A county in the north of Scotland. Counties (as local government areas) were abolished in Scotland in 1975.
Statutory registers
Civil registration of birth, marriage and death in Scotland began in 1855. Search the statutory registers for registration districts in Orkney.
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 Orkney.
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 Orkney.
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 Orkney.
Legal records
Wills and testaments
Wills and testaments for people in Orkney were registered in the following commissary courts and sheriff courts (with National Records of Scotland reference codes in brackets):
- Kirkwall (Orkney) Sheriff Court Inventories and Wills, 1824-1925 (SC11), includes testaments relating to Orkney.
- Kirkwall (Orkney) Sheriff Court Confirmations, 1831-1925 (SC11), includes testaments relating to Orkney.
- Orkney & Shetland Commissary Court, 1611-1832 (CC17), includes testaments relating to Orkney and Shetland.
- 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 Orkney.
Coats of Arms
Search the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings for coats of arms connected with people and places in Orkney.