Old Parish Registers

Usually known as OPRs, these are the pre-1855 records of the Established Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), the main Christian denomination of the country.  The records are arranged by county, then by parish (the local area connected with a church).  The detail given in these records varies a great deal between parishes, as does the time period covered.

Christening or baptismal records normally include

• Date of christening and/or birth

• The name of the child

• Parents' names, usually giving the mother's maiden name

Marriage records include

• Date of marriage or proclamation of marriage banns*

• Name of bride and groom

• Their usual parish of residence

*The marriage records that have survived often only give the date on which the banns, or intentions to marry, were announced in church.

Burial records

Church burial records are not often available.  Where they do exist, they may give little more than the name of the deceased and the date of death.

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