Thank you for registering for the online course, Tracing Scottish Ancestry: Records, Resources, and Research Strategies!
From the Highlands to the Lowlands—and across the Atlantic—Scots have shaped the story of North America for centuries. Today, an estimated 25 million Americans claim Scottish roots. In this five-session online seminar, you’ll gain essential historical context, learn how to navigate key Scottish sources, and build a clear research plan designed to carry your lineage back several generations. Discover the rich records, powerful resources, and proven research strategies that will help you uncover your family’s story in Scotland. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to break through a brick wall, this course will equip you with the tools and confidence to trace your Scottish heritage with clarity and purpose.
JOIN THE BROADCASTS
Click here to join the live broadcasts: https://zoom.us/j/92699422932
Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26 and June 2, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET
If you are unable to attend a live session, you will be able to watch a full recording on this webpage for the foreseeable future.
COURSE TOPICS
May 5 – Class 1: Origins and Journeys: Migrations to the U.S. and Canada
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Millions of Americans and Canadians claim Scottish roots — but identifying the exact parish, village, or county your ancestors called home can be the greatest challenge of all. In this foundational session, you’ll explore Scotland’s complex history and the major waves of emigration that carried Scots across the Atlantic. By understanding the economic, religious, and political “push and pull” factors behind migration, you’ll begin narrowing the search for your family’s place of origin and laying the groundwork for success in Scottish research.
May 12 – Class 2: Civil and Parish Records in Scotland
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Births, marriages, and deaths form the backbone of Scottish genealogical research. This session dives deeply into civil registration and parish records, explaining what details each source can reveal — from parentage and occupations to residences and witnesses. You’ll learn when these records began, how they differ from one another, and most importantly, how to locate and access them efficiently. By the end of this class, you’ll be prepared to extract every clue these essential records provide.
May 19 – Class 3: Using the Scottish Census & Census Substitutes
Presented by: David Allen Lambert
Census records offer invaluable snapshots of your ancestors’ lives. In this session, you’ll examine Scotland’s census returns, what information they contain, and how they evolved over time. You’ll also discover important census substitutes — such as valuation rolls and tax lists — that help bridge gaps when official enumerations fall short. Learn where to access digitized images and reliable transcriptions, and how to use these records to reconstruct households and trace families across decades.
May 26 – Class 4: Other Scottish Records
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Once you’ve mastered the core records, it’s time to broaden your search. This class highlights the rich — and often underused — sources that add depth and dimension to your Scottish ancestors’ stories. Explore wills and testaments, land and property records, court documents, military files, and occupational sources. These records can illuminate social status, family relationships, property ownership, and personal circumstances — transforming names and dates into lived experiences.
June 2 – Class 5: Strategies and Case Studies
Presented by: David Allen Lambert
Bring it all together in this capstone session focused on strategy and real-world application. Through case studies, you’ll see how to synthesize records, resolve conflicting evidence, and overcome common research obstacles. Leave with a clear research plan—and renewed confidence in your ability to trace your Scottish story.
COURSE HANDOUTS
To come.
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
To come.
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist has been on the staff of American Ancestors since 1993 and is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history. Lambert has published many articles in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Rhode Island Roots, Mayflower Descendant, and American Ancestors magazine. He has authored and or co-authored in the published genealogies presented to David McCullough, Ken Burns, Angela Lansbury, Michael and Kitty Dukakis, Nathaniel Philbrick, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He has also published eleven books including A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries (American Ancestors, 2018), and Vital Records of Stoughton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850 (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2008). David received his B.A. in History from Northeastern University. David is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Mass., and a life member of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati and the General Society of the War of 1812. David also serves as the tribal genealogist for the Massachusett Tribe at Punkapoag in Massachusetts. His areas of expertise include New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; American and international military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England.
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.