Whether you're just starting to explore your Scottish roots or are a seasoned researcher, these tips will guide you.
With over 239,000 new entries recently added, the new year is a perfect time to start your family history journey.
Narrow your results
When searching birth, marriage and death records, you'll receive a list of index results. These list basic details such as name, gender, year and registration district.
If you have too many results, use the "Refine search" tab to add more detail or focus on a specific location, then search again.
Use search tools
Our search tools can help you find that elusive ancestor. Each works differently:
- Exact names only – for precise results with no variations
- Fuzzy matching – captures slight variations and common misspellings
- Wildcards allowed – use characters such as * to represent unknown letters
- Names that begin with – useful for common prefixes or partial names
- Phonetic matches – finds names with similar pronunciation
Work in reverse
Can’t find a birth record? Try searching for a death record instead.
Death records often reveal age at death, date of birth, and sometimes the names of spouses—valuable clues to guide your next search.
Create a timeline
Create timelines to organise and store your discoveries. You can add records, arrange and filter them as required. Learn more.
Extend your dates
If your relative was born, married or died late in December, their record may have been registered in January of the following year.
Delays in registration were common, particularly around the New Year period.
Enhance your image
If you're struggling to read a document, our image controls let you zoom, magnify, adjust brightness or invert black and white to make records clearer.
If the record is still unclear, use the ‘Report issue’ button on the right-hand side. This allows you to request a new scan of the record.
Find siblings together
Looking for all children from a particular marriage?
Search birth records using the mother’s married surname, maiden name and a year range. Siblings will appear together in your results.
Decode unfamiliar terms
Our glossary can help you to decipher archaic words in our records, including agricultural, legal and medical terms.
Know your naming patterns
Many Scottish families followed traditional naming patterns well into the 19th century. These conventions can provide helpful clues, particularly with older records.
Learn more on our Facebook page.
Get started
If you’re new to family history research, our Getting Started page is a great place to begin your journey.
It covers the basics on how to search and make the most of our resources.