Emigration records

For passenger lists, see National Archives (London).

Records of emigration schemes are available from the National Records of Scotland. They also hold other kinds of records that can tell you where people were living at a certain time, like records of poor relief. You can find out more on the Scotland's People emigration and immigration page.

Our Scots Abroad databases give details of material relating to the lives of Scots and their experiences overseas.

If you have an ancestor who emigrated to another country you could look for immigration records in the country of their arrival. These are usually held by the national archives or equivalent organisation in that country.

'A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants into England & Wales' covers emigration from Scotland to England and Wales from around the 19th century onwards.

You can also access certain passenger lists and some records of poor relief through the Ancestry eResource.