Tracing family history
We have an experienced team who will gladly assist you in your search.
Tracing your family tree is fairly easy. Start with your own birth certificate and work backwards in time. Use details such as full name, date and place of birth.
Death and marriage certificates also provide a lot of valuable information. It may be helpful to check with some older family members to help you with names, dates and places. Our records go back to 1855. This is when registration became a legal requirement. Once on track you will find tracing your line of descent is quite simple.
You can make an appointment at any of our registration offices to make use of our family research facility.
Records and indexes
Records and Indexes available throughout North Ayrshire:
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Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages (From 1855 - Present)
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Scottish Divorces (From 1984 - Present )
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Census Records 1841 - 1901
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Old Parish Records 1553 - 1854
Registration Office
Fees Payable in a Registration Office
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Particular Search - £5 per search.
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General Search - £15 per hour or part thereof.
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*Digros prints will cost £1.00 each - this is in addition to the general search fee.
*A Digros print is a copy of a full register page which contains three entries of different people. The entry you require will be given to you. The writing may be difficult to read. It can be quite small and in an old style. The registrar should be able to make it out for you.
Please note that the the only prints that can be issued are as follows:
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Birth entries 100 years or over;
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Death entries 50 years or over;
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Marriage entries 75 years or over.
Certificates of birth, death and marriage after a general search has been made cost £10 each.
Certificates of entries requested which have been traced outwith a general search will cost £15 each.
Payment
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By cheque - Please cross cheques and make payable to:- North Ayrshire Council
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By debit/ credit card.
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Applications from outside the United Kingdom must use cheques or International Money Order in "£'s Sterling".
Local History & Heritage Service
Our Local History Section is based at Manse Street, Saltcoats. It has a vast range of records that may be of benefit for family research. These include:
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census returns
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photographs
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monumental inscriptions
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maps
The Ayrshire Roots website may be useful in your research.