Ayrshire Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
Ayrshire Archaeological & Natural History Society Blue Room New Bridge Street Ayr KA7 1JX UK Email: [mailto:info@aanhs.org.uk info@aanhs.org.uk] Website: Ayrshire Archaeological & Natural History Society


 * The Society's principal aim is to promote interest in archaeology, history, and natural history with particular reference to Ayrshire. The Society was for the counties of Ayr and Wigtown. This was the inception of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Archaeological Association. In 1885 the title of the society was changed to the Ayrshire and Galloway Archaeological Association to extend its scope to Kirkcudbright. This Association was wound up in 1897 at the 14th general meeting.

The Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society Unit 13 32 Mansfield Street Glasgow G11 5QP UK Telephone: 0141 339 8303 Email: [mailto:visitscotland@gwsfhs.org.uk visitscotland@gwsfhs.org.uk] Website: The Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society Website #2: The Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society Website #3: The Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society


 * The society was founded in 1977 with the aim of promoting the study of family history, particularly for those whose family history has links with Glasgow and the west of Scotland. The counties included are Argyll, Ayr, Bute, Dunbarton, Lanark, Renfrew, and Stirling.

Local Societies
Alloway and Southern Ayrshire Family History Society c/o Alloway Public Library Doonholm Road Alloway, Ayr KA7 4QQ UK Telephone: 01292 443931 Email: [mailto:secretary@asafhs.org.uk secretary@asafhs.org.uk] Website: Alloway and Southern Ayrshire Family History Society Website #2: Alloway and Southern Ayrshire Family History Society


 * Based in the South-West of Scotland, 3 miles south of the town of Ayr, our Society covers Alloway, the neighbouring areas and Southern Ayrshire. The objectives of the society shall be to advance the education of the public in Alloway and Southern Ayrshire by promoting and encouraging the study of Family History through meetings, lectures, publications, and other related activities.

Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies 5 Eglinton Terrace Ayr, KA7 1JJ UK Telephone: 01292 280080 Email: [mailto:pamelamcintyre@rocketmail.com pamelamcintyre@rocketmail.com] Website: Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies Website #2: Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies Website #3: Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies


 * The Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies represents societies and individuals interested in the history of Ayrshire and its dissemination to a wider public. We act as an umbrella organisation, offering support and advice to our members, organise events to share news, promote the history of Ayrshire through conferences and publications, and, where possible, we support and encourage academic research.

Beith Cultural & Heritage Society Beith Townhouse 2 Strand Beith, Ayrshire KA15 1DT UK Telephone: 01505 500598 Website: Beith Cultural & Heritage Society


 * The Society was founded in 2006 with the aim of preserving memories and artefacts from the town of Beith and nearby villages and hamlets of Gateside, Barrmill, Greenhills, Burnhouse, Hessilhead, Longbar, and the Den.  Since 2010 we have leased the historic Beith Townhouse from the local authority.

Cumbrae Historical Society Newton Lounge 1-2 Glasgow St Millport, Cumbrae KA28 0DJ UK Website: Cumbrae Historical Society

Cumnock History Group 4 Gemmell Avenue Cumnock KA18 1EY UK Telephone: 07984 740663 Email: [mailto:info@cumnockhistorygroup.org info@cumnockhistorygroup.org] Website: Cumnock History Group Website #2: Cumnock History Group Website #3: Cumnock History Group


 * We are a constituted voluntary organisation aiming to promote and conduct research into the history and heritage of Cumnock.

Doon Valley Family History Society Email: [mailto:info@doonvalleyfhs.co.uk info@doonvalleyfhs.co.uk] Website: Doon Valley Family History Society Website #2: Doon Valley Family History Society


 * Doon Valley Family History Society was formed in 2010 to research and record the changes and history of the area and its people. Doon Valley incorporates the small towns of Dalmellington, Waterside, Patna, and Dalrymple, all within the county of East Ayrshire.

East Ayrshire Family History Society Gateway Centre 1 Foregate Square, Kilmarnock KA1 1LN UK Email: [mailto:eastayrfhs@crosshoose.freeserve.co.uk eastayrfhs@crosshoose.freeserve.co.uk] Website: East Ayrshire Family History Society


 * The main aim of EAFHS is to promote family history in this area, and to assist those members of the Society whose ancestors came from this area, but who live too far away to undertake the research themselves. The area covered by East Ayrshire comprises the former districts of Kilmarnock & Loudoun and Cumnock & Doon Valley, however resources held by EAFHS cover all of Ayrshire.

Garnock Valley Family History Group Beith Townhouse 2 Strand Beith, Ayrshire KA15 1DT UK Telephone: 01505 500598 Website: Garnock Valley Family History Group


 * The Group was formed in 2012 with the aim of encouraging and supporting family history research in the town of Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry and surrounding area. The group is based at Beith Townhouse as a sub-group of Beith Cultural & Heritage Society.

Kilmarnock & District History Group Ayrshire College Hill St Kilmarnock KA1 3HY UK Email: [mailto:info@kilmarnockhistory.co.uk info@kilmarnockhistory.co.uk] Website: Kilmarnock & District History Group


 * Kilmarnock & District History Group was formed in 1972 with the aim of fostering an interest in history, in particular the history of the Kilmarnock area, by means of public lectures, conferences, meetings, outings, and by publishing papers and books.

Kilwinning Heritage Kilwinning Abbey Tower Main Street Kilwinning KA13 6EG UK Email: [mailto:kh.2011@hotmail.co.uk kh.2011@hotmail.co.uk] Website: Kilwinning Heritage Website #2: Kilwinning Heritage


 * We are Kilwinning's local history and archaeology society. We aim to stimulate a public interest in conservation, history, and heritage of our town and the local area by promoting, exploring, and celebrating the history of the Kilwinning area.

Maybole Historical Society Maybole Lesser Town Hall High Street Maybole KA19 7BZ UK Email: [mailto:maybhs.1999@gmail.com maybhs.1999@gmail.com] Website: Maybole Historical Society Website #2: Maybole Historical Society


 * Maybole Historical Society was set up in 1999 to advance the education of the public in local, family, and natural history and in particular the history of Maybole and the surrounding part of Ayrshire, by means of meetings, lectures, research, study, and other related activities.

North Ayrshire Family History Society (formerly Largs & North Ayrshire Family History Society) Largs Library Community Room 26 Allanpark Street Largs, North Ayrshire KA30 9AG UK Email: [mailto:webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk] Website: North Ayrshire Family History Society


 * The aim of the society is to promote the study of family history in the Local Government Authority Area of North Ayrshire, Scotland.

Stewarton & District Historical Society The Stewarton Museum The Town House 8 Avenue Square Stewarton Kilmarnock, Ayrshire KA3 5AB UK Telephone: 07811 062918 Email: [mailto:stewartonhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com stewartonhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com] Website: wartonhistoricalsociety.org/ Stewarton & District Historical Society


 * Our mission is to record and preserve the  history of our local area and make it accessible to both the local and wider world communities.

Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society Portland Church Hall 12 St Meddans St Troon KA10 6JU UK Email: [mailto:info@troonayrshirefhs.org.uk info@troonayrshirefhs.org.uk] Website: Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society


 * The Society founded in 1989 has built up a wide range of knowledge on the people of Dundonald and the other parishes in South Ayrshire. The main aim of the Society is to encourage interest in family history and to assist our members with their own family history research. This is particularly important for members who live outwith the immediate Troon area.