Scotland - Birth - 1559-1840

The record categories below are arranged in the order most likely to help you find a birth in this time period.

Church of Scotland: Church records
The Church of Scotland was the 'state' or 'established' church in Scotland from 1690 onward. It was Presbyterian in form. The church records fall into two primary categories: parish registers and Kirk session records (see below).

Parish registers contain the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded by church officials at the time of an event. Christening records usually give the name of the child, christening date, names of parents (including the mother's maiden name), place of residence, and father's occupation. Sometimes the child's birth date and the names of witnesses are recorded. Most church records date from the time of establishment, but some date earlier. The earliest known records date from 1553.

All of the extant christening records and marriage records have been indexed. For information on indexes, click here.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in Church of Scotland records.

Accessing the records For more information about Church of Scotland records and how to access them, click here.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Nonconformists: Church records
Anyone who did not adhere to the teachings of the Established Church of Scotland was considered a 'nonconformist.' For our purposes we will divide nonconformists into two basic categories: seceders and dissenters. Seceders were people who left the established Church of Scotland and formed other presbyteries. These include those known as the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland. Dissenters were people who belonged to religious organizations other than Presbyterian. These include Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Catholics, etc. Nonconformist groups may have kept separate records. In them you may find baptisms, marriages, minutes of meetings, communion rolls, and other records of value.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in nonconformist church records.

Accessing the records

Not many nonconformist church records are available on microfilm and therefore are not in the collection of the Family History Library. Those records that are will be listed in the library's catalog under the town or parish of interest and the topic of 'Church records.'

Information about extant Kirk session records for a particular parish can be found in the Wiki on that parish's church records page. In the search field above and to the left, type in the name of the parish and 'church records' and click on Search.

Most nonconformist church records are held in the collection of the National Archives of Scotland or other repositories in Scotland. Other repositories can include regional archives, denominational archives, or individual churches. Contact information for other archives may be found in the directory of the Scottish Archives Network.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Kirk Session: Church records
Kirk is the Scottish word for church. The Kirk session is the lowest ecclesiastical court of the Presbyterian Church, held on the parish level. It consists of the minister and elected elders of the parish. Kirk session records deal with the business and organization of the parish and discipline of members. They may include lists of communicants, accounts of money paid to the poor, testimonials of persons moving from one parish to another, and details about illegitimate births and alleged fathers. Christening and marriage information is sometimes included.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in Scottish kirk session records.

Accessing the records

Most Kirk session records have not been microfilmed and therefore are not in the collection of the Family History Library. Those few that are will be found in the library's catalog under the town or parish of interest and the topic of 'Church records.' Most Kirk session records are held in the collection of the National Archives of Scotland and are classed with the reference number of CH2.

Information about extant Kirk session records for a particular parish can be found in the Wiki on that parish's church records page. In the search field above and to the left, type in the name of the parish and 'church records' and click on Search.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Census
A census is a count and description of the population. Government census records were taken every ten years starting in 1841. The 1841 through 1891 censuses are currently available. They are especially valuable because they list the majority of the population and are available at many repositories. In these records you may find names of the members of a household, and each person's age, gender, marital status, relationship to the head of the household, occupation, address, and place of birth. Census records can provide clues that may lead you to other records.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in Scottish census records.

Accessing the records

Census records and indexes are readily available both on microfilm at the Family History Library and online. Online indexes are available through several websites including these:


 * ScotlandsPeople (complete 1841-1901 indexes and images; per use fee-based website)
 * Ancestry.co.uk (1841-1901 indexes only; annual membership fee-based website)
 * Censusfinder (free; starting in alphabetical order by county, the list is short but growing)
 * FreeCEN Scotland (free; almost every county has some years and some parishes indexed)

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Death Certificate: Civil registration
Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths beginning 1 January 1855. In these records you may find the name of the deceased; his or her cause of death, death date and place, rank or profession, marital status, sex, age (from which you can estimate a year of birth), spouse's name, father's name and rank or profession, and mother's name and maiden name; and the signature, relationship, and residence of the informant. Civil registration death records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the general index to identify and obtain a copy of a death certificate.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in civil registration death records.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Marriage Certificate: Civil Registration
Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths beginning 1 January 1855. In these records you may find the names of the bride and groom; their ages (which you can use to determine a year of birth), marriage date and place, marital status, residences, occupations, fathers' names and occupations, and mothers' names and maiden names; whether they were married according to the forms of the Church of Scotland or another church; and the names of witnesses. Civil registration marriage records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the general index to identify and obtain a copy of a marriage certificate.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in civil registration marriage records.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.