Scotland - Death - 1855-Present

These sources are listed in the order most likely to help you find a death records in this time period.

Family Sources
Check with family members to see if someone has death information for your ancestor. Perhaps someone has a copy of the death certificate.

Death Certificate: Civil registration
Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths beginning 1 January 1855. In these records you may find the name of the deceased; his or her cause of death, death date and place, rank or profession, marital status, sex, age, spouse's name, father's name and rank or profession, and mother's name and maiden name; and the signature, relationship, and residence of the informant. Civil registration death records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the general index to identify and obtain a copy of a death certificate.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in civil registration death records.

Accessing the records

For information on accessing civil registration death records and indexes, see the article on Scotland Civil Registration.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Census: Census
A census is a count and description of the population. Government census records were taken every ten years starting in 1841. The 1841 through 1891 censuses are currently available. They are especially valuable because they list the majority of the population and are available at many repositories. In these records you may find names of the members of a household, and each person's age, gender, marital status, relationship to the head of the household, occupation, address, and place of birth. Census records can provide clues that may lead you to other records. They are well indexed.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in census records. Accessing the records

For information on accessing the census records and indexes, see the article on Scotland Census.

Church of Scotland: Church records
Church records are the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in registers by church officials at the time of an event. Death or burial records usually give only the name of the deceased and the date of burial. Sometimes the date of death and the deceased's age, residence, and parent or spouse's name may be given. A widow's burial record may give her maiden name. Church of Scotland parish registers are often missing burial records. Sometimes mortcloth dues (a fee paid for use of a funeral cloth) were recorded instead of burials.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in Church of Scotland records.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.

Dissenters: Church records
Anyone who did not adhere to the teachings of the Established Church of Scotland was considered a nonconformist or a dissenter. Dissenters could also include people who belonged to religious organizations that broke from the Established church. Dissenter groups kept separate records. In these records you may find baptisms, marriages, minutes of meetings, communion rolls, and other records of value.

What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in Dissenter church records.

Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because: 1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.