Ayrshire

genealogy Research in ayrshire, Scotland

Scotland is a great place to do family history research because of the country's large number of archives, libraries and other repositories. A variety of records can also be found locally at registry offices, courthouses, public libraries, historical societies and elsewhere. Websites like Ancestry.com, Findmypast, ScotlandsPeople, and FamilySearch also provide access to many unique online databases relating to Scottish genealogy.

In addition to these great resources, we have compiled a large number of links that should prove helpful to your search. Many of these are listed below and on our other pages relating to all parts of Scotland. If you would like a professional genealogist to help you with your quest, please click below.

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archives and libraries

The British Library - London, UK
GENUKI - Ayrshire, Scotland Libraries
The National Archives of the UK - Kew, UK
National Library of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
National Records of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
South Ayrshire Council - Ayrshire, Scotland Libraries
VisitScotland.com - The North Ayrshire Heritage Center

biographies

Biography Online - Famous Scottish People
FamilySearch - Scotland Biography
National Library of Scotland - Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsman
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Scots and Scotland
Undiscovered Scotland - Biographical Index

cemeteries

Cyndi's List - Cemeteries & Funeral Homes in Scotland
FamilySearch - Scotland Cemeteries
Find A Grave - Find a Grave in Scotland
Findmypast - Scotland Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Funeral Notices - Ayrshire, Scotland
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records
Monumental Inscriptions for Carrick Ayrshire
Monumental Inscriptions High Kirk Stevenston
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials

census records

Ayrshire Data from Census, OPRs & Kirk Sessions
FamilySearch - Scotland Census
GENUKI - Scotland Census
The National Archives of the UK - Census Records
National Library of Scotland - Census Records
National Records of Scotland - Census Records
Scotland's Census - History of the Census
ScotlandsPeople - Census Returns

church records

The Church of Scotland - Historical Records
National Records of Scotland - Church Records
Origin Scotland Church Directory
Scotland Church Records - FamilySearch

court records

FamilySearch - Scotland Court Records
Findmypast - Scotland Court & Criminal Database
National Records of Scotland - Crime and Criminals
Scottish Courts - Court Records

directories

Ancestry.com - UK City and County Directories
FamilySearch - Scotland Directories
GENUKI - Ayrshire Directory - 1837 Pigot & Co
National Library of Scotland - Directories
National Library of Scotland - Scottish Post Office Directories
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Directories

emigration records

FamilySearch - Scotland Emigration and Immigration
GenGuide - Emigration Records
Glasgow Family History - Emigration, Immigration and Migration
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
Library and Archives Canada - Scottish Genealogy and Family History
Library of Congress - Sources for Research in Scottish Genealogy: Emigration
The National Archives of the UK - Emigration and Emigrants
National Library of Scotland - Emigration and Passenger Lists
National Museum of Scotland - Scots and Emigration 1800 - 1950
National Records of Scotland - Emigration Records
ScotlandsPeople - Emigration and Immigration
Scottish Archive Network - Emigration Records
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Scottish Emigration
University of Aberdeen - Scottish Emigration Database

estate files

Ancestry.com - Scottish Calendar of Confirmations
FamilySearch - Scotland Estate Records
Mygov.scot - Finding a Will
The National Archives of the UK - Wills and Administrations after 1858
National Library of Scotland - Estate Papers
National Records of Scotland - Wills and Testaments
Scottish Courts - Estate Records
Scottish Land and Estates - Document Library
ScotlandsPeople - Inventories of Estates

heraldry records

The Armorial Register - International Register of Arms
ScotlandsPeople - Coats of Arms
Court of the Lord Lyon - Edinburgh, UK
Facts about Heraldry in Scotland - Scots Connection
The Heraldry Society of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Introduction to Scottish Heraldry - Scotlans
Public Register of Arms - National Records of Scotland
Scotland's Heraldry - Scottish Tartans Authority
Scottish Armory and Heraldry - Clan Campbell Society of North America
Scottish Heraldry - Wikipedia.org
Scottish Tartans Authority - Ayrshire, Scotland

history

Ayrshire History - Ayrshirehistory.org.uk
Ayrshire Roots - Ayrshire.co.uk
Ayrshire, Scotland - Wikipedia
GENUKI - Ayrshire, A Description
GENUKI - Ayrshire, Scotland History and Description, 1868
GENUKI - Ayrshire, Scotland Mansions
Google Books - Details List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland - Ayrshire, Scotland
National Records of Scotland - Slavery and the Slave Trade
People of Medieval Scotland - Ayrshire, Scotland
ScotlandGenWeb Project - Ayrshire History
Scotland IGI Batch Numbers - Ayrshire, Scotland
Scotland Jewish Community and Congregations - Ayrshire, Scotland
The Statistical Accounts of Scotland - Ayrshire, Scotland

maps

David Rumsey Map Collection - Ayrshire, Scotland
GENUKI - Ayrshire, Scotland Map
National Records of Scotland - Ayrshire, Scotland Maps
Old Maps - Ayrshire, Scotland
ScotlandsPlaces - Ayrshire, Scotland Maps

military records

Army Museums Ogilby Trust
Casualty Forms - Home
GENUKI - Ayrshire's Military History
National Records of Scotland - Ayrshire, Scotland Military Records
National Records of Scotland - Soldiers' and Airmen's Wills
Roll of Honour - Ayrshire, Scotland

municipalities

GENUKI - Ayrshire, Scotland Towns & Parishes

newspapers

The British Newspaper Archive
Cyndi's List - UK & Ireland Newspapers
Daily Record - Ayrshire, Scotland
Findmypast - British Newspapers
National Library of Scotland - Newspapers Collections
National Library of Scotland - Newspapers Online
Newspapers.com - Scotland
Scotsman Digital Archive

obituaries

Findmypast - Death Reports & Obituaries
The Herald - Death Notices & Obituaries
The Scotsman - Obituaries

photographs

DarkIsle.com - Scotland Castles, Cairns and Celtic Music
Historic Environment Scotland - National Collection of Aerial Photography
National Galleries of Scotland - The MacKinnon Collection
National Library of Scotland - Photographs in the Collections
National Records of Scotland - Image Gallery
Photographs of Scottish Castles and Manor Houses
ScotlandsPlaces - Ayrshire, Scotland Photographs
Scottish Highlander Photo Archive

property records

FamilySearch - Scotland Land and Property Search
Land Register of Scotland - Land and Property Information
Land Searches Scotland - Land Registers and Conveyancing Searches
National Records of Scotland - Deeds
National Records of Scotland - Sasines
Registers of Scotland - Scotland's Land and Property Registers
Scottish Genealogy Society - Land Records

school records

FamilySearch - Scotland School Records
GenGuide - School Records for the UK and Ireland

societies

East Ayrshire Family History Society
FamilySearch - Scotland Societies
Findmypast - Scottish Association of Family History Societies
Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society
National Library of Scotland - Historical Clubs and Societies
National Museums Scotland
The Scottish Association of Family Histories Societies
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Genealogy and Ancestry
Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society - South Ayrshire, Scotland

tax records

FamilySearch - Scotland Taxation
The National Archives of the UK - Records of Taxation
National Records of Scotland - Taxation Records
ScotlandsPlaces - Historical Tax Rolls
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Taxation Records

vital records

FamilySearch - Scotland Civil Registration
Google Books - Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland
The National Archives of the UK - Births, Marriages and Deaths in Scotland and Ireland
National Library of Scotland - Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages
National Records of Scotland - Birth, Death, & Marriage Records
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials
ScotlandsPeople - Statutory Register of Births

Scottish Council Areas

Many Scottish family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the United Kingdom. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at courthouses, historical societies, churches, council offices, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Scotland. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in Scotland. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Scotland have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Scotland's 32 council areas along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.