Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland Lanarkshire  Carluke

Carluke (#629)

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Carluke. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the Scotland: Research Strategies.

= History =

CARLUKE, a parish, in the Upper ward of the county of Lanark; including the villages of Braidwood, Kilcadzow, and Yieldshields; 5 miles (N. N. W.) from Lanark. The name appears to have been derived from the word Caer, signifying " a hill," and Luac, "Luke," in reference to the dedication of the church, and to the elevated site of the parish. The church, which is a substantial building, containing 1000 sittings, was built in 1799. There are places of worship for members of the Relief and Associate Synods.

The New Statistical Account of Scotland (pub. 1834-45) offers uniquely rich and detailed parish reports for the whole of Scotland, covering a vast range of topics including history, agriculture, education, trades, religion and social customs. The reports, written by the parish ministers, are available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Click on ‘Browse scanned pages’ then search the parish reports for [parish]. Also available at the

= Census Records =

A census is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about Scotland Census Records.

Click here for a list of the Family History Library (FHL) microfilm numbers for the

Below is information for any known surname indexes:

All available censuses, 1841-1901, are indexed on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. To use it, you must register and pay a small access fee. It may be easier for you to pay to use the website rather than access indexes through the library.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about Scotland Church Records.

Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish with their Family History Library call number.

Condition of Original Registers—
Indexed: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library and family history centers. Some records may be indexed in theInternational Genealogical Index. Births: There are only four entries prior to September 1694. Mothers’ names are not recorded until December 1739. Marriages: There are marriage proclamations 1694–May 1738. There is also a register of consignation money or of proclamation fees from 1696–1774, mixed with entries of Mortcloth Dues. There are few entries February 1774–October 1783, after which date there are entries of proclamation. There are no marriage entries February 1809–1838. Deaths: Mortcloth Dues 1697–1783 and burials 1783–1809 intermixed with proclamation fees, etc. There is a separate record of deaths January 1728–March 1738 and of burials January 1750–September 1778. The record is blank March 1809–1838. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The session was made up of the minister and the land owners and business men of the parish, chosen to serve on the session. The Kirk session dealt with moral issues, minor criminal cases, matters of the poor and education, matters of discipline, and the general concerns of the parish. Kirk session records may also mention births, marriages, and deaths.

Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish: 

Minutes 1645–1662, 1694–1898 Proclamations 1854–1873 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/56.

Nonconformist Church Records
A nonconformist church is any church that is not the Established church. Read more about nonconformity in Scotland in the article on the Scotland Church Records Union Lists.

Carluke Free Church
History— This congregation was formed by seven members who “came out” at the Disruption. Regular services were provided from July 1843. The charge was sanctioned in May 1844. The church was erected in 1844 and a manse some years later. A new church was built in 1864 and a new manse in 1893. The population of the district increased but new congregations formed at Crossford and Law affected the growth of membership. Membership: 1848, 240– 1900, 491. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Family History Library Film. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Carluke, Kirkton Relief, later United Presbyterian Church
History— Due to a concern for the rigid political beliefs of the parish minister of Carluke in the early 1830s, certain members of the Established Church congregation withdrew and applied to the Relief Presbytery of Hamilton to be taken under their inspection as a forming congregation, which was granted. The congregation was organized in April1833. The church was built that year. In 1839, the membership was 874. In 1847 this congregation joined the United Presbyterian Church. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Family History Library Film. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records—                               Family History Library Film Number  Baptisms            1832–1869       item 1 Proclamations    1834–1836       item 1 Deaths               1835–1837        item 1 Roll of Members 1834–1839 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/459.

Carluke Congregational Church
History— This church was formed in October 1846 as a result of revival services held in the district. The church joined the Evangelical Union in 1858. The congregation first met in the Commercial Hall in Kirkton Street. The first church opened at the Wee Moss in August 1851. A new church was built in High Street, Carnwath Road in 1882. Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism by Harry Escott, pub. 1960. Family History Library Book. This book includes a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

Carluke Roman Catholic Church
History— The church, dedicated to St. Athanasius, was built in 1858–1859, but the records date from 1849 because the first resident priest brought them with him from the church in Lanark. They also contain entries from Carnwath and Auchingray. Source: Catholic Missions and Registers, 1700–1880, Vol. 6: Scotland, by Michael Gandy, pub. 1993.

Records—  Baptisms 1849–1923 Marriages 1849–1923 Note: Available online for a fee, at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, record MP/. The original records are in the hands of the parish priest.

= Civil Registration Records =

Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths (also called statutory records) began on January 1, 1855 in Scotland. Each parish has a registrar's office and large cities have several. The records are created by the registrars and copies are sent to the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Annual indexes are then created for the records for the whole country. See the article on Scotland Civil Registration  for more information and to access the records.

= Probate Records =

Carluke was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Lanark until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Glasgow. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills &amp; Testaments,' is free. You may then purchase a copy of the document or, if the document is before 1823, it will be on microfilm at the Family History Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Lanark and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Lanark. The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Lanark. Look in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Lanark and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

= References =

Return to the Lanarkshire parish list.