Civil Registration

Civil registration is the general term used to describe government birth, death and marriage records.

Scottish civil registration began in 1855, when it was made compulsory by law.  If your ancestor was born, married, or died in Scotland during or after 1855, there should be a record of the event.

Birth certificates include

• Date, time and place of birth

• Name of the individual

• Parents' names, including the mother's maiden name

• Date and place of parents' marriage

• Name of person registering the birth

Death certificates include

• Date, time and place of death

• Name of the individual

• Name of their spouse, if married, and whether they are living or dead

• Names of the deceased's parents

• Cause of death

• Name of person registering the death

Marriage certificates include

• Date, place and religious denomination of the marriage ceremony

• Name, occupation, address and age of bride and groom

• Bride and groom's parents, whether living or dead,  and their occupations

• Names of witnesses to the marriage

• Name of the celebrant

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