10 Top Tips for…
Starting Your Scottish Family Tree
So, you've got Scottish roots calling to you? Brilliant! Uncovering your Scottish ancestry is an exciting adventure, connecting you to the glens, towns, and tales of Alba's past. It might seem daunting, but with a few key pointers, you'll be tracing your tartan threads back in no time.
Here are 10 practical tips to get you started on your Scottish family tree journey:
TIP 1
Start with What (and Who) You Know: Before you jump online, start at home. Chat with older relatives – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles. Ask about names, dates (even approximate ones!), places (towns, villages, counties), and stories. Gather any old photos, certificates (birth, marriage, death), letters, or family bibles. These home sources are pure gold and provide the essential launchpad for your research. Note everything down!
TIP 2
Focus on the Vital Trio: The backbone of genealogy is tracking births (or baptisms), marriages, and deaths. These "vital records" provide names, dates, locations, and crucial links between generations. Your initial goal is often to find these records for yourself, your parents, and your grandparents, working methodically backwards one generation at a time.
TIP 3
Know the Magic Date 1855: This is the key date in Scottish genealogy. Compulsory civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths began on 1 January 1855. These Statutory Registers are detailed (especially the 1855 ones!) and centrally indexed. Before 1855, you'll rely on Old Parish Registers (OPRs) kept by the Church of Scotland (and other churches). OPRs vary in survival and detail, so research before this date requires different strategies.
TIP 4
Meet Your New Best Friend: ScotlandsPeople The official government source for Scottish genealogy records is the ScotlandsPeople website. It's the place to find Statutory Registers, OPRs, Census records, Wills, Coats of Arms, and more. It's a pay-per-view site, but essential for Scottish research. Get familiar with its search functions and the types of records available. You can view indexes elsewhere, but ScotlandsPeople often has the actual images.
TIP 5
Harness the Power of the Census: Scottish census records are available online from 1841 to 1921 (with a 100-year closure rule). Censuses were taken every 10 years and list household members, their ages, occupations, relationships, and birthplaces. They are invaluable for tracking families between vital events, finding siblings, and confirming locations. Note that ages in the 1841 census were often rounded down for adults!
TIP 6
Decode Traditional Naming Patterns: Scots often followed naming conventions, which can be a huge clue (though not always!). A common pattern was:
1st Son: Named after the Father's Father
2nd Son: Named after the Mother's Father
3rd Son: Named after the Father
1st Daughter: Named after the Mother's Mother
2nd Daughter: Named after the Father's Mother
3rd Daughter: Named after the Mother
Watch for these patterns when trying to link generations, especially in OPRs where parents' names might be the only clue.
TIP 7
Location, Location, Location! Scotland's geography matters. Records are often organised by county (shire) and parish. Knowing the specific parish where an event occurred is crucial, especially pre-1855. Be aware that boundaries changed over time. Use online gazetteers and maps (like those on the National Library of Scotland website) to pinpoint locations and understand jurisdictions.
TIP 8
Look Sideways: Research the Siblings (and FAN Club): Don't just focus on your direct line. Researching your ancestor's siblings can unlock doors. A sibling's marriage or death certificate might list parents' names you don't have. Also investigate the FAN Club (Friends, Associates, Neighbours) – witnesses on certificates or neighbours in the census could be relatives or lead you to new information.
TIP 9
Expect Spelling Surprises: Don't get hung up on exact spellings! Names (first names, surnames, place names) were often recorded phonetically, especially in older records. 'Reid' might become 'Reed' or 'Read'; 'Stephen' could be 'Steven'; 'Glasgow' might appear as 'Glasgo'. Be flexible with your searches and use wildcards (*) where possible.
TIP 10
Record As You Go (Cite Your Sources!): Right from the start, get into the habit of noting where you found each piece of information. Was it Aunt Mary's story, the 1881 census, or a specific birth certificate found on ScotlandsPeople? This avoids confusion later, prevents you repeating searches, and allows you (and others) to verify your findings. Simple notes are fine to begin with – just be consistent!
There you have it – ten tips to set you firmly on the path to discovering your Scottish heritage. Take it step by step, enjoy the process of discovery, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Your Scottish family story is waiting!