If you don't have the time to research your ancestral roots and don't know where to start, then employ the professionals.

"Scottish Roots was established in 1984 in Edinburgh by Tony and Stuart Reid, to provide an ancestral research service for those who wish to discover more about their forebears - who they were, where they lived and how they were employed."

This website is full of helpful advice, it's bright pages make it ideal for all ages. No drab pages full of dull lists here - everything is presented in an easy to use and read format. Advice on what resources are available, where to find them, how to get started and how to make a family tree. An excellent website to start your search.

This is the official Government source of genealogical data for Scotland. It has Statutory Registers from 1855, Old Parish Registers from 1553 and Census Records from 1851.

The Society is a charity which exists to serve everyone who has an interest in Scottish genealogy. All you need is here, and for a small yearly subscription (only £16) you enjoy all the benefits of membership, and a monthly magazine.

If you know the town or county in Scotland where your ancestors came from, then click on this website. Information on where parish records and documents are stored for each town is given. A very useful resoruce.

Find your ancestors here, and the true meaning of your surname, along with its' variations. Scottish and Irish variants of surnames, and how they came into being.