Scottish Research Bookshelf
If you are not familiar at all with Scottish genealogical research, I do recommend that you invest in either extensively bookmarking your favourite advice websites or buy a good book or two. Scotland's uniquely preserved legal system coupled with different cultural and societal norms, means you are going to be encountering some very unfamiliar terms and different practices. Understanding these is the key to successful Scottish research.
In addition to the books recommended on my Scottish History page, here are some suggestions to specifically help you with your research (click on any cover to go to the relevant Amazon page to learn more, but there are obviously other places to buy them from.)
In addition to the books recommended on my Scottish History page, here are some suggestions to specifically help you with your research (click on any cover to go to the relevant Amazon page to learn more, but there are obviously other places to buy them from.)
Bruce Durie, who previously led the University of Strathclyde postgraduate genealogy course, has published Scottish Genealogy, with lots of practical information, helpful glossaries (including copious Latin phrases) and bits of historic trivia. Heraldry and DNA are his particular penchants, so there's also some brief diversions into blazoning (the new Sudoku!) and mitochondria etc., if that's your thing too.
Anthony Adolph's Tracing Your Scottish Family History was published in 2008 and as such, some of the links and advice about record locations have undoubtedly been superseded as much more online access has developed in the last decade. However, this is a very readable book, well illustrated and with plenty of little "sidebar" stories to illustrate key points and facts.
There are also some illuminating references to the Gaelic language and culture that I'm sure you would find useful if your ancestry is rooted in the Highlands and Islands.
There are also some illuminating references to the Gaelic language and culture that I'm sure you would find useful if your ancestry is rooted in the Highlands and Islands.
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Chris Paton has also written a collection of Scottish books research books, originally published a few years ago by Unlock the Past under their Discover series - Discover Scottish Civil Registration, Discover Scottish Land Records & Discover Scottish Church Records. His latest title from Pen & Sword looks to be a more general guide, Tracing your Scottish Family History on the Internet, whilst Tracing your Scottish Ancestry through Church and State Records I would imagine details many of the resources referenced in the first 3 books? From what I've seen of the Discover books at family history fairs, these are quite slim volumes which might make the set seem a little pricey. Pen and Sword often exhibit at the major genealogy fairs in the UK and usually offer good deals if you purchase multiple titles. I've found his book on Irish resources to be very practical and stuffed with lots of references on where to find records, both in archives and online, so I would expect these to be the same. Click on any of the images to find out more.
Chris has also generously published the first chapter of his Church Records book online via his Scottish Genes blog. This will give you a good idea of the sometimes farcical splits in the Protestant faith in Scotland (singing versus no singing for instance!) and the implications for hunting ancestors. This Churches of Scotland timeline tries to depict these schisms graphically - good luck working it all out!
Chris has also generously published the first chapter of his Church Records book online via his Scottish Genes blog. This will give you a good idea of the sometimes farcical splits in the Protestant faith in Scotland (singing versus no singing for instance!) and the implications for hunting ancestors. This Churches of Scotland timeline tries to depict these schisms graphically - good luck working it all out!
(c) Irish Geneaography - 2021
