Registration Service

Ancestry Research

Genealogy and family searches at Stornoway Registration Office

Ardheisker

Our Stornoway office holds a wealth of information for people wishing to research their roots in the Hebrides.

As well as all local registers and census returns from Lewis to Barra, we have access to all national indexes through a computerised link to New Register House in Edinburgh.

Tracing a family tree is a step-by-step process working backwards in time. It is helpful to have at least one known name and date to start from.

The three principal types of record used in family history research are:

Statutory Records

Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths was introduced in Scotland in 1855. Certificates contain a wealth of useful genealogical information and tracing a line of descent back to 1855 is fairly straightforward.

Lady Matheson's School Photo

Old Parish Registers

Prior to 1855 the main source of information are the Parish Registers of the Established Church of Scotland. These comprise Baptisms and Marriages and provide a lot less information than the statutory records. Many events are unrecorded as it was not compulsory to register and some of the population adhered to other denominations. Nevertheless Parish Registers are a useful resource prior to 1855.

Census Returns

Photo of Rachel Macinnes

A census of the population is taken every 10 years. The first was taken in 1801, but no useful genealogical information was included until 1841. Census returns for the years 1841 to 1901 are available to the public. The records are arranged by address within Census Districts and include details of name, relationship to householder, age, marital status, occupation and parish of birth.

Records held in our Stornoway Office

Records for the Hebrides (Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, and Barra):

Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1855 to date
Old Parish Registers -Registers are generally late in commencing and poor in coverage. The most comprehensive are Stornoway and Barvas starting c.1800
Census Returns -1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1891
Photo of John Macinnes

Burial Registers - Sandwick Cemetery: 1886 to date
Laxay New Cemetery: 1981 to date

Records for all Scotland:

Indexes to Births Marriages and Deaths – 1855 to date
Index to Divorces – 1984 to date
Index to Parish Registers – 1553 to 1854
Census indexes - 1881 (Complete Household Information)
1891 (Name Age and Parish only)
1901 (Name Age and Parish only)

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