Book review: Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: The Official Guide

TRACING Your Scottish Ancestors: The Official Guide, published by Birlinn, is priced £12.99 and is available now.

It should come as no surprise that the National Archives of Scotland decided to put this guide together.

After all, the growing trend in recent years to trace family trees has been overwhelming, with television programmes dedicated to the topic and history-hungry researchers making the most of advancements in online capabilities.

For all the enthusiasts out there, this book is a must. Written by the keepers of the records at the National Archives of Scotland, it offers clear advice on how to get the most out of censuses, church registers, military records and more.

There are five million people living in Scotland, but a further 30 million with Scottish decent are scattered across the world, yet tracing Scottish ancestors has never been more easy as Scotland boasts the best-maintained records and facilities of any country.

This book should complement researchers who can enjoy access to the National Archives of Scotland and the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh where they are free to explore the vast collections and documents in person.

So, if you have ever wondered who you really are, whether you are a long-lost relative of a famous face or historical figure, now is your time to find out.