Famous Scots

Famous names recorded in the registers available at the Centre

Although the bulk of the work carried out at the Centre involves individual family history searches, it is worthwhile placing this in the context of the wealth of historical information available. Scotland has been responsible for many innovations in the fields of Science, Politics and the Arts, and each one of the Famous Scots associated with particular topics has their documents carefully archived at the Centre - birth, marriage or death certificates, and census returns.

Billy Connolly and the late Sir James Black

Famous Scots Exhibition

As part of the celebrations for Scotland's Homecoming Year, 2009, we traced the family histories of six Famous Scots from a variety of backgrounds, Oscar winners to Nobel Prize recipients.

Key documents were unearthed from the Centre archives, and intricate family trees constructed, illustrated with photographs. The exhibitions proved to be a resounding success, with their subjects and visitors alike.

We have retained the information as a permanent record, demonstrating the wealth of archive material available to anyone wishing to embark on that rewarding journey of discovery into their own family past.

To access these 'Famous Scots' details, click on either the image on the left, or this link: Famous Scots Exhibition.

Mary Queen of Scots and son James

Famous Scots Archive

Records of every person who has grown up to be a 'Famous Scot', from Mary Queen of Scots to Sir Walter Scott, are archived in the Centre.

Our Famous Scots Archive gives a snapshot of some of the men and women who have shaped the history of Scotland, the United Kingdom and further afield, together with the references to the relevant entries in the registers.

Amongst our priceless archives are Rob Roy's birth records, Mary Queen of Scots' second marriage certificate and the death certificate of James Keir Hardie, founder of the Labour Party.

The archive is sub-divided into generic subject headings. To access these pages, click on either the image on the left, or this link: Famous Scots Archive.

Use our Contact page if you have a suggestion about a Famous Scots whose profile you'd like us to add to these web pages.