Midlothian

genealogy Research in midlothian, 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

Archive Collections - Midlothian Council
The British Library - London, UK
Catalog Search Results for Scotland, Midlothian - FamilySearch.org
Edinburgh City Archives
Edinburgh City Libraries
Family History Resources - Midlothian Council
Internet Archive - Midlothian, Scotland
Libraries in Midlothian - Midlothian Council
Local and Family History - Midlothian Council
Lothian Health Services Archive
Midlothian (Edinburghshire), Scotland Genealogy - FamilySearch
The National Archives of the UK - Kew, UK
National Library of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
National Records of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Open Library - Midlothian, Scotland
Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK

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
People of Medieval Scotland
Undiscovered Scotland - Biographical Index
Wikipedia.org - Midlothian, Scotland Notable People

cemeteries

Billion Graves - Midlothian, Scotland
Cemeteries in Midlothian - Find A Grave
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Midlothian, Scotland
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
Graveyards of Scotland - Edinburgh
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials
WorldCat.org - Midlothian, Scotland

census records

Census Online - Midlothian Co., Scotland Census Records
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

church records

The Church of Scotland - Historical Records
National Records of Scotland - Church Records
The Official Rosslyn Chapel Website
Scotland Church Records - FamilySearch

court records

FamilySearch - Scotland Court Records
Findmypast - Scotland Court & Criminal Database
National Records of Scotland - Chancery Records
National Records of Scotland - Court and Legal Records
National Records of Scotland - Court of Session Records
National Records of Scotland - Crime and Criminals
National Records of Scotland - High Court Criminal Trials
National Records of Scotland - Sheriff Court Records
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
Origin Scotland Church Directory
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
Heraldry of the World - Midlothian, 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

The Border Reivers Website
Edinburgh's Mining Industry in 1896 - A List of Coal Mines
Edinburgh's Mining Industry in 1896 - A List of Metalliferous Mines
Gazetteer of British Place Names - Midlothian, Scotland
GENUKI - Miscellaneous, Midlothian
GENUKI - Midlothian, Scotland - History and Description, 1868
Google Books - Midlothian, Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland - Midlothian
Historical Places in Midlothian
Historical Perspective for Old County of Midlothian
The History of the Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham
Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom - Britannica
National Records of Scotland - Publications
Old Scottish Genealogy & Family History - Edinburgh Genealogy Records
Old Scottish Genealogy & Family History - Midlothian Genealogy Records
Parish of Corstorphine, Midlothian, Scotland
Playbills of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh - National Library of Scotland
Scotland IGI Batch Numbers - Midlothian
Undiscovered Scotland - Midlothian
A Vision of Britain Through Time - Midlothian, Scotland
Wikipedia.org - Midlothian, Scotland

maps

Map of Edinburghshire - British History Online
County Maps of Midlothian (Edinburghshire), 1600s-1960s - National Library of Scotland
Geographic.org - Midlothian, Scotland
ScotlandsPlaces - Midlothian
Town Plan of Dalkeith Surveyed: 1852
Town Plan of Dalkeith Surveyed: 1893
Town Plan of Edinburgh Surveyed: 1849-53
Town Plan of Edinburgh Surveyed: 1876-77
Town Plan of Edinburgh Surveyed: 1893-4
Town Plan of Musselburgh Surveyed: 1853
Town Plan of Musselburgh Surveyed: 1893
Town Plan of Portobello Surveyed: 1893-4

military records

Casualty Forms
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Midlothian, Scotland
Ministry of Defence - GOV.UK
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Regimental Museum
Scotland's War - Midlothian's War
The Society for Army Historical Research

municipalities

GENUKI - Mid Lothian Towns/Parishes
Hermiston Village History
Our Town Stories – Edinburgh
Wikipedia.org - Midlothian, Scotland Settlements

newspapers

The British Newspaper Archive
Cyndi's List - UK & Ireland Newspapers
The Edinburgh Gazette
Findmypast - British Newspapers
National Library of Scotland - Newspapers Collections
National Library of Scotland - Newspapers Online
Newspaper Abstracts - Midlothian, Scotland
Newspapers.com - Scotland
The Scotsman Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotsman Digital Archive

obituaries

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
A Pictorial History Of Niddrie...Edinburgh Scotland
Photographs of Scottish Castles and Manor Houses
Professional Photographers 1840 to 1940

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
Scotland's Oldest Medical Library - Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Wikipedia.org - Midlothian, Scotland Schools

societies

Capital Collections
City of Edinburgh Museums & Galleries
Cockburn Geological Museum - The University of Edinburgh
Colinton Local History Society
Cousland Smiddy - Dalkeith
FamilySearch - Scotland Societies
Findmypast - Scottish Association of Family History Societies
The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
The Heart of Midlothian Museum
The Lothians Family History Society
Museums and Galleries Edinburgh
Museum on the Mound - Edinburgh Scotland
Musselburgh Museum
National Library of Scotland - Historical Clubs and Societies
National Mining Museum
National Museums Scotland
New England Historic Genealogical Society - Midlothian, Scotland
Newbyres Castle - What We Know
Rosslyn Chapel - Midlothian, Scotland
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Regimental Museum
The Scottish Association of Family Histories Societies
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Genealogy and Ancestry
Statistical Accounts of Scotland - Midlothian
Surgeons' Hall Museums, Edinburgh

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

Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland - Google Book Search
DustyDocs - Links to Free Websites in Midlothian Containing Parish 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.