Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Scotland

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains Scotland Church Records for the years 1658-1919. The records were originally filmed at the National Archives of Scotland.

This specific collection includes a compilation of records of Kirk Sessions (meetings of local church leaders), Presbyteries (church court for several parishes/areas), and Synods (church court for several Presbyteries), containing registers of births/baptisms, marriages, and burial records. It cannot be over emphasized that many of the entries found in Kirk Session records of baptisms, marriages and burials pertain to those belonging to other seceder Presbyterian spin-off churches (Non-Church of Scotland) and/or Nonconformist religions.

The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian based) has been the recognized national church in Scotland since 1690. However, the were several splits from the Church of Scotland well after this year, and there was the Reformed Presbyterian Church which has origins well before the Church of Scotland was designated as the national and the recognized state-sponsored church in 1690.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth/Baptism
 * Name
 * Baptism/Christening date
 * Baptism/Christening place
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence

Marriage
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Maiden name of bride
 * Ages
 * Birthplaces
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names of fathers
 * Names and maiden names of mothers
 * Names of witnesses and officiating clergy

Burial
 * Name
 * Date and place of death
 * Age at death
 * Place of residence
 * Cause of death
 * Spouse’s name
 * Name of parents

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of person
 * Date of record

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Scotland.
 * Scotland Guided Research
 * Scotland Record Finder
 * Scotland Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Escócia, Registros da Igreja e Registros de Sessões de Kirk (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)