Genealogy and Archaeology

 

Genealogy is the study of your unique family history. It is a personal record of your ancestors – when they were born and where they lived, who their children were and who they married, and where you belong in your extended family tree.

Emigrating to Canada from the Highlands and Islands.

Emigrating to Canada from the Highlands and Islands.
Photo: Canadian Pacific Railway Archives

Families have been emigrating from the islands since as far back at the 1700’s, some through strife, others circumstance, maybe all looking for a brighter future.  Yet the ties to the islands are strong, generations have passed and still, descendants call the Hebrides home.  What may be unique about our islands is that there are usually villagers, or their descendants, who will remember the family or the individual who emigrated if it was within the last couple of generations.

Virtually every household in the Outer Hebrides in the last 200 years has been researched, and a resource bank of over 30,000 family tree sheets has been gathered, together with details of many families
who emigrated to Canada, USA, Australia etc.  Find out more from Co Leis Thu – Seallam Visitor Centre and also Emigrant Database Live

Articles by Bill Lawson – Global Genealogy
Emigrants from North Tolsta – North Tolsta Historical Society
Message Board at Ancestory.com

Archaeology

The islands are rich in archaeological sites with numerous standing stone circles, round houses, the Broch at Carloway, and ancient Mills from our Norse occupation.  A lot of the archaeology dates back to pre-history. Here is a list of just a few sites to visit.

Lady Matheson's Monument

Lady Matheson’s Monument

For a personal in-depth tour of our archaeological heritage take a trip with Dave Godwin of Hebridean Archaeological Tours.

Historical Sites

There are also numerous ‘lesser’ stone circles and remains of Brochs.