Looking Back - Scottish Ancestry

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Looking Back - Scottish Ancestry

Hi, I’m Nicole, a genealogist in Dunfermline, Scotland. I specialise in tracing Scottish roots, reading old records, and crafting detailed family histories.

Let’s uncover your ancestors' stories!

10/08/2026

County Deep Dive: Dumfriesshire

Phew! It has been an absolute whirlwind since my last update on the 14th of July. The chaotic joy of the school summer holidays certainly kept me away from my desk! 😅

Now that I'm catching my breath, I’m thrilled to share my latest infographic map, taking a deep dive into historic Dumfriesshire.

This iconic corner of south-west Scotland has such a rich story to tell. I am exploring everything from the formidable Border Reiver clans and famous runaway marriages along the Solway coast, to its deep agricultural roots and connections to Robert Burns.

As always, the word cloud at the bottom highlights the most common Dumfriesshire surnames from the 1881 census. Are you spotting any Bells, Johnstones, Irvings, or Grahams branching off your family tree?

Take a look at the full breakdown below! If your ancestors hailed from Dumfriesshire, drop your family names in the comments—I'd love to hear who you're hunting for.

14/07/2026

County Deep Dive: Clackmannanshire

Say hello to "The Wee County"! It might be Scotland’s smallest historic county, but it has a massive history.

I’ve just finished updating the infographic map to dive into Clackmannanshire's unique identity, from its famous stone towers and the dramatic Ochil Hills, to its history in textiles, glassmaking, and brewing.

I have also pulled the most common surnames from the 1881 census for the word cloud at the bottom. Spotting any Hunters, Browns, or Thomsons in your family tree?

Take a look at the full breakdown below! If your ancestors hailed from Clackmannanshire, let me know your family names in the comments.

09/07/2026

Any Sinclairs, Sutherlands, or Mackays in your family tree? Or maybe a Gunn, Bain, or Manson?

If those names pop up in your ancestry, your family history could be heading straight to the far northern edge of the Scottish mainland: Caithness.

Caithness is such a fascinating place to research because it completely breaks the typical "Highland" mold. Geographically, it’s surprisingly flat and fertile (often called the lowlands of the Highlands), and historically, it was a massive Norse Viking frontier for centuries. If you've ever wondered why so many towns up there sound distinctly Scandinavian, that’s why!

By the time the 1881 census rolled around, which is what inspired the surname word cloud below, the county was booming. Towns like Wick had transformed into the herring capital of Europe, and local quarrymen were exporting famous Caithness flagstone all over the globe.

Have you managed to trace your family lines all the way up to the top of the map yet?

Drop your Caithness surnames in the comments below! I'd love to see which families you are currently hunting for.

And as always, if you've hit a bit of a brick wall with your far-north branches, feel free to give me a shout here on Messenger or over at www.scottishancestry.co.uk

26/06/2026

New to Scotland’s People?

We have many different record sets, and each offers different insights into your ancestors' lives:

- Birth marriage and death registers from 1855: You should start here to begin tracing your ancestors.

- Church registers (1553–1854): Older records, from before civil registration began. Use these to trace your ancestors back beyond the middle of the 19th century.

- Census returns: Search lists of people recorded in censuses taken every 10 years in Scotland, from 1841 onwards. These records can open up new lines of inquiry.

- Tax records: Older records that can help you to uncover property and social history.

- Wills and testaments: These records contain details of people's lives, possessions and family connections.

- Employment records: Helpful for finding out more about ancestors who were in the Women’s Land Army, or who worked as lighthouse keepers.

- Prison registers: Uncover details about any ancestors who were imprisoned.

Start tracing your Scottish heritage today 👉bit.ly/SearchRecords

25/06/2026

Hello everyone! Today we are setting sail for Buteshire, Scotland’s beautiful island county comprising Bute, Arran, and the Cumbraes.

Often called "Scotland in miniature," this tiny county has a massive history, from royal Stewart strongholds to booming Victorian holiday resorts.

Take a look at the 1881 census word cloud below, do island names like McKinley, McPherson, McMillan, or Stewart pop up in your family tree?

Drop your ancestral surnames in the comments below, I’d love to see who you are looking for!

And if you ever need a helping hand tracing your island branches, you can reach out to me anytime at www.scottishancestry.co.uk or right here via messenger.

19/06/2026

I'm heading to Scotland's People today and should have an hour or two to spare while I'm there.

If anyone would like a quick lookup or record transcription, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message. Births, marriages, deaths, census entries, valuation rolls and other records are all fair game.

I'll only have limited time, so I can't promise to get to everyone, but I'll help as many people as I can while I'm there.

18/06/2026

Good Morning everyone! Today I'm diving into Berwickshire, a gorgeous part of the Scottish Borders shaped by centuries of raiding, farming, and seafaring.

If you’re researching your family tree down here, you’ll probably recognise names like Scott, Brown, Wilson, and Purves from the word cloud I have put together.

I've created a quick guide to the area's identity, including a couple of fascinating historical stories you might not know. Ever wondered why Berwickshire is named after a town that isn't actually in Scotland anymore? Or heard about the devastating 1881 windstorm that changed the coastal communities forever?

Do you have family from around here? Drop your surnames in the comments, I'd love to see who you're looking for!

And if you ever need a bit of help tracing your Borders branches, you can always reach out to me at www.scottishancestry.co.uk or via messenger.

14/06/2026

Next up in my Scottish County Series: Banffshire!

This one was fascinating to put together. Banffshire families had a brilliant mix of coastal fishing heritage along the Moray Firth and rugged whisky country down in Speyside.

The big headache for researchers here is the pre-1891 borders. Because of some strange detached pockets of land, your ancestor's records might look like they were jumping back and forth between Banffshire and Aberdeenshire, even if the family never actually moved.

I’m working my way through these deep dives in alphabetical order, but if I haven’t reached your favorite county yet, which one are you most looking forward to?

Let me know your favourite counties or your Banffshire family names below in the comments.

12/06/2026

A small snippet from a very large project I am currently working on.

This personalised family history book is now on track to reach around 600 pages, bringing together five generations of one family's story through photographs, maps, historical records, newspaper articles, and family narratives. The pages shown here are just pages 22 and 23 of the finished work.

One aspect of genealogy I have found myself increasingly drawn to is military research. Tracing military service adds another layer to a family's story, helping to place individuals within the wider events that shaped their lives. While I have always found it interesting, it has become even more meaningful since my own daughter joined the Royal Navy in January this year.

Every record, photograph, and story helps transform a family tree into a family history, and I am looking forward to seeing this project continue to take shape over the coming months.

11/06/2026

Welcome to the third installment of my Scottish County Series! Today, we are focusing on the southwest coast to look at the distinct history and people of Ayrshire.

While ancestors in other regions often remained settled for generations, Ayrshire families were swept up in rapid change. The rise of the Industrial Revolution saw a massive shift as people left the traditional farming heartlands to flock to the busy coal mines, iron foundries, and weaving mills of towns like Kilmarnock and Ayr.

The graphic breaks down Ayrshire’s identity, these specific registration gaps, and the dominant surnames from the 1881 census, such as Wilson, Smith, and Brown.

Take a look at the image to see where your family fits into the story. Do you have roots in Ayrshire? Share the surnames or towns you are researching in the comments below.

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http://www.scottishancestry.co.uk/

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