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Scottish parish records

Explore four centuries of Scottish baptisms, marriages and burials in Findmypast's collection, the most comprehensive of its kind. This amazing resource is published in partnership with hundreds of family history societies, archives and volunteers across Scotland. Spanning 450 years of Scottish history and covering every parish in the country, the records reveal essential information for growing your family tree.

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Scottish Catholic records

Our ground-breaking Catholic Heritage Archive brings you unique parish registers covering all of Scotland. Only available at Findmypast, digitised copies of the original documents can help you understand how your Catholic ancestors have shaped your family story.

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Scottish newspaper archives

Browse history's headlines in the largest online collection of old Scottish newspapers. Old news is good news when it comes to exploring your fascinating past. Local newspaper archives feature everything from birth, marriage and death announcements to court reports, community events and national stories through a local lens. Our collection covers every corner of Scotland and dates as far back as the 1700s.

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Must-know tips for tracing Scottish ancestry

From the quirks to look out for to common pitfalls to avoid, genealogy guru Myko Clelland answers the Findmypast Community's Scottish family research questions in this helpful video.

Get ahead of the game with genealogy in Scotland

Start or upload your family tree

Our instant hints provide intriguing clues to your past, helping grow your family tree.

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What's in a name?

This handy guide to traditional Scottish naming patterns will be a lifesaver as you start digging deeper.

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See what's new

We release brand new records every week on Findmypast Friday, with regular additions from Scotland.

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Scottish success stories

Findmypast’s Scottish records have helped me grow my family tree beyond what I had ever thought possible. And it all began by simply entering a name and date.

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Keep growing your Scottish family tree with...

Scotland Monumental Inscriptionskeyboard_arrow_down

This vast collection is the largest of its kind available online. The detailed records can help you discover more about your Scottish ancestors' lives and deaths. Search now.

Edinburgh Gazette 1797-2018keyboard_arrow_down

Delve into four centuries of Scottish history with the official Scottish newspaper of the UK government. The records include personal, legal and business notices, information on estates and much more. Search now.

Newspaper Death Reports & Obituarieskeyboard_arrow_down

Way more than just death notices, this useful collection can illuminate your Scottish relatives' lives too. The resource consists of a number of periodicals from across Scotland, perfect for plugging gaps in your family tree. Search now.

Post Office Directorieskeyboard_arrow_down

Scotland's storied past is documented in dozens of post office directories from generations ago in this revealing record set. What's more, the pages are packed with names, addresses and occupations. Search now.

Burgess & Guild Brethren Indexkeyboard_arrow_down

Stretching back over 650 years, this collection unlocks the history behind occupations in Scotland. Did your ancestor become a master of their trade? These records may hold the answer. Search now.

Jacobite Rebellions 1715 and 1745keyboard_arrow_down

In partnership with The National Archives, we've published these records to help you trace connections to one of the most tumultuous periods in Scottish history. Explore prison records, contemporary journals, administrative papers and much more. Search now.

Poor Law & Poor Listskeyboard_arrow_down

If your Scottish ancestors fell on hard times, you may find them listed in these detail-rich records. Often, the poor weren't recorded in official sources, so this collection is worth a look if there's an elusive relative in your family tree. Search now.

Modern & Civil Recordskeyboard_arrow_down

Take your family tree from the past to the present with millions of birth, marriage, death and burial records. The collection spans from 1855 right up to 2021 and provides essential information for tracing Scottish families. Search now.

Glasgow Smallpox Vaccination Registers 1801-1854keyboard_arrow_down

This fascinating collection lists Glaswegians who received an inoculation to combat smallpox. In the records, you'll find their names, ages, addresses and parents' names, all vital for successful genealogy research. Search now.