Registration, Bereavement and Archives Services
Family History
Family History at Carnegie Library
The Scottish & Local History Library located on the first floor of the Carnegie
Library is a great starting point for those wishing to trace their ancestors. The
department has a wealth of free resources covering not only Ayrshire and Scotland,
but also England and Wales. Staff are happy to give advice to those who are complete
beginners as well as helping those who have become stuck with a tricky relative!
So come along and get started on what can become a very additive hobby!
The full list of genealogical resources we provide are listed in the Local History
Services pdf booklet on the Local History page in the libraries section.
Genealogical Research
Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages began in Scotland on the 1st
January 1855. Prior to 1855 birth and marriage records were maintained in some areas
by the local church. These Parish Registers are now held by the Registrar General's
Office in Edinburgh.
With the introduction of the Digital Imaging of
the Genealogical Records of Scotland's
People (DIGROS) genealogical records are now available online at a local level.
South Ayrshire Council has access to DIGROS at each of its Registration Offices.
In addition to holding the actual Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages from
1855 to the present day for their own Districts (see below) Registration Offices
now have access to the scanned registers for the whole of Scotland.
Access to DIGROS is under the direct supervision of a member of the registration
staff but images can be viewed on screen almost instantaneously, the available Registers
include all the Statutory Registers (1855 – present day), Indexes to Parish Registers
for Births and Marriages (1553 – 1854) and the Census Returns for 1841, 1851, 1861,
1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901.
Search Fees
Particular Search: Cost £5.00.
A particular search means a search made by a registrar for a specified entry.
General Search: Cost £15.00.
Combined Search of Registration and Burial Records: Cost £20.
A general search means a search in the indexes only over any period of years for
any number of entries made by any person with the permission of the registrar.
On payment of the relevant fee, searches may be made in the register indexes and
pencil notes taken from any relevant entries traced. Extracts of any entries found
may be purchased at a cost of £10.00 each. Alternatively, paper prints costing £1.00
each are available for older historical entries.
Please make cheques payable to 'South Ayrshire Council'
Searches may also be made in our Cemetery records which are held in Ayr and Girvan
registration offices, and also at Masonhill Crematorium. Cemetery maps are also
available, to assist the location of each individual grave.
Please contact the relevant office to make a suitable appointment.
Custody of Registers
Records held locally by Registrars at each of our Registration Offices:
|
District Name
|
Years Held
|
|
Ayr Registration Office
|
|
|
Ayr
|
1855 – present
|
|
Maybole
|
1855 – present
|
|
Crosshill
|
1879 – 1968
|
|
Kirkmichael
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Kirkoswald
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Straiton
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Troon
|
1870 – present
|
|
Girvan
|
|
|
Girvan
|
1855 – present
|
|
Ballantrae
|
1855 – 1985
|
|
Barr
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Barrhill
|
1875 – 1968
|
|
Colmonell
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Dailly
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Alloway
|
1905 – 1948
|
|
Coylton
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Dalrymple
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Drongan
|
1958 – 1968
|
|
Rankinston
|
1893 – 1968
|
|
St Quivox
|
1855 – 1953
|
|
Stair
|
1855 – 1968
|
|
Tarbolton
|
1855 - 1968
|
|
Symington
|
1885 - 1968
|
|
Prestwick
|
1855 – present
|