Ross-shire

genealogy Research in ross-shire, 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
FamilySearch Catalog - Scotland, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire
Hebrides People - Discover Your Hebridean Roots
Highland Archive Service
Highland Council Archive
Libraries - High Life Highland
The National Archives of the UK - Kew, UK
National Library of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
National Records of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Old Scottish Genealogy & Family History - Ross and Cromarty Genealogy Records
Open Library - Ross and Cromarty
Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

biographies

Biographies of Deceased Members - John Ross
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

Cemeteries in Highland - Find A Grave
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Ross and Cromarty
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
The Graveyards Project
Graveyards of Scotland - Ross-shire
Graveyards of Scotland - Ross and Cromarty
Highland Memorial Inscriptions
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records
Monumental Inscriptions of Kintail & Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials
Ross & Cromarty Roots
Ross and Cromarty Family Ancestry - Fearn Peninsula Graveyards
WorldCat.org - Ross-shire, 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
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
Ross-shire Scottish Directories - National Library of Scotland
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
Heraldry of the World - Ross and Cromarty
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

history

GENUKI - Ross and Cromarty History and Description, 1868
Gazetteer of British Place Names - Ross-shire
Google Books - Ross-shire, Scotland
Highland Clearances - Wikipedia
Historic Environment Scotland - Ross and Cromarty
Historic Environment Scotland - Ross-shire
Internet Archive - Ross-shire, Scotland
People of Medieval Scotland
Ross and Cromarty, Scotland - Britannica
Scotland IGI Batch Numbers - Ross and Cromarty
Scottish Tartans Authority
Statistical Accounts of Scotland - Ross and Cromarty
Undiscovered Scotland - Ross & Cromarty
Undiscovered Scotland - Ross-shire
A Vision of Britain Through Time - Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Ross-shire - Wikipedia
Ross and Cromarty - Wikipedia

maps

British History Online - Ross and Cromarty
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - Ross-shire, Scotland
Ross and Cromarty Shires County Maps, 1580s-1950s - National Library of Scotland

military records

Army Museums Ogilby Trust
Casualty Forms
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Ross and Cromarty
Ministry of Defence - GOV.UK
Roll of Honour - Ross and Cromarty
Ross & Cromarty War Memorials
Ross-shire Roll of Honor - WorldCat.org
The Society for Army Historical Research
War Records ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

municipalities

Gairloch - Wikipedia
GENUKI - Ross-shire, Scotland
GENUKI - Ross-shire, Scotland Miscellaneous Places
Ross-shire Settlements - Wikipedia
Ross and Cromarty Settlements - Wikipedia

newspapers

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

obituaries

Findmypast - Death Reports & Obituaries
Funeral Notices - Ross and Cromarty
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
Scottish Highlander Photo Archive - Ross-shire

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

Applecross Historical Society and Heritage Centre
Cromarty Courthouse Museum
FamilySearch - Scotland Societies
Findmypast - Scottish Association of Family History Societies
Gairloch Museum
Groam House Museum
Highland Aviation Museum
Highland Folk Museum
The Highlanders' Museum - Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection\
New England Historic Genealogical Society - Ross and Cromarty
National Library of Scotland - Historical Clubs and Societies
The Old Station Strathpeffer
The Scottish Association of Family Histories Societies
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Genealogy and Ancestry
Tain & District Museum and Clan Ross Centre
Tarbat Discovery Centre
West Highland Museum Trust

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.