Family History

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 £10.00.

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 £8.50 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 Troon, Prestwick, Maybole 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: