Effective family research requires understanding the historic events that affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, local events, laws, migrations, settlement patterns, and economic or religious trends may help you understand family movements. These events may have led to the creation of records, such as poor law records or military records, that mention your family.

Your ancestors will be more interesting if you learn about the events that shaped their lives. For example, a history may tell you what events occurred in the year your ancestor married and how those events may have impacted their decisions.

Some key dates and events in Scottish history are:

843	Kenneth MacAlpin becomes king of the Picts and Scots. This marks the first united kingdom in Scotland.
1174	William the Lion surrenders the independence of Scotland to Henry II in the Treaty of Falaise.
1306	Robert Bruce assumes leadership of a rebellion against English rule.
1314	Robert Bruce defeats the English in Battle of Bannockburn, maintaining Scottish independence.
1325	The English recognize Robert Bruce as King Robert of Scotland.
1514	The recording of testaments (wills) begins in Scotland.
1552	The General Provincial Council orders each parish to keep a register of baptisms and banns of marriage.
1560	Protestantism is established. The authority of the pope is abolished, and celebrating mass becomes illegal.
1592	The Presbyterian Church is formally established.
1600	The calendar changes from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar.
1603	The crowns of England and Scotland unite.
1608	The Plantation of Ulster in Ireland is established to prevent Irish revolts against English rule. By 1640 there were 40,000 Scots in northern Ireland.
1690	The Presbyterian Church is permanently restored and becomes the Church of Scotland.
1707	The Act of Union is formed between Scotland and England, creating Great Britain.
1715	Thousands of Scots support James Edward Stuart, called “Old Pretender,” as the king of Great Britain. This is called the first Jacobite rebellion.
1745	Many Scots support James’ son Charles Edward Stuart, also called Bonnie Prince Charlie and the “Young Pretender,” as the king of Great Britain. This is called the second Jacobite rebellion.
1746	The English defeat the forces of Charles Edward Stuart in the Battle of Culloden. After this battle, the English executed many clan chiefs and outlawed kilts and bagpipes. These restrictions were removed in 1782.
1779	The Industrial Revolution begins to affect Scotland.
1829	Roman Catholics are permitted by law to buy and inherit property and keep records.
1841	The first census of genealogical value is taken.
1855	Civil registration begins.