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Genealogy Sites:

Enter what you know about one of your ancestors and they’ll search their billions of records for more information.

Explore your Scottish roots, browse our database of Scottish clans and surnames and trace your family tree with the official genealogy website of VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourism Agency.

A collection of links to aid in performing your genealogical research.

TheFamily History Library is the largest genealogical database in the world. Hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

A large collection of genealogical information pages for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

Responsible for the registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships, deaths, divorces, and adoptions. They run the Census and use Census and other data to publish information about population and households. The main source of family history records in Scotland.

Originally part of the Rochester Historical Society, the RGS became an independent organization supporting the preservation of family heritage in 1977.

The official government source of genealogical data for Scotland.

This is a collection of resources designed to assist those wishing to trace their Scottish Ancestry.

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Tons of information on the history of Scotland, the Scots and Scots-Irish as well as people and places of Scots descent around the world.

13,000+ Scottish-related links, including genealogy.

Burns Revisited is a project involving the writing of new music for the entire collection of Robert Burns songs plus music for the bulk of his remaining work. The purpose of the project is to revitalise and give a new dimension to the work of Scotland's National Bard.

Geography:

The Gazetteer for Scotland is a vast geographical encyclopaedia, featuring details of towns, villages, bens and glens from the Scottish Borders to the Northern Isles.

Ordnance Survey is Great Britain's national mapping agency, providing the most accurate and up-to-date geographic data, relied on by government, business and individuals.

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History:

 

Internet access to the written history of Scotland.

The mission of the NAS is to preserve, protect and promote the nation’s records; to provide the best possible inclusive and accessible archive that educates, informs and engages the people of Scotland and the world.

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Local Interest:

 

The Haggis Man is the North-East representative of The Caledonian Kitchen and the only place in western New York where you can get fresh presentation haggis delivered warm to your event!

In 1898 their great grandfather, Joseph Walker started out with the mission... "To make the world's finest shortbread." To this day they carry forward this tradition of baking the finest shortbreads, biscuits cakes and oatcakes, using his original recipes. Enjoy!

Since 1919, there has been a Scottish pipe band in Rochester. The band is dedicated to the presentation and preservation of traditional Scottish pipe music.

The band was founded for the purpose of honoring our fallen brothers and sisters and to participate at official ceremonial events.

"Beautiful, special, unique, gentle, magnificent"- so have Mary Lester's vocal and harp music been described.

The British Shop is one of North America's leading Highland Outfitters and Bagpipe Suppliers, providing superior service to customers for 43 years.

Want to rent a kilt? Check out their wide selection of Irish and Scottish goods. Two locations to serve you: Ridge Rd in Greece, and Monroe Ave in Pittsford.

Our Clans:

The Scottish Barclays claim descent from Roger de Berchelai of Gloucestershire who came to England with William the Conqueror. In 1069 John de Berchelai accompanied Margaret (later St. Margaret) to Scotland. In gratitude for his service, King Malcolm (Canmore) granted him the lands of Towie, near Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, as well as the title, Barclay of that Ilk.

The Blair of Blair, in the shires of Renfrew, Ayr & Wigtown, and the Blairs of Balthayock in the shires of Perth, Fife & Angus competed for the chiefship for many years until James VI is said to have decreed that, "The oldest man for the time being of either family should have precedence."

The name Ferguson is an Anglicization of the Gaelic "Macfhearghus", son of Fergus. Although often considered as one clan, there are at least four main families of this name spread throughout the country in Argyllshire, Ayrshire, Fife, Perthshire and Aberdeenshire.

The Grants come from two great glens of the Highlands: Strathspey and Glenurquhart. The first recorded Clan Chief was Sir Lawrence le Grant in the year 1263. The Present Clan Chief, Lord Strathspey, 33rd Chief of Grant, is his direct descendant.

Clan Gunn claims descent from the Norse Jarls or Earls of Orkney and from the ancient Celtic Mormaers of Caithness through Ragnhild who married Gunni, the reputed name-father of the Clan. Gunni was himself a grandson of Sweyn Asleif's-son, the 'Ultimate Viking' and hero of the Orkneyinga Saga.

The first record of the name "Hall" was found in Lincolnshire [England] where they were granted lands after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Halls were one of the sixty (60) major riding families of the Anglo-Scottish border and were involved in reiving along with as other border clans.

The Lamonts, like the MacNeils, MacEwens, MacSweens, and the Gilchrists, are said to descend from the royal line of the O'Neill High Kings of Ireland (who mainly resided in great numbers in Tir Eoghain [Tyrone], northern Ireland). The Lamonts are believed to descend directly from Anrothan O'Neill, who gave up his rulership in Ireland and moved to Argyll.

Clan Donald is one of the oldest, and probably the largest and most famous of all the Highland clans. Its Celtic heritage goes back into antiquity, beyond the 6th Century AD, to the great clans in what today is Ireland. Their Viking heritage goes back to Ingiald "Ill-Ruler" and Olaf "Tree-Hewer" in 7th Century Sweden and Norway. All of these traditional blood lines came together in the 12th Century Somerled MacGillebride MacGilladamnan, the historic founder of Clann Domhnaill.

The MacFarlane homeland is located in the Highlands at the heads of Loch Long and Loch Lomond. For over five centuries this area, the feudal barony of Arrochar, was held by the chiefs of Clan MacFarlane and before them by their ancestors the barons of Arrochar. The clan takes its name from Malduin's son Parlan; "son of Parlan" becoming Mac (son) Pharlain (of Parlan) in the Gaelic.

Probably the earliest authentic history of Mackintosh is traceable to Shaw or Seach MacDuff, a Cadet son of the third Earl of Fife. The son of MacDuff, for his support of Malcolm IV, was awarded the lands of Petty and Breachley in Invernesshire and was appointed Constable of the Castle thereto. Assuming the name "Mac-an-Toisch", which means "Son of the Thane or Chief", he began his own Clan.

The progenitor of the Clan was Leod, who gained possession of much of Skye, including the Cuillins, Harris and Lewis in the mid 13th century. Later tradition claimed that he was descended from the Norse Kings of Man. Leod had two sons, or grandsons, Tormod and Torcall, who became progenitors of the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, and the MacLeods of the Lewes.

Clan MacNeil claim descent from Niall, a descendant of Aodh O'Neill, twentieth in descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages the famous founder of the U'Neill dynasty of High Kings of Ireland. Niall established himself on Barra in 1049 and is considered the first chief of the Clan MacNeil.

Legend has it that Robert the Bruce was saved from a charging wild bull by a man named William Rule by holding on to its horns and wrestling it to the ground. For this act he was rewarded with the lands of Bedrule, Teviotdale, and he took the name "Turn-a-bull".