Links and Resources
We hope that this section will provide you with a selection of links and resources that may be able to further help you in your genealogy and family history research. Organisations, websites and other resources are listed alphabetically.
If you are looking for something specific on our Links and Resources page, we recommend using your browser’s ‘Find on page’ search option which is usually accessible by clicking ‘ctrl F’.
| Link | Resource |
| Aberdeen & NE Scotland Family History Society | Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society exists to assist and promote the study of genealogy and family history based on the North-East corner of Scotland. |
| Ancestor Records Search Ellis Island Immigration records here | Ancestor Records appears to be a ‘front-end’ for Ancestry.com. Any person who legally immigrates to the US will have an immigration record. This includes those who came through Ellis Island and those who entered in other ways. It serves as a complete history of that individual and their experience in the country. An immigration record will list individual’s name, when they entered the US and where they came from. You’ll need and Ancestry worldwide membership to follow this up. |
| Ancestry www.ancestry.com | Ancestry.com is a US-based genealogy company headquartered in Lehi, Utah. It is the largest for-profit genealogy company in the world. It operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. Subscription-based, it covers online family tree access and synchronisation through Family Tree Maker genealogy software. |
| Archives.com | A US-based subscription site with “11.6 billion genealogy records” covering US and UK – a great source for rare and interesting citations and records. |
| Archives of Ontario | The Archives of Ontario, Canada, is a major resource in terms of access to key documents for Ontario families. Contains a section on getting started with family history. |
| Associated Clan MacLeod SocietiesNational Society Links | The ACMS is the international body that provides services and support for the Clan MacLeod National Societies. If you are interested in joining Clan MacLeod, you can use our website links to locate a society in your country or region. |
| Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada(CASSOC) MacLeod membership page | CASSOC is an organization for organizations, forming a link to various Clans and Scottish Societies. ‘We encourage the celebration of our Scottish Cultural Heritage and the promotion of this Scottish Culture in all its aspects. We seek to be the assembly of all groups who are pursuing Scottish interests. CASSOC encourages research into our heritage, both cultural and linguistic. We embrace history, music, dance, poetry, song, legend, sports, military tradition, costume, custom, culinary art, tale telling and the family structure that has come down to us from Scotland — both Highland and Lowland. Recreationally, we support family outings centred around Scottish traditions and the Clan structure’. |
| The Clare Cemetery website in South Australia | There are several McLeods to be found there, and the website also covers cemeteries in the district e.g., Willaston. |
| Court of the Lord Lyon of Scotland | The Public Register of All Armorial Bearings in Scotland was created by the Scottish Parliament in 1672 in the reign of Charles II. The Lyon Court itself is a creation of the Stuart monarchs: all of the heraldic titles still in use would have been very familiar to Mary Queen of Scots. |
| Cyndi’s List | Cyndi’s List has been a trusted genealogy research site for more than 25 years. Cyndi’s List is free for everyone to use and it is meant to be your starting point when researching online. |
| Electric Scotland | Electric Scotland claims to be the largest and most comprehensive site on the history and culture of Scotland and the Scots at home and abroad. ‘Started in 1997 in Scotland we cover every aspect of Scottish history and the Scots Diaspora. A great educational and research resource with thousands of books on all aspects of Scottish history.’ |
| FamilySearch Scotland Birth and Baptisms Collection | FamilySearch Genealogies is a large directory of family trees, also known as lineages or pedigrees, that people and organizations have shared with FamilySearch. Provides free forms and research logs and claims to have the world’s largest online family tree, which it invites everyone to contribute to. FamilySearch is a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in Salt Lake City in the USA. FamilySearch.org has created a ‘Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 Collection’ to be used as a tool to locate and view original documents. It is comprised of information from sources including indexed church records and civil registrations. You need to register with FamilySearch (free) to access this. |
| Family Tree Maker | Widely used genealogy/family tree software for Windows and Mac that allows the researcher to keep track of information collected during research and to create reports, charts, and books containing that information. For many years it has offered synchronisation through Ancestry.com allowing family trees to be accessed and, with permission, shared online through an Ancestry subscription. First introduced over 30 years ago, FTM has since 2016 been marketed and developed by Software MacKiev with its HQ in Boston, USA, and its main development centre in Kiev, Ukraine. |
| Find a Grave | A site where you can search for the gravesites of your ancestors, or for cemeteries around the world. Millions of records online. |
| Find my Past also accessible throughScots Origins | Subscription-based family tree/family history site with a Dundee-based customer support team. |
| Fold3 | Fold3 features premier collections of original military records. These records include the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served in the military. Many of the records come from the U.S. National archives, the National Archives of the U.K., and other international records. Subscription service with initial trial and a limited free access with registration. |
| Gaelic Society of Inverness | The Gaelic Society of Inverness was established in 1871 for the purpose of cultivating the language, poetry and music of the Scottish Highlands and generally furthering the interests of the Gaelic-speaking people. Most of the Society's lectures are printed in its Transactions, which are usually published every two years or so. |
| Genealogy Bank | With the banner ‘Discover Your Ancestors in Newspapers 1690–Today’ this US-based subscription website focuses on newspapers, obituaries, marriage records and historical books. Global collections are also accessible. A seven-day free trial allows download of a free digital copy of a resource guide to help get started on researching and documenting your family history. |
| Genealogy for Kids: Building a Family Tree | Researching a family's genealogy and making a family tree is a great way for kids and adults to learn more about who they are. It also brings history to life in a new way, making it possible to see how historical events impacted your family. [With thanks to Corrine Bass for this website suggestion]. |
| Genealogy Search | Useful site that provides free genealogy forms that can easily be used as needed, a digital library of publications, online research tools, and access to records and genealogies. A proportion of the thousands of links no longer work and beware of clicking on ads that support the site. |
| Genealogy South Australia | ‘Genealogy SA’ is the leading resource for South Australian family history information. Offers research services for a fee. Also has a Scottish Special Interest Group. |
| Genealogy Website Reviews | This website reviews the top ten genealogy websites and links you to their websites |
| General Register Office (UK government) See also: General Register Office for Scotland | Useful guides explain how to use the UK General Register Office when researching your family tree and family history. Link to Scotland's People |
| GENUKI | GENUKI provides a virtual reference library of genealogical information of particular relevance to the UK and Ireland. It is a non-commercial service, maintained by a charitable trust and a group of volunteers. All material on the site is copyrighted. Link is to Scotland section but other countries available. |
| Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society | Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society was founded in 1977 as a Charity run by a Council of volunteers who continue to help visitors to its family history centre. It exists to “promote the study of family history in Glasgow and the west of Scotland” and it’s central Glasgow office has extensive records with a particular focus on counties in the West of Scotland from Argyll to Dumfries. |
| Hebridean Connections | On this website you will find thousands of records relating to the genealogy, history, traditions, culture and archaeology of the Western Isles (or Outer Hebrides), a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland. Links to the archives of local historical societies (comainn eachdraidh) and other member organisations. |
| Hebrides People Visitor Centre | Hebrides People Visitor Centre is an expanding genealogy centre located at Northton on the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It was set up by Bill Lawson and for many years has been a leading authority on the genealogy of MacLeods and other families from Harris, Lewis and other parts of the outer Hebrides. |
| Highland Family History Society | The Highland Family History Society was established in September 1981 to promote the study of genealogy, family history and related subjects in the Highlands of Scotland. They are based in the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness. Amongst other resources they hold a Burial Index listing 14 pages of MacLeods. |
| Historic UKwww.historic-uk.com/Family-History | Created in 2000, and the first website of its kind dedicated to the history and heritage of Britain, this is a UK-based history magazine and historic accommodation guide with lots of interesting articles on Scotland and a section of Family History. |
| Macleod Arms and Tartans | There are dozens of MacLeod tartans that are formally registered, and some that are unofficial. This webpage shows some of them, and can direct you to other sources. |
| MacLeod Septs | The Clan MacLeod is made up of anyone with the name MacLeod – of any spelling, such as Macleod, McLeod, MacLot, and so forth. In addition, members of related families with other Scottish names are affiliated as “septs.” This webpage lists the sept names with which the Clan currently works. |
| Migration Maps | Migration maps of Scottish Highlanders to North America |
| My Heritage | MyHeritage is a subscription-based online genealogy platform with web, mobile, and software products and services, created by the Israeli company MyHeritage in 2003 and supported by them. Users of the platform can build their family trees, upload and browse through photos, and search through billions of historical records, amongst other features. In 2016, it launched an (autosomal) genetic testing service called MyHeritage DNA, ‘with more than 6.5 million DNA kits in the company’s database by March 2023’. |
| National Archives of Australia | 'The National Archives collection documents the interactions between people – from the ordinary to the famous – and the Australian Government. The key to finding what you want is to identify how the person you’re searching for had contact with the government. This will tell you what types of records we might have about them.' |
| National Library of Scotland | The National Library of Scotland has a wide range of genealogical resources that may be of interest and includes a general guide to starting family history research linked here. |
| National Library of South Australia | National Library of South Australia – For each Australian State and Territory this site lists online, networked and microform resources such as birth, marriage and death records as well as print publications available for use within the National Library of Australia. |
| National Records of Scotland (created from the merger of the General Register Office of Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland in April 2011). | Useful link to all the main records for tracing your Scottish ancestors: how to access them along with guides and services to aid your family history research.The NRS is the official place of deposit for the records of the Church of Scotland’s kirk sessions, presbyteries, synods and General Assembly that are more than 50 years old and not still in use. Is also the official place of deposit for most Heritors’ records. Heritors were the landowners in each parish responsible for the upkeep of Church of Scotland churches and graveyards until 1929 and they were also responsible for poor relief and education until the late 19th century. Click here for more details. |
| Newspapers.com | Newspapers.com is an Ancestry site giving access to the largest online newspaper archive with millions of pages of regional and national titles. Explore your family history, delve deeper into historical events, or simply see how the everyday news was reported through the years. Subscription basis but free trial. |
| RootsWeb | RootsWeb is a free genealogy community that uses online forums, mailing lists, and other resources to help people research their family history. Founded in 1993 as the Roots Surname List, it is the oldest free online community genealogy research website. |
| Ship Passenger Lists | This web page from a yacht-focused website has a myriad of useful links on historical Ship Passenger lists, family genealogy resources, and search tips for those trying to discover the voyages their ancestors made to new homes on far away shores. Our thanks to young Isaac Stevens for bringing this to our attention and recommending it be included in our Links and Resources page - a goldmine of genealogical information! |
| Scotland’s PeopleGeneral Register Office for Scotland | Scotland’s People is the section of the General Register Office of Scotland (GRO) devoted to assisting Scottish genealogical research and a key source of information about your ancestry. Once registered, you can search their indexed records without charge. You only need to pay to view and save images of records and to order certificates. You can view some records for free: maps & plans, highland and island emigration records, etc. |
| Scottish Genealogy Society | 'The Scottish Genealogy Society, based in Edinburgh and founded in 1953, helps with research into Scottish family and local history. Run by volunteers, we can advise you at all stages in your research. Members and visitors will always get a friendly welcome at the Library and Family History Centre. The Society has built up a diverse, fascinating, and unique collection of books and manuscripts including local history and profession lists, directories, old Parish Registers with the original microfilm for every parish in Scotland; over 4,000 books and CDs on family history and related subjects; journals from all major Scottish family history societies. Members of the Society have full access to the library and all its holdings.' |
| Scottish GENES | Top news stories and features concerning ancestral research in Scotland, Ireland, the rest of the UK, and their diasporas, from genealogist and family historian Chris Paton. For genealogy support, contact him through the site or at: chrismpaton@outlook.com |
| Scottish Indexes | Scottish Indexes is a family run genealogy business based in central Scotland. Graham and Emma Maxwell are professional genealogists and their website gives online access to a wealth of Scottish genealogy records. They also run regular online conferences focusing on all aspects of Scottish family history. For genealogy support, contact them through the site or at: info@scottishindexes.com |
| Society of Scottish Armigers | A Scottish Armiger is a person who has a coat of arms recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. |
| Society of Genealogists | 'We all want to know where we’re from; to solve the mysteries of our past; to connect with people whose lives lead to ours; to feel as they felt; to wonder what we would have done in their place. Founded in 1911, the UK-based Society of Genealogists is a charity with a unique purpose – to help people discover their place in history. We preserve the records of everyday lives and make them available to anyone wanting to understand where they’ve come from – grassroots sources, rich data of unlikely origin, exceptional assets that capture the unfolding, unofficial history of us all.' |
| Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs | The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs represents those who are head of the Name and Arms of their clan or family, as recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The majority of Scottish chiefs have taken up their membership, which is through invitation. Today, some 135 chiefs are members of the Standing Council. |
| The Peerage | A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe. The entry for our 29th Chief, John MacLeod of MacLeod can be found here. |
| The USGenWeb Project | The USGenWeb Project was established in 1996 by a group of genealogists who shared a desire to create free online resources for genealogical research. It originally began with online directories and has grown to over 3,000 linked websites, all individually created and maintained by a community of volunteers. There is no registration needed. |
| Trove (Australian Records Research portal) | Australia's free online research portal. Search Trove to explore amazing collections from Australian libraries, universities, museums, galleries and archive. Trove is a collaboration between the National Library of Australia and hundreds of Partner organisations around Australia. |
| Who Do you Think you are? | Archived pages of long running BBC genealogy programme. No longer being updated but contains a good broad overview of how to research your ancestry. UK based. |
| Wikipedia - Clan MacLeod wiki/Clan_MacLeodwiki/Clan_MacLeod_of_Lewis wiki/Clan_MacLeod_of_Raasay | As with all Wikipedia entries, compiled and edited by a variety of authors over the years. Some links may no longer work. |
| WorldCat.org | WorldCat.org is a great resource for locating unique, trustworthy materials that you often can’t find anywhere except in a library. And by connecting thousands of libraries’ collections in one place, WorldCat.org makes it easy for you to browse the world’s libraries from one easy search box. Materials in this catalogue include publications and audio/visual materials. Location services can identify the nearest library to you that holds a copy. The links provided to materials on the Reference materials page of this site take you to WorldCat, a worldwide search engine for library materials. This link will help you to request the books using the Inter Library Loan (ILL) system through your local library; they are not listed for sale. Or you can ask at your local library for more information on WorldCat services or the ILL process. |