R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Scotland
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Introduction
     Obtaining Copies Of Publications
     Using This Outline
Scottish Search Strategies
Records At The Family History Library
The Family History Library Catalog
     Records Selection Table: Scotland
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Directories
Church History
Church Records
     Nonconformist Church Records
Civil Registration
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Civil Registers
     Finding Civil Registration Records
     Indexes To Civil Registration Records
Court Records
     Types Of Courts
     Finding Court Records
     For More Information
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     General Background
     Emigration From Scotland
     Records Of Scottish Emigrants In Their Destination Countries
     Immigration Into Scotland
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Heraldry
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Language And Languages
Maps
Merchant Marine
Military Records
     Army
     Navy
     Militia
     Other Branches Of The Military
     Handbooks On Military History And Military Records
Names, Personal
Newspapers
Nobility
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
     Determining The Court
     Finding Probate Records
     Indexes To Probate Records
     Difficulties In Finding A Probate Record
Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.
Schools
Societies
Taxation
Other Records For Scotland
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CIVIL REGISTRATIONLook this term up in the glossary.

Civil registration is the government records of births, marriages, and deaths. Civil registration records are excellent sources of names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Since they are indexed and cover most of the population, civil registration records are important sources for genealogical research.


General Historical Background

Before 1855 only churches recorded birth, marriage, and death information. Civil birth, marriage, and death registrations for Scotland began on 1 January 1855.

After that time, individuals had to report all births, marriages, and deaths to the registrar. A penalty was imposed for failure to register.

Local registrars were appointed in virtually every parish in Scotland. The local registrar kept two registers of all of the births, marriages, and deaths registered in his district. The District Examiner annually examined the registers and sent one copy of the register to Edinburgh. The other copy remained with the local registrar.

For more information on civil registration records and laws, see:

Bisset-Smith, G.T. Vital Registration: A Manual of the Law and Practice. Edinburgh: William Green & Sons, 1902. (FHL book 941 V2b.)

You can find other guides to civil registration records in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION.


Information Recorded in Civil Registers


BirthsLook this term up in the glossary.

Birth records give the following information:

  • The child’s name, sex, birth date, and birthplace.
  • The parents’ names, including the mother’s maiden name.
  • The father’s occupation.
  • The informant’s signature, residence, and qualification (often relationship).

After 1860 the parents’ marriage date and place is also given.

If the child was illegitimate, the record does not give the father’s name unless the father gave his permission and acknowledged the child. In that case, the child is registered under the father’s surname and the word “illegitimate” appears after the child’s name.


MarriagesLook this term up in the glossary.

Marriage records give the following information:

  • The names, marital status, ages, occupations, and residences of the bride and groom.
  • The names and occupations of their fathers and whether they were deceased.
  • The names and maiden surnames of their mothers and whether they were deceased.
  • The marriage date and place.
  • Whether the marriage was announced by banns or public notice.
  • Date and place of registration.


DeathsLook this term up in the glossary.

  • Death certificates contain the following information:
  • The name, sex, age, occupation, and marital status of the deceased.
  • When and where the person died.
  • The name and occupation of the father.
  • The name and maiden surname of mother.
  • The cause of death.
  • The informant’s signature, residence, and qualification.
  • The date and place the death was registered.


Births, Marriages, and Deaths in 1855

Certificates of births, marriages, and deaths for 1855 contain information that other years do not contain:


DivorcesLook this term up in the glossary.

Divorces were handled by the courts. For information, see the “Court Records” section of this outline.


Finding Civil Registration Records


Records at the Family History Library

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of civil birth, marriage, and death records for the years 1855 through 1875, 1881, and 1891. To find these records, look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION.

You can also find microfilm numbers by looking in the following register:

Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths of Scotland. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family History Library, 1987. (FHL book Reg 941 V2; fiche 6035516.)

Birth and marriage records from 1855 to 1875 have been extracted and appear in the International Genealogical Index.


Records in Scotland

In Scotland, civil registration records are kept at the local registrar’s office.

Duplicates are kept at the New Register House in Edinburgh. These are open to the public, but you can only have access to the specific records you request.

You can obtain certificates by mail from the New Register HouseLook this term up in the glossary. in Edinburgh (see the “Archives and Libraries” section). If you request a certificate by mail, bear in mind that it may take several weeks to obtain a reply. When you write, send:

  • A check or money order in pounds sterling for the current certificate fee or credit card information.
  • The full name and sex of the person sought.
  • The names of the parents, if known.
  • The approximate date and place of the event.
  • Index reference, if available.


Indexes to Civil Registration Records

Indexes can help you find your ancestors’ civil registration records. The Registrar General creates nationwide indexes after receiving the records from the local registrars. These indexes are arranged by year and give name, place of registration, and entry number.

The Family History Library has microfilmed the indexes for the years 1855 to 1955. You can find them by looking in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION.

When searching the indexes, you should be aware that:

  • Marriage indexes for females (1855-64) are arranged alphabetically by maiden surname. The husband’s surname appears in parentheses.
  • Death indexes for females (1855-64) are arranged in alphabetical order under her married surname with her maiden surname in parentheses.
  • After 1864, death indexes list women under both their maiden surnames and their married surnames.
  • A “Mc” or “Mac” surname may be found in the indexes at the end of the M section.
  • There is an additional index at the end of each yearly index called the Vide AddendaLook this term up in the glossary.. This index lists names missed in the regular index. A cross-reference to the Vide Addenda will usually be found in the regular index.
  • Some births, marriages, and deaths were registered late. These “neglected entries” cover the period from about 1820 to 1860 and were registered between 1860 and 1868. They are on one roll of microfilm (FHL film 103538).

If you cannot find an index entry, consider the following strategies:

  • Surnames are often found under unexpected spellings. Look for variations.
  • Events are filed by the date registered, not the date occurred. For example, a birth on 20 December may have been registered in January of the following year.
  • Indexes were hand-prepared and may contain copying errors and omissions.
  • A person may have been registered under a different name than was used later in life.
  • A woman’s surname in the marriage index may be her surname by a previous marriage.
  • Family information (particularly age at death) is often misleading.
  • Persons with common names may be difficult to identify in the index.

  • An illegitimate child may be registered under the mother’s maiden name.
  • Some children were registered as “male” or “female” when a name had not been selected at the time of registration.
  • Not every person was registered.

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