Falkirk

genealogy Research in falkirk, 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

Archives - Falkirk Community Trust
Archives - Stirling Council
The British Library - London, UK
Heritage & History - Archives, Falkirk Council
Internet Archive - Falkirk, Scotland
The National Archives of the UK - Kew, UK
National Library of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
National Records of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Our Libraries - Falkirk Community Trust
Open Library - Falkirk, Scotland
Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK

biographies

Biography Online - Famous Scottish People
FamilySearch - Scotland Biography
King Robert the Bruce Part 1 - Biography on Undiscovered Scotland
Mini Biographies of Scots and Scots Descendants - Dunns from Falkirk
National Library of Scotland - Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsman
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Scots and Scotland
People of Medieval Scotland
Undiscovered Scotland - Biographical Index
Wikipedia.org - Falkirk, Scotland Notable People
William Wallace - Britannica

cemeteries

Billion Graves - Falkirk, Scotland
Cemeteries in Falkirk - Find a Grave
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 - Falkirk, Scotland
GENUKI - Falkirk, Scotland Cemeteries
Graveyards of Scotland - Falkirk
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials
WorldCat.org - Falkirk, Scotland

census records

Falkirk (Council Area, Scotland, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics
FamilySearch - 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
statistics.gov.scot - Falkirk

church records

The Church of Scotland - Historical Records
Falkirk Parish Records - Genealogy and Family History in Scotland
GENUKI - Falkirk, Scotland Churches
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
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

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
Heraldry of the World - Falkirk, Scotland
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

history

Falkirk THI - Our Falkirk Story
The Falkirk Wheel: Building a Waterway Wonder
GENUKI - Falkirk, Scotland Gazetteers
Google Books - Falkirk, Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland - Falkirk
Historic Falkirk - Castles, Romans, Railways
A History of Camelon
A History of Falkirk
History of Falkirk - electricscotland.com
The History of the Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham
Historical Perspective for Falkirk - Gazetteer for Scotland
Scotland Jewish Community and Congregations - Falkirk Synagogue
ScotlandsPlaces - Falkirk
Statistical Accounts of Scotland - Falkirk
The Story of The Kelpies - Scottish Canals
Undiscovered Scotland - Falkirk
Undiscovered Scotland - Falkirk (Council Area)
A Vision of Britain Through Time - Falkirk District
Wikipedia.org - Falkirk, Scotland

maps

GENUKI - Falkirk, Scotland Maps
Old Maps Online - Falkirk, Scotland
Town Plan of Falkirk Surveyed: 1859

military records

The Armorial Register - International Register of Arms
Battle of Falkirk - Wikipedia
Casualty Forms
Military History of Scotland - Google Books Result
Ministry of Defence - GOV.UK
Royal Scots - Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives
The Society for Army Historical Research

municipalities

List of Cities, Towns, Villages and Settlements in Falkirk, Scotland - Geographic.org
List of Places in Falkirk Council Area - Wikipedia

newspapers

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

obituaries

All of Falkirk Herald's Recent Obituaries - Legacy.com
Findmypast - Death Reports & Obituaries
The Herald - Death Notices & Obituaries
Obits Index - Scotland
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

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

Falkirk Burgh School Board Records
FamilySearch - Scotland School Records
GenGuide - School Records for the UK and Ireland
Wikipedia.org - Falkirk, Scotland Education

societies

FamilySearch - Scotland Societies
Falkirk Local History Society
Findmypast - Scottish Association of Family History Societies
National Library of Scotland - Historical Clubs and Societies
National Museums Scotland
New England Historic Genealogical Society - Falkirk, Scotland
The Scottish Association of Family Histories Societies
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Genealogy and Ancestry

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
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.