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National Library of Scotland

Published directories might help if you want to find out where your ancestor lived or what kind of job they did.

We have lots of different types of directories, including:

Post Office directories

Our digitised collection of Scottish Post Office directories (1774 to 1911) include an alphabetical list of people, street and trade directories and other listings. If you're looking for these after 1911, they are available in hard copy. We also hold directories for other areas of the UK and further afield.

Military lists

Some of the British military lists are also available online. They provide details of officers who served in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force during the First and Second World Wars. However, these lists don't include everyone and usually people who served at other ranks, such as 'private', won't be on them. We also have other military directories in the collections.

Ecclesiastical directories

Ecclesiastical directories can provide information on ancestors who were employed in the religious professions. A good starting point is 'Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation', by Hew Scott (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1915-).

Peerage and landed gentry

Peerage and landed gentry lists can confirm ancestry from titled and landed families in Scotland. We hold hard copies of resources like Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage and 'The Scots Peerage' by Sir James Balfour Paul (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1904-1914, 9 volumes)', for example.

Related resources

War collections on our Digital Gallery

Explore wartime photographs, posters, military lists, personal stories and more on our Digital Gallery.
A large group of soldiers in uniform, standing closely together in rows. The soldiers are wearing helmets and carrying rifles.

Government and official eResources

Online resources for official records on law, trade, diplomacy, and governance from 1509 to the present day.
A close up of someone's hand as they sign a contract

Gazetteers of Scotland, 1803-1901

This digitised collection of Gazetteers list towns, glens, counties, castles and more, with rich historical and geographical descriptions.
A close up of a table showing the population in various places in Scotland