A city in the west of Scotland. Glasgow’s origins lie in several prehistoric settlements on the banks of the river Clyde, brought to prominence by a religious foundation, which, by the twelfth century had become the seat of the Archbishops of Glasgow. The town was constituted a burgh of barony around the year 1180. It became the largest industrial town in Scotland by the nineteenth century. Boundary extensions in the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century swallowed up parts of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire, including over a dozen suburban burghs, of which the largest were Govan and Partick (annexed in 1891).
Maps and plans
Search for maps and plans of Glasgow.
Statutory registers
Civil registration of birth, marriage and death in Scotland began in 1855. Search the statutory registers for registration districts in Glasgow city.
Church registers
Baptisms, marriages and burials were recorded by churches. Church of Scotland registers before 1855 became the Old Parish Registers in the care of the Registrar General for Scotland. Search church registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and other events for Church of Scotland parishes, Roman Catholic congregations and other church congregations in Glasgow city.
Census returns
Population censuses have been taken every ten years in Scotland since 1801 and census returns for households survive from 1841 onwards. Search the census returns for census enumeration districts in Glasgow city.
Valuation rolls
Valuation rolls are local tax rolls, listing most properties and their owners and occupiers. They were compiled in Scotland from 1855 onwards. Search valuation rolls for parishes and burghs in Glasgow city.
Legal records
Wills and testaments
Wills and testaments for people in Glasgow city were registered in the following commissary courts and sheriff courts (with National Records of Scotland reference codes in brackets):
- Airdrie Sheriff Court, 1888-1925 (SC35), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Glasgow Commissary Court, 1547-1823 (CC9), includes testaments relating to parts of Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Stirlingshire.
- Glasgow Sheriff Court Inventories, 1804-1925 (SC36), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, 1817-1925 (SC36), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Hamilton & Campsie Commissary Court, 1564-1823 (CC10), includes testaments relating to parts of Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Stirlingshire.
- Hamilton Sheriff Court, 1888-1925 (SC37), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Lanark Commissary Court, 1595-1823 (CC14), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Lanark Sheriff Court, 1888-1925 (SC38), includes testaments relating to parts of Lanarkshire.
- Edinburgh Commissary Court, 1514-1829 (CC8), includes testaments relating to Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian, and, under certain conditions, to all areas of Scotland, and to most Scots who died abroad.
- Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories, 1808-1925 (SC70), includes testaments relating to Midlothian and, under certain conditions, to all areas of Scotland, and to most Scots who died abroad.
- Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills, 1844-1925 (SC70), includes testaments relating to Midlothian and, under certain conditions, to all areas of Scotland, and to most Scots who died abroad.
- Non-Scottish Courts, 1858-1900 (SC70), includes testaments relating to Scots who died in England and other foreign countries.
Search for wills and testaments for people and places in Glasgow city.
Coats of Arms
Search the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings for coats of arms connected with people and places in Glasgow city.