Burial records - gravestones and monument inscriptions
Burial records – gravestones and monument inscriptions
Burial records and monumental inscriptions are sometimes the only available information recording the death of someone in Scotland before 1855 as the Old Parish Records kept by ministers tended to focus mainly on births and marriages rather than deaths. After 1855 with the introduction of statutory death certificates the information available to a genealogist improved significantly.
Burial records and gravestone inscriptions can provide valuable pieces of information to someone interested in genealogy. Monument inscriptions can reveal details about the deceased such as their maiden name, name of partner, children, parents as well as dates and other information although the inscriptions will vary greatly from one gravestone to another.
As many gravestones are no longer legible due to becoming weathered or being damaged in one way or another then a lot of valuable genealogical information is sadly being lost. Thankfully a number of volunteers have taken the time to document monumetal inscriptions in Scotland as well as other burial records and a selection of these are listed below. Hopefully they will be of use to you in researching your Scottish family history.
Aberdeenshire
Memorial inscriptions from around 100 burial grounds in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardinshire and Moray as documented by the Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society
East Lothian
Bolton Churchyard – Memorial Inscriptions Index
Pencaitland Churchyard Memorial Inscriptions
Saltoun Churchyard – Memorial Inscriptions Index
St Mary’s Parish Church – Graveyard Index Plan
Edinburgh
Greyfriars Burying Ground 1658 – 1700
Fife
Markinch Burials 1799 – 1854
Glasgow
Southern Necropolis
Orkney
Egilsay Kirkyard monumental inscriptions
The Mitchell Library in Glasgow also holds numerous monumental inscription records covering the whole of Scotland. Another possible source are local family history societies which may well have recorded the monument inscriptions and many have converted this information into booklets.
The find a grave website also has useful information and photographs of some Scottish graves although these tend to be of more famous Scots.
Military graves information is available online through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Burial records and monumental inscriptions are sometimes the only available information recording the death of someone in Scotland before 1855 as the Old Parish Records kept by ministers tended to focus mainly on births and marriages rather than deaths. After 1855 with the introduction of statutory death certificates the information available to a genealogist improved significantly.
Burial records and gravestone inscriptions can provide valuable pieces of information to someone interested in genealogy. Monument inscriptions can reveal details about the deceased such as their maiden name, name of partner, children, parents as well as dates and other information although the inscriptions will vary greatly from one gravestone to another.
As many gravestones are no longer legible due to becoming weathered or being damaged in one way or another then a lot of valuable genealogical information is sadly being lost. Thankfully a number of volunteers have taken the time to document monumetal inscriptions in Scotland as well as other burial records and a selection of these are listed below. Hopefully they will be of use to you in researching your Scottish family history.
Aberdeenshire
Memorial inscriptions from around 100 burial grounds in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardinshire and Moray as documented by the Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society
East Lothian
Bolton Churchyard – Memorial Inscriptions Index
Pencaitland Churchyard Memorial Inscriptions
Saltoun Churchyard – Memorial Inscriptions Index
St Mary’s Parish Church – Graveyard Index Plan
Edinburgh
Greyfriars Burying Ground 1658 – 1700
Fife
Markinch Burials 1799 – 1854
Glasgow
Southern Necropolis
Orkney
Egilsay Kirkyard monumental inscriptions
The Mitchell Library in Glasgow also holds numerous monumental inscription records covering the whole of Scotland. Another possible source are local family history societies which may well have recorded the monument inscriptions and many have converted this information into booklets.
The find a grave website also has useful information and photographs of some Scottish graves although these tend to be of more famous Scots.
Military graves information is available online through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.