West Lothian

genealogy Research in west lothian, 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.

Hire a Genealogist

archives and libraries

Archives - West Lothian Council
The British Library - London, UK
GENUKI - Scotland Archives and Libraries
Libraries - West Lothian Council
Local History Library - West Lothian Council
The National Archives of the UK - Kew, UK
National Library of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
National Records of Scotland - Edinburgh, UK
Open Library - West Lothian, Scotland
ScotlandGenWeb Project - West Lothian
Scotland, West Lothian - FamilySearch.org
Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK

biographies

Archibald Goldie (1888 - 1964) - Biography
Biography Online - Famous Scottish People
Dictionary of National Biography - Google Books
DSA Architect Biography Report
FamilySearch - Scotland Biography
James Young - Biography on Undiscovered Scotland
James Wilson - Harry Gentle Resource Centre
Kerry McGregor - Biography
Mary - Queen of Scotland
National Library of Scotland - Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsman
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Scots and Scotland
People from West Lothian - Wikipedia
The Popular Scotish Biography - Google Books
Scottish Police Medals - Biography PC Peter Forbes
Undiscovered Scotland - Biographical Index
Wikipedia.org - West Lothian, Scotland Notable Residents

cemeteries

Billion Graves - West Lothian, Scotland
Cemeteries in West Lothian - Find A Grave
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - West Lothian, 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
Interment.net - Scotland Cemetery Records
National Records of Scotland - Deaths and Burials
Obits Index - Scotland
Uphall Cemetery Burials
WorldCat.org - West Lothian, Scotland

census records

FamilySearch - Scotland Census
FreeCEN - West Lothian
GENUKI - Scotland Census
The National Archives of the UK - Census Records
National Library of Scotland - Census Records
National Records of Scotland - Census Records
Pottery Workers Living in the Parishes of Bo’ness & Carriden
Scotland's Census - History of the Census
ScotlandsPeople - Census Returns

church records

The Church of Scotland - Historical Records
GENUKI - Scotland Church Records
Historical Records - The Church of Scotland
List of churches in West Lothian - Wikipedia
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

A to Z of Companies - West Lothian
Ancestry.com - UK City and County Directories
FamilySearch - Scotland Directories
Internet Archive - Business Directory for 1893-94
National Library of Scotland - Directories
National Library of Scotland - Scottish Post Office Directories
Origin Scotland Church Directory - West Lothian
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Directories
West Lothian Business Directory - West Lothian Council
West Lothian Post Office - Telephone 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 - Estate Records
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 - West Lothian, Scotland
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
National Records of Scotland - Coats of Arms
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

maps

County Maps of West Lothian (Linlithgowshire), 1580s-1960s - National Library of Scotland
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - West Lothian, Scotland
Map of Linlithgowshire - British History Online
National Records of Scotland - Maps and Plans
Ordnance Survey Scottish Town Plans, 1847-1895 - Town Plan of Linlithgow 1856
ScotlandsPlaces - West Lothian
West Lothian Council Area Map - The Scottish Government

military records

Army Museums Ogilby Trust
Casualty Forms
Military Museum Scotland - Museum in Wilkieston
Ministry of Defence - GOV.UK
National Records of Scotland - Military Records
National Records of Scotland - Soldiers' and Airmen's Wills
Roll of Honour - West Lothian
Scotland - West Lothian's War
The Society for Army Historical Research

municipalities

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 - West Lothian, Scotland
Newspapers.com - Scotland
Scotsman Digital Archive
West Lothian Courier - Daily Record Online

obituaries

Deaths in West Lothian - Facebook
Deaths - West Lothian Council
Findmypast - Death Reports & Obituaries
Funeral Notices - West Lothian
The Herald - Death Notices & Obituaries
Linlithgow Journal and Gazette Obituaries - Linlithgow, West Lothian
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
Old photographs of West Lothian - Scottish Shale
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

FamilySearch - Scotland School Records
GenGuide - School Records for the UK and Ireland
National Records of Scotland - Education Records
Wikipedia.org - West Lothian, Scotland Education

societies

Almond Valley - Livingston, UK
Bennie Museum – Bathgate
Central Scotland Family History
FamilySearch - Scotland Societies
Findmypast - Scottish Association of Family History Societies
House of the Binns - National Trust for Scotland
John Gray Centre East Lothian History
Jupiter Artland
Linlithgow Museum
Lothians Family History Society
National Library of Scotland - Historical Clubs and Societies
National Museums Scotland
New England Historic Genealogical Society - West Lothian, Scotland
Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd. - A List of Coal Mines
Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd. - A List of Metalliferous Mines
The Scottish Association of Family Histories Societies
The Scottish Genealogy Society - Edinburgh, UK
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Genealogy and Ancestry
West Lothian Family History Society
West Lothian History and Amenity Society

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

DustyDocs - West Lothian, Scotland
FamilySearch - Scotland Civil Registration
Google Books - List of the Old Parochial Registers
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.