as to successions to Baronetcies, etc.

There are also many published sources to Scots heraldry.

CIVIL REGISTRATION (Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates)

Most important post-1855 source, and are indexed. These records start in 1855, and give the following information: individual, parent’s names, occupations, dates, places, and relationships.

CENSUSES (1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, etc)

Censuses are an extremely important research tool, and many of them are indexed. The 1841 Census is not as detailed as those that follow, has estimated ages, and does not give the parish of birth. All censuses later than that do mention that information.