Google Scottish Ancestry Online in 7 Easy Steps

Use these seven steps to easily Google Scottish ancestry.

This article is written to easily provide assistance on how to Google Scottish ancestry. Sample Google search queries are suggested for your use to help you research and learn about your ancestors.

Seven Steps to Google Scottish Ancestry

The following search queries are designed to provide search results that will get you off to a good start by finding the essential information when researching your ancestral roots. For ease of presentation, I am going to organize the article as follows:

See other articles for specific countries.

Google Country Ancestry
United States
Australia Austria Belgium
Canada Denmark England
Finland France Germany
Greece Iceland Ireland
Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg
Netherlands New Zealand Norway
Poland Portugal Scotland
Spain Sweden Switzerland
Wales Any Country

To find the Google Country Codes for searching in other countries that are not listed above, see the article:

Websites referenced in this article include:

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Finding Country of Origin Resources

Where do you find the country of origin history and genealogy resources on the Internet? It is a seemingly simple question with a complex answer. You will find records in many places, such as large databases to tiny family-related websites and blogs. Records for each generation are going to be different. The records created and available on the web for a specific place in 1940 will be different from those created for 1880, 1840, or earlier. Remember that only a small number of records have been digitized and available online, but digitized records are growing at an ever-increasing rate. I have researched for records one month without success and found them six months later with the same Google search queries. Why? The records were put online during that six months, or I didn’t find them the first time I searched.

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Providing a List of Websites vs. Queries to Find Websites

Over the years, I have provided genealogists with a list of websites to research their ancestry and search queries to find internet resources they can explore.

Overwhelmingly the best success has come from providing search queries. Why? When search queries were used, the genealogists said their search returns included the websites specific to the period, type of record and place they were searching. It was much easier to go from one site to the next to search for the same type of information.

When I just gave them a list of websites, genealogists felt it was cumbersome because they didn’t know which websites included the information they wanted and/or which websites were related to the type of content they were seeking.

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Understanding Search Query Organization

As you use a variety of search queries, you will see the following elements routinely used:

  • Countries of the United Kingdom. I have chosen to focus on the individual countries of the United Kingdom (e.g. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and have created search queries for each country.
  • Use of location. With each search string, I have included the name of the country or related location reference that will help Google have a greater chance of returning country of origin resources. For example, if my country of choice were the Netherlands, I would use one or more of the following variations in my search query: “Scotland” or “Scottish” or “Scotland OR Scottish.”
  • Use of (site:). The “site:” operator will allow you to confine/restrict your search to a specific domain.
  • Use of quotes (” “). The use of quotes around two or more words (e.g., “Scottish”) tells Google that you search for these words/phrases precisely as they are written and in the same order.
  • Use of OR. I have used OR Boolean operator (e.g., ” database OR index OR records”). Google will search for both options and will return either “database,” “index, “records,” or any combination of the three words.
  • Use of genealogy. I have used the word “genealogy” in almost every query. I have found this word necessary to get to the records or databases that I can use for genealogy or family history research. Feel free to try and use other descriptive words.

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Step 1: General Search Queries

These are general search queries that can be used to uncover the more frequently used websites and databases to get you off to a good start in your research. If I were searching for genealogy libraries or archive websites, my query string would be as follows:

  • “Scotland” genealogy “library OR archive”

Instructions. Choose the general search you would like to conduct and replace the “place text here” with the corresponding query element.

  • “Scotland” place text here”

Note: Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “England” or “British” or “England OR British.”

(Searching general term) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a general genealogy search term, use the associated query element.

  • Education = genealogy “guide OR tutorial OR how-to”
  • Beginning = “beginning”
  • Catalog = “catalog”
  • Classes or Workshops = “classes OR workshops”
  • Dictionary = “dictionary”
  • Family history = “family history”
  • Forums = “forums”
  • Genealogy websites = “genealogy OR ancestors OR roots”
  • Language = “language”
  • Library and archives = genealogy “library OR archive”
  • Message Board = “message board”
  • Records and databases = genealogy “records OR database”
  • Research links = genealogy “links OR sources”
  • Societies = genealogy OR history “society OR group”
  • Wiki’s = genealogy “wiki”

Sample queries. These queries cast a broad net and will find a wide variety of websites.

  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy OR ancestors OR roots
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy OR research OR database
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy OR historical society OR group
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy online OR site
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogical library OR archive
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy sources OR links
  • “England and Wales” genealogy
  • “Scots-Irish” genealogy
  • “United Kingdom” genealogy

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Step 2: Search for Records

This search query is designed to help you find websites and databases that include specific types of records. If I were searching for census records, my search string would be as follows:

  • “Scotland” genealogy “census” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the record type you would like to search for and replace the “place text here” with the corresponding query element.

  • “Scotland” genealogy “place text here” “database OR records”

Note: Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “England” or “British” or “Scotland OR Scottish.”

(Search for record type) = (Use query element). If searching for a specific record, use the associated query element.

  • Adoption / guardianship = “adoption OR guardianship”
  • Bible = “bible”
  • Biography = “biography”
  • Birth / christening = “birth OR christening”
  • Business = “business”
  • Cemetery = “cemetery”
  • Census = “census”
  • Church = “church OR parish”
  • Civil registration = “civil registration”
  • Court = “court”
  • Culture / history = “culture OR history”
  • Death = “death”
  • Directories = “directories”
  • Divorce = “divorce”
  • Immigrant / settlers = “immigrant OR settlers”
  • Immigration / emigration = “immigration OR emigration”
  • Land / property = “land OR property”
  • Maps = “maps”
  • Marriage = “marriage”
  • Military = “military”
  • Naturalization = “naturalization”
  • Newspapers = “newspaper”
  • Obituary = “obituary”
  • Passport = “passport”
  • Pensions = “pensions”
  • Poor houses / orphanages = “poor houses OR orphanages”
  • Obituary = “obituary”
  • Periodicals = “periodicals”
  • Royal / nobility = “royal OR nobility”
  • Probate / will = “probate or will”
  • School = “school”
  • Ship passenger lists = “passenger”
  • Tax = “tax”
  • Vital = “vital”
  • Voting = “voting”

Sample queries. These queries will focus on finding websites with specific types of content related to records. The queries are a little long but will save you hours of research. I would encourage you to modify and experiment with the following queries using what you have learned in earlier chapters of this book.

  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “guide OR tutorial OR articles OR how-to”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy Catholic “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “adoption OR guardianship” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “civil registration” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “church OR parish” ” database OR index OR records “
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “court” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “culture OR history” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “death” ” database OR index OR records “
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “immigrant OR settlers” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “immigration OR emigration” “records OR database”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “Jewish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “land” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “language” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy Lutheran “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy maps “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “marriage OR divorce” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “military” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “municipal” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “naturalization” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “newspaper” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “obituary OR cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “passenger lists” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “passport” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “poor houses OR orphanages” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “probate or will” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “royal OR nobility” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “school” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “tax” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “vital” ” database OR index OR records

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Step 3: Free Database Search Queries

There are extensive websites/databases that include thousands of free records and resources related to almost every research topic. To have Google search only a specific website, you will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for death records on the website FamilySearch.org, my search string would be as follows:

  • site:familysearch.org “Scotland” genealogy “death” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>) along with the corresponding query element to the search string you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.

  • (site:<URL>) (search string from part 1 and part 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “England” or “British” or “England OR British.” 2.) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search. 4.) Many genealogy/family history organizations will use .org non-profit websites to host their information. 5.) When governments create websites to share records that genealogists can search, they will often end with .gov or variations.

(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a free database website, use the associated query element.

  • FamilySearch = site:familysearch.org
  • USGenWeb = site:usgenweb.org
  • RootsWeb = site:rootsweb.ancestry.com
  • .org (Non-profit websites) = site:org
  • GENUKI = genuki.org.uk
  • RootsWeb UK = rootsweb.ancestry.com
  • site:gov.uk (England / United Kingdom government websites) = site:gov.uk

Sample queries. The following are examples of adding Part 1 and Part 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:familysearch.org “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:familysearch.org “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:familysearch.org “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 4: Subscription Database Search Queries

There are a variety of subscription websites/databases that include many records and resources. You can either use the websites’ search engine or have Google locate the resources of the specific website. You will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for birth records on the website Ancestry.com, my search string would be as follows:

  • site:ancestry.com “Scotland” genealogy “birth” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>) along with the corresponding query element to the search string you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.

  • (site:<URL>) (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “England” or “British” or “England OR British.” 2.) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search.

(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a subscription database website, use the associated query element.

  • Ancestry = site:ancestry.com
  • MyHeritage = site:myheritage.com
  • FindMyPast = site:findmypast.com

Sample queries. The following are examples of adding Part 1 and Part 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:ancestry.com “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “census” “records OR database”
  • site:ancestry.com “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:ancestry.com “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 5: “In country” Website Search Queries

The following query element will focus your search on websites only in England. Use the Google country code (co.uk) in conjunction with the (site:) operator. If I were looking for marriage records located only in websites ending with the England Google country code, my search string would be as follows:

  • site: co.uk “Scotland” genealogy “marriage” “database OR records”
    Instructions. Replace the (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2) with the corresponding query element you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.
  • site: co.uk (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “England” or “British” or “England OR British.” 2.) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any Google country code.

Sample queries. The following are examples of adding Part 1 and Part 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:co.uk “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:co.uk “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:co.uk “Scotland OR Scottish” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 6: Locations Within-Country Search Queries

The following query elements focus on locations in Scotland. Replace the words “Wales OR Welch” from Part 1 and Part 2 queries with location such as the state, province, and/or county. If you desire, you can also use city, town, or village (eg. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee) or the in country spelling of the location. The following are the key geographic boundaries/counties in Scotland.

  • “Aberdeenshire”
  • “Angus OR Forfarshire”
  • “Argyllshire”
  • “Ayrshire”
  • “Banffshire”
  • “Berwickshire”
  • “Buteshire”
  • “Cromartyshire”
  • “Caithness”
  • “Clackmannanshire”
  • “Dumfriesshire”
  • “Dunbartonshire OR Dumbartonshire”
  • “East Lothian OR Haddingtonshire”
  • “Fife”
  • “Inverness-shire”
  • “Kincardineshire”
  •  “Kinross-shire”
  • “Kirkcudbrightshire”
  • “Lanarkshire”
  • “Midlothian OR Edinburghshire”
  • “Morayshire”
  • “Nairnshire”
  • “Orkney”
  • “Peeblesshire”
  • “Perthshire”
  • “Renfrewshire”
  • “Ross-shire”
  • “Selkirkshire”
  • “Shetland”
  • “Stirlingshire”
  • “Sutherland”
  • “West Lothian OR Linlithgowshire”
  • “Wigtownshire

The following are examples of adding Part 1 and Part 2 to the above query elements.

  • “Selkirkshire” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Selkirkshire” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Selkirkshire” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 7: Major In-country Databases

The following are major in-country free, subscription and government databases that you will want to learn about and search. Google search on the name in bold and you will find the resource.

  • 1901 CensusOnline.com (Features census, birth, marriage, and death records and more.) (Subscription)
  • Ancestry.UK (Features census, birth, marriage, and death records and more.) (Subscription)
  • Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (Features list of professional researchers by region.)
  • BMD Registers (Features images of birth, baptism, marriage, and death records from non-parish sources 1534-1865) (Purchase credits)
  • British Origins (Includes Dorset marriage, wills, probate, apprenticeship, court, burial, militia and passenger list records/indexes.)
  • Federation of Family History Societies in the United Kingdom
  • FindMyPast.co.uk (Features census, birth, marriage, and death records and more.) (Subscription)
  • FreeBMD (Features birth, marriage, and death records) (Free)
  • General Register Office of Scotland (Features birth, marriage, divorce, adoption, and death records of Scotland from 1855.)
  • Genes Reunited (Features census, birth, marriage, and death records and more.) (Subscription)
  • GENUKI United Kingdom (Similar to US GenWeb and features guides, transcribed records and more.)
  • National Archives of Scotland (Features records from when Scotland was its own kingdom such as Church of Scotland parish records, estate papers, court papers and taxation lists.)
  • Scottish Archive Network (Joint project between National Archives of Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Genealogical Society of Utah).
  • Scottish Genealogy Society
  • Scottish Register of Tartans
  • Society of Genealogists in the United Kingdom
  • UK BMD (Provides links to free and subscription birth, marriage, and death resources.)

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