Family history and genealogy - searches

 

Family history resources for West Lothian are held in the West Lothian Local History Library in Blackburn.

  • Census Records 1841-1901
  • Old Parish Records pre-1855
  • Monumental Inscriptions (pre-1855)
  • Poll and Hearth Tax records of the 1690s
  • Valuation Rolls 1855 to the present
  • Voters' Rolls 1869 to the present

For online access to censuses and Old Parish Records, go to the Scotlandspeople (new window) website.

For free online access to old parish records, go to the Familysearch (new window) website. 

For areas outside West Lothian, the Local History Library holds :

  • IGI for Scotland and Ireland
  • Index to the 1891 Census for the whole of Scotland
  • the 1881 Census for Great Britain on CDs
  • 1851 census indexes for many parts of Scotland
  • Monumental Inscriptions for many parts of Scotland

Local newspapers are held from 1873 onwards.  The three main ones - West Lothian Courier, Linlithgow Gazette and Midlothian Advertiser - are indexed, and the newspaper index (new window) can be searched online.  The birth, marriage and death notices have not been indexed, but there is an index entry to all obituaries.

More on Births...

More on Deaths...

More on Marriages...

More on  Burial Records ...

SP Voucher

ScotlandsPeople vouchers

ScotlandsPeople vouchers are on sale at Linlithgow, Almondbank, Broxburn and Blackridge Libraries, and at the Local History Library in Hopefield Road, Blackburn. Start-up vouchers have 60 credits and cost £6. Top-up vouchers have 30 credits and cost £4.60. For further information, phone 01506 776331 or e-mail localhistory@westlothian.gov.uk.
SP Voucher

ScotlandsPeople vouchers

ScotlandsPeople vouchers are on sale at Linlithgow, Almondbank, Broxburn and Blackridge Libraries, and at the Local History Library in Hopefield Road, Blackburn. Start-up vouchers have 60 credits and cost £6. Top-up vouchers have 30 credits and cost £4.60. For further information, phone 01506 776331 or e-mail localhistory@westlothian.gov.uk.
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Traditional events

For a taste of the West Lothian – past and present – visit one of the annual events hosted by our traditional town centres.
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Howden Park Centre

West Lothian’s most exciting venue for arts performances, music, dance, drama exhibitions, classes and food.
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