10 Books to Boost your Scottish Genealogy Research

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Are you looking for Scottish genealogy books to help your family tree research?

Nearly 5.5 million Americans claim Scottish heritage and another 3 million are Scotch-Irish – almost 3% of the population.

If you have Scottish ancestry, you’ll find a wealth of books to help you research your genealogy. In fact, new books on Scottish genealogy research are often published, with a few already scheduled for this year.

Scotland has preserved an enormous number of documents in its archives, and they’re some of the best-kept records in the world. Today’s family historians benefit from these riches.

Here are 10 fabulous books on Scottish genealogy. No matter where in Scotland your family hails from, these are sure to help you!

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10 Great Scottish Genealogy Books

Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors (7th Edition) by Tristram Clarke

Order the latest edition of the National Archives of Scotland’s bestselling official guide. This book details how to use traditional and online sources and researching vital records and wills.

Scottish Genealogy by Bruce Durie

Scottish Genealogy covers the rich records that Scotland has preserved, plus unique Scottish customs like clans and tartans. The author also explains general genealogy practices for both paper and electronic sources, as well as DNA.

The Family Tree Scottish Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Ancestors in Scotland by Amanda Epperson

Epperson explains how to use church and civil registration records, censuses, and more, and how to find them in archives and online. She also gives a background into Scottish surnames, naming conventions, and history.

Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Ian Maxwell

Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors guides users through records at not only the National Archives of Scotland but also those at local archives and online. It also gives context into Scottish history and the world in which your ancestors lived.

Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History by George F. Black

First published in 1946, this classic reference book took almost 50 years to research and covers over 8,000 Scottish given and family names. It also gives spelling variations, biographical and geographical details, and historical information for the different names.

Collins Little Books Clans and Tartans by Scottish Tartans Authority

Part of the Little Books series, this book shares the tartan, crest, motto, and Gaelic clan name for over 100 Scottish clans.

Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet by Chris Paton

While Paton points out that not everything is available online, he guides readers through how to discover genealogy sources online through finding aids, social networking, and DNA services. He also gives details on using government sites, archives and libraries, and family history societies.

Tracing Your Glasgow Ancestors: A Guide for Family and Local Historians by Ian Maxwell

If you have Glaswegian roots, pick up this guide specific to the city. This book shares the history of Glasgow and how to find its genealogical records.

Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry through Church and State Records: A Guide for Family Historians by Chris Paton

Paton shares how to use common records in Scotland in genealogy, such as church, tax, land, and law and order records, as well as censuses. He also explains the unique Scottish records like penny weddings, irregular marriage, and udal tenure, and where to find them.

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783 by David Dobson

Dobson chronicles the estimated 150,000 Scots who came to America before the Revolutionary War. Using many sources, he gives details on 7,000 of these immigrants, including parents’ names, place of birth, where educated, occupation, spouses and children, and more. If you have early Scottish immigrants in your family tree, pick this up.

Genealogy ResourcesJessica NeavesScottish, Books, Scottish Heritage Month1 Comment